AU640470B2

AU640470B2 - Improvements to underwater viewing water craft

Info

Publication number: AU640470B2
Application number: AU73738/91A
Authority: AU
Inventors: T.R. Reece
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-07-13
Filing date: 1991-03-25
Publication date: 1993-08-26
Anticipated expiration: 2011-03-25
Also published as: AU7373891A

Description

7 i 7 A

I.AUBTRALIA

Form PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE Short Title: Int. Cl: Application Number: Lodged: Coi plete Specification-Lodged: 0 Accepted: Lapsed: Published: Priority: ?V -~io Ielaed Art: 00) 1 F00 @0 @0 0 Name of Applicant: 0 'Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT T. R. REECE 2/6 Crisp Ct.,

MIAMI

QLD 4220 T. R. REECE Address for Service: P.O. Box 7 BURLEIGH HEADS QLD 4220 Complete Specification for the invention entitled: IMPROVEMENTS TO UNDERWATER VIEWING WATER CRAFT The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:-* SNote: The description is to be typed in double spacing, pica type face, in an area not exceeding 250 mm in depth and 160 mm in width, on tough white paper of good quality and it is to be inserted inside this form.

14599/78- L Printed by C. J. THOMPSON, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra 2 Technical Field THIS INVENTION relates to improvements to water craft and in particular to water craft of the type having provision for underwater viewing.

Background Art Many different types and designs of water craft have been developed for the purpose of underwater viewing in shallow coral reef waters. Generally a large number of the currently available underwater viewing craft are used by motoring over surface waters and viewing subsurface terrain. These craft generally contain one or more sealed clear windows which form a fixed portion of the hull of the craft. The viewing windows are normally fixed and sealed to the hull in such a fashion that they form one or more fixed and permanent sections of the hull. Normally regular detachment and removal of such viewing windows from the hull structure of the underwater viewing craft does not occur. Thus replacement of most underwater viewing windows from the aforementioned types of craft necessitate that the craft has to be wholly or partially removed from the water 20 to perform the task of replacing the viewing window or viewing section of the hull.

Summary of the Invention The present invention relates to an underwater viewing system which incorporates detachably fixed viewing ports or 25 windows independently sealed from the hull of a water craf t thereby allowing the said viewing windows or ports to be easily inserted into or removed from the hull of the underwater viewing craft. The present invention also provides for imporvmenets to underwater viewing by inclining or angling the viewing region of the viewing port or window. This ensures that any water collecting in the unit is directed away from the viewing region to leave the viewing region clear for viewing.

The present invention may also provide for a catchment gap for air bubbles likely to distort vision around the viewing window or port. The .resent invention is particularly suited to smaller marine craft for use singularly by individuals or small Snumbers of individuals but not limited to such craft.

3 In a preferred form the invention provides an easily detachable underwater viewing window or port for small boats, marine craft or floatation devices including body boards and paddle skis. The craft can be thus transported, left moored or left out in the open without fear of damage to the viewing windows. The viewing windows are intended to be simply inserted into the craft as required and may be easily removed from the craft and safely stored away from the craft when not required.

The present invention thus provides in a preferred aspect an underwater viewing assembly consisting of the mating of an underwater viewing unit forming a male portion of the system with a open hollow housing in the hull of the craft forming the female portion of the assembly.

15 Typically the inner walls of the housing forming the female portion within the craft hull are substantially raised V. above the normal surface level of the water within the hull cavity formed by the housing when the craft is laden to its design capacity. The inner walls of the housing preferably 20 turn outwardly at right angles adjacent the deck of the craft to form a ledge before turning upwards again to define an outer 'raised surround or flange of the housing. The ledge provides a means for the fixing and securing of the male viewing window unit for the assembly as described below.

25 Typically the viewing unit comprises a box-like window unit which is removably located within the housing formed in the hull of the craft. The window unit is formed so as to allow the unit to be slidably located within the walls of the hollow housing. The window unit normally has side walls and a transparent base comprising a viewing window or port and is preferably in the form of a truncated prism. The tr nsparent base is inclined so as to ensure that water does not collect thereon. The base of the window unit may be flat, angled or curved. The side walls of the viewing unit have flanges which turn outwardly at ninety degrees around the top Rof the walls. The flanges are intended to sit on and marry S7N with the recessed ledge formed by the walls of the hollow 3A housing within the hull of the craft. The window unit and housing are preferably located centrally within smaller craft and at such a position within the hull usually towards or forward of the centre to the bow of the hull so as to best fit with the floatation level and water line of the particular craft. One preferred effect of the separate sealed viewing unit within the housing of the craft is the creation of a small cavity or gap between the walls of the viewing unit and those of the housing. This cavity section or gap allows for air bubbles created by water turbulence through the a

S

a movement of the craft in water to easily wash free of the viewing window and rise up around the sides of the viewing unit into the housing. The air bubbles are dissipated within the cavity or gap as they break at the surface waters and disappear. Splash of rising and falling water between the housing walls and the viewing unit is contained by the extending flange of the viewing unit.

