GB1587183A

GB1587183A - Boat adapted to run on land

Info

Publication number: GB1587183A
Application number: GB2117076A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Stubs C F
Current assignee: Stubs C F
Priority date: 1977-08-19
Filing date: 1977-08-19
Publication date: 1981-04-01

Description

(54) A BOAT ADAPTED TO RUN ON LAND (71) 1, CHARLES FRANK STUBBS, a British citizen of 10 Box Road, Bathford, Bath, Avon, do hereby declare that the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a boat adapted to run on land.

Many people nowadays transport small boats long distances from their homes to the seaside lakes or rivers by means of their motor cars either on a roof rack or by towing the boat on a trailer. Both methods of transport leave something to be desired. A roof rack is only suitable for very small boats and even for small boats the labour in lifting it onto and off the roof rack can be considerable. A boat trailer is an expensive item of equipment which adds considerably to the initial investment and it frequently must be parked unattended and left for long periods when the boat is in the water. Moreover when the boat is transferred onto and off the trailer someone usually gets rather wet in the process.

I have devised a combined boat and trailer which overcomes many of the present disadvantages and in some particular forms has additional advantages which will become apparent in the following description.

According to the invention I provide a boat having the features set forth in claim 1.

My invention is particularly useful for boats which are too large to be carried on a roof rack since according to one embodiment of the invention I provide a combined boat and trailer as hereinbefore defined in which the hull is formed in two parts to fold laterally each hull part being formed as a separate unit having a water tight bulkhead located substantially at the fold line between the parts the parts being pivotally attached at the fold line about a lateral horizontal axis whereby the two parts can be pivoted into a folded position in which one part lies over the other lower part as a cover therefore and into an un folded position in which the said bulkheads of each part lie parallel and adjacent one another to form the unfolded boat releasable locking means being provided to lock the boat in its unfolded position and the axle being located in said other lower hull part.

The invention will now be described in a particular embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of an unfolded two-part boat according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a similar view to Figure 1 showing the two parts separated.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the boat of Figures 1 and 2 in folded position.

Figure 4 is a plan view from above of the wheels and axle system showing part of the hull in dotted lines for simplification.

Figure 5 is a view from one side of the system of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a section on the line A-A of Figure 5 and Figure 7 shows a section through one device used in locking the two hull parts together.

The embodiment shown in the drawings is a two part folding boat but it is to be understood that the description relating to the mechanism of the shaft and wheels could equally apply to a one part boat.

Figures 1 2 and 3 of the drawings show a boat hull formed in two parts 1 2 which are symmetrical and double skinned the distance between the skins being sufficient to accommodate the wheels 3 when they are not required as trailer wheels and except for the wheel housings forming buoyancy chambers. Conveniently the hull parts 1 and 2 are formed in glass reinforced plastic each from the same mould. As can be seen from Figures 1 2 and 7 the double skinning can be made to serve not only for the purpose of storing the wheels when the boat is in the water and for buoyancy chambers but also to form a seat 4. Conveniently (not shown) a sealing flap may be provided in combination with the wheels to close the double skin when the wheels are not required as trailer wheels so that the double skin is water tight providing extra bouyancy and also a water-tight housing for the wheels.The hull parts 1 2 are provided with hinges 5 so that they may be folded together (Figure 3) for trailing or opened out to form a boat (Figure 1).

When folded one covering part exactly fits over the other lower part thus forming useful closed storage space during trailing.

When opened out the parts 1 2 may be locked together to form a rigid boat by locking nuts 6 and bolts 7. The bolts 7 pass through bolt holes 8 in each hull part provided with bolt housings 9 and O-rings 10 (Figure 7). Alternatively the hull parts can be locked together by vertical rods slotted through alternate loops or catches on each hull part. Additional catches 11 for holding the boat in its open position may be provided on the outer sides of the hull parts 1 2 comprising a slotted plate on one hull part spring biassed so that the slot engages a boss on the other hull part. A lock may be provided to lock the boat in folded position. When the parts are opened out the hinges 5 may be removed altogether or the hinge halves disengaged from each other to form two independent dinghies.

When folded a towing bar 12 may be fixed at the bolt holes 8. In the case of a one piece boat a permanent towing bar may be provided at the stem.

Referring particularly to Figures 4 5 and 6 the wheels 3 are set rotatably on legs 13 which are rigidly attached to a shaft 14 extending rotatably through water-tight packing glands in the inner side skin of the boat. The shaft 14 is rotatable in bearings 15 in the desired embodiment fixed in the outer side skin of the boat. The axle 14 is rotatable between a first position in which the wheels 3 extend below the bottom of the boat for trailing and a second position in which they are withdrawn between the skins. Jacks 16 are provided as shock absorbers during trailing. The mcchanism can be understood from Figure 5.

