IP Library Granted Patent US 10,106,225
Granted Patent B1
US 10,106,225 · App. 15/615,301 · Granted Oct 23, 2018

Hull for a watercraft

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,106,225
App. No.
15/615,301
Granted
Oct 23, 2018
Kind
B1
Abstract

A hull for a watercraft and a watercraft disclosed, the hull including a hull body having a first recess surface defining a first recess, and a second recess surface defining a second recess; a first hull panel disposed in the first recess, a front portion of the first hull panel being movable between a first and second position; a second hull panel disposed in the second recess, a front portion of the second hull panel being movable between a third and fourth position; a first biasing member biasing the front portion of the first hull panel toward the first position; a second biasing member biasing the front portion of the second hull panel toward the third position; a first stopper for the first hull panel; a second stopper for the second hull panel; and a stabilizing bar for transferring motion between the first hull panel and the second hull panel.

Claims (84)

1. A hull for a watercraft, comprising:

a hull body having:

a first recess surface defining a first recess, and

a second recess surface defining a second recess;

a first hull panel disposed at least in part in the first recess, a front portion of the first hull panel being movable between a first position and a second position:

in the first position, the front portion of the first hull panel being at a first distance from the first recess surface,

in the second position, the front portion of the first hull panel being at a second distance from the first recess surface, and

the first distance being greater than the second distance;

a second hull panel disposed at least in part in the second recess, a front portion of the second hull panel being movable between a third position and a fourth position:

in the third position, the front portion of the second hull panel being at a third distance from the second recess surface,

in the fourth position, the front portion of the second hull panel being at a fourth distance from the second recess surface, and

the third distance being greater than the fourth distance;

a first biasing member biasing the front portion of the first hull panel toward the first position;

a second biasing member biasing the front portion of the second hull panel toward the third position;

at least one first stopper preventing the front portion of the first hull panel from moving outwards of the first recess past the first position;

at least one second stopper preventing the front portion of the second hull panel from moving outwards of the second recess past the third position; and

a stabilizing bar for transferring motion between the first hull panel and the second hull panel, the stabilizing bar having a first end portion and a second end portion and being connected to:

the hull body between the first end portion and the second end portion,

the first hull panel near the first end portion, and

the second hull panel near the second end portion.

2. The hull of claim 1 , wherein:

in the first position, at least a portion of the first hull panel is aligned with portions of the hull body defining a first contour of the first recess; and

in the third position, at least a portion of the second hull panel is aligned with portions of the hull body defining a second contour of the second recess.

3. The hull of claim 1 , wherein:

in the first position, at least a lateral side portion of the first hull panel is aligned with portions of the hull body defining a first contour of the first recess; and

in the third position, at least a lateral side portion of the second hull panel is aligned with portions of the hull body defining a second contour of the second recess.

4. The hull of claim 1 , wherein:

a rear end of the first hull panel is joined with a portion of the hull body adjacent to a rear end of the first recess; and

a rear end of the second hull panel is joined with a portion of the hull body adjacent to a rear end of the second recess.

5. The hull of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer bar includes at least a generally U-shaped torsion bar pivotably connected to the hull body.

6. The hull of claim 5 , further comprising:

a first rigid member connecting a first end portion of the U-shaped torsion bar to the first hull panel; and

a second rigid member connecting a second end portion of the U-shaped torsion bar to the second hull panel.

7. The hull of claim 6 , wherein:

the first rigid member extends through the first recess surface; and

the second rigid member extends through the second recess surface.

8. The hull of claim 7 , further comprising:

a first boot disposed on the first rigid member and connected to the hull body; and

a second boot disposed on the second rigid member and connected to the hull body.

9. The hull of claim 1 , wherein the first and second biasing members include at least a resilient material.

10. The hull of claim 9 , wherein:

the resilient material of the first biasing member is disposed between and connected to the first recess surface and the first hull panel, a lateral surface of the resilient material of the first biasing member generally following an outer edge of the first hull panel; and

the resilient material of the second biasing member is disposed between and connected to the second recess surface and the second hull panel, a lateral surface of the resilient material of the second biasing member generally following an outer edge of the second hull panel.

11. The hull of claim 9 , wherein the resilient material of the first and second biasing members is a closed-cell foam.

12. The hull of claim 1 , wherein the first and second hull panels are flexible.

13. The hull of claim 1 , wherein the first and second biasing members include at least an air spring.

14. The hull of claim 1 , wherein the first and second biasing members include at least a spring and damper system.

15. The hull of claim 1 , wherein the first and second biasing members include at least a resilient mount shock absorber.

16. The hull of claim 1 , further comprising:

a rearward portion of the first hull panel rearward of the front portion of the first hull panel and being movable between a fifth position and a sixth position:

in the fifth position, the rearward portion of the first hull panel is at a fifth distance from the first recess surface,

in the sixth position, the rearward portion of the first hull panel is at a sixth distance from first recess surface, and

the fifth distance is greater than the sixth distance; and

a rearward portion of the second hull panel rearward of the front portion of the second hull panel and being movable between a seventh position and an eighth position:

in the seventh position, the rearward portion of the second hull panel is at a seventh distance from the second recess surface,

in the eighth position, the rearward portion of the second hull panel is at an eighth distance from second recess surface, and

the seventh distance is greater than the eighth distance.

17. The hull of claim 16 , wherein:

a difference between the first distance and the second distance is greater than a difference between the fifth distance and the sixth distance; and

a difference between the third distance and the fourth distance is greater than a difference between the seventh distance and the eighth distance.

18. A watercraft comprising:

a hull including:

a hull body having:

a first recess surface defining a first recess, and

a second recess surface defining a second recess;

a first hull panel disposed at least in part in the first recess, a front portion of the first hull panel being movable between a first position and a second position:

in the first position, the front portion of the first hull panel being at a first distance from the first recess surface,

in the second position, the front portion of the first hull panel being at a second distance from the first recess surface, and

the first distance being greater than the second distance;

a second hull panel disposed at least in part in the second recess, a front portion of the second hull panel being movable between a third position and a fourth position:

in the third position, the front portion of the second hull panel being at a third distance from the second recess surface,

in the fourth position, the front portion of the second hull panel being at a fourth distance from the second recess surface, and

the third distance being greater than the fourth distance;

a first biasing member biasing the front portion of the first hull panel toward the first position;

a second biasing member biasing the front portion of the second hull panel toward the third position;

at least one first stopper preventing the front portion of the first hull panel from moving outwards of the first recess past the first position;

at least one second stopper preventing the front portion of the second hull panel from moving outwards of the second recess past the third position; and

a stabilizing bar for transferring motion between the first hull panel and the second hull panel, the stabilizing bar having a first end portion and a second end portion and being connected to:

the hull body between the first end portion and the second end portion,

the first hull panel near the first end portion, and

the second hull panel near the second end portion;

a deck disposed on the hull;

a propulsion system connected to at least one of the hull and the deck; and

a motor operatively connected to the propulsion system.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Oct 15, 2018
From: BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC.
To: BANK OF MONTREAL, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 047237/0098 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT (REVOLVER) Recorded Oct 12, 2018
From: BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC.
To: BANK OF MONTREAL, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 047221/0038 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2018
From: MASSICOTTE, ALAIN; LIEB, LONNIE; SPADE, KEITH ALLEN
To: BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS INC.
Reel/Frame 046902/0113 →