Patent Application
20110061585
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to boats and more particular, to folding boats. There are several types of folding boats on the market: rigid structure type, inflatable type and combination of both types mentioned above.
Inflatable boats depend upon ability to maintain air pressure and are extremely vulnerable to puncture.
Rigid structure boats offer significant advantages in terms of comfort, reliability and stability, however, existing rigid structure folding boats are too heavy to handle in folding and unfolding process and are not sufficiently compact and versatile in their folded configuration. They do not offer sufficient flotation redundancy or construction integrity. They often require a trailer for their transportation or, at the best, a track bed or luggage rack on a vehicle.
It is understood that there is a real demand for a compactly folding boat combining advantages of a rigid structure, flotation redundancy, simplicity and lightness in folding and unfolding process, compactness and versatility in folded configuration.
There is need for a folding boat requiring small storage area with ability to be transported in a station wagon, in a minivan or in a sport-utility vehicle.
2. Prior Art
The folding boat offered by Strausser in U.S. Pat. No. 3,056,147 comprises a foldable lengthwise hull with two large seams which are prone to leaking. I addition to that, the boat lacks any redundant flotation means and full hull length in the folded configuration creates difficulties of storage and transportation.
The portable, foldable and collapsible water cycle disclosed by Liard in U.S. Pat. No. 3,257,987 can be folded along the longitudinal axis of the hull creating long package which would be difficult to transport or store.
The pontoon boat having a collapsible form presented by Voelkel in U.S. Pat. No. 4,829,926 comprises two full length pontoons with collapsible Structure on a top of them. Full length pontoons are bulky and take too much Space, even in the folded configuration.
The folding fishing boat apparatus disclosed by Lesly in U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,324 comprises two full length pontoons which are not allowing compact folded configuration.
The portable pontoon boat presented by Evans in U.S. Pat. No. 5,237,954 comprises four pontoons and removable structure above them. Such arrangement presents some improvements, however, bolted half shells construction of the pontoons are prone to leaking and require complex assembly and disassembly process.
The modular pontoon deck disclosed by Stevens in U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,007 comprises plurality of modular floats connected to a modular achieve compact folding, however, it is too complicated and plurality of the modular floats still would occupy too much space in folded configuration, so it would be difficult to transport a such boat in a station wagon, minivan or sport-utility vehicle.
The collapsible trailerless pontoon boat offered by Little in U.S. Pat. No. 6,067,925 comprises four pontoons and foldable platform. This idea failed to provide compact folded configuration due to the bulky pontoons. In addition to that, the system is too complicated and expensive to manufacture.
The collapsible boat transport system offered by Brignolio in U.S. Pat. No. 6,647,913 is three full length pontoon configuration with folding ability to reduce distance between pontoons. This is bulky boat suggested for trailer transportation with very modest reduction of size in folded configuration.
The folding boat disclosed by Zoss et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,766,758 comprises four pontoons and pivotally folded deck panels. Such folding arrangement does not produce compact folding configuration suitable for transportation in medium size vehicles. I addition to that, this boat is too bulky to handle it by a one person.
Accordingly, besides the objects and advantages of the folding boat described in my Patent several objects and advantages of the present invention are:
a. To provide a rigid structure folding boat which being in folded configuration would feet inside of most medium size station wagons, minivans, sport-utility vehicles and would be easy to store indoors.
b. To provide a folding boat which would have simple and quick assembly and disassembly process without tools, loading and unloading by a one person.
c. To provide a folding boat with reliable and redundant flotation capabilities.
d. To provide a folding boat which would be easy and inexpensive to manufacture.
e. To provide a folding rigid structure boat where some elements of it could be utilized for other than flotation purposes.
f. To provide a folding boat which would easily used with muscular, wind or solar-electric propulsion systems.
The apparatus of the present invention overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and drawbacks that are characteristic of these aforementioned designs. More particularly, a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a foldable boat apparatus that is easy to assembly into operational mode, easy to transport and to store.
In a preferred embodiment, the folding boat comprises at least two foldable horizontal frames each comprising at least two fold ably connected sections with longitudinal rails equipped with internal and external longitudinal grooves.
Said longitudinal rails are interconnected by a plurality of transverse members of said foldable horizontal frame.
