Patent Publication Number: US-2022219789-A1

Title: Wind deflection apparatus

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a wind deflection apparatus for a helm disposed in an open environment. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Towers and T-Tops have long been used on boats (e.g. center console boats) as a useful part of the boat that can hold navigation equipment, outriggers, and/or a top (e.g. hard top or soft top) that can provide storage and/or provide shade. In a center console boat, the driver controlling the boat is typically positioned behind the center console at the helm, which typically includes the steering wheel and throttle controls. One or more passengers may also be located astride the driver and/or farther behind the center console. 
     When the boat is underway, oncoming wind in this open-air environment wraps around the center console and reaches the captain and passengers located behind the center console, forming vortices. The aerodynamic effect becomes more noticeable as speed increases. Approximately twenty miles per hour represents a common threshold speed at which the wind impact and noise can become a nuisance. Current center console boats cruise at speeds greater than this. For example, current boats have cruise speed starting in the twenty to thirty miles per hour range, while others can reach upwards of eighty miles per hour or more. Moreover, it is larger boats that reach the higher speeds, and increasing size (e.g. increased width) also increases the aerodynamic effect, thereby compounding the nuisance. Accordingly, there is room in the art for improvement. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention is explained in the following description in view of the drawings that show: 
         FIG. 1  shows streamlines of an oncoming airflow over a prior art boat having a marine helm in a center console. 
         FIG. 2  shows streamlines of an oncoming airflow over a boat having a marine helm in a center console equipped with a wind deflection apparatus as disclosed herein. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of an example embodiment of a fixed starboard side wind deflection apparatus. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of an example embodiment of a fixed port side wind deflection apparatus. 
         FIG. 5  shows an assembled fixed starboard side wind deflection apparatus and an assembled fixed port side wind deflection apparatus together as a set. 
         FIG. 6  shows the fixed starboard side wind deflection apparatus of  FIG. 3  secured to an example center console. 
         FIG. 7  shows an example embodiment of a pivoting port side wind deflection apparatus in a retracted position. 
         FIG. 8  shows the example embodiment of the pivoting port side wind deflection apparatus of  FIG. 7  in an extended position. 
         FIG. 9  shows an example embodiment of a positioning assembly of the port side wind deflection apparatus of  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The inventor has devised a new and innovative wind deflection system designed to reduce the amount of wind a driver and passengers encounter when traveling in a boat with an open environment. 
       FIG. 1  shows streamlines  100  and vortices  102  formed by an oncoming airflow over a prior art boat  104  having a marine helm  106  in a center console  108 . The helm  106  typically includes a steering wheel  110  and throttle controls  112 . A driver is typically seated or standing at a driver&#39;s area  114  behind the center console  108 . One or more passengers may be located astride the driver relative to a bow-to-stern axis  120  of the center console  108 , on additional seating  122 , and/or in an open area  124  behind the center console  108 . 
     As can be seen by the streamlines  100 , the oncoming airflow flows over the bow  130  of the boat  104  and is diverted laterally (up and down on the page) with respect to the bow-to-stern axis  120  around the center console  108  as well as up (out of the page) and over the center console  108  to accommodate the center console  108  while enroute to the stern  132 . Once past the center console  108 , the streamlines  100  quickly converge laterally back together and can even wrap around the center console  108  to form the vortices  102 . This convergence happens relatively quickly and essentially directs the converging air onto the driver and any passengers located downstream of the center console  108 . 
       FIG. 2  shows streamlines  200  of an oncoming airflow over a boat  202  having a marine helm  204  in a center console  206 . Similar to the prior art, the helm  204  includes a steering wheel  210  and throttle controls  212 . Likewise, the driver is typically seated or standing at a driver&#39;s area  214  behind the center console  206 . The one or more passengers may be located astride the driver relative to a bow-to-stern axis  220  of the center console  206 , on additional seating  222 , and/or in an open area  224  behind the center console  206 . 
     As can be seen by the streamlines  200 , the oncoming air similarly flows over the bow  230  of the boat  202  and is similarly diverted laterally (up and down on the page) with respect to the bow-to-stern axis  220  around the center console  206  as well as up (out of the page) and over the center console  206  to accommodate the center console  206  while enroute to the stern  232 . However, this center console  206  is equipped with a wind deflection apparatus  240  that, in this example embodiment, includes a starboard fairing  242  secured to a starboard side  244  of the center console  206 . In an example embodiment, the starboard fairing  242  is secured proximate a downstream end  246  of the center console  206 . The wind deflection apparatus  240  also includes a port fairing  250  secured to a port side  252  of the center console  206 . In an example embodiment, the port fairing  250  is secured proximate a downstream end  246  of the center console  206 . As used herein, proximate means aft/downstream of a middle of the center console  206 . Also as used herein, the bow  230  is considered upstream and the stern  232  is considered downstream. The overall design of the wind deflection apparatus  240  is configured to withstand oncoming airflows encountered at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour. 
