Small watercraft having an improved structure of storage compartment

Abstract

A small watercraft includes expanded storage capacity so as to accommodate more of the type of articles that rider's typically what to carry on the watercraft. Such articles include, for example, towels, water skis, tow ropes, etc. At least one of the storage compartments on the watercraft is formed by an opening on an upper deck section. A container is affixed to the deck below the opening and has an upper end defined by a flange that extends from walls of the container. The flange is attached to an interior wall of the upper deck section so that the container and the corresponding upper deck section form a storage compartment. The upper end of the container, however, has a larger area than the opening in the deck so as to maximize the storage space within the compartment without weakening the deck and minimizing the area through which water can enter the hull.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A small watercraft comprising a hull including a lower hull portion and an upper deck, the upper deck including a bow portion and a rider's area position on an aft side of the bow portion, a raised pedestal provided on the hull in the rider's area, a seat assembly supported by the raised pedestal and including a seat configured to accommodate at least one rider, a container affixed to the upper deck and having an upper perimeter edge, an access opening formed in the upper deck and opening into the container, said opening having a smaller area than the area defined by the upper perimeter edge of the container, and a hatch movably coupled to the upper deck so as to be moved between a closed position, in which the hatch covers the opening, and an open position, in which the hatch permits access into the compartment through the opening.  
     
     
         2 . A small watercraft as in    claim 1   , wherein the container, the access opening and the hatch are located on the bow portion of the upper deck.  
     
     
         3 . A small watercraft as in    claim 1   , wherein the container, the access opening and the hatch are located in the rider's area.  
     
     
         4 . A small watercraft as in    claim 3   , wherein the container, the access opening and the hatch are located at a stern portion of the watercraft hull.  
     
     
         5 . A small watercraft as in    claim 1   , wherein the container is affixed to the upper deck about its perimeter edge.  
     
     
         6 . A small watercraft as in    claim 1    additionally comprising a hinge coupling which pivotally attaches the hatch to the upper deck.  
     
     
         7 . A small watercraft as in    claim 1   , wherein the hull has a longitudinal axis that extends from bow to stern, and a longitudinal dimension of the access opening is smaller than a longitudinal dimension of the container as measured across it upper perimeter edge.  
     
     
         8 . A small watercraft as in    claim 1   , wherein the hull has a longitudinal axis that extends from bow to stern, and a lateral dimension of the access opening, which is measured generally normal to the longitudinal axis in a plane in which the access opening is generally formed, is smaller than a lateral dimension of the container, as measured across its upper perimeter edges in a direction generally normal to the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         9 . A small watercraft as in    claim 1    additionally comprising a sealing member operating between the upper deck and the hatch about the circumference of the access opening.  
     
     
         10 . A small watercraft as in    claim 1   , wherein the hatch includes a generally sealed inner space.  
     
     
         11 . A small watercraft as in    claim 10   , wherein the hatch includes an upper section and a lower section and side sections, and a distance between the upper and lower sections is greater near a longitudinal axis of the watercraft than near the side sections of the hatch.  
     
     
         12 . A small watercraft as in    claim 1   , wherein the container includes an opening through a wall of the container to provide access into a space beneath the upper deck.  
     
     
         13 . A small watercraft as in    claim 12    additionally comprising an instrument display located forward of the rider's area, and the opening in the container is located to open into a space defined below the instrument display.  
     
     
         14 . A small watercraft as in    claim 1   , wherein the container includes a drain hole.  
     
     
         15 . A small watercraft as in    claim 1   , wherein the container is affixed to an interior surface of the upper deck.  
     
     
         16 . A small watercraft as in    claim 1   , wherein at least two walls of the container have different heights.  
     
     
         17 . A small watercraft as in    claim 16   , wherein the section of the upper deck to which the container is affixed includes a fore portion and an aft portion, the fore and aft portions are at different elevational levels relative to the lower hull section, and the container lies generally between the fore and aft portions.  
     
     
         18 . A small watercraft as in    claim 1    additionally comprising a second container affixed to the upper deck, and the deck including a second access opening which opens into the container.  
     
     
         19 . A small watercraft as in    claim 1   , wherein the container and hatch together define a enclosed compartment with the hatch in the closed position, and an aft end of the compartment is taller than a fore end of the compartment.  
     
     
         20 . A small watercraft as in    claim 1   , wherein the container is affixed to the upper deck by an adhesive.