US3116496A

US3116496A - Folding boat hull

Info

Publication number: US3116496A
Application number: US141395A
Authority: US
Inventors: Straussler Nicholas Pe Sorrell
Original assignee: FA Hughes and Co Ltd
Current assignee: FA Hughes and Co Ltd
Priority date: 1960-10-03
Filing date: 1961-09-28
Publication date: 1964-01-07
Anticipated expiration: 1981-01-07

Description

1964 N. P. s. STRAUSSLER 3,116,496

FOLDING BOAT HULL Filed Sept. 28, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 22 20 FIG. 1.

17' FIG. 2.

IAIIENTOR:-

1964 N. P. s. STRAUSSLER FOLDING BOAT HULL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 28, 1961 FIG. 8. 2O 21 FIG. 10.

FIG.7. 13 W 12 FIG. 9.

United States Patent 3,116,496 FOLDING BOAT HULL Nicholas Peter Sorrell Straussler, London, England,

assignor to F. A. Hughes & Co., Limited, London, England, a Eritish company Filed Sept. 28, 1961, Ser. No. 141,395 Claims priority, application Great Britain Oct. 3,1960 9 Claims. (Cl. 9-2) This invention relates to the construction of boats and more particularly to hulls of the kind that are commonly described as hard chine hulls in which the overall crosssectional shape of the bottom panels are of a V-section at the forward part of the hull gradually flattening out towards the aft or mid-portion of the hull to either a very fiat V-section or a horizontal line or even an inverted V-shape. The bottom panels are thus helically twisted in the longitudinal direction of the boat.

The object of the present invention is to provide a folding boat whose hull when unfolded has the features mentioned above and is automatically held in open condition and resists collapse under transverse pressure. A further object is to connect the hull panels together in a manner which facilitates rapid unfolding of the hull of the boat ready for use.

According to the invention a folding boat hull comprising a first pair of flexible panels having contours identical to each other when the hull is folded and each having an upper convex edge, said panels being connected together along a continuous line including a keel portion and a bow and/or stern portion at adjacent identical lower edges by a flexible hinge, and a second pair of panels, said second panels being connected together along adjacent identical edges by a further flexible hinge, further edges of said second pair of panels being connected to said first panels along said convex edges of the latter to which they are identical in contour, said second panels when the boat is folded, lying between the first panels and within the area of the first panels over the length of the latter,

The essential requirement of this invention is that all panels in the flat state have identical contours where they are joined to another panel.

A construction-a1 form of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in to which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a boat hull, designed for a runabout, shown in the unfolded condition;

FIGURE 2, is a plan view of the hull shown in EEG- URE 1;

FIGURES 3 and 4 are front and rear views respectively of the unfolded hull shown in FIGURE 1;

FEGURE 5 is a side elevation of the folded hull;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the folded hull as shown in FIGURE 5 PlGUliE-S 7 and 8 are front and rear views respectively of the folded hull shown in Figure 6;

FIGURE-S 9 and 10 are front and rear views of the hull in the semi-unfolded condition, FIGURE 10 including arrows showing the direction of movement of the panels during unfolding,

FIGURE 11 shows a cross-section through the flexible hinge which connects two panels of the hull together; and

FIGURE 12 shows a perspective view above and to the rear of the unfolded hull having bracing members inserted therein together with seats and transom.

From the drawings it is seen that the hull comprises a first pair of flexible panels l2, 13 forming the underside of the boat, said panels being identical in contour when in the folded position and connected together along Bilhfihb Patented Jan. 7, 1 354 identical edges by means of a flexible hinge to be described hereafter. These edges comprise a substantially straight keel portion 14 which extends over about two thirds to three quarters the length of the hull, and which is continuous with a curved bow portion 15 being about one quarter to one third the length of the hull.

Each panel I2, 13 comprises in the unfolded condition of the boat, a flat flexible sheet having a long approximately straight edge In and a long slightly convex edge 17 extending over the length of the panel. An end edge It; is formed at approximately right angles to the straight edge 16 and is about one sixth to one eighth the length of panel. The edge 16 continues into a convex edge 19, forming the bow portion 15, which meets the convex edge 17. The edge in and the edge 19 extend over the whole length of the panel.

The deck and sides are formed by a second pair of flexible panels 2%, El which are identical in contour when in the folded position and connected together along identical substantially straight or slightly curved edges over the length of the deck portion by a flexible hinge 22.

