Handle-Mounted Equipment Holder for Planing Watercraft Steering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing small planing watercraft designs face challenges in maintaining steering operability and preventing operator contact with additional parts, such as equipment holders, which can interfere with the handle when mounted on the deck, reducing steering efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates mounts secured to the handle, positioned forward of the handle's rear surface, allowing additional parts to be angularly displaced and closer to the operator, thus preventing contact and maintaining steering operability by being disposed in a position responsive to the watercraft's heading direction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the mount is provided to the deck, then the additional part can be held, but the additional part is far from the operator and cannot be disposed in a position responsive to the heading direction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperator accessibility to additional partVSAvoidsteering operability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The mount is moved from the deck (horizontal plane) to the handle (vertical dimension near operator), allowing the additional part to be positioned in three-dimensional space close to the operator's hand, enabling both accessibility and responsive positioning with handle movement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If the additional part is disposed closer to the operator, then operator accessibility is improved, but contact between operator and additional part may occur reducing steering operability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperator accessibility to additional partVSAvoidinterference with steering operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of placing the additional part behind or beside the handle where it might contact the operator's hand, the mount is positioned forward of the handle's rear surface, inverting the conventional mounting approach and eliminating the contact hazard while maintaining close operator accessibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If the additional part is disposed forward of the handle, then steering operability is maintained, but the additional part cannot be held securely

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesteering operabilityVSAvoidmount securing strength

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The mount is pre-secured to the handle structure at a position forward of the rear surface, establishing a secure attachment point before operation. This preliminary securing ensures both strong mounting and proper spatial positioning that prevents interference with steering operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12187401B2Small planing watercraft

Publication Date: 2025.01.07 KAWASAKI MOTORS LTD

AI summary

A small planing watercraft includes: a body; a seat located above the body; a steering handle located above the body and forward of the seat; and an additional part holding mount secured to the handle and disposed forward of a rear surface of the handle.