Jet ski

• US 5,970,898 A
• Filed: 06/08/1998
• Issued: 10/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fred A. Pereira
• Original Assignee: Fred A. Pereira
• Inventors: Pereira, Fred A.
• Primary Examiner(s): AVILA, STEPHEN P
• Application Number:
  US09/092,848
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 114/145 R, 114/145 A, 114/55.5, 114/55.52, 114/55.54, 114/55.57, 114/363
• US Class Current: 114/55.5
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 29/04 Furniture peculiar to vessels floatable furniture B63C9/30
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 34/10 Power-driven personal watercraft, e.g. water scooters water jet propulsion B63H11/00; jet steering B63H25/46; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 25/44 Steering or slowing-down by extensible flaps or the like

Abstract

A water craft that has an adjustable steering column to fit the physical characteristics of individual riders, a shock absorber system for the seat and a braking and suspension system to improve handling characteristics and safety while a user is riding the craft. In addition, the craft has a multi-hull design which also improves the handling characteristics and safety.

Claims

1. A water craft having:

means for propelling the craft,

a hull,

means for steering the craft,

means for braking the craft, and

a seat upon which a user of the craft may sit, and

wherein said means for steering the craft comprises a steering arm pivotally attached at one end adjacent a front of the craft,

said steering arm also being attached adjacent a second end of said steering arm by an adjustable means for allowing said second end of said steering arm to be moved up or down in order to position said steering arm with respect to an individual user of said craft,

said adjustable means comprising;

a first arm attached adjacent said second end of said steering arm,

a second arm detachably attached to said first arm,

said first arm having at least one projection secured thereto, and

said second arm having a plurality of slots thereon,

said at least one projection being secured in one of said plurality of slots to hold said first arm in a first position with respect to said second arm, and

said at least one projection being secured in another of said plurality of slots to hold said first arm in a second position with respect to said second arm.

2. The water craft as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first arm has an enlarged portion adjacent said second arm,

said enlarged portion having a slot therein, thereby separating said enlarged portion into a first section and a second section,

at least one of said first and second sections having said projection attached to an interior surface, and

said first arm having means for closing said slot and thereby moving said projection.

3. The water craft as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first and second sections both have a projection attached to an interior surface.

4. The water craft as claimed in claim 2, wherein said means for closing said slot is a threaded section on said first arm, and

a nut means for moving along said threaded section.

5. The water craft as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first arm has a third arm pivotally attached at one end to said first arm,

said third arm has said projection attached to a second end of said third arm, and

means for moving said second end of said third arm toward said first arm.

6. The water craft as claimed in claim 5, wherein said means for moving said second end of said third arm toward said first arm is a knob having a threaded shaft which passes through said third arm and is secured to said first arm.

7. The water craft as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hull has hydrofoils attached to a bottom portion thereof,

said hull also has an air intake opening mounted on a front portion of said hull,

a duct connected at one end to said air intake,

said duct having a second end with an air exit,

said air exit being positioned on said bottom portion of said hull.

8. The water craft as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hull is composed of three sections,

one of said sections being a center hull and two other sections being side hulls,

said side hulls being separate from said center hull.

9. The water craft as claimed in claim 8, wherein said side hulls have a front portion and a rear portion,

said entire rear portion of said side hulls being open.

10. The water craft as claimed in claim 8, wherein said side hulls are connect to said center hull by at least two horizontal bars,

said bars engaging said center hull adjacent a center portion of said bars, and

a first support flange having a first end engaging a first end of said bar,

a second support flange having a first end engaging a second end of said bars,

said first support flange having a second end which engages one of said side hulls, and

said second support flange having a second end which engages another of said side hulls.

11. The water craft as claimed in claim 10, wherein said water craft has a third support flange connected to said horizontal bar,

said third support flange is parallel to said first support flange, and

wherein said water craft has a fourth support flange connected to said horizontal bar,

said fourth support flange is parallel to said second support flange, and

an X-shaped member is connected between said first and third support flanges, and

another X-shaped member is connected between said second and fourth support flanges.

12. The water craft as claimed in claim 10, wherein said bars are interconnected by a push rod,

said push rod having a U-shaped end on opposite ends of said push rod,

each of said U-shaped ends engaging a flange on one of said bars, and

one of said bars having an arm depending therefrom,

said arm being permanently attached at one end to said one of said bars, and

said arm being connected at another end to a shock absorber.

13. A water craft having:

means for propelling the craft,

a hull,

means for steering the craft,

means for adjusting said means for steering said craft upwards and downwards with respect to said hull,

means for braking the craft, and

a seat upon which a user of the craft may sit, and

wherein said means for braking the craft comprises a plate pivotally mounted with respect to a bottom portion of said hull,

means for moving said plate from a first position where it is positioned within said bottom portion of said hull to a second position where a first portion of said plate extends from said bottom portion of said hull, and a second portion of said plate is entirely within said hull, and

wherein said means for moving said plate from a first position to a second position comprises;

a pedal,

said pedal being attached to a first shaft,

said first shaft having an end of a first wire attached thereto,

a second end of said first wire being attached to a second shaft,

said second shaft having an end of a second wire attached thereto,

a second end of said second wire being attached to a third shaft,

said third shaft being attached to said plate pivotally mounted with respect to a bottom portion of said hull.

14. A water craft having:

means for propelling the craft,

a hull,

means for steering the craft,

means for adjusting said means for steering said craft upwards and downwards with respect to said hull,

means for braking the craft, and

a seat upon which a user of the craft may sit, and

suspension means for attaching said seat to said hull,

said suspension means comprising;

at least a first arm and a second arm,

each of said first and second arms being attached at a first end to said seat, and

each of said first and second arms being attached at a second end to said hull, and

wherein a first end of a shock absorber is attached adjacent said second end of said first arm, and

a third arm attached to a second end of said second arm,

said shock absorber having a first end attached to said first arm and second end attached to said third arm.