Abstract:
A personal watercraft has a saddle with a seating surface, first and second opposite sides, and front and back ends. A pair of footing surfaces proceed from proximate lower edges of first and second opposite sides. A front recess is defined in the front end and has upper and lower portions that extend further away from the saddle than a medial portion. A back recess is defined in the back end and has upper and lower portions that extend further away from the saddle than a medial portion. The front and back recesses are configured to secure an inflatable body that substantially surrounds the saddle with the footing surfaces at least partially exposed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates to watercraft in general and, more specifically, to portable personal watercraft. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Personal watercrafts are enjoyed by a wide variety of consumers for many reasons. Recreation, relaxation, and even fitness are a few examples. In some cases, a personal watercraft may be used as a tool in pursuit of another hobby, such as hunting or fishing. In the past, tradeoffs were necessary. A personal watercraft is often designed to be used by one (or no more than a few) at a time. Ideally, such watercraft would be highly portable. However, portability often comes at the cost of decreasing the usefulness of the personal watercraft. For example, even common two man fishing boats require a large truck or small trailer to transport. An inflatable raft would be much more portable but at the expense of the utility of the slightly larger watercraft. 
         [0003]    What is needed is a device for addressing the above, and related, concerns. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The invention of the present disclosure, in one aspect thereof comprises a personal watercraft having a saddle with a seating surface, first and second opposite sides, and front and back ends. A pair of footing surfaces proceed from proximate lower edges of first and second opposite sides. A front recess is defined in the front end and has upper and lower portions that extend further away from the saddle than a medial portion. A back recess is defined in the back end and has upper and lower portions that extend further away from the saddle than a medial portion. The front and back recesses are configured to secure an inflatable body that substantially surrounds the saddle with the footing surfaces at least partially exposed. 
         [0005]    In some embodiments the device includes a water displacing body that is secured to the saddle via the front and back recesses. The body may be inflatable and substantially toroidal in shape. The water displacing body may be affixed to an upper side of the footing surfaces. The footing surfaces may be hinged to the sides of the saddle such that, in a first position, the footing surfaces present a substantially horizontal surface and, in a second position, fold substantially flat against the sides of the saddle. 
         [0006]    In some embodiments a passage is defined in the saddle and proceeds vertically therethrough for mounting a motor. Some embodiments also have a motor support insert occupying at least a portion of the passage defined in the saddle, the motor support insert providing a substantially v-shaped base that passes the motor shaft therethough. Some embodiments have wedge member having at least two positions, a first of which provides a groove in which a motor shaft may rest in a substantially horizontal position, and a second of which locks the motor shaft into a vertical position in the motor support insert. The base may also provide a guide groove for guiding the shaft into a horizontal position when the wedge member is in the first position. 
         [0007]    The personal watercraft may also comprise a motor having a control head and a propeller assembly at opposite ends of a shaft, the shaft comprising upper and lower shaft pieces connected by a hinge such that the propeller assembly may be retracted toward the saddle and the upper shaft pieces placed substantially horizontal on the saddle. 
         [0008]    The invention of the present disclosure, in another aspect thereof, comprises another embodiment of a personal watercraft that includes a saddle having a substantially vertical passage therethrough, and a motor having a control head on an upper end attached to an upper shaft, and having a propeller assembly on a lower and attached to a lower shaft, the upper and lower shaft connecting by a hinge. The propeller assembly may be retracted and the hinge bent such that the upper shaft may lie substantially horizontally over the saddle while the lower shaft remains in the passage. The hinge may be straightened and the propeller assembly extended by moving the upper shaft at least partially into the passage. 
         [0009]    In some embodiments, the personal watercraft further comprises a collar attached to the upper shaft limiting its descent into the vertical passage. A motor support insert may be placed at least partially within the vertical passage, the motor support insert having a first configuration that retains the upper and lower shaft in a fixed coaxial relationship when the propeller unit is extended, and a second configuration where the motor support insert supports the upper shaft in a substantially horizontal position when the propeller unit is retracted. The motor support insert may have a movable wedge member that partially retains the upper shaft in the first configuration and provides a horizontal support in the second configuration. 
         [0010]    In some embodiments, the saddle provides a recess on each of two opposite ends, the recesses at least partially retaining an inflatable floatation member. A retractable footrest may be provided on each of two opposite sides of the saddle. The footrests may be attached to the saddle via hinges. 
