Planing boat with airbag system

A planing boat, particularly of a small size, is provided with an airbag system. The airbag system includes at least one bag-shaped airbag body, a housing which accommodates the airbag body, a detector for detecting a collision of the boat, an expanding unit which inflates the airbag body at the time of collision of the boat, and a controller for controlling the detector and the inflation of the airbag body. In a preferred embodiment, the airbag system includes a first airbag body in the handle cover which is blown up from the handle bar to a rear side of the boat and a second airbag body in the handle cover which is blown up toward a front side of knees of a rider.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a planing boat, particularly of small type, equipped with an airbag system.

2. Related Art

Recently, it is general for a four-wheel car to be provided with an airbag system as means for relaxing an impact on riders in a collision.

The airbag systems for four-wheel cars are based on the premise of using with a seatbelt and used for relaxing an impact on the riders in a car collision, and the seatbelt is for absorbing a force that throws the riders forwards.

As marine sports become popular, a collision between small planing boats such as motor boats and wet bikes (or personal watercrafts) increases. Accordingly, airbag systems for relaxing the impact on the riders at a boat collision have been researched and developed to be mounted.

An example of the airbag system provided for motor boats is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open (KOKAI) Publication No. HEI 7-108985, which is equipped with an airbag on the deck obliquely behind the cockpit surrounded by a cowling, this airbag being inflated manually when the rider feels or detects danger.

Although there is no example of airbags designed specifically for a wet bike in which a cockpit is exposed to the outside, there is another similar example of a wearable airbag suitable for protecting motor-bike riders (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. HEI 9-66789.

However, a small planing boat such as wet bike sometimes utilizes weight shift of the rider on a saddle-type driver's seat to control the operation, and in such a planing boat, no seatbelt is equipped. Accordingly, the airbag system for the four-wheel car based on the premise of utilizing the seatbelt is not suitable for such small planing boats. In addition, because of no seatbelt equipped, at a time of collision, a large force directed to the outside of the boat is applied to the rider in the small planing boat, being dangerous.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been conceived in consideration of the defects mentioned above, and an object of the invention is to provide a planing boat, particularly of small size, equipped with an airbag system capable of relaxing an impact on an rider at a time of collision and preventing the rider from being thrown to the outside of the boat.

The above and other objects can be achieved according to the present invention by providing, in one aspect, a planing boat with an airbag system comprising:

a boat body extending in a longitudinal direction of a planing boat;

an engine mounted in the boat body;

a steering handle bar supported by a steering shaft at an upper portion of the boat body so as to be tuned to right and left;

a handle cover which covers the handle bar;

a hood which covers a front half upper surface of the boat body in front of the handle bar;

a rider driving seat disposed behind the handle bar; and

an airbag system including at least one bag-shaped airbag body, a housing which accommodates the airbag body, a detector for detecting a collision of the boat, an expanding unit which inflates or blows up the airbag body at the time of collision of the boat, and a controller for controlling the detector and the inflation of the airbag body,

the airbag system including a first airbag body in the handle cover which is blown up from the handle bar to a rear side of the boat and a second airbag body in the handle cover which is blown up toward a front side of knees of a rider.

In this first aspect, preferable embodiments or examples may further provide the following features.

The handle bar and the handle cover are mounted to the boat body to be detachable in a set with the housing. The steering shaft is divided axially into divided pieces which are coupled together with a joint, and a whirl-stopping member is disposed so as to stop whirl motion of the steering shaft and the joint.

The detector is mounted to the boat body to be detachable in a set with a portion of the boat body. The airbag body is colored in a color other than blue and green or coated with a fluorescent paint. The engine is a four-stroke-cycle engine.

The airbag system includes further airbag bodies which are disposed in the grips on both ends of the handle bar so as to be expanded and brown up along the width of the boat body.

The airbag system includes still further airbag bodies which are disposed in broadsides of the boat body so as to be expanded and blown up upward along the width of the boat body to cover rider's feet decks in a side view. The airbag system is switched to be operated “ON” and “OFF”.

In a second aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a planing boat with an airbag system comprising:

a boat body extending in a longitudinal direction of a planing boat;

an engine mounted in the boat body;

a steering handle bar disposed at an upper portion of the boat body;

a meter panel disposed in front of the handle bar;

a hood which covers a front half upper surface of the boat body in front of the meter panel;

a frame extending along the longitudinal direction of the boat body at a bottom portion thereof;

a support frame provided in the vicinity of a distal end portion of the frame so as to extend toward a lower surface of the hood; and

an airbag system including at least one bag-shaped airbag body, a housing which accommodates the airbag body, a detector for detecting a collision of the boat, an expanding unit which inflates or blows up the airbag body at the time of collision of the boat, and a controller for controlling the detector and the inflation of the airbag body,

wherein the airbag body is disposed under the hood and is set so as to blow up toward the meter panel by utilizing a portion of the hood covering an upper portion of the meter panel as a guide slop.

