Patent Application
20090031939
This application relates to watercraft, and in particular to watercraft having pontoons for flotation.
It is common in the watercraft industry to provide a plurality of pontoons on watercraft for flotation. This type of watercraft is typically referred to as a pontoon boat and the pontoons are generally comprised of longitudinal tubular members having a closed cylindrical cross-section. A frame is constructed above the pontoons and the pontoons may have brackets which connect the pontoons to the frame. Above the frame is a deck to which furniture and seating is arranged for the pontoon boat passengers. These types of pontoons may include outboard engines, as depicted in our U.S. Pat. No. 6,939,184, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference; or may have an inboard engine as depicted in our U.S. Pat. No. 6,681,713.
It may also be desirable to have a third pontoon, which is typically centrally mounted in a longitudinal manner, and in a parallel relation to the outer pontoons. A center pontoon is added for increased buoyancy and flotation, or for improved performance. Recently, the increased weight placed on the deck of the pontoons, either through increased weight of the pontoon furniture, or the engine size, has also increased the need for the buoyancy of the pontoons. While the diameter of the pontoons could be increased, this would also increase the overall height of the pontoon boat which would change the shipping characteristics, as well as raise the center of gravity, further reducing stability.
These and other objects are met with the described embodiments.
One of the embodiments shown include a pontoon boat, comprising a frame; a plurality of pontoons attached to the frame; and wherein at least one of the pontoons is elliptical in cross-section.
The plurality of pontoons may be two pontoons, and both of the pontoons may be elliptical in cross-section. The plurality of pontoons may be three pontoons, and one of the pontoons is elliptical in cross-section. The plurality of pontoons may comprise two outer substantially cylindrical pontoons, and a center elliptical pontoon. The minor axis of the center elliptical pontoon is substantially equal to the diameter of the two outer pontoons. The diameter of the two outer pontoons and the minor axis of the center elliptical pontoon is about 25″. The major axis of the center elliptical pontoon is about 32″.
Another embodiment of pontoon boat, comprises a frame; and a plurality of pontoons attached to the frame, the plurality comprising two outer pontoons of substantial cylindrical configuration and a center pontoon comprising a substantially closed tube of curvilinear configuration.
The center pontoon may be elliptical in cross-section. The minor axis of the center elliptical pontoon may be substantially equal to the diameter of the two outer pontoons. The diameter of the two outer pontoons and the minor axis of the center elliptical pontoon is about 25″. The major axis of the center elliptical pontoon is about 32″. The pontoon boat may further comprise a deck mounted on the top side of the frame, the deck and the center pontoon having an opening therethrough profiled as a storage area.
Another embodiment of pontoon boat, comprises a pontoon boat, comprising a frame; a plurality of pontoons attached to the frame, comprising two outer pontoons of substantially cylindrical configuration and a center pontoon comprising a substantially curvilinear configuration, wherein a height of the center pontoon is substantially equal to the diameter of the outer pontoons.
The center pontoon is comprised of a substantially closed tube along at least a portion of a length. The pontoon boat may further comprise a deck mounted on the top side of the frame, the deck and the center pontoon having an opening therethrough profiled as a storage area.
The center pontoon may be elliptical in cross-section. The minor axis of the center elliptical pontoon is substantially equal to the diameter of the two outer pontoons. The diameter of the two outer pontoons and the minor axis of the center elliptical pontoon is about 25″. The major axis of the center elliptical pontoon is about 32″.
The above mentioned and other features of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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Advantageously, the larger volume of the elliptical pontoon 22 provides more displacement of water and thus more buoyancy for the pontoon boat. This displacement has been increased without increasing the height of the overall pontoon. In other words, due to the fact that the pontoon minor axis A′ is equal to the diameter D of the outer pontoons 20, the pontoon boat sits flat, whether on the assembly floor, whether on a shipping platform, or and when in storage. Furthermore, the elliptical pontoon 22 adds no further shipping height to the pontoon boat, which solves logistical issues for trucking the pontoons. The flatness of the elliptical tube 22 also provides more stability to the flotation of the pontoon boat. Furthermore, because the elliptical pontoon 22 is substantially closed, conventional bracketing 26 may be used to interconnect pontoon 22 with framing 4, without having to reinforce the pontoon or its connection to the framing. As also shown in
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While this invention has been described as having an exemplary design, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains.
