Abstract:
Personal watercraft with three hulls arranged in a substantially triangular configuration that offers better efficiency compared to existing kayaks or paddleboards, with the stability of a multiple-hull watercraft in a form that is useable as a kayak or paddleboard. In some examples, the personal watercraft includes a propulsion means such as an engine-powered water jet drive.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates generally to personal watercraft. In particular, personal watercraft that have a multiple hull design for improved stability are described. 
         [0002]    Known personal watercraft are not entirely satisfactory for the range of applications in which they are employed. For example, existing watercraft, such as canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards, are single-hulled and thus prone to instability if the user is not attentive to balance. Canoes, which are long, tall, and narrow with a knife-like shape, tend to have a comparatively deep draft that helps make efficient use of a user&#39;s stroke, resisting lateral movement and effectively translating the paddle stroke into predominantly forward movement. However, the tall narrow shape makes canoes more prone to tip-overs compared to other hull configurations, and canoes cannot be practically used as a paddleboard. Kayaks and paddleboards, in comparison, have a relatively broad and flat hull profile, which modestly improves stability. However, the relatively flat hull profile can be inefficient to row as it allows a greater portion of the user&#39;s paddle stroke to translate into sideways motion as opposed to being directed to forward thrust. Multiple-hulled watercraft, such as double-hulled catamarans and tri-hulled trimarans, greatly improve upon stability and allow for a narrower, more knife-like hull configuration. However, the additional hulls substantially increase the width of the craft compared to its single-hulled counterparts, which make using it in a paddleboard or kayak configuration, where the user is paddling off either side for propulsion, nearly impossible. 
         [0003]    Thus, there exists a need for personal watercraft that improve upon and advance the design of known personal watercraft. Examples of new and useful personal watercraft relevant to the needs existing in the field are discussed below. 
         [0004]    The present disclosure is directed to a personal watercraft with three hulls arranged in a substantially triangular configuration that offers better efficiency compared to existing kayaks or paddleboards, with the stability of a multiple-hull watercraft in a form that is useable as a kayak or paddleboard. In some examples, the personal watercraft includes a propulsion means such as an engine-powered water jet drive. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first example of a personal watercraft with multiple hulls. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a frontal view of the personal watercraft with multiple hulls shown in  FIG. 1  depicting the hull profile. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the personal watercraft with multiple hulls shown in  FIG. 1  depicting the arrangement of the multiple hulls. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a bottom underwater view of the personal watercraft with multiple hulls shown in  FIG. 1  depicting the portions of the hulls that are immersed in normal usage, and the flow of water around and between the hulls as the watercraft moves forward. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is another perspective view of the personal watercraft with multiple hulls shown in  FIG. 1  depicting the optional rear platform and seat recesses. 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the personal watercraft with multiple hulls shown in  FIG. 1  depicting the location of various optional storage compartments. 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a side view of a second example of a personal watercraft with multiple hulls including the location of an engine-drive propulsion system and steering controls. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    The disclosed personal watercraft will become better understood through review of the following detailed description in conjunction with the figures. The detailed description and figures provide merely examples of the various inventions described herein. Those skilled in the art will understand that the disclosed examples may be varied, modified, and altered without departing from the scope of the inventions described herein. Many variations are contemplated for different applications and design considerations; however, for the sake of brevity, each and every contemplated variation is not individually described in the following detailed description. 
         [0013]    Throughout the following detailed description, examples of various personal watercraft are provided. Related features in the examples may be identical, similar, or dissimilar in different examples. For the sake of brevity, related features will not be redundantly explained in each example. Instead, the use of related feature names will cue the reader that the feature with a related feature name may be similar to the related feature in an example explained previously. Features specific to a given example will be described in that particular example. The reader should understand that a given feature need not be the same or similar to the specific portrayal of a related feature in any given figure or example. 
         [0014]    The disclosed personal watercraft have three hulls, with two placed at the front of the craft side-by-side in a catamaran configuration, and the third hull placed behind the first two hulls, centered between them. This configuration provides a personal watercraft that has improved stability that meets or exceeds that of a kayak or paddleboard, but with the greater resistance to translation of paddle strokes into lateral movement similar to a canoe. Thus, the disclosed personal watercraft combines the stability advantages of a broader kayak or paddleboard with the efficiency advantages of a canoe, while offering a profile suitable for a single user to paddle similar to a kayak or canoe, improving upon traditional multi-hull designs. Furthermore, the configuration includes recesses that allow a user to stand, and use the watercraft as a stand-up paddleboard. 
