GB2060503A - Floors for Inflatable Boats - Google Patents

Abstract

A floor for an inflatable boat comprising a plurality of floorboards 21, 22, 23 which, in use, extend transverse to the longitudinal axis of the boat, adjacent edges of said floorboards being provided with cooperating profiles which resist relative articulation movements between adjacent floorboards and thereby contribute to the stability of the floor and of the boat in the longitudinal direction whilst providing an even floor surface. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Floors for Inflatable Boats This invention relates to floors for inflatable boats.

The floors of inflatable boats usually consist of two longitudinal sections which are arranged inside the boat along the inflatable side sections of the boat with floorboards extending between said longitudinal sections. A construction of such a floor is described and shown in British Patent Application No. 7925342 filed 20.7.1979 in which the longitudinal sections extend over almost the whole length of the boat and there are a number, for example, three floorboards extending between them.

It is known to provide simple profiles on the edges of adjacent floorboards extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the boat.

Such profiles may be, for example, oblique or rounded cooperating edges which allow for relative movement of the boards in vertical direction (see Figures 2a and 2c). In this case, the stability of the floor and af the boat is provided only by the longitudinal sections, which are relatively thin and under the impact of waves may bend or be broken. If the edges between the boards are covered (e.g. as shown in Figure 2b), then the floor is no longer even and has troublesome projections.

An object of the present invention is to provide a floor, the surface of which is even, without any projection, and whereby the boards of the floor will contribute to the stability of the floor and of the boat in longitudinal direction.

According to the present invention, we provide a floor for an inflatable boat comprising a pluraiity of floorboards which, in use, extend transverse to the longitudinal axis of the boat, adjacent edges of said floorboards being provided with cooperating profiles which resist relative articulation movements between adjacent floorboards and thereby contribute to the stability of the floor and of the boat in the longitudinal direction, whilst providing an even floor surface.

Preferably, the cooperating profiles comprise a projecting portion on the edge of one floorboard and a socket on the edge on the adjacent floorboard the surface of said projecting portion and socket being contiguous, when the floor is assembled, and being shaped so as to resist articulation movements of the floorboards.

In a preferred embodiment the projecting portion comprises a bevelled surface and a plane surface parallel to a face of the floorboard and the socket comprises a correspondingly bevelled surface and an extension with a corresponding plane surface.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of the floor according to the above mentioned British Patent Application No. 7925342; Figures 2a, b and c are side views of known profiles of adjacent edges of floorboards; Figure 3 is a cross-section on the line A-B of Figure 1, showing the shaped joining profile between the boards according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 is a cross-section showing the connection of the front board to a transverse board at the forward end of the boat; and Figure 5 is a cross-section showing the connection of the rear board to a transverse member at the stern end of the boat.

The floor comprises a pair of longitudinal members 10 having floorboards 21,22 and 23 extending between them transverse to the longitudinal axis of the boat. The contiguous edges at 24 and 25 are shown in cross-section in Figure 3. The leading edges of the floorboards 21 and 22 are provided with bevels 26 and 27 respectively which engage in corresponding recesses 28 and 29 in floorboards 22 and 23 respectively. The recesses 28 and 29 are formed by bevels on the edges of floorboards 22 and 23 and extensions of the boards 22a and 23a. The floorboards may be made of two components 21 and 21b, 22 and 22b and 23 and 23b as shown in Figure 3 or the recesses may be formed in a single piece e.g. by routing.

The connection between the forward end of the first board 23 and a fixed forward board 30 may be made as shown in Figure 4. The connection between the rear end of the last board 21 and a fixed transverse board 31 may be made as shown in Figure 5 utilising an abutment 32.

It will be apparent that the floor described with reference to Figure 3 will resist relative articulation movements between adjacent floorboards and also provides an even surface of the floor.

Claims

1. A floor for an inflatable boat comprising a plurality of floorboards which, in use, extend transverse to the longitudinal axis of the boat, adjacent edges of said floorboards being provided with cooperating profiles which resist relative articulation movements between adjacent floorboards and thereby contribute to the stability of the floor and of the boat in the longitudinal direction whilst providing an even floor surface.

2. A floor according to Claim 1 in which the floorboards extend between a pair of longitudinal members.

3. A floor according to Claim 1 or 2 in which the cooperating profiles comprise a projecting portion on the edge of one floorboard and a socket on the edge of the adjacent floorboard the surface of said projecting portion and socket being contiguous when the floor is assembled, and being shaped so as to resist articulation movements of the floorboards.