The present invention of this second aspect may provides the following preferred embodiments or examples.

The airbag system is mounted to the boat body to be detachable in a set with portion of the boat body.

The detector is mounted to the boat body to be detachable in a set with a portion of the boat body. The detector may be mounted to be integral with the housing. The airbag body is colored in a color other than blue and green or coated with a fluorescent paint.

The engine is mounted in the boat body below the rider seat, auxiliary engine machinery including a fuel tank is disposed in front of the engine in the boat body, and the airbag body is disposed in a space above the auxiliary engine machinery. The engine is a four-stroke-cycle engine.

The frame has an end portion located between the collision detector and the housing disposed under the hood.

The airbag system includes further airbag bodies which are disposed in the grips on both ends of the handle bar so as to be expanded and brown up along the width of the boat body.

The airbag system includes still further airbag bodies which are disposed in broadsides of the boat body so as to be expanded and blown up upward along the width of the boat body to cover rider's feet decks in a side view. The airbag system is switched to be operated “ON” and “OFF”.

In a third aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a planing boat with an airbag system comprising:

a boat body extending in a longitudinal direction of a planing boat;

an engine mounted in the boat body;

a steering handle bar supported by a steering shaft at an upper portion of the boat body so as to be turned to right and left;

a handle cover which covers the handle bar;

a meter panel disposed in front of the handle bar;

a hood which covers a front half upper surface of the boat body in front of the meter panel;

a frame extending along the longitudinal direction of the boat body at a bottom portion thereof;

a rider driving seat disposed behind the handle bar;

a support frame provided in the vicinity of a distal end portion of the frame so as to extend toward a lower surface of the hood; and

an airbag system including at least one bag-shaped airbag body, a housing which accommodates the airbag body, a detector for detecting a collision of the boat, an expanding unit which inflates or blows up the airbag body at the time of collision of the boat, and a controller for controlling the detector and the inflation of the airbag body,

wherein the airbag system including a first airbag body in the handle cover which is blown up from the handle bar to a rear side of the boat, a second airbag body in the handle cover which is blown up toward a front side of knees of a rider, and a third airbag body supported by the support frame and disposed under the hood so as to expand and inflate toward the meter panel by utilizing a portion of the hood covering the upper portion of the meter panel as a guide slop, the first, second and third airbag bodies being activated such that, depending on a degree of the collision, only the airbag body disposed in the handle cover is blown up, all the airbag bodies are blown up at the same time, or the airbag body disposed under the hood is blown up with a time lag relative to the airbag body disposed in the handle cover.

The present invention of this third aspect may be provided with the following preferred embodiments or examples.

That is, a timing of blowing up the airbag body disposed under the hood is delayed from a timing of blowing up the airbag body disposed in the handle cover, and the expanded and blown-up area of the airbag body disposed under the hood is set to be wider than that of the airbag body disposed in the handle cover.

The airbag body disposed under the hood is set to be contracted, after the blowing up thereof, at a time later than the contraction of the airbag body disposed in the handle cover, set to be hardly contracted, or set not to be contracted. The airbag body is colored in a color other than blue and green or coated with a fluorescent paint.

The engine is mounted in the boat body below the rider seat, auxiliary engine machinery including a fuel tank is disposed in front of the engine in the boat body, and the airbag body is disposed in a space above the auxiliary engine machinery.

The airbag body disposed in the handle cover has a size along the width of the boat body, which is set to be larger than the width of the handle bar and smaller than the width of the boat body, and the airbag body disposed under the hood has a size which is set to be larger than the width of the boat body.

The steering shaft is divided axially into divided pieces which are coupled together with a joint, and a whirl-stopping member is disposed so as to stop whirl motion of the steering shaft and the joint.

The engine is a four-stroke-cycle engine.

The frame has an end portion located between the collision detector and the housing disposed under the hood.

The airbag system includes further airbag bodies which are disposed in the grips on both ends of the handle bar so as to expand and brow up along the width of the boat body. The airbag system includes still further airbag bodies which are disposed in broadsides of the boat body so as to expand and blow up upward along the width of the boat body to cover rider's feet decks in a side view. The airbag system is switched to be operated “ON” and “OFF”.

According to the planing boat, particularly of small size, with an airbag system of the aspects and preferred embodiments of the present invention mentioned above, the rider can be prevented from striking against the steering handle and the meter panel and also from being thrown outside the boat. The maintenance and detachment of the airbag system from outside the boat body can be facilitated and improved as well as handling of the airbag body and/or air bag bodies, thereby facilitating restoration to traveling on its own power.