         [0015]    With reference to  FIGS. 1-6 , a first example of a personal watercraft with multiple hulls, personal watercraft  100 , will now be described. Personal watercraft  100  is comprised of a body  102 , which in turn is further comprised of an upper surface  104 , a lower surface  106 , a first pontoon  108 , a second pontoon  110 , and a third pontoon  112 . Each of first pontoon  108 , second pontoon  110 , and third pontoon  112  include a hull  114  that has a hydrodynamic shape and is attached to upper surface  104 , with preferably a symmetrical cross section  116  and a keel  118  that runs longitudinally. First pontoon  108  and second pontoon  110  are disposed adjacent to each other, and third pontoon  112  is disposed behind first pontoon  108  and second pontoon  110 , and is positioned so that at least a portion of keel  120  of third pontoon  112  is centered between first pontoon  108  and second pontoon  110 . A seat  122  is disposed upon upper surface  104  of body  102 , located approximately in front of third pontoon  112  and centered between and behind first pontoon  108  and second pontoon  110 . 
         [0016]    As can be seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , body  102  is comprised of upper surface  104  and lower surface  106 . Upper surface  104  forms the top of personal watercraft  100  and accommodates seat  122  and a plurality of recesses  124 . Lower surface  106  forms the shapes of hulls  114 . Upper surface  104  and lower surface  106  can be separately molded and subsequently joined together by any method suitable to the materials used and now known or later developed in the relevant art, including screws, latches, adhesives, snap fit, etc., can be fabricated each from multiple components that are subsequently joined together, or can be molded as a single piece, depending on the manufacturing method employed. Upper surface  104  and lower surface  106  are preferably manufactured using thermoplastic polyolefin or high density polyethylene, but can also be fabricated from wood, metal, fiberglass, carbon fiber, plastic, or any other material or combination of materials suitable for water exposure now known or later devised. Upper surface  104  and lower surface  106  can be manufactured from the same or from different materials, depending on usage requirements. 
         [0017]    In  FIG. 1 , it is seen that body  102  forms a roughly hourglass shape, with seat  122  placed near the rear of the narrow center section between the front first pontoon  108  and second pontoon  110 , and the rear third pontoon  112 . This narrow center section allows personal watercraft  100  to be used in a similar fashion to a canoe or a kayak, with the user paddling from opposite sides. Seat  122  is preferably placed on the front of third pontoon  112 , which places the user in close to the center of support of personal watercraft  100 , and also gives the user an ideal position to easily paddle without meeting interference from body  102 . Seat  122  can be molded into upper surface  104  as part of body  102 , or can be made a separate component, optionally removably affixed to allow seats  122  to be swapped depending on a user&#39;s tastes, or as seat  122  wears out. Seat  122  can be manufactured from any suitable materials now known or later devised, including wood, metal, plastic, rubber, neoprene, vinyl, foam, or a combination of materials. 
         [0018]    In the example shown in  FIGS. 2-3 , hulls  114  of first pontoon  108 , second pontoon  110 , and third pontoon  112  can be seen in greater detail.  FIG. 2  provides a front view, where the symmetrical shape of each hull  114  is seen. Each hull in the depicted embodiment is shaped roughly the same, with hull  114  profile falling somewhere between a canoe&#39;s deep knife-like profile and the comparatively shallow profile of a kayak. The profile can be varied to change the handling of the personal watercraft  100  without departing from the claimed invention; a deeper hull profile (more canoe-like) will result in potentially greater efficiency but at the expense of maneuverability, while a shallower hull profile will result in better maneuverability, but will likewise allow greater lateral movement, which diminishes efficiency. 
         [0019]    In  FIGS. 3-4  the hulls  114  are seen from the underside of personal watercraft  100 , which provides detail for how the three hulls  114  are arranged. As can be seen, hulls  114  for first pontoon  108  and second pontoon  110  are substantially parallel, with hull  114  of third pontoon  112  positioned between and starting approximately half-way down the length of first pontoon  108  and second pontoon  110 .  FIG. 3  depicts keel  118 , which is the longitudinal centerline of each hull  114 . Approximately one third to one half of keel  118  of third pontoon  112  is positioned between first pontoon  108  and second pontoon  110 , which is depicted as the portion of keel  120 . 
