Abstract:
A substantially circular watercraft has a buoyant, generally toroidal hull supporting a rigid deck with an outer periphery in substantial conformance with the perimeter of the hull. The deck has an opening located above the central opening of the hull to permit placement of power means to drive and steer the watercraft. The hull is made of a substantially rigid material and in a preferred embodiment the hull and deck are formed from a molded plastic. The leading edge of the watercraft is equipped with a “Carolina flare” which provides greater ease of movement through the water.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the field of personal watercrafts. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Single person watercraft, such as those that can be used for fishing, which can be transported to the water&#39;s edge and launched without a boat trailer or a launch ramp are very popular in some circles since they enable the fisherman to get on the water without a major financial investment. They also allow access to many smaller or hard to reach bodies of water that would be totally inaccessible with a full-size boat and trailer. Moreover, personal and lightweight watercraft can be less obtrusive, making the boating and fishing experience more enjoyable. 
     However, one-man boats which are currently commercially available also have a number of shortcomings. For example, one type of such boat is known as a “floater” or “belly boat” in which the fisherman rides along in an inflated inner tube with his legs and feet dangling down below the tube. The fisherman frequently uses fins or other propelling devices secured to his feet or legs to propel the floater through the water when he wants to change from one fishing spot to the next. Obviously, the fisherman is seriously limited in the amount of equipment he can take along, and forcing him to partially submerge himself in order to make the floater work properly has a number of drawbacks. In addition, visibility is somewhat sacrificed, since eye level is so close to the water. Casting and retrieving may also be more difficult. 
     Another type of one-man craft is simply a very small boat in which the fisherman is completely up out of the water, riding inside the protected hull of the craft. Such boats are typically propelled either by small electric or gasoline motors, or by paddles and oars. However, while the fisherman remains high and dry out of the water in such a craft, its stability may be sacrificed because of the relatively elevated position of the operator. In many instances, the boat presents rather cramped quarters, particularly when tackle boxes, poles, and other items are carried on board. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In a first embodiment, the invention includes a watercraft with a substantially circular hull having a leading end, a trailing end, a top wall, an outer annular sidewall and an inner annular sidewall. A recessed deck extends the distance between diametrically opposed portions of the inner sidewall so as to present a closed top for the hull. A bottom extends completely across the bottom of the hull, leading end and trailing end thereby defining an interior volume. The leading of the hull projects upwardly from the bottom to the annular top wall of the hull. Preferably the hull, deck and bottom are formed from a molded resin. 
     In one embodiment the recessed deck is substantially parallel to the bottom. Here, the recessed deck connects to the inner annular sidewall at a substantially right angle. A port extends through the deck to the bottom through the interior volume. 
     In another embodiment the trailing end is substantially flat. The hull has a longitudinal axis extending from the leading end to the trailing end thereof and the trailing end is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The trailing end is wider at the top wall than at the bottom. 
     In yet another embodiment the leading end comprises a lower wall projecting upward from the bottom and an upper wall extending upward from the lower wall at one end and connecting to a portion of the top wall. Handholds formed in the underside of the top wall projecting over the upper wall. 
     The bottom of the watercraft comprises a plurality of strakes. In this embodiment, as before, the hull has a longitudinal axis extending from the leading end to the trailing end thereof and the strakes run parallel to the longitudinal axis. The bottom comprises at least a pair of strakes each one disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the watercraft and extending the length of the bottom at a point midway between a centerline of the watercraft and the outer extent of the annular sidewall. Preferably the bottom comprises at least one strakes along a portion of the centerline of the watercraft. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the inventive watercraft; 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of one embodiment of the inventive watercraft; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of one embodiment of the inventive watercraft; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of one embodiment of the inventive watercraft; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of one embodiment of the inventive watercraft; and 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom view of one embodiment of the inventive watercraft; 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference now to the figures, a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises watercraft  1  adapted for use as a small, personal watercraft. The vessel of the present invention includes a substantially circular hull broadly denoted by the numeral  10  having an outer annular sidewall  10   a , an inner annular sidewall  10   b  (having a circular shape forming an inner diameter of the hull) and top wall  10   c  (i.e., flat wall positioned between inner annular sidewall and outer annular sidewall). The substantially circular shape of hull  10  is disrupted by leading end  12  and trailing end  14 , discussed in greater detail below. Bottom  90  (i.e., bottom wall) extends completely across the bottom of the hull  10 , and leading and trailing ends  12 / 14 , to provide a closed bottom for craft  1 , except for certain open or cutout areas in the bottom  90  (i.e., bottom wall). Likewise, deck  50  covers the top of hull  10  and completely spans the distance between diametrically opposed portions of the outer sidewalls so as to present a closed top for the hull, except for a number of special openings, as will also be described below. As a result of this construction, craft  1  is closed along its top, bottom, and opposite sides defining an interior volume as well as providing buoyancy. Preferably, the components of craft  1  are constructed from a suitable synthetic resinous material so as to be molded using conventional plastic molding techniques and equipment. 
