Patent Publication Number: US-6712018-B2

Title: Shielding fairing for a personal watercraft

Description:
This application relies for priority on U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/318,627, filed on Sep. 13, 2001, entitled “SHIELDING FAIRING FOR A PERSONAL WATERCRAFT.” The contents of the provisional application are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to watercraft and, in particular, to a shielding fairing for a personal watercraft. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Personal watercraft are designed for high speeds and responsive handling. During operation, the operator and passenger(s) are exposed to various environmental elements, including wind and water. 
     In the typical arrangement for a conventional personal watercraft, when seated, the operator and passengers straddle the seat on the vessel. In the typical straddle position, the legs of the operator and the passenger(s) extend downwardly on either side of the seat. As a result, during operation, the legs of the operator and the passenger(s) may be sprayed with water. 
     While the operator and passenger(s) expect to be sprayed with water, a desire has developed for a design for a personal watercraft where water spray is directed away from the operator and the passenger(s), at least to a limited extent. In other words, a desire has arisen for a personal watercraft that provides an increased level of comfort by lessening the amount of air and water spray on the operator and passenger(s). 
     Such a feature has not been proffered by the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is, therefore, an aspect of the present invention to provide a watercraft with a design that improves upon the comfort afforded to an operator and passenger(s) riding on the personal watercraft. 
     More particularly, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a design for a personal watercraft where water spray is directed away from the operator and passenger(s). 
     One embodiment of the present invention provides a watercraft including a hull, an engine mounted within the hull, a deck mounted on the hull, a seat mounted on the deck, and a shielding fairing on the deck, extending outwardly from the deck at a position forward of the seat. The fairing defines a shielded area rearward thereof. 
     Other embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the description that follows. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the present invention. In the figures: 
     FIG. 1 is a left side view of the watercraft of the present invention, displaying the location of the shielding fairing according to one embodiment; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the watercraft depicted in FIG. 1, the view being taken from the right, front side of the watercraft; 
     FIG. 3 is a front view of the watercraft shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a rear view of the watercraft illustrated in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a top view of the watercraft shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is an interior view of the shielding fairing for the watercraft depicted in FIGS. 1-5; 
     FIG. 7 is a front view of the cushion portion of the shielding fairing illustrated in FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 8 is an interior side view of the cushion portion of the shielding fairing shown in FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 is an enlarged side view of a fastener receiving element permitting removable attachment of the cushion to the body of the shielding fairing; and 
     FIG. 10 is a side view of a fastener contemplated for connecting the shielding fairing to the deck of the watercraft illustrated in FIGS.  1 - 5 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the watercraft  10  of the present invention. Before delving into the details of the construction of the watercraft  10 , it is noted that the terms “forward,” “rearward,” “port,” “starboard,” “bow,” “stern,” “left,” and “right” are defined according to the normal travel direction of the watercraft  10 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the watercraft  10  includes a hull  12 , which refers to the bottom portion of the body of the watercraft  10 . A deck  14  is disposed on the hull  12  to complete the body of the watercraft  10 . In the embodiment illustrated, the deck  14  is affixed to the hull  12  via an adhesive to prevent water from seeping into the interior of the watercraft  10  during operation. As would be appreciated by those skilled in the art, however, the deck  14  need not be glued to the hull  12 . To the contrary, the two portions of the body of the watercraft  10  may be removably connected to one another by suitable fasteners. 
     According to nautical custom, the front end of the watercraft is referred to as the bow  16 . The rear end is referred to as the stern  18 . The left side of the watercraft  10  is referred to as the port side  20 . Finally, the right side of the watercraft  10  is referred to as the starboard side  22 . 
     The deck  14  of the watercraft  10  includes a seat  24 . The seat  24  shown throughout the figures is commonly referred to as a “straddle seat” or as a “straddle-type seat,” because the operator and passenger(s) of the watercraft  10  straddle the seat when seated thereon. In other words, the operator and passenger(s) position themselves on the seat  24  so that their legs are disposed on the port  20  and starboard  22  sides of the seat  24 . 
     While the embodiment shown specifically depicts a straddle seat  24 , the present invention contemplates that the watercraft  10  alternatively could include a bucket seat or a pair of bucket seats disposed on the deck  14 . In still further alternative constructions, the watercraft  10  could be constructed with a bucket seat for the operator and a straddle seat for the passengers, or vice versa. In other words, a particular seating configuration is not required to practice the present invention. 
