Watercraft

US6508187B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA · JP

Inventors

• Kiyoaki Maeda · Irvine, US
• Yoshinori Tsumiyama · Lincoln, US
• Takehiro Nakashima · Akashi, JP
• Kanji Kiyohara · Akashi, JP
• Haruyoshi Maruyama · Kakogawa, JP
• Masafumi Ikeyama · Kobe, JP
• Haruki Okada · Kakogawa, JP
• Kunihiko Kamio · Kobe, JP
• Troy Kite · Laguna Hills, US
• Chris Daniel Hagest · Lake Havasu City, US
• Joe Heim · Orange, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 11, 2001
• Grant date: Jan 21, 2003
• Expiry date: Jan 11, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B63B2001/186
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The present invention provides a watercraft having steering components (steering tabs or stabilizers) for maintaining steering capability even while amount of water ejected from a propulsion pump is decreased. The steering components are movably disposed on a hull of the watercraft at or below the water level on both right and left sides to be in an “Operating State” in which resistance of water is larger or to be in a “Non-operating State” in which the resistance of water is smaller in accordance with steering operation. Furthermore, a mechanism for absorbing an external force acting on the steering components in the “Operating State” is located in a system for operating the steering components. The mechanism reacts to the external force to allow the steering components to be transformed into the “Non-operating State.”