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US 5,255,625 AGranted
Watercraft
AssigneeYamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorToshiyuki Hattori
Life of this patent
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AssigneeYamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorToshiyuki Hattori
Estimating the term…
A number of embodiments of watercraft of the type having a main hull which is generally devoid of any independent power unit and which defines a berthing area that is adapted to receive a smaller jet propelled watercraft for propelling the main hull. The berthing area of the main hull is defined by an opening that registers with the opening of the jet propulsion unit of the smaller watercraft in such a way so as to avoid turbulence. The lower wall and the smaller watercraft hull have complimentary configurations so as to assure good support but in one embodiment a plurality of smaller openings are provided so as to permit water to enter any voids and avoid cavitation of the smaller watercraft's jet propulsion unit in operation. A combined ladder and hold down assembly is also disclosed for holding the smaller watercraft in the berthing area and for facilitating boarding of the main hull.
A watercraft comprised of a main hull defining a berthing area at the rear end thereof for receiving a smaller watercraft having a propulsion device, said berthing area being defined by an opening in the transom of said main hull, a front wall adapted to be engaged by the bow of said smaller watercraft, a pair of facing side walls and a lower wall, said smaller watercraft propulsion device comprising a jet propulsion unit having a downwardly facing water inlet opening formed in its lower hull and substantially rearwardly of its bow through which water is drawn for the propulsion of said smaller watercraft and additionally of said main hull when said smaller watercraft is in said berthing area, and a water inlet opening formed at least in part by a trailing edge of said lower wall of said main hull extending from a point substantially aft of said front wall and substantially forwardly of said water inlet opening of said smaller watercraft when said smaller watercraft is in said berthing area for drawing water into said smaller watercraft water inlet opening and reducing the effect of turbulence caused by the discontinuity between said trailing edge of said lower wall and the hull of said smaller watercraft upon the water entering said jet propulsion unit water inlet opening.
A watercraft comprised of a main hull defining a berthing area opening at the rear end thereof for receiving a smaller watercraft having a propulsion device, said berthing area being defined by an opening of the transom of said main hull, a front wall adapted to be engaged by the bow of said smaller watercraft, a pair of facing side walls and a lower wall, said smaller watercraft having a hull with a lower surface configured to form at least one surface discontinuity extending in a longitudinal direction thereof, said lower wall being formed with a portion of complimentary configuration to said hull lower surface for providing a surface to surface contact between said lower wall and said lower surface of said smaller watercraft hull.
A watercraft comprised of a main hull defining a berthing area opening at the rear end thereof for receiving a smaller watercraft having a propulsion device, said berthing area being defined by an opening in the transom of said main hull, a front wall adapted to be engaged by the bow of said smaller watercraft, a pair of facing side walls and a lower wall upon which said smaller watercraft is supported when received in said berthing area, said smaller watercraft propulsion device comprising a jet propulsion unit having a downwardly facing water inlet opening formed in its lower hull and substantially rearwardly of its bow through which water is drawn for the propulsion of said smaller watercraft in said berthing area, a water inlet opening formed at last in part by said lower wall of said main hull contiguous to said water inlet opening of said smaller watercraft when said smaller watercraft is in sad berthing area for permitting water to be drawn therethrough for propulsion of said watercraft when said smaller watercraft is in said berthing area, and at least one further opening formed in said lower wall spaced forwardly from said water inlet opening for permitting water to be drawn into the area between said lower walls and said smaller watercraft hull upon the operation of said jet propulsion unit to reduce the entrapment of air therebetween and the ingestion of air into said jet propulsion unit.
A watercraft comprised of a main hull defining a berthing area opening at the rear end thereof for receiving a smaller watercraft having a propulsion device, and a combined ladder and hold down assembly supported for pivotal movement by said main hull at the end of said berthing area between a lowered position in which a smaller watercraft may enter said berthing area and in which boarding of the main hull from the body of water in which said main hull is operating is facilitated and a raised position for retaining said smaller watercraft in said berthing area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.