US3048859A

US3048859A - Raft

Info

Publication number: US3048859A
Application number: US60652A
Authority: US
Inventors: Maillot Roger
Original assignee: NORMAN PERLMAN
Current assignee: NORMAN PERLMAN
Priority date: 1960-10-05
Filing date: 1960-10-05
Publication date: 1962-08-14
Anticipated expiration: 1979-08-14

Description

R. MAILLOT Aug. 14, 1962 RAFT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Tl. r e w W R? Filed Oct. 5, 1960 PATENT A6E v7' Aug. '14, 1962 Filed Oct. 5, 1960 R. MAILLOT 3,048,859

RAFT

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VE N TOR Rager NAILLOT ,BJQML W AGENT 3,048,859 Patented Aug. 14, 1932 Roger Maillot, Richelieu, Quebec, Canada, assignor to Norman Perlman, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Filed Oct. 5, 1960, Ser. No. 60,652 3 Claims. (Cl. 9-11) The present invention relates to a raft and has for its main object the provision of stabilizing means of new and simple construction which considerably diminishes tilting and practically prevents overturning of the raft under unequally distributed load and under the action of Waves.

Another important object of the present invention resides in the provision of a raft of the character described designed for use by swimmers, and which is of simple and relatively inexpensive construction, requires a minimum of upkeep, is virtually unsinkable and can be easily moved over water by paddling or the like.

Another important object of the present invention resides in the provision of a raft with stabilizing means of the character described in the form of a floating wharf section whereby several such sections may be connected to one another for forming a wharf for use as a jett to enable access to pleasure craft and the like.

The foregoing and other important objects of the present invention will become more apparent during the following disclosure and by referring to the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a raft in accordance with the invention in the form of a wharf section;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view of the same;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal section;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment in accordance with the invention in the form of a circular raft designed for use off shore by swimmers and the like;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-section of the second embodiment;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged partial cross-section of the stabilizer; and

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of the lower half of the raft.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings in which like reference characters indicate like elements throughout, FIGURES 1 to 3 inclusive illustrate a first embodiment in which the raft is in the form of a wharf section or pontoon A. This pontoon A is preferably made of a polyester resin reinforced with glass fibers but can be made of any other desired material. The pontoon or wharf section has a generally rectangular shape and consists of two half body portions, namely a top body portion 1, and a bottom body portion 2 cemented or otherwise united together to form a water tight hollow space. The top body portion 1 comprises a top flat wall 3 shaped to form an upstanding rib 4- at the perimeter thereof and two transverse ribs 5 at the center portion. The flat wall 3 is provided with an integral depending skirt 6 which flares downwardly and has at its outer edge an outwardly projecting flange 7.

The bottom body portion 2 consists of a bottom wall 8 made of two end parts 8' and a raised central part 8"; an inverted skirt 9 integrally depends from the end parts 8 and is provided with a flange 10 merging with the edges of the central part 8" and adapted to fit against the flange 7 of the top body portion 1 to be cemented thereto in a water tight manner. The joint provided by the flanges 7 and 10 is preferably covered with a rubber bumper 11.

In accordance with the present invention each end part 8 of the bottom wall 8 is provided with two transversely aligned, spaced, downwardly projecting inverted frusto-conical members 12 which can be cemented to the end part 8 or made integral therewith and which are opened at their lower end 13 while their upper end is closed by a bell shaped cap 14 cemented to the inside face of the bottom wall part 8' at the periphery of the base of the frusto-conical members 12.

Each frusto-conical member 12 is provided with a vent tube 15 in communication with the top of cap 14 and extending vertically through the raft to open at 16 at the top wall 3.

The wharf section may be provided with eyes 17 along the sides thereof for threading ropes 18 serving to interconnect the wharf sections. Also sleeves 19 may be fixed along one side for removably inserting posts 20 having holes at the upper ends thereof for threading a guard cable 21.

The Wharf section A floats in water but water will enter the inverted frusto-conical members 12 to a more or less degree depending on the load on the wharf section; the air enclosed within the top of the members 12 is allowed to escape slowly or enter said conical members 12 depending on the up and down movement of the wharf section or variation of water level with respect to the wharf section. Thus, the conical members 12 and their vent tube 15 act as stabilizers which have been found to considerably restrict the up and down and tilting movement of the wharf sec-tion under the action of the waves, and also to prevent overturning of the wharf section under unequal distribution of load.

