1. TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to the field of boating accessories and, more specifically, to an apparatus for redirecting boat internal combustion motor exhaust to a location far exterior from a boat so that carbon monoxide buildup will not occur near a boat where passengers can be affected.
2. BACKGROUND
Motorized pleasure boats are abundant and growing in numbers on the world's waterways. Pleasure boating is generally a safe form of recreation. Nevertheless, this sport has seen its share of deaths and injuries caused by carbon monoxide poisoning. One instance of this is due to the phenomenon of deaths occurring during “teak surfing.” Teak surfing is an activity which involves individuals grasping the swim deck located behind a boat's transom for purposes of being pulled through the water, either bodily, or on a flotation apparatus. However, on motor boats with swim decks, the exhaust ports are usually located below the swim deck, near the waterline. The air space between the waterline and the bottom of the swim deck operates as a collection “pocket” for poisonous carbon monoxide exhaust gas. Carbon monoxide, if breathed by a human in sufficient quantities, can displace oxygen and cause unconsciousness and death. Teak surfers and swimmers, being directly adjacent to the carbon monoxide collection pockets or exhaust ports on boats can experience carbon monoxide overload, which has led to deaths in a number of incidents.
Carbon monoxide can also waft into a boat's cabin after being deflected off the boat's own wake upon exiting from the boat's exhaust ports. There have been cases where enough carbon monoxide has entered a cabin from this phenomenon to cause passengers to be overcome and killed.
Onboard gasoline electricity generators can also be a source of carbon monoxide on boats. Generator exhaust ports are typically located on the side of most boats, and if the generator is running, carbon monoxide fumes can waft upward into the breathing space of boat passengers.
Therefore, a need exists for a device which can prevent high concentrations of carbon monoxide from developing in areas on, or near a boat, where passengers could breathe these fumes and be affected by them.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a device for redirecting boat motor exhaust from a boat's exhaust ports to a location far removed from the boat. This invention can be applied to a boat's propulsion motor, a boat's electricity generator or any other internal combustion motor located on a boat. By locating the exit point for exhaust further from a boat, the present invention helps prevent carbon monoxide pockets from forming at various locations, such as beneath a boat's swim deck. Additionally, by locating the exhaust exit point far from a boat, the inventive device allows the exhaust fumes to mix with air, thereby lowering the concentration of carbon monoxide in air which might waft back toward the boat to be breathed by a boat's passengers.
The inventive device is comprised of a floating hose having an adaptor which can couple to a boat exhaust port. The device can be adapted for coupling to a boat motor exhaust or a boat generator exhaust. Also, in a preferred embodiment, the floating hose is made rigid using one or more extension rods for purposes of keeping the device directed outward and away from the boat.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the inventive device shown in position for engaging with a boat motor exhaust port.
FIG. 2 is a side cutaway view of the device of FIG. 1, shown in position for engaging with a boat motor exhaust port.
FIG. 3 is a side cutaway view of the device shown attached to a boat motor exhaust port by a cotter pin.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the adaptor.
FIG. 5 is a side cutaway view of the inventive device incorporating the adaptor of FIG. 4 engaging with a boat motor exhaust port which has interior pins for engaging with slots located in the adaptor.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the inventive device having an extension rod and being shown in position for engaging with a boat motor exhaust port.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the inventive device having a collapsible extension rod and shown folded into a compact configuration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The inventive device 10 for redirecting boat motor exhaust is shown in the various Figures illustrated herein. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a basic embodiment of the device 10 comprised of an elongate hose 12 coupled to an exhaust adaptor 14. The hose 12 is preferably a flexible flotation hose which can be accomplished by manufacturing the hose from a flotation material. The inventor has found a hose material sold under the trademark SANTOPRENE® meets the specifications of the invention, as this material is a thermo-plastic flotation material which stands up well to contact with boat motor exhaust. A hose length of 20 feet minimum measured from the adaptor 14 to the distal exhaust opening 16 of the hose 12 is preferred for keeping boat motor exhaust a sufficient distance from a boat 18 and areas of concern, such as beneath the swim deck 17, for example. This distance is also ideal for keeping the distal end of the exhaust hose beyond a teak surfer's body, for example, while the boat is underway, thereby insuring that a teak surfer or swimmer is not under any danger from carbon monoxide poisoning.
