Boat activated wave generator

• US 5,860,766 A
• Filed: 12/18/1996
• Issued: 01/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• 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:
  US08/769,695
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 405/79, 405/52, 114/253, 441/74, 441/65, 4/291, 472/128
• 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 a boat activated wave generating device for use in a body of water. The wave generating device preferably has wave forming sections that help to create wave shapes and wake formations upon which surfing and/or other skimming maneuvers can be performed. The wave forming sections are moved by the boat and have forward leading edges and upper flow forming surfaces. The device can be pivotally connected to the boat and pulled, or directly attached to the side of the boat hull. In operation, the device is moved through the water such that the forward leading edges are submerged to lift water onto the flow forming surfaces. Water flowing on and conforming to the surfaces is directed relatively upwardly and/or laterally across the surfaces, to create various wave shapes and wake formations thereon.

Claims

1. A wave/wake generating device for use in a body of water to be activated by a boat, comprising:

a body having a forward extending center portion and a wave forming section on either side of said center portion extending substantially rearwardly and laterally outward therefrom, wherein each of said wave forming sections has a forward leading edge and at least one flow forming surface thereon, wherein each of said flow forming surfaces has an upwardly and forwardly facing concave curvature thereon;

a pivoting connector for connecting said device to said boat, said connector being provided on or near said center portion; and

wherein said wave forming sections are adapted such that, as the device is pulled by said boat substantially along the surface of said body of water, the forward leading edge of each of said sections is at least partially submerged in said body of water and causes water to be lifted onto said wave forming sections, and upwardly and laterally across said flow forming surfaces, thereby creating various wave and/or wake formations in said body of water.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the body is substantially buoyant and has two substantially identical wave forming sections extending at an angle from the center portion, wherein the device forms a substantial V shape from above.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is removably connected to said boat.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the position on which said pivoting connector is located on said boat is adjustable.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein at least two wave forming sections are provided and spaced apart with the center portion extending therebetween, and wherein said sections are inwardly angled with respect to the boat'"'"'s direction of travel to cause at least a portion of the water flowing over said center portion to flow onto the flow forming surfaces, and substantially upwardly and inwardly, creating wave formations in the water that extend inward and cross over each other behind the boat.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one rudder or keel member is provided which extends downward from said device, and at least one canard is provided which extends substantially horizontally from said rudder or keel member.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said body is made of a strong resilient material, and is at least partially covered by a soft padding and a smooth protective coating.

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

a boat having a back end;

a wave/wake generator having 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;

a pivoting joint for connecting said wave/wake generator to said back end of said boat; 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 said water and causes water to be lifted 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 various wave and/or wake formations are created thereby.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the generator has a center portion that extends substantially laterally and has thereon on each side an extended section, wherein each of said extended sections has a rearwardly extended curved surface thereon, wherein each curved surface has a concave curvature in the horizontal and vertical direction.

10. A wave/wake generating device for use in a body of water to be activated by a boat, comprising:

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

a pivoting connector for connecting said body to said boat; and

wherein, as the device 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 flow of water that is acted upon both laterally and upwardly, relative to the generating device such that wave shapes and/or other wake formations upon which maneuvers can be performed are created thereby.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein said body is made of a strong resilient material, and is at least partially covered by a soft padding and a smooth protective coating.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the body is substantially buoyant.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein the body has a center portion and two substantially identical wave generator hulls extending at an angle from the center portion, wherein the device provides a triangulation of hydrodynamic forces acting on the device, to help maintain the device in substantial equilibrium.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein the pivoting connector can be removably connected to said boat.

15. The device of claim 10, wherein the pivoting connector is adjustable in relation to said boat.

16. The device of claim 10, wherein at least two wave generator hulls are provided and spaced apart with a center portion extending therebetween, and wherein said hulls are inwardly angled with respect to the boat'"'"'s direction of travel to cause at least a portion of the water flowing between said hulls to flow substantially upwardly and inwardly, creating wave formations in the water that extend rearward and inward and cross over each other behind the device.

17. The device of claim 10, wherein the body is in the shape of a bulbous displacement hull, which helps to lift up and/or displace water, such that a low pressure field is created immediately behind said device during operation, which causes water flowing behind said body to flow inward toward the center, crossing over behind the device, forming a vortex-like wave shape upon which maneuvers can be performed.

18. The device of claim 10, wherein at least one rudder or keel member is provided which extends downward from said device.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein said at least one rudder or keel member has extending therefrom at least one substantially horizontally oriented canard.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the body has a forward extending center portion that is substantially flattened to permit bending but substantially avoid twisting.