Ships – Motorized self-propelled waterski or waterscooter-type vehicle – Having rider straddling seat
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-21
2001-08-14
Morano, S. Joseph (Department: 3617)
Ships
Motorized self-propelled waterski or waterscooter-type vehicle
Having rider straddling seat
C440S08900C
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273014
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a small watercraft, and more particularly to the layout of engine components within the watercraft and an associated seat design.
2. Description of Related Art
Personal watercraft have become very popular in recent years. This type of watercraft is quite sporting in nature and carries a rider and possibly one, two or three passengers. A relatively small hull of the personal watercraft commonly defines a rider's area above an engine compartment. An internal combustion engine frequently powers a jet propulsion unit which propels the watercraft. The engine lies within the engine compartment in front of a tunnel formed on the underside of the watercraft hull. The jet propulsion unit is located within the tunnel and is driven by a drive shaft. The drive shaft usually extends between the engine and the jet propulsion device, through a wall of the hull tunnel.
The rider's area usually includes an elongated seat that extends along a longitudinal center line of the watercraft. The seat has a bench-like shape that the rider and passengers can straddle. Foot wells extend along side the seat. The rider and passengers straddle the seat in a tandem fashion with the rider and passengers' legs positioned on the side of the seat and their feet placed within the foot areas.
Generally, the width of the seat not only provides an ample surface upon which the rider and passengers sit, but also provides space in which to locate an upper portion of the engine, including the engine's exhaust and induction systems. U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,189 illustrates an exemplary engine arrangement beneath the seat with the overall width of the seat generally matching the overall width of the engine. The cylinder head, cylinder block, exhaust manifold, exhaust expansion chamber, carburetors, and air intake are all located between the side walls of the seat and beneath the upper cushion of the seat.
While the position of the rider—with his or her feet positioned wide apart and his or her legs straddling the seat—provides good stability, this stance reduces the ability of the rider to absorb with his or her legs impact forces as the watercraft bounds over wakes. In addition, some smaller riders with less height find it uncomfortable to sit in a position with their feet widely spaced apart when straddling the seat.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A need therefore exists for an improved seat assembly for a watercraft that improves the comfort of the rider and the ability of the rider to absorb shock with his or her legs.
One aspect of the present invention thus involves a watercraft comprising a hull having a lower hull portion and an upper deck portion. An internal combustion engine is located within the hull and has an output shaft. A propulsion device is carried by the hull and is driven by the engine output shaft to propel the watercraft. The upper deck portion of the hull includes a central elongated seat assembly having a front seat section and a rear seat section. The seat sections are positioned about a longitudinal axis of the watercraft hull with a pair of foot areas extending along side the seat assembly. The front seat section is narrower than the rear seat section, and each of the foot areas extends next to at least a portion of both the front and rear seat sections.
In order to provide a more narrow seat design, at least at some locations along the length of the seat, another aspect of the invention involves a modified engine component layout. In one mode, an internal combustion engine of the watercraft is located within the hull and has at least one exhaust port, at least one intake port, and an output shaft. The engine also includes an exhaust system having an expansion chamber arranged to receive exhaust gases from the engine exhaust port. An induction system of the engine communicates with the intake port and including a plenum chamber. At least a portion of the plenum chamber is arranged beneath one of the foot areas, and at least a portion of the expansion chamber is arranged beneath the other foot area, on opposite sides of the seat assembly. This arrangement of engine components narrows the upper end of the engine, so as to permit a narrower seat assembly, in addition to other advantages.
In addition, other components of the engine can also be arranged in order to reduce the width of the engine that extends upward, between the sides of the seat assembly. For instance, the exhaust system of the engine can include a water trap device and an expansion chamber arranged to receive exhaust gases from at least one exhaust port of the engine. The expansion chamber is positioned on one side of a longitudinal center line of the watercraft and the water trap device is located on the other side of the longitudinal center line. An exhaust conduit extends across the longitudinal center line to connect the expansion chamber and the water trap device together. The exhaust conduit includes a section raised relative to at least an upstream section of the exhaust system. A catalytic device is located in the elevated section of the exhaust conduit to treat exhaust gases from the engine before discharge. This position of the catalytic device, apart from the expansion chamber, permits for a smaller diameter size of the expansion chamber without reducing the cross-sectional flow area through the catalytic device.
Further aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiment which follows.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4997399 (1991-03-01), Nakayasu et al.
patent: 5355826 (1994-10-01), Hattori et al.
patent: 5438946 (1995-08-01), Kobayashi
patent: 5562509 (1996-10-01), Nakase et al.
patent: 5699749 (1997-12-01), Yamada et al.
Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP
Morano S. Joseph
Wright Andrew D.
Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
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