U.S. patent application number 09/746357 was filed with the patent office on 2001-05-31 for boat.
This patent application is currently assigned to Norcraft Consulting Services Inc.. Invention is credited to Dust, Norman.
Application Number | 20010001941 09/746357 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27626448 |
Filed Date | 2001-05-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010001941 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dust, Norman |
May 31, 2001 |
Boat
Abstract
A boat includes a body having one or two paddling positions. The
body is sufficiently narrow at the paddling positions to provide a
comfortable paddling width. A bow extends forwardly and converges
to become progressively narrower from the forward paddling
position. A stern extends rearwardly and diverges to become
progressively wider from the rearward paddling position. The stern
has two hulls positioned rearward of the at least one paddling
position and separated by a connecting surface. The connecting
surface extends rearwardly and upwardly from the rearward paddling
position upwardly an upper remote end that is out of the water at
the stern, thereby reducing drag.
Inventors: |
Dust, Norman; (Alberta,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHRISTENSEN, O'CONNOR, JOHNSON, KINDNESS, PLLC
1420 FIFTH AVENUE
SUITE 2800
SEATTLE
WA
98101-2347
US
|
Assignee: |
Norcraft Consulting Services
Inc.
|
Family ID: |
27626448 |
Appl. No.: |
09/746357 |
Filed: |
December 22, 2000 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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09746357 |
Dec 22, 2000 |
|
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09374561 |
Aug 13, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
114/347 ;
114/288; 114/61.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63B 1/042 20130101;
B63B 1/08 20130101; B63B 34/21 20200201 |
Class at
Publication: |
114/347 ;
114/61.1; 114/288 |
International
Class: |
B63B 001/00; B63B
001/32 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 28, 1998 |
CA |
2,246,031 |
Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A boat, comprising: a body having at least one paddling
position, the body being sufficiently narrow at the at least one
paddling position to provide a comfortable paddling width; a bow
extending forwardly and converging to become progressively narrower
from the at least one paddling position; a stern extending
rearwardly and diverging to become progressively wider from the at
least one paddling position, thereby increasing lateral stability,
the stern having two hulls positioned rearward of the at least one
paddling position and separated by a connecting surface, the
connecting surface extending rearwardly and upwardly from the at
least one paddling position to an upper remote end that is out of
the water at the stern, thereby reducing drag.
2. The boat as defined in claim 1, wherein the body is that of a
kayak.
3. The boat as defined in claim 1, wherein the body is that of a
canoe.
4. A boat, comprising: a body having a single paddling position,
the body being sufficiently narrow at the single paddling position
to provide a comfortable paddling width; a bow extending forwardly
and converging to become progressively narrower from the single
paddling position; a stern extending rearwardly and diverging to
become progressively wider from the single paddling position,
thereby increasing lateral stability, the stern having two hulls
positioned rearward of the single paddling position and separated
by a connecting surface, the connecting surface extending
rearwardly and upwardly from the single paddling position to an
upper remote end that is out of the water at the stern, thereby
reducing drag.
5. A boat, comprising: a body having a forward paddling position
and a rearward paddling position, the body being sufficiently
narrow at both forward paddling position and the rearward paddling
position to provide a comfortable paddling width; a bow extending
forwardly and converging to become progressively narrower from the
forward paddling position; a stern extending rearwardly and
diverging to become progressively wider from the rearward paddling
position, thereby increasing lateral stability, the stern having
two hulls positioned rearward of the rearward paddling position and
separated by a connecting surface, the connecting surface extending
rearwardly and upwardly from the rearward paddling position an
upper remote end that is out of the water at the stern, thereby
reducing drag.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a new design for a boat
and, in particular, a boat that is intended to be manually
paddled.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Canoes and kayaks are light weight, easily manoeuvrable
craft that are powered by paddling. They are well suited for
recreational use. However, canoes and kayaks are known to have
limited lateral stability.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] What is required is a boat with enhanced stability that
maintains the light weight, easy manoeuvring of canoes and kayaks,
without adversely affecting paddling.
[0004] According to the present invention there is provided a boat
which includes a body having at least one paddling position. The
body is sufficiently narrow at the at least one paddling position
to provide a comfortable paddling width. A bow extends forwardly
and converges to become progressively narrower from the at least
one paddling position. A stern extends rearwardly and diverges to
become progressively wider from the at least one paddling position.
The stern has two hulls positioned rearward of the at least one
paddling position and separated by a connecting surface. The
connecting surface extends rearwardly and upwardly from the at
least one paddling position to an upper remote end that is out of
the water at the stern, thereby reducing drag from the connecting
surface.
