초록 ▼

In various embodiments, a wake diversion system operates to manipulate the characteristics of the stern waves produced by a watercraft as it passes through water. In one embodiment, the wake diversion system includes a wake diverter that is comprised of a body, a panel, and a plurality of boat attac

In various embodiments, a wake diversion system operates to manipulate the characteristics of the stern waves produced by a watercraft as it passes through water. In one embodiment, the wake diversion system includes a wake diverter that is comprised of a body, a panel, and a plurality of boat attachment mechanisms. The wake diverter is removably attachable to the side of the hull of a watercraft such that it obstructs the natural flow of water around the hull of the watercraft on side of the watercraft to which it is attached.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus configured to be coupled to a port or a starboard side of a hull of a watercraft forward of a stern of the watercraft, the apparatus comprising: a body having a longitudinal axis,a differential pressure attachment assembly coupled to the body and operable to couple the body to one of

1. An apparatus configured to be coupled to a port or a starboard side of a hull of a watercraft forward of a stern of the watercraft, the apparatus comprising: a body having a longitudinal axis,a differential pressure attachment assembly coupled to the body and operable to couple the body to one of the port and starboard sides of the hull of the watercraft such that a portion of the apparatus is submerged while the watercraft travels through a body of water at speeds suitable for wake surfing, the differential pressure attachment assembly comprising: a cup having a hull attachment surface, at least a portion of the hull attachment surface being configured to contact a portion of the hull of the watercraft, andan actuator transitionable between a disengaged state and an engaged state, the actuator coupled to the cup such that as the actuator transitions from the disengaged state to the engaged state, a force is exerted on the cup that causes a portion of the hull attachment surface of the cup to move away from the hull of the watercraft such that a volume defined between the hull attachment surface of the cup and the hull of the watercraft changes from a first volume to a second volume, the second volume being larger than the first volume, and a pressure of the second volume being less than an atmospheric pressure, anda panel including a forward surface the panel extending from the body such that an angle defined between the body and the forward surface of the panel is greater than forty five degrees and less than one hundred thirty five degrees, and the panel being configured to extend away from one of the port and starboard sides of the hull of the watercraft at least partially below a waterline of the body of water and forward of the stern of the watercraft such that the forward surface of the panel extends into the water and disrupts the water such that a first wake is produced by the watercraft as the watercraft travels through the body of water at a first speed suitable for wake surfing and in a first direction with the apparatus coupled to the port side of the hull of the watercraft, the first wake being different than a second wake that is produced by the watercraft as the watercraft travels through the body of water at the first speed and in the first direction with the apparatus coupled to the starboard side of the hull of the watercraft at least partially below the waterline of the body of water and forward of the stern of the watercraft. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the differential pressure attachment assembly does not require the use of a pump to evacuate a fluid trapped within the volume defined between the hull attachment surface of the cup and the hull of the watercraft to cause the volume to change from the first volume to the second volume. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator is a mechanical lever having a fulcrum and the mechanical lever is transitionable between the disengaged state and the engaged state by rotating the lever about the fulcrum, wherein rotating the mechanical lever about the fulcrum causes the fulcrum to translate from a first position to a second position. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, the differential pressure attachment assembly further comprising a post extending from an upper surface of the cup and mechanically coupling the cup to the lever, the lever being rotatably coupled to the post such that as the fulcrum translates from the first position to the second position the post translates with the fulcrum, the translation of the post resulting in the force that is exerted on the cup that causes the portion of the hull attachment surface of the cup to move away from the hull of the watercraft. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a resilient member is positioned between the cup and the body, the resilient member exerting a force on the body and the cup that influences the body and the cup to move away from one another. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the portion of the hull attachment surface of the cup that contacts the hull of the watercraft is an annular portion of the hull attachment surface of the cup, and wherein the portion of the hull attachment surface of the cup that moves away from the hull of the watercraft as the actuator transitions from the disengaged state to the engaged state is a central portion of the hull attachment surface of the cup that is enveloped by the annular portion. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein as the actuator transitions from the disengaged state to the engaged state, at least a portion of the annular portion of the hull attachment surface of the cup is configured to maintain contact with the hull of the watercraft while the central portion is moved away from the hull of the watercraft. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is coupleable directly to the hull of the watercraft while the assembly is at least partially below the waterline of the body of water. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in a first configuration the panel is angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the body at a first angle and wherein in a second configuration the panel is angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the body at a second angle different from the first angle. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the body has a forward end and an aft end opposite the forward end, and wherein the panel includes a forward side and a rearward side, the forward side including the forward surface, and the panel being removably coupleable to the body such that the panel is reversible relative to the body. 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hull attachment surface of the cup has a loft such that in an undeformed state, a first portion of the hull attachment surface lies in a first plane and a second portion of the hull attachment surface lies in a second plane, the first and second planes not being coplanar. 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the panel extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body. 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the panel is removably coupleable to the body via a dovetail coupling. 14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the forward surface of the panel is curved. 15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the panel includes the forward surface and a rearward surface, and wherein a thickness of the panel between forward and rearward surfaces nonuniform across a surface area of the panel. 16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the panel includes a forward side including the forward surface, a rearward side opposite the forward side, a top, a bottom opposite the top, a first side and a second side opposite the first side, and wherein a thickness of the panel between the forward and rearward sides is less than a width of the panel between the first and second sides, and wherein the thickness of the panel is less than a height of the panel between the top and bottom, and wherein the width is considered in a lateral direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the body, and wherein the height is considered in a direction transverse to the width and transverse to the longitudinal axis of the body. 17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the differential pressure attachment assembly is a first differential pressure attachment assembly, the cup is a first cup, and the actuator is a first actuator, and wherein the apparatus further comprises: a second differential pressure attachment assembly coupled to the body and operable to couple the apparatus to one of the port and starboard sides of the hull of the watercraft such that a portion of the apparatus is submerged while the watercraft travels through a body of water at speeds suitable for wake surfing, the assembly comprising: a second cup having a hull attachment surface, at least a portion of the hull attachment surface being configured to contact a portion of the hull of the watercraft, anda second actuator transitionable between a disengaged state and an engaged state, the second actuator coupled to the second cup such that as the second actuator transitions from the disengaged state to the engaged state, a force is exerted on the second cup that causes a portion of the hull attachment surface of the second cup to move away from the hull of the watercraft such that a volume defined between the hull attachment surface of the second cup and the hull of the watercraft changes from a first volume to a second volume, the second volume being larger than the first volume, and a pressure of the second volume being less than an atmospheric pressure. 18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body has a forward end and an aft end opposite the forward end, and wherein the panel is removably coupleable to one of the forward and aft ends of the body.