     In the embodiment illustrated, the watercraft  10  is powered by an engine  26 , which is disposed within the body of the watercraft  10  between the hull  12  and the deck  14 . FIG. 1 provides a simplified schematic illustration of the engine  26  and the remainder of the propulsion system  28 , of which the engine  26  is a part. In the embodiment shown, the propulsion system  28  is a jet propulsion system and the engine  26  is an internal combustion engine. The propulsion system  28  includes an impeller  30  disposed within a water tunnel  32  that extends from a position at the bottom of the hull  12  to the stern  18  of the watercraft  10 . The impeller  30  is connected to the engine  26  via an impeller shaft  34 . 
     During operation of the watercraft  10 , the engine drives the impeller shaft  34  and, accordingly, the impeller  30 . As the impeller  30  rotates, water is drawn into the water tunnel  32  from the bottom of the watercraft  10 . The impeller  30  discharges the water through a nozzle  36  at the rear of the watercraft  10 . Since the water is discharged at high speed, the discharged water propels the watercraft  10 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 1, the watercraft  10  includes a steering handlebar  38 , which is disposed forward of the seat  24 . The handlebar  38  is operatively connected to the nozzle  36  to control the direction of the nozzle  36 . By controlling the direction of the nozzle  36 , the operator controls the direction of the water discharged from the stern  18  of the watercraft  10 . Accordingly, controlling the direction of the nozzle  36  controls the direction of the watercraft  10 . 
     It should be noted that the present invention is not limited solely to a watercraft  10  with an internal combustion engine  26  connected to a jet propulsion system  28 . To the contrary, it is contemplated that the engine  26  could be replaced with an electric motor powered by batteries or a fuel cell, for example. In addition, the propulsion system  28  could comprise a propeller driven by an inboard or an outboard engine. 
     The watercraft  10  includes a hood  40  disposed on an upper portion of the deck  14 . The hood  40  is pivotally connected to the deck  14  at a forward portion of the deck  14  so that the hood  40  opens in the direction of the arrow  42 . A storage compartment (not shown) is disposed beneath the hood  40  for stowage of items therein. 
     Shielding fairings  44  are positioned, one on each of the port and the starboard sides  20 ,  22  of the watercraft  10 . As illustrated, the shielding fairings  44  extend upwardly from the port and starboard gunwales  54  to positions adjacent to the hood  40 . The shielding fairings  44  are essentially V-shaped, with the vertices of the V&#39;s pointing toward the bow  16  of the watercraft  10 . The rear ends  46  of the shielding fairings  44  include indented portions  48 . The port and starboard shielding fairings  44  are mirror images of one another. Together, the shielding fairings  44  and the hood  40  form a contiguous exterior appearance for the watercraft  10  when the hood  40  is in the closed position. 
     As discussed above, in the embodiment illustrated, the shielding fairings  44  do not connect to the hood  40 . This permits the hood  40  to be opened easily. It is contemplated, however, that the shielding fairings  44  alternatively may be connected to the hood  40 . If so connected, the shielding fairings  44  would be lifted together with the hood  40  when the hood  40  is opened. 
     As best illustrated in FIG. 4, the shielding fairings  44  define a shielded region rearwardly thereof. The shielded region is the region in which the operator&#39;s and passenger&#39;s legs are disposed during operation of the watercraft  10 . In particular, when seated on the watercraft  10 , it is contemplated that the operator will place his or her feet in the foot rest areas  56  generally designated in FIGS. 4 and 5. Similarly, the passenger&#39;s feet typically will be placed just behind the foot rest areas  56 . As a result, the passenger&#39;s feet and legs fall within the shielded region defined by the shielding fairings  44 . 
     With the shielding fairings  44  positioned in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, and with the operator&#39;s feet positioned in the foot rest areas  56 , the bottom half of the shielding fairings  44  partially cover the feet of the operator. As a result, the lower portions of the shielding fairings  44  may hinder the operator from embarking onto and disembarking from the watercraft  10 . In particular, the lower portions of the shielding fairings  44  present an obstacle to placement of the operator&#39;s feet in the foot rest areas  56 . The indented portions  48  are provided in the shielding fairings  44  to minimize this problem and facilitate embarkation and disembarkation. 
     In the typical case, when the operator wishes to board the watercraft  10 , the operator will try to position his or her feet in the foot rest areas  56 . Since the foot rest areas  56  are at least partially occluded by the bottom portions of the shielding fairings, the shielding fairings  44  may hinder the operator&#39;s ability to place his or her feet in the foot rest areas  56 . The indented portions  48  provide a solution to this difficulty. In particular, the indented portions  48  provide a location through which the operator may pass a portion of his or her feet so that the foot rest areas  56  are more easily accessible. 
