Pontoon watercraft

Abstract

A pontoon watercraft having two pontoons in parallel relationship there being a frame and deck disposed there between, the pontoons being octagonal in cross section having planar lower surfaces to decrease the amount of draft required, the pontoons being segmented with interior bulkheads to insure that the integrity of the pontoon is maintained even if a puncture occurs which would flood one of the segments, the design of the pontoon structure allowing for a larger deck surface and hence more availability for load, be it cargo or individuals.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

Applicant claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 61/998,980, filed Jul. 14, 2014.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to watercraft, and more particularly, to a watercraft which is buoyantly supported by a plurality of pontoons, and even more specifically, to the structure of the particular pontoons which allow for increased stability and decreased draft of the watercraft.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Pontoon watercraft are well known. They comprise at least a pair of buoyant pontoons having a frame positioned there between which supports a deck and super structure. Watercraft of the pontoon type are used on all types of waterways, including lakes, rivers, bays, canals, and oftentimes the ocean. The buoyancy supplied by the pontoons allows for a larger deck area for the transport of cargo and/or people.

Typically, pontoon watercraft are powered by outboard motors secured to the pontoons or to the frame and deck extending there between. Because of their design, pontoon watercraft are slower on the water as opposed to watercraft having V-shaped hulls, which are more aerodynamically able to move through the water. A function of the pontoon watercraft is to provide increased buoyancy for weight and less depth or draft for the watercraft.

Applicant has developed an improved pontoon for use with pontoon watercraft which provides more stability to the watercraft in rough water. Additionally, the Applicant's pontoon provides increased buoyancy allowing the watercraft to carry greater weight, but at the same time, requires much less draft than conventional pontoons allowing the Applicant's pontoon watercraft to operate in extremely shallow areas. Still further, the Applicant's pontoon is internally segmented to provide additional safety should a puncture occur.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention to provide for a novel pontoon watercraft having improved pontoon characteristics.

A still further object of the present invention to provide for a novel pontoon watercraft having greater stability on rough water.

A further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel pontoon watercraft that requires very little draft within which to operate.

A further object of the invention to provide for a novel pontoon watercraft which incorporates safety features with respect to the individual pontoons should a puncture occur.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel pontoon for watercraft designed for increased stability, yet shallower draft and incorporate safety features in the event of a puncture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A pontoon watercraft having two pontoons in parallel relationship there being a frame and deck disposed there between, the pontoons being octagonal in cross section having planar lower surfaces to decrease the amount of draft required, the pontoons being segmented with interior bulkheads to insure that the integrity of the pontoon is maintained even if a puncture occurs which would flood one of the segments, the design of the pontoon structure allowing for a larger deck surface and hence more availability for load, be it cargo or individuals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent, particularly when taken in light of the following illustrations wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pontoon watercraft of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the pontoon watercraft of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a top view of a pontoon watercraft of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross section side view of the pontoon of the pontoon watercraft of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a front view of a pontoon of the pontoon watercraft of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pontoon watercraft of the present invention generally referred to as 10, FIG. 2 is a side view and FIG. 3 is a top view. The pontoon watercraft is supported on the water by two spaced apart parallel pontoons 12 and 14 which are tubular shaped having an octagon shaped cross section. There is disposed between the parallel disposed pontoons 12 and 14, a frame 16 which supports a deck structure 18. Deck structure 18 may further be used to support cargo or the like, but as shown in FIG. 1, the pontoon watercraft 10 is a leisure and recreational vehicle. The illustrated deck 18 supports a superstructure 20, railings 22, and seating arrangements 24. The pontoon watercraft 10 as illustrated in FIG. 1 is a theme watercraft and also includes a mast and crows nest 26 and 28. The deck structure and the super structure supported by the deck can vary from watercraft to watercraft depending upon its specific use or the owner's specific leisure, recreational, or work requirements. Applicant's primary contribution to the novelty of the pontoon watercraft has to do with the parallel disposed pontoons 12 and 14.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional side view of pontoon 12 or 14 of the present invention as contained in FIG. 1, 2, or 3, and FIG. 5 is a front view of the pontoon of the present invention. The pontoon 12 or 14 is constructed in a tubular body shape, having an octagonal cross section 30 such that when it is secured to the frame 16 and placed in the water, the pontoon 12 or 14 presents a flat lower surface 32, a flat upper surface 34, and opposing flat side surfaces 36 and 38, each of the surfaces secured by a beveled corner surface 40. This construction allows the pontoon watercraft of the present invention to have a shallower draft than normal pontoon watercraft which would have tubular pontoons of a. circular cross section thereby presenting an arcuate surface at the bottom of the pontoon. Applicant's pontoon design allows for the pontoon watercraft to operate in shallower depths, and further support a larger deck area 18 which is beneficial and more efficient for transporting cargo or for designing the recreational or leisure super structure desired by the operator, and also allows for greater weight load on the deck 18.

