Patent Publication Number: US-6712689-B2

Title: Cockpit vent for a power boat

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to ventilation systems for marine craft, and more specifically, to ventilation systems for power boats having a cockpit. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Boats have been used for centuries as a means of transportation across waterways, to harvest fish from the waters, and more recently for pleasure. Power boats, boats with an on board power source, are typically powered by an internal combustion engine. A common concern regarding power boats is exhaust fumes and fuel vapor from the combustion engine tend to accumulate in the cockpit. 
     Power boats are commonly provided with a cover over at least part of the cockpit to provide protection from the sun and weather. The cockpit cover is typically formed of canvas or a rigid member such as fiberglass. A canvas cover is typically supported by a suitable frame mounted on the boat and windshield. A cockpit cover formed of a rigid member typically interfaces with a top sill of the windshield. Support for a rigid cockpit cover is typically inherent in the structure of the cover. 
     Power boats that are provided with a cockpit cover accumulate more exhaust fumes and fuel vapor than those without a cockpit cover. Furthermore, ventilation on hot days would also add comfort to those on board the power boat. 
     The art is replete with a variety of ventilation systems for marine craft. One such system requires significant modification to the foredeck. However, a ventilation system located at the foredeck would be susceptible to penetration from water splashing over the bow of the boat. Another system requires a customized cover. However, a ventilation system located on the cover would be susceptible to rain. 
     There exists a need in the art for a cockpit vent that will provide sufficient ventilation to the cockpit of a power boat. Furthermore, there exists a need in the art for a ventilation system that may be implemented without modification to the existing power boat. There further exists a need in the art for a ventilation system that it is significantly less susceptible to penetration from water and debris. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A cockpit vent for power boat having a cockpit, a windshield and a cockpit cover comprises a frame defining at least one aperture for introducing ambient air to the cockpit. The frame includes a windshield engagement member and a cover engagement member. The frame is disposed between the windshield and the cockpit cover. The windshield engagement member is attachable to a top sill of a boat windshield. The cover engagement member is spaced from the windshield engagement member and is attachable to the cockpit cover. A pair of side members may be disposed between end portions of the windshield engagement member and cover engagement member to interconnect the windshield engagement member and cover engagement member. 
     In an alternate embodiment, a cockpit ventilation system for power boat comprises a windshield extending from a foredeck of the power boat and a cockpit cover at least partially covering the cockpit. A frame defining at least one aperture for introducing ambient air into the cockpit, which includes a windshield support member and cover support member, is disposed between the windshield and cockpit cover. The windshield support member is attached to a top portion of the windshield and the cover support member is spaced from the windshield support member and is attached to the cockpit cover. 
     A method for venting a cockpit of a power boat having a cockpit, windshield and a cockpit cover comprises spacing a cover support member from a windshield support member. The windshield support member is attached to a top portion the windshield, thereby forming a vent having at least one aperture therebetween. The vent is positioned at an angle relative to a long axis of the power boat to allow an air to flow into the cockpit of the boat. 
    
    
     Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from analysis of the following written description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a power boat revealing a cockpit vent in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2A is a plan view of a first embodiment of the vent according to the principles of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2B is a plan view of a second embodiment of the vent according to the principles of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2C is a plan view of a third embodiment of the vent according to the principles of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial side view of the power boat of FIG. 1 revealing an alternate embodiment of the cockpit vent of the present invention, further including a cover engagement member adapter. 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial side view of the power boat of FIG. 1 revealing an alternate embodiment of the cockpit vent of the present invention, further including an air deflector. 
     FIG. 5 is a partial side view of a power boat revealing an alternate embodiment of the cockpit vent of the present invention, further including an air dam. 
     FIG. 6 is a partial side view of a power boat revealing an alternate embodiment of the cockpit vent of the present invention, further including a set of louvers. 
     FIG. 7 is a partial side view of a power boat revealing an alternate embodiment of the cockpit vent of the present invention, further including a diffuser. 
     FIG. 8A is an enlarged partial side view of the power boat of FIG. 1 revealing the vent positioned at an acute angle relative to the long axis of the power boat, illustrating the resulting air flow field into the vent. 
     FIG. 8B is an enlarged partial side view of the power boat of FIG. 1 revealing the vent positioned at an angle parallel relative to the long axis of the power boat, illustrating the resulting air flow field into the vent. 
     FIG. 8C is an enlarged partial side view of the power boat of FIG. 1 revealing the vent positioned at a right angle relative to the long axis of the power boat, illustrating the resulting air flow field into the vent. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With initial reference now to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a power boat  10  revealing a cockpit vent  20  in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. The boat includes a hull  12  having a foredeck  14  disposed thereon extending from the bow to about midway along the length of the boat  10 . A rearwardly angled windshield  16  extends upward from the foredeck  14 . A pair of side windows  17  extend rearward from the windshield  16  generally parallel to the side of the boat  10 . The cockpit  13  is bounded by the windshield  16  and side windows  17 . A cockpit cover  18  is supported by frame  11  and at least partially covers the cockpit  13 . Although a soft cover  18 , for example one made from canvas, is shown, the present invention is also intended to be applied to power boats having a rigid cover, made from, for example, fiberglass or the like. A typical cockpit cover  18  interfaces with or is securely attached to a top sill  15  of the windshield  16 . The top sill  15  is attached to a top portion of the windshield  16 . 
