Patent ID: 8905800

Claim:
An inlet grate for a water jet propulsion system to be used in a watercraft, the water jet propulsion system having a water passage, the water passage having an inlet, the inlet having a forward area and a rearward area with respect to the watercraft, the inlet grate comprising: a first end portion including a plate adapted to be connected to the forward area of the inlet, the plate being adapted to be disposed at least in part inside the water passage when the grate is installed on the jet propulsion system, the plate having a rearward end; a second end portion adapted to be connected to the rearward area of the inlet; at least one elongated member extending from the first end portion toward the second end portion; and at least one deflector having a forward end and a rearward end, the at least one deflector being in contact with the plate, the rearward end of the plate being spaced from the at least one deflector, the at least one deflector extending rearward and upward from the first end portion toward the second end portion, the at least one deflector being inclined relative to the elongated member such that at least a portion of a top surface and the rearward end of the at least one deflector are spaced from the plate in a direction perpendicular to the at least one elongated member, and the rearward end of the at least one deflector being disposed inside the water passage when the grate is installed on the jet propulsion system.