The airbag system can easily be dismounted from the boat body for storage when the planing boat is out of use. The high viewability of the airbag body from a distance can be achieved by applying specific colors or like, facilitating discovery of accident boats and rescue of riders.

The distal end of the boat body is endowed with an impact absorbing function, so that it protects the rider effectively, and the distal end of the boat body is also endowed with a waterproof function, thus preventing the inside of the boat body from invading of water even if the distal end of the boat body absorbs an impact and is deformed.

The nature and further characteristic features of the present invention will be made clear from the following descriptions with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described hereunder with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2represent the first embodiment of the present invention, and as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, a planing boat1, particularly of small size, includes a steering handle bar3at a central upper portion of a boat body2, and a straddle type driving seat4for an rider6is disposed on the rear side of the handle bar3. In front of the handle bar3, a meter panel5is disposed. Decks7for the rider6to place his/her feet are provided on both sides of the driving seat4.

The front half of the small planing boat1is covered with an openable hood8, and the meter panel5is also covered with a portion of the hood8. The handle bar3is covered with a handle cover9and has grips10on both ends. Rear view mirrors11are attached to both sides of the boat body2between the handle bar3and the meter panel5thereof.

With reference toFIGS. 3 to 5, the boat body2is provided with an engine12and auxiliary engine machinery such as a heat exchanger13, a muffler14, and a fuel tank15. The engine12is a water-cooled four-stroke-cycle multiple-cylinder engine in which a plurality of upstanding cylinders (four cylinders in this embodiment) are arranged in parallel with the axis16of the boat body2in its advancing (longitudinal) direction and is mounted below the driving seat4substantially at the central portion of the boat body2. The engine12employs a dry sump lubrication system in which an oil tank17is provided separately in front thereof.

Furthermore, one side end of, for example, an intake system20such as a carburetor18, a fuel injector, and an air cleaner19is connected to one end, i.e., left side end, of the engine12, and on the other hand, an exhaust pipe22constituting an exhaust system21is connected to the other end, i.e. right side end thereof. The downstream end of the exhaust pipe22is connected to the muffler14constituting another exhaust system21disposed on the rearmost end of the boat body2.

An impeller shaft23extends from the rear side of the engine12backwards in parallel with the axis16of the boat body so as to penetrate a jet pump24provided at the bottom portion of the boat, and an impeller80is disposed at the rear end portion thereof. The jet pump24has a jet nozzle25at the rear end so as to project from the rearmost end of the boat body2.

When the engine12is driven to rotate the impeller shaft23, the water in the bottom of the boat is sucked by the jet pump24through the operation of the impeller80and jetted through the jet nozzle25backwards. The planing boat1moves forwards by the reaction of this jetting, and the jet nozzle25is laterally rotatable by the operation of the handle bar3supported by a steering shaft26so as to be turnable to the right and left, thus freely changing the moving direction of the planing boat1.

The engine-cooling heat exchanger13is disposed behind the intake system20. The heat exchanger13cools the cooling water heated by circulating in the engine12with sea water etc. taken from the exterior. An inlet (intake) port27for sea water is formed in the vicinity of the jet nozzle25. An outlet (exhaust) port28for sea water is also formed in the port wall of the boat body2, for example. The heat exchanger13, the inlet port27and the outlet port28are communicated together by means of hose29.

The fuel tank15is disposed in the space in front of the engine12and covered with the hood8. An oil passage30extends from the upper surface of the fuel tank15toward the deck7of the boat body2. An oil filler port31opposed to the deck7is closed by a cap32.

Frames33extending along the longitudinal direction of the boat body2are disposed on both sides of the boat body2. The frames33are connected to each other with bridge members34ato34c. The rigidity of the distal end of the boat body2is set to be lower than that of the other portions of the boat body2. An elastic material35such as rubber is applied to the inside of the distal end of the boat body2so as to form a double structure to thereby provide a waterproof function.

The small planing boat1according to the first embodiment of the present invention has an airbag system41serving as means for relaxing an impact on the rider6at a time of collision. According to this first embodiment, the airbag system41principally includes two kinds of waterproof and water-repellent bag-shaped airbag bodies42and43, made of rubber or the like, housings44and45for accommodating and holding the airbag bodies42and43in an folded state, inflators46and47for generating, e.g., high-pressure gas serving as means for inflating the airbag bodies42and43in the collision of the boat body2, a G-sensor48for sensing the acceleration (G) by the collision of the boat body2and determining the activation of the inflators46and47, and a controller49for controlling the G-sensor48and the inflation of the airbag bodies42and43.

Although the G-sensor48is adopted as a sensor for detecting the collision in this embodiment, it is not limited to such acceleration (G) sensor and any kind of sensor may be utilized for detecting the collision.

