GB2502335A

GB2502335A - An inflatable water craft with strengthening means for improved rigidity

Info

Publication number: GB2502335A
Application number: GB1209205.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roger Tushingham; David John Hackford; John David Hibbard
Original assignee: TUSHINGHAM SAILS Ltd
Current assignee: TUSHINGHAM SAILS Ltd
Priority date: 2012-05-23
Filing date: 2012-05-23
Publication date: 2013-11-27
Anticipated expiration: 2032-05-23
Also published as: GB201209205D0; EP2852525B1; WO2013175160A1; GB2502335B; EP2852525A1

Abstract

An inflatable watercraft 2 comprises a body 4 which is inflatable for use of the watercraft and which is deflatable for storage and/or transportation of the watercraft. At least one strengthening member 6 is provided for increasing the rigidity of the body when it is inflated, and retainer means 8 are provided for releasably retaining the strengthening member along a side 10 of the body. The strengthening member is able to be retained along the side of the body when the body is inflated and is able to be removed from the side of the body when the body is deflated. The body may be a longitudinal body and the watercraft may be a stand up paddleboard.

Description

I

ANJNFUTABLE WATERCRAFT

This invention relates to an inflatable watercraft.

There are different known types of inflatable watercraft. Often the different types of inflatable watercraft need to be inflated to a relatively high pressure in order to be used with optimum effect on water. For example, in the case of an inflatable watercraft in the form of a paddleboard then the paddleboard is Ideally inflated to 20 pounds per square inch. If the inflatable watercraft is inflated by hand, for example using a hand pump, a problem often occurs in inflating the inflatable watercifift to the required pressure.

Ft is an aim of the present invention to obviate or reduce the above mentioned problem.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention *: * there is provided an inflatable watercraft comprising a body which is inflatable for use of the inflatable watercraft and which is deflatable for storage and/or transportation of the inflatable watercraft, at least one strengthening member for increasing the rigidity of the body when the body is inflated, and retainer ___ means for a idèflhe --body whereby the strengthening member is able to be retained along the side of the body when the body is inflated and to be removed from the side of the body when the body is deflated.

The provision of the strengthening member enables the inflatable watercraft to be inflated to a satisfactory operating pressure which is less than the pressure that would be required without the strengthening member. This in turn enables the inflatable watercraft more easily to be inflated by hand. For example, the watercraft may only need to be inflated to half the previously required pressure. Thus the watercraft could be inflated to only 10 pounds per square inch instead of the previously required 20 pounds per square inch.

The watercraft may still be inflated to higher pressures if desired, for example to 20 pounds per square inch or higher.

Usually the inflatable watercraft will be one in which the body is a longitudinally extending body. Preferably, such a watercraft is a stand up paddleboard. Other shapes for the watercraft may however be employed in dependence upon the type of watercraft and its use.

Preferably, the watercraft is one in which the retainer means is configured to provide minimal resistance to water during use of the inflatable watercraft. S....

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The retainer means may be a pocket. Other types of retainer means may be employed so that, for example, the retainer means may be in the form ofa plurality of straps. ______---___ -___ ____ Preferably, the inflatable watercraft is one in which the retainer means and/or the strengthening member have surfaces which facilitate a sliding action between the strengthening member and the retainer means. With such surfaces, the strengthening member may be one which is slid into and slid out of the retainer means1 with the sliding action being facilitated by the surfaces of the retainer means and/or the strengthening means, and with the surfaces not being unduly worn by repeated sliding of the strengthening member into the retainer means.

Th! watercrafl may be one in which the retainer means acts solely to increase the rigidity of the body when the body is inflated. In this case, the Strengthening member may be a thin bar which is rectangular in croès section. Other cross sectional shapes for the strengthening member may be employed.

Alternatively, the inflatable watercraft may be one in which the strengthening member acts firstly to increase the rigidity of the body when the body is inflated, and which acts secondly to modify the profile of the side of.

the body when the body is inflated and such as to improve the water-travel characteristi of the body as compared to the body without the strengthening member. In this case, the strengthening member may be of a cross sectional shape which causes the profile of the side of the body to be angular when the body is inflated. The strengthening member may be a bar which is rectangular in cross section. Other cross sectional shapes for the strengthening member may be employed. The improved water travel characteristics may be better speed and better handling.

inaembodimentsfthefltion the strengthening member may be made of a composfte material. Preferred composite materials are glass reinforced plastics material and carbon fibre composite material. The composke material may be produced as an elongate member of constant cross section by a continuous process known as Pultrusion. In all embodiments of the invention, the strengthening member may be of any suitable cross sectional shape, for example rectangular as mentioned above or a figure-of-eight shape.

