US3702598A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Watercraft
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-06-07
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Granted: 1972-11-14
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Expires: 1991-06-07
Abstract
Abstract A watercraft having a tunnel hull with an aerodynamic curvilinear lifting surface and a propulsion means forward of the aerodynamic lifting surface. The tunnel preferably longitudinally extends substantially the full length of the boat and receives a continuous air flow derived from the forward motion of the craft which acts on the aerodynamic lifting surface to provide a craft lifting force. The craft may be optionally provided with a second air flow passage for the tunnel which includes an air propelling means supplying forced hot air to the tunnel forward of the lifting surface to aid in the generation of the lifting force. In its preferred form, the lift surface has an air foil-like cross section which provides a concave trapping area to augment the lifting effect of the aerodynamic lifting surface. In a first embodiment, a single propulsion device is shown while in a second embodiment three propelling devices and two aerodynamic lifting surfaces are shown in tandem.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack J Szptyman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 17:04
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B1/00; B63B1/16; B63B1/18; B63B1/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
A craft which is at least partially water borne and is adapted to be forwardly propelled along a longitudinal axis of the craft comprising: a hull having central portion and a pair of side portions defining at least one longitudinally extending tunnel, said central hull portion including a generally downwardly facing aerodynamic lifting surface which defines at least a portion of said tunnel and which is configured to provide an upwardly acting aerodynamic force applied to said craft in response to a flow of air through said tunnel acting on said aerodynamic lifting surface to reduce the water borne portion of the weight of said craft; air passage means for supplying air to said tunnel which acts upon said aerodynamic lifting surface to provide said aerodynamic force; and propulsion means including drive means for propelling said craft with said drive means being located forwardly of said aerodynamic lifting surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
A craft which is at least partially water borne and is adapted to be forwardly propelled along a longitudinal axis of the craft comprising: a hull having central portion and a pair of side portions defining at least one longitudinally extending tunnel, said central hull portion including a generally downwardly facing aerodynamic lifting surface which defines at least a portion of said tunnel and which is configured to provide an upwardly acting aerodynamic force applied to said craft in response to a flow of air through said tunnel acting on said aerodynamic lifting surface to reduce the water borne portion of the weight of said craft; air passage means for supplying air to said tunnel which acts upon said aerodynamic lifting surface to provide said aerodynamic force; and propulsion means including drive means for propelling said craft with said drive means being located forwardly of said aerodynamic lifting surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A craft according to claim 1 wherein said tunnel substantially extends the full length of said craft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
A craft according to claim 1 wherein said tunnel is fOrwardly opened at least during propulsion of said craft to provide said air passage means with a longitudinally extending part of said air passage means being at least partially defined by said hull central portion and the surface of said water.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A craft according to claim 1 wherein said air passage means extends internally of said hull central portion so that at least a longitudinally extending part of said air passage means is wholly defined by said hull central portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A craft according to claim 1 wherein said air passage means is provided with blower means for forcing air through said air passage means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A craft according to claim 1 wherein a longitudinally forward part of said hull central portion is adapted to be in engagement with said water to support at least a portion of the weight of said craft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A craft according to claim 1 wherein said aerodynamic lift surface is a continuously curved surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A craft according to claim 1 wherein said aerodynamic lift surface has a generally air foil-like cross-section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A craft according to claim 1 wherein said aerodynamic lift surface is a concave surface for trapping air from said air passage means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A craft according to claim 9 wherein said aerodynamic lift surface is a continuously curved surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A craft according to claim 10 wherein said aerodynamic lift surface has a generally air foil-like cross section.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A craft according to claim 11 wherein said concave surface has a substantially horizontally extending mid surface portion which smoothly merges with a downwardly and aftwardly extending aft surface portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A craft according to claim 12 wherein said aerodynamic lift surface has an upwardly and aftwardly extending forward surface portion which smoothly merges with said mid surface portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A craft according to claim 5 wherein said drive means is associated with said longitudinally forward part of said hull central portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
100 words
A craft according to claim 1 wherein said air passage means includes at least two air passages, a first of said pair of air passages being provided by a forwardly opened part of said tunnel so that said first of said pair of air passages is at least partially defined by said hull central portion and a surface of said water, and a second of said pair of air passages extending internally of said hull central portion so that at least a part of said second of said pair of air passages is wholly defined by said hull central portion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
A craft according to claim 1 wherein said propulsion means provides a pair of drive means which are longitudinally spaced along said longitudinal axis of said craft with one of said drive means being located forwardly of said aerodynamic lifting surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
95 words
A craft according to claim 1 further including a second generally downwardly facing aerodynamic lifting surface which defines at least a portion of said tunnel and which is configured to provide an upwardly acting aerodynamic force applied to said craft in response to a flow of air through said tunnel acting on said aerodynamic lifting surface to further reduce the water borne portion of the weight of said craft, said air passage means further supplying air which acts upon said second aerodynamic lifting surface to provide said aerodynamic force at said second aerodynamic lifting surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
57 words
A craft according to claim 17 wherein said propulsion means provides a pair of drive means being longitudinally spaced along said longitudinal axis of said craft, one of said drive means being located forwardly of said first mentioned aerodynamic lifting surface and the second of said drive means being located forwardly of said second aerodynamic lifting surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
A craft according to claim 14 wherein said longitudinally forward part of said hull central portion bifurcates said tunnel at the longitudinally forward part thereof.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-11-14 | 1976-05-15 | 1976-11-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-11-14 | 1980-05-15 | 1980-11-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-11-14 | 1984-05-15 | 1984-11-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |