Portable Personal Watercraft

Abstract

A watercraft includes a number of subassemblies, including an inflatable hull, a drive system, a battery, a seat assembly and a steering and thrust control. Each of the subassemblies of may be of one or more particular designs which are detailed herein. A watercraft in accordance with the teaching herein may use one or more of these designs and each such watercraft is within the scope of this disclosure.

1 . A watercraft having a hull which is adapted for travel in at least one direction of travel, the hull having front end in the direction of travel and a rear end in the direction of travel, the watercraft having at least one member for producing movement positioned below the hull, a longitudinal centre between the front end and the rear end of the hull, the at least one member for producing movement rotatably mounted to the watercraft at a rotatable mount at a single position located at or ahead of the longitudinal centre.  
   
   
       2 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the distance from the front end to the rotatable mount may be from about 30 to about 50% of the length of the hull.  
   
   
       3 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the distance from the front end to the rotatable mount may be from about 40 to about 50% of the length of the hull.  
   
   
       4 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the distance from the front end to the rotatable mount may be from about 51 to about 55% of the length of the hull.  
   
   
       5 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a steering member having a portion to be gripped by a hand of a user and a steering rod that extends between the steering member and the member for producing movement.  
   
   
       6 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the steering rod extends generally vertically.  
   
   
       7 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the member for producing movement comprises a propeller.  
   
   
       8 . A propeller housing for a watercraft comprising a body portion defining a chamber having an inlet end and an outlet end in which a propeller is positioned, the propeller and the body portion are configured to interact to cut hair that enters the chamber.  
   
   
       9 . The propeller housing as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the body portion comprises a longitudinally extending hollow member having an inner surface and the propeller has blades which are positioned sufficiently close to the inner surface of hollow member to create a cutting action when the propeller is in use.  
   
   
       10 . The propeller housing as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the body portion has a guard positioned at one end of the body portion and proximate the propeller and the propeller has blades which are positioned sufficiently close to the guard to create a cutting action when the propeller is in use.  
   
   
       11 . The propeller housing as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the body portion has a guard positioned adjacent at least one of the inlet and outlet ends, the guard comprises a plurality of planar members which are configured to prevent fingers and toes of a person from contacting the propeller.  
   
   
       12 . The propeller housing as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the body portion has a guard positioned adjacent at least one of the inlet and outlet ends, the guard comprises a plurality of planar members which are configured to prevent fingers and toes of a person from extending past the planar members.  
   
   
       13 . A propeller housing for a watercraft comprising a body portion defining a chamber having an inlet end and an outlet end in which a propeller is positioned, the body portion has a guard positioned adjacent at least one of the inlet and outlet ends, the guard comprising a plurality of planar members which are configured to prevent fingers and toes of a person from contacting the propeller.  
   
   
       14 . The propeller housing as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the planar members are configured to prevent fingers and toes of a person from extending past the planar members.  
   
   
       15 . A propeller housing for a watercraft comprising a body portion defining a chamber having an inner wall, an inlet end and an outlet end in which a propeller is positioned, the propeller being spaced from the inner wall to define a gap, the gap having a width that is up to 25% of the diameter of the propeller.  
   
   
       16 . The propeller housing as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the width is from 1 to 15% of the diameter of the propeller.  
   
   
       17 . The propeller housing as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the width is from 3 to 10% of the diameter of the propeller.  
   
   
       18 . The propeller housing as claimed in  claim 15  wherein at least one of the inlet end and the outlet end of the body portion has members configured to at least partially straighten the flow of water flowing therepast.  
   
   
       19 . The propeller housing as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the members are planar members and each planar member has a length in the direction of flow that is from 30 to 70% of the transverse width of that planar member.  
   
   
       20 . A propeller housing for a watercraft comprising a body portion defining a chamber having an inner wall, an inlet end and an outlet end in which a propeller is positioned, at least one of the inlet end and the outlet end of the body portion has members configured to at least partially straighten the flow of water flowing therepast.  
   
   
       21 . The propeller housing as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the members are planar members and each planar member has a length in the direction of flow that is from 30 to 70% of the transverse width of that planar member.  
   
   
       22 . The propeller housing as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the members are planar members and each planar member has a length in the direction of flow that is from 40 to 60% of the transverse width of that planar member.  
   
   
       23 . The propeller housing as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the members are planar members and each planar member has a length in the direction of flow that is about 50% of the transverse width of that planar member.  
   
   
       24 . The propeller housing as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the planar members are pivotally mounted to the body portion about a horizontal axis.  
   
   
       25 . The propeller housing as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the planar members are pivotally mounted to the body portion about a vertical axis.  
   
   
       26 . A hull for a watercraft which has a potion that is below a waterline when in use, the hull having an exterior surface and comprises a rigid hull member and at least one inflatable member wherein rigid hull member defines the portion of the hull of the watercraft that is below the waterline and the inflatable member is positioned so that at least a portion of the inflatable member is above the waterline and defines a portion of the exterior surface of the hull of the watercraft.  
   