The airbag bodies42and43are provided with housings44and45, respectively, which are disposed in the handle bar3at an upper portion of the steering shaft26(specifically, inside the handle cover9covering the handle bar3). Further, it is desirable that the controller49is disposed apart from a waterline81as much as possible.

The housing44is disposed at the upper central portion in the handle cover9so that one42of the airbag bodies42and43is inflated and blown up from the handle bar3to the rear side of the boat body2to prevent the collision of the rider6against the handle bar3.

A pair of left and right housings45are disposed at lower both sides in the handle cover9so that the other airbag bodies43expand and blow up toward the front of the knees of the rider6to protect the knees of the rider from impact in the collision. A portion of the handle cover9directly above the housing44and another portion of the handle cover9just beside the housings45have openings so that the airbag bodies42and43inflate externally from the boat body2. The openings are closed by airbag covers50and51to be closed and opened.

A width H2of the airbag body42in the width direction of the boat body2is set to be larger than a width H1of the handle bar3and to be smaller than a width H3of the boat body2(i.e., H1<H2<H3). The airbag bodies42and43are colored in relatively conspicuous color other than blue and green, for example, yellow or orange. The airbag bodies42and43may also be coated with a fluorescent paint.

The steering shaft26may be divided axially into pieces, and the handle bar3and the handle cover9can be detached from the boat body2, with the housings44and45mounted thereto.

A stay52extending forward is detachably mounted to the bridge34aconnecting the front ends of the left and right frames33. The G-sensor48is mounted to the front end of the stay52in the front space at the distal end of the boat body2, which is covered by the hood8. The controller49is disposed in the vicinity of the meter panel5in the space covered by the hood8, below the meter panel5in this embodiment. The G-sensor48detects the acceleration along the longitudinal direction of the boat body2at the time of collision of the boat body2and transmits the acceleration to the controller49. When the controller49determines that the acceleration has exceeded an allowance, the controller49generates a driving signal to the inflators46and47to inflate the airbag bodies42and43.

The controller49, the G-sensor48, and the inflators46and47on the housings44and45are connected by a harness53. In the middle of the harness53, joint members such couplers54are provided, by which these members or units are connected so as to be separated from the boat body2or partially connected thereto.

FIGS. 6 to 8show a small planing boat55according to the second embodiment of the invention. The basic structure of the planing boat55of this second embodiment is the same as that of the planing boat1of the first embodiment. Accordingly, the same reference numerals are added to the same or like components or elements of this second embodiment and the detailed description thereof is omitted herein.

As shown inFIGS. 6 to 8, an airbag system56provided for the planing boat55of this embodiment also includes a bag-shaped airbag body57, made of rubber or the like, a housing58for accommodating the airbag body57in an folded state, an inflator60for generating, e.g., high-pressure gas serving as means for inflating the airbag body57at the time of collision of a boat body59, the G-sensor48for sensing the acceleration (G) by the collision of the boat body59and determining the activation of the inflator60, and the controller49for controlling the G-sensor48and the inflation or blowing-up of the airbag body57. The sensor for detecting a collision is not limited to the G-sensor48, but any kind of sensor detecting the collision may be adopted such as in the first embodiment.

A support frame61extending toward the lower surface of the hood8is provided in the vicinity of the distal end, desirably, behind the distal (front) end, between the left and right frames33under the hood8and in front of the fuel tank15in the front space covered with the hood8and in front of the engine12. The housing58for accommodating the airbag body57is detachably mounted on the upper surface of the support frame61with fixtures such as screws62. The inflator60is mounted to the lower surface of the housing58, for example.

The hood8directly above the housing58is opened so that the airbag body57can blow up outside the boat body59. The opening is closed by an airbag cover63to be openable by the airbag cover63. The airbag body57blows up toward the meter panel5by utilizing a slop, as a guide, being a portion of the hood8covering the upper portion of the meter panel5, thereby preventing the rider6from being thrown forwards when colliding. A width H4of the airbag body57along the width of the boat body59is set larger than the width H3of the boat body59(i.e., H3<H4). The airbag body57is colored in relatively conspicuous color other than blue and green, for example, yellow or orange. The airbag body57may also be coated with a fluorescent paint.

The stay52extending forward is detachably mounted to the bridges34ato34cconnecting the ends of the left and right frames33in front of the housing58. The G-sensor48is mounted to the front end of the stay52in the front space at the distal end of the boat body59, which is covered by the hood8. Because it is desired that the controller is disposed to be apart from the waterline81as much as possible, the controller49is disposed in the vicinity of the meter panel5in the space covered by the hood8, below the meter panel5in this embodiment.