The strengthening member may be slightly flexible when it is removed from the body, whereby the strengthening member is able to more easily follow any external curve in the body.

The strengthening member may include grip means for facilitating the removal by pulling of the strengthening member from the side of the body.

The grip means may be a flexible loop of material. The material may be cord, rope or a plastics material. Other types of grip means such for example as a handle may be employed.

The inflatable watercraft may be one in which there are two of the strengthening members1 in which there is one of the two strengthening members on opposite sides of the body, and in which each strengthening member has one of the retainer means. * S S

* Preferably, the inflatable watercraft is a stand U paddleboard. Other *5*SS* * S types of inflatable watercraft may however be employed, for example a non-stand up paddleboard, a canoe, a kayak or a dinghy.

Where the inflatable watercraft is a stand up paddleboard, then the ___ stand up paddleboard is typically 3 metres long and 1.5 metres wide at its middle point. The strengthening meter may then typically by 1 metre long and 4 mm wide. Other measuremen for the stand up paddleboard and the strengthening member may be employed.

The inflatable watercraft may be made from any suitable and appropriate materiats, including those currently in use for inflatable watercraft.

The body may be made of polyvinyl chloride. Part of the body may be made of polyvinyl chloride that is known as drop stitch polyvinyl chloride, whereby the depth of inflation of the body may be controlled. Other depth control means for controJling the depth of inflation of the body may* be employed.

Other materials may be employed such for example as a thermoplastic olefin, for example thermoplastic urethane or a thermoplastic polyurethane.

The retainer means may be made of any suitable and appropriate material, for example in dependence upon the type of retainer means employed. Where the retainer means is a pocket, then the retainer means may be made of the same material as the material from which the body of the inflatable watercrafi is made. Where the retainer means is in the form of a pocket, then the retainer means may be formed as a composite material with polyvinyl chloride on the outside, and woven polyester sailcloth on the inside.

The woven polyester sail cloth provides a surface which facilitates a sliding *0*** action between the strengthening means and the retainer means. Other materials may be employed, including single materials and composite _________ _____-. .-- Embodimenth of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first inflatable watercraft of the present invention and in an inflated condition; Figure 2 shows the inflatable watercraft of Figure 1 in a deflated condition, and illustrates the operation of a strengthening member forming part of the inflatable watercraft; Figure 3 shows the inflatable watereraft of Figure 1 in fts inflated condition; Figure 4 is an exploded view of a second inflatable watercraft of the present invention and in an inflated condition; Figure 5 shows the second inflatable watercraft of Figure 4 in a deflated condition1 and illustrates the use of two strengthening members forming part of the inflatable watercraft; Figure 6 shows the inflatable wateroraft of Figure 4 in an inflated condition.

Figure 7 is a cross section through a middle part of a third inflatable watercraft; and Figure 8 is a cross section through a rear part of the third inflatable waterciaft.

Referring to Figures 1 -3, there is shown an inflatable watercraft 2 comprising a body 4 which is inflatable for use of the inflatable watercraft 2, * *. and which is deflatable for storage andfor transportation of the inflatable ____-______ * :..: watereraft 2. The inflatable watercraft 2 also comprises a strengthening member 6 for increasing the rigidity of the body 4 when the body 4 is inflated.

The inflatable watercraft 2 further comprises retainer means 8 for releasably retaining the strengthening member 6 along a side 10 of the body 4. The strengthening member 6 is able to be retained along the side 10 of the body 4 by the retainer means 8 when the body 4 is inflated and to be removed from the side 10 of the body 4 when the body 4 is deflated.

The strengthening member 6 is such that it enables the inflatable watercraft 2 to be inflated manually to an optimum operational pressure which is less than that would be required in the absence of the strengthening member 6. By reducing the required optimal operating pressure, the inflatable watercraft 2 can more easily be inflated manually and especially when using a hand pump of the type often used for inflating watercraft 2 of the type shown in Figures 1 -3. Thus the inflatable watercraft 2 is able to operate at the required rigidity, but with a lower inflation pressure that would be the case without the use of the strengthening member 6. There wili usually be two of the strengthening members 6 employed, with there being one of the strengthening members on opposite sides of the body 4, If desired however only one strengthening member 6 could be employed.

The body 4 is a longitudinally extending body. _. .

The retainer means 8 is configured to provide minimal resistance to water during use of the inflatable watercraft 2. The retainer means 8 is in the forrnofa pocket The retainer means 8 has a surface which facilitatesasdinga ________--between the strengthening member 6 and the retainer means 8. The sliding action facilitates the insertion and removal of the strengthening member 6 into the retainer means 8. Also, the facilitation of the sliding action helps to avoid wear on the inside of the retainer means and/or on the outside of the side 10 of the body 4 caused by pushing and pulling of the strengthening member 6 into and out of the retainer means 8.

