BOAT HULL DEVICE

Abstract

A boat hull device includes a boat that has a hull and the hull has a first vane section which is integrated into a port side of the hull. The first vane section comprises an alternating series of first peaks and first valleys to direct water to flow through each of the first valleys thereby reducing drag on the port side of the hull when the boat is traveling forwardly in the water. The hull has a second vane section which is integrated into a starboard side of the hull. The second vane section comprises an alternating series of second peaks and second valleys to direct the water to flow through each of the second valleys thereby reducing drag on the starboard side of the hull when the boat is travelling forwardly in the water.

Description

(b) CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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(C) STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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(d) THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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(e) INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

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(f) STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

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(g) BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to hull devices and more particularly pertains to a new hull device for reducing drag on a hull of a boat. The device includes a boat that has a hull and a first vane section that is integrated into a port side of the hull. The first vane section comprises an alternating series of first peaks and first valleys to direct water to flow through the first valleys to reduce drag on the hull. The device includes a second vane section that is integrated into a starboard side of the hull. The second vane section comprises an alternating series of second peaks and second valleys to direct water to flow through the second valleys to reduce drag on the hull.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The prior art relates to hull devices including: a modified V-hull device that has keel which has an inverted airfoil shape; a pontoon hull device that has a plurality of longitudinal vent channels for reducing drag; a boat hull device that has a plurality of chines extending from a bow of a hull to a stern of the hull for reducing drag on the hull; a watercraft hull which has concave tunnels integrated into a hull to reduce drag on the hull; an ornamental design for a bow portion of a ship hull which includes a prow located on a bow of the ship hull. In no instance does the prior art disclose a boat hull device that includes a hull that has a first vane section integrated into port side of the hull which comprises an alternating series of first peaks and first valleys to direct water to flow through the first valleys and a second vane section integrated into a starboard side of the hull which comprises an alternating series of second peaks and second valleys to direct water to flow through the second valleys such that the first valleys and the second valleys reduce drag on the hull.

(h) BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a boat that has a hull and the hull has a first vane section which is integrated into a port side of the hull. The first vane section comprises an alternating series of first peaks and first valleys to direct water to flow through each of the first valleys thereby reducing drag on the port side of the hull when the boat is traveling forwardly in the water. The hull has a second vane section which is integrated into a starboard side of the hull. The second vane section comprises an alternating series of second peaks and second valleys to direct the water to flow through each of the second valleys thereby reducing drag on the starboard side of the hull when the boat is travelling forwardly in the water.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

(i) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a boat hull device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a top phantom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a right side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1 of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 1 of an embodiment of the disclosure.

(J) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 6 thereof, a new hull device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the boat hull device 10 generally comprises a boat 12 which has a hull 14 that is submerged in water 15 to float the boat 12. The boat 12 may be a fishing boat, a cargo boat, a pleasure boat or any other type of boat that has a V-hull. The hull 14 has a first vane section 16 which is integrated into a port side 18 of the hull 14. The first vane section 16 comprises an alternating series of first peaks 20 and first valleys 22 which are vertically distributed on the port side 18 of the hull 14. Furthermore, the first vane section 16 directs water 15 to flow through each of the first valleys 22 thereby reducing drag on the port side 18 of the hull 14 when the boat 12 is traveling forwardly in the water 15. The hull 14 has a second vane section 24 which is integrated into a starboard side 26 of the hull 14. The second vane section 24 comprises an alternating series of second peaks 28 and second valleys 30 which are vertically distributed on the starboard side 26 of the hull 14. Furthermore, the second vane section 24 directs the water 15 to flow through each of the second valleys 30 thereby reducing drag on the starboard side 26 of the hull 14 when the boat 12 is travelling forwardly in the water 15.

The hull 14 has a keel 32 and a gunwale 34 and the hull 14 has a bow 36 extending between the keel 32 and the gunwale 34. Additionally, each of the port side 18 of the hull 14 and the starboard side 26 of the hull 14 extends between the keel 32 and the gunwale 34. The first vane section 16 extends upwardly from an intersection between the keel 32 and the bow 36 toward the gunwale 34. Additionally, the first vane section 16 extends between the bow 36 and a beam of the hull 14. The first vane section 16 is located on a draft 38 of the hull 14 such that the first vane section 16 is submerged in the water 15 such that the water 15 flows through the first valleys 22 of the alternating series of first peaks 20 and first valleys 22.

