US2150420A - Motor mounting for inflatable boats - Google Patents

Description

March 14, 1939. J. F. COOPER MOTOR MOUNTING FOR INFLATANLE BOATS Filed Feb. 20, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 (/mesFGoga er I wk 14, was.

J. F. cpoPsR MOTOR MOUNTING FOR INFLATABLE BOATS Failed Feb. 20, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 wu cnal' b z/amesFCocyer Patented Mai. 14; 1939 Moron noummo iron 1-:

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BOATS James F. fiooper, Akron, (Milo, assignor to foot Corporation, Wilmington, Del a c tion of Delaware Application February 20, 1937, Serial No. 126,822

This invention mlates to collapsible and portable boats, and it refers particularly to inflatable fabric boats and to novel means for applying outboard motors thereto! Prior to this invention, inflatable fabric boats room required to manipulate the cars reducesthe passenger space considerably below the buoyant capacity ofthe boat. There has been no provision for mounting outboard motors, and l5 hence the use of such boats has been restricted. In its broad aspect, one of the features of the present invention is the attachment of an outboard motor to a collapsible and portable boat. More smciflcally, the invention contemplates a motor mounting device which may be quickly and easily attached to and detached. from the boat and one which will distribute its weight and that of the motor over a substantial area of the boat fabric whereby to avoid injury thereto. One embodiment of the novel motor mounting com- -prises a. basemember appropriately formed to seat upon one of the inflated tubular portions of the boat and an upwardly disposed extension from said base member forming a stern board to which the motor may be secur Another feature of the invention is the provisiom-of means for maintaining the shape of the boat in its operative condition with increased carrying capacity and decreased resistance to propulsion.- This feature is achieved by use of a.

pneumatic strut exten transversely in the boat from one side tube to the other in such a way as to resist movement of said tubes toward each other. This pneumatic strut ispreferablv located at or adjacent to the widest part of-the boat, and makes possible a substantial width and a pointed bow.

The foregoing .and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein the invention has been shown by way of example, and wherein Figure 1 is a top plan view of the improved boat with the novel outboard motor mounting in a Fig; 2- is a nde elevation thereof Fig. 3-isaientary view taken on line 3-3 -oi Fig. 2; v

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken in line 4it of Fig. 3; y

Fig. 5 is a frentaiy rear elevation taken on line 55 of Fig. 2, but omitting the motor;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on 5 line t-6 oiFig. 1 on a larger scale;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line ll of Fig. i;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of a modified formof the motor mounting; and m Fig. 9 is a side elevation thereof.

v By referring first to-Figs. 1' and 2, it will be seen that the boat it there shown 'is equipped at its stem with a motor mounting ii to which is secured an outboard motor i2 of any ordinary or is preferred form. This motor mounting may of course be applied to boats of other specific forms and the boat here shownmay be used without the motor if so desired.

v The boat iii comprises a tubular buoyant frame made up of a number of tube sections it, it, Et M its, 95, w it, it and it. These tube sections are formed of air-tight and waterproof flexible material such as rubberized fabric and may be joined together with lapped edges 25 which may be cemented, vulcanized, stitched or otherwise. It is to be noted that the bow sections Id and i5 mutually converge to a point in plan, and that they are inclined upwardly, whereby -to provide minimum resistance to propulsion, 30,

The stem tube section i 6 is of course transversely disposed and is adapted for the attachment of the motor mounting H as will later be explained in detail. It is also to be understood that the tube sections which make up theboat frame are 35 of substantially circular cross-section and sufiiciently large to provide adequate buoyancy when inflated. Secured to the lower sides of all of said tube sections and completely filling the space I therebetween is a waterproof fabric bottom ll, w

thedetail of which is best shown in Fig. 6. If desired the edges of this bottom 1 i may be lapped by securing patches it whereby to strengthen the ric patches 22 and 23 to complete their an- '59;

phorage.