Said fold ably connected sections of each said foldable horizontal frame can be attached to each other by a transverse swivel joint on one side of said foldable horizontal frame and by releasable locking means on another side of the same foldable horizontal frame.
Also, said fold ably connected sections of the same foldable horizontal frame can be attached to each other by said releasable locking means on each side of said foldable horizontal frame.
A plurality of removable horizontal transverse beams connect said foldable horizontal frames of the boat in unfolded configuration.
Said removable horizontal transverse beams can be engaged with said horizontal transverse members of each said foldable horizontal frame structurally connecting both said frames.
Releasable locking means installed on each said transverse member can hold both ends of said horizontal transverse beams in engaged position. Said horizontal transverse beams are equipped with longitudinal tabs.
Plurality of deck sheets can be supported and held by said external grooves of said longitudinal rails and supported by said longitudinal tabs of said removable horizontal transverse beams.
Each said foldable horizontal frame hold plurality of removable and stackable floats.
Each said float comprises a removable and stackable gasketted watertight cover. Said gasketted covers can be equipped with at least one removable gasketted watertight access hatch.
Each said above float can be equipped with horizontal longitudinal tabs which can be engaged with said internal longitudinal grooves of said longitudinal rails.
Said floats covers can be attached to the said float by a releasable locking means or can be extended to the vertical longitudinal walls of said float tabs to be held by said internal longitudinal grooves of said longitudinal rails.
Said floats can be three types of configurations: for individual installation, for paired installation, or combination of intermediate and end floats forming a continuous hull.
Each float designed for paired installation comprises flat vertical wall which allows to install them in a mirror orientation with their vertical walls contacting each other, so, said pair of floats forms one a hydro-dynamically shaped hull.
One type of combination of floats designed to form continuous hull can comprise one symmetrical intermediate float and two end floats, another type of such combination can comprise two asymmetrical intermediate floats and two end floats.
Regardless of float shape the float cover can be designed as one common shape and size to fit all floats of a specific float combination mentioned above.
Said floats can be equipped with a removable stiffening element installed inside said floats to prevent deformation of said floats by pressure of water.
Said floats can be equipped with at least two fins attached to the bottom of said floats for better protection from physical damage and for attachment of boat launching wheels.
Said removable horizontal transverse beams located at the front or at the rear of the boat can be equipped with a transom plate.
Said folding boat can be used with muscular, wind and solar-electric propulsion.
In the folding process of the inventive boat the releasable locking means of the removable transverse beams to be released and said removable transverse beams moved out of said transverse members of foldable horizontal frame allowing to lift said removable deck sheets out of the boat. Further, said removable transverse beams being fully disengaged from said transverse members leaving said foldable horizontal frames with mounted said floats. Than, releasable locking means of said foldable horizontal frame being released allow said floats to be removed from the frame by sliding them out of the internal longitudinal grooves of the longitudinal rails being positioned for removal of the floats.
Swivelly foldable guard rails mounted on said foldable horizontal frames can be swivelly folded with prior release of guard rail releasable locking means.
In the folded configuration the guard rails would assume a position substantially coplanar with the top surface of said foldable horizontal frame.
A slideable climbing step frame with two guiding channels of front guard rails attached to the front horizontal transverse beam of the boat can provide easy access to the boat deck, where said step frame can assume upper retracted position when said step frame is locked in this position by step frame releasable locking means and, upon release of said locking means, sad step frame can slide down to form a climbing step.
The covers of said floats to be removed and stacked allowing the floats to be stacked in compact stack.
At the end of the folding process the inventive boat to be reduced to the compact stack of the floats, stack of the float covers, stack of the deck sheets, the folded horizontal frames and detached said horizontal transverse beams.
To insure the boat redundant flotation following elements of the inventive boat can be equipped with plastic foam fillings or air pockets. Such elements of boat structure like longitudinal rails, transverse members foldable horizontal frames, removable horizontal transverse beams, transom plate, guard rails, slideable climbing step frame can be filled by plastic foam. Removable deck sheets can be constructed of light composite material with foam or air pocket cells. The boat floats can be equipped with plastic foam material attached to the bottom wall and covers of said floats.
At least two removable wheeled shoes or removable wheels with axle can be attached to the boat floats to allow easy launching of the boat.