4. A floor according to Claim 3 in which the projecting portion comprises a bevelled surface and a plane surface parallel to a face of the floorboard and the socket comprises a correspondingly bevelled surface and an extension with a corresponding plane surface.

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

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Floors for Inflatable Boats This invention relates to floors for inflatable boats. The floors of inflatable boats usually consist of two longitudinal sections which are arranged inside the boat along the inflatable side sections of the boat with floorboards extending between said longitudinal sections. A construction of such a floor is described and shown in British Patent Application No. 7925342 filed 20.7.1979 in which the longitudinal sections extend over almost the whole length of the boat and there are a number, for example, three floorboards extending between them. It is known to provide simple profiles on the edges of adjacent floorboards extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the boat. Such profiles may be, for example, oblique or rounded cooperating edges which allow for relative movement of the boards in vertical direction (see Figures 2a and 2c). In this case, the stability of the floor and af the boat is provided only by the longitudinal sections, which are relatively thin and under the impact of waves may bend or be broken. If the edges between the boards are covered (e.g. as shown in Figure 2b), then the floor is no longer even and has troublesome projections. An object of the present invention is to provide a floor, the surface of which is even, without any projection, and whereby the boards of the floor will contribute to the stability of the floor and of the boat in longitudinal direction. According to the present invention, we provide a floor for an inflatable boat comprising a pluraiity of floorboards which, in use, extend transverse to the longitudinal axis of the boat, adjacent edges of said floorboards being provided with cooperating profiles which resist relative articulation movements between adjacent floorboards and thereby contribute to the stability of the floor and of the boat in the longitudinal direction, whilst providing an even floor surface. Preferably, the cooperating profiles comprise a projecting portion on the edge of one floorboard and a socket on the edge on the adjacent floorboard the surface of said projecting portion and socket being contiguous, when the floor is assembled, and being shaped so as to resist articulation movements of the floorboards. In a preferred embodiment the projecting portion comprises a bevelled surface and a plane surface parallel to a face of the floorboard and the socket comprises a correspondingly bevelled surface and an extension with a corresponding plane surface. Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of the floor according to the above mentioned British Patent Application No. 7925342; Figures 2a, b and c are side views of known profiles of adjacent edges of floorboards; Figure 3 is a cross-section on the line A-B of Figure 1, showing the shaped joining profile between the boards according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 is a cross-section showing the connection of the front board to a transverse board at the forward end of the boat; and Figure 5 is a cross-section showing the connection of the rear board to a transverse member at the stern end of the boat. The floor comprises a pair of longitudinal members 10 having floorboards 21,22 and 23 extending between them transverse to the longitudinal axis of the boat. The contiguous edges at 24 and 25 are shown in cross-section in Figure 3. The leading edges of the floorboards 21 and 22 are provided with bevels 26 and 27 respectively which engage in corresponding recesses 28 and 29 in floorboards 22 and 23 respectively. The recesses 28 and 29 are formed by bevels on the edges of floorboards 22 and 23 and extensions of the boards 22a and 23a. The floorboards may be made of two components 21 and 21b, 22 and 22b and 23 and 23b as shown in Figure 3 or the recesses may be formed in a single piece e.g. by routing. The connection between the forward end of the first board 23 and a fixed forward board 30 may be made as shown in Figure 4. The connection between the rear end of the last board 21 and a fixed transverse board 31 may be made as shown in Figure 5 utilising an abutment 32. It will be apparent that the floor described with reference to Figure 3 will resist relative articulation movements between adjacent floorboards and also provides an even surface of the floor. Claims

1. A floor for an inflatable boat comprising a plurality of floorboards which, in use, extend transverse to the longitudinal axis of the boat, adjacent edges of said floorboards being provided with cooperating profiles which resist relative articulation movements between adjacent floorboards and thereby contribute to the stability of the floor and of the boat in the longitudinal direction whilst providing an even floor surface.

2. A floor according to Claim 1 in which the floorboards extend between a pair of longitudinal members.

3. A floor according to Claim 1 or 2 in which the cooperating profiles comprise a projecting portion on the edge of one floorboard and a socket on the edge of the adjacent floorboard the surface of said projecting portion and socket being contiguous when the floor is assembled, and being shaped so as to resist articulation movements of the floorboards.

4. A floor according to Claim 3 in which the projecting portion comprises a bevelled surface and a plane surface parallel to a face of the floorboard and the socket comprises a correspondingly bevelled surface and an extension with a corresponding plane surface.

5. A floor for an inflatable boat substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.