Catamaran central body portion

Abstract

A catamaran central body portion with floor having front and mid walls also port and starboard side walls and smooth underside having flange lips in alignment with said side walls forming mating surfaces for attaching two roof sheltered hulls whereby said hulls attach to said lips likewise roofs attach to said side walls forming a disassemble catamaran boat. Roofed alcove enclosed by said front, mid, and side walls. First and second embodiments having bridge area with navigation controls rearward of said alcove and further rearward a passenger area. Third embodiment having passenger area roofed cabin rearward of said alcove and further rearward a bridge area with navigation controls. Hull entry openings in both said side walls are in passenger area of first and third embodiments and in bridge area of second embodiment. Rear portion of said side walls having wall bracing structures for strengthening.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the central body portion of a catamaran boat. More specifically to a catamaran central body structure to be attached to as well as carried above water by a port and a starboard hull with both having a weather sheltering roof means.

Catamarans have many characteristics that make them desirable for recreational boaters. Generally, they offer a wider width which provides more deck and cabin space than similar length traditional monohull boats. The more slender hulls of a catamaran boat are more easily driven through the water thus making the catamaran relatively faster and more economical to operate. In sailing applications, the wider width eliminates the need for a heavy keel, thus faster and more economical, as well as a more stable platform. However, when a catamaran is constructed as a single one-piece module, then the wider width becomes a major problem for towing over land. To overcome this problem, many designs have been proposed which contemplate decoupling the hulls from the central body structure in order to reduce the catamaran's width for towing. The present invention provides a central body structure that can be attached to habitable port and starboard hulls having weather sheltering roof means. The present invention is particularly applicable to a cruising catamaran boat which you want to industrialize the manufacture of and thereby lower the economic cost of a catamaran. Because, thanks to its removable nature, it allows a product industrialization, by dividing a catamaran in three modules of smaller dimensions. The present invention also allows convenient entry as well as communication with interior space in each roof sheltered hull, with hulls of the type having sheltered stand-up room for habitability.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,640,737 issued to William S. Chacon discloses a multi-hulled watercraft wherein each hull swing retracts under a central cabin structure by the said hull outboard side swinging from a row of pivot hinges located close to roof on two opposing sides of said cabin structure and said hull inboard side is guided to roll or slide on a track system that is attached endwise to an outer surrounding frame under said cabin structure. The present invention differs from this invention because the present invention does not require a said central cabin underside track system that is attached endwise to a said outer surrounding frame to roll or slide on. The present invention also differs in that a pair of habitable hulls having weather sheltering roof means are enabled to be together (hull and roof) attached to or detached from hull-wise associated said flange lips inboard and/or outboard side as also roof-wise associated said side walls inboard and/or outboard side forming a variable width catamaran boat. The present invention further differs in that the present invention is of the central body portion only and not of the entire catamaran watercraft (boat). For the same manner or for the same reasons the present invention likewise differs from the following inventions:

• U.S. Pat. No. 7,562,633 issued to Ugo Conti,
• U.S. Pat. No. 7,628,115 issued to Philip Merrick Thompson,
• U.S. Pat. No. 7,249,568 issued to William J. Cultrara,
• U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,238 issued to Scott Alan Stokes,
• U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,073 issued to Jerry D. Burkett,
• U.S. Pat. No. 6,029,598 issued to Richard A. Stoll,
• U.S. Pat. No. 5,915,321 issued to Jean-Francois Fountaine,
• U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,533 issued to James E. Stangroom and John G. Clancy,
• U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,339 issued to Charles W. Pelly,
• U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,940 issued to Jay R. Beyer
• U.S. Pat. No. 5,277,142 issued to Dennis P. Connor,
• U.S. Pat. No. 5,237,947 issued to Michael F. Manning,
• U.S. Pat. No. 5,235,925 issued to Ian L. Farrier,
• U.S. Pat. No. 5,184,565 issued to Keith R. Matthews,
• U.S. Pat. No. 5,174,232 issued to Graeme J. Broddy,
• U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,411 issued to Ronald G. Krolczyk,
• U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,340 issued to Orlyn G. Pepper,
• U.S. Pat. No. 4,981,100 issued to Jean-Luc Bergeron,
• U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,446 issued to Yves Herard,
• U.S. Pat. No. 4,766,830 issued to Kunz
• U.S. Pat. No. 4,691,657 issued to Andrew J. Kovac
• U.S. Pat. No. 4,494,472 issued to Jacques Rougerie,
• U.S. Pat. No. 4,406,239 issued to Klaus Enzmann,
• U.S. Pat. No. 4,392,444 issued to Lars G. Andersson,
• U.S. Pat. No. 4,048,685 issued to William A. Gail,
• U.S. Pat. No. 3,981,259 issued to William H. Harper,
• U.S. Pat. No. 3,937,166 issued to Ian Lindsay,
• U.S. Pat. No. 3,860,982 issued to Rollin Douglas Rumsey,
• U.S. Pat. No. 3,760,764 issued to William W. Jones and Frank D. McCaulley,
• U.S. Pat. No. 3,541,987 issued to William Barkley,
• U.S. Pat. No. 3,203,014 issued to Clifford H. Krueger.
• U.S. Pat. No. 3,090,975 issued to Alfred Bernard Franks,
• U.S. Pat. No. 2,850,747 issued to Stewart P. Bouchard, Sr,
• U.S. Pat. No. 1,683,276 issued to Charles L. Woods,