The second vane section 24 extends upwardly from an intersection between the keel 32 and the bow 36 toward the gunwale 34. Additionally, the second vane section 24 extends between the bow 36 and the beam of the hull 14. The second vane section 24 is located on the draft 38 of the hull 14 such that the second vane section 24 submerged in the water 15 such that the water 15 flows through the second valleys 30 of the alternating series of second peaks 28 and second valleys 30. The first vane section 16 intersects the second vane section 24 at the bow 36. The bow 36 has a prow 40 which extends between the gunwale 34 and each of the first vane section 16 and the second vane section 24 such that the prow 40 is located on a freeboard 42 of the hull 14. Furthermore, the prow 40 is located above the water 15 when the hull 14 is floating in the water 15. The prow 40 angles forwardly from each of the first vane section 16 and the second vane section 24 such that the prow 40 slices through waves in the water 15 when the boat 12 is traveling forwardly in the water 15.

Each of first peak 20 of the series of first peaks 20 has an upper surface 44 and a lower surface 46 which angle away from each other between an intersection 48 of the upper surface 44 and the lower surface 46 and a respective first valley 22 of the series of first valleys 22. Furthermore, the upper surface 44 and the lower surface 46 of each first peak 20 of the series of first peaks 20 reduces turbulence of the water 15 which flows along the hull 14 thereby reducing a fluid flow pressure exerted against the hull 14 which is produced by the movement of the water 15 along the hull 14. The Bernoulli principle states that a change of pressure of a fluid equals one half of the fluid density multiplied by the difference between the square of the initial velocity of the fluid flow and the square of the increased velocity of the fluid flow. It is in this manner that the first vane section 16 reduces the pressure exerted against the hull 14 that is produced by the flow of the water 15 along each first peak 20 of the series of first peaks 20.

The intersection 48 between the upper surface 44 and the lower surface 46 of each first peak 20 of the series of first peaks 20 is rounded such that each first peak 20 of the series of first peaks 20 has a cone shape. It is in this manner that each first peak 20 of the series of first peaks 20 reduces turbulence of the water 15 when the water 15 flows over the intersection between the upper surface 44 and the lower surface 46 by enabling the water 15 to flow around a curve rather than flowing around a point.

Each first valley 22 of the series of first valleys 22 has a bounding surface 50 which extends between the upper surface 44 of a respective first peak 20 and the lower surface 46 of a respective first peak 20. The bounding surface 50 of each first valley 22 of the series of first valleys 22 lies on a plane which is oriented at an obtuse angle with the upper surface 44 of the respective first peak 20 and the lower surface 46 of the respective first peak 20. Furthermore, each first valley 22 of the series of first valleys 22 defines a trapezoidal shape such that each first valley 22 of the series of first valleys 22 resists capturing debris which would contribute to increased drag on the hull 14. The Venturi effect is the reduction in fluid pressure that is the results when a fluid increases in velocity as the fluid flows through a constricted section, or choke, of an area. It is in this manner that the series of first valleys 22 reduces the pressure exerted against the hull 14 that is produced by the flow of the water 15 through each of the series of first valleys 22. Furthermore, the Coanda effect described by Henri Coanda in 1932 is the tendency of a flow of fluid to stay attached to a convex surface, which is the resultant effect of the series of first valleys 22.

Each second peak 28 of the series of second peaks 28 has a top surface 52 and a bottom surface 54 which angle away from each other between an intersection 55 of the top surface 52 and the bottom surface 54 and a respective second valley 30 of the series of second valleys 30. Furthermore, the top surface 52 and the bottom surface 54 of each second peak 28 of the series of second peaks 28 reduces turbulence of the water 15 which flows along the hull 14 thereby reducing a fluid flow pressure exerted against the hull 14 which is produced by the movement of the water 15 along the hull 14. The Bernoulli principle states that a change of pressure of a fluid equals one half of the fluid density multiplied by the difference between the square of the initial velocity of the fluid flow and the square of the increased velocity of the fluid flow. It is in this manner that the second vane section 24 reduces the pressure exerted against the hull 14 that is produced by the flow of the water 15 along each second peak 28 of the series of second peaks 28.