It is to be noted that the seat strip i9 is disposed at sumtantially the widest part of the boat and, becauseof the general flexibility of the entire structure, it is desirable to provide means i'or 55 and is appropriately curved resisting inward movement of the tube sections it and l5= when weight is applied to the seat. One way of accomplishing this is by a pneumatic strut which is best shown in Figs. 1, 8 and '7. This pneumatic strut 25 consists of a tube of air-tight and water-proof fabric having its ends 26 flared and secured to the adjacent portions of the frame tube sections M ll-, l5 and I5". Preferably this pneumatic strut may be separately inflated with air through a valve 21 of any preferred type. Furthermore, this pneumatic strut is disposed directly below the seat I! and is spaced above the boat bottom ll, whereby the seat is made somewhat more comfortable and the bottom of the boat is entirely clear from stem to stem. Since the pneumatic strut 25 resists transverse collapse of the boat, it makes possible an increase in boat width and thus increases the boats carrying capacity.

Referring now to the motor mounting II, it will be seen that this comprises a base plate 30 having an upwardly disposed extension ii. The base plate may preferably be formed of metal or otherwise formed to fit snugly upon the'tube section ii of the boat and to distribute its weight to substantial portions thereof. The upward extension 3| constitutes in elTect a stern board to which the motor l2 may be detachably secured by the usual clamping devices 32. A pair of relatively spaced L-shaped brackets 33 provide a firm connection between the base plate 30 and the upward extension 3l, these parts being relatively connectedby rivets, bolts or other suitable fastening means. If desired a thin finishing sheet 34 of metal may also be secured to the base plate 30 and to the rear side of the extension 3i whereby to enhance its appearance, as well as to serve as reenforcement.

The base plate 20 of the motor mounting may be formed in any one of various ways to facilitate its detachable connection to the boat tube section It. -For this purpose the illustrated embodiment of the base plate is provided with slots 35 adjacent its rearward edge and similar slots 36 adjacent its forward edge and these slots are adapted to receive securing straps 31 and 38 which are appropriately mounted upon the boat. Fabric reenforcing'patches 40 and II may be employed to permanently hold flexible loops .4! and (it which in turn carry metallic buckles or rings 44 and 45 to which the straps 31 and 38 may be attached. With this or any equivalent construction the motor mounting ll may very easily and boat either to facilitate use of the motor or to permit collapse and folding of the'boat for storage or transportation. In some cases it might be desirable to further distribute the forces of the motor and to further brace the motor mounting and for this purpose a modiflcation, such as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, may be employed. In this form of the invention the patches 21 which are used for securing the seat 20in position may be formed with extenr terized by means quickly be'mounted upon or removed from the sions ll providing detachable anchorage SI for the forward ends "of rods- 53. These rods 53 are inclined upwardly and inwardly toward the top of the stem board ll of the motor mountin and are secured thereto by bolts or the like. Thus. when the motor is in operation the thrust will be applied, not only to the buoyancy tube section Ii, but also through the rods 53 to the tube sections M and li 7 From the foregoing it will be evident that an improved inflatable fabric boat has been provided and also a novel motor. mounting for such boats generally. The boat, motor mounting and motor may be easily transported as separate units and may be quickly assembled for use when desired. A combination of these units is particularly advantageous to campe sportsmen and tourists with motor-car trailers. Obviously, the

several features of the invention may be modifled in various'ways and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as fall within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention. v

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: l. A removable and portable motor mountin of the class described comprising a base member so formed as to fit snugly upon a substantial area of an inflated tube portion of a fabric boat, and an extension rising from said base member adapted to receive an outboard motorand to hold the same in operative position rearwardly thereof when applied to said inflated tube portion of the boat.

2. A removable and portable motor mounting of the class described comprising a curved base member of substantial area so formed as to fit snugly against and to rest upon an inflated buoyancy tube of a fabricboat, and an upwardly disposed extension on said base member adapted to receive an outboard motor and to hold the same in operative position rearward of said buoyancy tube.

8. A removable an portable motor mountin of the class described comprising a transversely curved base member of substantial area so formed as to fit snugly against and to rest upon an inflated buoyancy tube at boat, an upwardly disposed extension on said base member adapted to receive an outboard motor and to hold the same in operative position rearward of said buoyancy tube when applied to a boat, said curved base member being characto facilitate detachable connection to a boat.

4. A removable and portable motor mounting of the clmdesc'iibed comprising a transversely curved metallic base plate of substantial area so the. stern of a fabric formed as to fit snugly against and to rest upon Y an inflated buoyancy tube at the stern of a fabric and an upwardlyextending member rigid with'reference-tosaid base plate and adapted to receive an outboard motor and to hold the same the boat.

- in operative position outside of Y JAMES F. COOPER.

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