Patent Application
20250050977
A personal watercraft is a popular watercraft mainly used for recreational purposes. A personal watercraft is also called a water scooter or a jet ski. One style of personal watercraft is the runabout of “sit down,” where one or more riders sit on a seat installed on the upper deck of the personal watercraft.
A personal watercraft driver uses a motorcycle-like steering control handle to control the direction and speed of the personal watercraft. A throttle lever attached to the handle controls the rotational speed of an inboard motor that creates water jet thrust for propulsion via a screw-shaped impeller installed in a water channel submerged under water. An angular change of the handle corresponds to an angular change of a steering nozzle that changes the direction of the water jet thrust for turning the propulsion angle of the personal watercraft.
Similar to other watercraft, personal watercraft may utilize various lines for use in docking or attaching to object. However, personal watercraft typically have much less available surface area for use in leaving lines during operation of the personal watercraft. Additionally, personal watercraft may also have more limited storage compartments for stowing lines during operation of the personal water or when the line is not otherwise in use. Even with some limited storage compartments, storage of a line, often referred to as a docking line, may result in storage of a wet docking line that may be more prone to odor, mildew growth, etc. and potential contamination of other objects in the storage compartment, such as electronic devices, clothes, etc.
Embodiments of various inventive features will now be described with reference to the following drawings. Throughout the drawings, reference numbers may be re-used to indicate correspondence between referenced elements. The drawings are provided to illustrate example embodiments described herein and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. To easily identify the discussion of any particular element or act, the most significant digit(s) in a reference number typically refers to the figure number in which that element is first introduced.
Generally described, aspects of the present application relate to a dock line management system for mounting to the gunwale of personal watercraft. More specifically, in accordance with one or more aspects of the present application, a dock line management system that includes a pair of holders mounted to the gunwale that receives a fixed-length dock line is provided. Illustratively, a fixed-length dock line is threaded through a closed loop (referred to as a loophole) in one of the holders (e.g., a loop holder) to create a loop allowing both ends of the dock line to be affixed to clips in one of the other holders (e.g., a clip holder) in a non-deployed state. In this regard, the non-deployed state can correspond to an open-air storage solution that provides quick access to the dock line for deployment (as describe herein) and resistive to tangles and contamination of other objects.
Illustratively, the dock line has a fixed length in which both ends of the line are terminated in some form of terminating structure, such as a knot, cap, and the like. A first end of the dock line is associated with a terminating structure that has an outer diameter that in some embodiments may be threaded through the closed loop of one of the holders (e.g., the outer diameter of the first terminating structure is less than the inner diameter of the loop or loophole). In other embodiments, the dock line may be threaded through the loophole of the loop holder (e.g., the outer diameter of the dock line is less than the inner diameter of the loop or loophole) and the terminating structure, such as a knot, stopper, etc. is affixed after the dock line is threaded. A second end of the dock line is associated with a terminating structure that has an outer diameter that cannot be threaded through the loophole of the loop holder (e.g., the outer diameter of the second terminating structure is greater than the inner diameter of the loop).
Accordingly, in a deployed state, the two ends of the dock line can be removed from the clips in the holder such that the first end of the dock line can be extended beyond the personal watercraft, such as for tying up to a cleat of a dock or other watercraft while the dock line remains threaded through the loophole of the loop holder. The line is extended (or passes through) through the loophole until the second terminating structure contacts the loophole in the loop holder. The contact of the second terminating structure with the loophole prevents further extension of the line through the loophole and provides the resistive force applied to the dock line from the personal watercraft. In other embodiments, if the terminating structure of the first end (e.g., a first terminating structures) has a diameter that is greater than the closed loophole, then the second end of the line may be extended beyond the personal watercraft and the first terminating structure prevents further extension of the line through the loophole and provides the resistive force.
Aspects of the present application disclosed herein are described below in the context of accessories for personal watercraft. Specifically, in one embodiment, by way of illustration, a personal watercraft can include a personal watercraft with a rail on the gunwale. However, such personal watercraft configuration is illustrative in nature, and one or more aspects of the present application should not be limited to any particular configuration of personal watercraft, including whether such personal watercraft includes a deck extender accessory or relevant portions of mounting mechanisms may be considered integrated in a personal watercraft. Additionally, reference to a dock line in accordance with illustrative embodiments, is not intended to limit the type of line that may be incorporated or integrated into the line management system of the present application or functionality of the line. Accordingly, the disclosed examples and reference to terms such as “dock” are intended solely for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting.
