AU2004218648A1 - Improvements to watercraft - Google Patents

Description

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AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION o STANDARD PATENT O IMPROVEMENTS TO WATER CRAFT 00oo 1. The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best 0 method of performing it known to me.

00 The invention is an item added to a monohull watercraft. The invention is a means which when attached to a craft makes a previously unstable craft in the case of canoes and kayaks sailable, stable and steerable by providing an invention Sthat can be temporarily but soundly connected to almost any monohull craft even more stable craft like dingys but especially canoes and kayaks effectively making them a trimaran. The part of the invention that is connected to the monohull is a tubular beam enclosed in 2 locating bush, the locating bush's can be positioned at various points to accommodate different craft and it is these bushes that are connected to the monohull on each side. The means will vary with every application from being bolted on to being held by elasticized straps. This beam is referred to as the span beam and has an outrigger pivotally connected at each end, allowing the outrigger to pivot on a horizontal plain approximately at a degree in each direction while having a tiller beam pivotally attached at rear of outrigger to keep left and right outrigger in unison and this effectively means the outriggers act as rudders turning the front of the craft left or right. The outriggers have an inwardly concave shape and minimize sideways movement, they are spaced equal distances each side ofmonohull and are connected to span beam via a support arm that is adjustably fitted to the outrigger rudders is vertically connected and slides in a track on outriggers top and can be secured at varying positions along the length of outrigger from about a third along to almost half way from front. The top end of support arm which is a tubular shape with two bushes fitted for adjusting weight put on outriggers and to lift front of monohull is positioned in a nylon or plastic pivot point which is attached separately at both ends of span beam off the right internal shape to accommodate aluminum tubular support arm and is held in position by two nylon straps and a locking tensioning devise. The span beam has mast connection points to accommodate mast and sail or more than one mast or mast configuration. The mast and span beam pivot to front and rear depending on buoyancy of outriggers and pressure on sail. The invention provides stability, buoyancy and makes it much easier to board craft from deep water and can be easily detached and left on beach and previously attached craft can then be used for it's designed purpose. When invention is in use some shallow draft craft may need a centre plate or side type plate at rear.

Invention is easily dismantled.

Page 1 of4 IN THE DRAWINGS 1. Shows the invention attached to monohull as (A) Show the invention point of attachment and pivot point Is the point where outrigger rudders attach to span beam 00 Is pivot point for tiller arm 00 SIn figure above elevation with craft in going forward configuration O 2. Shows outrigger rudders turned to left which will make craft go to left from the front In figure above elevation. Outriggers swivel at point A and B and become rudders turning craft to port in this case or starboard when swivelled in opposite direction 3. Shows side elevation with the invention attached to monohull and outrigger In figure front of boat is lifted almost out or water by buoyancy of outriggers while stern has more draft stopping sideways movement of stem, outriggers have flat or inward concave shape to stop sideways movement of front and enable rudder action.

4. Shows mast tilted forward figure side elevation, mast can be pivoted forward or aft. pivoting forward can assist in turning and when pivoted to aft assists the outriggers to plane Note any type of sail combination can be used and devise could be attached to almost any type of craft and some my need a centre board arrangement at rear of craft.

Shows end view of outriggers support arm adjustment track In figure side shape stops side ways movement and gives strength.

6. Shows side view of outrigger rudder combination and support arm and track In figure support arm can be moved fore or aft 7. Shows span beam and one means of connection to monohull shows how support arm is positioned in pivot point and how locking flanges adjust in position. The span beam also has a locking flange, one on the outer edge of both fitting bushes this is one way of connecting support arm in span beam pivot point. In figure span beam is fixed to main hull allowing it to pivot but not move sideways. In figure again spacer slides up or down support arm and is located at desired position to position depth of outrigger. Support arm fits inside pivot point and protrudes above where spacer flange is secured Page 4 of V 8. In another option a plastic housing is attached to ends of span beam and Sconnection is via side and then the support arm is held in place with nylon l belting and tensioning devise. Figure shows span beam plastic or Snylon housing for containing support arm with nylon webbing and tensioning arm (B) 0 O 00 00 Page 5 of

Claims (16)

1. The invention when attached makes an unstable craft, such as a canoe or kayak o stable and safer to use. O 00

2. The devise when attached to a normally unstable craft makes it easy to re board 0 the craft when in deep water and can be used as a diving platform.

003. The devise enables an unstable craft to be turned into a sailboat once temporally but soundly attached. OC

4. The inwardly concave shape of the outriggers give structural strength with easily C-i molded shape while minimizing sideways movement when sailing The outriggers pivot horizontally approx. 45 degree each way on the respective C ends of span beam while being kept in control by a tiller arm.

This ensures they are both at the same angle at the same time.

6. The invention means the outrigger pontoons act as rudders turning the front of craft either left or right depending on what direction tiller arm is pushed.

7. A mast or masts can be vertically attached to span beam and various sails can be attached to mast, masts, or mast configurations to turn craft into sailboat.

8. A shallow draft craft would need a centerboard type plate at rear of craft to stop sideways movement of rear of craft although many sit on type kayaks already have more draft at rear.

9. The span beam while being soundly attached to craft can still pivot forward or to the rear At either end of span beam is a vertical pivot point of nylon made to accommodate support arm which is vertically attached to pontoon.

One option is the support arm housing is cast in plastic and the support arm is held in place by a nylon clamp which allows for sideways entry into housing.

11. The support arm is attached in a vertical direction from the pontoon or outrigger and slides to front or rear of outrigger for tuning purposes in different wind conditions but is always forward of the front half of outrigger and once positioned needs to be secured.

12. At rear of outrigger is another vertical support arm and pivot point it is to here that a tiller arm attaches to support arm and joins the rear of both outrigger rudders to keep them in unison.

13. The forward vertical support arm of outrigger has bushes on it to adjust the point at which the support arm of outrigger pivots in the support arm housing at end of span beam. This lefts the front off craft out of water and transfers some of buoyancy to outrigger rudders. Page of 4 Pag CLAIMS CONTINUED

14. Outriggers, span beam, tiller arm, mast, masts can be easily disassembled for transporting.

The invention can be easily removed from canoe, kayak or craft and original craft can be used without invention attached.

16. Pivotal point is at top of support arm but could also be at other end of support arm on or near outrigger rudders or in a manufactured complete unit including monohull and invention the span beam could be bent at 90 degree with pivot point at connection point to outrigger rudder. t -k-Tef, kil Pu ic,rr i o Page of 4 br,