In a sinking movement entry of the water within conic-a1 members 12 is retarded because of the presence of the cushion of air within said members 12 which is allowed to leak in a restricted manner through vent tube 15. Thus, the sinking movement is retarded. In a raising movement, the weight of the water confined within conical members 12 prevents the section from raising too rapidly, the raising movement being controlled by the rate of entry of the air within conical members 12 through vent tubes 15, so in practice, the up and down movements of the wharf section are considerably diminished under the action of waves. Sudden overturning of the wharf section is prevented due to the weight of water confined within conical members 12 which can only escape therefrom in a slow manner.

The second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGURES 4 to 7 inclusive. In this embodiment the raft takes the form of a circular floating island adapted to be moved off shore and anchored and serving for swim mers as a rest area, diving board and the like. This embodiment is also preferably made of polyester resin reinforced with glass fibers.

The raft in accordance with the second embodiment comprises a circular top body portion 22 and a circular bottom body portion 23 cemented or otherwise secured together to form a water tight hollow compartment. The top body portion 22 has a flat top wall 24, a circular peripheral rib 25 and a flaring downwardly extending skirt 26 provided with an outwardly projecting lip or flange 27. The bottom body portion 23 consists of a slightly tapered bottom wall 28 with a peripheral upwardly flaring skirt 29 provided at its upper edge with an outwardly projecting flange or lip 30 adapted to contact and be cemented to the flange 27 of the top body portion. A rubber bumper 31 is preferably fitted over the

united flanges

27 and 30. The bottom wall 28 is preferably provided with radially directed reinforcing ribs 32.

A downwardly extending, centrally located, inverted frusto-conical member 33 is integrally formed With bottom wall 28 and is provided with a bell-shaped cap 34 closing the top end of member 33. Member 33 is opened at its lower end 35 and is preferably beaded as shown at 36 to reinforce the edge of the lower end of member 33. The center of cap 34 is provided with a venting aperture 37 in communication with a venting tube 38 secured to the top 3 of cap 34 by sleeve 39. Tube 38 extends vertically and passes through the top wall 24 Where it opens to the atmosphere.

A mast 40 fits over the projecting end of tube 38 and is rigidly secured to the top wall 24 and has a lateral opening 41 for the discharge of the air coming from tube 38. Mast 40 is provided with cross arms 42 at approximately mid-height.

A cylindrical partition Wall 43 extends vertically through the water tight compartment of the raft and is fitted in Water tight manner over the cylindrical part 44 of cap 34- and is secured at its upper edge to the top wall 24. Wall 43 serves to support and reinforce the top wall 24 and also defines an additional water tight compartment for the raft. The bottom Wall 28 may be provided with an opening normally closed by a rubber plug 45 and serving to empty the raft of any water which may have leaked thereinto. A safety rope 46 encircles the raft and is threaded through eyes 47 secured to the side of the raft. A flexible rope ladder 48 is attached to the rope 46 and enables the swimmers to climb onto the raft.

The circular raft can be made to spin upon itself about its vertical central axis by swinging ones body to the right and left while grasping the cross arms 42. At a relatively small speed of rotation, the occupants. will have diificulty in standing on the raft and will be projected into water.

The raft in accordance with the second embodiment is characterised, as for the first embodiment, by the provision of the stabilizer consisting of the conical member 33 and venting tube 38 which stabilizes the raft against up and down movement under the action of waves and virtually prevents overturning of the raft under unequal load distribution.

The raft in accordance with the second embodiment is preferably made of polyester resin reinforced with fibre glass but can also be made of any other suitable material. While preferred embodiments in accordance with the present invention have been illustrated and described it is understood that various modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A raft comprising a body member defining a hollow Water tight compartment having a bottom wall and a top wall, and a stabilizing assembly consisting of a clownwardly extending inverted frusto-conical member depending from the bottom wall and open at .its lower smaller end for entrance of water therein, a bell-shaped cap member closing the upper larger end of said frusto-conical member, said upper larger end having a much smaller area than the area of said bottom Wall so as to be inwardly spaced from the edges of said bottom Wall and a venting tube establishing communication between the top of said cap member and the atmosphere above said top Wall, the space defined by said frusto-conical member, cap member and venting tube being separate from said hollow compartment.

2. A raft as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body has a generally rectangular shape and there is a stabilizing assembly adjacent each corner of said body member, said raft constituting a wharf section whereby several such sections may be interconnected to form a floating wharf.

3. A raft as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body member has a circular shape and said frusto-conica l member is located at the center of said body section.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,749,958 Randell Mar. 11, 1930 2,792,164 Caufliel May 14, 1957 2,858,790 Russell Nov. 4, 1958 2,889,795 Parks June 9, 1959 2,906,531 Merickel Sept. 29, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 794,390 Great Britain Apr. 30, 1958