For purposes of illustration a personal watercraft with gunwale mounting assembly will be described with regard to
With continued reference to
The mount body 302 may be made of plastic material through blow mold, injection mold, compression mold, 3D printing or any other known process. In some applications, formation of the mount body 302 through molding may have some advantages to creating a cavity structure of the mount body (empty inside) to reduce weight and amount of material and simplify the process of tooling and production time. Illustratively, a bottom surface 310 the mount body 302 can have a curved structure complimentary at least a portion of the curved surface of the gunwale. Specifically, the bottom surface 310 may be manufactured to match the curvature of the rounded top surface of the gunwale to fit the personal watercraft. As further discussed below, the shape of the mount body 302 may configured such that a top surface of the mount body 302 can present one or more surfaces for a rail system. The top surface of the mount body 302 (after mounting to a gunwale) can be relatively parallel to the rail system. The top surface of the mount body 302 may be substantially horizontal in some embodiments (relative to the waterline). The top surface of the mount body 302 may be angled relative to fore or aft of the personal watercraft such that at least a portion of the rail system is angled. Still further, in some embodiments the mount body 302 may be further angled vertically such that an integrated rail system projects outwardly toward the personal watercraft, outwardly away from the personal watercraft, and the like.
As illustrated in
After fixing the mount body 302 to the watercraft body via screws, rivets, adhesives, or a similar attaching device, the window portion 304 may be coupled to the mount body 302 firmly supports the pressure from the top of the mount body. The window portion 304 can be opaque as well. A transparent or semi-transparent window portion 304 is suitable for looking outside from the watercraft rider and for looking into the watercraft from outside through the part. As another embodiment, the shape of the window part may create a little gap near the lowest point (near the most right bottom portion in the figure) between the gunwale top surface so as to release water through the gap. A transparency window part attached to the mounting assembly can create a positive cosmetic impact on the consumer so that the company logo or other trademark may be attached to the portion.
In some embodiments, the top surface 602 includes multiple groove structures 604 associated with the front, middle and rear portions of the mount assembly 300. Illustratively, rail 402A, middle rail 402B, and front rail 402C) may be generally referred to as a “sub rail” or rail sub-components are attached on each surface of the grooves 604 and form a rail system as a whole.
With reference to
The rail structure can be divided into three or more rails, as illustratively shown in this embodiment. It will be easier to have a combination of shorter rails for attaching accessory units to the gunwales as the distance between the final fixing location of the unit and the initial entry location (through the end of a slope in the groove of the mounting assembly) become shorter. This shorter rail approach is particularly advantageous to position the rail close to the middle of the top surface of the curved mounting assembly. Each rail 402A, 402B and 402C can be installed in the tangential line of the curvature to stay in the middle of the top surface of the mounting assembly. In other words, there is no need to locate the end of the rail to either the right or left edge of the
With reference now to
In accordance with various embodiments, the dock line management system includes, or otherwise is incorporated into, a mounting surface of gunwale. The mounting surface can include a top surface of the gunwale in some embodiments. In other embodiments, the mounting surface can be a mount body 5 of a mounting assembly 2 with a rail structure for the gunwale. The dock line management system can be detachably mounted to the gunwale in a manner that allows for user removable of the dock line management system or switching the dock line management system between a port gunwale or a starboard gunwale. In other embodiments, the dock line management system may be permanently fixed to the gunwale.
In some embodiments, the dock line management system includes a pair of holders (loop holder 3 and clip holder 4) are illustrated on the top inner side of the mounting assembly 2 relative to the hull's center, and the supporting structure constitutes the dock line management system in this embodiment. In the illustrated example, loop holder 3 is mounted on a forward portion of the mount body 5 of the mounting assembly 2 and the clip holder 4 is mounted on a rearward portion of the mount body. In other embodiments, the loop holder 3 may be mounted on a rearward portion of the mounting assembly 5 and the clip holder 4 may be mounted on the forward portion of the mounting assembly.
The “U” shaped portion is also designed to accommodate a single dock line with a diameter of roughly a half inch with tolerance and has enough strength to withstand the movement of watercraft caused by waves, wind, human push, or a water jet thrust enduring docking the watercraft to the deck. The pyramid-shaped line stoppers 47 from both sides of “U” shaped portions are tightly affixed to clip in the clip holder in a non-deployed state. The pyramid-shaped line stoppers 47 can be replaced by other shaped stoppers, such as semi-sphere-shaped or friction-inducing wavy shapes. Illustratively, the dimensions of the gap of the “U” shape may be proportionally modified to accommodate for different diameters and materials of the line. In other embodiments, the openings may have different “shape” or contour/shape of the dock line. Still further, the openings may also have different shapes that still facilitate the detachability of the dock line.
The outwardly curved ends 46 and the rounded (semi cylindrical) end 48 of the clip holder 4 are designed to accommodate and release both ends of the deck lines to transition from a non-deployed state (e.g., two ends of the dock line clipped into the clip holder 4) to a deployed state (e.g., two ends of the dock line unclipped from the clip holder 4). Illustratively, the curved ends allow for the generation of sufficient force on the clip holder 4 to expand the U-shaped portions and allow the removal of the lines from the clip holder 4.