The controller49, the G-sensor48, and the inflator60on the housing58are connected by the harness53. In the middle of the harness53, joint members such couplers54are provided, with which the units are disconnectably connected to be separated from or partly connected to the boat body59, as in the first embodiment.

FIGS. 9 to 11show a small planing boat64according to a third embodiment of the invention. The basic structure of the planing boat64according to the third embodiment is the same as that of the planing boat1according to the first embodiment. Accordingly, the same components are given the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted.

As shown inFIGS. 9 to 11, an airbag system65provided to a planing boat64is equipped with both of the airbag system41according to the first embodiment and the airbag system56according to the second embodiment.

Specifically, the airbag system65includes the airbag body42disposed at the upper central portion in the handle cover9, for preventing the collision of the rider6against the handle bar3by blowing up from the handle bar3to the rear of a boat body66at the time of collision, the airbag bodies43disposed on both sides of the lower portion in the handle cover9and blowing up toward the front of the knees of the rider6to protect the knees in the collision, and the airbag body57disposed under the hood8and blowing up toward the meter panel5, for preventing the rider6from being thrown forwards at the time of collision. Since the controller49, the G-sensor48, the harness53, the coupler54, etc. are common to those in the former embodiments, their description will be omitted here. The G-sensor48is also the same as that in the first or second embodiment, and any kind of sensor detecting a collision may be employed.

It is not necessarily for all the airbag bodies42,43, and57to be activated at the same time and they may be set to be activated separately or synchronously as occasion demands or depending on situations such as magnitude of the collision. For example, only the airbag bodies42and43disposed in the vicinity of the handle bar3may be blown up separately at the time of a small collision, and all the airbag bodies42,43, and57may be blown up at the same time in a large collision. Further, in the former example, the airbag body57disposed under the hood8may be blown up with a time lag relative to the airbag bodies42and43disposed in the vicinity of the handle bar3, and in other words, the timing of blowing up of the airbag body57disposed under the hood8may be delayed from the timing of blowing up of the airbag bodies42and43disposed in the vicinity of the handle bar3.

At that time, the G-sensor48and the controller49for controlling the blowing-up of the airbag bodies42,43, and57may be operated in two systems in which the airbag bodies42and43disposed in the vicinity of the handle bar3and the airbag body57disposed under the hood8are separated from each other, or alternatively, operated in one system in which the timings of the blowing-up of the respective airbag bodies42,43, and57are controlled by the controller49.

The width H2of the airbag body42along the width (i.e., lateral direction) of the boat body66, which is disposed in the upper central portion in the handle cover9, is set larger than the width H1of the handle bar3and smaller than the width H3of the boat body66, and the width H4of the airbag body57disposed under the hood8is set larger than the width H3of the boat body66(i.e., H1<H2<H3<H4). The blowing-up area and volume of the airbag body57disposed under the hood8are made to be wider and higher than those of the airbag body42disposed in the upper central portion in the handle cover9.

FIGS. 12 to 14show a small planing boat67according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, and the basic structure of the small planing boat67according to this fourth embodiment is the same as that of the small planing boat1of the first embodiment. Accordingly, the same reference numerals are added to the same or corresponding elements or components of this embodiment, and their description will be omitted herein.

As shown inFIGS. 12 to 14, an airbag system68provided for a planing boat67is equipped with the airbag system65according to the third embodiment and also a plurality of airbag bodies for protecting the rider6from a side crash.

Specifically, the airbag system68includes the airbag body42disposed at the upper central portion in the handle cover9, for preventing the collision of the rider6against the handle bar3by blowing up from the handle bar3to the rear of a boat body69, the airbag bodies43disposed on both sides of the lower portion in the handle cover9and blown up toward the front of the knees of the rider6to protect the knees when colliding, the airbag body57disposed under the hood8and blown up toward the meter panel5, for preventing the rider6from being thrown forwards in a collision, a pair of left and right airbag bodies70held in the grips10at both ends of the handle bar3and blow up along the width of the boat body69, for protecting the side of the rider6, and a pair of left and right airbag bodies71held in both broadsides of the boat body69and blow up upwards along the width of the boat body69to cover the decks7for the feet of the rider6as viewed from the side, for protecting the feet of the rider6.

A pair of left and right support frames72extending upwards are provided substantially at the central portion of the left and right frames33, on which housings73accommodating the airbag bodies71in a folded state are provided. A G-sensor74is provided under each housing73. An inflator75is disposed, e.g., behind each housing73.

The broadsides of the housings73have openings so that the airbag bodies71can blow up outside the boat body69. The openings are each openably closed by an airbag cover78. Since the controller49, the G-sensor48for the airbag bodies42,43, and57, the harness53, the coupler54, etc. are common to the aforementioned embodiments, their description will be omitted herein.