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a catamaran central body portion which goes far to overcome the problems of prior art. In view of the foregoing, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide an improved catamaran central body portion that provides at least one of the features described in greater detail below:

Accordingly, it is at least one aspect of the present invention to provide a first embodiment of a catamaran central body portion comprising a floor structure with topside having rising rigid front and mid walls as well as port and starboard side walls and with underside characterized as a smooth surface having port and starboard flange lips wherein associated said side walls in vertical alignment with said flange lips together form an inboard and/or outboard mating surface. A front roofed alcove disposed on said floor structure enclosed by said front wall, said mid wall, and said side walls wherein interior space for sleeping accessible through opening in one or both said side walls. A middle bridge area disposed on said floor structure between said side walls rearward from said midwall wherein navigational controls, a drivers seat, and bridge seating means. A rear passenger area on said floor structure having disposed therein port and starboard hull entry openings through said side walls for hull entry and rearward laterally spaced-apart wall bracing structures for strengthening each said side walls and further rearward a number of passenger seating means.

Accordingly, it is another aspect of the present invention to provide a second embodiment of a catamaran central body portion comprising a floor structure with topside having rising rigid front and mid walls as well as port and starboard side walls and with underside characterized as a smooth surface having port and starboard flange lips wherein associated said side walls in vertical alignment with said flange lips together form an inboard and/or outboard mating surface. A front roofed alcove disposed on said floor structure enclosed by said front wall, said mid wall, and said side walls wherein interior space for sleeping accessible through opening in one or both said side walls. A middle bridge area disposed on said floor structure between said side walls rearward from said midwall wherein laterally centered navigational controls, laterally centered drivers seat, as also port and starboard hull entry openings through said side walls for hull entry A rear passenger area rearward from said bridge area on said floor structure having disposed laterally spaced-apart wall bracing structures for strengthening each said side walls and rearward a number of passenger seating means.

Accordingly, it is a further aspect of the present invention to provide a third embodiment of a catamaran central body portion comprising a floor structure with topside having rising rigid front and mid walls as well as port and starboard side walls and with underside characterized as a smooth surface having port and starboard flange lips wherein associated said side walls in vertical alignment with said flange lips together form an inboard and/or outboard mating surface. A front roofed alcove disposed on said floor structure enclosed by said front wall, said mid wall, and said side walls wherein interior space for sleeping accessible through opening in one or both said side walls. A middle passenger roofed cabin disposed on said floor structure between said side walls rearward from said midwall wherein a number of passenger seating means and rearward port and starboard hull entry openings through said side walls for hull entry and further rearward laterally spaced-apart wall bracing structures for strengthening each said side walls. A rear bridge area disposed on said floor structure rearward from said roofed cabin wherein navigational controls, a drivers seat, and a number of bridge seating means.

Whereby, in all three embodiments, a pair of habitable hulls having weather sheltering roof means are enabled to be together (hull and roof) attached to or detached from hull-wise associated said flange lips inboard and/or outboard side as also roof-wise associated said side walls inboard and/or outboard side forming a variable width catamaran boat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment perspective view.

