Seat configuration for a watercraft

Abstract

A small watercraft has a longitudinally extending, straddle type seat. A rear deck of the watercraft is disposed generally behind the seat, and the upper surface of the rear deck is vertically higher than the upper surface of the seat. A front wall of the rear deck comprises a back support adjacent a rear end of the seat. The rear end of the seat is vertically movable from a position wherein the upper surface of the rear seat is generally lower than the upper surface of the rear deck to a position wherein the upper surfaces of the rear seat and rear deck are generally aligned. In some embodiments, a rear seat portion moves relative to a front seat portion. The rear seat is configured so that when it is vertically higher than the front seat portion, a front edge of the rear seat comprises a back support for a rider seated on the front seat portion.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A personal watercraft comprising a hull having a lower portion and an upper deck portion, an engine compartment defined within the hull, the deck portion of the hull having a longitudinally extending pedestal portion having a straddle type seat disposed thereon, the seat comprising a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion having a plurality of seat positions defined therein, each seat position configured to accommodate at least one rider, the seat having a hinge member adjacent a front end of the front portion and being rotatable about the hinge member between a first position and a second position, an actuator comprising an actuator cylinder and a piston rod, the actuator configured to move the piston rod between a rod first position and a rod second position, the rod being coupled to the seat and adapted to move the seat between the first position and the second position as the rod is moved relative to the actuator, the upper deck portion comprising a rear deck generally behind the rear seat portion, the rear deck having an upper surface that is vertically higher than an upper surface of a rear end of the rear seat portion when the straddle seat is in the first position, and the upper surface of the rear end of the rear seat portion is generally even with the upper surface of the rear deck when the straddle seat is in the second position.  
     
     
         2 . The watercraft of  claim 1  additionally comprising a lower deck portion arranged generally below the rear deck, and a storage compartment is provided between the rear deck and the lower deck portion.  
     
     
         3 . A watercraft comprising a hull having a lower portion and a deck portion, the deck portion having a control mast, a longitudinally extending pedestal, and a straddle type seat arranged generally above the pedestal, the seat comprising a front seat portion and a rear seat portion, the rear seat portion being both vertically and tiltingly movable relative to the front seat portion.  
     
     
         4 . The watercraft of  claim 3 , wherein the rear seat portion is supported independently of the front seat portion.  
     
     
         5 . The watercraft of  claim 3 , wherein the rear seat portion is vertically movable between a first position and a second position, and wherein the watercraft additionally comprises a rear deck disposed generally rearwardly of the seat, the rear deck having an upper surface, and an upper surface of the rear seat is vertically lower than an upper surface of the rear deck when the rear seat portion is in the first position.  
     
     
         6 . The watercraft of  claim 5 , wherein the rear deck comprises a generally upwardly-inclined surface disposed adjacent a rear end of the rear seat portion when the rear seat portion is in the first position.  
     
     
         7 . The watercraft of  claim 6 , wherein the upwardly inclined surface is generally contoured to complementarily engage and support a rider's back when the rider is seated on the rear seat portion when the rear seat portion is in the first position.  
     
     
         8 . The watercraft of  claim 5 , wherein the upper surface of the rear seat portion is generally aligned with the upper surface of the rear deck when the rear seat portion is in the second position.  
     
     
         9 . The watercraft of  claim 3  additionally comprising an actuator configured to vertically move the rear seat portion.  
     
     
         10 . The watercraft of  claim 9  additionally comprising a controller configured to control the actuator.  
     
     
         11 . The watercraft of  claim 9 , wherein the actuator comprises a pneumatic actuator.  
     
     
         12 . The watercraft of  claim 9 , wherein the rear seat portion is rigidly connected to the actuator.  
     
     
         13 . The watercraft of  claim 12 , wherein the rear seat portion comprises a base plate and a seat cushion, and the base plate and seat cushion are pivotally connected to each other by a hinge.  
     
     
         14 . The watercraft of  claim 13 , wherein the hinge is disposed toward a rear end of the seat, and the seat cushion and base plate are also connected to each other through a linkage.  
     
     
         15 . The watercraft of  claim 14 , wherein the linkage comprises a first member and a second member, the first and second members being pivotably connected to one another, the first member being hingedly connected to the base plate, and the second member being hingedly connected to the seat cushion.  
     
     
         16 . The watercraft of  claim 13 , wherein the base plate is rigidly connected to the actuator.  
     
     
         17 . A watercraft comprising a hull having a lower portion and a deck portion, the deck portion having a control mast, a longitudinally extending pedestal, and a straddle type seat arranged generally above the pedestal, the seat comprising a front seat portion and a rear seat portion, the rear seat portion being tiltingly movable relative to the front seat portion.  
     
     
         18 . The watercraft of  claim 17 , wherein the rear seat portion comprises a base plate, a seat member, and a hinge member disposed therebetween so that the base plate is pivotably connected to the seat member.  
     
     
         19 . The watercraft of  claim 18 , wherein the seat member is tiltable between a first position and a second postion, and an upper surface of the rear seat portion is generally aligned with an upper surface of the front seat portion when the seat member is in the first position.  
     
     
         20 . The watercraft of  claim 19 , wherein the hinge is disposed toward a rear end of the seat, and a front edge of the seat member extends generally upwardly above the upper surface of the front seat portion when the seat member is in the second position.  
     
     
         21 . The watercraft of  claim 20 , wherein the front edge of the seat member is contoured to generally complementarily engage a rider's back when the seat member is in the second position.  
     
     
         22 . A small watercraft comprising a hull having a control portion and a rider's area, the rider's area comprising a longitudinally extending straddle-type seat comprising a front seat portion and a rear seat portion, the rear seat portion being movable relative to the front seat portion between a first configuration and a second configuration, the rear seat portion adapted so that a rider can ride the watercraft seated on the rear seat portion both when the rear seat portion is in the first configuration and when the rear seat portion is in the second configuration.  
     
     
         23 . A watercraft comprising a hull having a lower hull and an upper deck, the deck having a seating area, the seating area comprising a seat comprising a first seat portion and a second seat portion, the first seat portion being mechanically coupled to the deck so that the first seat portion is selectively movable independent of the second seat portion between a first position and a second position relative to the deck.  
     
     
         24 . The watercraft of  claim 23 , wherein the first seat portion is configured so that it generally remains in the selected position during operation of the watercraft.  
     
     
         25 . The watercraft of  claim 23 , wherein the first seat portion is tiltingly movable relative to the deck.  
     
     
         26 . The watercraft of  claim 25 , wherein the first seat portion is vertically movable relative to the deck.