Patent Application
20230312066
This invention relates to inflatable rafts, and more particularly to a collapsible transom to provide rigid reinforcement for an inflatable raft.
Inflatable rafts are used for fishing, camping, cruising, and the like. A typical inflatable raft includes side walls that extend in an oval or U-shape and a deck floor extending between the side walls. Inflation can provide some degree of rigidity to the raft. However, due to the flexible nature of the material, e.g., plastic, the deck floor may not be a stable surface, e.g., not be suitable for standing. Therefore in some cases a transom is used to provide a used to provide a rigid floor or otherwise increase the rigidity of the raft.
In one aspect, a collapsible transom for an inflatable raft has a front section including two parallel front struts and a rear section including a floor portion and a collapsible support portion. The floor portion includes two parallel rear struts, and the two parallel front struts and two parallel rear struts are slidably connectable to each other by insertion into tubular end portions. The support portion is pivotally connected to the floor portion and movable between an expanded position with the support portion substantially parallel to and spaced away from the floor to a collapsed position with the support portion adjacent the floor.
Advantages may include one or more of the following. The transom provides a stable platform so a user can stand with confidence, as well as an integrated seat/transom support structure beneath which a fuel tank or battery can be stored. As a result, the transom can improve the functionality and usability of the raft. Moreover the transom is collapsible and can fit into the trunk of a car, and is thus easily transportable. The transom is configured to avoid damage to the inflatable raft, is adjust to various size rafts, and is extremely light weight.
The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other aspects, features, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.
As noted above, a transom can be used to provide a used to provide a rigid floor or otherwise increase the rigidity of an inflatable mop. However, currently available transoms are often difficult to install in the raft, difficult to assemble, may useable for only a particular brand of raft based on the size of the raft, and bulky and difficult to transport. However, some configurations for a collapsible transom can both provide a stable platform when in an expanded state, but be easy to transport when in a collapsed state.
Referring to
A transom 100 is shown installed in the raft 10. The transom 100 includes a floor portion 110 and a support portion 120 collapsibly connected to the floor portion 110. An outboard motor 50 can be secured to an end of the support portion 140 that projects past the aft side wall of the raft 10.
Overall, the floor portion 110 of the transom 100 forms a rectangular perimeter with curved edges 112. In particular, referring to
In some implementations, one or more struts of the front section 120, e.g., the support struts 126, can include tabs that provide or to which a stanchion of swivel chair can be mounted.
Turning to
To connect the front section 120 to the rear section 130, end portions 132a of the parallel struts 132 can slide into tubular end portions 122a of the parallel struts 122 (or vice versa with end portions of the front struts 122 fitting into tubular end portions of the rear struts 132). Screws can then fit into screw-holes through both end portions 122a, 132a to secure the front section 120 to the rear section 130. Alternatively, the end-portions 132a of the struts 132 include spring loaded pins that will fit into receiving holes in the end portions 122a of the struts 122 to lock the struts in place. The pins can then be depressed to unlock and permit the struts 122, 132 to be separated.
Returning to
Referring to
To slidably connect the front and rear sections 150, 160, end portions of 152a of the two parallel struts 162 can slide into tubular end portions 162a of the parallel struts 162. This permits the support portion 140 to be telescopically extendible, so that the support is adjustable for rafts with sidewalls of different width or outboard motors that require different spacing. Screws or pins can fit into holes through both end portions 152a, 162a to secure the front section 150 to the rear section 160 at a desired length.
As noted above, the support portion 140 is collapsibly connected to the floor 110. For example, four parallel connecting struts 170 (two connecting struts can be seen in the side view of
This configuration permits the connection struts 170 to rotate (as shown by arrow A in
Returning again to
Optionally a floorboard can secured to the transom 100. For example, the floorboard can be fabricated as a set of slats, connected at edges by rope or the like, such that the floorboard can be rolled up for storage or transport. The slats can be plastic, plywood, etc. In use, the floorboard can be placed on the transom in the inflated raft, unrolled, and then secured, e.g., by screws that fit through holes in the slats into receiving holes in the struts of the transom.
A number of embodiments have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.