FIG. 2 is a first embodiment top plan view.

FIG. 3 is a first embodiment side elevation view.

FIG. 4 is a first and second embodiment front elevation view.

FIG. 5 is a third embodiment front elevation view.

FIG. 6 is a first embodiment sectional view from rear.

FIG. 7 is a second embodiment sectional view from rear.

FIG. 8 is a third embodiment sectional view from rear of front roofed alcove.

FIG. 9 shows a second embodiment perspective view.

FIG. 10 is a second embodiment top plan view.

FIG. 11 is a second embodiment side elevation view.

FIG. 12 shows a third embodiment perspective view.

FIG. 13 is a third embodiment top plan view.

FIG. 14 is a third embodiment side elevation view.

FIG. 15 is a third embodiment sectional view from rear of middle passenger roofed cabin.

FIG. 16 is a third embodiment sectional view from rear of rear bridge area.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS
11 catamaran central body        12 floor structure
12A roofed alcove                12B bridge area
12C passenger area               12D raised bridge floor alcove
12E cabin canopy                 12F window
13 port side wall                13A port hull entry opening
13B port side wall bracing       13C port flange lip
structure
13D port wall alcove opening     14 starboard side wall
14A starboard hull entry opening 14B starboard side wall bracing
                                 structure
14C starboard flange lip         14D starboard wall alcove opening
15 central body front wall       16 central body mid wall
17 navigation controls           18 drivers seat
19 bridge area seating means     20 passenger area seating means

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRST EMBODIMENT

A first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 (Perspective view), FIG. 2 (Top plan view), FIG. 3 (Side elevation view), FIG. 4 (Front elevation view), and FIG. 6 (Sectional view from rear). This first embodiment is a catamaran central body portion to be attached to as well as carried above water by habitable roof sheltered port and starboard hulls comprising a floor structure 12 with topside having rising rigid front and mid walls 15 and 16 as well as port and starboard side walls 13 and 14 and with underside having port and starboard flange lips 13C and 14C wherein associated said side walls 13 and 14 in vertical alignment with said flange lips 13C and 14C together form port and starboard hulls mating surface inboard-wise and/or outboard-wise. Said floor structure 12 underside area between said flange lips 13C and 14C characterized as a smooth surface. A front roofed alcove 12A disposed on said floor structure 12 enclosed by said front wall 15, said mid wall 16, and said side walls 13 and 14 wherein forming interior space for sleeping accessible through opening 13D and/or 14D in one or both said side walls 13 and 14. A middle bridge area 12B disposed on said floor structure 12 between said side walls 13 and 14 rearward from said mid wall 16 having therein navigation controls 17, drivers seat 18, and a number of bridge area seating means 19. A rear passenger area 12C on said floor structure 12 rearward of said bridge area 12B having therein port and starboard hull entry openings 13A and 14A through each said side walls 13 and 14 for hull entry and rearward therein laterally spaced-apart side wall bracing structures 13B and 14B for strengthening each said side wall 13 and 14 and further rearward a number of passenger area seating means 20.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SECOND EMBODIMENT

A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4 (Front elevation view), FIG. 7 (Sectional view from rear), FIG. 9 (Perspective view), FIG. 10 (Top plan view), and FIG. 11 (Side elevation view). This second embodiment is a catamaran central body portion to be attached to as well as carried above water by habitable roof sheltered port and starboard hulls comprising a floor structure 12 with topside having rising rigid front and mid walls 15 and 16 as well as port and starboard side walls 13 and 14 and with underside having port and starboard flange lips 13C and 14C wherein associated said side walls 13 and 14 in vertical alignment with said flange lips 13C and 14C together form port and starboard hulls mating surface inboard-wise and/or outboard-wise. Said floor structure 12 underside area between said flange lips 13C and 14C characterized as a smooth surface. A front roofed alcove 12A disposed on said floor structure 12 enclosed by said front wall 15, said mid wall 16, and said side walls 13 and 14 wherein forming interior space for sleeping accessible through opening 13D and/or 14D in one or both said side walls 13 and 14. A middle bridge area 12B disposed on said floor structure 12 between said side walls 13 and 14 rearward from said mid wall 16 having therein laterally centered navigation controls 17, laterally centered drivers seat 18, and on both lateral sides of said bridge area 12B are port and starboard hull entry openings 13A and 14A through said side walls 13 and 14 for hull entry. A rear passenger area 12C on said floor structure 12 rearward of said bridge area 12B having therein laterally spaced-apart side wall bracing structures 13B and 14B for strengthening each said side wall 13 and 14 and further rearward a number of passenger area seating means 20.

