초록 ▼

An improved kayak provides a rigid open cockpit hull with air chambers attached to the hull. The air chambers provide a generally convex shape for increased maneuverability and also provide cushioning against impact to reduce the risk of injury to the kayak pilot. The air chambers allow for an open

An improved kayak provides a rigid open cockpit hull with air chambers attached to the hull. The air chambers provide a generally convex shape for increased maneuverability and also provide cushioning against impact to reduce the risk of injury to the kayak pilot. The air chambers allow for an open cockpit kayak with an exterior surface having a similar shape as a conventional closed cockpit kayak, providing a similar level of maneuverability and allowing for completion of maneuvers such as rolling the kayak from an inverted position in the water.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A kayak comprising: a rigid hull having a top and a bottom, the hull being formed from a rigid material, the top of the hull having a seating portion for allowing a user to sit thereon, the top of the hull having at least one recess therein configured for receiving a fairing,

What is claimed is: 1. A kayak comprising: a rigid hull having a top and a bottom, the hull being formed from a rigid material, the top of the hull having a seating portion for allowing a user to sit thereon, the top of the hull having at least one recess therein configured for receiving a fairing, and wherein the hull is closed such that a user does not enter the hull when sitting thereon; and at least one fairing attached to the top of the hull and forming an upper surface of the kayak, the fairing being formed of an elastically compressible material and being positioned on the top of the hull such that the fairing is placed between a user seated in the seating portion and the hull so as to prevent contact between the user and the hull; wherein the at least one fairing comprises a front fairing disposed on a front portion of the hull so as to extend beneath adjacent legs of a user and a rear fairing disposed on a rear portion of the hull so as to extend behind a user, and wherein the front fairing and rear fairing extend toward the seating portion so as to cover the hull adjacent the seating portion; and wherein the front fairing extends beneath the legs of a user so as to be between the hull and the legs of the user and wherein the front fairing has longitudinal recesses formed therein to accommodate the legs of a user. 2. The kayak of claim 1, further comprising leg straps configured for holding the legs of a user against the front fairing. 3. The kayak of claim 2, wherein the leg straps comprise quick release buckles configured for allowing a user to release the leg straps. 4. A kayak comprising: a rigid hull having a top and a bottom, the hull being formed from a rigid material, the top of the hull having a seating portion for allowing a user to sit thereon, the top of the hull having at least one recess therein configured for receiving a fairing, and wherein the hull is closed such that a user does not enter the hull when sitting thereon; and at least one fairing attached to the top of the hull and forming an upper surface of the kayak, the fairing being formed of an elastically compressible material and being positioned on the top of the hull such that the fairing is placed between a user seated in the seating portion and the hull so as to prevent contact between the user and the hull; wherein the at least one fairing comprises a front fairing which is disposed in front of the seating portion and which extends forward to cover an area of the hull adjacent legs of a user and which extends backward to the seating portion so as to cover the portion of the hull adjacent the front of the seating portion; and wherein the front fairing extends beneath the legs of a user so as to be between the hull and the legs of the user and wherein the front fairing has longitudinal recesses formed therein to accommodate the legs of a user. 5. A kayak comprising: a rigid hull, the hull having a top, a bottom, and sides, the hull being formed from a rigid material, the hull being hollow and having an enclosed interior and having a seat formed on the top of the hull, the seat being formed such that a user sits on the top of the hull and is not inside of the enclosed interior of the hull; and a generally soft and compressible fairing attached to the top of the hull so as to cover a portion of the top of the hull so as to extend upwardly beyond the hull so as to define an upper contour of said portion of the top of the hull, the fairing extending to the seat so as to cover said portion of the hull adjacent the seat and prevent contact between a user and said portion of the hull; wherein the rigid hull and the fairing are shaped so that a user sitting on the seat is not enclosed by the rigid hull and the fairing, the fairing extending beneath the user's legs when the user is sitting in the seat, and wherein the fairing comprises a front fairing member which extends in front of a seat, and wherein the front fairing comprises longitudinal recesses configured for receiving the legs of a user such that the fairing is disposed between the hull and the legs of the user. 6. The kayak of claim 5, wherein the fairing extends across a majority of the top of the hull. 7. The kayak of claim 5, wherein the hull comprises a recess formed on the top side thereof and extending longitudinally across the top side, the recess configured for receiving a front fairing, a rear fairing, and a seat. 8. The kayak of claim 5, further comprising leg straps configured for securing the legs of a user to the kayak. 9. A kayak comprising: a rigid hull having a top and a bottom, the top of the hull having a seating portion for allowing a user to sit thereon, the top of the hull having at least one recess therein configured for receiving a failing, and wherein the hull is closed such that a user does not enter the hull when sitting thereon; and at least one fairing attached to the top of the hull in the at least one recess and filling the at least one recess to form a generally convex upper surface of the kayak, the fairing being formed of an elastically compressible material and wherein the at least one fairing has longitudinal recesses formed therein configured for receiving the legs of a user.