The airbag body57is disposed under the hood8so as to be contracted, after the blowing-up, at a time to be later than that of the airbag body42disposed in the upper central portion in the handle cover9or to be hardly contract, or the airbag body57disposed under the hood8can be set not to be contracted after the blowing-up, thereby providing a condition or state of a mat.

As shown inFIGS. 15 and 16, when the airbag body57disposed under the hood8takes a non-contracted state and provides the mat state after the blowing-up, the airbag body57can be used as a float (buoy) by moving it to the front side of the boat body59.

FIGS. 17 and 18show a small planing boat85according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, and the basic structure of the planing boat85according to this fifth embodiment is the same as that of the planing boat1of the first embodiment. Accordingly, the same reference numerals are added to the same or corresponding components or elements in this embodiment, and the description thereof is now omitted herein.

As shown inFIGS. 17 and 18, the small planing boat85differs from the small planing boat1according to the first embodiment in that the planing boat85has no frames33, which are provided to the planing boat1of the first embodiment and extend along the longitudinal direction of the boat body2on both sides of the bottom portion thereof.

Accordingly, a G sensor86for detecting a collision can be mounted to the front end of a stay88of a boat body87, which extends from the back of the hood8toward the front lower portion.

Incidentally, as a characteristic feature common to all the above embodiments is that the operation of the airbag systems41,56,65, and68can be switched to be “ON” or “OFF” to prevent the malfunction thereof due to a small impact that will occur inevitably when the broadside of the boat bodies2,59,66, and69strike against a berth when the small planing boats1,55,64, and67approach or leave the berth. That is, specifically, there are a method of switching, e.g., an ON/OFF switch82(refer toFIG. 2) manually and a method in which the controller49has the function of controlling the airbag systems41,56,65, and68automatically to be “ON” or “OFF” depending on the speed lower than a specified speed.

It is more convenient to integrate the housings44,45,58, and73for holding the airbag bodies42,43,57,70, and71with the inflators46,47,60, and75, respectively, as a characteristic common to all the above embodiments, because they can easily be replaced or maintained in a cassette state.

Further, in the foregoing embodiments, the housings44and45are mounted in the handle cover9, for example, the steering shaft26can be divided axially and as such, the handle bar3, and the handle cover9can be detached from the boat body2, with the housings44and45mounted thereto. In the concrete structural example thereof, as shown inFIG. 19, the axially divided pieces of the steering shaft26are coupled together with a joint55, and whirl-stop means such as serrations is disposed so as to stop the whirl, i.e., rotation, of the steering shaft26and the joint77.

Further, it may be desired to dispose the dividing position of the steering shaft26outside the boat body2when placing high priority on detachability. On the other hand, for waterproofing, it is desirable to dispose the dividing position of the steering shaft26in the boat body2.

Furthermore, in the foregoing embodiments, the housing58disposed under the hood8and the G-sensor48are separately mounted to the frame33. However, as shown inFIG. 20, it is also possible to provide a stay90extending from the front portion of a housing89toward the front lower portion, and a G-sensor91for sensing a collision is mounted to the front end of the stay90, thereby integrating the housing89and the G-sensor91.

The operation of the planing boats according to the embodiments will be described hereunder.

When the small planing boats1,55,64,67, and85collides against another boat or obstacle, the G-sensors48,74, and86detect the longitudinal (or lateral) acceleration of the boat bodies2,59,66,69, and87, and at this instance, when the controller49determines that the acceleration has exceeded an allowance, it generates a signal to the inflators46,47,60, and75to inflate or blow up the airbag bodies42,43,57,70, and71to prevent the rider6from striking against the handle bar3and the meter panel5and prevent the rider6from being thrown outside the boat bodies2,59,66,69, and87depending on acceleration, respectively. In the present invention, it is allowed for the G-sensors48,74, and86only to detect the collision.

Specifically, the handle cover9covering the handle bar3at an upper portion of the steering shaft26accommodates the airbag body42which expands and brows up from the handle bar3to the rear side of the boat body2and the airbag body43which expands and blows up to the front side of the knees of the rider6. Accordingly, the kinetic energy of the rider6can be effectively absorbed on the back side of the handle bar3to thereby prevent the collision of the rider6against the handle bar3and protect the knees of the rider6.

The airbag body57is provided in the front space in front of the engine12and covered by the hood8, the airbag body57expanding toward the meter panel5by utilizing the portion of the hood8, which covers the upper part of the meter panel5, as a guide slop, a the time of collision. Accordingly, the rider6is prevented from being thrown forwards depending on the acceleration of the boat body59. The support frame61extending toward the lower surface of the hood8is provided in the vicinity of the distal ends of the frames33, on which the housing58of the airbag body57is provided under the hood8. Accordingly, the housing58can be disposed in a position of a level higher than the waterline81, allowing the influence of water to be prevented and facilitating the maintenance and detachment of the airbag system56from outside the boat body59. This also prevents the influence of water on the controller49as an electronic device.