In some embodiments, as previously described, the terminating portions of the dock line may be associated with similar diameters such that the first terminating end and the second terminating end may not freely pass through the inner diameter as described above. Accordingly, the dock line may be incorporated into the dock line management system as part of the manufacturing process. Illustratively, the process includes first creating the first end of the line with knot with a diameter that cannot pass through the closed loop 31. Then let the second end pass through the closed loop 31 and create the same size large knot to the second end. In the case of the latter, either side of the ends can anchor the watercraft to the deck. In a deployed state, the docking line ends are unclipped or released from the clip holder and the line is pulled through the loop holder 3 until either the first or the second terminating portion of the second end of the docking line contacts the loop holder allowing the first end of the docking line to be used freely. Because the dock line is folded back at the loophole of the loop holder, the usable length of the dock line become roughly twice as long as at the undeployed position. Accordingly, in this embodiment, the first and second terminating portions are configured with similar or different diameters relative to the inner diameter of the loop holder 3. In addition to knots integrated into the dock line, the terminating portions can also include additional components, such as stoppers, washers, etc. In some embodiments, the termination portions may be selectively removable, such as for replacement of the dock line. The strength of the terminating portion is particularly important to anchor the personal watercraft to the dock.
As previously described, in some embodiments, the terminating structure of the first end (e.g., a first terminating structures) has a diameter that may be smaller than the inner diameter of the closed loop. Illustratively, a fixed-length deck line goes through the opening of the loop holder 3. One example of the dock line has a first end of the line with a first terminating portion in the form of a knot having a diameter that is allowed to pass through the closed loop in the loop holder (e.g., the first terminating portion can freely pass through the inner diameter of the loop holder 3. A second end of the line has a second termination portion in the form of a knot having a diameter that cannot pass through the inner diameter of the loop holder. In a deployed state, the docking line ends are unclipped or released from the clip holder and the line is pulled through the loop holder 3 until the second terminating portion of the second end of the docking line contacts the loop holder allowing the first end of the docking line to be used freely. Accordingly, in this embodiment, the first and second terminating portions are configured with different diameters relative to the inner diameter of the loop holder 3. In addition to knots integrated into the dock line, the terminating portions can also include additional components, such as stoppers, washers, etc. In some embodiments, the termination portions may be selectively removable, such as for replacement of the dock line. The strength of the terminating portion is particularly important to anchor the personal watercraft to the dock.
Although the illustrated examples and embodiments described above illustrate the deployed state of the dock line in a forward direction, the dock line management system may be implemented such that one or both dock lines may be configured to be extended in a rearward direction by switching the placement of the loop holder 3 and the clip holder 4. Additionally, the free end 61 of the dock line can be used to tie off to a cleat or pole, even in the pre-deployment state, for a short distance, to the extent that the engagement between the knot end 62 and the loop holder 3 can tolerate the tension on the dock line. Furthermore, the combination of the parts with a loophole and the dock line clipper can be attached to any other location with enough distance to store the dock line to the watercraft. For example, the location can be outside the gunwale (relative to the hull centerline), side of the watercraft sheet, bow, or stern side by selecting the appropriate layout of interference with other parts of the watercraft and strength of the base to attach the clip holder and loop holder. The loop holder and clip holder can be isolated parts, as shown in the embodiment, and another embodiment is to build in these functions of looping and clipping into the gunwale of the watercraft or mounting assembly/mount base to reduce the number of parts.
Another embodiment is that clip holder can be configured with a deeper single “U” shaped clipper portion to accommodate both ends of the dock lines for simplicity. Furthermore, the single “U” shaped clipper opening can be oriented not only to the inner side of the hull, but also vertically upwardly or at any slanted angle as desired, and even make it can be rotatable as long as it does not become a major obstacle to the rider of the watercraft. Additionally, one or more additional clips or stoppers may be integrated within the rails of the mounting assembly to allow for additional fixing strength or partial deployment of the dock line.
The loop and clip holders have been illustrated as attached to the mounting assembly in accordance with the gunwales of a personal watercraft in accordance with various embodiments. They can be attached any other place within the watercraft convenient to hold the undeployed dock line. For example, the holders can be attached hull of watercraft directly. It is particularly suitable to do so if the gunwale of the watercraft is rather straight than concaved downwardly. In yet further embodiments, the loop and clip holders may be formed as a part of the rail system or rail mounting assembly.
Although the embodiments of the present application have been described above, the embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the present application. Such a novel embodiment can be implemented in various other forms and can be omitted, replaced, and changed without departing from the gist of the invention. The embodiment and its modifications are included in the scope and gist of the aspects of the application.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/519,175, filed Aug. 11, 2023, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety and for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63519175 | Aug 2023 | US |
