Abstract:
To enhance the joint strength between the hull and the deck of a water craft and reduce the number of steps needed for joining the hull and the deck, a water craft body is constructed by joining the hull and the deck together at their peripheral regions, applying a protector strip of extruded material to the joint between the hull and the deck peripherally of the water craft body and installing fasteners, such as self-tapping screws or rivets, through the protector strip and through the peripheral regions of the hull and deck for integrating the protector strip and the peripheral regions of the hull and the deck. Formed in the outer surface of the protector strip is a positioning groove that facilitates locating the positions of fasteners about the peripheral joint between the hull and the deck of the water craft.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 of Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-257307 filed on Aug. 28, 2001, the entire contents thereof being hereby incorporated by reference. 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a small craft. More specifically, the present invention relates to a small water craft in which the vessel body is constructed by joining a hull and a deck at their peripheral edges with respect to each other 
     2. Description of Background Art 
     Heretofore, as shown in FIG. 6, a small craft has been constructed with a vessel body in which a hull  1  and a deck  2  are joined (for example, adhered by adhesive agent) at their peripheral edges  1   a ,  2   a , and a rail-shaped side protector  3 , or protector strip, is attached on the periphery thereof. 
     In the small craft as described above, in order to enhance the joint between the hull  1  and the deck  2  that constitute the vessel body  4 , their peripheral edges  1   a ,  2   a  are preferably joined with each other using fasteners such as self-tapping screws or rivets. In addition, in order to reduce the number of assembling steps, it is preferable to join the protector strip  3  together with the peripheral edges  1   a ,  2   a  of the hull  1  and the deck  2  with the aforementioned self-tapping screws or rivets. 
     In the case where the protector strip  3  and the peripheral edges  1   a ,  2   a  of the hull and deck are joined together by means of the self-tapping screws or the rivets, it is necessary to determine the positions of the fasteners, and this is conventionally done by forming a positioning hole  3   b  on the outer surface  3   a  of the protector strip  3  at the suitable position in the X-direction (widthwise direction of the protector strip  3 ) and in the Y-direction (lengthwise direction of the protector strip  3 ) as shown in FIG.  6 ( b ). When employing a self-tapping screw, it can be driven into the positioning hole  3   b  with its tip aligned thereon, while rivets can driven into the through hole by placing the tip of a drilling tool (a drill or the like) on the positioning hole  3   b  to form a through hole (a hole extending through the protector strip  3  and the peripheral edges  1   a ,  2   a  of the hull and the deck) and driving the rivet therein. 
     However, forming positioning holes  3   b  for self-tapping screws or rivets on the outer surface  3   a  of the protector strip  3  for every fastener position requires a large number of steps. 
     SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to solve the problem described above, and to provide a small craft in which the hull and deck can be firmly joined and the protector strip can also be attached by a small number of steps, and the locations for self-tapping screws or rivets can be marked on the protector strip by a small number of steps. 
     In order to achieve the aforementioned object, a small craft is constructed by the steps of joining a hull and a deck at the peripheral edges thereof with respect to each other, placing a rail-shaped side protector, or protector strip, circumferentially thereof, and integrating the protector strip and the peripheries of the hull and the deck with self-tapping screws or rivets; the protector strip is formed with a positioning groove for the self-tapping screws or the rivets on the outer surface thereof along the length thereof. 
     Also, to achieve the aforementioned object, the protector strip is advantageously formed of extruded material. 
     Since the vessel body is constructed by joining the hull and the deck at the peripheral edges thereof, placing the protector strip circumferentially thereof, and integrating the protector strip and the peripheral edges of the hull and the deck with self-tapping screws or rivets, the joint between the hull and the deck can be strengthened, and the protector strip can be attached with a small number of steps. 
     Since the protector strip is formed with a positioning groove for the self-tapping screws or the rivets on the outer surface thereof along the length thereof, the locations for the self-tapping screws or the rivets can be marked on the protector strip by a smaller number of steps compared to marking the locations without the benefit of the positioning groove. (See the reference numeral and sign  3   b  in FIG.  6 ( b ).) 
     In other words, with the protector strip of the present invention, locations for the self-tapping screws or the rivets can be determined simply along the length of the positioning groove. 
     Though simply forming the positioning groove along the length of the protector strip does not ensure high accuracy of the spacing, or intervals, of the self-tapping screws or the rivets installed through the protector strip along the length thereof, the accuracy of the intervals of the self-tapping screws or the rivets driven along the length thereof will not be a problem in terms of the construction of the vessel body. In other words, the high positional accuracy of the locations for the self-tapping screws or the rivets is required in the widthwise direction of the protector strip, and the widthwise positions for the self-tapping screws or the rivets can be set out with a high degree of accuracy using the protector strip of the present invention. 
