Boat activated wake enhancement method and system

• US 6,105,527 A
• Filed: 06/16/1998
• Issued: 08/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Light Wave Limited
• Original Assignee: Light Wave Limited
• Inventors: Sauerbier, Charles E., Lochtefeld, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): BASINGER, SHERMAN D
• Application Number:
  US09/097,650
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 114/123, 114/271, 114/274, 114/280, 114/288, 114/290, 114/125, 114/61.29, 405/79
• US Class Current: 114/125
• 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 relates to a boat-activated wake enhancement method and system that extends from the boat. According to one aspect, a pair of protuberances is provided on the lower stem quarter of the boat'"'"'s hull, primarily along the sidewalls. The protuberances are elongated and each has a rounded surface that extends substantially laterally outward in relation to the boat hull. The protuberances help to displace more water by increasing and shifting the effective width of the boat, causing the boat to travel deeper in the water, and creating additional interference that affects the natural wakes created by the boat. Additional inverted hydrofoil members and ballasts can also be provided to cause the boat to travel deeper in the water and therefore create larger waves. The present invention is used to increase the size and enhance the shape and location of the wake and/or waves for wakeboarding and wake surfing.

Claims

1. A wake enhancement device for use with a boat, comprising:

a laterally extended section, having a forward and rearward portion, wherein the section extends substantially longitudinally in relation to the boat'"'"'s hull, at or near the water line, wherein the extended section increases the effective width of the boat, and, during operation, causes additional water to be displaced and build up along the side of the boat, wherein the forward portion of the extended section has an inclination thereon, and wherein said inclination extends substantially upward and rearward such that as the boat travels through the water, the forward portion travels below the water line and helps to lift water upward, which in turn creates a reciprocal downward force that acts on the device and boat.

2. The wake enhancement device of claim 1, wherein a tangent line defining the outer-most laterally extended surface of the section extends upward and rearward from the forward portion to the rearward portion.

3. The wake enhancement device of claim 2, wherein the tangent line has an inclined slope and is curved along a substantially convex line in plan view such that it extends further outward than the widest point of the boat hull.

4. The wake enhancement device of claim 1, wherein the extended section has an exteriorly rounded surface that extends longitudinally along the length of the section.

5. The wake enhancement device of claim 4, wherein the rounded surface on or near the rearward portion has a cross-sectional shape substantially defined by its radius, wherein the radius is a function of the draft of the water at the chine, as determined with the boat traveling at operating speeds without the device, multiplied by a preselected factor ranging between 1 and 20.

6. The wake enhancement device of claim 5, wherein the radius is a function of the draft multiplied by a factor of about 5.

7. The wake enhancement device of claim 1, wherein the forward portion extends outward in relation to the boat hull in plan view at an angle of between 10 to 20 degrees, or between 20 to 40 degrees.

8. The wake enhancement device of claim 1, wherein the device is integrally formed with the boat hull or mounted to the sides of the boat hull.

9. The wake enhancement device of claim 1, wherein the device has one or more hinges that are provided to connect the section to the boat such that the section can be swung upward in relation to the boat hull.

10. The wake enhancement device of claim 1, wherein the device is hollow and has at least one opening and/or valve through which water can be introduced.

11. The wake enhancement device of claim 10, wherein the valve comprises a door with a nozzle and scoop for scooping water into said section through said nozzle.

12. The wake enhancement device of claim 10, wherein an opening is positioned on or near the front portion of the device and another opening is positioned on or near the rearward portion.

13. The wake enhancement device of claim 1, wherein the section is tapered such that the section is relatively wide near the rearward portion and relatively narrow near the forward portion, and wherein the forward portion is faired into the side of the boat hull.

14. The wake enhancement device of claim 1, wherein the rearward portion terminates at about the back end of the boat, and has a terminating surface having a hard edge thereon.

15. The wake enhancement device of claim 1, wherein one or more inverted hydrofoil members are provided, wherein said hydrofoil members are inverted to lift water up and cause a reciprocal downward force to act on said boat during operation.