     The fairings  242 ,  250  alter the airflow by laterally deflecting the oncoming airflow so that the streamlines converge slower than they converge without the fairings  242 ,  250 . The slower convergence results in the streamlines converging at a location that is farther downstream of the center console  206  than occurs in the prior art. This creates a relatively placid slipstream  260  downstream of the center console  206  that encompasses at least the driver&#39;s area  214  behind the center console  206 , and at least some of the additional seating  222 , and/or an open area  224 . 
     The fairings  242 ,  250  accomplish this by forming an angle relative to the bow-to-stern axis  220  of the center console  206 , which may coincide with a longitudinal axis  262  of the boat  202 . The starboard fairing  242  forms a starboard fairing angle  264  with the bow-to-stern axis  220  and optionally with the longitudinal axis  262  of the boat  202 . Similarly, the port fairing  250  forms a port fairing angle  266  with the bow-to-stern axis  220  and optionally with the longitudinal axis  262  of the boat  202 . In an example embodiment, the starboard fairing angle  264  and the port fairing angle  266  can be any angle from twenty (20) to fifty (50) degrees. In an example embodiment, the starboard fairing angle  264  and the port fairing angle  266  are thirty-five (35) degrees. 
     The fairings  242 ,  250  have a perceived width that is a distance the fairing  242 ,  250  occupies laterally (up and down in  FIG. 2 ) relative to the bow-to-stern axis  220  at any given height (in and out of the page in  FIG. 2 ). The starboard fairing  242  extends a starboard fairing perceived width  270 . The port faring  250  extends a port fairing perceived width  272 . The perceived width represents a distance the oncoming air approaching the fairing would need to move laterally after encountering a leading edge of the fairing and while traveling to a trailing edge. In other words, it represents a magnitude of deflection of the air from an original path that is necessary to pass by the fairing. It is also a perceived width occupied by the fairing as viewed from in front of the fairing. In an example embodiment, the starboard fairing perceived width  270  and the port fairing perceived width  272  can be any width from five (5) to fifteen (15) inches. In an example embodiment, the starboard fairing perceived width  270  and the port fairing perceived width  272  are nine (9) inches. 
     In an example embodiment, the starboard fairing  242  and the port fairing  250  are mirror images of each other. However, each may have its own shape necessary to accommodate a shape of the respective side of the center console  206  to which it is secured. Similarly, in an example embodiment, the starboard fairing angle  264  and the port fairing angle  266  may be the same or may be different. Likewise, the starboard fairing perceived width  270  and the port fairing perceived width  272  may be the same or may be different. Moreover, the fairing angle  264 ,  266  and/or the perceived width  270 ,  272  may be different for different locations along a height of the fairings  242 ,  250 . 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of an example embodiment of a fixed starboard side wind deflection apparatus  300 . The fixed starboard side wind deflection apparatus  300  includes fairing  302  that includes a panel  304  and optionally includes a leading edge cushion  306  at a leading edge  308  of the fairing  302 . The fairing  302  includes the leading edge  308 , a trailing edge  320 , a bottom edge  322 , a top edge  324 , a front side  326 , and a back side  328 . The leading edge  308  is shaped to cooperate with a shape of that to which the fairing  302  will be secured, such as the center console  206 . This shape is retained regardless of whether the fairing  302  is secured to the center console  206  or not. As used herein, cooperate includes matching a shape of the location of the center console  206  where there fairing  302  is secured to the center console  206 . The leading edge  308  is secured to the center console  206  via brackets at the top and bottom of the leading edge  308  as shown. Alternately, or in addition, the brackets can be disposed at the top edge  324  and anywhere else around the perimeter of the fairing  302 . The top left corner (as shown in  FIG. 3 , may be contoured as shown, or the top corner may be a straight line connecting the trailing edge  320  with the top edge  324 . Any portion of the fairing  302  may be contoured to match a shape of any abutting surface. 