DESCRIPTION OF THE THIRD EMBODIMENT

A third embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 5 (Front elevation view), FIG. 8 (Front alcove sectional view from rear), FIG. 12 (Perspective view), FIG. 13 (Top floor plan view), FIG. 14 (Side elevation view), FIG. 15 (Passenger cabin area sectional view from rear), and FIG. 16 (Rear bridge area sectional view from rear). This third embodiment is a catamaran central body portion to be attached to as well as carried above water by habitable roof sheltered port and starboard hulls comprising a floor structure 12 with topside having rising rigid front and mid walls 15 and 16 as well as port and starboard side walls 13 and 14 and with underside having port and starboard flange lips 13C and 14C wherein associated said side walls 13 and 14 in vertical alignment with said flange lips 13C and 14C together form port and starboard hulls mating surface inboard-wise and/or outboard-wise. Said floor structure 12 underside area between said flange lips 13C and 14C characterized as a smooth surface. A front roofed alcove 12A disposed on said floor structure 12 enclosed by said front wall 15, said mid wall 16, and said side walls 13 and 14 wherein forming interior space for sleeping accessible through opening 13D and/or 14D in one or both said side walls 13 and 14. A middle passenger roofed cabin 12C disposed on said floor structure 12 between said side walls 13 and 14 rearward from said mid wall 16 having therein a number of passenger area seating means 20 and rearward therein port and starboard hull entry openings 13A and 14A through each said side walls 13 and 14 for hull entry and further rearward therein laterally spaced-apart side wall bracing structures 13B and 14B for strengthening each said side wall 13 and 14. A rear bridge area 12B disposed on said floor structure 12 rearward from said middle passenger roofed cabin 12C having therein navigation controls 17, drivers seat 18, and a number of bridge area seating means 19.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those elucidated in, or made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing figures shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween. All manners of how structures are joined together are within the scope of the present invention. For example, whether said walls are on top of said floor structure or whether said floor structure abuts said walls results in the same shaped structure and so is within the scope of the present invention. Therefore, said floor structure having rising wall does not mean that said wall is joined on top of said floor structure but rather to the shape from joining structures.

Claims

1. A catamaran central body suitable for attaching to as well as carried above water by roof sheltered port and starboard hulls comprising: (a) a floor structure with topside having rising rigid front wall, mid wall, port and starboard side walls and with underside characterized as a smooth surface having port and starboard flange lips wherein associated said side walls in vertical alignment with said flange lips together form an inboard and/or outboard mating surface whereby a pair of habitable roof sheltered hulls are enabled to together (hull and roof) attach to or detach from hull-wise associated said flange lips inboard and/or outboard side as also roof-wise associated said side walls inboard and/or outboard side forming a disassemble catamaran boat;(b) a front roofed alcove disposed on said floor structure enclosed by said front wall, said mid wall, and said port and starboard side walls wherein interior space for sleeping accessible through opening in one or both said side walls;(c) a middle bridge area disposed on said floor structure between said side walls rearward from said mid wall including therein navigational controls, a drivers seat, and a number of bridge area seating means;(d) a rear passenger area disposed on said floor structure rearward from said bridge area including therein port and starboard hull entry openings through said side walls for hull entry and rearward including therein laterally spaced-apart side wall bracing structures for strengthening each said side walls.

2. A catamaran central body suitable for attaching to as well as carried above water by roof sheltered port and starboard hulls comprising: (a) a floor structure with topside having rising rigid front wall, mid wall, port and starboard side walls and with underside characterized as a smooth surface having port and starboard flange lips wherein associated said side walls in vertical alignment with said flange lips together form an inboard and/or outboard mating surface whereby a pair of habitable roof sheltered hulls are enabled to together (hull and roof) attach to or detach from hull-wise associated said flange lips inboard and/or outboard side as also roof-wise associated said side walls inboard and/or outboard side forming a disassemble catamaran boat;(b) a front roofed alcove disposed on said floor structure enclosed by said front wall, said mid wall, and said port and starboard side walls wherein interior space for sleeping accessible through opening in one or both said side walls;(c) a middle bridge area disposed on said floor structure between said side walls rearward from said mid wall including therein laterally centered navigational controls, a laterally centered drivers seat, and on both lateral sides disposed port and starboard hull entry openings through said side walls for hull entry;(d) a rear passenger area disposed on said floor structure rearward from said bridge area including therein laterally spaced-apart side wall bracing structures for strengthening each said side walls.