     A ventilation system  23  comprises the windshield  16 , cockpit cover  18  and vent  20 . The cockpit  13  of the power boat  10  is vented by spacing the cover engagement member  26  from the windshield engagement member  24 , thereby forming an aperture  21  of the vent  20 . The cover engagement member  26  may be a separate component or a cover support such as a forward portion  9  of the frame  13  or a forward portion of a rigid cover (not shown). The windshield engagement member  24  may be a separate component or a windshield support such as top sill  15 . It is therefore contemplated to be within the scope of the present invention to form frame  22  from a windshield support member, such as top sill  15 , and spacing a cover support member, such as the forward portion  9  of the frame  11 , from the windshield support member to form at least one aperture  21 . By forming the frame  22  from existing components, part cost and weight savings may be achieved. Furthermore, the frame  22  may also be at least partially formed from a forward portion of a rigid cockpit cover. 
     Referring now also to FIG. 2A, another embodiment of the cockpit vent  20  of the present invention is shown comprising a frame  22  defining at least one aperture  21  for introducing ambient air into the cockpit  13 . The frame  22  includes a windshield engagement member  24  and a cover engagement member  26 . The frame  22  is disposed between the windshield  16  and the cockpit cover  18 . 
     Windshield engagement member  24  is attachable to a top sill  15  of the windshield  16  by any suitable means known in the art, including, but not limited to, snaps, hook and loop type fastener devices, such as that sold under the trade mark VELCRO, one or more zippers, threaded fasteners, clamps, permanent attachment methods such as adhesives, rivets or welding. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, windshield engagement member  24  generally follows the contour of the top sill  15  of the windshield  16 . In the preferred embodiment, the vent  20  is formed so as to blend with the styling of the boat  10 . 
     Cover engagement member  26  is spaced from the windshield engagement member  24 . The cover engagement member  26  is attachable to the cockpit cover  18  by any suitable means known in art, including, but not limited to, snaps, hook and loop type fastener devices, such as that sold under the trade mark VELCRO, one or more zippers, threaded fasteners, clamps, permanent attachment methods such as adhesives, rivets or welding. In a preferred embodiment, the cover engagement member  26  generally follows the contour of a front edge  19  of the cockpit cover  18 . 
     The cockpit vent  20  may further comprise at least one support member  29  disposed between the windshield engagement member  24  and cover engagement member  26  for rigidly supporting the frame  22 . A pair of side members  28  are disposed between end portions  27  of windshield engagement member  24  and cover engagement member  26 , thereby interconnecting the windshield engagement member  24  and the cover engagement member  26 . Alternatively, either one of the windshield engagement member  24  or cover engagement member  26  may be extended to eliminate the side members  28 , as shown in FIG.  2 B. In a third embodiment of the present invention, the frame  22  may be a unitary member as shown in FIG. 2C, and may incorporate at least one support member  29 . 
     The frame  22  may be formed of any suitable material known in the art including, but not limited to, aluminum, stainless steel and high-strength plastic. The simplicity of the design of vent  20  allows for numerous manufacturing processes to be employed, including, but not limited to, extrusion, molding and forming. 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, an enlarged partial side view of the power boat  10  of FIG. 1 revealing the cockpit vent  20  of the present invention is shown further revealing a cover engagement member adapter  30  operatively disposed. The windshield  16  is angled rearwardly at an obtuse angle β relative to a long axis  5  of the boat  10 . When the boat  10  is in motion, air flows over the foredeck  14  and is deflected upward over the windshield  16  and, in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, into the cockpit vent  20  of the present invention. The cover engagement member adapter  30  extends from the cover engagement member  26  to the cockpit cover  18 . The adapter  30  allows the vent  20  of the present invention to be installed without modification to the existing windshield  16  or cockpit cover  18 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 4 an enlarged partial side view of the power boat of FIG. 1 is shown revealing another embodiment of the cockpit vent  20  of the present invention, further including an air deflector  31 . In the present embodiment, the deflector  31  extends inwardly from the cover engagement member  26  of the vent  20 . The deflector  31  redirects ambient air introduced through the vent  20  away from the cover  18 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 5, a partial side view of a power boat  10  is shown revealing another embodiment of the cockpit vent  20  of the present invention, further including an air dam  32 . In the present embodiment, the air dam  32  extends between the windshield engagement member  24  and one of either the cover engagement member  26  or the cover engagement member adapter  30 . The air dam  32  is provided to halt the flow of ambient air introduced by the vent  20  into the cockpit  13 . The air dam  32  is selectively engageable and may be engaged by employing any suitable means known the art, including, not limited to, zippers, snaps or hook and loop type fastener devices, such as that sold under the trade mark VELCRO. 
