EP2465763A1

EP2465763A1 - Folding boat having an opening and closing assist mechanism

Info

Publication number: EP2465763A1
Application number: EP10195501A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Howard Aldridge
Original assignee: EzyBoat Ltd
Current assignee: EzyBoat Ltd
Priority date: 2010-12-16
Filing date: 2010-12-16
Publication date: 2012-06-20

Abstract

A folding boat (1) comprising a bow (2) and a stern (3) which are hinged together such that the bow (2) can be rotated relative to the stern (3) between an open position in which the bow (2) and stern (3) of the boat (1) form a boat shape, and a closed position in which the bow (2) is folded over at least part of the stern (3), wherein the boat (1) further comprises a mechanism (5,8,11a-11d) arranged to reduce the force required to move the bow between the open and closed positions.

Description

The present invention relates to a folding boat having a mechanism for assisting a user to open and close the boat.
Folding boats, such as the one described in EP-A-1224112 are convenient because in their closed orientation they have a reduced length which is advantageous for towing and storage purposes on land.
A problem with folding boats such as the one described above, however, is that they have significant size and weight, which require a user to have a certain strength in order to open and close the boat safely and conveniently, especially in windy conditions.
According to the present invention there is provided a folding boat comprising a bow and a stern which are hinged together such that the bow can be rotated relative to the stern between an open position in which the bow and stern of the boat form a boat shape, and a closed position in which the bow is folded over at least part of the stern, wherein the boat further comprises a mechanism arranged to reduce the force required to move the bow between the open and closed positions.
An advantage of the present invention is that the mechanism reduces the force required by a user to open and close the folding boat and consequently makes folding boats accessible to a broader audience, while providing a safer and more stable opening and closing action.
Preferably, the mechanism comprises biasing means. Such biasing means might comprise a gas strut system that is secured to the stern at a first end and the bow at a second end and is arranged to be under pressure when the bow is in either the open or closed position, or a torsion system comprising a torsion rod and/or torsion coils, for example, configured to be under torsion when the bow is in either the open or closed position.
Preferably, the present invention comprises securing means to secure the bow in the open or closed position.
The securing means may comprise a rail that is secured to the bow and arranged to rotate about an axis coaxial to the hinge axis, wherein the securing means are provided at first and second ends of the rail and are configured to secure the first end of the rail to the stern when the bow is in the open position, and the second end of the rail to the stern when the bow in the closed position. Preferably, the rail is connected to the torsion bar such that rotation of the rail places the torsion bar under torsion.
The securing means may alternatively comprise a rail that is secured to the stern, wherein the securing means are provided at first and second ends of the rail and are configured to secure the stern to the first end of the rail and the bow to the second end of the rail when the bow is in the open position, and the first end of the rail to both the bow and stern when the bow is in the closed position.
Preferably, the present invention provides an automated mechanism which at least partially automates movement of the bow between the open and closed positions.
An example of the present invention will now be described, with reference to the attached figures, in which:

Figure 1 shows a folding boat with the bow in the open position;
Figure 2 shows a folding boat with a gas strut arrangement according to a first example of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a schematic of a folding boat having a torsion rod system according to a second example of the present invention;
Figure 4A shows a folding boat having a torsion coil system according to a third example of the present invention;
Figure 4B shows the torsion coils used in the exemplary torsion system shown in Figure 4A;
Figure 5 shows a folding boat according to an example of the present invention having a securing rail that is arranged to rotate with the bow to place a torsion rod under torsion;
Figure 6A show a folding boat according to an example of the present invention having a securing rail for securing the bow in the open position by securing means; and
Figure 6B shows the exemplary folding boat of Figure 6A with the bow secured in the open position by the securing rail.