3. A catamaran central body suitable for attaching to as well as carried above water by roof sheltered port and starboard hulls comprising: (a) a floor structure with topside having rising rigid front wall, mid wall, port and starboard side walls and with underside characterized as a smooth surface having port and starboard flange lips wherein associated said side walls in vertical alignment with said flange lips together form an inboard and/or outboard mating surface whereby a pair of habitable roof sheltered hulls are enabled to together (hull and roof) attach to or detach from hull-wise associated said flange lips inboard and/or outboard side as also roof-wise associated said side walls inboard and/or outboard side forming a disassemble catamaran boat;(b) a front roofed alcove disposed on said floor structure enclosed by said front wall, said mid wall, and said port and starboard side walls wherein interior space for sleeping accessible through opening in one or both said side walls;(c) a middle passenger area roofed cabin disposed on said floor structure between said side walls rearward from said mid wall including therein a number of passenger area seating means and rearward therein port and starboard hull entry openings through said side walls for hull entry and further rearward therein laterally spaced-apart side wall bracing structures for strengthening each said side walls;(d) a rear bridge area disposed on said floor structure rearward from said passenger area roofed cabin including therein navigation controls and a drivers seat.

4. The invention as defined in claims 1 and 2 wherein said middle bridge area and a portion of said rear passenger area is enclosed with a roofed cabin having windows.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein topside of said roofed cabin is a walkable surface and may include navigation controls, a drivers seat, and a number of passenger area seating means.

6. The invention as defined in claims 1, 2, 3 and 4 further comprising a number of canopy structure means overhead at least a portion of said bridge area and/or said passenger area. Said canopy structure means may be overhead said roofed cabin. Said canopy structure means may include downward extending side windows. Said canopy structure may be rigid and/or flexible and/or collapsible. Said canopy structure means may be a walkable surface and may serve as a sun deck. Said walls may include vertical tube structures having said canopy support means therein.

7. The invention as defined in claims 1, 2, 3 and 4 further comprising a sailing pole for attaching a sail to.

8. The invention as defined in claims 1, 2, 3 and 4 wherein the roof of said front roofed alcove is formed with a number of sections, elevations, and/or pitches. May also have thereon said side wall bracing structures for strengthening said side walls. May also have therein windows.

9. The invention as defined in claims 1, 2, 3 and 4 wherein said floor structure rearward of said side wall bracing structure includes a number of pivoting means to enable raising or folding or detaching.

10. The invention as defined in claims 1, 2 and 4 wherein said rear passenger area includes passenger area seating means.

11. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said rear bridge area includes bridge area seating means.

12. The invention as defined in claims 1, 2, 3 and 4 wherein said hull entry openings through said side walls further each comprise a downward inclined stairway.

13. The invention as defined in claims 1, 2, 3 and 4 wherein said bridge area is over a raised platform above said floor structure.

14. The invention as defined in claims 1, 2, 3 and 4 further comprising food preparation/health means disposed on said floor structure.

15. The invention as defined in claims 1, 2, 3 and 4 further comprising means for propulsion including a number of engines and/or sails.

16. The invention as defined in claims 3 and 4 wherein the roof of said roofed cabin is formed with a number of sections, elevations, and/or pitches. Said roof of said roofed cabin may comprise a detachable roof section with downward extending side windows.

17. The invention as defined in claims 1, 2, 3 and 4 further comprise coupling means to enable extending said navigation control means into attaching said pair of hulls fitted with steering and propulsion means.

18. The invention as defined in claims 1, 2, 3 and 4 wherein said front wall and/or said midwall and/or said side wall bracing structures include openings and/or windows whereby a driver/operator has vision from said drivers seat through said front wall and/or said midwall and/or said side wall bracing structures.