WO2017119893A1

WO2017119893A1 - Supplemental bumper apparatus attachable to a water craft

Info

Publication number: WO2017119893A1
Application number: PCT/US2016/012530
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shepheard William GLASS
Original assignee: Glass Shepheard William
Priority date: 2016-01-07
Filing date: 2016-01-07
Publication date: 2017-07-13

Abstract

A supplemental bumper apparatus for covering the bumper of a personal water craft and providing enhanced shock absorption and blemish resistance. The supplemental bumper apparatus comprises a synthetic rubber body and a fastener system. The synthetic rubber body provides a barrier which can absorb shock and block blemishes from an impact. The synthetic rubber body is attached to the bumper fastener system defined by a plurality of snap fasteners on its upper section and a hook and loop fabric fastener is on its lower section. A plurality of snap fastener base members are permanently attached to the bumper and a corresponding hook and loop fastener material is permanently attached to the bumper, each providing a corresponding engaging member to enable the snap fasteners and the hook and loop fastener surface to attach the synthetic rubber body to the surface of the bumper.

Description

SUPPLEMENTAL BUMPER APPARATUS ATTACHABLE

TO A WATER CRAFT

By Shepheard William Glass

CROSS- REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present PCT patent application claims priority benefit of the U.S. Utility patent application 14/243,680 filed 02-APR-2014 entitled "SUPPLEMENTAL BUMPER APPARATUS ATTACHABLE TO A WATER CRAFT" under 35 USC 111(a). The contents of this related Utility application are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes to the extent that such subject matter is not inconsistent herewith or limiting hereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates generally to watercraft accessories and, more particularly, to a supplemental for enhancing the reduction in damage to a watercraft during a collision.

Description of the Prior Art

[0003] The use of personal water craft devices, such as a Sea-Doo, Jet Ski, and WaveRunner for on waterways around the world is well known. Personal water craft devices are typically designed for a standing, on-board operator, and potentially one to two additional passengers to be transported. In use, personal water craft are often operated by tourists and other novice/inexperienced operators, and usually in high traffic areas. As such, collisions between personal watercraft and other objects, including other personal watercraft, are relatively common. [0004] While the existing bumpers on personal water craft are often suitable to reduce the chance of structural damage in the event of minor collisions, superficial and minor damage still commonly occurs in the event of such collisions. Thus, there remains a need for a supplemental bumper apparatus which could be attached to the existing bumper of a personal water craft would reduce damage to the bumper of a watercraft in the event of a collision. It would be helpful if such a supplemental bumper apparatus could be removably attached to a personal watercraft after market. It would be additionally desirable for such a supplemental bumper apparatus to employ a dual fastener system to ensure it does not inadvertently fall off.

[0005] The Applicant's invention described herein provides for a supplemental bumper apparatus adapted to be attached to the bumper area of a personal water craft and improve shock absorbing capability. The primary components in Applicant's supplemental bumper apparatus are a bumper panel having synthetic rubber body and a fastener system. When in operation, the supplemental bumper apparatus reduces the damage to a personal water craft in the event of a collision. As a result, many of the limitations imposed by prior art structures are removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] A supplemental bumper apparatus for covering the bumper of a personal water craft and providing enhanced shock absorption and blemish resistance. The supplemental bumper apparatus comprises a synthetic rubber body and a fastener system. The synthetic rubber body provides a reduction in how much shock is received and thus absorbed by the bumper of the personal water craft. This reduction in shock results in less damage to the bumper and the personal water craft in the event of a collision. In addition, the synthetic rubber body provides a barrier which can receive scratches and other blemishes from an impact in lieu of the bumper. [0007] The synthetic rubber body is attached to the bumper fastener system defined by a plurality of snap fasteners on its upper section and a hook and loop fabric fastener is on its lower section. A plurality of snap fastener base members are permanently attached to the bumper and a corresponding hook and loop fastener material is permanently attached to the bumper, each providing a corresponding engaging member to enable the snap fasteners and the hook and loop fastener surface to attach the synthetic rubber body to the surface of the bumper.

[0008] It is an object of this invention to provide a supplemental bumper apparatus which could be attached to the existing bumper of a personal water craft would reduce damage to the bumper of a watercraft in the event of a collision.

[0009] It is another object of this invention to provide a supplemental bumper apparatus capable of being removably attached to a personal watercraft after market.

[00010] It is yet another object of this invention to provide a supplemental bumper apparatus which employs a dual fastener system to ensure it does not inadvertently fall off.

[00011] These and other objects will be apparent to one of skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[00012] Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a supplemental bumper apparatus built in accordance with the present invention attached to a personal water craft.

[00013] Figure 2 is a front elevational view of a supplemental bumper apparatus built in accordance with the present invention.

