GB2111915A - Canoes - Google Patents

Abstract

A moulded canoe has a cockpit (11), a cockpit seat (13), a fore strengthener (16), and an aft strengthener (17). The fore strengthener is supported in part by engagement with a fore rigid buoyancy tank (15) which prevents the feet of the conoeist reaching too deeply into the fore end of the canoe. A rip-away deck panel (12) retained in gaskets is provided between cockpit edge and the fore tank. The aft strengthener may be end-supported by a rigid buoyancy tank (15a). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Canoes This invention relates to canoes.

The present practice for the commercial manufacture of canoes generally follows one or other of two styles. One style is that of using fibre-glass materials and the other is that of using moulding techniques.

The former style is tending to satisfy the specialist field and the latter the popular field.

The present invention is primarily concerned with canoes made by the moulding technique.

To form a canoe by moulding a canoe shell is formed. A cockpit is cut in the deck of the shell and strengtheners (usually of ladder form) are inserted between hull and deck fore and aft of the cockpit. A buoyancy seat is located in the cockpit with the strengtheners engaging the underside of the seat and the deck. Such canoes are strong, safe, and robust and adequate for use in still or moderate waters. For use in white waters a canoeist would opt for the specialist fibre-glass style of canoe.

The present invention seeks to provide safer canoes and especially safer moulded canoes which can be used in white waters.

A canoe according to the present invention has a seat and a strengthener forward of the seat between hull and deck and is characterised in further having a forward rigid tank providing a buoyancy function, a strengthener support function, and a limit function to prevent the feet of a canoeist reaching too deeply into the fore end of the canoe.

The support given to the strengthener by the fore tank reduces the possibility that the strengthener can become twisted. Twisting can trap the legs of the canoeist as the legs are alongside the strengthener.

Twisting can also weaken the canoe such that in severe conditions (e.g. fast water running abeam a canoe trapped against a rock) the canoe could become folded and again trap the canoeist. The fore tank provides buoyancy and prevents the canoeist slipping into the fore regions of the canoe (in which position power to manoeuvre is much reduced) should the canoe rise to a near vertical position.

The canoe is also preferably provided with a rip-away deck panel provided between cockpit edge and the fore tank. The panel may be retained in normal use of the canoe by grooved gaskets.

The invention will now be described further with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure lisa plan view of a canoe according to the invention; Figures 2A and 2B show gasket arrangements for a rip-away deck panel; and Figure 3 shows a cross-section of the seat of the canoe.

In Figure 1 a thermoformed or thermoset high density polyethylene canoe has a cockpit 11, a rip-away deck panel 12, a seat 13, footrests 14, a fore rigid tank 15, a fore-strengthener of ladder form 16 and an aft strengthener 17. The strengthener 16 is held by screws 18 engaging the top stiles of the ladder form of the stengthener, is further held by engagement in a horizontal recess 30 (Figure 3) in the seat 13, and yet further held by engagement with a vertical recess 19 in the tank 15. The strengthener 17 is likewise held by deck screws 20, engagement in the recess 30 and the recess 19a in a rear rigid tank 1 so. This tank is optional. The tanks 15, 1 5a are preferably made from the same materials as the canoe and could be made in multiple parts joined together.

In Figure 2A a releasable deck panel 12a is shown held by an H-shaped grooved gasket 22a in the deck 21 of the canoe.

In Figure 2B a releasable deck panel 12b is shown held by a grooved gasket 22b.

Figure 3 shows the seat 13 (hollow to provide buoyancy) having two removable side liners and one removable base liner 31 of semi-rigid foam fitted by the canoeist to make the seat a close fit to the body thereby enabling the canoeist to control his canoe sensitively.

1. A canoe having a seat and a strengthener forward of the seat between hull and deck characterised in further having a forward rigid tank providing a buoyancy function, a strengthener support function, and a limit function to prevent the feet of canoeist reaching too deeply into the fore end of the canoe.

2. A canoe as claimed in Claim 1 having a release deck panel extending between the cockpit and the forward tank.

3. A canoe as claimed in Claim 2 in which the release panel is held in the canoe by a gasket from which it can be ripped away by gripping and pulling at a cockpit edge of the panel.

