Aquaplane

Abstract

A flat-bottomed and buoyant hull has an upwardly open, longitudinally extending compartment open rearwardly at its stern, for accommodating a rider in standing position, and is provided with a pair of elongate, longitudinally extending fins of narrow, single formation laterally of and depending from the flat bottom. Each fin has its outer surface normal to the flat bottom of the hull and its inside surface merging arcuately into the flat bottom. The flat bottom is also preferably provided with longitudinally extending grooves intermediate the fins. Propulsion means is placed directly below the open rear end of the compartment between the fins, and a throttle-provided, flexible hand-hold extends toward the compartment from a forward anchorage to the hull, preferably at opposite lateral sides thereof.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field

The invention is in the field of aquaplanes and the like wherein a boat hull of surfboard character is provided with its own propulsion unit and accommodates a standing rider.

2. State of the Art

There have been many proposals for recreational devices of the type concerned. Some have approached the inventive concepts here disclosed, but none have taught the combination of structural features found by this invention to be essential for the attainment of satisfactory results when a surfboard type of hull is used in the manner of water skiis. Among these prior proposals are U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,324,819; 3,270,707; and 2,901,757.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, a substantially flat-bottomed hull filled with buoyant material and having an upwardly open, longitudinally extending compartment that is open rearwardly at the stern of the hull for accommodating an operator in standing position, is provided with a pair of elongate, longitudinally-extending, singly formed and narrow fins laterally of the compartment. The flat bottom surface merges arcuately into the inner faces of the fins and is preferably provided with elongate, longitudinally extending grooves intermediate the fins. The outer faces of the fins are normal to the flat bottom surface of the hull. In this manner, displaced water is deflected downwardly to minimize side spray and to achieve greater lift and superior planing characteristics. Propulsion means in the form of a shrouded propeller, jet orifice, or other suitable arrangement is positioned at the stern directly below the open rear end of the compartment and between the fins, and a flexible, throttle-providing hand hold extends rearwardly toward the compartment from a forward anchorage to the hull, preferably at opposite lateral sides thereof.

Although one of the earlier proposals makes use of longitudinally extending and laterally positioned "rudder" strips (U.S. Pat. No. 3,270,707), having some resemblance to the fins here provided, such strips and the total combination there are both structurally and functionally different and the results achieved are not comparable.

THE DRAWINGS

There is shown in the accompanying drawings a particular construction of aquaplane conforming to the inventive concepts and presently contemplated as the best mode of carrying out the invention in actual practice.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 represents a top plan view of the aquaplane;

FIG. 2, a side elevation;

FIG. 3, a bottom plan;

FIG. 4, a rear end elevation;

FIG. 5, a longitudinal, vertical, axial section taken on the line 5--5 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6, a pictorial view looking from the rear and showing a rider in operating position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

As illustrated the aquaplane of this invention comprises a buoyant hull 10, preferably fabricated by heating and vacuum molding thermoplastic sheets to form top and bottom shells 11 and 12 and by sealing such shells tightly and rigidly together along mating peripheral flanges 11a and 12a, respectively. The space between such shells is preferably filled with a foamed plastic material 13, FIG. 5, such as polyurethane, to give added buoyancy. As so formed, the walls of the hull are all rigidly interconnected and the hull is a wholly rigid unit.

The hull 10 is flat bottomed, as at 14, FIG. 4. It has a prow 10a and stern 10b, with opposite outer sidewalls 10c, respectively, and top walls 10d. An upwardly open, longitudinally extending compartment 15, open rearwardly at 16 at the stern of the hull, is provided by an inner front wall 10e, by opposite inner sidewalls 10f, respectively, and by a deck wall 10g which provides an elongate, longitudinally extending deck 17 for accommodating a rider 18, FIG. 6, in standing position.

A well 19 in hull 10 forwardly of compartment 15 serves to receive an internal combustion engine 20 for powering propulsion means, here shown as a propeller 21 that is shrouded peripherally by a housing ring 22 and is driven from engine 20 by an elongate drive shaft 23, FIG. 5. A short axial fin 24 extends forwardly from housing ring 22 and provides a supporting bearing 25 for drive shaft 23.

Depending from and extending longitudinally of flat bottom 14, laterally of compartment 15 and rearwardly to the stern end of the hull from near the prow thereof are runners in the form of a pair of single, narrow fins 26, whose inner faces 26a merge arcuately into flat bottom 14 of hull 10 (and vice versa) and whose outer faces 26b are normal to such flat bottom. Configurated in this manner and with the propulsive means therebetween and at the stern end of the hull, there is a minimum of side spray and maximum lift for effective planing. Displaced water is directed downwardly instead of sidewardly, and a rider can stand erect as he would on water skiis and effectively maneuver the aquaplane merely by shifting his weight from side to side.

To enhance maneuverability, it is preferred to provide elongate, longitudinally extending grooves 27, FIG. 3, in flat bottom 14 intermediate the fins 26 and, also, to provide similarly elongate, longitudinally extending stub fins 28 intermediate the grooves 27. Such stub fins also provide convenient mounting means for housing ring 22 through a forward extension 22a thereof.

To enable the rider to control speed of the aquaplane and to aid him in maintaining balance under all operating conditions, there is provided a flexible hand-hold 29 that includes a flexible throttle connection 30 with engine 20. As illustrated, such handhold and throttle connection preferably comprise lengths of rope, cable, or other flexible line securely anchored forwardly on the hull and at opposite sides thereof, e.g. at the bow, and extending rearwardly toward and usually into compartment 15. The handhold lengths are advantageously interconnected by a rigid handle-piece 31, and a throttle control 32 is conveniently mounted in such handle-piece and attached to the throttle connection line.

Foot-grip treads 33, FIG. 1, may be molded into deck 17 during the fabrication of bottom shell 12.

Whereas this invention is here described and illustrated with respect to certain preferred forms thereof, it is to be understood that many variations are possible without departing from the inventive concepts particularly pointed out in the claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. In an aquaplane, having a buoyant flat-bottomed hull with walls providing an upwardly open, longitudinally extending compartment open rearwardly at the stern of the hull for accommodating a rider, elongate and longitudinally extending runners depending from the flat bottom laterally of the compartment and terminating at the stern, powered propulsion means, and control means for the propulsion means, the improvement which enables a rider to stand erect in the compartment while operating the aquaplane in the manner of water skiis, comprising rigid interconnection of all walls so the hull is a rigid unit; the propulsion means being at the stern between the runners and directly below the rearward opening of the compartment; each of the runners being in the form of a single, narrow fin having its outer face substantially normal to the flat bottom of the hull and having its inner face merging arcuately into said flat bottom; and the control means being a flexible handhold extending toward said compartment from secure anchorage forwardly on the hull and including control means for said propulsion means.

2. The improved aquaplane of claim 1, wherein elongate, longitudinally extending grooves are provided in the flat bottom of the hull between the fins.

3. The improved aquaplane of claim 2, wherein elongate, longitudinally extending, stub fins are provided on the flat bottom of the hull between the grooves.

4. The improved aquaplane of claim 1, wherein an internal combustion engine is mounted forwardly in the hull for powering the propulsion means; said engine having a connection with the control means of the flexible handhold.

5. The improved aquaplane of claim 4, wherein the propulsion means is a shrouded propeller; a relatively short axial fin extends forwardly from the propeller shroud; and an elongate drive shaft extends from the engine, supported by a bearing in said axial fin, to power said propeller.

6. The improved aquaplane of claim 1, wherein the hull is formed of mated top and bottom shells of heat-formed thermoplastic sheets and is filled with a foamed plastic.