EP0061878B1

EP0061878B1 - Transformable pleasure craft

Info

Publication number: EP0061878B1
Application number: EP82301455A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Tiziana Tomelleri
Original assignee: MECCANOFRUTTA ITALIANA SNC
Current assignee: MECCANOFRUTTA ITALIANA SNC
Priority date: 1981-03-27
Filing date: 1982-03-22
Publication date: 1985-10-02
Also published as: DE3266618D1; EP0061878A3; EP0061878A2

Description

The present invention relates to a craft made of predominantly synthetic materials, of very shallow draught, ensuring very high speed, with good stability for sailing or motor drive, for at least one person.
A craft is known in accordance with the precharacterizing portion of claim 1 of the present application in DE-B-2 843 674. However, the means for lateral stabilization are unsatisfactory and the transom is not removable.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of such prior art arrangement by providing an improved means for lateral stabilization whilst at the same time enabling a removable transom to be utilised.
According to the present invention there is provided a transformable pleasure craft for at least one person, made predominantly of synthetic material and of very shallow draught, comprising at least one oblong central body such as a surfboard, with at least one step for the fitting of a mast and sail and at least one housing for the fitting of a centreboard, means for lateral stabilisation, at least one frame for maintaining the central body and the means for lateral stabilisation in a stable position with respect to each other, means for propulsion and/or directional control of the craft characterised in that said frame supports a removable transom which carries said means for propulsion and/or directional control and in that the means for lateral stabilisation comprises at least one outrigger the underside of which is inclined laterally outwardly upwards with respect to the part thereof which is proximal to the central body, said outrigger terminating rearwardly beyond the transom and forwardly behind the bows.
The present invention will be further ilustrated, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a craft having an outboard motor;
Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of one of the possible transformations of the craft; and
Fig. 3 is a partial cross-section along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