         [0011]    The invention of the present disclosure, in another aspect thereof, comprises a third embodiment of a personal watercraft. The watercraft includes a saddle having a seating surface and an adjacent vertical passageway through the saddle, a motor support insert at least partially occupying the vertical passageway, and a motor having an upper shaft with a control unit and hinged to a lower shaft with a propeller unit. The support insert provides a first configuration that supports the motor with the propeller unit extended by retaining the upper and lower shaft in a fixed relationship but allowing rotation of the shafts, and the support insert provides a second configuration that allows the propeller unit to retract and the upper and lower shaft to bend relative to one another. 
         [0012]    In some embodiments, the personal watercraft has a wedge shaped member that provides a horizontal surface that contacts the upper shaft when the propeller unit is extended, and moves with respect to the support insert to provide a substantially horizontal surface that contacts the upper shaft when the propeller unit is retracted. In some embodiments, an electric battery is retained within a cavity in the saddle, and connected to the motor. A floatation member may circumscribe the saddle. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a side cutaway view of a personal watercraft according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is an overhead view of the watercraft of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a close-up perspective view of a motor support insert for use with the watercraft of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a side cutaway view of a personal watercraft according to aspects of the present disclosure is shown. The personal watercraft  100  includes a saddle  102 . The saddle  102  may comprise a polymer or another suitably resilient material. In the present embodiment, the saddle  102  includes a left side  104  and a right side  106 . A seating surface  107  is provided atop the saddle. In some embodiments, the seating surface  107  may be padded for comfort and may also be waterproof and/or UV resistant. 
         [0017]    The saddle  102  has a front end  108  that has a recessed area  110 . The recessed area  110  is defined by an upper portion  112  and a lower portion  114  that each extend further from the saddle than a medial portion  116 . Similarly, the saddle  102  may have a back end  118  having a recessed  120  that may be defined by an upper portion  122  and a lower portion  124  that extend further from the saddle than a medial portion  126 . 
         [0018]    The shape and configuration of the front end  108  and the back end  118  serve in part to assist in retaining a flotation member  128  to the saddle  102 . While the saddle  102  may be somewhat buoyant on its own, the flotation member  128  will serve to allow the watercraft  100  to support a working load on the surface of the water. The floatation members  128  may be user inflatable or may be formed by a closed cell material with inherent buoyancy. 
         [0019]    Attached to the left side  104  of the saddle  102 , a left foot platform  130  may be attached by a hinge  132 . Similarly, the right side  106  of the saddle  102  may have a right foot platform  134  attached by a hinge  136  (out of view). In embodiments where the foot platforms are attached by hinges, the floatation member  128  may be deflated and the left foot platform  130  and right foot platform  134  folded against the respective sides  104 ,  106  of the saddle  102  to create a compact configuration for transportation and/or storage of the watercraft  100 . As described in greater detail below, the watercraft  100  also provides for compact stowage of its own engine. 
         [0020]    The saddle  102  defines a passage  140  forward of the seating surface  107 . The passage  140  may be appropriately sized to pass and retain a motor  142 . The motor  142  may be an electric motor, such as a trolling motor, with certain modifications as described herein. The motor  142  generally includes a control head  144  that is used by the user to control the power output and direction of the motor  142 . 
         [0021]    A propeller assembly  146  is also provided on an opposite end of the motor  142 . In some embodiments, the propeller assembly  146  also includes an electric motor other engine which provides power to propellers to move the watercraft  100 . 
         [0022]    The control head  144  and the propeller assembly  146  may be connected to one another by a shaft  148 . In the present embodiment, the shaft  148  passes through the passage  140  such that the control head  144  will be user accessible while the propeller assembly  146  will be below the surface of the water. In the present embodiment, the shaft  148  comprises an upper shaft  150  and a lower shaft  152  connected by an articulating joint  154 . As will be explained in greater detail below, in some embodiments the joint  154  allows the motor  142  to have two distinct positions with respect to the saddle  102 . The configuration shown in  FIG. 1  is suitable for controlling and powering the direction of the watercraft  100  upon the surface of the water. 
         [0023]    In the present embodiment, the passage  140  at least partially contains a motor support insert  160 . In the present configuration, the motor support insert  160  includes a base  162  through which all or part of the shaft  148  may pass. An arm  164  secures a wedge member  166  which aids in retaining the upper shaft  152  in a coaxial position with the lower shaft  152 . It is understood that neither the passage  140  nor the motor support insert  160  will inhibit rotation of the shaft  148 . In this manner, although the upper shaft  150  and lower shaft  152  are retained in a coaxial relationship, they may still be rotated by user control upon the control head  144  such that the propeller assembly  146  may be rotated beneath the surface of the water. In the present embodiment, a collar  156  may be attached along the upper shaft  150  to prevent the motor  142  from traveling too far through the passage  140 . 