     FIG. 5 is particularly illustrative of the way in which the indented portions  48  facilitate placement of the operator&#39;s feet in the foot rest areas  56 . In particular, as the operator embarks on the watercraft  10 , to avoid impact with the shielding fairings  44 , the operator must lift his or her feet above the bottom portions of the shielding fairings  44  and move his or her feet laterally inward, before planting them in the foot rest areas  56 . To disembark from the watercraft  1 , the operator simply lifts his or her feet from the foot rest areas  56  to a height sufficient for his or her toes to pass through the indented portions  48 , thereby clearing the shielding fairings  44 . 
     While the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 shows a watercraft  10  with shielding fairings  44  having a lower portion that slopes downwardly and rearwardly, it is contemplated that the shielding fairings may take any shape and size without deviating from the scope of the present invention. For example, it is contemplated that the shielding fairings  44  may be configured so that they do not slope at all (i.e., the lower portion of shielding fairings  44  may extend perpendicularly from the deck  14 ). As would be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the lower portion of shielding fairings  44  alternatively may be sloped forwardly and/or rearwardly. In addition, it is contemplated that the shielding fairings  44  may be constructed so that they do not include the indented portions  48 . 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the shielding fairings  44  have a rounded profile when viewed from the front or rear of the watercraft  10 . This maximizes the shielded region rearwardly of the shielding fairings  44 . Such a shape, however, is not required to practice the present invention. As would be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the shielding fairings  44  could have a straight, curved, square, polygonal, or other profile when viewed from the front or rear. 
     As discussed in greater detail below in connection with FIGS. 6-10, the embodiment of the shielding fairings  44  illustrated in the drawings comprise two parts. The first is the body  50 . The second is the cushion  52 . The body  50  preferably is made of a thermoplastic material. The cushion  52  preferably is made of a polyurethane foam. While these two materials are contemplated for construction of the present invention, the present invention is not limited thereby. To the contrary, those skilled in the art would recognize that there are a plethora of alternative materials that may be used. In particular, the body  50  preferably should be made of a rigid plastic material that can be easily molded into the appropriate shape. While rigid, it is preferred that the body  50  offer some degree of flexibility so that the body  50  may easily withstand impacts from the operator&#39;s foot, for example, without becoming permanently deformed. As for the cushion  52 , any other type of cushion material (such as another type of foam) may be used. It is preferred that the cushion provide a sufficiently resilient material to lessen the magnitude of any impact therewith, for example, with the operator&#39;s foot, shin, knee, or leg. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates the interior side of one of the shielding fairings  44 . The body  50  and the cushion  52  are clearly delineated. The bottom edge  58  of the shielding fairing  44  is provided with a plurality of holes  60  through which a fasteners (for example fasteners  84 , illustrated in FIG. 10, and discussed in greater detail below) are disposed to connect the shielding fairing  44  to the gunwale  54 . While only two holes  60  are visible in FIG. 6, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the shielding fairing  44  of the present invention may include any number of holes  60  greater than one to permit attachment of the shielding fairing  44  to the associated gunwale  54 . 
     As shown in FIG. 6, the top edge  62  of the shielding fairing  44  is provided with an attachment flange  64 . The attachment flange  64  includes two holes  66  that facilitate attachment of the shielding fairing  44  to the deck  14  adjacent to the cover  40 . While only two holes  66  are illustrated, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the attachment flange  64  may include any number of holes  66  greater than one so that the shielding fairing  44  may be secured to the deck  14  at its top edge  62 . Moreover, those skilled in the art also would readily appreciate that the shielding fairing  44  need not include an attachment flange  64  along its top edge  62 . The holes  66  could just as easily be provided through a portion of the shielding fairing  44  without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     The cushion  52  is depicted in greater detail in FIGS. 7 and 8. The forward edge  68  of the cushion  52  is designed to matingly engage the rearward edge  70  of the body  50  of the shielding fairing  44 . Both the forward edge  68  of the cushion  52  and the rearward edge  70  of the body are provided with eight holes  72  that are positioned to align with one another when the cushion  52  and the body  50  are aligned with one another. As illustrated in FIG. 6, fasteners, such as screws  74 , pass through the holes  72  to connect the cushion  52  and the body  50  together. As would be appreciated by those skilled in the art, eight holes are not required to practice the present invention. Any number of holes  72  greater than one is all that is needed to connect the body  50  and the cushion  52  together. 
