Personal watercraft having an improved exhaust system

A muffler comprising:

• an outer shell, the outer shell having an inlet disposed on a top portion thereof for receiving the exhaust gases and water, the outer shell having an outlet disposed on a top portion thereof for discharging exhaust gases;
• a first transverse wall disposed intermediate longitudinal ends of the outer shell and between the inlet and the outlet, the first transverse wall being connected around a portion of its peripheral edge to an inner surface of the outer shell and having a bottom edge unconnected with the inner surface;
• and
• a longitudinally extending plate being connected to the bottom edge of the first transverse wall and sides thereof connected to the inner surface of the outer shell, the plate having and a substantially free edge, the longitudinally extending plate being disposed beneath the inlet so that exhaust gases entering the muffler impinge against the plate,
• wherein the longitudinal plate and the inner surface define a channel between an underside of the plate and the inner surface.

A personal watercraft comprising:

• a hull;
• an internal combustion engine mounted in the hull, the engine being constructed and arranged to generate power for use in propelling the watercraft and to exhaust gas as a byproduct of generating power;
• and
• an exhaust system including
• an exhaust path structure defining an exhaust path having an inlet end communicating with the engine and an outlet end communicating with the atmosphere such that the exhaust gas generated by the engine flows through the exhaust path to the atmosphere;
• a water trap container having an enclosed internal chamber, the water trap container being positioned intermediate the inlet and outlet ends of the exhaust path, and the exhaust path structure including a water drainage portion extending through the enclosed internal chamber of the water trap container, the water drainage portion having one or more openings formed therein to permit water flowing along the exhaust path toward the inlet end thereof to drain from the water drainage portion into the enclosed internal chamber of the water trap container, and
• wherein the water trap container includes a flow obstructing member fixed within the water drainage portion with at least one of the openings provided in the water drainage portion on one side of the obstructing member and at least one of the openings provided in the water drainage portion on the other side of the obstructing member, the obstructing member adapted to obstruct flow through the water drainage portion.

A water trap device adapted to be connected to an exhaust system of a personal watercraft, the watercraft comprising a hull, an internal combustion engine mounted in the hull, the engine being constructed and arranged to generate power for use in propelling the watercraft and to exhaust gas as a by-product of generating power, and an exhaust system comprising an exhaust path structure defining an exhaust path having an inlet end communicating with the engine and an outlet end communicating with the atmosphere such that the exhaust gas generated by the engine flows through the exhaust path to the atmosphere, the water trap device comprising:

• a water trap container having an enclosed internal chamber;
• a fluid connection member extending through the enclosed internal chamber, the fluid connection member including a water drainage portion having at least one opening formed therein to permit water that has entered the water drainage portion to drain into the enclosed internal chamber, and
• a flow obstructing member fixed within the water drainage portion with at least one of the openings provided in the water drainage portion on one side of the obstructing member and at least one of the openings provided in the water drainage portion on the other side of the obstructing member, the obstructing member adapted to obstruct flow through the water drainage portion, thus forcing any flow through the water trap device to flow out from the water drainage portion through at least one opening on the one side of the obstructing member and back into the water drainage portion through the at least one opening on the other side of the obstructing member,
• the fluid connection member having a first end and a second end, each of which extends from the enclosed internal chamber, the first end being constructed and arranged to be connected to a portion of the exhaust path structure that communicates with the engine and the second end being constructed and arranged to be connected to a portion of the exhaust path structure that communicates with the atmosphere so that the fluid connection member constitutes a portion of the exhaust path structure whereby exhaust gases flow from the engine to the atmosphere through the water trap device via the fluid connection member.