Each jack 16 is pivotally connected to the boat hull or hull part at pivot 17 and to a lever 18 at pivot pin 19. The lever 18 is rigidly connected to the shaft 14 at the end of the lever distant from the jack 16. Pivot pin 19 may be removable so that the wheels can be lifted without influencing the jacks 16 into storage position.

When required for trailing the wheels are lowered and pin 19 replaced. Alternatively if pin 19 is permanent when the jacks 16 are compressed the action of the pivots 17 19 is to rotate the shaft 14 so that the wheels 3 lie in the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 5 i.e. storage position. When the jacks 16 are released they force the pivots 17 19 to rotate the shaft 14 into its first position to lower the wheels so that the boat can be trailed as a trailer.

In this position bumps and shocks in travel over the ground are absorbed by minor compressions of the jacks causing minor rotations of the shaft 14 thereby smoothing the ride. The jacks 16 may be compressed by any suitable means or the wheels may be lifted if the jacks are disconnected e.g.

by a handle on the shaft 14. The handle may be a bent portion of the shaft e.g. a U-bend. Means to releasably engage the shaft in this position may be a clip or other catch means located on a lower part of the hull. Such clip or catch means may suitably cooperate with the web of the U-bend handle. A similar clip or catch means may be provided to releasably hold the shaft 14 within shock absorbing limits in its other position.

The advantages of a combination according to the invention are easily seen. In all normal circumstances when the combination is on land the shaft is fixed in its first position. The boat owner need only attach the combination to his motor car drive to the water detach the combination and wheel the combination into the water until no substantial weight is carried by the shaft i.e. the hull floats or is about to float. He then moves the shaft into its second position lifting the wheels. Thus there are no parking problems for a trailer and it may be possible to carry out the whole procedure in shallower water than is necessary to float a boat from a conventional trailer. Moreover there is no need to wade through the water to take the trailer back to dry land. On returning to land after a boating trip the wheels are let down and fixed in their first position.

When the boat beaches it can be attached to the car after folding if necessary.

Should the boat owner be stranded by the tide or wish to beach his boat for a picnic or any other reason he can let down the wheels so that there is no uncomfortable tilting of the boat on grounding.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: - 1. A boat adapted to run on land comprising a hull with transverse shaft extending rotatably through water-tight packing glands in opposing sides of the hull a leg extending from each end of the shaft each leg being provided with a rotatable wheel at its free end the direction of extension of the legs and their length being such that the wheels are rotatable about a common axis parallel to the axle and the length of the legs also being such that in a first position of the axle the wheels extend

