Boat activated wave generator

• US 5,911,190 A
• Filed: 07/11/1997
• Issued: 06/15/1999
• 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): BASINGER, SHERMAN D
• Application Number:
  US08/893,701
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 405/79, 114/274, 114/126, 114/271, 114/56, 114/67 R, 114/42, 114/41, 114/40, 210/242.2, 210/242.3
• US Class Current: 114/274
• 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 portions that scoop up water, to form wave shapes thereon, upon which various surfing and skimming maneuvers 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 maneuvers, i.e., wake-boarding and water skiing can be performed.

Claims

1. A device which can be mounted on or otherwise extended from the side of a boat hull, comprising:

two substantially longitudinally oriented members extending substantially laterally outward from the side of the boat hull, along substantially the middle and/or back half thereof, wherein each of said members comprises;

a forward leading portion;

a substantially curved flow forming portion extending rearward from said leading portion; and

wherein the leading portion is positioned below the water surface such that, as the boat moves through the water, the leading portion helps to lift water upward and onto said flow forming portion, causing water to be displaced laterally outward and upward, such that various wave and/or wake effects are created thereby.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the flow forming portion has surfaces that have curvatures in the horizontal and vertical directions.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is separately formed and then mounted to an existing boat hull.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is integrally formed with the boat hull.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the flow forming portions have a concave curvature in the horizontal and vertical directions, such that as the boat travels through the water, water flows across the flow forming portions upwardly and laterally in relation to the boat hull.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the bottom surface of said device is substantially horizontal.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein protective padding and coating are provided such that safety is increased.

8. A boat activated device, comprising:

two side members extending substantially laterally from the side of the boat hull, on substantially the back half thereof, wherein the side members extend longitudinally and laterally outward in relation to the boat hull, wherein each side member comprises;

an inclined front portion;

a rounded body portion extending rearward from the inclined front portion; and

wherein the side members are oriented such that during the boat'"'"'s operation the inclined front portion travels below the water surface and helps to lift water upward, wherein the front portion and body portion help to displace water laterally outward in relation to the boat hull, wherein various wave and/or wake effects are created thereby.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the side members are mounted to the boat hull and extend laterally outward in opposite directions such that they increase the effective width of the boat hull for water displacement purposes.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the side members extend laterally outward and rearward in relation to the boat hull at a predetermined angle.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the side members are secured to the back half of the boat hull in a manner that causes the wakes naturally formed by the front of the boat to be incorporated into the wake effects formed by the device.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the lifting effect created by the inclined front portion causes a reciprocal downward force to act on the boat, causing the boat to travel deeper in the water.

13. A boat for creating various wave and/or wake effects, comprising:

a boat hull;

two longitudinal sections extending substantially laterally outward on either side of the boat hull, on substantially the middle and/or back half thereof, wherein each section comprises;

a forward extending portion;

a body portion extending rearward from said forward extending portion; and

wherein during the boat'"'"'s operation the forward extending portion travels below the water surface and helps to push water upward,

wherein the body portion helps to cause water to be displaced laterally in relation to the boat hull, wherein various wave and/or wake effects are created thereby.

14. The boat of claim 13, wherein the forward extending portion which travels below the water surface helps to push water upward, causing a reciprocal downward force to act on the boat.

15. The boat of claim 14, wherein the depth and position of the boat in relation to the water during operation is determined in part by the position of the longitudinal sections relative to the boat hull, and the downward force acting on the forward extending portion which causes the boat to travel deeper in the water.

16. The boat of claim 13, wherein the longitudinal sections can either be separately mounted to, or integrally formed with, the boat hull.

17. The boat of claim 13, wherein each of the longitudinal sections has a curved flow forming surface thereon, wherein as the boat is moved through the water, water is lifted up by the forward extending portion and onto said flow forming surfaces, such that various wave and/or wake formations are created thereby.

18. The boat of claim 13, wherein the force of the water being exerted upward creates a reciprocal downward force on said boat, which counteracts the upward force created by the planing effect caused by the boat as it moves substantially along the surface of the water, the combination of which help to keep the boat in substantial hydrodynamic equilibrium.

19. The device of claim 13, wherein the longitudinal sections extend laterally outward in opposite directions such that they increase the effective width of the boat hull for water displacement purposes.

20. A method for creating various wave and/or wake effects using a boat, comprising:

providing a boat with a boat hull,

extending two flow altering side members from the side of the boat hull, one on each side of the boat, on substantially the middle and/or back portion thereof, wherein each of the side members has a forward extending portion and a body portion; and

operating the boat in a body of water such that the forward extending portion substantially travels below the water surface and helps to lift water upward, and wherein the body portion helps to displace water laterally outward, such that various wave and/or wake effects are created thereby.