     While the screws  74  may threadedly engage the forward edge  68  of the cushion  52  directly, it is contemplated, as illustrated in FIG. 8, that the screws  74  will engage bolts  78  positioned behind the forward edge  68  of the cushion  52 . As indicated, the bolts  78  may be embedded within the cushion  52 . It is believed that a fastener attachment between the body  50  and the cushion  52  greatly enhances the strength of the connection therebetween. 
     One of the bolts  78  is illustrated in FIG. 9 in greater detail. The bolt  78  includes a body  80  with a central bore  82 . The threaded end of the screw  74  engages the bore  82  so that the cushion  52  may be secured to the body  50 . So that the bolts  78  do not rotate when the screws  74  are fastened therein, wings  84  are provided on either side thereof to engage the material of the cushion  52 . As would be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the particular construction for the bolts  78  is not required to practice the present invention. To the contrary, any other suitable bolt may be substituted therefor without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     As FIGS. 7-9 suggest, it is contemplated as part of the invention that the cushion  52  may be removable from the body  50  so that the cushion  52  may be easily replaced. In an alternate embodiment, the cushion  52  may be affixed directly to the body via a suitable adhesive. In such a case, no holes  72  (or screws  74 ) would be needed to hold the cushion  52  onto the body  50 . 
     It should be noted that, while the illustrated embodiment has a two piece construction, it is contemplated that the shielding fairing  44  could be comprised of any number of individual components connected together without deviating from the scope of the present invention. For example, the body  50  of the shielding fairing may be made of upper and lower sections that connect together along a horizontal seam. Similarly, the body  50  and the cushion  52  may each be made up of several individual components without deviating from the scope of the present invention. 
     FIG. 10 illustrates one example of the type of fastener  84  contemplated to connect the body  50  to the gunwale  54  and the portion of the deck  14  adjacent to the hood  40 . To connect the body  50  to the gunwale  54 , the shielding fairing  44  is positioned on the gunwale  54  so that the holes  60  align with holes in the gunwale  54 . Fasteners  84  are then press-fitted into the holes. Similarly, to connect the body  50  to the deck along its top edge  62 , the fasteners  84  are press-fitted through the holes  66  into corresponding holes in the deck  14  adjacent to the hood  40 . 
     As shown in FIG. 10, the fastener  84  includes a head  86 , a body  88 , and at least one flexible extension  90  extending from the body  88 . Since the extensions  90  are flexible, they are designed to compress against the body  88  as the body  88  is pressed into one of the holes  60 ,  66 . After the extension  90  passes completely through the deck  14 , the extension  90  flexes outwardly, away from the body  88 . Thereby, the extensions  90  engage the interior surface of the deck  14  and hold the body  50  of the shielding fairing  44  on the deck  14 . While the fastener  84  is preferred for use with the shielding fairing  44 , those skilled in the art would readily appreciate that any other type of fastener (such as a nut and bolt) could be used instead, without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, a reinforcing strip may be included at the connection point between the deck  14  and the shielding fairings  44  to increase the strength of the connection between the two components of the watercraft  10 . 
     It is also contemplated that the shielding fairings  44  may be affixed to the deck  14  via a fastener such as a glue, adhesive, or an epoxy. In one further alternative embodiment, the shielding fairings  44  may be integrally molded as a part of the deck  14 , as would be appreciated by those skilled in the art. 
     Returning to FIG. 5, it is noted that the preferred embodiment places the outermost portion of the bottom of the shielding fairings  44  adjacent to the outer edge of the gunwales  54 . This construction is preferred because it maximizes the foot rest areas  56  beneath the shielding fairings  44 . It also maximizes the size of shielded regions behind the shielding fairings  44 . As would be appreciated by those skilled in the art, however, the shielding fairings  44  need not be attached to the gunwales  54  or to a portion of the deck  14  adjacent to the hood  40 . Instead, they may be attached at any location on the deck  14  without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     In addition, while the present invention is contemplated for use on a personal watercraft  10 , it is contemplated that the present invention could be adapted readily for use on other types of watercraft or vehicles (e.g., snowmobiles, motorcycles, ATVs, or the like) where it is desired to minimize the effect of environmental conditions on the operator and any passengers. 
     From the invention thus described, it will be obvious that the invention 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 for inclusion within the scope of the following claims.