Scupper-Mounted Balance Assist Pole for Watercraft Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Recreational watercraft users face challenges in maintaining balance during rough waters, high winds, and inclement weather due to the lack of additional points of contact on the watercraft.
Innovation Solution
A personal standing balance assist assembly that mounts to the deck of watercraft using a scupper hole, featuring a balance assist pole with a scupper plug and hull plug secured by an elongated assembly connector, allowing for height adjustment and enhanced grip, providing additional stability through an additional point of contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If users stand on the watercraft without additional support, then the watercraft structure remains simple, but user balance and stability deteriorate in rough waters and high winds
Solution Approach 1:
The balance assist assembly is divided into separate components: a scupper plug portion that inserts into the scupper hole, a hull plug portion that engages the hull, and a balance assist pole. This segmentation allows the stability feature to be added as a modular assembly rather than integrating complexity into the entire watercraft structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The balance assist pole serves as an intermediary element between the user and the watercraft structure. It provides an additional point of contact for users to maintain balance, while the scupper plug and hull plug act as intermediaries to securely mount the pole to the watercraft using existing scupper holes.
2Reliability
If a balance assist assembly is added to provide additional point of contact, then user stability improves, but the complexity of mounting and assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The scupper plug portion is designed to utilize existing scupper holes in the watercraft, which serve multiple functions: drainage and now mounting support for the balance assist assembly. This multi-functionality reduces mounting complexity by repurposing existing structural features rather than requiring new mounting holes or attachment points.
Solution Approach 2:
The scupper plug and hull plug are combined with the balance assist pole into a single integrated assembly that can be installed as one unit. The assembly connector merges these components together, simplifying the mounting process compared to installing separate attachment mechanisms.
3Ease of manufacture
If the balance assist pole is made rigid and fixed, then manufacturing is simpler, but adaptability to different user heights and preferences is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The balance assist pole incorporates telescoping sections that allow it to extend and retract to different lengths. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the pole to adapt to various user heights and preferences while maintaining a compact form when not in use, balancing manufacturing simplicity with user adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A personal standing balance assist assembly is adapted for use in a recreational watercraft. The balance assist assembly includes a balance assist pole having a distal end for being grasped by an occupant in a standing position on the recreational watercraft. A scupper plug is located at a proximal end of the balance assist pole and is configured to engage the watercraft adjacent a top mouth of the scupper hole. A hull plug is configured to engage the watercraft adjacent a bottom mouth of the scupper hole. An elongated assembly connector extends vertically through the scupper hole and is adapted for urging the scupper plug and hull plug into close contact with the watercraft proximate respective top and bottom mouths of the scupper hole, thereby securing the balance assist assembly to the watercraft.