In a folding boat 1 according to the present invention, the bow 2 and stern 3 are separate structures which are hinged 4 together such that the bow 2 can rotate between an open position in which the bow 2 and stern 3 of the boat form a boat shape, as shown in Figure 1, and a closed position in which the bow 2 is folded over at least part of the stern 3.
In addition, the folding boat 1 of the present invention comprises an opening and closing assist mechanism, which is arranged to reduce the force that is required to move the bow 2 between the open and closed positions. The assist mechanism can comprise any one or more of a mechanical, electrical, hydraulic or manual process or system that can assist the opening and closing of a folding boat 1. Preferably, however, the assist mechanism of the present invention comprises biasing means that are configured to bias the bow 2 away from the open or closed position.
The biasing means may be configured to generate a force that is less than the mass of the bow 2 when in the open or closed positions such that when the bow 2 is in a position that is past its vertical position, the bow 2 will move to the fully open or closed position against the force generated by the biasing means unassisted. Alternatively, the biasing means are configured to generate a force that is greater than the mass of the bow 2 when in the open or closed positions such that a force must be applied to the bow 2 in order to move it to its fully open or closed position. Ideally, however, the biasing means are arranged to generate a force that is equal to the mass of the bow 2 thus making it effectively "weightless".
In a first example of the present invention, the assist mechanism comprises a gas strut system. In the example shown in Figure 2, a gas strut 5 is provided on at least one side of the folding boat 1. The gas strut 5 has a rod 6 which slides in and out of a pressurized sealed tube 7, with one end of the rod 6 having a piston (not shown) secured to it, which prevents the rod 6 from being forced completely out of the tube 7 when under pressure. The gas strut 5 provides a force due to the gas pressure acting on the cross sectional area of the piston; the higher the gas pressure, the higher the force of the gas strut 5. The piston has a metering orifice which allows the gas to pass from one side of the piston to the other.
The gas strut 5 is secured to both the bow 2 and stern 3 and is configured such that when the bow 2 is in either the open or closed position, the gas strut 5 is under the highest compression. Accordingly, the pressurized gas is applies a force to the bow 2, such that the force required by a user to lift the bow 2 from the open or closed position is reduced.
Furthermore, the gas strut 5 acts to dampen the movement of the bow 2 when being lowered into the open or closed position to provide a smooth and controlled motion.
In a second example of the present invention the assist mechanism comprises a torsion system, such as a torsion rod 8 having a first end 9 secured to the stern 3 of the folding boat 1 and a second end 10 secured to the bow 2, as illustrated in Figure 3.
The torsion system is, ideally, arranged to be in a neutral position when the bow 2 is half-way between the open or closed positions such that when the bow 2 is moved past this "neutral" position towards the open or closed positions, the torsion system is placed under torsion and tends to want to return to its neutral position.
With a torsion rod 8, for example, as the bow 2 moves past the neutral position towards the open or closed position the second end 10 of the torsion rod 8, that is secured to the bow 2, is twisted while the first end 9, that is secured to the stern 3 is held fixed, thereby placing the torsion rod 8 under torsion. Thus, when the bow 2 is in the open or closed position, the torsion rod 8 tends to want to untwist to move back to its neutral position hence applying a torque to the bow 2 such that the force required by a user to lift it from the open or closed position is reduced.
In addition to, or perhaps in place of, a torsion rod 8, the torsion system may also comprise one or more torsion coils 11 a-11 d to provide a similar biasing effect, as shown on the folding boat 1 in Figure 4A. A more detailed view of this exemplary torsion system can be seen in Figure 4B, wherein the bow 2 and stern 3 are each attached to torsion coils 11 a-11 d that are provided on either side of the folding boat 1 and arranged to be placed under torsion when the bow 2 is in the open or closed positions. Although four torsion coils 11 a-11 d are shown in this example, it will be appreciated that the number of torsion coils used can be varied depending on requirements.
Similar to the exemplary gas strut 5 system, the torsion system dampens the movement of the bow 2 when being lowered into the open or closed position to provide a smooth and controlled motion.
Securing means 12 can also be provided for any of the arrangements mentioned herein for securing the bow 2, when in the open or closed position relative to the stern 3, to prevent any unwanted movement of the bow 2 by the assist mechanism, when the folding boat 1 is either being used or is in storage.
The securing means 12 are, preferably, provided towards either end of a rail 13 that is secured to the folding boat 1 and arranged to extend along at least part of the length of a side of the bow 2 and stern 3, as shown in Figure 5. When the bow 2 is in the open position, the securing means 12 at the bow end 14 of the rail 13 secure the bow 2 to the rail 13 and the securing means 12 at the stern end 15 of the rail 13 secure the stern 3 to the rail 13. When the bow 2 is in the closed position, the securing means 12 provided at the stern end 15 of the rail 13 secure to both the bow 2 and the stern 3, thus ensuring that the bow 2 stays in its closed position. Although in Figure 5 the securing means 12 are external to the folding boat 1, they could also be provided internally or within the body of the boat 1.
The stern end 15 of the rail 13 can be fixed permanently to the stern 3 such that the securing means 12 at the stern end 15 are only used to secure the bow 2 to the stern 3 when the bow 2 is in the closed position. Alternatively, the rail 13 can be secured to the bow 2 using the securing means 12 provided at the bow end 14 of the rail 13, for example. In this alternative arrangement, the rail 13 is arranged to pivot about the same hinge 4 axis that the bow 2 rotates about so that the rail 13 rotates as the bow 2 is moved between the open and closed positions, as shown in Figures 6A and 6B.
When the bow 2 is in the open position, the securing means 13 at the stern end 15 of the rail 13 can be used to secure the rail 13 to the stern 3 and the securing means 12 at the bow end 14 of the rail 13 can be used to secure the bow 2 to the rail 13, as shown in Figure 6A, thus securing the bow 2 in the open position. When the bow 2 is moved to the closed position, however, the rail 13 rotates with the bow 2 such that the securing means 12 at the bow end 14 of the rail 13 can be used to secure the bow 2 to the stern 3, as shown in Figure 6B, with the securing means 13 at the opposite end 15 of the rail 13 being temporarily redundant.
If the assist mechanism comprises a torsion system comprising a torsion rod 8, for example, as described above, the second end 10 of the torsion rod 8 can be secured to the rail 13, which is in turn secured to the bow 2 such that, when the bow 2 is moved between the open and closed positions, rotation of the rail 13 causes the torsion rod 8 to twist, thereby placing it under torsion.
Similar to the previous arrangement, the bow end 14 of the rail 13 can, alternatively, be fixed permanently to the bow 2 such that the securing means 12 at the bow end 14 are only used to secure the bow 2 to the stern 3 when the bow 2 is in the closed position.
In a preferred example of the present invention, a rail 13 having securing means 12 is provided along both sides of the folding boat 1 for securing the bow 2 in the open or closed positions. The bow 2 and stern 3 are, ideally, provided with receptacles (not shown) for receiving and retaining the securing means 12 when the bow 2 is in the open or closed position, as necessary. The securing means 12 can be retractable pins, for example.
The assist mechanism can also be partially, or fully, automated using a suitable powered actuator (not shown), or similar, that is provided to at least assist movement of the bow 2 between the open and closed positions and is, preferably, controlled remotely.

