Personal watercraft having tuneable sponsons
US6651579B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 16, 2002 |
| Grant date | Nov 25, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 16, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB63B34/10
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Tunable sponsons for personal watercraft and personal watercraft having the tunable sponsons. The present invention provides personal watercraft having sponsons with an adjustable height relative to the water surface and the hull. One adjustable sponson has a horizontally, outwardly extending portion from the personal watercraft hull followed by a downwardly extending portion including a fin for penetrating below the water surface. The effective height of the sponson outwardly extending portion above the water can be reduced or lowered by adding a thickness of slab of material along the length under the sponson outwardly extending portion. One tunable sponson includes apertures mounted along the sponson underside for securing additional material. The effective height of the sponson horizontally extending portion above the water can be increased by removing a removable sponson extension previously secured to the sponson. The present invention further includes methods for adjusting the handling characteristics of a personal watercraft by adding and removing thicknesses of material from under the sponson.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.