         [0024]    In embodiments that utilize an electrically powered motor such as the motor  142 , a power cord  170  may be provided. In the present embodiment, an internal compartment  171  is provided within the saddle  102  for housing an electric battery  172 . It is understood that the saddle  102  may have or define various other interior compartments and may also have a portion of the interior dedicated to additional or backup floatation for the watercraft  100 . Various other accessories may also be included with or attached to the saddle  102  such as a foldable seatback  180  and fishing rod holder  182 . 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a top view of the personal watercraft  100  is shown. In the present embodiment, the floatation member  128  is toroidal or donut shaped and inter-fits with the previously described front end  108  and back end  118  of the saddle  102 . In the present embodiment, the left foot platform  130  and the right foot platform  134  fold down relative to the saddle  102  before the floatation member  128  is inflated. In this manner, the floatation member  128  may serve to anchor the foot platforms in their downward or extended position. This also prevents at least a degree of water leakage from below the saddle  102 . 
         [0026]    In some embodiments, the floatation member provides storage pockets  186 . Other implements may also be provided (e.g., tie off loops, attachment rings). The floatation member  128  may also be provided with a durable cover, or otherwise colored according to the uses of the watercraft  100  (e.g., brightly or stylistically colored, drab, or camouflaged). In some embodiment, straps or tie off points (not shown) may be used for additional security between the flotation member  128  and the saddle  102 . 
         [0027]    From the view of  FIG. 2 , it may be seen how the motor  142  may be retracted up through the passage  140  and allowed to bend at the hinge or joint  154  such that the control head  144  and upper shaft  150  lie substantially horizontally and against the saddle  102 . In this configuration, it will be appreciated that the propeller assembly  146  will be substantially retracted into the saddle  102 . The propeller assembly may be retracted partially or completely into the passage  140  in the saddle  102 . In some embodiments, a lower portion of the passage  140  may be enlarged to accommodate the propeller assembly  146 . 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a close-up perspective view of the motor support insert  160 , along with the motor  142 , is shown. The view of  FIG. 3  illustrates the wedge member  166  retracted away from the base  162  to allow the upper shaft  150  to bend or fold relative to the lower shaft  152  at the joint  154 . In some embodiments the joint  154  will have only one degree of freedom such that the control head  144  and the propeller assembly  146  remain at a predetermined angle relative to one another. This may be useful in ensuring that the control head  144 , and any handle  316 , guide, or other protuberance, will lie on or against the saddle  102  in the most compact and efficient manner possible. Similarly, the propeller assembly  146  may need to be withdrawn into the saddle  102  at substantially the same angle each time for storage. By choosing the angle of the joint  154 , it may be assured that the control head  144  and the propeller assembly  146  are always at the correct angle relative to one another. In other embodiments, the joint  154  could be a universal joint such that the control head  144  and propeller assembly  146  would be allowed to lie at different angles relative to one another when the motor  142  is retracted. 
         [0029]    In the present embodiment, the base  162  comprises an upright  300  and an upright  302 , configured generally in a V-shape. In the present embodiment, the uprights  300   302  are connected by a horizontal connecting member  304  that also provides a passage  306  for the shaft  150 . The upright  300  provides a flat surface  308  while an opposite flat surface  310  is provided on the wedge member  166 . When the motor  142  is extended, and the wedge member  166  is placed in position against the shaft  150 , the collar  156  may rest against the adjacent flat surfaces  308 ,  310  to control the height and depth of the motor  142  (particularly the propeller assembly  146 ). The wedge member  166  provides a guide or groove  312  and an opposite guide or groove  314  is provided by the upright  300 . The wedge member  166 , when closed or locked as shown in  FIG. 1 , will lie between the upright  302  and the shaft  150  such that the groove  312  in combination with the groove  314  retains the pieces  150 ,  152  of the shaft  148  in the proper relationship. The dimensions of the shaft  150  and the constituent upper shaft  150  and lower shaft  152  can be chosen such that when the motor  142  is extended or deployed the joint  154  will be within the passage  306  of the connecting member  304 . This may provide additional rigidity of the relationship between the upper shaft  150  and the lower shaft  152 . 
         [0030]    Thus, the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and attain the ends and advantages mentioned above as well as those inherent therein. While presently preferred embodiments have been described for purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes and modifications will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Such changes and modifications are encompassed within the spirit of this invention as defined by the claims.