Each panel 2t, 21 comprises in the unfolded condition of the boat, a fiat flexible sheet having along convex edge 17' extending over the length of the panel and a long concave edge 23 extending from one end over one sixth to one eighth the length of the panel. The edge 24 (FIG. 5) is substantially straight or may be slightly curved to give an upward curve to the fore deck when the hull is unfolded. The edges 24!- extend upwardly and longitudinally to a position where the width of the hull is 70 to percent of the maximum width. A fourth edge 25 is substantially straight and is in a plane at approximately right angles to the central longitudinal axis of the hull. Alternatively, this edge 25 may be inclined to the above-neutioned plane whereby the transom, referred to later, may be outwardly or inwardly inclined.

The convex edge 17 of each deck and side panel is identical to the edge I7 of the corresponding underside panel, these edges being connected to each other by a flexible hinge similar to that forming the keel hinge. The panels 20, l are of such size that they fall within the areas of the panels l2, l3 respectively.

FIGURES 5 to 8 show the hull in a folded position where the panels are flat against each other and substantially parallel to each other and by moving the

panels

12 and 13 apart as shown in FIGURES 9 and 1G in the direction of the arrows (FIGURE 10 the panels 2% and 21 can then be flexed upwardly in the direction of the arrows (FIGURE 10). This action causes both deck and side panels and underneath panels to become flexed helically.

in the unfolded condition the

edges

16 and 19 lie on the central longitudinal axis of the hull. The aft or rear edge 18 of each underneath panel is substantially horizontal and the latter is twisted helicnlly over its entire length.

The deck and side panels are also helically twisted over their entire lengths, the aft or rear edge 18 of each panel 21 being substantially vertical. The hinged together edges 2d lie in a vertical plane along the central horizontal axis of the hull. The most forward part of the foredeck portion of the panel lies in a plane which is inclined at an angle of from 5 to 20 degrees to the horizontal upwardly from the bow rearwards. It can, however, be horizontal or even inclined in the other sense.

The flexible hinge joining the panels together is shown in section in FIGURE 11. The hinge may be made of rubber or suitable synthetic plastic such as neoprene or polyvinylchloride and is an extruded or fabricated strip having a substantially U-shaped section. The two limbs 35 31 of said strip are divided by

recesses

32, 33 each having a width whose dimension is about equal to the thickness of the panel. re limbs are tapered at their outer edges to give a neat appearance. A concave groove 34 is provided to reduce the thickness at the junction of the two limbs in order to make the strip effective as a hinge.

On assembly, the panels are placed in the recesses in the limbs which are suitably treated with an adhesive.

The hull ready for use is completed as shown in FIGURE 12 by the addition of a transom 36 which is attached to the aft end of the deck and side panels and underneath panels by suitable means (not shown) for example blocks parallel to each other and connected to the panels forming recesses into which the transom may slide. Bracing members 37, '33, 39 are also provided which may be located in the hull by suitable means (not shown) which again may be in the form of blocks connected to the panels. Two of the

bracing members

33, 39 form the back members of seats 41. A windscreen i3 and floor boards id may also be provided.

The rear transom for a fixed open or non-ilolding boat is a single panel fiat across or curved and cut to the shape desired to joint the bottom and side panels.

If a folding transom is desired to make the entire boat fold, the transom is cut into four pieces, one out along the vertical centre line and two cuts along two straight lines (shown chain dotted at 45, FlGURE 4) starting from the bottom corners where the side panels join the bottom panels and converging towards the vertical centre line, the angle formed by each cut and the side panel being equal to the angle between the cut and the bottom panel.

Such a transom board will fold fiat either inwardly or outwardly. Outward folding is preferred as there are only two panel thicknesses at the corners and the watertight hinge construction is greatly facilitated.

If a canoe shaped craft is required the panels are carried on from fore to aft without a transom at the centre.

The hull shape may vary from a fine bow entry curve to a fiat aft or even a slightly concave shape in order to give the bottom panels a step effect from amidships aft.

The chine line starts at the top of the bow and carries on to the bottom of the stern transom in practically a straight line when viewed from the side. That is with the bull in the unfolded open condition the upper convex edges of the underneath panels and the lower convex edges of the upper panels are each curved approximately helically and all lie in a common plane.

Due to the curvature of the connected edges of the upper and lower panels, the opened hull cannot collapse under transverse pressure since although the connected convex edges of the upper and lower panels allow folding of the upper panels flat within the lower panels, they resist opening out of the upper panels from the lower ones because this tends to bring the connected edges of the upper panels out of register with the convex edges of the lower panels.

The panels are made of an elastically flexible material, for example waterproof plywood fiberglass sheet metal or synthetic plastics such as polyvinylchloride.

