Bob Mcdonough

US Patent:

59709030, Oct 26, 1999

Filed:

Jul 16, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/116153

Inventors:

Bob James McDonough - Asheville NC
Todd Dean King - Greenville SC
Aaron Lee Phillips - Montrose CO
David Maughan - Missoula MT

Assignee:

Perception, Inc. - Easley SC

International Classification:

B63B 3500

US Classification:

114347

Abstract:

A kinesthetic seat assembly is disclosed for a watercraft used in white water conditions of the type having a hull and a cockpit opening formed in the hull for access to a cockpit seat assembly of the watercraft. The seat assembly includes a contoured seat with a pair of opposing contoured upper leg supports, a contoured buttock support, and an adjustable kinesthetic crotch pod assembly. The crotch pad assembly is carried by a medial portion of the seat assembly between the opposing upper leg supports, and includes a crotch pod constructed from a shapeable material which may be contoured and customized for the anatomy of an individual boater. An adjustment mechanism mounts the crotch pod to the medial portion of the seat assembly for adjusting the position of the crotch pod on the medial portion in a longitudinal direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the kayak to fit the boater. The crotch pod is contoured and arranged to accommodate the boater in the seat assembly in a kinesthetic manner so that movements of the boater may be imparted to the watercraft for guidance and control.