The present invention relates to a personal watercraft (PWC) and more particularly to a position-adjustable steering control assembly for a PWC, adaptable for more than one riding position.
Jet powered watercraft have become very popular in recent years for recreational use and for use as transportation in coastal communities. The jet power offers high performance, which improves acceleration, handling and shallow water operation.
There are at least two different types of personal watercraft (PWC) that are configured for different driving and riding styles and preferences. For example, a stand-up type of PWC is typically configured with a deck having a platform. In this configuration, a driver stands on the platform while driving the PWC. Unlike other types of PWC, the stand-up type is not equipped with a seat on which the driver can sit. The steering handlebar on a stand-up type of PWC is configured to be adjustable so that drivers of different heights can comfortably steer the watercraft from a standing position.
In contrast, a straddle-type PWC is configured with a deck that supports a straddle-type seat. The driver sits on the top of the seat and places his/her feet on opposite sides of the seat. The steering handlebar of a straddle-type PWC is typically configured to be fixed in a pre-determined position at a pre-determined angle.
A PWC adapted for more than one riding position is a single PWC which can be converted between a stand-up type watercraft and at least one of a straddle-type watercraft and a sit-down type watercraft, an example of which is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/427,911 assigned to the assignee of this application. In a PWC adapted for more than one riding position, a steering device such as handlebars is disposed at the end of a steering support assembly which is pivotally supported by the deck of the PWC. Thus, the position of the steering device can be adjusted relative to the deck or the seat assembly of the PWC when the steering support assembly pivots, in order to meet the needs for different riding positions.
It is also desirable that the steering device, such as a handlebar, is also adjustable relative to a steering shaft which is rotatably supported by the steering support assembly and which can be rotated by the handlebar, in order to provide more comfortable steering positions for a driver.
Mechanisms used for coupling a handlebar to a steering shaft or column are well known in the art. Conventionally, a lower or base steering column is rotatably supported by a support structure of the PWC and is coupled my means of a universal joint to an upper steering column which is rotatable about its own axis. A handlebar is affixed to the upper end of the upper steering column to rotate the upper column for steering the PWC. The upper steering column can be pivotally adjusted with respect to the lower or base steering column such that the handlebar is enabled to tilt in different angular positions for steering. Examples of the tilt steering used in PWC are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,055,922, issued to Madachi et al. on May 2, 2000, U.S. Pat. No. 6,202,584, issued to Madachi et al. on Mar. 20, 2001 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,291, issued to Lapointe et al. on Aug. 21, 2001.
In a conventional, adjustable steering column, an angular position of the steering axis of the handlebar is changed when the handlebar is adjusted between different angular positions which can cause discomfort to the driver of the PWC. Another disadvantage of the conventional, adjustable steering column lies in its very limited angular range of adjustment which is limited by the universal joint. Therefore, alternative mechanisms are desirable to provide a position-adjustable steering assembly for a PWC which can be adjusted within a greater angular range while maintaining the angular position of the steering axis of the handlebar when the steering handlebar is adjusted between different angular steering positions.
One object of the present invention is to provide a position-adjustable steering control assembly for a personal watercraft which provides an angular adjustment range of more than 180 degrees.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a position-adjustable steering control assembly for a PWC which keeps the angular position of the steering axis unchanged when a steering device such as a handlebar, is angularly adjusted between different steering positions.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a personal watercraft adapted for more than one riding position with a position-adjustable steering control assembly.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a position-adjustable steering control assembly for a PWC comprises a steering shaft and a steering member. The steering shaft is operatively attached to the PWC and is rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof. The steering shaft is adapted to be coupled to a steering mechanism configured to effect steering of the PWC. The steering member is attached to an end of the steering shaft, and is adapted to be gripped and manipulated by a driver of the PWC in order to rotate the steering shaft for steering of the PWC. The steering member is pivotal within an angular range of more than 180 degrees with respect to the steering shaft, about a substantially horizontal axis which is substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the steering shaft, and is adapted to be selectively locked in one of a plurality of angular positions within the angular range.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a PWC adapted for more than one riding position. The PWC comprises a hull, a deck supported by the hull, a power source supported by the hull, and a steering mechanism configured to effect steering of the watercraft. A steering shaft is operatively attached to the PWC, and is rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof. The steering shaft is adapted to be coupled to the steering mechanism. A steering member is attached to an end of the steering shaft, and is adapted to be gripped and manipulated by a driver of the PWC in order to rotate the steering shaft for steering the PWC. The steering member is pivotal with respect to the steering shaft, about a substantially horizontal axis which is substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the steering shaft, and is selectively positioned in one of a plurality of angular positions within an angular range. The steering member pivots about the longitudinal axis of the steering shaft during a steering action regardless of the selected angular position thereof.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood with reference to the preferred embodiments described hereinafter.
Having thus generally described the nature of the present invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration the preferred embodiments thereof, in which:
Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to
A jet propulsion system (not shown) is also supported by the hull 12 and is operatively connected to the engine 18 in order to propel the PWC 10.