The pair of left and right airbag bodies70which blow up along the width of the boat body69are accommodated in the grips10at both ends of the handle bar3. Accordingly, an impact on the rider6by a collision applied against the side portion of the boat can be relaxed as like as the side airbag of a four-wheel car. The airbag bodies71which blow up upward along the width of the boat body69to cover the rider's feet decks7in a side view are provided in both broadsides of the boat body69. Accordingly, the normally bare legs of the rider6can be protected from the impact of the side collision.

The planing boats1,55,64,67, and85are generally used in a summer season and are left for a long time in, for example, a winter season. Furthermore, the boats are sometimes left for a long time under a bad environment such as outdoors. The airbag systems41,56,65, and68can easily be dismounted from the boat bodies2,59,66,69, and87and stored in a good environment when the planing boats1,55,64,67, and85are out of use. Thus, the functions of the airbag systems41,56,65, and68can be maintained in good conditions all the time.

When the airbag systems41,56,65, and68, in a set with a portion of the boat bodies2,59,66,69, and87, can be dismounted from the boat bodies2,59,66,69, and87, or specifically, the handle bar3and the handle cover9, in a set with the accommodation housings44and45being mounted, can be dismounted from the boat body2, the airbag systems41,56,65, and.68can be dismounted in a unit basis (in a module basis). Accordingly, the airbag systems41,56,65, and68can easily be dismounted from the boat bodies2,59,66,69, and87for storage when the planing boats1,55,64,67, and85are out of use. Further, these airbag systems may of course be dismounted separately.

With the structure in which the housings44,45,58,73, and89of the airbag systems41,56,65, and68can easily be dismounted from the boat bodies2,59,66,69, and87, in a case that the planing boats1,55,64,67, and85is received with a collision and the airbag systems41,56,65, and68are activated, if the boat bodies2,59,66,69, and87are still available for traveling, the planing boats1,55,64,67, and85can easily be restored to driving on their own power by easily handling (dismounting) the airbag systems41,56,65, and68. In this case, it will be more convenient that the inflators46,47,60, and75are constructed to be integral with the housings44,45,58,73, and89, respectively.

The G-sensor48serving as means for sensing acceleration is disposed in the front space at the distal end of the boat body2which is covered with the hood8. Accordingly, the G-sensor48can be protected from water, salt, fur, ice, etc. In addition, with the structure in which the G-sensor48is mounted detachably to the boat body2, the G-sensor48can easily be dismounted for storage at the time when the boat body2is left unused for a long time or at night, and hence, the malfunction of the G-sensor48can be prevented from causing and the durability thereof can be improved.

The stay90extending from the front portion of the housing89toward the front lower side is provided, to the front end of which the G-sensor91for detecting acceleration is mounted to integrate the housing89and the G-sensor91together. Thus, the detachability in a unit basis (module basis), can be improved, hence, facilitating maintenance and dismounting of such equipments.

For the airbag system65including a plurality of airbag bodies42,43, and53, when the airbag bodies42,43, and53are set to be activated separately or cooperatively depending on the severity or magnitude of the collision, even if the airbag system41is activated in a small collision, the airbag system41can easily be dismounted when the boat body2is available for traveling, thus facilitating restoration to traveling on its own power. Furthermore, the labor and cost for replacing the activated airbag system41can be reduced.

Since the timing of expansion or blowing-up of the airbag body57disposed under the hood8is delayed from the timing of blowing-up of the airbag body42disposed in the vicinity of the handle bar3, a two-step countermeasure will be made possible, in which the airbag body42disposed in the vicinity of the handle bar3first absorbs an impact on the rider6due to the collision, and the airbag body57disposed under the hood8then protects the rider6. Since the rider6is not always positioned just in front of the boat body2, when the blowing-up area of the airbag body57disposed under the hood8is set to be wider than that of the airbag body42disposed in the vicinity of the handle bar3, the probability of capturing the rider6will be increased.

Even if the planing boats1,55,64,67, and85, which plane on water, are received with a collision and the boats become an unavailable condition or it becomes impossible for the rider6to manage the boats, the airbag bodies42,43,57,70, and71, which are colored in relatively conspicuous color other than blue and green, for example, yellow or orange, have high viewability, thus easily discovering the boat bodies2,59,66,69, and87and promptly rescuing the rider6by another person because of such viewable coloring.

Furthermore, in the structure in which the airbag body57disposed under the hood8is brought into a mat state without contraction after the blowing-up, the airbag body57can be utilized as a cushion for the rider6and kinetic energy thereof can be absorbed by the airbag body42disposed in the vicinity of the handle bar3, and the airbag body57can also be used as a float (buoy) to prevent the boat body59from sinking under water after the collision, and in such case, the rider6can use the airbag body57as a rescue float.