         [0020]    Turning specifically to  FIG. 4 , the effects of the unique arrangement of first pontoon  108 , second pontoon  110  and third pontoon  112  on the flow of water as personal watercraft  100  is propelled forward can be seen. By placing third pontoon  112  centrally but displacing it back behind first pontoon  108  and second pontoon  110 , water flowing off and around the front inside surfaces of first pontoon  108  and second pontoon  110  are directed onto the front area  115  of third pontoon  112 . This funneling of high velocity water onto third pontoon  112  allows third pontoon  112  to slip more efficiently through the water, resulting in more efficient translation of a user&#39;s paddle stroke into forward movement. 
         [0021]      FIGS. 5 and 6  depict various features on upper surface  104  of body  102 , including a plurality of recesses  124 , platform  126 , and hollow interior cavities  128 . Plurality of recesses  124  are preferably shaped and positioned on first pontoon  108  and second pontoon  110  so as to receive the user&#39;s feet when the user is seated on seat  122 , enhancing the user&#39;s stability while atop personal watercraft  100 , and providing an ideal platform from which to make effective paddle strokes. Plurality of recesses  124  also preferably enable the user to stand atop personal watercraft  100 , allowing personal watercraft  100  to be operated as a standing-position paddleboard. Platform  126  can be optionally added to the rear of third pontoon  112 , and may be equipped with a railing to allow tying down and securing of loads. Platform  126  could also be positioned at the front of personal watercraft  100 , between and on top of a portion of first pontoon  108  and second pontoon  110 . Each of first pontoon  108 , second pontoon  110  and third pontoon  112  may be equipped with a hollow interior cavity  128 , which is accessed by access hatch  129 . Hollow interior cavities  128  can be used for cargo storage, or for adjusting trim and balance of personal watercraft  100  to facilitate optimal performance. Access hatches  129  can optionally be made watertight to protect any contents placed with the associated hollow interior cavity  128  and/or be made lockable for secure storage. 
         [0022]    Turning attention to  FIG. 7 , a second example of a personal watercraft  200  will now be described. Personal watercraft  200  includes many similar or identical features to personal watercraft  100 . Thus, for the sake of brevity, each feature of personal watercraft  200  will not be redundantly explained. Rather, key distinctions between personal watercraft  200  and personal watercraft  100  will be described in detail and the reader should reference the discussion above for features substantially similar between the two personal watercraft. 
         [0023]    As can be seen in  FIG. 7 , personal watercraft  200  includes the same components depicted in  FIGS. 1-6 , including a body  102  with a first pontoon  108 , a second pontoon  110  placed parallel to first pontoon  108 , and a third pontoon  112  placed centrally and behind first pontoon  108  and second pontoon  110 . A seat  122  is placed just forward of third pontoon  112  atop body  102 . However, personal watercraft is shown equipped with a propulsion means  130 , allowing personal watercraft  200  to be used similar to a Wave Runner® or other rideable powered personal watercraft. 
         [0024]    In  FIG. 7 , propulsion means  130  is shown as an engine located in the hollow interior cavity  128  of third pontoon  112 . The engine can be an internal combustion engine, a battery-powered electric motor, or any other power source suitable for marine use now known or alter devised. The engine is preferably connected to an impeller driven water jet drive unit  132  to provide propulsion, which is steered by equipping personal watercraft  200  with a steering control as depicted in  FIG. 7 . The steering control and water jet drive unit  132  can be any system that is well-known in the art, such as is used on a Wave Runner® or Jet Ski® model of personal watercraft. However, other suitable means of propulsion known in the marine industry can be utilized, such as an outboard motor, or inboard/outboard propeller drive (also known as a stern drive), or any other means of personal watercraft propulsion now known or later devised. 
         [0025]    It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the relevant art that the disclosed three-hulled personal watercraft configuration can be scaled up in size to accommodate multiple passengers and heavier cargo without departing from the claimed invention. 
         [0026]    The disclosure above encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in a particular form, the specific embodiments disclosed and illustrated above are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed above and inherent to those skilled in the art pertaining to such inventions. Where the disclosure or subsequently filed claims recite “a” element, “a first” element, or any such equivalent term, the disclosure or claims should be understood to incorporate one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements. 
         [0027]    Applicant(s) reserves the right to submit claims directed to combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed inventions that are believed to be novel and non-obvious. Inventions embodied in other combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of those claims or presentation of new claims in the present application or in a related application. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to the same invention or a different invention and whether they are different, broader, narrower or equal in scope to the original claims, are to be considered within the subject matter of the inventions described herein.