AU674273B2

AU674273B2 - Flotation device

Info

Publication number: AU674273B2
Application number: AU27264/95A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Dean Michael Fisher; Mark Stephen Fisher
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-03-31
Filing date: 1995-07-28
Publication date: 1996-12-12
Anticipated expiration: 2015-07-28
Also published as: AU2726495A

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: DEAN MICHAEL FISHER and MARK STEPHEN FISHER Actual Inventor(s): Dean Michael Fisher and Mark Stephen Fisher SAddress for Service: WRAY ASSOCIATES, Primary Industry House, 239 Adelaide Terrace, Perth, Western Australia, 6000.

Details of Associated Provisional Applications No: PN2083 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: -1- THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to a flotation device. In particular, the invention relates to a flotation device for supporting an object in or out of water, It is often necessary to raise objects such as marine craft out of the water for example for cleaning or for dry storage. In addition, it may be necessary to lift a boat out of the water for salvage and rescue purposes, or for reasons of safety.

Other objects may also be required to be lifted out of the water. For example, marine animal rescue operations often need means for supporting whales or 10 dolphins in or out of the water.

A number of devices are already known for lifting boats from the water, Many of S. these known devices are cumbersome and fairly complicated to operate. For example, US patent 4018179 discloses a pontoon system for supporting 15 watercraft on a body of water, The system has a submersible structure comprised of pontoons into which air is injected thereby expelling the water from the pontoons to provide lift for the system. The device of US patent 4018179 is a rigid structure and has a number of hoses connected through a series of valves 2 to a compressed air supply for operation of the device making operation fairly complicated.

In addition, a number of the prior art devices require that the device be attached to a jetty or other stable structure for the successful operation of the device.

Thus, such devices are not readily transportable and cannot be carried on board a boat or cannot be readily taken to the site where they are needed.

Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to provide a flotation device that can be fairly easily transported, for example on board a boat, Furthermore an aim of the invention is to provide a device that is relatively easy to operate without the need for sophisticated facilities, for example those not usually available on a boat.

-3- The present invention provides a flotation device for supporting an object in water comprising two inflatable members adapted to be positioned in spaced apart side by side relationship and a linking means extending between the inflatable members for limiting the extent of the spacing between the inflatable members, whereby in use the inflatable members define a space therebetween between which the object can be received such that the object is supported on the inflatable members with the linking means located below the object, the linking means comprising projections extending laterally from the inflatable members and a bridge means extending between the projections, the bridge means comprising an elongate flexible member laced between the projections.

The linking means comprises projections extending laterally from each inflatable member, and a bridge means extending between the projections. The bridge means comprises an elongate flexible member (such as a rope) laced between 1 5 the projections. The rope or other elongate flexible member may be laced in any suitable way, such as in a generally parallel arrangement or in a criss-cross Soformation. As with usual lacing arrangements, the flexible member can be easily tightened or loosened as required. In this way, the spacing between the inflatable members can be readily adjusted to accommodate objects such as 20 boats of differing sizes.

The bridge means comprises a flexible member to provide the device with stability when the device is supporting the object. This allows the flotation device to better accommodate different hull shapes and also allows for compact storage of the device.

Preferably, the inflatable members each present a resiliently flexible surface for engaging against the object. This allows the inflatable members to deform against the surface of the object-being supported thereby providing better support and assisting in spreading the load of the object onto the members.

A1t -3a- Whilst the linking means may be in contact with the underside of the object, it is preferably spaced apart from the object when the device is in use such that the object is supported only by the inflatable members.

*o e -4- The laterally extending projections may extend along the length of the inflatable members. Additionally the projections may be formed integrally with each respective inflatable member.

Preferably, each of the inflatable members comprises one or more inflatable pontoons. The inflatable members may also be defined by sections of a single unit adapted to, in use, be wrapped at least partially around the object.

Each of the pontoons is preferably provided with valve means for inflating the o 0 device from a deflated position to an inflated position. Compressed air or other suitable gas may be used to inflate the pontoons.

The inflatable members are preferably made of reinforced polymers but any other suitable material may be used, The device is conveniently constructed as a portable unit. In the case of use on i a boat, the unit is conveniently provided with a pump which operates off the power supply of the boat.

20 Further, the present invention provides a method for supporting an object in water using the device described above comprising the steps of: locating the deflated inflatable members in spaced apart relationship in the water underneath the object with the linking means located below the object; and inflating the inflatable members so that the object is supported by engagement of the object against the surface of the inflatable members.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of three specific embodiments thereof. The embodiments are directed to a flotation device for supporting a boat out of the water. However, whilst the embodiments are directed to a flotation device for supporting a boat it is to be understood that the device can also be used to support other objects in or out of the water.

In the drawings:- Figure 1 shows a plan view of a flotation device according to a first embodiment; Figure 2 shows an end view of the device as shown in Figure 1; 10 Figure 3 is a front elevational view showing the flotation device in the •ooo :inflated form supporting a boat; Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the flotation device as shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a front elevational view showing a flotation device according to S 15 a second embodiment; and Figure 6 is perspective view of a flotation device according to a third embodiment.

Illustrated in Figure 1 is a flotation device 10 according to a first embodiment.

The flotation device 10 comprises a pair of inflatable members shown as pontoons 12 in the drawings. A linking means 14 extends between the pontoons 12. The linking means 14 comprises two projections 16 extending laterally from each pontoon 12. The projections 16 extend along the length of the pontoons 12 and are formed integrally with each respective inflatable member 12.

