AU2008100422A4 - Foam o Float Bouncy Craft - Google Patents

Description

00 EDITORIAL NOTE 2008100422 There are four pages of description 00

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O AUSTRALIA (Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT

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FOAM O FLOAT BOUNCY CRAFT SSAFETY BOAT O FOAM FENDER 0 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 1 FOAM O FLOAT BOUNCY CRAFT SAFETY BOAT ALL ROUND FOAM FENDER This innovation relates to improvements in relation to the buoyancy and stability of any and all metallic rigid hull boats that makes them safer, more buoyant with higher gunwhale and that acts as a guard rail sea spray dodger in the up position and can be used as a deck cradle when the boat is inverted cushion or seat cushion when sitting on the gunwale, in the normal position. The FOAM O FLOAT BOUNCY CRAFT SAFETY BOAT ALL ROUND FOAM FENDER also provides more positive flotation to the boat and added stability and converts a non compliant neutrally buoyant boat to one that has positive floatation and enhances its stability as well This innovation corrects an inherent design problem in the construction of boats and relates to improved construction and manufacture of a rigid hull adding buoyancy to an existing hull so that the closed cell foam fender will support the weight of the boat engine fuel and crew should the boat be swamped so that the boat and its contents remain afloat and also adds stability in the swamped condition as well as when the boat is normally afloat This is a new, useful and innovative step different from any other enhancement to boat building.

For many people the lack of positive buoyancy, safety and stability in a conventional hull can give rise to safety concerns such as capsize of the boat, sinking and consequent loss of cargo, passengers, engine, fuel, boat and crew. This lack of positive buoyancy under all 00 conditions has been a fundamental defect in boats since time immemorial O The FOAM O FLOAT BOUNCY CRAFT SAFETY BOAT ALL ROUND FOAM CFENDER also enables more passengers to be carried i) the same boat is also capable of increased partially smooth and open water navigation because of the increased buoyancy and stability and gives rise to greater likelihood of the boat being accepted into USL Survey as a workboat for charter and for hire O The FOAM O FLOAT BOUNCY CRAFT SAFETY BOAT ALL ROUND FOAM FENDER is contained inside a welded or sewn UV resistant PVC fabric as in diagram 1 C"l 0I 0 Unlike inflatable or other types of fender it is not necessary to check the buoyancy 00 and integrity of the foam fender, before during and after the voyage because it 0 contains rigid closed cell foam 200mm 50mm sections down each side of the boat o along the entire length of the boat offering 10Kg of additional buoyancy per metre of hull this displacement can be increased or reduced according to the height and width of foam fender and length of gunwhale, and according to the amount of buoyancy, comfort and boat fending required. This corrects an inherent design problem with apparently air filled collars namely the inability to determine whether or not a hull buoyancy section is integral and the propensity of gas or air filled collars and their propensity to puncture and deflate. Existing designs also have to be inflated b) liquid or fluid does not need to be pumped into the fender nor does it need to be pumped out because the closed cell foam as well as forming a rigid structure that can be flipped up or down along the entire length of the boat this gives the fender its structural rigidity in a 'whalebone' effect that enable the fender to be flipped into the up or down position without evacuating or deflating the fender d) effectively any hull can be rendered positively buoyant as well as stable in addition to the additional benefits of having a higher sided gunwale, sea spray dodgers and added comfort to passengers and crew keeping wind and spray out the whole FOAM O FLOAT BOUNCY CRAFT SAFETY BOAT ALL ROUND FOAM FENDER is attached to the existing hull using 'keder' sail track rope that is sewn or welded into the foam fender bags e) the rigidity of the marine grade closed cell foam material forms a curve along the hull of the boat to which it is being 'sail tracked' onto using ordinary 'pop rivets' or can be welded and or screwed on to the side of the boat f) this gives the fender its structural rigidity in a 'whalebone' effect that enable the fender to be flipped into the up or down position g) there is no need to pressurise or deflate the foam fender so there is no risk of accidental puncture and deflation and because the material is 'rip stop' non tear 00 accidental damage to the fender is negligible and so the boat may continue its journey O or return safely without jeapordy to the boat and its contents or occupants 0 h) the boat thus remains afloat whether swamped or partially submerged and reduces the risk of capsize and provides and inherently more stable and structure with greater freeboard and displacement in the 'up' position so that the boat is also less likely to be swamped or submerged by wave or wash.

O i) the FOAM O FLOAT BOUNCY CRAFT SAFETY BOAT ALL ROUND FOAM FENDER is secured and fixed at the front by two eyelets or Velcro in transit to prevent the fender being pulled out of the track and enables the fender to be flipped Sinto the up or down position 0 0 additionally the fender is manufactured to extend to the stern of the boat in the up or 00 down position and is similarly secured up or down by eyelets or Velcro 0 O this means that the whole boat is protected by the FOAM O FLOAT BOUNCY CRAFT SAFETY BOAT ALL ROUND FOAM FENDER even if the boat should go alongside end on to another boat the fender will provide protection to the boat to which it is fixed and to the integrity and paintwork of other boats to which it may come alongside so effectively offering a cushion protection even though it is fitted to a rigid hull the FOAM O FLOAT BOUNCY CRAFT SAFETY BOAT ALL ROUND FOAM FENDER thus makes the boat a) safer and more comfortable to operate, and reduces the risk of hypothermia to its occupants by keeping them dry and out of the wind b) by acting as a guard rail it also means that when secured correctly a low sided boat can be used that will also keep the occupants safely inside the boat meaning that they are less likely to leave the boat accidentally this facilitates the passage and calculation of buoyancy and floatation for stability test purposes and increases the chance of success for 'In USL Survey' floatation and stability testing purposes.

To assist with understanding the details of the invention, construction details now follow, and reference is made to the accompanying drawings: The FOAM O FLOAT BOUNCY CRAFT SAFETY BOAT ALL ROUND FOAM FENDER would normally be made from closed cell foam strips marine grade typically 200mm 50mm according to the length of the boat and may be varied according to the amount of buoyancy and fendering required 'Ihe closed cell foam used in the FOAM O FLOAT BOUNCY CRAFI' SAFETY BOAT ALL ROUND FOAM FENDER is fuel and oil resistant and is non absorbing 00 f()all of:t~f%. Itqii so thiat 1:t lfliiAnu~itls It buiyn~aii St. li.1tdr hfi$ f apndti: coa-Atd nir nfaii In additio h close,-d ccll fi:%m is, also firte, mt(ardani so that Josbl amnac. bv lire! is Tl henoidilv and Curw'cl naun li saltce ie the c uriwhaie- its, t-fixt ,otca bi p dow n '.Alout rtflovxa so facilitlino eas ofoxrail 'Ilk I UMM 0 F OAT BOUNCY CRAFT SAFTY BOAT ALL. ROU)I'ND FOAM C] [1 N~t R n. it fof crmplian.At boat :10 )\LV flotation woeit was OThe FOAM 0 FLOAT B)U N CY CRAFT SAFTY BO'AT All. ROU').,ND 1 2 0AM FI-NF can h fixe-d to other fioatino stutue ,pV1~}.Sadlte o prox-i., 00ia bntt to suchl staucture-s in re-veffac

Claims (1)

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