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. be provided in combination with the wheels to close the double skin when the wheels are not required as trailer wheels so that the double skin is water tight providing extra bouyancy and also a water-tight housing for the wheels. The hull parts 1 2 are provided with hinges 5 so that they may be folded together (Figure 3) for trailing or opened out to form a boat (Figure 1). When folded one covering part exactly fits over the other lower part thus forming useful closed storage space during trailing. When opened out the parts 1 2 may be locked together to form a rigid boat by locking nuts 6 and bolts 7. The bolts 7 pass through bolt holes 8 in each hull part provided with bolt housings 9 and O-rings 10 (Figure 7). Alternatively the hull parts can be locked together by vertical rods slotted through alternate loops or catches on each hull part. Additional catches 11 for holding the boat in its open position may be provided on the outer sides of the hull parts 1 2 comprising a slotted plate on one hull part spring biassed so that the slot engages a boss on the other hull part. A lock may be provided to lock the boat in folded position. When the parts are opened out the hinges 5 may be removed altogether or the hinge halves disengaged from each other to form two independent dinghies. When folded a towing bar 12 may be fixed at the bolt holes 8. In the case of a one piece boat a permanent towing bar may be provided at the stem. Referring particularly to Figures 4 5 and 6 the wheels 3 are set rotatably on legs 13 which are rigidly attached to a shaft 14 extending rotatably through water-tight packing glands in the inner side skin of the boat. The shaft 14 is rotatable in bearings 15 in the desired embodiment fixed in the outer side skin of the boat. The axle 14 is rotatable between a first position in which the wheels 3 extend below the bottom of the boat for trailing and a second position in which they are withdrawn between the skins. Jacks 16 are provided as shock absorbers during trailing. The mcchanism can be understood from Figure 5. Each jack 16 is pivotally connected to the boat hull or hull part at pivot 17 and to a lever 18 at pivot pin 19. The lever 18 is rigidly connected to the shaft 14 at the end of the lever distant from the jack 16. Pivot pin 19 may be removable so that the wheels can be lifted without influencing the jacks 16 into storage position. When required for trailing the wheels are lowered and pin 19 replaced. Alternatively if pin 19 is permanent when the jacks 16 are compressed the action of the pivots 17 19 is to rotate the shaft 14 so that the wheels 3 lie in the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 5 i.e. storage position. When the jacks 16 are released they force the pivots 17 19 to rotate the shaft 14 into its first position to lower the wheels so that the boat can be trailed as a trailer. In this position bumps and shocks in travel over the ground are absorbed by minor compressions of the jacks causing minor rotations of the shaft 14 thereby smoothing the ride. The jacks 16 may be compressed by any suitable means or the wheels may be lifted if the jacks are disconnected e.g. by a handle on the shaft 14. The handle may be a bent portion of the shaft e.g. a U-bend. Means to releasably engage the shaft in this position may be a clip or other catch means located on a lower part of the hull. Such clip or catch means may suitably cooperate with the web of the U-bend handle. A similar clip or catch means may be provided to releasably hold the shaft 14 within shock absorbing limits in its other position. The advantages of a combination according to the invention are easily seen. In all normal circumstances when the combination is on land the shaft is fixed in its first position. The boat owner need only attach the combination to his motor car drive to the water detach the combination and wheel the combination into the water until no substantial weight is carried by the shaft i.e. the hull floats or is about to float. He then moves the shaft into its second position lifting the wheels. Thus there are no parking problems for a trailer and it may be possible to carry out the whole procedure in shallower water than is necessary to float a boat from a conventional trailer. Moreover there is no need to wade through the water to take the trailer back to dry land. On returning to land after a boating trip the wheels are let down and fixed in their first position. When the boat beaches it can be attached to the car after folding if necessary. Should the boat owner be stranded by the tide or wish to beach his boat for a picnic or any other reason he can let down the wheels so that there is no uncomfortable tilting of the boat on grounding. WHAT I CLAIM IS: -

1. A boat adapted to run on land comprising a hull with transverse shaft extending rotatably through water-tight packing glands in opposing sides of the hull a leg extending from each end of the shaft each leg being provided with a rotatable wheel at its free end the direction of extension of the legs and their length being such that the wheels are rotatable about a common axis parallel to the axle and the length of the legs also being such that in a first position of the axle the wheels extend

below the bottom of the hull whereby when the wheels are in contact with the ground the boat hull is carried above the ground by the axle and the combination can be towed as a trailer means being provided to releasably engage the axle in said first position and means being provided to rotate the axle between said first position and a second position in which the wheels lie along the sides of the hull above the level of the bottom thereof the hull of the boat being formed in two parts pivotably connected together each hull part being formed as a separate rigid unit having a water-tight bulkhead located substantially at the adjoining plane between the parts the pivotal connection being about a lateral horizontal axis whereby the two parts can be pivoted into a folded position in which one part lies over the other lower part and into an unfolded position in which the said bulkheads of each part lie parallel and adjacent to form the unfolded boat releasable locking means being provided to lock the boat in its unfolded position the axle being located in the lower hull part.

2. A boat adapted to run on land according to claim 1 in which the means to rotate the axle between the first and second positions is a bent portion of the axle forming a handle.

3. A boat adapted to run on land according to claim 2 in which the bent portion of the axle is a U bend.

4. A boat adapted to run on land according to claim 3 in which the means to releasably engage the axle in its first position is catch means located on an upper part of the hull to cooperate with the web of the U-bend handle.

5. A boat adapted to run on land according to claim 4 in which the catch means is a clip.

6. A boat adapted to run on land according to claim 4 or 5 in which a second catch means is provided on the lower part of the hull to releasably hold the axle in its second position.

7. A boat adapted to run on land according to any of claims 1 to 6 in which said catch means to hold the axle in its first position is associated with a spring acting on the axle to provide for shock absorption when the combination is being towed as a trailer.

8. A boat adapted to run on land according to any of the preceding claims in which means for engaging a tow bar of a motor car is provided.

9. A boat adapted to run on land according to any of the preceding claims in which the two hull parts are symmetrical hull halves so that said one part forms a cover which fits over the lower part.

10. A boat adapted to run on land according to any of the preceding claims in which the releasable locking means to lock the boat in its unfolded position comprises loops or catches on each hull half, each loop or catch cooperating with a loop or catch on the other hull half.

11. A boat adapted to run on land according to claim 10 in which a vertical rod is passed through the loops or catches on each hull half on each side of the boat.

12. A boat adapted to run on land substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.