Buoys – rafts – and aquatic devices – Body supporting buoyant device – With seat
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-26
2001-06-26
Basinger, Sherman (Department: 3617)
Buoys, rafts, and aquatic devices
Body supporting buoyant device
With seat
C114S344000, C114S351000, C114S357000, C114S363000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250983
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to very small watercrafts for use in water sports.
2. Prior Art
Small personal watercrafts are typically used to transport divers, sports fishermen, and hunters to their favorite waters. Power boats are traditionally the most common type of personal watercraft. However, due to environmental concerns, power boats are increasingly banned from lakes, rivers, and beaches. As a result, human powered watercrafts are becoming more popular. Canoes and kayaks comprise the majority of such watercrafts, but their size and weight prevent them from being used in difficult-to-reach areas, because they cannot be easily carried far from automobiles. Although inflatable floatation devices are lightweight and easy to carry, their blunt shapes severely limit their speed on the water, and they are also susceptible to puncture by fish hooks and sharp rocks.
The personal watercrafts shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,885,123 to Clifford and D290,108 to Wolfe are each comprised of a U-shaped tube with a flexible rear-facing seat connected between its arms. The back of the craft is open for easy entry and exit. The craft is propelled by kicking the legs, preferably with swim fins on. Due to the small diameter of the tube, the draft of the craft is relatively deep, that is, the crafts sits deeply in the water. The flexible seat is formed into a blunt shape projecting well below the tube when a person is seated in it. The deep draft, combined with the blunt seat and blunt front end of the tube, makes the craft very slow and difficult to use on shallow water. A rider will particularly have difficulty going over seaweed. Further, the deep seating position and the soft seat make the rider vulnerable to injury when striking hard underwater objects.
U.S. Pat. No. D362,706 to Wamsley shows a U-shaped fishing float with a seat attached to a rigid platform between its arms. The back of the craft is open for easy entry and exit. However, the speed of the craft and its ability to go over seaweed are even more severely limited by the completely straight, flat, and vertical bow. Also, the completely flat bottom reduces stability and directional control.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,597,277 to Mayfield shows a personal watercraft having a hull with a pointed bow and a closed stern. A full keel projects well below the hull, and a rear-facing seat is arranged within the keel. The legs of the rider project into the water through a hole in the keel. However, the closed stern hinders the legs when they are kicking for propulsion, and also makes entry and exit very difficult. The deeply projecting keel slows the craft, and makes going over seaweed very difficult. The deep draft also makes operation on shallow water difficult.
Although prior art personal watercrafts are small and lightweight, their odd shapes make them awkward to carry by hand. In rough waters, the riders may be thrown off these crafts. They cannot stow equipment or supplies. They also cannot be easily concealed when used in hunting. Some prior art watercrafts require inflation or assembly before use.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, objects of the present personal watercraft are:
to provide floatation on water for a rider;
to be usable without inflation or assembly;
to be very easy to carry by a person;
to be immune to puncture;
to be easy to enter and exit;
to allow a rider to freely kick his or her legs for propulsion;
to protect the rider from injury from striking hard underwater objects;
to be fast and maneuverable;
to have good directional control;
to glide over seaweed easily;
to have a shallow draft for use in shallow water;
to secure a rider in rough waters;
to enable towing by a vehicle; and
to have room for stowing equipment.
Further objects of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present personal watercraft is comprised of a hull with a center portion, and a pair of elongated side pontoons extending substantially behind the center portion. A rear-facing seat is arranged on the rear of the center portion. The rear of the hull behind the seat and between the pontoons is open for enabling a rider to kick for propulsion. The center portion and the pontoons each have a curved bottom for improving directional control. The hull includes a bow with a substantially slanted bottom, and sides that converge to a point for improving speed and gliding over seaweed. The hull is preferably made of a floatable rigid material. A watertight storage compartment is provided in the center portion for stowing equipment. Seat belts are connected across the seat for securing a rider in rough water. A removable apron is stretched across the pontoons behind the seat for use in fly fishing. A detachable harness attached to the top of the pontoons allow the watercraft to be carried on the back of a person. A detachable undercarriage and tow bar allow the watercraft to be towed behind a vehicle. A camouflage mesh tent is removably attached on the hull for use in hunting.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 290108 (1987-06-01), Wolfe
patent: D. 362706 (1995-09-01), Wamsley
patent: 2260676 (1941-10-01), Lafaye, Sr.
patent: 2617139 (1952-11-01), Bittel
patent: 2816297 (1957-12-01), Stanley
patent: 3067441 (1962-12-01), Dysard et al.
patent: 3133294 (1964-05-01), Kunz
patent: 5217400 (1993-06-01), Creek et al.
patent: 5597277 (1997-01-01), Mayfield
patent: 5885123 (1999-03-01), Clifford
patent: 6155899 (2000-12-01), Boddy
Basinger Sherman
Lo Jack
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