As shown in FIG. 2, one embodiment of the adaptor 14 has two opposing male ends 20, 22 protruding from a central flange 24, namely an exhaust end 20 and a hose end 22. A through-bore 26 extends between the exhaust end 20 and the hose end 22, with the through-bore 26 tapering outward 28 and expanding as it approaches the hose end 22. This gives the exhaust a widened chamber to exit into, as it enters the hose 12, so that excellent flow-through of exhaust is achieved and engine performance is not compromised. For most marine inboard engines, an exhaust hose inside diameter of 3 inches works well to achieve good flow-through. For most boat generators, an exhaust hose inside diameter of 2 inches works well. As shown in FIG. 2, the male hose end 22 inserts into the exhaust hose 12 while the male exhaust end 20 of the adaptor 14 (see arrows) inserts into the boat exhaust port 30 as shown. In the drawings are shown both the propulsion motor exhaust port 30 and the electricity generator exhaust port 32. The invention can be applied to either type of exhaust port. The exhaust end 20 can be a friction fit achieved by machining the exhaust end to fit snugly within the inside diameter of the boat exhaust port. If additional fastening ability is desired, the exhaust end 20 and exhaust port 30, 32 could be drilled through to accept a cotter pin 34, as shown in FIG. 3.
An alternative adaptor embodiment 36 is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. This adaptor 36 also has opposite male ends, one for coupling with an exhaust hose 38 and one for coupling with an exhaust port 40, and a through-bore 42. However, this embodiment is designed for coupling with exhaust ports made from brass through-hole fittings 44 common in the boat building arts. These through-hole fittings 44 are commonly forged with internal pins 46 protruding from their inside diameter surface 48 as shown in FIG. 5. Adaptor 36 has an outside circumference slightly less than the inside circumference of the through-hole fitting 44 to allow the adaptor 36 to slide easily into the through-hole fitting 44. The adaptor 36 includes engaging slots 50 having an elongate portion 52 and an offset portion 54. The elongate portion 52 allows the adaptor 36 to slide inside of the through-hole fitting 44 and engage the pins 46 at its proximal end 56. The pins 46 slide within the elongate portion 52 of slot 50 until they bottom out at the distal end 58 of the elongate portion 52. Upon bottoming out, the user merely gives the adaptor a slight twist to engage the pins 46 snugly within the offset portion 54 of slot 50, thereby holding the adaptor 36 and exhaust hose 12 firmly to the through-hole fitting 44. This twist-lock engagement is simple and reliable. An O-ring 60 is located in a shallow slot imparted into the outside circumference of adaptor 36, the O-ring 60 snugly pressing against the inside circumference of the through-hole fitting 44, creating an exhaust seal to prevent deadly carbon monoxide from escaping between the adaptor 36 and through-hole fitting 44.
FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the inventive device 10. This embodiment incorporates the hose 12 and exhaust port adaptor 14 as previously described and additionally incorporates additional flotation means and a means for holding the hose in a rigid configuration so that the distal end 16 of the hose 12 does not curl back toward the boat 18 while releasing exhaust fumes. As shown in FIG. 6 the added flotation means is preferably a plurality of spaced flotation collars 62 surrounding the exhaust hose 12 along its length. The flotation collars 62 can be comprised of foam materials, SANTOPRENE® or any variety of other flotation materials well known in the art. At least one extension rod 64 is inserted into the flotation collars 62 parallel with the exhaust hose 12, the extension rod 64 keeping the hose 12 in a rigid configuration. The extension rod 64 can be inserted into the collars 62 if the collars are partially bisected. The bisected slits 66 align in a parallel orientation with the hose 12, at the same clock face position, along the plurality of collars 62, thereby allowing for the insertion of an extension rod 64. If two rods 64 are used as shown in FIG. 6, the two rods 64 are preferably placed 180 degrees apart. In this embodiment, the rods 64 are of a one-piece construction and are frictionally held within the bisecting slits 66 of the collars 62, which allows them to be taken out at will so that the hose 12 can then be wrapped up and stowed easily when the device 10 is no longer needed.
FIG. 7 shows an alternate embodiment where the rod 64 is of a collapsing variety. The rod 64 can be made to protrude through the flotation collars 62, thereby eliminating the bisecting slits. Because the rod 64 is non-removable in this version, the rod 64 collapses and the hose 12 can be folded up as shown. In both extension rod embodiments shown herein, the extension rod insures that the distal end of the exhaust hose points away from the boat so that dangerous carbon monoxide is not expelled backward toward the boat.
The foregoing written description describes an inventive device for redirecting boat motor exhaust away from a boat. Finally, although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. This invention may be altered and rearranged in numerous ways by one skilled in the art without departing from the coverage of any patent claims which are supported by this specification.
Patent Grant
7306500