     Thus, the hull and the deck can be firmly joined, and simultaneously the protector strip can be attached thereon with a small number of steps, and furthermore, the locations for the self-tapping screws or the rivets may be determined on the protector strip with a smaller number of steps. 
     Since the protector strip is formed of extruded material, the positioning groove can be formed simultaneously with extrusion. Therefore, it is not necessary to form the positioning groove for the self-tapping screw or the rivets after manufacturing the protector strip. 
     Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a general side view showing an embodiment of the small craft according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of the small craft of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged, partially omitted, cross sectional view taken along the line III—III in FIG. 1; 
     FIG.  4 ( a ) is a cross sectional view showing the integrated structure of the peripheral edges of the hull  14  and the deck  15  with respect to each other; 
     FIG.  4 ( b ) is a cross sectional view, taken at another location, showing the integrated structure of the peripheral edges of the hull  14  and the deck  15  with respect to each other; 
     FIG.  5 ( a ) is a cross sectional view of a portion of the protector strip, corresponding to the portion shown in FIG.  4 ( a ); 
     FIG.  5 ( b ) is a side view of the protector strip as shown in FIG.  4 ( a ); 
     FIG.  5 ( c ) is a partially enlarged view of a portion of FIG.  4 ( a ); 
     FIG.  6 ( a ) shows a prior art construction of a water craft body; and 
     FIG.  6 ( b ) shows a positioning hole in a prior art side protector. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 is a general side view showing an embodiment of a small craft according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same, and FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged cross sectional view taken along the line III—III in FIG. 1 (partially omitted cross sectional view). 
     As shown in these figures (mainly in FIG.  1 ), the small water craft  10  according to this embodiment is a saddle-riding type small boat, in which the occupant can sit on the seat  12  on the vessel body  11  and steer with the steering handle  13  with a throttle lever gripped. 
     The vessel body  11  is a floating structure formed by joining a hull  14  and a deck  15  so as to form a space  16  therein. In the space  16 , an engine  20  is mounted on the hull  14 , and a jet pump  30  serving as a propulsion means and driven by the engine  20  is mounted on the rear portion of the hull  14 . 
     The jet pump  30  comprises a flow path  33  extending from a intake port  17  opening at the vessel bottom to the a jet flow port  31  and a nozzle  32  opening at the rear end of the vessel body, and an impeller  34  disposed in this flow path  33 , and the shaft  35  of the impeller  34  is connected to the output shaft  20   a  of the engine  20 . Therefore, when the impeller  34  is rotated by the engine  20 , water taken through the intake port  17  is forced through the jet flow port  31  and nozzle  32 , whereby the vessel body  11  is propelled. The speed of the engine  20 , that is, a propulsion force of the jet pump  30  is varied by rotating the throttle lever  13   a  (See FIG. 2) of the operating handle  13 . The nozzle  32  is linked with the operating handle  13  with an operating wire, not shown, and rotated by the operation of the handle  13 , thereby changing the course. 
     FIGS.  4 ( a ) and  4 ( b ) are cross sectional views showing the integrated structure of the peripheral edges of the hull  14  and the deck  15  at different locations. FIG. 4 a , for example, is a partial cross sectional view at the rear portion  11   a  of the vessel body, and FIG.  4 ( b ) is a partial cross sectional view showing the front portion  11   b  of the vessel body. 
     As shown, the vessel body  11  is constructed by joining (for example, adhering with adhesive agent or the like) the hull  14  and the deck  15  at the peripheral regions  14   a ,  15   a  thereof, placing the protector strip  40  (FIG. 1 to FIG. 3) circumferentially thereof, then integrating, or joining, the protector strip  40  and the peripheral regions  14   a ,  15   a  of the hull and the deck with self-tapping screws  50  (FIG.  4 ( a )) or rivets  60  (FIG.  4 ( b )). 
     The head portions of the self-tapping screws  50  or the rivets  60  are concealed by a cover  70  that extends across an outwardly open channel of the protector strip  40 . 
     As shown in FIG. 5, the outer surface  41  of the protector strip  40  is formed with a positioning groove  42  for the self-tapping screws  50  or the rivets  60  along the length thereof (in the direction of the arrow Y in FIG.  5 ( b )). The protector strip  40  is formed of extruded material, and the positioning groove  42  is formed simultaneously with extrusion. The protector strip  40  is formed of synthetic resin, for example of PVCF (soft polyvinyl chloride) of hardness about 90. 
     When a self-tapping screw  50  is used for integrating the protector strip  40  and the peripheral edges  14   a ,  15   a  of the hull and the deck, it can be simply driven with the tip  51  thereof (FIG.  4 ( a )) pressed into the positioning groove  42  at the appropriate positions in the direction shown by the arrow Y (for example by registering visually), and when a rivet (FIG.  4 ( b )) is used, the tip of a drilling tool (a drill or the like) is placed in the positioning groove  42  at the appropriate positions in the direction shown by the arrow Y, openings (holes extending through the protector strip  40  and the peripheral edges  14   a ,  15   a  of the hull and the deck)  43  for driving the rivets are formed, and then the rivets  60  are driven through these openings  43 . 