The width H2of the airbag body42along the width of the boat body66, which is disposed in the upper central portion in the handle cover9, is set to be larger than the width H1of the handle bar3and smaller than the width H3of the boat body2. The width H4of the airbag body57disposed under the hood8is set to be larger than the width H3of the boat body66. The volume of the airbag body57disposed under the hood8is set to be larger than the volume of the airbag body42disposed at the upper central portion in the handle cover9. Such dimensional arrangement makes it possible to increase the probability of capturing the rider6and, thereby, prevent the rider6from striking against the hood8when the boat body66collides with another one or like.

In the examples of the above-mentioned embodiments, the inflators46,47,60, and75using high-pressure gas are used as means for expanding and inflating (i.e., blowing up) the airbag bodies42,43,57,70, and71. Alternatively, an inflator using explosive or an electrically blowing-up inflator may be used. A supply source for stating the activation or operation of the airbag systems41,56,65, and68may be either a general battery92or the generator of the engine12.

It may be required for the two-stroke-cycle engines to have large chambers for exhaust with high heat, and this causes limitations in layout when the airbag systems41,56,65, and68employing high-pressure gas or explosive for the inflators46,47,60, and75are disposed in the boat bodies2,59,66,69, and87with a two-stroke-cycle engine.

On the other hand, the use of a four-stroke-cycle engine12increases the flexibility of layout of the airbag systems41,56,65, and68as compared with those with the two-stroke-cycle engine.

Even with the four-stroke-cycle engine12, some heat is generated, that is, for example, the dry-sump oil tank17, the exhaust pipe22, and the muffler14generate heat. Accordingly, when the engine12is disposed under the rider driving seat4substantially at the central portion of the boat body2and the auxiliary engine machinery such as the fuel tank15is disposed in the boat body2, a space remote from such heat source can be formed at the portion or part in front of the engine12and covered with the hood8, making it possible to provide the space for the airbag system56.

In the foregoing embodiments, the engine12employs a dry sump lubrication system with a separate oil tank17. The engine12may, however, employ a general wet sump lubrication system without oil tank17as separate component.

Incidentally, a wet-bike type small planing boat generally has no frame33. However, when the airbag system56is disposed in the front central portion of the boat body59, it is advantageous to provide the frames33to protect the airbag system56from the deformation of the boat body59at the time of collision. In this case, it is desirable for the frames33to have rigidity. In the case where the G-sensor48for detecting the collision of the boat body59is disposed behind the front end of the frames33, there is a case that the boat body59cannot work effectively.

However, according to the present invention, when the planing boats1,55,64,67, and85themselves have some rigidity and the airbag bodies42and43are disposed in the handle cover9, which is hardly influenced by the deformation of the boats, it is not always necessary to dispose the frames33(refer to the fifth embodiment). That is, it is important for the boat to have a structure such that the deformation of the boat gives no effect on the activation of the airbag body.

On the other hand, in the structure in which the housing58for accommodating and holding the airbag body57is disposed ahead of the front end portions of the frames33, the housing58may be deformed by the impact of the collision, which interferes with the activation of the airbag. Accordingly, when the G-sensor48is disposed in front of the end portions of the frames33, and the housing58is disposed behind the front end portions of the frames33, or when the end portions of the frames33are positioned between the G-sensor48and the housing58, the above defective matters can be overcome and solved.

Furthermore, in the structure in which the rigidity of the distal ends of the boat bodies2,59,66,69, and87are set to be lower than that of the other parts of the boat bodies2,59,66,69, and87, the distal ends of the boat bodies2,59,66,69, and87are endowed with an impact absorbing function, providing effective protective function to the rider6, in association with the functions of the airbag systems41,56,65, and68. In addition, since the inside of the distal end of the boat body2is coated with the elastic material35such as rubber to form a double structure and render it waterproof, the boat bodies2,59,66,69, and87can be prevented from invading of water even if the distal ends of the boat bodies2,59,66,69, and87absorb the impact and then are deformed.

Still furthermore, the airbag bodies42,43,57,70, and71are made of a waterproof and water-repellent material such as rubber, the blowing-up of the airbag bodies42,43,57,70, and71cannot be hindered by water. Moreover, since the expanded airbag bodies42,43,57,70, and71do not absorb water or contain no water therein, it is easy to handle the expanded airbag systems41,56,65, and68, taking no long time to restore the traveling on their own power, thus being advantageous. In addition, the rubber material is easy to reproduce, has elasticity, and is easy to handle in water.

It is further to be noted that the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments and many other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scopes of the appended claims.