The strengthening member 6 operates solely to increase the rigidity of the body 4 when the body 4 is inflated. As can be seen from Figures 1 -3, and 3 the strengthening member 6 is in the form of a thin bar which is rectangular in cross section. The strengthening member 6 is slightly flexible so that it is able to curve to conform to the curve of the side 10 of the body 4 when it is inserted into the retainer means 8.

Apart from the provision of the strengthening member 6 and the retainer means 8, the inflatable watercraft 2 may be of a standard known shape and size. Thus, for example, the body 4 is provided with fins 12.

Referring now to Figures 4, 5 and 6 there is shown a second inflatable watercran 14. The views as shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6 correspond to the views in Figures 1 2 and.3 respectively for the inflatable watercraft 2. Similar parts have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison ** and understanding.

In the inflatable watercraft 14, there are shown two of the strengthening members 6, with one of the strengthening members 6 being on opposite sides 10 of the body 4, and each strengthening_member6hayg its --___ *::"T owriiiner means 16 The retainer means 16 in the inflatable watercraft 14 is different from the retainer means 8 employed in the inflatable watercraft 2.

More specifically the retainer means 16 is formed of a composite material.

The composite material comprises an outer polyvinyl chloride covering 18, and an inner sleeve 20 which receives the strengthening member 6. The inner sleeve 20 is made of a friction-reducing material in the fomi of 210gm woven polyester sail cloth. A preferred such material is known under the Registered Trade Mark Dacron, The sleeve 20 is formed by folding the material of the sleeve 20 along one edge 22 and stitching along the other edge 24. The covering 18 and the sleeve 20 may be stitched, stuck or otherwise secured together.

Referring now to Figures 7 and 8, Figure 7 is a cross section through a middle part of a third inflatable watercraft 24, and Figure 8 is a cross section through an end part of the third inflatable watercraft 24. The inflatable watercraft 24 may be of the same general appearance as the inflatable watercraft 2, 14. Similar parts have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding In the inflatable watercraft 24, two strengthening members 26 have been employed. These strengthening members 26 are like the strengthening member 6 shown in Figures 1 -3 except that the strengthening member 6 is of a thicker cross sectional shape than the cross sectional shape of the * .**.. * *

strengthening member 6. This thicker CrOSS sectional shape of the strengthening member 26 enables the strengthening member 26 to act in two * ** ways More specifically the strengthening member 26 acts_firstlyjqjpcrease_ ---___ -the rigidity of the body 4 when the body 4 is inflated. This modified profile is such as tp improve the water-travel characteristics of the body 4 as compared to the body 4 without the strengthening member 26. The improved water-travel characteristic may be better speed and better handling. The strengthening member 26 with its thicker cross sectional shape is of a cross sectional shape which causes the profile of the side 10 of the body 4, as defined by the retainer means 8, to be angular when the body 4 is inflated.

This angularity is shown by sham edges 28 of the retaining means 8. These sharp edges 28 are not present in the retainer means 8 shown in the inflatable wateroraft 2, this being due to the fact that the strengthening member 6 is of a smaller rectangular cross sectional shape than the rectangular cross sectional shape of the strengthening member 26. Improved water-travel characteristics of the body 4 afforded by the use of the strengthening member 26 include improved speed and improved board control through water. A thicker and/or longer strengthening member may be employed, The inflatable watercraft 24 is such that parts of its body 4 are constructed of depth control means in the form of drop stitch polyvinyl chloride 30. The drop stitch polyvinyl chloride 30 controls the depth of inflation of the inflatable watercraft 24 by restricting the maximum depth of

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* inflation.

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S It is to be appreciated that the embodimenth of the invention described :.: above with referen to the accompanying drawings have been given byway of example only and that modifications may be effected, ThusJor example ____ thiinflatab]jrcraf7 24 have been shown as stand up paddleboards Other types of inflatabje watercraft may be employed. Different types of strengthening members 6, 26, for example having different cross sectional shapes, may be employed. Also, different types of retainer means 16 may be employed. Materials other than polyvinyl chloride may be employed. Individual components shown in the drawings are not limited to use in their drawings and they may be used in other drawings and in all aspects of the invention. 4* U * S * * 55