16. The wake enhancement device of claim 1, wherein each of said one or more inverted hydrofoil members is connected in a manner that allows the attack angle to be adjusted, and extends into the water from the sides or bottom of the boat hull.

17. The wake enhancement device of claim 1, wherein a second section protruding from said extended section is provided to further increase the effective width of the aft section of the boat.

18. The wake enhancement device of claim 1, wherein the extended section is made from a flexible fabric which can be filled with water to hold its shape.

19. The wake enhancement device of claim 1, wherein said extended section has a splash guard.

20. A wake enhancement device for use with a boat, comprising:

a laterally extended section, having a forward and rearward portion, wherein the section extends substantially longitudinally in relation to the boat'"'"'s hull, at or near the water line, wherein the extended section increases the effective width of the boat, and wherein the extended section is hollow and has an opening on the front portion which is lower in elevation than an opening on the rearward portion, wherein the transition of internal flow-through water under pressure from the front opening to the rearward opening helps to lift water upward to create a reciprocal downward force on the boat.

21. The wake enhancement device of claim 20, wherein the opening on the rearward portion is greater in size than the opening on the front portion, and an adjustable gate is provided on said rearward opening.

22. The wake enhancement device of claim 20, wherein two extended sections are provided and a center ballast is provided between the two extended sections, and the center ballast is connected to the extended sections such that water from inside the extended sections can be introduced through said opening in said rearward Portion into said center ballast through a transition opening.

23. The wake enhancement device of claim 22, wherein the center ballast has an outlet opening that is capable of being adjusted by a gate.

24. The wake enhancement device of claim 20, wherein said opening on the front portion has a cowling extended therefrom to capture bow spray, and an inlet gate for restricting the introduction of water into said device.

25. A method for improving the quality and size of a wake created behind a boat, comprising:

extending two elongated sections substantially from the boat'"'"'s hull, said elongated sections each being substantially hollow and having an exterior surface that extends substantially longitudinally along said section to increase the effective width of the boat;

providing an opening on the forward portion of each of said sections such that during operation water is able to enter into said sections through said openings; and

causing the boat to travel through a body of water, wherein as the boat travels through the water, water is introduced under pressure into said sections through said openings to increase the effective weight of said boat, and create a downward force that acts on said boat, wherein the elongated sections cause additional water to be displaced and build up along the sides of the boat, to help create additional wake effects.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of causing said boat to travel through said body of water causes said sections to constructively interfere with the primary bow waves created by said boat, thereby creating a larger constructive wave and increasing the size of the diverging stern waves created behind said boat.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of causing said boat to travel through said body of water causes water that builds up along the sides of the boat to transition smoothly into the hollow created by the displacement of water behind the boat, helping to form substantially larger and/or smoother waves behind the boat.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of causing said boat to travel through said body of water creates a larger and/or wider hollow in the water behind the boat, whereby water that builds up along the sides of the boat takes longer to converge, thereby helping to form waves further behind the boat than without said sections.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of causing said boat to travel through said body of water causes the front portion of said elongated sections to travel below the water surface, causing water to be lifted upward, and creating a reciprocal downward force to act upon the sections, resulting in the boat traveling deeper in the water.

30. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of providing one or more inverted hydrofoil members extending downward into the water in relation to the boat hull, wherein each of said one or more inverted hydrofoil members is inverted such that it lifts water upward to create a reciprocal downward force that acts on said boat, to cause said boat to travel deeper in the water than without said hydrofoil members.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein the method comprises providing a second opening on each of

said sections on the rearward portions thereof, said second openings being positioned and oriented such that during operation, water can exit from said sections through said second openings;

and

positioning said forward opening on each section at a position that is lower in elevation than said second opening on each section, wherein water is able to fill said sections and the internal flow-through of water through the sections from the front openings to the rear openings creates a lift force which creates a reciprocal downward force on the boat.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the method comprises the step of providing an inlet gate on said forward openings to restrict the introduction of water into the elongated sections, and an adjustable gate on the rearward openings to adjust the size and location thereof.