Some elements of the folded boat can be utilized for the purposes different from flotation. For instance, the floats can be used as storage bins, the foldable horizontal frame and the deck sheets can be utilized as structural elements for variety of different useful purposes.
Also, substantially rectangular plan view configuration of said foldable horizontal frames of the inventive boat allow to connect a plurality of such boats to each other in a horizontal longitudinal direction to form larger floating platform.
Drawings
New Drawings:
Although specific features of the invention are shown in some drawings and not others, this is for convenience only as each feature may be combined with any or all of other features in accordance with the invention.
While preferred illustrative embodiments of the invention are described above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention.
The appended claims are intended to cover all changes within the spirit of the invention.
A preferred embodiment of the inventive folding boat is illustrated in
Referring now to
Said fold ably connected sections (12A) and (12B) of said one foldable horizontal frame are attached to each other by releasable locking means (24).
Said fold ably connected sections (12C) and (12D) of said another foldable horizontal frame are attached to each other by the same type of locking means (24).
As can be seen on the drawing said longitudinal rails (14) of each foldable horizontal frame (12) are connected by releasable locking means (24). Said releasable locking means (24) being of the usual conventional design, old in the art, and well known in structure and methods of operation to those skilled in the art, they are therefore simply indicated, and the details of structure and operation of them are omitted.
At least one swivelly foldable guard rail (26) is mounted on each said fold ably connected section (12A), (12B), (12C), (12D) of said foldable horizontal frame (12).
Removable horizontal transverse beams (34) connect said foldable horizontal frames (12) of the boat (11) engaging respective said transverse members (16).
Transverse beam releasable locking means (38) being installed on said transverse members (16) holds said transverse member (16) and said horizontal transverse beam (34) in engaged position.
Said releasable locking means (38) being of the usual conventional design, old in the art, and well known in structure and methods of operation to those skilled in the art, it is therefore simply indicated, and the details of structure and operation of it are omitted.
A transom plate (42) can be attached to said horizontal transverse beam (34) at the front or at the rear of the boat.
Two opposite edges of removable deck sheets (44) are supported by longitudinal tabs (36) of said horizontal transverse beams (34) and other two edges are engaged and supported by external longitudinal grooves (18) of said inner longitudinal rails (14).
Plurality of removable and stackable floats (46) are release ably attached to said foldable horizontal frames (12). Said floats (46) are installed in pairs in mirror orientation with their vertical flat walls contacting each other, so, said pair of floats forms one hydro-dynamically shaped body.
The drawing shows a front rail guards (84) with guiding channels (86) being attached to the boat removable horizontal transverse beam (34) support a slideable frame of the climbing step (88) which is shown in retracted upper position being held in this position by step frame releasable locking means (90).
The step frame releasable locking means (90) being of the usual conventional design, old in the art, and well known in structure and methods of operation to those skilled in the art, it is therefore simply indicated, and the details of structure and operation of it are omitted.
Referring to
Described above the slideable frame of climbing step (88) is show in down position offering convenient access to the boat deck level.
The drawing shows four boat launching wheels with axles being removably attached to the boat floats (46).
Referring to
Horizontal longitudinal tabs (50) of the float (46) allow the float to be attached to the longitudinal rails (14) which have been mentioned in the description of
A removable float stiffening element (80) is installed inside the float and supported by stiffener element support keys (82) attached to the side wall of the float.
The stiffening element prevents float deformation under water pressure can be designed substantially in horizontal orientation or vertical orientation or as combination of both.
As shown on the drawing the float is equipped with the float bottom middle fin (72) and two float bottom side fins (74) with notches (76) for removable attachment of the axle the boat launching wheels (78).
The float removable gasketted cover is installed on the float providing water sealing of the float interior. The float cover gasket sealing configuration being of the usual conventional design, old in the art, and well known in structure and methods of operation to those skilled in the art, it is therefore simply indicated, and the details of structure and operation of it are omitted.
Referring to
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The diagram emphasizes on the angle established between the bottom wall of the float (96) and the wall adjacent to the wall of float (94) which shall exceed 90 degrees and shall assume an optimal value to allow stacking of the floats and to construct the floats (94) and (96) to share the same type and size of the float covers to simplify the boat assembling process.
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This application claims the benefit of U.S. Pat. No. 6,948,443 filed 2005 Jan. 26 by the present inventor.