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Claims

CLAIMS1. An inflatable watercraft comprising a body which is inflatable for use of the watemraft and which is deflatable for storage andlor transportation of the watercraft1 at least one strengthening member for increasing the rigidity of the body when it is inflated, and retainer means for releasably retaining the strengthening member along a side of the body whereby the strengthening member is able to be retained along the side of the body when the body is inflated and to' be removed from the side of the body when the bOdy is deflated.
2. An inflatable watercraft according to cAaim I in' which the body is a longitudinally extending body.
3. An inflatable watercraft according to claim I or claim 2 in which the retainer means is configured to provide minimal resistance to water during *r": use of the inflatable watercraft. -*j * . * 0.s.
4. An inflatable watercraft according to claim 3 in which the retainer -;: --means-is-a-pocket: * * . * ..
5. An inflatable watercraft according to any one of the preceding claims in which the retainer means and/or the strengthening member have surfaces which facilitate a sliding action between the strengthening member and the retainer means.
6. An inflatable watercraft according to any one of the preceding claims in which the retainer means acts solely to increase the rigidity of the body when the body is inflated.
7. An inflatable watercraft according to claim 6 in which the strengthening member is a thin bar which is rectangular in cross section.
8. An inflatable watercraft according to any one of claims 1 -5 in which the strengthening member acts firstly to increase the rigidity of the body when the body is inflated, and which acts secondly to modify the profile of the side of the side of the body when the body is inflated and such as to improve the ". : water travel characterjstj of the body as compared to the body without the * strengthening member.* C.... * . * o * .
9. An inflatable watercraft according to claim 8 in which the strengthening : member is of a cross sectional shape which cause a profile of the side of the____ -- -::: boo be angular when the body is inflated.
10. An inflatable watercraft according to claim 9 in which the strengthening member is a thick bar which is rectangular in cross section.
11. An inflatable watercrafi according to any one of the preceding claims in which the strengthening member is made of a glass reinforcej plastics material.
12. Asp inflatable watercraft according to any one of the preceding claims in which the strengthening member includes grip means for facilitating the removal by pulling of the strengthening member from the side of the body.
13. An inflatable watercraft according to claim 12 in which the grip means is a flexible loop of material.
14. An inflatable watercraft according to any one of the preceding claims in which there are two of the strengthening members, in which there is one of the two strengthening members on opposite sides of the body, and in which each strengthening member has one of the retainer means.S-S S * S.S*5S*4S
15. An inflatable watercraft according to any one of the preceding claims and in which the inflatable watercraft is a stand up paddleboard. * S. * S *itT infltabIe watercraft substantially as herein describecj with reference to the accompanying drawings.AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWSCLAIMS1. An inflatable stand up paddleboard comprising a body which is inflatable for use of the inflatable stand up paddleboard and which is deflatable for storage and/or transportation of the inflatable stand up paddleboard, at least one strengthening member for increasing the rigidity of the body when it is inflated, and retainer means for releasably retaining the strengthening member along a side of the body whereby the strengthening member is able to be retained along the side of the body when the body is inflated and to be removed from the side of the body when the body is deflated, and the retainer means being such that it is a pocket whereby the retainer means provides minimal resistance to water during use of the inflatable stand up paddleboard.2. An inflatable stand up paddleboard according to claim 1 in which the retainer means andlor the strengthening member have surfaces which facilitate a sliding action between the strengthening member and the retainer means.3. An inflatable stand up paddleboard according to claim I or claim 2 in which the strengthening member acts solely to increase the rigidity of the fl....* body when the body is inflated. * S* S. S. * * * .55S4. An inflatable stand up paddleboard according to claim 3 in which the strengthening member is a thin bar which is rectangular in cross section.5. An inflatable stand up paddleboard according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the strengthening member acts firstly to increase the rigidity of the body when the body is inflated, and which acts secondly to modify the profile of the side of the body when the body is inflated and such as to improve the water travel characteristics of the body as compared to the body without the strengthening member.6. An inflatable stand up paddleboard according to claim 5 in which the strengthening member is of a cross sectional shape which causes a profile of the side of the body to be angular when the body is inflated.7. An inflatable stand up paddleboard according to claim 6 in which the strengthening member is a thick bar which is rectangular in cross section.8. An inflatable stand up paddleboard according to any one of the preceding claims in which the strengthening member is made of a glass reinforced plastics material.*s&.s.. * *9. An inflatable stand up paddleboard according to any one of the preceding claims in which the strengthening member includes grip means for *0 * I..facilitating the removal by pulling of the strengthening member from the side of the body.10. An inflatable stand up paddleboard according to claim 9 in which the grip means is a flexible loop of material.11. An inflatable stand up paddleboard according to any one of the preceding claims in which there are two of the strengthening members, in which there is one of the two strengthening members on opposite sides of the body, and in which each strengthening member has one of the retainer means.12. An inflatable stand up paddleboard substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. *. .. * . . * * * I eel-* * * *. * * t * C..SI.....I