Patent ID: 7874257
Filing Date: 2011-01-25
Classification: B63B

Abstract:
1. A personal watercraft comprising: a hull; a sub-deck disposed on the hull, the hull and sub-deck together forming a hull and sub-deck (HSD) assembly; an engine disposed in the HSD assembly; a propulsion system connected to the hull and operatively connected to the engine; a deck disposed above the sub-deck, the deck having a pedestal and a pair of footrests extending laterally outwardly from the pedestal; a straddle-type seat disposed on the pedestal; a helm assembly operatively connected to the propulsion system and disposed at least in part forwardly of the straddle-type seat; a first suspension member having a first end pivotally connected to the deck and a second end pivotally connected to the HSD assembly, the second end of the first suspension member being disposed rearwardly and downwardly of the first end of the first suspension member, the first suspension member having a fixed length; a second suspension member disposed rearwardly of the first suspension member, the second suspension member having a first end pivotally connected to the deck and a second end pivotally connected to the HSD assembly, the second end of the second suspension member being disposed rearwardly and downwardly of the first end of the second suspension member, the second suspension member having a fixed length; and a suspension element connected between any two of: the HSD assembly being movable between a first position relative to the deck and a second position relative to the deck, the second position being upward and rearward of the first position relative to the deck, the second end of each of the first and second suspension members moving rearwardly relative to the deck from the first position to the second position, the second end of the first suspension member moving a first distance upwardly relative to the deck from the first position to the second position, the second end of the second suspension member moving a second distance upwardly relative to the deck from the first position to the second position, and the first distance being greater than the second distance.