[00014] Figure 3 is a side elevational view of a supplemental bumper apparatus built in accordance with the present invention with a snap fastener in shadow. [00015] Figure 4 is a side elevational view of a supplemental bumper apparatus built in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention permanently attached to a personal water craft

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[00016] Referring now to the drawings and in particular Figure 1, 2, and 3, a supplemental bumper apparatus 10 is sized to be placed over the bumper 11a of a personal water craft 11. The supplemental bumper apparatus 10 is defined by a synthetic rubber body 10a and a fastener system. In the preferred embodiment, the synthetic rubber body 10a is constructed of an ethylene propylene diene monomer ("EPDM rubber") and the fastener system includes a plurality of snap fasteners 12 and a hook and loop fabric fastener surface 13. Due to its construction of EPDM rubber and its placement directly over the bumper 11a, the synthetic rubber body 10a provides a reduction in how much shock is received and thus absorbed by the bumper 11a of the personal water craft 11. This reduction in shock results in less damage to the bumper 11a and the personal water craft 11 in the event of a collision. In addition, the synthetic rubber body 10a provides a barrier which can receive scratches and other blemishes from an impact in lieu of the bumper 11a. As such, the bumper 11a can remain relatively blemish free. Such a reduction in damage and blemishes enables the bumper 1 la to have a longer effective life while on the personal water craft 11.

[00017] The synthetic rubber body 10a is attached to the bumper 11a fastener system defined by two discrete fastener systems. A plurality of snap fasteners 12 are employed on the upper section of the synthetic rubber body 10a. A hook and loop fabric fastener 13 is employed on the lower section of the synthetic rubber body 10a. Before the synthetic rubber body 10a can be attached to the bumper 11a, a plurality of snap fastener base members 12a are permanently attached to the bumper 11a, oriented in a corresponding manner relative to the snap fasteners 12 on the synthetic rubber body 10a. In addition, a corresponding hook and loop fastener material 13a is permanently attached to the bumper 11a, oriented below the snap fastener base members 12a such that when the snap fasteners 12 of the synthetic rubber body 10a are engaged to the snap fastener base members 12a, the hook and loop fastener surface 13 will engage the corresponding hook and loop fastener material 13a. By the engaging of the snap fasteners 12 with the snap fastener base members 12a and the hook and loop fastener surface 13 with the hook and loop fastener material 13a, the synthetic rubber body 10a is attached to the surface of the bumper 11a.

[00018] It is contemplated that the synthetic rubber body 10a is sized in the preferred embodiment to directly correspond to the size of the bumper 11a so as to enable the base body to cover the bumper without encroaching over the remainder of the personal water craft and affecting the aerodynamics of the body of the personal water craft.

[00019] Referring now to Figure 4, in an alternate embodiment, the synthetic rubber body of a supplemental bumper apparatus 40 is permanently attached to the bumper 41 through a plurality of bolts 42 which penetrate the synthetic rubber body and the bumper 41.

[00020] In yet another embodiment, the synthetic rubber body of a supplemental bumper apparatus is permanently attached to the bumper through an adhesive.

[00021] In still another embodiment, the synthetic rubber body is sized to cover additional surface area exposed to collisions on the personal water craft beyond the bumper.

[00022] The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A supplemental bumper apparatus, comprising:

a base body sized to correspond to the size of a bumper on a personal water craft, enabling the base body to cover the bumper without encroaching over the remainder of the personal water craft; and

a fastener system, wherein said fastener system includes a first fastener set integrated with said base body and a first fastener base integrated with said bumper.

2. The supplemental bumper apparatus of claim 1, wherein said base body is constructed of a synthetic rubber material.

3. The supplemental bumper apparatus of claim 2, wherein said base body is constructed of EPDM rubber.

4. The supplemental bumper apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fastener system additionally includes a second fastener set integrated with said base body and a second fastener base integrated with said bumper.

5. The supplemental bumper apparatus of claim 4, wherein said first fastener set is defined by a plurality of snap fasteners and the first fastener base is defined by a plurality of snap fastener base members.

6. The supplemental bumper apparatus of claim 4, wherein said second fastener set is defined by the hook portion of a hook and loop fastener surface and the second fastener base is defined by the loop portion of a hook and loop fastener material.

7. A supplemental bumper apparatus, comprising:

a base body sized to cover a bumper on a personal water craft; and a fastener system, wherein said fastener system includes a first fastener set integrated with said base body and a first fastener base integrated with said bumper.

8. The supplemental bumper apparatus of claim 7, wherein said base body is constructed of a synthetic rubber material.

9. The supplemental bumper apparatus of claim 8, wherein said base body is constructed of EPDM rubber.

10. The supplemental bumper apparatus of claim 7, wherein said fastener system additionally includes a second fastener set integrated with said base body and a second fastener base integrated with said bumper.

11. The supplemental bumper apparatus of claim 10, wherein said first fastener set is defined by a plurality of snap fasteners and the first fastener base is defined by a plurality of snap fastener base members.

12. The supplemental bumper apparatus of claim 10, wherein said second fastener set is defined by the hook portion of a hook and loop fastener surface and the second fastener base is defined by the loop portion of a hook and loop fastener material.