     Hull  10  and deck  50  share a common vertical axis and a planar horizontal axis. In the embodiment depicted in the figures, craft  1  is substantially circular in a horizontal plane parallel to axis B, with the exceptions of leading and trailing ends  12  and  14 . Therefore, substantially circular, craft  1  has an inherent bow (leading end  12 ) and stern (trailing end  14 ), wherein two opposing arcuate shaped sidewalk  60 ,  61  that are each directly connected to a bow  12  and a stern  14  thereby forming an outer diameter  63  of the hull. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the stern is substantially flat in a direction extending from the bottom wall to the flat wall that forms the upper circumference of the hull such that the bow is perpendicular relative to the bottom wall. The presence of the inherent bow and stern do not, however, limit forward motion of craft  1  in the direction of leading end  12 , therefore allowing the craft to take advantage of its otherwise substantially circular shape. One having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that craft  1  can comprise other shapes (not shown) such as ovoid, which may or may not include a defined bow and stern. 
     As seen in  FIGS. 1-2 , deck  50  sits within hull  10  and, preferably, at a height lower than that of the upper extent of hull  10  thereby forming interior hull wall  10   a . Interior wall  10   a  is preferably at a substantially right angle to deck  50 . This arrangement maximizes critical deck area needed for operation of the vessel particularly during use as a fishing vessel or at other times that standing is required. 
     Deck  50  can include compartments  52  which extend downward into the interior volume. These compartments can provide general storage and equipped with a sealable lid (not shown). Optionally, one or all compartments can provide specialized storage such as being insulated to provide a cooler-type storage or can be equipped to serve as a live well for fish. In a preferred embodiment, compartment  54  is disposed adjacent trailing end  14  and is sealed. This provides battery storage for an electric motor (not shown) used to propel the craft. Trailing end  14  is preferably flattened, relative to the substantially circular sides of hull  10  to allow easy mounting of an electric motor. 
     Continuing with reference to  FIGS. 1-2 , deck  50  includes a centralized mounting port  56  to allow the attachment of a chair to deck  50 . Port  56  extends downward into the interior volume to allow deep setting of the chair pedestal which accommodates to torsion forces placed on deck  50  when the chair is occupied as well as being rotated. Portal  56  can be recessed within, or flush to, deck  50 . Channels  58  formed in deck  50  allow water to be directed toward or away from compartments  52  as needed. Water on deck  50  can be directed to appropriate places for drainage via channels  58  thereby keeping the deck free of standing water. Receptacles  59  can be formed in deck  50  and/or hull  10  to provide cup holders, rod holders or accept specialty equipment (such as racks and/or sunshades). 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the inventive features of hull  10  can be seen. As shown in  FIG. 3 , and as discussed above, the substantially circular shape of hull  10  is disrupted at trailing end  14  which forms a substantially flat surface  14   a . Surface  14   a  is positioned and sized to receive a propulsion means (not shown) such as an electric or gas powered motor. 
     Leading end  12  is shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The substantially circular shape of hull  10  is disrupted at leading end  12 . Leading end  12 , which defines the bow of the vessels, comprises outwardly curved lower wall  12   a  which extends upward from bottom  90  at an angle. Upper wall  12   b  extends upwardly from lower wall  12   a  at an approximate right angle (directly connected, angled sidewalls), although those of skill in the art will appreciate the deviation from a right angle is contemplated without retaining the substantially circular shape of hull  10 . Upper wall  12   b  ends at lip  12   c  which extends outward and over upper wall  12   b  and lower wall  12   a . In a preferred embodiment, handholds  18  are formed in upper lip  12   c  to ease handling of craft  1 . 
     The features of leading end  12  allow the shape of lower wall  12   a  and upper wall  12   b  define prow  14  which gives craft  1  a Carolina flare, giving it superior hydrodynamic qualities over personal watercraft of the prior art. 
     Bottom  90  of craft  1  is detailed in  FIG. 6 . As shown, bottom  90  is substantially flat and follows the shape of the vessel dictated by the circular shape of hull  10 , as well as leading end  12  and trailing end  14 . In a preferred embodiment, upper lip  12   c  extends further forward than the leading end of bottom  90 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , port  56  disposed in deck  50  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) extends downward through the vessel and opens at bottom  90 . This allows for both greater anchoring of a chair (not shown) as well as drainage from deck  50 . The interior walls of port  56  in this embodiment are sealed to preserve the integrity of the interior volume defined by hull  10 , deck  50  and bottom  90 . This feature is accomplished as part of the preferable molding process used in the construction of the vessel. 
     Bottom  90  also includes strakes  92  and  92   a . In this embodiment, strakes  92  run lengthwise (relative to leading end  12  and trailing end  14 ) and are positioned approximately midway between the centerline of the vessel and the outer extent of hull  10 . Strakes  92   a  also run lengthwise (relative to leading end  12  and trailing end  14 ) but are positioned along the centerline of the vessel on either side of port  56 . In a preferred embodiment the strakes have a substantially triangular cross-section. Other arrangements, including rounded and/or circular (e.g. pontoon) arrangements are also contemplated. 
     Depressions  94 , are formed in bottom  90  adjacent strakes  92 / 92   a . The term “depression” is used relative to the orientation shown in  FIG. 6  as during normal operation of craft  1 , depressions  94  extend upward from bottom  90  into the interior volume. 
     The preceding description was provided to illustrate the principles of the invention. It will be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements which, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention and are included within its spirit and scope. Furthermore, all examples and conditional language recited herein are principally intended expressly to be only for pedagogical purposes and to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventors to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. 
     While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or modifications which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.