     Referring now to FIG. 6, a partial side view of a power boat  10  is shown, revealing another embodiment of the cockpit vent  20  of the present invention, further including a set of louvers  33 . In the present embodiment, the louvers  33  extend between the windshield engagement member  24  and one of either the cover engagement member  26  or the cover engagement member adapter  30 . The louvers  33  are provided for restricting the flow of ambient air introduced by the vent  20  into the cockpit  13 . In one embodiment, the louvers  33  are selectively adjustable, by any suitable means know in the art, from an open position where airflow through said vent is maximized, to a closed position where the airflow through said vent  20  is halted. 
     Referring now to FIG. 7, a partial side view of a power boat  10  is shown, revealing another embodiment of the cockpit vent  20  of the present invention, further including a diffuser  34 . In the present embodiment, the diffuser  34  extends between the windshield engagement member  24  and one of either the cover engagement member  26  or a cover engagement member adapter  30 . The diffuser  34  is provided to expand the flow of ambient air introduced by the vent  20  into the cockpit  13 . 
     Referring now FIGS. 8A through 8C, an enlarged partial side view of the power boat of FIG. 1 is shown, revealing the vent  20  positioned at various angles. Typically, a boat windshield is swept rearwardly, as such FIGS. 8A through 8C illustrate the angle α taken along the leading edge of the windshield  16 , illustrating the angle α between the long axis  5  and surface of the vent  20 . The position of the vent  20  relative to the long axis  5  of the boat  10  affects the airflow field. Although any angle α that provides airflow through the vent  20  may be employed in the present invention an angle α between about 0 and 90 degrees is preferred. By positioning the vent  20  at a suitable angle α relative to the long axis  5  of the power boat  10 , ambient air is allowed to flow into the cockpit  13  of the boat  10 . 
     The cockpit  13  of the power boat  10  is vented by spacing the cover engagement member  26  from the windshield engagement member  24 , thereby forming an aperture  21  therebetween. The vent  20  is positioned at an angle α relative to the long axis  5  of the power boat  10 , to allow ambient air to flow into the cockpit  13  of the boat  10 . 
     Specifically, FIG. 8A discloses the vent  20  positioned at an acute angle α relative to the long axis of the power boat  10 , illustrating the resulting air flow field into the vent  20 . The position of the vent  20  allows for a flow field consisting of a mixture of air diverted by the windshield and air introduced directly into the vent  20 . 
     FIG. 8B reveals the vent  20  positioned at an angle α parallel relative to the long axis of the power boat  10 , illustrating the resulting air flow field into the vent  20 . The position of the vent  20  allows for a flow field consisting substantially of air diverted by the windshield  16  to be introduced into the vent  20 . This particular vent angle α minimizes the amount of water, insects and debris that can travel through vent  20 . Furthermore a screen (not shown) may be employed to cover aperture  21 , for preventing debris and insects from entering the cockpit  13 . Furthermore the screen may be selectively removable by employing any suitable means known the art including, but not limited to, snaps, hook and loop type fastener devices, such as that sold under the trade mark VELCRO, zippers, threaded fasteners or selectively engageable retainers. 
     FIG. 8C reveals the vent  20  positioned at an angle α perpendicular relative to the long axis of the power boat  10 , illustrating the resulting air flow field into the vent  20 . The right angle position of the vent  20  allows for a flow field consisting substantially of air introduced directly into the vent  20 . 
     EXAMPLE 
     Referring again to FIG. 1, in the present example, the frame  22  is securely attached to the top sill  15  of a two plate windshield  16 . The canvas cover  18  is the original cover provided by the manufacturer, shown fastened to the cover engagement member  26  by snaps. Although snaps are the preferred method of attachment for the soft cover of the present example, as most manufactures employ snaps to secure soft covers in their production powerboats, suitable substitutes include zippers and hook and loop type fastener devices, such as that sold under the trade mark VELCRO. One of the advantages of the present invention is the minimal amount of time required to engage or disengage the vent  20  once the frame  22  has been installed. If the ventilation benefits of the present invention are not desired, the vent  20  may be disengaged by detaching the cover  18  from the cover engagement member  26  and attaching it to the windshield engagement member  24 . Detaching and re-attaching the cover  18  takes only moments to complete. The windshield engagement member  24  also has snaps for receiving the cover to return the cover  18  to the original, non-ventilating, location. The cover  18  is then easily tightened by adjusting the rear stanchions of the frame  11 . 
     In the present example, the frame  22  is sufficiently rigid so as to enable the boat  10  to be operated under design conditions without having the cover  18  attached to the cover engagement member  26 . In the present example, experiments were performed on a boat 29 feet in length, having a windshield 7 feet in width. A 4 inch wide gap between the windshield engagement member  24  and cover engagement member  26  provided the desired level of ventilation in the cockpit  13  in the present example. By raising the front edge  19  of the cockpit cover  18 , sufficient ventilation of the cockpit  13  may be achieved. One skilled in the art will immediately recognize that the present invention may be used with any size boat, irrespective of the beam, windshield width or length of the boat. 
     The foregoing discussion discloses and describes the preferred structure and control system for the present invention. However, one skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion, and from the accompanying drawings and claims, that various changes, modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the true spirit and fair scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.