Abstract:
A sponson for a watercraft includes a nose; a trailing end; and a base extending between the nose and the trailing end; wherein the base is non-linear in shape in a direction from the nose to the trailing end. The sponson can include an outboard surface extending between the nose and the trailing end; wherein the outboard surface is configured to reduce the water pressure during cornering.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a watercraft and more particularly, to a sponson for a watercraft.  
           [0003]    2. Discussion of the Related Art  
           [0004]    Sponsons are fitted onto watercraft to improve stability both at high speeds and during turning. The stability of the watercraft at high speed is dependent on the hull area in contact with the water. The sponsons increase the effective hull area when the watercraft is up on plane while at high speed. Thus, high speed stability is improved.  
           [0005]    The location of the sponson on the hull is such that, during a turn, the inside sponson is below the waterline. The sponson projects outwardly and downwardly from the hull and causes the sponson to hydrodynamically bite into the water. This allows the watercraft to be banked more during a turn thus improving the cornering performance of the watercraft.  
           [0006]    The transom of a conventional watercraft is flat as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the watercraft. This necessitates a linear base on the sponson. This geometry places a limit on the stability and maximum performance of the watercraft.  
           [0007]    Although the sponson increases the amount by which the watercraft can be banked during cornering, the mere function of the sponson, i.e., biting into the water, limits the maximum amount by which the watercraft can be banked. Skilled operators can maintain control of the watercraft beyond this maximum. These operators will not recognize the increased performance as sufficient.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a sponson for a watercraft that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.  
           [0009]    An object of the present invention is to provide a watercraft with improved performance and stability under all conditions.  
           [0010]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a watercraft with reduced drag and increased responsiveness.  
           [0011]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a watercraft with reduced planing drag.  
           [0012]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a watercraft with reduced drag while in reverse.  
           [0013]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a watercraft with reduced unpredictability of a spinout while cornering.  
           [0014]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a watercraft with improved inside lean cornering grip, bank angles and linearity.  
           [0015]    Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.  
           [0016]    To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, the sponson for a watercraft includes a nose; a trailing end; and a base extending between the nose and the trailing end; wherein the base is non-linear in shape in a direction from the nose to the trailing end.  
           [0017]    In another aspect, a sponson for a watercraft includes: a nose; a trailing end; and an outboard surface extending between the nose and the trailing end; wherein the outboard surface is configured to reduce the water pressure on the outboard surface during cornering.  
           [0018]    In a further aspect, a watercraft includes: a hull having: a bow; a stern including a non-linear transom; and two sides extending from the bow to the stern; and a sponson attached to each of the sides of the hull along the transom; wherein the sponson has a non-linear base that matingly engages the non-linear transom.  
           [0019]    In a further aspect, a watercraft includes: a hull having: a bow; a stern including a transom; and two sides extending from the bow to the stern; and a sponson attached to each of the sides of the hull along the transom, wherein the sponson includes: a nose; a trailing end; and an outboard surface extending between the nose and the trailing end; wherein the outboard surface is configured to reduce water pressure on the outboard surface during cornering of the watercraft.  
           [0020]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]    The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 1 is a schematic of a portion of the hull of a watercraft according to a first embodiment of the invention;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 2 is a top view of a sponson according to a second embodiment of the invention;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 is a side view of the sponson shown in FIG. 2;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4 is an end view of the sponson shown in FIG. 2;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 5 is bottom view of the sponson shown in FIG. 2; and  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 6 is side view of a portion of a watercraft hull with the sponson shown in FIG. 2. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0028]    Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 1 shows a schematic of a watercraft  10  having a hull  12 , a bow (not shown) and a stern  14 . The side portions  16  of the hull  12  in the area of the transom  18  are each nonlinear in shape when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the watercraft  10 .  
         [0030]    The non-linear side portions  16  perform several functions. First, planing drag is reduced as compared to a conventional transom, which has flat side portions. This allows greater top end speed. Second, drag is reduced when the watercraft  10  is driven in reverse as compared to a conventional transom.  
         [0031]    Sponsons  20 ,  22  are mounted on the hull  12  along the side portions  16 . The right sponson  22  is a mirror image of the left sponson  20 . Accordingly, only the left sponson  20  will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 1.  
         [0032]    The sponson  20  has base  24  that abuts the side portion  16 . The base  24  has a non-linear shape corresponding to that of the side portion  16 . An outboard side  26  is opposite the base  24 . The base  24  and the outboard side  26  meet at the leading end of the sponson  20  and define a nose  28 . The base  24  and the outboard side  26  diverge as they extend toward a trailing end  30  of the sponson  20 .  
         [0033]    The sponsons  20 ,  22  can be secured to the hull  12  by a plurality of fasteners (not shown). Alternatively, the sponsons  20 ,  22  can be integrally formed with the hull  12  or the sponsons  20 , 22  can be bonded to the hull.  
         [0034]    FIGS.  2 - 6  illustrate a second embodiment of the invention. Only the sponson for the left side of the watercraft is described in detail, with the sponson for the right side being a mirror image of the left side sponson.  
         [0035]    Referring to FIG. 6, the sponson  120  has base  124  that abuts the side portion  116  of the hull  112 . The base  124  has a shape corresponding to that of the side portion  116 . The base  124  and the side portion  116  can be linear or non-linear in shape. An outboard side  126  is opposite the base  124 . The base  124  and the outboard side  126  meet at the leading end of the sponson  120  and define a nose  128 . The base  124  and the outboard side diverge as they extend toward a trailing end  130  of the sponson  120 .  
         [0036]    As shown in FIG. 4, the sponson  120  includes a bottom surface  132  bordering the base  124  at an inboard edge  134  and bordering the outboard side  126  at an outboard edge  136 .  
         [0037]    FIGS.  2 - 6  illustrate a channel  138  formed in the outboard side  128  adjacent the trailing end  130 . FIGS. 3, 4 and  6  show the channel  138  extending obliquely from the outboard edge  136  toward a top edge  140  of the sponson  120 . The channel  138  includes an inlet  142  extending across a portion of the outboard side  126  and the bottom surface  132  and an outlet  144  formed in the trailing end  130 . Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5, the inlet  142  is radiused to provide a smooth passage for water to enter the channel  138 .  
         [0038]    The channel  138  decreases the water pressure on the bottom side of the sponson  120  when the watercraft is banked in a turn. This reduced water pressure allows the watercraft  10  to bank over more easily while maintaining an increased level of grip on the water.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate that the cross-sectional area of the inlet  142  is greater than the cross-sectional area of the outlet  144 . Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5, the width W of the inlet  142  as measured in the lengthwise direction of the sponson  120  is 90 mm and the depth D of the inlet  142  is 10 mm. Other dimensions are possible and determined by the size of the hull  112  and the sponson  120  and the desired pressure reduction of the water pressure due to the channel  138 .  
         [0040]    Other orientations of the channel  138  are possible, such as parallel to one of the edges  136 ,  140 . The cross-sectional shape of channel  138  can be arcuate, square or any other geometry. The depth of the channel  138  may be constant or vary along its length. Instead of a channel, the trailing end  130  can be provided with a through bore.  
         [0041]    In this second embodiment, the sponson  120  is secured to the hull  112  by a plurality of fasteners  146 . The sponson  120  can be secured to the hull  112  by other means such as bonding and integrally forming the sponson  120  and the hull  112 .  
         [0042]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the sponson for a watercraft of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.