     In an example embodiment, the material has a tensile strength of at least 8,000 psi (55.2 MPa) and a modulus of elasticity of at least 300,000 psi (2,100 MPa) as determined by ASTM Method D638. In an example embodiment, the panel  304  is composed of a transparent material. In an example embodiment, the material is acrylic, plastic, glass, or the like. An example acrylic material has a tensile strength of 10,000 psi (69 MPa) and a modulus of elasticity of 400,000 psi (2,800 MPa). In an example embodiment, the material is not transparent and may be, for example, aluminum, carbon fiber, or fiberglass. 
     In an example embodiment, the leading edge cushion  306  is composed of PVC, for example, clear PVC or the like. In an example embodiment, the top edge  324  may also be composed of a cushioning material. 
     In an example embodiment, a chord length between the leading edge  308  and the trailing edge  320  of the fairing  302  ranges from not less than ten (10) inches to not more than twenty (20) inches for any given location between the bottom edge  322  and the top edge  324 . In an example embodiment, the chord length is fifteen (15) inches (plus or minus one (1) inch) between the tapers at the top edge  324  and the bottom edge  322 . In an example embodiment, an overall height from the top edge  324  to the bottom edge  322  is sixty five (65) inches (plus or minus one (1) inch), an overall length is thirty (30) inches (plus or minus one (1) inch), and an overall width is twelve (12) inches (plus or minus one (1) inch). 
     Also included is a mounting apparatus  350  configured to secure the fairing  302  to the center console  206 . In an example embodiment, the mounting apparatus  350  includes one or more braces  352  that secure the panel  304  to a bracket  354 . The bracket, in turn, secures to the center console  206 . In an example embodiment, each brace  352  includes a front piece  360  and a rear piece  362  that sandwich the panel  304  via fasteners  364 . In an example embodiment, the rear piece  362  includes a J-shape or the like. The dimensions and shapes of the components of each brace  352  may be the same or different within the mounting apparatus  350 . In an example embodiment, the front piece  360  and the rear piece  362  may be composed of aluminum, stainless steel, or the like. 
     In an example embodiment, the bracket  354  comprises a post clamp configured to clamp around a post of the center console  206 . In an example embodiment, the post clamp form fits to the post of the center console  206 . In an example embodiment, the post clamp includes a first clamp piece  370 , a second clamp piece  372 , and clamp pads  374 , all held together via fasteners  376 . The brace  352  is secured to the bracket  354  via fasteners  378 . In an example embodiment, the first clamp piece  370  and the second clamp piece  372  may be composed of aluminum, for example 6061 aluminum, stainless steel, or the like. In an example embodiment, the clamp pads  374  may be composed of a plastic, for example, nylon 6/10. 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of an example embodiment of a fixed port side wind deflection apparatus  400 . In this example embodiment, the fixed port side wind deflection apparatus  400  is a mirror image of the fixed starboard side wind deflection apparatus  300 . As such, the fairing  402  is a mirror image of fairing  302 , panel  404  is a mirror image of panel  304 , and optional leading edge cushion  406  is a mirror image of leading edge cushion  306 . In an example embodiment, the elements of the mounting apparatus  450  are the same as of mounting apparatus  350 , though they need not be. 
       FIG. 5  shows an assembled fixed starboard side wind deflection apparatus  300  and an assembled fixed port side wind deflection apparatus  400  together as a set  500 . The set  500  shows the relative positions of the fixed starboard side wind deflection apparatus  300  and an assembled fixed port side wind deflection apparatus  400  when secured to an example embodiment of a center console  206 . 
       FIG. 6  shows the fixed starboard side wind deflection apparatus  300  secured to an example center console  600 . In this example embodiment, the center console  600  includes a post  602  at a downstream end  604  of the center console  600  to which the fixed starboard side wind deflection apparatus  300  is secured via the mounting apparatus  350 . In this example embodiment, a leading edge profile/shape  606  of the leading edge  308  of the fairing  302  cooperates with (e.g. matches, follows) a side profile/shape of the center console  600 . In an example embodiment, the leading edge  308  forms a seal  610  with the center console  600  in one or more locations along the leading edge  308 . 
     The post  602  in this example embodiment defines a post profile/shape  612 . The leading edge profile  606  of this example embodiment follows the post profile  612 . For example, when moving upward from a bottom edge  322  of the fairing  302 , the post profile  612  proceeds (moves forward toward the bow  130 ) along the bow-to-stern axis  120  until reaching an apex  614 . Above the apex  614 , the post profile  612  recedes (moves rearward toward the stern  132 ) along the bow-to-stern axis  120 . The leading edge profile  606  likewise proceeds and then recedes, thereby matching the post profile  612 . The resulting shape of the fairing  302  keeps the fairing  302  as far astern as possible, thereby reducing the magnitude of the starboard fairing angle  264  and the starboard fairing perceived width  270  necessary to create an appropriately placid slipstream  260 . This, in turn, reduces an obtrusiveness (e.g. lateral obtrusiveness) of the fixed starboard side wind deflection apparatus  300 . 
