Multi-flange design for marine industry
AssigneeEfficient Power Design LLC
InventorChris Daniel Hagest
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A watercraft with improved safety and stability is provided. The watercraft includes a shell defining a plurality of raceways for receiving water during certain maneuvers of the watercraft, thereby exerting force upon the watercraft in a first direction. The shell is configured so as to prevent or otherwise inhibit the water from exerting an opposed second force upon the watercraft. An intermediate panel of the shell provides increased flexibility, thereby serving as a shock absorber for the watercraft.
Claims20
A watercraft comprising:
- a hull forming a bottom portion of a shell of said watercraft;
- a deck forming a top portion of said shell;
- a first flange extending along a first portion of said shell outward from said shell;
- a second flange extending outward from said shell along at least one of said first portion and a second portion of said shell;
- wherein at least a first segment of said first flange is vertically displaced from at least a first segment of said second flange;
- and
- wherein each of said first and second flanges is configured to direct an amount of water during a first maneuver of said watercraft such that said amount of water exerts a force upon said shell during said first maneuver.
A watercraft comprising a shell defining an interior area, the shell comprising:
- a hull forming a bottom portion of said shell;
- a deck forming a top portion of said shell;
- wherein said shell defines a plurality of downward facing surfaces, each downward facing surface being configured to direct water during operation of the watercraft such that the water exerts a first force upon the shell during a first maneuver;
- and
- wherein the shell is configured to reduce an opposed second force upon the shell during said first maneuver;
- and
- wherein at least a portion of one of said plurality of downward facing surfaces is vertically displaced from at least a portion of an other of said plurality of downward facing surfaces.
A method of operating a watercraft, the method comprising:
- performing a first maneuver;
- wherein performing the first maneuver causes a change in water level relative to a shell of said watercraft;
- wherein said change in water level causes the water level to be higher than a downward facing surface and an opposed upward facing surface along at least a portion of the watercraft;
- wherein the watercraft is configured to direct water toward the downward facing surface during the first maneuver, thereby causing the water to exert a first force upon the shell;
- and
- wherein the watercraft is configured to direct water away from the downward facing surface during operation of the watercraft when a maneuver is not taking place.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.