Most viewing craft are unable to perform adequately to their design task because of the absence of means for the air bubbles of water turbulence to easily and quickly escape from the viewing window area of the craft. This arrangement allows for the air tn be captured around the viewing window or port and be directed away into the housing leaving the window or port area relatively clear for viewing.

Brief Description of the Drawings In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:- Fig. 1 illustrates the assembled underwater viewing :assembly of the invention mounted to a typical small marine craft; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the detachable window unit forming the male portion of the S 25 underwater viewing assembly of the invention; "Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the preferred form of housing for receipt of the window unit of Fig. 1 and forming the female portion of the underwater viewing assembly; S• Fig. 4 is a side sectional view showing the underwater viewing assembly embodying male and female components set within the hull of a typical water craft; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the housing of Fig. 2 set into the deck and hull of a typical marine craft.

Referring to the drawings and firstly to Fig. 1 there is illustrated a watercraft 10 embodying an underwater viewing assembly 11 according to the invention comprising a male underwater box-like viewing window unit 12 and a female housing 13 for receiving the unit 12.

The viewing unit 12 as shown more clearly in Fig. 2 is formed of a box-like truncated prism of five faces consisting of a base 14 of transparent material, two like opposite side walls 15 and 16, a rear wall 17 and a front wall 18. The rear wall 17 of the unit 12 is in the illustrated embodiment of greater depth than the front wall 18, although it may be the same depth. The side walls 15 and 16 taper from the rear wall 17 upwards to the front wall 18 forming an incline of the base 14. The incline of the base 14 is intended to have the effect of easing away any air bubble formed with the movement of the craft through water and to lower water resistance with movement through the water as described further below.

At the top of the side walls 15, 16, 17 and 18 of the viewing window unit 12 and preferably on two or more sides a flange 20 is provided extending at right angles to the side walls 15, 16, 17, 18.

The window unit 12 is adapted to be slidably located within the housing 13 and detachably fixed thereto.

:The housing 13 forming the female portion of the assembly is set into the hull of a typical marine craft /0 as illustrated in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 so as to form a hollow cavity 22 in the craft 10, The hollow cavity 22 is typically 25 located centrally of port and starboard within the craft /0 and typically forward of centre of the craft /0 towards the bow of the craft as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4. Within small bo.ts of a single hull configuration the hollow cavity 22 of the housing 13 extends the full depth of the housing 13 within the 30 hull of the craft as illustrated in Fig. The housing 13 as shown more clearly in Fig. 2 is formed by two wall regions being a set of lower region walls 23, 24, 25 and 26 and a set of upper surround walls 27, 28, 29 and 30 offset from the walls 23, 24, 25, and 26 by a ledge 31.

The housing 13 is open at each end allowing water to rise from below up into the housing 13. The water 33 as shown in Fig.

enters and occupies the open section of the hollow cavity 22, from beneath the craft and rises to a level 33 inside the cavity 22 relative to an equilibrium of the water outside the craft as illustrated in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5. The open housing 13 forms the female housing for the male window unit 12 of the system 1/ In smaller craft such as float boards and paddle skis the walls 23, 24, 2b and 26 as in Fig. 5 rise above the normal water level 33 in which the craft floats when the craft 10 is carrying the load for which it was designed. The housing surround walls 27, 28, 29 and 30 are typically raised to varying degrees above the upper deck 34 of the craft according to design requirements. The side walls 23, 24, and 26 as in Figs. 4 and 5 may be moulded or formed into the craft and sealed conventionally as part of the hull structure by the mating of the opposing flanges 32 of the two separate moulds.

The window unit 12 is detachably fixed within the housing 13 at suitably placed fixing points jq around the recessed ledge 31. The ledge 31 is so formed to receive the flange 20 (Fig. 2) of the box-like window unit 12 as illustrated in Fig. 4. By this arrangement, the viewing window unit 12 is prevented from fully passing through the housing 13 by the protruding flanges 2 tte A suitable fixing system is incorporated to attach 25 to the viewing unit 12 within the housing 13. A preferred form @9 .0 of a typical fixing system is described below, however, it is not intended to be restricted to the method described.

In a preferred form and referring to Fig. 4 tomb attachment fixtures on the housing 13 are designed to fix 30 and secure the viewing window unit 12 in position within the a iousing 13. The fixing points 17 may vary according to the GOP& type and nature of fixing devices used.

