Patent ID: 6168483
Filing Date: 2001-01-02
Classification: B63H,F02B

Abstract:
A protection and deflection apparatus that is adapted to be mounted in an operating position adjacent to a propeller section of a boat, the propeller section having a propeller blade portion having an axis of rotation and an outer circumferential path of rotation along which tip portions of the propeller blade portion travel, said apparatus having a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis and a vertical axis, said apparatus comprising: a) a forwarding deflecting section having a forward central deflecting axis which extends in a downward and rearward slant, and comprising right and left deflection plates, each of which comprises: i) a central deflection edge portion, with the two connecting deflection edge portions joining one another at said deflecting axis so as to form at the central deflecting axis a downwardly and rearwardly extending leading edge of the deflecting section; ii) an outer deflection edge portion, with the two outer deflection edge portions each having a forward end and a rear end, and extending laterally outwardly and downwardly from the forward end of the deflection plate; iii) a rear deflection section connecting portion; iv) a generally downwardly and outwardly facing deflection surface, with the two deflection surfaces forming an angle of less than 180 degrees, relative to a plane taken perpendicular to said deflecting alignment axis, so as to extend laterally and upwardly away from one another and so as to extend rearwardly and divergently from said leading edge; b) a rear guard section having a rear central guard section axis which is generally longitudinally aligned and is at an angle of less than 180 degrees relative to the deflection axis, a forward end portion connected to the rear end portion of the forward deflecting section and a rear end, said guard section comprising right and left guard plates, each of which comprises: i) a central guard plate connecting edge portion with the two central guard plates connecting edge portions meeting each other at the central guard section axis; ii) a laterally outward section edge portion having a forward end and a rear end; iii) a forward guard section connecting portion connected to the rear deflection connecting portion of its related right or left deflection plate; iv) a generally downwardly and outwardly facing lower guard surface, with the two guard surfaces forming an angle of less than 180 degrees, relative to a plane taken perpendicular to the guard section axis, whereby when said apparatus engages a bottom surface of particulate material in a shallow body of water, the forward deflecting section has a diverging action on said particulate material and downwardly and outwardly facing lower guard surfaces has a resisting action against the particulate material moving toward the central guard action axis.