The present invention provides a boat which can be folded in a very simple and convenient manner thus affording ease of storage and transportation.

I claim:

1. A folding boat hull having a deck at the forepart and having substantially vertical sides abaft, comprising a first pair of flexible bottom forming panels having contours identical to each other when the hull is folded and each having an upper edge, a flexible hinge connccting said panels together along a continuous line including a heel portion and a bow portion at adjacent identical lower edges, and a second pair of panels which in the folded condition of the boat are flat flexible sheets, said second panels being flat when the hull is collapsed but being flexed when the hull is opened to form the deck at the forepart of the boat and to form the vertical sides of the boat, said second panels having edges connected to said first panels along said upper edges of the latter to which they are identical in contour, said second panels when the boat is folded, lying between the first panels and within the area of the first panels over the length of the latter, a second flexible hinge connecting said second panels together along the longitudinal centre line of the hull, the forepart of the second panels being curved upwardly above the first panels in the open position, and said second panels being adapted to be sprung in between the first panels to collapse the boat.

2. A folding boat hull as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second pair of panels lie substantially parallel to and between the panels of the first pair when the boat is in a folded flat condition, and upstanding from said first pair when in the unfolded open condition.

3. A folding boat hull as claimed in claim 1, wherein the keel portion of each first panel is straight and is continuous with the bow and is upwardly curved, and each first panel is provided with further edges which are convex and extend over the length of the panel.

4. A folding boat hull as claimed in claim 1, wherein each panel of said second pair in the folded condition of the boat has a contour comprising one edge which is convex and extends over the length of the panel, and another concave edge extending from the wide part of the hull along to the position where the second panels are joined to each other.

5. A folding boat hull as claimed in claim 4, wherein with the hull in the open unfolded condition the upper edges of the first panels and the convex edges of the second panels connected to said upper edges all lie in a common plane.

6. A folding boat hull as claimed in claim 4 wherein said adjacent identical edges of the second pair of panels which are connected together extend upwardly and longitudinally to a position where the width of the hull is from 70 to 100 percent of the maximum width of the hull.

7. A hull as claimed in claim 1 wherein the after end of the hull is provided with a transom which is connected to the horizontal ends of the first pair of panels and to the vertical ends of the second pair of panels.

8. A hull as claimed in claim 1, wherein U-shaped bracing members are spaced along the inside of the hull.

9. A hull as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hinge members are substantially U-shaped in cross-section, each limb thereof being recessed to receive a panel, said members being fabricated extruded rubber or synthetic plastic material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,353,013 Clark July 4, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS 529.700 Great Britain Nov. 26, 194i)

Claims

1. A FOLDING BOAT HULL HAVING A DECK AT THE FOREPART AND HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL SIDES ABAFT, COMPRISING A FIRST PAIR OF FLEXIBLE BOTTOM FORMING PANELS HAVING CONTOURS IDENTICAL TO EACH OTHER WHEN THE HULL IS FOLDED AND EACH HAVING AN UPPER EDGE, A FLEXIBLE HINGE CONNECTING SAID PANELS TOGETHER ALONG A CONTINUOUS LINE INCLUDING A KEEL PORTION AND A BOW PORTION AT ADJACENT IDENTICAL LOWER EDGES, AND A SECOND PAIR OF PANELS WHICH IN THE FOLDED CONDITION OF THE BOAT ARE FLAT FLEXIBLE SHEETS, SAID SECOND PANELS BEING FLAT WHEN THE HULL IS COLLAPSED BUT BEING FLEXED WHEN THE HULL IS OPENED TO FORM THE DECK AT THE FOREPART OF THE BOAT AND TO FORM THE VERTICAL SIDES OF THE BOAT, SAID SECOND PANELS HAVING EDGES CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST PANELS ALONG SAID UPPER EDGES OF THE LATTER TO WHICH THEY ARE IDENTICAL IN CONTOUR, SAID SECOND PANELS WHEN THE BOAT IS FOLDED, LYING BETWEEN THE FIRST PANELS AND WITHIN THE AREA OF THE FIRST PANELS OVER THE LENGTH OF THE LATTER, A SECOND FLEXIBLE HINGE CONNECTING SAID SECOND PANELS TOGETHER ALONG THE LONGITUDINAL CENTRE LINE OF THE HULL, THE FOREPART OF THE SECOND PANELS BEING CURVED UPWARDLY ABOVE THE FIRST PANELS IN THE OPEN POSITION, AND SAID SECOND PANELS BEING ADAPTED TO BE SPRUNG IN BETWEEN THE FIRST PANELS TO COLLAPSE THE BOAT.