4. A moulded canoe having a seat (13) and strengtheners (16,17) fore and aft of the seat between hull and deck, a fore rigid tank (15), an aft rigid tank (1 5a) providing a buoyancy function and a strengthener support function by engagement with the strengtheners, and a rip-away deck panel (12) extending between the cockpit (11) and the fore rigid tank.

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

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Canoes This invention relates to canoes. The present practice for the commercial manufacture of canoes generally follows one or other of two styles. One style is that of using fibre-glass materials and the other is that of using moulding techniques. The former style is tending to satisfy the specialist field and the latter the popular field. The present invention is primarily concerned with canoes made by the moulding technique. To form a canoe by moulding a canoe shell is formed. A cockpit is cut in the deck of the shell and strengtheners (usually of ladder form) are inserted between hull and deck fore and aft of the cockpit. A buoyancy seat is located in the cockpit with the strengtheners engaging the underside of the seat and the deck. Such canoes are strong, safe, and robust and adequate for use in still or moderate waters. For use in white waters a canoeist would opt for the specialist fibre-glass style of canoe. The present invention seeks to provide safer canoes and especially safer moulded canoes which can be used in white waters. A canoe according to the present invention has a seat and a strengthener forward of the seat between hull and deck and is characterised in further having a forward rigid tank providing a buoyancy function, a strengthener support function, and a limit function to prevent the feet of a canoeist reaching too deeply into the fore end of the canoe. The support given to the strengthener by the fore tank reduces the possibility that the strengthener can become twisted. Twisting can trap the legs of the canoeist as the legs are alongside the strengthener. Twisting can also weaken the canoe such that in severe conditions (e.g. fast water running abeam a canoe trapped against a rock) the canoe could become folded and again trap the canoeist. The fore tank provides buoyancy and prevents the canoeist slipping into the fore regions of the canoe (in which position power to manoeuvre is much reduced) should the canoe rise to a near vertical position. The canoe is also preferably provided with a rip-away deck panel provided between cockpit edge and the fore tank. The panel may be retained in normal use of the canoe by grooved gaskets. The invention will now be described further with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure lisa plan view of a canoe according to the invention; Figures 2A and 2B show gasket arrangements for a rip-away deck panel; and Figure 3 shows a cross-section of the seat of the canoe. In Figure 1 a thermoformed or thermoset high density polyethylene canoe has a cockpit 11, a rip-away deck panel 12, a seat 13, footrests 14, a fore rigid tank 15, a fore-strengthener of ladder form 16 and an aft strengthener 17. The strengthener 16 is held by screws 18 engaging the top stiles of the ladder form of the stengthener, is further held by engagement in a horizontal recess 30 (Figure 3) in the seat 13, and yet further held by engagement with a vertical recess 19 in the tank 15. The strengthener 17 is likewise held by deck screws 20, engagement in the recess 30 and the recess 19a in a rear rigid tank 1 so. This tank is optional. The tanks 15, 1 5a are preferably made from the same materials as the canoe and could be made in multiple parts joined together. In Figure 2A a releasable deck panel 12a is shown held by an H-shaped grooved gasket 22a in the deck 21 of the canoe. In Figure 2B a releasable deck panel 12b is shown held by a grooved gasket 22b. Figure 3 shows the seat 13 (hollow to provide buoyancy) having two removable side liners and one removable base liner 31 of semi-rigid foam fitted by the canoeist to make the seat a close fit to the body thereby enabling the canoeist to control his canoe sensitively. CLAIMS

1. A canoe having a seat and a strengthener forward of the seat between hull and deck characterised in further having a forward rigid tank providing a buoyancy function, a strengthener support function, and a limit function to prevent the feet of canoeist reaching too deeply into the fore end of the canoe.

2. A canoe as claimed in Claim 1 having a release deck panel extending between the cockpit and the forward tank.

3. A canoe as claimed in Claim 2 in which the release panel is held in the canoe by a gasket from which it can be ripped away by gripping and pulling at a cockpit edge of the panel.

4. A moulded canoe having a seat (13) and strengtheners (16,17) fore and aft of the seat between hull and deck, a fore rigid tank (15), an aft rigid tank (1 5a) providing a buoyancy function and a strengthener support function by engagement with the strengtheners, and a rip-away deck panel (12) extending between the cockpit (11) and the fore rigid tank.