The sealed male viewing window unit 12 will have the Seffect of displacing water from the hollow housing cavity 22.

Typically the base 14 of the window unit /Z while located within the housing 13 will be positioned below the normal surface level 33 of the water in which a laden craft 10 is floating. Water is not totally expelled from the housing 13 but creates a surround of water between the walls 15, 16, 17 and 18 of the window unit 12 and the walls 23, 24, 25 and 26 of the housing 13.

0 portion of the lower half of the viewing window unit 13 will normally lie below the water surface level 33 and will be of such a depth to offer clear viewing of subsurface activity by way of its transparent base 14. The transparent base 14 of the window unit 13 will normally be flat to eliminate visual distortion but may be formed to have a magnifying effect on the viewing area. Typically the base 14 will be of a clear and suitably rigid material for the purpose of underwater viewing. The side walls 15, 16, 17 and 18 of the viewing unit 13 need not be of the same transparent material as the base 14, however, may be formed of a transparent plastic material by a process of moulding or fabrication.

To add protection to the viewing window units 13 protective runners 35 may be incorporated into and adjoining the base of the housi-ng 13 and meeting with the base of the craft hull /0 as illustrated in Fig. 1 and Fig. :The housing 13 on smaller craft such as paddle skis and body boards will normally have raised and extended upper surrounding walls 27 28., 2q and 30 on at least three of its sides above the normal upper decking 34 of the craft 10 as illustrated in Fig. 1, Fig. 4 and Fig. 5. The walls 27, 28, 29 and 30 are intended to prevent or at least inhibit surface or wash waters from outside the craft 10 from entering the cavity 22 of the housing 13 from the top surface deck 34 of the craft 30 The upper surrounding walls 27, 28, 29, and 30 of the housing 13 may vary in shape and configuration to suit the needs and wash patterns particular to the application of specific craft.

In body, paddle boards and ski type craft the upper surrounding housing walls 27, 28 and 29 are preferably substantially raised from and curved to the decking 34 of the 3A> craft 10 and preferably be of a greater surround height at the 8 front raised wall 29 with the raised side walls 27 and 28 tapering rearwardly to a lesser height at the rear wall 30 of the housing 13 where in the rear wall 30 may become one and part of the decking 34.

A distinct advantage of the system is that the underwater viewing unit 12 can be easily fitted to the housing 13 or removed for cleaning and storage.

A further feature of the system is that air bubbles which normally travel beneath tne craft 10 -re largely drawn away from the viewing window base 14 by the open space 22 formed between the window viewing unit /2 and the walls 23, 15 and z 6 of the housing. This feature by offering an escape for air bubbles away from the viewing window unit base 14 greatly improves visibility for underwater viewing. The problem of most craft with fixed viewing window panels in the hull is one of continual distortion from air bubbles travelling along the hull of the craft and continuing across the viewing window panel. The system described herein greatly reduces this problem.

20 It may be desirable in some craft to more permanently fix the flanges 20 of the window unit 12 to the housing 13 and place one or more small holes around the flange 20 to permit escape of air from the cavity formed between the window S unit 12 and the side walls 3 24., S" and ;6 of the housing 13.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrated embodiment of the invention, all such variations and modifications as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein described in the appended claims.

a

Claims

2. An underwater viewing assembly according to Claim 1 wherein said transparent region of said viewing unit comprises a transparent base wall of said unit.
3. An underwater viewing assembly according to Claim 2 wherein said viewing unit is in the form of a truncated prism including side walls adjoining said transparent base wall.
4. An underwater viewing assembly according to Claim 3 wherein said viewing unit has a rear wall of greater depth than the front wall defining an incline of said transparent base wall from the rear wall upwards to the front wall. S" 5. An underwater viewing assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein supporting flanges extend .around the upper portion of the said viewing unit for supporting said unit in said housing.
6. An underwater viewing assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said hollow housing defines a ~hollow cavity in said marine craft extending between the upper deck and hull of the craft, said hollow cavity being exposed 35 to the fluid medium in which the craft floats.
7. An underwater viewing assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said housing has a wall or walls which extend upwards so as to be raised above the normal deck of said marine craft to deflect in use surface waters outside of the housing away from the said housing.
8. An underwater viewing assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said viewing unit is adapted to be slidably located within said housing.
9. An underwater viewing assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a gap is formed between said viewing unit and said housing when the said viewing unit is located within said housing.
10. An underwater viewing assembly according to Claim 9 wherein said gap is formed between all sides of said viewing unit and said housing.
11. A water craft including an underwater viewing assembly as defined in any one of the preceding claims.
12. An underwater viewing assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying odrawings.
13. A water craft including an underwater viewing assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 2 1 day of June 1993 TREVOR R.REECE