Patent Publication Number: US-2006000400-A1

Title: Protective device for watercraft

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates generally to a new and improved protective device for watercraft. More particularly, the invention is directed to a protective device which comprises a generally planar aliphatic transparent deformable urethane member which is approximately 16 millimeters thick and which is attachable to the transom of a watercraft by 3M.™. VHB.™. adhesive to protect the transom from damage caused by water-skis, wakeboards, water-sports equipment, ropes, anchors, coolers, containers, shoes, lifevests and all types of devices stored or placed onto the swim platform of a watercraft.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Numerous devices have heretofore been proposed for providing protection to various types of watercraft. However, each of the prior art devices have been found wanting in one or more particulars. In addition, none of the devices provided adequate protection for the transom of a watercraft from wear, tear and abuse, particularly above the swim platform of a watercraft.  
      Hence, there is a need in the art for a protective device for watercraft which protects the transom of a watercraft and resists wear, mutilation and disfigurement. There is also a need in the art for a protective device which is relatively thin.  
      It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved protective device for watercraft.  
      More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved protective device for watercraft which protects the transom of a watercraft from damage caused by water-skis, wakeboards, water-sports equipment, ropes, anchors, coolers, containers, shoes, lifevests and all types of devices stored or placed onto the swim platform of a watercraft.  
      A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved protective device for watercraft which resists wear, mutilation and disfigurement.  
      Another object of the instant invention is to provide an improved protective device for watercraft which is relatively thin.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved protective device for watercraft which is deformable when disposed over the transom of a watercraft in order to conform to the various shapes and sizes of the transom.  
      It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved protective device for watercraft which have all the advantages of the prior art and none of its disadvantages.  
      These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the detailed description annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention.  
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
      A broad aspect of the invention comprises a novel protective device for a watercraft which protects the exterior surface of the transom of a watercraft of different shapes and sizes from damage caused by water-skis, wakeboards, water-sports equipment, ropes, anchors, coolers, containers, shoes, lifevests and all types of devices stored or placed onto the swim platform of a watercraft.  
      One embodiment of the invention utilizes a generally planar aliphatic transparent deformable urethane member. The urethane member is shaped and dimensioned to conform to and cover the exterior surface of the transom of a watercraft. A layer of adhesive secures the urethane member to the exterior surface of the transom of a watercraft.  
      For this embodiment, it is most advantageous that the urethane member has an approximate uniform thickness of  16  millimeters. It is also beneficial for the layer of adhesive to uniformly cover the entire surface of the urethane member in order to attach the urethane member to the exterior surface of the transom of a watercraft. Further embodiments will become obvious hereafter.  
      There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other devices for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the invention be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The foregoing and other additional objects of the present invention will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art upon gaining an understanding of the invention as described in the following detailed description and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a rear view illustrating a watercraft equipped with the preferred embodiment of the protective device which protects the transom of a watercraft.  
       FIG. 2A  is a fractional rear view illustrating a watercraft equipped with the preferred embodiment of the protective device which protects the transom of a watercraft.  
       FIG. 2B  is a cross sectional view along line  2 B- 2 B in  FIG. 2A .  
       FIG. 3  is an elevated perspective view of the protective device for a watercraft.  
       FIG. 4  is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the protective device for a watercraft. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      While the invention may be susceptible to embodiments in different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and herein will be described in detail, specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to that as illustrated and described herein.  
      Referring to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates a rear view of a watercraft  14  which is equipped with the protective device  10 .  FIG. 2A  illustrates a fractional rear view of a watercraft  14  which is equipped with the protective device  10 . The protective device  10  covers the transom  12  area of the watercraft  14  and protects the transom  12  from damage caused by water-skis, wakeboards, water-sports equipment, ropes, anchors, coolers, containers, shoes, lifevests and all types of devices stored or placed onto the swim platform  11  of a watercraft  14 .  
      Now referring to  FIG. 2B , a cross sectional view along line  2 B- 2 B in  FIG. 2A , the urethane member  56  of the protective device  10  is attached to the transom  12  of the watercraft  14  by an adhesive surface  22 . The protective device  10  includes a urethane member  56  and an adhesive surface  22 . The urethane member  56  is formed of a generally planar aliphatic transparent deformable urethane material.  
      In this particular preferred embodiment, the adhesive surface  22  used to attach the urethane member  56  of the protective device  10  over the transom  12  of the watercraft  14  is 3M.™.VHB.™., commercially available from the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company (3M) of St. Paul, Minn. It will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that other suitable materials are possible as an adhesive which are consistent with the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
      In the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention for protecting a portion of the exterior surface of the transom  12  of a watercraft  14 , the urethane member  56  of the protective device  10  has a uniform cross-sectional thickness. It is most preferred that the urethane member  56  of the protective device  10  has a uniform cross-sectional thickness of 16 millimeters. It will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that other suitable thicknesses which are relatively thin compared to the prior art are possible which are consistent with the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the urethane member  56  may have a cross-sectional thickness of less than 50 millimeters.  
      In the preferred embodiment, the protective device  30  is attached to the transom  12  of the watercraft  14  having a swim platform  11  above the swim platform  11 .  
       FIG. 3  illustrates an elevated perspective view of the protective device  10 . The urethane member  56  of the protective device  10  is secured to a portion of the exterior surface of the transom  12  of a watercraft  14  by an adhesive surface  22 . In the preferred embodiment, the adhesive surface  22  substantially covers the surface of the transom side of the protective device  30 .  
      In the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, an adhesive backing  24  is disposed over the adhesive surface  22 , the adhesive backing  24  being removably fastened to the adhesive surface  22 . The adhesive backing  24  is removably fastened to the adhesive surface  22  in order to retain the adhesive characteristic of the adhesive surface  22  until the protective device  10  is to be installed over the transom  12  of a watercraft  14 . When the protective device  10  is to be installed on the transom  12  of a watercraft  14 , the adhesive backing  24  is peeled away from the adhesive surface  22  in order to expose the adhesive surface  22 . Once the adhesive backing  24  is entirely removed and the adhesive surface  22  is entirely exposed, the protective device  10  can be applied to the transom  12  of the watercraft  14 . In the preferred embodiment, the adhesive surface  22  would substantially cover the transom side of the protective device  30 , leaving no gaps for air or other materials between the urethane member  56  of the protective device  10  and the transom  12  of the watercraft  14 .  
      The preferred protective device  10  is shaped and dimensioned to conform to and cover a portion of the exterior surface of the transom  12  of a watercraft  14 , wherein the protective device  10  is uniform in thickness. The protective device  10  will adhere to watercrafts made of fiberglass, urethane, treated wood and all metals. The protective device  10  may also be applied over current graphics and striping without affecting their appearance.  
      In this preferred embodiment, before being applied to a watercraft  14 , it is presently preferable that the protective device  10  would have dimensions such that the dimension A, as shown in  FIG. 4  would be 3 inches, and the dimension B, as shown in  FIG. 4  would be 105 inches. It will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, however, that other thickness, dimensions, shapes, or configurations of the urethane member are possible, provided that the urethane member  56  has a generally uniform cross-sectional thickness.  
      While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment and several alternative embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended that the invention be limited to those embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed.  
      As to the manner of usage and operation of the instant invention, same should be apparent from the above disclosure, and accordingly no further discussion relevant to the manner of usage and operation of the instant invention shall be provided.  
      With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.  
      Therefore, the foregoing is considered illustrative of only the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.  
      The foregoing discussion is illustrative of the invention. However, since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides wholly in the claims hereinafter appended.