The intersection 55 between the top surface 52 and the bottom surface 54 of each second peak 28 of the series of second peaks 28 is rounded such that each second peak 28 of the series of second peaks 28 has a cone shape. It is in this manner that each second peak 28 of the series of the second peaks 28 reduces turbulence of the water 15 when the water 15 flows over the intersection between the upper surface 44 and the lower surface 46 by enabling the water 15 to flow around a curve rather than flowing around a point.

Each second valley 30 of the series of second valleys 30 has a bounding surface 56 of each second valley 30 of the series of second valleys 30 which extends between the top surface 52 of a respective second peak 28 and the bottom surface 54 of a respective second peak 28. The bounding surface 56 of each second valley 30 of the series of second valleys 30 lies on a plane which is oriented at an obtuse angle with the top surface 52 of the respective second peak 28 and the bottom surface 54 of the respective second peak 28. Furthermore, each second valley 30 of the series of second valleys 30 defines a trapezoidal shape such that each second valley 30 of the series of second valleys 30 resists capturing debris which would contribute to increased drag on the hull 14. The Venturi effect is the reduction in fluid pressure that is the results when a fluid increases in velocity as the fluid flows through a constricted section, or choke, of an area. It is in this manner that the series of second valleys 30 reduces the pressure exerted against the hull 14 that is produced by the flow of the water 15 through each of the series of second valleys 30. Furthermore, the Coanda effect described by Henri Coanda in 1932 is the tendency of a flow of fluid to stay attached to a convex surface, which is the resultant effect of the series of second valleys 30.

Each first peak 20 of the series of first peaks 20 is aligned with a respective second peak 28 of the series of second peaks 28 at the bow 36. As is shown in FIG. 5, each first peak 20 of the series of first peaks 20 has a height of approximately 5.0 cm and the intersection between the upper surface 44 and the lower surface 46 of each of the series of first peaks 20 is spaced apart a distance of approximately 5.0 cm. Additionally, the bounding surface 50 of each first valley 22 of the series of first valleys 22 has a height of approximately 6.5 mm. The dimensions of each second peak 28 of the series of second peaks 28 are equivalent to the dimensions of each first peak 20 of the series of first peaks 20. Additionally, the height of the bounding surface 56 of each second valley 30 of the series of second valleys 30 is equivalent to the height of the bounding surface 50 of each first valley 22 of the series of first valleys 22.

In use, the first vane section 16 and the second vane section 24 are submerged in the water 15 when the hull 14 of the boat 12 is floating in the water 15. Furthermore, the water 15 flows along the first vane section 16 and the second vane section 24 when the boat 12 is travelling forwardly in the water 15. Each of the first vane section 16 and the second vane section 24 reduces the pressure that the water 15 exerts against the hull 14 as the boat 12 travels forwardly through the water 15. Consequently, the first vane section 16 and the second vane section 24 improves the fuel efficiency of the boat 12 while the boat 12 is travelling thereby reducing the total carbon emissions of the boat 12 while the boat 12 is travelling through the water 15 when the boat 12 is equipped with an internal combustion engine. Furthermore, the first vane section 16 and the second vane section 24 improves the efficiency of a sail boat such that the velocity of the sail boat is increased, as a result of the force of wind on sails of the sail boat, compared to a sail boat with a traditional hull.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