Claims

A folding boat (1) comprising a bow (2) and a stern (3) which are hinged (4) together such that the bow can be rotated relative to the stern between an open position in which the bow and stern of the boat form a boat shape, and a closed position in which the bow is folded over at least part of the stern, wherein the boat further comprises a mechanism (5, 8, 11a-11d) arranged to reduce the force required to move the bow between the open and closed positions.
The folding boat of any preceding claim, wherein the mechanism comprises biasing means (5, 8, 11a-11d) configured to bias the bow (2) away from both the open and closed positions.
The folding boat of claim 1 or 2, further comprising securing means (12) for securing the bow (2) in the open or closed position.
The folding boat of claim 3, further comprising a rail (13) that is secured to the bow (2) and arranged to rotate about an axis coaxial to the hinge 4 axis, wherein the securing means (12) are provided at first and second ends (15, 14) of the rail and are configured to secure the first end (15) of the rail to the stern (3) when the bow is in the open position, and the second end (14) of the rail to the stern when the bow in the closed position.
The folding boat of claim 3, further comprising a rail (13) that is secured to the stern (3), wherein the securing means (12) are provided at first and second ends (14, 15) of the rail and are configured to secure the stern to the first end (15) of the rail and the bow to the second end (14) of the rail when the bow is in the open position, and the first end of the rail (15) to both the bow and stern when the bow is in the closed position.
The folding boat of any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the securing means comprises retractable pins (12) placed towards either end of the rail (13) and arranged to be received by a corresponding receiving means provided in the stern (3).
The folding boat of any preceding claim, wherein the mechanism comprises a gas strut (5) system that is attached to both the bow (2) and stern (3) and is arranged to be under compression when the bow is in either the open or closed position.
The folding boat of any preceding claim, wherein the mechanism comprises a torsion system (8, 11a-11d) arranged between the bow (2) and stern (3) and configured to be under torsion when the bow (2) is in either the open or closed position.
The folding boat of claim 8, wherein the torsion system comprises a torsion rod (8) that is secured to the stern (3) at a first end (9) and is secured to the bow (2) at a second end (10).
The folding boat of claim 9, wherein the rail (13) is secured to the bow and the second end of the torsion rod such that movement of the bow between the open and closed positions forces the second end of the torsion rod to twist.
The folding boat of any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the torsion system comprises one or more torsion coils (11a-11d).
The folding boat of any preceding claim, wherein the mechanism comprises actuating means arranged to at least partially automate movement of the bow (2) between the open and closed positions.