It is to be noted that the same reference numerals are utilized in the drawings corresponding to identical or equivalent parts. As illustrated in Fig. 1 the craft comprises a central buoyant body 5 and two buoyant and stabilising outriggers 6, 6' which are inclined slightly upwards with respect to the central body 5 so as to offer minimum resistance to the progress of the craft through the water.
The central buoyant body 5 is of an oblong shape, for example a surfboard, with one or more steps 7 for a mast 8, partly illustrated, with a slot 9 for the fitting of a centreboard and a removable transom 10, of wood for example, for the mounting of an outboard motor 11 with a guide bar 12 or alternatively a rudder 11' and a tiller 12' as illustrated in Fig. 2.
A frame 13 with longitudinal members 14 and transverse members 15 of hollow rectangular cross-section and joined by welding is removably secured by anchorage plates 20, illustrated in Fig. 3, set into recesses in the body 5 and outriggers 6, 6' by means of bolts 21.
The craft in Fig. 1, without the mast 8, is suitable for navigation with a motor and it will be noted that the outriggers 6, 6' attached to the body 5 project beyond the transom 10 on which motor 11 is mounted in such a way that the latter is able to rotate about a vertical pivot so that the required changes in the direction of the craft can be controlled by acting on bar 12. As a result of the thrust of screw 22 the craft behaves like a light power boat and can reach considerable speeds due to both its shallow draught and planing on the water, which is particularly favoured by the slight inclination of outriggers 6, 6'.
The craft in Fig. 1 can be transformed into a sailing craft by fitting a mast 8 and replacing motor 11 by a rudder 11' and a tiller 12'.
The stability of the craft can however be increased by placing outriggers 6, 6' at a distance from the body 5 by replacing frame 13 with frame 16 shown in Fig. 2, thus increasing the possibility of a greater sail area.
The frame 16, which is constructed of tubular units 17, 18, 18' and plates 19 welded together, has the double purpose of keeping outriggers 6, 6' at a distance from the central body 5 and of supporting a sheet 23 with holes along the edges for the.passage of laces 24 which secure it tightly to the tubular units 17. This sheet 23 acts as a plane of support for the bodies of the persons or person who is in control of the craft, and is provided with an aperture 25.
According to a variation, which is not illustrated, seats and one or more pedal-actuated propulsion units may be secured in any known way to frame 16, replacing frame 23 and the laces 24.
If frame 13 and the corresponding outriggers 6, 6', the transom 10 and the motor 11 are removed from the craft in Fig. 1 body 5 may be used as a normal surfboard.
A sailing craft can be obtained by using body 5 and the corresponding transom 10 with only one of the outriggers 6, 6', keeping the outrigger at a distance from the body 5 by means of a tubular frame similar to that illustrated in Fig. 2, without going beyond the scope of the invention.
It is clear that again in this case the frame may be fitted with at least one seat and a propulsion unit activated by means of pedals in place of the sheet.
It is also clear that the outriggers 6, 6' may be of any triangular, trapezoidal or polygonal shape, have a hollow cross-section or be constructed of non-synthetic material provided that they are inclined with respect to the central body for the reasons described previously.
The outriggers 6, 6' may be replaced by others of smaller dimensions located for example with two in the vicinity of the bows and two in the vicinity of the stern, provided that both the pairs of outriggers have that upwards inclination with respect to the central body which ensures minimum resistance to the forward motion of the craft. It is also obvious that the central body may be constructed of two or more assembled units, or be replaced by a buoyant or other floating object which is nevertheless capable of assuming the function of the central body.
The removable transom 10 may be anchored in any known way to the frame supporting the outriggers.
It is clear that numerous transformations are possible, for example a sailing craft with pedal propulsion, or the provision of a sailing craft with a small outboard motor, and the like, and these, being practical embodiments of the invention, are to be considered as falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A transformable pleasure craft for at least one person, made predominantly of synthetic material and of very shallow draught, comprising at least one oblong central body (5) such as a surfboard, with at least one step (7) for the fitting of a mast (8) and sail and at least one housing (9) for the fitting of a centreboard, means for lateral stabilisation, at least one frame (13) for maintaining the central body (5) and the means for lateral stabilisation in a stable position with respect to each other, means for propulsion (11, 12) and/or directional control of the craft (11', 12') characterised in that said frame (13) supports a removable transom (10) which carries said means for propulsion (11, 12) and/or directional control (11', 12') and in that the means for lateral stabilisation comprises at least one outrigger (6, 6') the underside of which is inclined laterally outwardly upwards with respect to the part thereof which is proximal to the central body (5), said outrigger (6, 6') terminating rearwardly beyond the transom (10) and forwardly behind the bows.

2. A transformable pleasure craft as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the means for lateral stabilisation consist of at least two outriggers (6, 6') of substantially triangular shape, which are secured to the central body (5) by a frame (13) with longitudinal members (14) and transverse members (15) of rectangular cross-section welded together, secured within recesses provided in the central body (5) and the outriggers (6, 6') by means of bolts (21) to anchorage plates (20) set into the outriggers (6, 6') and the central body (5) forming the bottoms of the said recesses.

3. A transformable pleasure craft as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the or each said lateral stabilising outrigger (6, 6') is held in position at a distance from the central body by means of a frame (16) with tubular elements (17, 18, 18') and plates (19) welded together, a sheet (23) being secured by means of laces (24) to the upper tubular member(s) (17), to provide a support for the crew, the said frame (16) being secured by means of bolts to the plates set into the central body and outriggers.

4. A transformable pleasure craft as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that at least one seat and a pedal propulsion unit are secured to the upper tube(s) (17) of the frame (16).

5. A transformable pleasure craft as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the means for lateral stabilisation consist of a pair of said outriggers in the vicinity of the stern and a pair of small outriggers in the vicinity of the bows.

6. A transformable pleasure craft as claimed in claim 5, in which the pair of outriggers in the vicinity of the stern are maintained at a distance from the central body by means of a suitable tubular frame.