     In this example embodiment, the center console  600  includes a T-top  620  having a lip  622  and an underside  624 . The top edge  324  of the fairing  302  cooperates with the underside  624 . As used herein, cooperates with the underside  624  means that a shape of the top edge  324  matches a shape of the underside  624 , the top edge  324  is closer to the underside  624  than a bottom edge  626  of the lip  622 , and/or the top edge  324  forms a seal  628  with the underside  624 . 
       FIG. 7  shows an example embodiment of a pivoting port side wind deflection apparatus  700  in a retracted position in which the port fairing angle is relatively small. The center console  702  in this example embodiment includes a post  704  that is straight. The pivoting port side wind deflection apparatus  700  includes a fairing  710  and a pivot  712  at a leading edge  714  of the fairing  710 . Because the post  704  is straight, the pivot  712  can be a hinge that extends along some or all of the leading edge  714 . However, the pivot  712  need not be a hinge, but can instead be one or more pivot points distributed along the leading edge  714  and of a configuration known to the artisan. Such pivot points may be useful in instances where the post is not straight. In an example embodiment, the leading edge  714  forms a seal with the side of the center console  702 , which includes the post  704 . 
     The pivoting port side wind deflection apparatus  700  includes a mounting apparatus  720  that includes the pivot  712  and further includes a positioning assembly  722  secured to the fairing  710  and that can hold the fairing  710  in the retracted position shown, can hold the fairing  710  in an extended position, and can move the fairing  710  between the retracted position and the extended position. In this example embodiment, the center console  702  includes a T-top  730  having a lip  732  with a bottom edge  734 , an underside  736 , and a top edge  738  of the fairing  710  cooperates with the underside  736  when retracted and/or when extended. A pivoting starboard side wind deflection apparatus (not shown) may be secured to the starboard side of the center console  702  and may be a mirror image of the pivoting port side wind deflection apparatus  700  or may be modified to accommodate the shape/profile of the starboard side of the center console  702 . 
       FIG. 8  shows the example embodiment of the pivoting port side wind deflection apparatus  700  of  FIG. 7  in an extended position in which the port fairing angle is relatively large. The pivoting port side wind deflection apparatus  700  is held in the extended position by the positioning assembly  722 . In this example embodiment, the positioning assembly  722  includes a first positioning arm  800 , a second positioning arm  802 , and a lever arm  804  that coordinates the first positioning arm  800  and the second positioning arm  802 . However, a single positioning arm would suffice. 
       FIG. 9  shows a closeup view of the first positioning arm  800  and a portion of the lever arm  804 . The first positioning arm  800  and the second positioning arm  802  each include an arm brace  900  secured to the fairing  710 , an intermediate linkage  902  pivotally secured to the arm brace  900  and also pivotally secured to an arm bracket  904 . The arm bracket  904  is pivotally secured to the post  704  and fixedly secured to the lever arm  804 . A handle is secured to the lever arm  906 . A pin  908  in the arm bracket  904  locks into the intermediate linkage  902  to hold the pivoting port side wind deflection apparatus  700  in the extended position. 
     To retract the fairing  710  to the retracted position, the pin  908  is lifted and the handle  910  is moved as shown by arrow  920 . This rotates the lever arm  804  as shown by arrow  922 . This, in turn, rotates the rigidly attached arm bracket  904  as shown by arrow  924 . The movement of the arm bracket  904  causes the intermediate linkage  902  to move as shown by arrow  926 . These movements cause the arm bracket  904  and the intermediate linkage  902  to fold onto each other, which retracts the fairing  710 . Since the lever arm  804  in this example embodiment is connected to both the first positioning arm  800  and the second positioning arm  802 , the same movements occur in both positioning arms  800 ,  802 . When the fairing  710  is in the retracted position, moving the lever arm  804  in the direction opposite of arrow  920  reverses this operation and moves the fairing  710  to the extended position, where the pin  908  can be installed in the intermediate linkage  902  to hold the fairing  710  in the extended position. 
     As disclosed above, the inventor has created a wind deflection apparatus that significantly increases a boating experience and yet is inexpensive, and simple to install and maintain. Accordingly, the wind deflection apparatus represents an improvement in the art. 
     While various embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, swapping of features among embodiments, changes, and substitutions may be made without departing from the invention herein. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.