Watercraft with Undercut Grip Insert

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016152306-A1
Application number	US-201414558090-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 2, 2014
Priority date	Dec 2, 2014
Publication date	Jun 2, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A watercraft includes a molded hull in the form of a single-piece hollow plastic structure, and the hull defines a recess having an interior. An insert is also provided that defines an opening and is attached to the hull. The insert is positioned with respect to the recess such that the opening in the insert communicates with the interior of the recess, and the insert cooperates with the recess to define an undercut that accommodates a portion of a hand of a user.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A watercraft, comprising:
a hull in the form of a single-piece hollow plastic structure, the hull defining a recess having an interior; and an insert that defines an opening and is attached to the hull, the insert being positioned with respect to the recess such that the opening in the insert communicates with the interior of the recess, and the insert cooperates with the recess to define an undercut that accommodates a portion of a hand of a user.

2 . The watercraft as recited in claim 1 , wherein the hull is one of a hull of a kayak or a hull of a board.

3 . The watercraft as recited in claim 1 , wherein a width and/or depth of the undercut is non-uniform.

4 . The watercraft as recited in claim 1 , wherein an upper surface of the insert is substantially flush with the portion of the hull that defines the recess.

5 . The watercraft as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a shoulder in the recess, and the shoulder supports an edge of the insert.

6 . The watercraft as recited in claim 1 , wherein the recess comprises a tack-off.

7 . The watercraft as recited in claim 1 , wherein outer edges of the insert define an angle similar to an angle defined by edges of the recess.

8 . The watercraft as recited in claim 1 , wherein the undercut extends around less than an entire perimeter of the recess.

9 . A kayak, comprising:
a hull in the form of a single-piece plastic structure that is substantially hollow, the hull defining a recess having an interior, and the hull being tapered at one end; and an insert that defines an opening and is attached to the hull proximate the recess such that the opening in the insert communicates with the interior of the recess, and the insert cooperates with the recess to define an undercut that accommodates a portion of a hand of a user.

10 . The kayak as recited in claim 9 , wherein the kayak comprises a sit-on-top configuration.

11 . The kayak as recited in claim 9 , wherein the insert and recess are located proximate a fore and aft center of gravity of the kayak.

12 . The kayak as recited in claim 9 , wherein the insert and opening have an elongate shape that extends fore and aft.

13 . The kayak as recited in claim 9 , wherein the insert and recess are located on an outer portion of the hull.

14 . The kayak as recited in claim 9 , wherein the insert is free of any undercuts.

15 . A method of making a watercraft, the method comprising:
forming a plastic hull of the watercraft using a molding process, wherein forming the hull includes forming a recess in the hull, and the recess is integrally formed with the hull at the same time as the rest of the hull; and attaching an insert to the plastic hull of the watercraft so that an opening defined in the insert communicates with an interior of the recess, and the insert cooperates with the recess to define an undercut that is sized and arranged to accommodate part of a hand of a user.

16 . The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein the recess is formed free of any undercuts.

17 . The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein the recess is formed as part of a tack-off.

18 . The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein the plastic hull is formed as a substantially hollow structure.

19 . The method as recited in claim 15 , further comprising forming the insert.

20 . The method as recited in claim 14 , wherein the molding process is one of blow-molding, roto-molding, vacuum molding, twin sheet molding, or drape molding.

Assignees

• Lifetime Prod Inc

Inventors

• Vannimwegen Edward

Classifications

• B63B34/20

  Canoes, kayaks or the like · CPC title

• B63C13/00 Primary

  Equipment forming part of or attachable to vessels facilitating transport over land (amphibious craft, land vehicles convertible for use on water B60F; land vehicles for carrying boats B60P; {hand carts for transporting boats B62B; } harnesses attachable to vessels for personal carrying A45F) · CPC title

• B63B35/71

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B63B35/7906

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B63B5/24 Primary

  made predominantly of plastics {(surf boards B63B32/57)} · CPC title