Boat activated wave generator

• US 5,664,910 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 09/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Light Wave Limited
• Original Assignee: Light Wave Limited
• Inventors: Lochtefeld, Thomas J., Sauerbier, Charles E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Taylor, Dennis L.
• Application Number:
  US08/475,092
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 405/79, 405/52, 472/128, 4/291, 114/253, 441/74, 441/65
• US Class Current: 405/79
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0093 for surfing, i.e. without a sail; for skate or snow boarding
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2001/186 Sponsons; Arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 4/0006 Devices for producing waves in swimming pools generating current of water in swimming pools A63B69/125

Abstract

The present invention is primarily a boat activated wave generator that can be operated in a deep body of water. The wave generator is pulled or otherwise pushed through the water, and has wave generating blades that scoop up water, to form wave shapes thereon, upon which various surfing and skimming manuevers can be performed. The shape of the wave generator is such that it forms wave shapes, and various wave formations, and remains in substantial equilibrium in the water. The wave generator also forms wakes, and enhances the boat'"'"'s wake, such that various skimming manuevers, i.e., wake-boarding and water skiing, can be performed.

Claims

1. A wave and/or wake generating device for use with a power boat or the like, comprising:

a substantially laterally oriented body portion having a forward extending portion, and at least two substantially laterally extended sections, wherein each of the sections has a wave generator hull extending therefrom, wherein each of the wave generator hulls has a riding surface having substantially horizontal and vertical curvatures thereon;

wherein, as said device is pulled by said boat and/or moved substantially along the surface of the body of water, a sheet flow of water is lifted onto the riding surface, and wherein the forward movement of the device causes the sheet flow of water to move substantially forwardly, vertically and laterally, with respect to the surrounding body of water, creating simulated wave shapes thereon.

2. The wave and/or wake generating device of claim 1, wherein said wave generator hulls form an apex at or near the forward extending portion, wherein a center wave generator hull is formed having a concave curvature in the vertical direction and convex curvature in the horizontal direction.

3. The wave and/or wake generating device of claim 1, wherein the substantially laterally extended sections each have a forward leading edge that during use is submerged below the surface of the water to cut through the body of water and lift the sheet flow of water onto the riding surfaces as the wave generating device is pulled through the body of water.

4. The wave and/or wake generating device of claim 1, wherein the device is asymmetrically shaped.

32. The wave and/or wake generating device of claim 3, wherein the weight, buoyancy and shape of the device is adapted such that during use, the leading edges of said device are positioned substantially horizontally below the surface level of the body of water, such that a flow of water having a substantially constant depth is created on said wave generator hulls.

5. A wave and/or wake generating device for use in a body of water, comprising:

a substantially buoyant and laterally extending body having at least one wave generator hull extending therefrom, said wave generator hull having a flow-forming surface having substantially horizontal and vertical curvatures thereon;

wherein, as the device is moved substantially along the surface of the body of water, a flow of water is lifted onto the flow-forming surface, and wherein the forward movement of said device causes said flow of water to move substantially forward, vertically and laterally, with respect to the surrounding body of water, creating a simulated wave shape thereon.

6. The wave and/or wake generating device of claim 5, wherein the device has two substantially identical wave generator hulls extending laterally from a center portion, such that the device is substantially in the shape of a "V" from above, wherein the wave generator hulls each have a forward leading edge, such that as the device is moved through the body of water, the leading edge cuts through the water and causes water along the surface of the body of water to be scooped up onto the flow-forming surface, wherein the flow-forming surface has a horizontal and vertical concave curvature.

7. The wave and/or wake generating device of claim 5, wherein at least one stabilizer is provided which is connected substantially to the front of the device via a ballasting rod, wherein, during use, the stabilizer moves substantially along the surface of the body of water in front of the device, and helps to stabilize the device in the water.

8. The wave and/or wake generating device of claim 5, wherein the bottom of the device is adapted with at least one rudder that extends substantially vertically and downwardly from the device, wherein the rudder helps to stabilize the device in the water.

33. The wave and/or wake generating device of claim 8, wherein a substantially horizontally oriented foil extends from said rudder to help stabilize the device.

9. A wave and/or wake generator for use in a body of water, comprising:

a substantially buoyant and laterally oriented body having at least one substantially laterally extended section with a curved flow-forming surface thereon, wherein the flow-forming surface is angled relative to the direction of travel and has a substantially concave vertical curvature, and wherein said laterally extended section has a forward leading edge thereon;

wherein, as the generator is moved through the body of water, water is lifted up onto the laterally extended section by the leading edge, to create a flow of water that flows onto and/or and substantially over the curved flow-forming surface, wherein the flow of water is acted upon both horizontally and vertically, such that simulated wave shapes are created thereon.

10. The wave and/or wake generator of claim 9, wherein the generator has a forward extending center portion from which the generator is pulled, wherein two substantially identically shaped laterally extended sections extend laterally and rearwardly therefrom in substantially the shape of a V from above.

11. The wave and/or wake generator of claim 9, wherein a stabilizing device is provided, wherein a rod connects the stabilizing device to the generator, such that the rod ballasts the generator, and wherein the stabilizing device helps to maintain the generator in substantial equilibrium with respect to the body of water.

12. The wave and/or wake generator of claim 9, wherein the generator is adapted to be pulled by a power boat or other mechanical device through the body of water with one or more ropes or cables.

13. The wave and/or wake generator of claim 11, wherein the stabilizing device extends substantially laterally in the shape of a flattened disc, or in the shape of a torpedoe, wherein the stabilizing device is positioned about 2 to 10 feet in front of the generator.

14. The wave and/or wake generator of claim 9, wherein the curved flow-forming surface extends relatively upwardly from the laterally extended section such that, when the generator is partially submerged in the body of water, the curved flow-forming surface extends at least partially above the body of water, wherein, as the generator is moved through the body of water, the flow of water flows upwardly onto the curved flow-forming surface to form upwardly directed simulated wave shapes thereon.

15. The wave and/or wake generator of claim 9, wherein the buoyancy, weight and shape of the generator are adapted such that during use, the force of the water being lifted up onto the laterally extended section creates a downward force on the curved flow-forming surface, which counteracts the upward force created by the planing effect caused as the generator is moved substantially along the surface of the water, the combination of which help to keep the generator in substantial hydro-dynamic equilibrium.

16. The wave and/or wake generator of claim 9, wherein a stabilizing foil is provided which helps to keep the generator substantially stabilized in the water as the generator travels at high speeds through said body of water.

17. A wave and/or wake generator for use in a body of water, comprising:

a substantially laterally extending body portion that is substantially elongated in the forward/rearward direction, said body portion having a forward extending portion, and two lateral sections extending substantially laterally and rearwardly therefrom, wherein each of said lateral sections has thereon an upper curved flow-forming surface;

wherein, as the generator is moved substantially along the surface of the body of water, water is lifted onto the lateral sections, causing water to flow onto and/or substantially over the upper curved flow-forming surfaces, and to be directed substantially upwardly and rearwardly relative to the generator as it moves through the body of water.

18. The wave and/or wake generator of claim 17, wherein a stabilizing device is provided in front of the generator, wherein a rod connects the stabilizing device to the generator, such that the rod ballasts the generator, and wherein the stabilizing device helps to maintain the generator in substantial equilibrium with respect to the body of water.

19. The wave and/or wake generator of claim 17, wherein a stabilizing foil is provided which helps to keep the generator substantially stabilized in the water as the generator travels at high speeds through said body of water.

20. The wave and/or wake generator of claim 17, wherein the generator is pulled by a boat and positioned substantially behind the boat at a location where the generator can enhance the wake created by the boat.

21. A buoyant vehicle for use in a body of water, comprising:

a body adapted to be propelled substantially along the surface of said body of water in a predetermined direction, wherein the body has at least one substantially laterally extended section that has a substantially lateral and upward facing surface thereon, and wherein the extended section has a forward leading edge which is angled relative to the direction of travel; and

wherein, as the vehicle is propelled substantially along the surface of said body of water, the forward leading edge becomes substantially submerged below the surface of the water and causes water to be scooped up onto the extended section, wherein water flows onto the lateral and upward facing surface, and is acted upon both horizontally and vertically, such that simulated wave shapes are created thereon.

22. The vehicle of claim 21, wherein the vehicle can be towed.

23. The vehicle of claim 21, wherein the lateral and upward facing surface has a substantially concave curvature.

24. The vehicle of claim 21, wherein a stabilizing foil is provided having at least one concave area extending in the fore/aft direction which helps to keep the vehicle substantially stabilized in the water as the vehicle travels at high speeds through said body of water.

25. The vehicle of claim 21, wherein the vehicle has a bottom surface which has at least one concave elongated portion extending in the fore/aft direction which helps to direct water upon which the vehicle travels in the fore/aft direction to help keep the vehicle stabilized in the direction of travel.

26. The vehicle of claim 21, wherein the body is integrally formed and made with a light, strong, slightly flexible material, such as fibre-glass, wood, metal, foam, or a composite material.

27. The vehicle of claim 21, wherein the bottom of the vehicle is adapted with at least one rudder that extends substantially vertically and downwardly from the device, wherein the rudder helps to stabilize the vehicle in the water.

28. A wave generator to be acted upon relative to a body of water, comprising:

a body portion having at least one substantially curved wave generator hull thereon, wherein the wave generator hull extends substantially laterally and upwardly therefrom; and

wherein, as the generator is acted upon relative to the body of water, water that is substantially on the surface of said body of water is lifted up onto the wave generator hull to create a sheet flow of water that is acted upon both laterally and upwardly, relative to the wave generator, such that wave shapes and other water effects upon which manuevers can be performed are created thereon.

29. A wave and/or wake generator for use in a body of water, comprising:

a substantially buoyant and laterally oriented body having a forward extending portion, and at least one substantially laterally extended section extending substantially rearwardly therefrom, wherein the laterally extended section has an upper flow-forming surface, and a forward leading edge thereon;

wherein, as the generator is partially submerged and moved substantially along the surface of the body of water, the leading edge causes water substantially along the surface of the body of water to be scooped up and lifted onto the laterally extended section, to create a flow of water that flows upwardly onto and/or substantially over the upper flow-forming surface, such that simulated wave shapes extending at or above the surface of the body of water are created thereon.

30. The wave and/or wake generator of claim 29, wherein the length of the generator is greater than its width to reduce the drag associated with the movement of the generator through the body of water, and the speed of the generator can be increased and maintained.

31. The wave and/or wake generator of claim 29, wherein the upper flow-forming surface extends at least partially above the surface of the body of water when the generator is partially submerged.

34. A wave and/or wake generator to be moved through a body of water, comprising:

a substantially buoyant body extending substantially laterally, wherein the body has a forward leading edge, and an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface having a flow-forming surface thereon, and the lower surface being adapted such that, as the body is moved through the body of water, it causes a planing effect which, in addition to the buoyancy of the body, creates an upward force acting on the body, which is counteracted by the generator'"'"'s weight, and the force of water being lifted onto the flow-forming surface, which is created as the leading edge is submerged below the surface of the water and moves therethrough, and creates a downward acting force on the flow-forming surface, such that during operation the generator is maintained in substantial hydro-dynamic equilibrium in the water.