[0005] The boat, as described above, can be made to resemble either
a canoe or a kayak. However, it has substantially increased
stability by virtue of the stance of the stern. This stability is
obtained without widening the boat at the paddling position, which
would make it more difficult to paddle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] These and other features of the invention will become more
apparent from the following description in which reference is made
to the appended drawings, wherein:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a boat with a single paddling
position constructed in accordance with the teachings of the
present invention.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the boat illustrated in
FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the boat illustrated in FIG.
1.
[0010] FIG. 4 is an end elevation view, in section, of the boat,
taken along section lines 4-4 of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 5 is an end elevation view, in section, of the boat,
taken along section lines 5-5 of FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 6 is an end elevation view, in section, of the boat,
taken along section lines 6-6 of FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 7 is an end elevation view, in section, of the boat,
taken along section lines 7-7 of FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 8 is an end elevation view, in section, of the boat,
taken along section lines 8-8 of FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 9 is an end elevation view, in section, of the boat,
taken along section lines 9-9 of FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a boat with forward and
rearward paddling positions constructed in accordance with the
teachings of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view of the boat illustrated in
FIG. 10.
[0018] FIG. 12 is a side elevation view, in section, of the boat
illustrated in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0019] A preferred embodiment of boat, generally identified by
reference numeral 10, will hereinafter be described with reference
to FIGS. 1 through 12.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, there is provided a boat 10 that
includes a body 12 with a single paddling position, generally
referenced by numeral 14. Boat 10 has a bottom 16 and a top surface
covering 18. Paddling position 14 includes a single access opening
20 in top surface covering 18 with a seat 22 positioned thereunder.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 12, two storage openings 24 are also
provided in top surface covering 18 to allow for placement of
articles for storage within body 12.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, body 12 is sufficiently narrow at
single paddling position 14 to provide a comfortable paddling
width. A bow 26 extends forward and converges to become
progressively narrower from single paddling position 14. A stern 28
extends rearward and diverges to become progressively wider from
single paddling position 14, thereby increasing lateral stability.
Referring to FIG. 3, stern 28 has two hulls 30 positioned rearward
of paddling position 14. Hulls 30 are separated by a connecting
surface 32. Referring to FIG. 12, connecting surface 32 extends
rearward and upwardly from single paddling position 14 to an upper
remote end 34 at stern 28. Referring to FIG. 9, at remote end 34,
connecting surface 32 is positioned out of the water 36 to reduce
drag. With reference to FIGS. 4 though 9, end elevation views are
shown at intervals along hull 30, as along section lines 4-4, 5-5,
6-6, 7-7, 8-8, and 9-9 respectively of FIG. 1.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 10, boat 10 can be configured for two
paddling positions with a forward paddling position 38 and a
rearward paddling position 40. Accordingly two access openings 20
are provided in top surface cover 18 along with three storage
access openings 24. Body of boat 10 when configured for two
paddling positions is sufficiently narrow at both forward paddling
position 38 and rearward paddling position 40 to provide a
comfortable paddling width. Bow 26 extends forward and converges to
become progressively narrower from forward paddling position 38 and
stern 28 extends rearward and diverges to become progressively
wider from rearward paddling position 40, thereby increasing
lateral stability. Referring to FIG. 11, stern 28 has two hulls 30
that are positioned rearward of rearward paddling position 40 and
are separated by connecting surface 32. Connecting surface 40
extends from rearward paddling position 40 upward to upper remote
end 34 that is out of the water at stern 28, thereby reducing drag.
With reference to FIGS. 4 though 9, end elevation views are shown
at intervals along hull 30, as along section lines 4-4, 5-5, 6-6,
7-7, 8-8, and 9-9 respectively of FIG. 10.
[0023] It will further be apparent to one skilled in the art that
the boat, as described above, can be made into either a canoe or
kayak.
[0024] The use and operation of boat 10 will now be described with
reference to FIGS. 1 through 12. The construction of a boat 10 such
as a canoe or a kayak always requires a compromise between maximum
width for lateral stability and minimum width for paddling ease.
Stability comes from width. However, as width increases the boat
becomes harder to paddle and moves slower through the water. Boat
10 is designed to separate the lateral stability factors relating
to width from the paddling comfort factors of width. It does this
by moving the greatest width portion of boat 10 to stern 28 and
away from the paddling position 14. The width of boat 10 at
paddling position 14 need only be determined by considerations
related to paddling comfort and ease. Normally increasing the width
of boat 10 at stern 28 would slow boat 10 down. With boat 10, hulls
30 engage water 36 to provide substantially increased lateral
stability without reducing the ease with which boat 10 can be
propelled forward. Connecting surface 32, which is positioned out
of water 36 at remote end 34, provides little if any drag.
[0025] It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that other
modifications may also be made to the illustrated embodiment
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as
hereinafter defined in the Claims.
* * * * *