   
       27 . The hull as claimed in  claim 26  further comprising a rigid central core having a perimeter.  
   
   
       28 . The hull as claimed in  claim 26  wherein the inflatable member extends around the perimeter of the central core.  
   
   
       29 . A hull for a watercraft comprises an outer inflatable hull member and a plurality of inflatable members positioned interior to the outer inflatable hull member.  
   
   
       30 . The hull as claimed in  claim 29  wherein the plurality of inflatable members, when inflated, proximate the shape of the outer inflatable hull member when the outer inflatable hull member is inflated.  
   
   
       31 . The hull as claimed in  claim 29  wherein inflation of the plurality of inflatable members inflation of the outer inflatable hull member.  
   
   
       32 . A driver's seat for a watercraft comprising a plurality of individually inflatable chambers.  
   
   
       33 . A propulsion system for a watercraft comprising a plurality of propellers positioned in series in a longitudinally extending housing.  
   
   
       34 . The propulsion system as claimed in  claim 33  further comprising a plurality of motors each of which is drivingly connected to at least one propeller.  
   
   
       35 . The propulsion system as claimed in  claim 33  wherein each propeller is driven by a motor.  
   
   
       36 . A watercraft comprising a hull, a plurality of propellers positioned in parallel and a single steering rod rotatably connected to the watercraft and drivingly connected to the plurality of propellers.  
   
   
       37 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 36  wherein the propellers and mounted in longitudinally extending housings.  
   
   
       38 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 36  further comprising a plurality of motors each of which is drivingly connected to at least one propeller.  
   
   
       39 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 36  wherein each propeller is driven by a motor.  
   
   
       40 . A watercraft comprising a hull and at least one water cannon, wherein the water canon is positioned on a side of the watercraft.  
   
   
       41 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 40  further comprising a water shield member positioned around at least a portion of the area in which an operator sits to protect the operator from water directed at the watercraft from a second watercraft having a water cannon positioned on the side of the second watercraft.  
   
   
       42 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 41  further comprising a water sensor positioned on the water shield member.  
   
   
       43 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 42  wherein the water shield member is transparent.  
   
   
       44 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 40  further comprising a water sensor.  
   
   
       45 . A watercraft having a hull which is adapted for travel in at least one direction of travel, the hull having front end in the direction of travel and a rear end in the direction of travel, the watercraft having at least one member for producing movement positioned below the hull, a steering member drivingly connected to the at least one member for producing movement by a steering linkage, an a headlight provided on at least one of the steering member and the steering linkage.  
   
   
       46 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 45  wherein the headlight comprises a plurality of superbright LEDs.  
   
   
       47 . A watercraft having a hull which is adapted for travel in at least one direction of travel, the hull having front end in the direction of travel and a rear end in the direction of travel, the watercraft having at least one member for producing movement positioned below the hull, a steering member drivingly connected to the at least one member for producing movement by a steering linkage, an a radio provided on at least one of the steering member and the steering linkage.  
   
   
       48 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 47  further comprising at least one speaker.  
   
   
       49 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 48  wherein at least one speaker. Is provided on the steering member.  
   
   
       50 . A hull for a watercraft which has at least one inflatable member and a canister having a mixture therein which produces a hard drying foam when the mixture is released from the canister in flow communication with the at least one inflatable member.  
   
   
       51 . The hull as claimed in  claim 50  wherein the at least one inflatable member is adapted to be inflated by air and, if punctured once inflated, is adapted to be filled by the mixture.  
   
   
       52 . A hull for a watercraft comprises a rigid hull member composed of a plurality of rigid sections which are foldably connected together and at least one inflatable member wherein rigid hull member defines at least a portion of the hull of the watercraft that is below water when in use and the inflatable member is connected to the rigid sections.  
   
   
       53 . The hull as claimed in  claim 52  wherein the rigid hull members are foldably connected together by being connected to the at least one inflatable member.  
   
   
       54 . The hull as claimed in  claim 52  wherein the rigid hull members are each independently connected to a different portion of the at least one inflatable member.  
   
   
       55 . The hull as claimed in  claim 53  further comprising a rigid central core having a perimeter.  
   
   
       56 . The hull as claimed in  claim 54  wherein the at least one inflatable member extends around the perimeter of the central core.  
   
   
       57 . The hull as claimed in  claim 54  further comprising at least one longitudinally extending rigid members releasably connected to the hull and configured to stiffen the inflatable members.  
   
   
       58 . A watercraft having a hull, at least one member for producing movement positioned below the hull, a steering member drivingly connected to the at least one member for producing movement by a steering linkage, wherein the hull has a recess for receiving the at least one member for producing movement.  
   
   
       59 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 58  wherein the at least one member for producing movement is mounted for vertical movement into and out of the recess.  
   
   
       60 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 58  wherein the linkage includes a steering rod which is vertically moveable and when the steering rod is listed vertically, the at least one member for producing movement moves into the recess.