The pontoons 12 and 14 have a segmented interior 42 with a plurality of bulkheads 48 thereby creating a plurality of chambers 46 within the pontoon structure. The buoyancy of the pontoon watercraft depends upon the pontoons buoyancy. Naturally it is desirable that a pontoon on any type of pontoon watercraft not be ruptured so as to cause the flow of water into the pontoon, thus severely affecting its buoyancy and the buoyancy of the pontoon watercraft. The segmented chambers 46 created in Applicant's pontoon prevent the entire pontoon from filling with water. A rupture or a hole in any one chamber 46 will limit the flow of water into the pontoon to that particular chamber, and that chamber alone. Thus the pontoon design of the Applicant provides additional safety features over and above the pontoon design heretofore utilized in the art.

Typical pontoons of the prior art were tubular in nature having a circular cross section and having a nose portion which was rounded, either hemispherically, or bullet shaped to assist in its passage through the water and lowering the resistance of the pontoon. Applicant's pontoon being octagonal in cross sectional shape has a bow 50 which is tapered or beveled 52 between the interior planar vertical side panel 36 and the exterior vertical side panel 38 providing a wedge shaped nose to each pontoon. This provides for the aerodynamic improvement and movement of the pontoon watercraft through the water.

The stern end 60 of pontoons 12 and 14 can be shaped to accept a mount for an outboard motor if that means of propulsion is desired by the operator. An outboard motor 62 could be affixed to each rearward end 60 of the pontoons. Alternatively, the rear end of the pontoons of the present invention could be flat, and/or rounded or beveled if the propulsion system for the propulsion means were to be mounted to the frame and/or deck disposed between the rear ends of the pontoons 12 and 14.

Therefore, while the present invention has been disclosed with respect to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore manifestly intended that the invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalence thereof.

Claims

1. A pontoon for the buoyant support of a watercraft, the pontoon comprising:

a longitudinal tubular body portion being octagonal in cross section and defined by a planar upper surface, planar lower surface, opposing planar side walls, and beveled corner surfaces;

a stern end;

a bow end defined by tapered vertical sidewalls converging with upwardly tapering bottom wall and tapering planar top wall defining a wedge-shaped bow nose; and

a plurality of interior bulkheads, octagonal in circumference affixed to the interior of said pontoon defining a plurality of water tight, buoyant chambers within said pontoon.

2. The pontoon in accordance with claim 1 wherein said pontoon is coupled with an identical pontoon by means of a decking member affixed to the upper planar surface of said coupled pontoons to form a decking platform for a buoyant watercraft.

3. The pontoon in accordance with claim 1 wherein the buoyancy obtained from the octagonal cross section shape of said longitudinal tubular body portion of said pontoon provides for greater buoyancy and less draft.

4. A buoyant watercraft supported by a plurality of pontoons supporting a deck, super structure, and power source for leisure, recreational activity or work or transportation activities, the pontoons of said watercraft providing greater buoyancy, weight load, and less draft, the pontoons comprising:

a longitudinal tubular body portion being octagonal in cross section and defined by a planar upper surface, planar lower surface, opposing planar side walls, and beveled corner surfaces;

a stern end;

a bow end defined by tapered vertical sidewalls converging with upwardly tapering bottom wall and tapering planar top wall defining a wedge-shaped bow nose; and

a plurality of interior bulkheads, octagonal in circumference affixed to the interior of said pontoon defining a plurality of water tight, buoyant chambers within said pontoon.

5. The pontoon in accordance with claim 4 wherein the buoyancy obtained from the octagonal cross section shape of said longitudinal tubular body portion of said pontoon provides for greater buoyancy and less draft.