Trim for Use with Watercraft
OwnerRobert C. Buttersinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A trim or rub rail for use with a watercraft including a trim member having a front surface and a rear surface, with an upper surface connecting the front surface with the rear surface. The trim member includes a lower surface and a collection surface disposed below the lower surface. The collection surface including a discharge area wherein fluid traveling along and over the trim or rub rail collects at the collection surface and is discharged at the discharge area. The collection surface forming a barrier to reduce fluid flow due to surface tension and/or water adhesion forces along the lower surface of the trim member and ultimately to the hull portion of the watercraft.
Claims20
An apparatus for use with a watercraft comprising:
- a trim member, said trim member having a rear surface and a front surface;
- said trim member including an upper surface and a lower surface, said upper surface extending between and connecting said front and rear surfaces, said upper surface tapering inward, toward said lower surface, as it extends from said rear surface to said front surface;
- a portion of said lower surface configured to form a collecting surface, said collecting surface extending outwardly from said lower surface, said collecting surface including a discharge area;
- and
- said upper surface, front surface and collection surface cooperating to form an uninterrupted fluid path wherein fluid flowing on said upper surface flows on said front surface to said collection surface and exits said trim member at said discharge area such that said collection surface provides a barrier to fluid travel along said lower surface.
A watercraft comprising:
- a hull;
- a trim member disposed on said watercraft above said hull, said trim member including a collection surface, said collection surface operative to collect fluid flowing over said trim member and discharge said fluid away from said hull whereby said fluid flows along a path other than on said hull.
A watercraft comprising:
- a hull;
- means secured to said watercraft for redirected fluid draining over said means away from said hull whereby said fluid is directed away from said watercraft such that it does not travel along said hull.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.