Claims

1. A boat hull device for reducing drag of water, said device comprising:

a boat having a hull wherein said hull is configured to be submerged in water to float said boat, said hull having a first vane section being integrated into a port side of said hull, said first vane section comprising an alternating series of first peaks and first valleys being vertically distributed on said port side of said hull wherein said first vane section is configured to direct water to flow through each of said first valleys thereby reducing drag on said port side of said hull when said boat is traveling forwardly in the water, said hull having a second vane section being integrated into a starboard side of said hull, said second vane section comprising an alternating series of second peaks and second valleys being vertically distributed on said starboard side of said hull wherein said second vane section is configured to direct the water to flow through each of said second valleys thereby reducing drag on said starboard side of said hull when said boat is travelling forwardly in the water.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein:

said hull has a keel and a gunwale;

said hull has a bow extending between said keel and said gunwale;

each of said port side of said hull and said starboard side of said hull extends between said keel and said gunwale;

said first vane section extends upwardly from an intersection between said keel and said bow toward said gunwale; and

said second vane section extends upwardly from an intersection between said keel and said bow toward said gunwale.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein said first vane section extends between said bow and a beam of said hull.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein said first vane section is located on a draft of said hull wherein said first vane section is configured to be submerged in the water such that the water flows through said first valleys of said alternating series of first peaks and first valleys.

5. The device according to claim 2, wherein said second vane section extends between said bow and said beam of said hull.

6. The device according to claim 2, wherein said second vane section is located on said draft of said hull wherein said second vane section is configured to be submerged in the water such that the water flows through said second valleys of said alternating series of second peaks and second valleys.

7. The device according to claim 2, wherein said first vane section intersects said second vane section at said bow.

8. The device according to claim 2, wherein said bow has a prow extending between said gunwale and each of said first vane section and said second vane section such that said prow is located on a freeboard of said hull wherein said prow is configured to be located above the water when said hull is floating in the water.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein said prow angles forwardly from each of said first vane section and said second vane section wherein said prow is configured to slice through waves in the water when said boat is traveling forwardly in the water.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein each first peak of said series of first peaks has an upper surface and a lower surface which angle away from each other between an intersection of said upper surface and said lower surface and a respective first valley of said series of first valleys wherein said upper surface and said lower surface of each first peak of said series of first peaks is configured to reduce turbulence of the water which flows along said hull thereby reducing a fluid flow pressure exerted against said hull which is produced by the movement of the water along said hull.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein said intersection between said upper surface and said lower surface of each first peak of said series of first peaks is rounded such that each first peak of said series of first peaks has a cone shape wherein each first peak of said series of said first peaks is configured to reduce turbulence of the water when the water flows over said intersection between said upper surface and said lower surface.

12. The device according to claim 10, wherein each first valley of said series of first valleys has a bounding surface which extends between said upper surface of a respective first peak and said lower surface of a respective first peak.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein said bounding surface of each first valley of said series of first valleys lies on a plane being oriented at an obtuse angle with said upper surface of said respective first peak and said lower surface of said respective first peak such that each first valley of said series of first valleys defines a trapezoidal shape wherein each first valley of said series of first valleys is configured to resist capturing debris which would contribute to increased drag on said hull.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein each second peak of said series of second peaks has a top surface and a bottom surface which angle away from each other between an intersection of said top surface and said bottom surface and a respective second valley of said series of second valleys wherein said top surface and said bottom surface of each second peak of said series of second peaks is configured to reduce turbulence of the water which flows along said hull thereby reducing a fluid flow pressure exerted against said hull which is produced by the movement of the water along said hull.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein said intersection between said top surface and said bottom surface of each second peak of said series of second peaks is rounded such that each second peak of said series of second peaks has a cone shape wherein each second peak of said series of said second peaks is configured to reduce turbulence of the water when the water flows over said intersection between said top surface and said bottom surface.

16. The device according to claim 14, wherein each second valley of said series of second valleys has a bounding surface of each second valley of said series of second valleys which extends between said top surface of a respective second peak and said bottom surface of a respective second peak.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein said bounding surface of each second valley of said series of second valleys lies on a plane being oriented at an obtuse angle with said top surface of said respective second peak and said bottom surface of said respective second peak such that each second valley of said series of second valleys defines a trapezoidal shape wherein each second valley of said series of second valleys is configured to resist capturing debris which would contribute to increased drag on said hull, each first peak of said series of first peaks being aligned with a respective second peak of said series of second peaks at said bow.