33. The method of claim 25, wherein the method comprises providing a center ballast which can be filled with water to increase the weight of the boat, said center ballast being connected in a manner that allows water from inside said extended sections to enter into said center ballast through one or more transition openings.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the center ballast is provided with a sliding gate which can be used to adjust the size of an outlet opening and enables the amount of water that can fill the center ballast before water is drained to be adjusted.

35. The method of claim 25, wherein said method comprises the step of extending elongated sections from said boat hull that are made from a flexible fabric which can be filled with water to hold its shape.

36. A method for improving the quality and size of a wake created behind a boat, comprising:

providing one or more openings on said boat'"'"'s hull, said one or more openings extending below the water line of said boat and being adapted such that during operation water is able to enter through said one or more openings into one or more cavities extending within said hull;

causing said boat to travel through a body of water, wherein as the boat travels through said body of water, water is introduced under pressure into said one or more cavities through said one or more openings, wherein said water in said one or more cavities increases the effective weight of said boat, and creates a downward force that acts on said boat while said boat is traveling through said body of water; and

causing said boat to slow down and/or stop such that said pressure is reduced and water in said one or more cavities is allowed to drain out through said one or more openings by gravity alone.

37. The method of claim 36, comprising the additional step of adapting said one or more openings with a forward orientation such that when said boat travels through said body of water, water is introduced into said one or more cavities through said one or more openings.

38. The method of claim 36, comprising the additional step of extending said one or more cavities above said water line such that when said boat is at rest, water within said one or more cavities is allowed to drain back out through said one or more openings by gravity alone.

39. The method of claim 36, comprising the additional step of providing one or more gates to control the entry or exit of water through said one or more openings into said one or more cavities.

40. The method of claim 36, comprising the additional step of providing a cowling to help direct water into said one or more openings.

41. The method of claim 36, comprising the additional step of providing at least two openings on said boat hull, one opening located near the front of said one or more cavities, and a second opening located near the rear of said one or more cavities, wherein said front opening is lower in elevation than said rear opening, wherein the transition of internal flow-through of water under pressure from said front opening to said rear opening helps to lift water upward, to create a reciprocal downward force on the boat.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the method comprises the step of providing an inlet gate on said front opening to restrict the introduction of water into said one or more cavities, and an outlet gate on said rear opening.

43. A wake enhancement device for use with a boat, comprising:

a boat hull having an exterior surface thereon and one or more cavities therein;

one or more openings on said boat hull, said one or more openings extending below the water line of said boat and being adapted such that when said boat travels through a body of water, water is introduced under pressure through at least one of said one or more openings into said one or more cavities, thereby increasing the effective weight of said boat, and creating a downward force that acts on said boat while said boat is traveling through said body of water, wherein the quality and size of the wake created by said boat can be enhanced; and

wherein said one or more cavities are adapted such then when said boat slows down and/or stops, the pressure is reduced, and water in said one or more cavities is allowed to drain out through at least one of said one or more openings by gravity alone.

44. The device of claim 43, wherein said one or more cavities extends above said water line.

45. The device of claim 43, wherein one or more gates to control the entry or exit of water through said one or more openings is provided.

46. The device of claim 43, wherein one or more cowlings to help direct water into said one or more openings is provided.

47. The device of claim 43, wherein at least two openings are provided, one opening located near the front of said one or more cavities, and a second opening located near the rear of said one or more cavities, wherein said front opening is lower in elevation than said rear opening, such that the transition of internal flow-through of water under pressure from said front opening to said rear opening helps to lift water upward, which creates a reciprocal downward force on the boat.

48. The device of claim 47, wherein the rear opening is greater in size than the front opening.

49. The device of claim 47, wherein said front opening has a cowling extended therefrom to capture bow spray, and an inlet gate for restricting the introduction of water into said device.