An engine cover 22 is generally positioned above the engine 18 and is openable so as to allow access to the engine 18. A standing surface 23 of the deck 14 is positioned between the engine cover 22 and the stern S of the PWC 10. The standing surface 23 is sized to accommodate a driver in a standing or kneeling position while riding the PWC 10. The PWC 10 is also convertible to accommodate straddle or sit-down types of riding, in which a straddle seat assembly 32 or a bucket seat assembly (not shown) is provided (see
A steering support assembly 20 is provided on the deck 14 to support a steering control assembly 24. The steering support assembly 20 includes a pair of pivotal front support poles 25 which pivot about a horizontal axis at a front attachment point 28 on the deck 14 the front support poles 25 can be formed with a pair of pipes or tubes, each pivoting at a separate but aligned point on the deck 14. The steering support assembly 20 is preferably configured to include a steering control device support 30 at the upper end thereof, which in turn supports the steering control assembly 24.
Referring to
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the handlebar 34 is pivotal within an angular range R of more than 180 degrees, with respect to the steering shaft 26, about a substantially horizontal axis 36 (see
One embodiment of the steering control assembly 24 is illustrated in
The sleeve members 44 are each formed with a lower portion and an upper portion (both not indicated) which are assembled together by, for example, screws 49. The upper portion of each sleeve member 44 preferably includes a guide member 50 having an elongate opening 52 extending radially with respect to the horizontal axis 36.
A positioning member 54 surrounding the middle portion 46 of the handlebar 34 is disposed between the two sleeve members 44. The positioning member 54 preferably includes a sleeve body 56 surrounding the middle portion 46 of the handlebar 34 and is adapted to rotate together with the middle portion 46 about the substantially horizontal axis 36 by means of, for example, keys or screws (not shown). Two flanges 58 are fixed to the respective opposed ends of the sleeve body 56. A plurality of radial recesses 60 are provided in the respective flanges 58 in an axially aligned relationship. The radial recesses 60 are reinforced by body elements 62 which define the axially extended inner surfaces (not indicated) of the respective radial recesses 60. The angular positions of the radial recesses 60 with respect to the end portions 48 of the handlebar 34, determine the plurality of selected angular positions of the handlebar 34. In order to provide the forward, center and rearward positions of the handlebar 34, as shown in
It is preferable to provide a trigger mechanism 66 having a receiver 68 disposed between the two flanges 58 of the positioning member 54. The receiver 68 operatively attached to the middle portion of the lock pin 64. At least one trigger 70 is connected to the receiver 68 and the trigger mechanism 66 is operatively attached to the plate 42 such that the receiver 68 moves the lock pin 64 along the elongate openings 52 between the first and second positions when the trigger 70 is actuated, for example, by pressing or pulling, depending on the mechanism coupling the trigger 70 and the receiver 68. This is a design choice and will not be further described herein. It is preferable to have the lock pin 64 normally urged into the engaging position by means of, for example, springs, or by use of a cam mechanism to lock the lock pin 64 into the engaging position. Thus, the lock pin 64 will not accidentally disengage from the positioning member 54.
It is optional to include a second trigger 72 in the trigger mechanism 66. The second trigger 72 is preferably disposed in a rear side of the steering control assembly 24, opposite to the trigger 70, but coupled thereto, thus additional convenience is provided to the driver when the driver is operating the PWC and wishes to adjust the steering position.
The positioning member 54 is preferably formed with an upper portion (not indicated) as shown in
In a seated or straddle riding position, the handlebar 34 of the steering control assembly 24 is preferably pivoted forwardly and locked into its forward position, as shown in
A start/stop button 78 is attached to the handlebar 34, for example, at the lefthand end portion 48 thereof, and is coupled to the engine by means of a cable (not indicated) for controlling the start and stop of the engine. Unlike the throttle control handle 76, the start/stop button 78 is only actuated at the beginning and the end of riding and does not require continuous actuation during the riding of the PWC 10. Therefore the position of the start/stop button 78 on the handlebar 34 is less critical, in contrast to the position of the throttle control handle 76. For the convenience of operation, the start/stop button is preferably attached to the rear side of the handlebar 34 when the handlebar 34 is in its rearward position, as shown in
The start/stop button 78 is positioned at the forward side of the handlebar 34 when the handlebar 34 is pivoted forwards and locked in its forward position, as shown in
The position-adjustable steering control assembly 24 of the present invention is describe in the above embodiments with reference to a personal watercraft adapted for multiple riding positions. However the position-adjustable steering control assembly of the present invention can be applicable to any type of personal watercraft. Furthermore, the position-adjustable steering control assembly of the present invention can be advantageously adjusted in a relatively broad range of positions without the use of any tools.
Modifications and improvements to the above-described embodiments of the present invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art. The foregoing description is intended to be exemplary rather than limiting. The scope of the present invention is therefore intended to be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60493001 | Aug 2003 | US |