18. A boat hull device for reducing drag of water, said device comprising:

a boat having a hull wherein said hull is configured to be submerged in water to float said boat, said hull having a first vane section being integrated into a port side of said hull, said first vane section comprising an alternating series of first peaks and first valleys being vertically distributed on said port side of said hull wherein said first vane section is configured to direct water to flow through each of said first valleys thereby reducing drag on said port side of said hull when said boat is traveling forwardly in the water, said hull having a second vane section being integrated into a starboard side of said hull, said second vane section comprising an alternating series of second peaks and second valleys being vertically distributed on said starboard side of said hull wherein said second vane section is configured to direct the water to flow through each of said second valleys thereby reducing drag on said starboard side of said hull when said boat is travelling forwardly in the water, said hull having a keel and a gunwale, said hull having a bow extending between said keel and said gunwale, each of said port side of said hull and said starboard side of said hull extending between said keel and said gunwale, said first vane section extending upwardly from an intersection between said keel and said bow toward said gunwale, said first vane section extending between said bow and a beam of said hull, said first vane section being located on a draft of said hull wherein said first vane section is configured to be submerged in the water such that the water flows through said first valleys of said alternating series of first peaks and first valleys, said second vane section extending upwardly from an intersection between said keel and said bow toward said gunwale, said second vane section extending between said bow and said beam of said hull, said second vane section being located on said draft of said hull wherein said second vane section is configured to be submerged in the water such that the water flows through said second valleys of said alternating series of second peaks and second valleys, said first vane section intersecting said second vane section at said bow, said bow having a prow extending between said gunwale and each of said first vane section and said second vane section such that said prow is located on a freeboard of said hull wherein said prow is configured to be located above the water when said hull is floating in the water, said prow angling forwardly from each of said first vane section and said second vane section wherein said prow is configured to slice through waves in the water when said boat is traveling forwardly in the water, each of first peak of said series of first peaks having an upper surface and a lower surface which angle away from each other between an intersection of said upper surface and said lower surface and a respective first valley of said series of first valleys wherein said upper surface and said lower surface of each first peak of said series of first peaks is configured to reduce turbulence of the water which flows along said hull thereby reducing a fluid flow pressure exerted against said hull which is produced by the movement of the water along said hull, said intersection between said upper surface and said lower surface of each first peak of said series of first peaks being rounded such that each first peak of said series of first peaks has a cone shape wherein each first peak of said series of said first peaks is configured to reduce turbulence of the water when the water flows over said intersection between said upper surface and said lower surface, each first valley of said series of first valleys having a bounding surface which extends between said upper surface of a respective first peak and said lower surface of a respective first peak, said bounding surface of each first valley of said series of first valleys lying on a plane being oriented at an obtuse angle with said upper surface of said respective first peak and said lower surface of said respective first peak such that each first valley of said series of first valleys defines a trapezoidal shape wherein each first valley of said series of first valleys is configured to resist capturing debris which would contribute to increased drag on said hull, each of second peak of said series of second peaks having a top surface and a bottom surface which angle away from each other between an intersection of said top surface and said bottom surface and a respective second valley of said series of second valleys wherein said top surface and said bottom surface of each second peak of said series of second peaks is configured to reduce turbulence of the water which flows along said hull thereby reducing a fluid flow pressure exerted against said hull which is produced by the movement of the water along said hull, said intersection between said top surface and said bottom surface of each second peak of said series of second peaks being rounded such that each second peak of said series of second peaks has a cone shape wherein each second peak of said series of said second peaks is configured to reduce turbulence of the water when the water flows over said intersection between said top surface and said bottom surface, each second valley of said series of second valleys having a bounding surface of each second valley of said series of second valleys which extends between said top surface of a respective second peak and said bottom surface of a respective second peak, said bounding surface of each second valley of said series of second valleys lying on a plane being oriented at an obtuse angle with said top surface of said respective second peak and said bottom surface of said respective second peak such that each second valley of said series of second valleys defines a trapezoidal shape wherein each second valley of said series of second valleys is configured to resist capturing debris which would contribute to increased drag on said hull, each first peak of said series of first peaks being aligned with a respective second peak of said series of second peaks at said bow.