     As shown in FIG.  4  and FIG. 5, the protector strip  40  comprises a first abutment portion (abutment plate)  44 , or wall, that abuts against the outer surface of the peripheral regions  14   a ,  15   a  of the hull and the deck (in this case, the outer periphery  15   b  of the deck  15 ), a second abutment portion  45 , or wall, that is formed integrally with the first abutment portion  44  and abuts against the surface  15   c  of the deck  15 , and a cover portion  46 , or wall, formed integrally with the first abutment portion  44  for covering at least the peripheral edge  15   d  of the deck  15 , and formed with a positioning groove  42  on the outer surface  41  of the first abutment portion  44 . 
     The protector strip  40  differs in cross section at different portions on the periphery of the vessel body  11  (FIGS.  4 ( a ),  4 ( b )), as noted earlier; as shown in FIG.  4 ( a ), the cover  46  is adapted to cover not only the peripheral edge  15   d  of the deck  15  but also the peripheral edge  14   d  of the hull  14  at the portions where self-tapping screws  50  are used. 
     As shown in FIG.  4 ( b ) for example, the second abutment portion  45  of the protector strip  40  is adapted to cover a recessed portion  15   f , resulting from the formation of projection  15   e , which is formed on the deck  15  for increasing joint strength (strength against the impact) between the hull  14  and the deck  15 , such as at the front end portion  11   b  of the vessel body  11 . At this location, the second abutment potion  45  of the protector strip  40  is adapted so that the surface  45   a  is flush with the surface  15   c  of the deck  15 . 
     In a small water craft  10  constructed as described, the following benefits are realized. 
     Since the vessel body  11  is formed by joining the hull  14  and the deck  15  at their peripheral regions  14   a ,  15   a  with respect to each other, placing the protector strip  40  circumferentially thereof, and integrating the protector strip  40  and the peripheral regions  14   a ,  15   a  of the hull and the deck with the self-tapping screws  50  or the rivets  60 , the joint between the hull  14  and the deck  15  can be strengthened, and the protector strip  40  can be attached with a small number of steps. 
     Since the protector strip  40  is formed with a positioning groove  42  for the self-tapping screws  50  or the rivets  60  on the outer surface  41  thereof along the length thereof, the locations for the self-tapping screws  50  or the rivets  60  can be determined on the protector strip  40  by the smaller number of steps than is the case when the positioning holes ( 3   b  in FIG.  6 ( b )) for the self-tapping screws  50  or the rivets  60  are made without the benefit of the positioning groove. 
     In other words, using protector strip  40 , locations for the self-tapping screws  50  or the rivets  60  can be determined simply along the length of positioning groove  42 . 
     Though simply forming the positioning groove  42  along the length of the protector strip  40  (in the direction shown by the arrow Y in FIG.  5 ( b )) does not ensure high accuracy of the intervals (distances between the adjacent self-tapping screws  50  or rivets  60 ) of the self-tapping screws  50  or the rivets  60  driven on the protector strip  40  along the length thereof, the accuracy of the intervals of the self-tapping screws  50  or the rivets  60  along the length thereof will not be a significant problem in terms of the construction of the vessel body, and thus they may be driven while registering visually. 
     However, high positional accuracy of the positioning means for the self-tapping screws  50  or the rivets  60  is required in the direction of the width (the direction of the arrow X in FIG.  5 ( b )) of the protector strip  40 , because the desired joint strength cannot be obtained when the self-tapping screws  50  or the rivets  60  are driven at the positions too close to the edges  14   d ,  15   d  of the hull  14  and the deck  15 . 
     On the other hand, using the protector strip  40  of the present invention, the widthwise positions to drive the self-tapping screws  50  or the rivets  60  can be set out with a high degree of accuracy, and thus a desired joint strength can be obtained. 
     As described thus far, according to the small craft thus constructed, the joint between the hull  14  and the deck  15  can be enhanced, and simultaneously, the protector strip  40  can be attached by a small numbers of steps, and furthermore, the locations for the self-tapping screws  50  or the rivets  60  can be determined or marked on the protector strip  40  by a small number of steps. 
     (b) since the protector strip  40  is formed of extruded material, the positioning groove  42  can be formed simultaneously with extrusion. Therefore, it is not necessary to form the positioning groove for the self-tapping screws  50  or the rivets  60  after manufacturing of the protector strip  40 . 
     Though one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and is possible to be modified within the broader scope of the present invention. 
     The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.