The linking means 14 further comprises a bridge means 17 which extends between the projections 16. The bridge means 17 is conveniently a nylon rope 18 or other such suitable structure laced in a criss-cross form through holes 19 in the projections 16.

~I

In addition, the device 10 includes valve means 20 in each pontoon 12 for inflation of the pontoons, The device may also be provided with rings 22 in each pontoon to provide lugs for the attachment of rope to the flotation device.

In order to use the flotation device 10, the device is placed in its deflated form underneath the boat 11 to be raised out of the water, with the pontoons being located on opposed sides of the keel line of the hull. Compressed air is pumped into the pontoons 12 via the valves 20 so that the pontoons gradually inflate, raising the boat out of the water as the boat engages the inflated pontoons.

10 Generally, it is desirable to inflate the pontoons simultaneously to provide a stable and constant horizontal elevation of the boat.

o Once the pontoons 12 are fully inflated the boat 11 is raised clear of the water level 26 as shown in Figure 3. In this position, the boat can be readily cleaned or 1 5 stored to prevent fouling or scaling of the underside of the boat which may occur on contact with water.

:°qo o o" It can be seen that the boat 11 engages the pontoons 12, each of the pontoons presenting a resiliently flexible surface for engaging against the boat, As can be 20 seen in Figure 3, part of the hull 28 of the boat 11 rests on the linking means 14 and this provides extra support as a cradle to retain the boat in a stable condition out of the water, The flotation device according to the second embodiment is similar in many respects to the device according to the first embodiment with the exception that the linking means 14 is spaced downwardly from the hull 28 so that the boat is supported only on the pontoons 12 as shown in Figure The device according to the third embodiment is similar in many respects to that of the first and second embodiments with the exception that the bridge means 17 is in the form of a plurality of flexible elements 30 extending between the projections 16. In this embodiment, the flexible elements are shown as individual -7elements 30 but it should be understood that the elements could comprise sections of an elongate flexible member (such as a rope). The elongate member may be laced in an arrangement in which the sections which provide the elements are generally parallel.

It can be seen from the drawinrgs that the flotation device which is the subject of this invention is particularly stable due to the fact that the centre of mass of the hull 28 is close to the centre of mass of the pontoons 12. This clearly provides for better stability than a number of the previously known flotation devices.

The flotation device according to the embodiments can be made in different sizes and shapes depending on the size and shape of the boat or object to be supported. In most instances, the device may be readily handled by a single 15person. Furthermore, due to the lacing arrangement of the bridge means, the 15 spacing between the pontoons can be easily adjusted so that a single device may be used to accommodate boats or objects of differing sizes.

The flotation device can be conveniently provided in the form of a portable, single unit which may be stored on any boat or other vessel and used when necessary 20 for safety, salvage or rescue purposes. Due to its portability, the flotation device may be used to raise the vessel out of the water wherever the vessel may be located, for example out at sea, next to a jetty or in a bay. Once the device is no longer needed, it may be easily deflated and returned to storage on the vessel.

Furthermore, the flotation device according to the embodiments may provide a permanent or semi-permanent storage facility or dry dock to keep a boat out of the water for a period of time. This reduces scaling of the boat and fouling of motors which reduces the service cost to the boat owner.

It should be appreciated that the scope of the invention is not limited to the scope of the embodiments described. In particular, it should be appreciated that the flotation device can be used to support objects other than boats out of the water.

Claims

1. A flotation device for supporting an object in water comprising two inflatable members adapted to be positioned in spaced apart side by side relationship and a linking means extending between the inflatable members for limiting the extent of the spacing between the inflatable members, whereby in use the inflatable members define a space therebetween between which the object can be received such that the object is supported on the inflatable members with the linking means located below the object, the linking means comprising projections extending laterally from the inflatable members and a bridge means extending between the projections, the bridge means comprising an elongate flexible member laced between the projections. eG e*

2. A flotation device according to claim I wherein said inflatable mnembers 1 5 each present a resiliently flexible surface for engaging against the object.

V CC C S C: S3. A flotation device according to any one of claims 1 or 2 wherein the linking means is spaced apart from the object when the device is in use. 20

4. A flotation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the elongate flexible member is laced between the projections in a criss-cross formation.

A flotation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the laterally extending projections extend along the length of the inflatable members.

6. A flotation device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the projections are formed integrally with the inflatable members.

7. A flotation device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the inflatable members each comprise one or more inflatable pontoons. -9-

8. A method for supporting an object in water employing the device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 comprising the steps of: locating the deflated inflatable members in spaced apart relationship in the water underneath the object with the linking means positioned below the object; and inflating the inflatable members so that the object is supported by engagement of the object against the surface of the inflatable members.

9. A flotation device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1

10. A method for supporting an object in water substantially as heeirn described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 0 DATED this SIXTH day of SEPTEMBER 1996 DEAN MICHAEL FISHER and MARK STEPHEN FISHER 20 Applicants WRAY ASSOCIATES Perth, Western Australia Patent Attorneys for the Applicant ABSTRACT The invention relates to a flotation device for supporting an object in water. The device comprises two inflatable members (12) adapted to be positioned in spaced apart side by side relationship and a linking means (14) extending between the inflatable members for limiting the extent of the spacing between the inflatable rr ri.bers whereby in use the inflatable members (12) define a space therebetween between which the object can be received such that the object is supported on the inflatable members (12) with the linking means (14) located below the object.