US3152342A

US3152342A - Boat structure

Info

Publication number: US3152342A
Application number: US278328A
Authority: US
Inventors: Vincent B Harrington
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-05-06
Filing date: 1963-05-06
Publication date: 1964-10-13
Anticipated expiration: 1981-10-13

Description

Oct. 13, 1964 v. B. HARRINGTON 3,152,342

BOAT STRUCTURE Filed May 6, 1963 ,2g INVENTOR 5y H/s A Wag/JEVS H4 Yase/3f M5-3a. RUSSELL KERN United States Patent Office 3,152,342 Patented Oct. 13, 1964 3,152,342 BOAT STRUCTURE Vincent B. Harrington, P.O. Box 2565, Huntridge, Las Vegas, Nev. Filed May 6, 1963, Ser. No. 278,328 Claims. (Cl. 9 2) This invention relates to a boat structure and in its preferred form to a foldable or knock-down type boat structure which in its folded form provides a relatively small, compact, and portable package. The structure in its extended form is especially suitable as a sportsmans boat to be used for hunting and fishing.

An object of the invention is to provide a foldable boat structure which may be readily erected by a single person.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a boat which in its extended form has a rugged structure and a seaworthy hull.

A further object of the invention is to provide a foldable boat structure having a bottom comprising two sections hinged together and a tensionable means for bowing the bottom in a plane extending transversely of the hinge with means being provided for resisting hinging of the sections with the boat structure in its extended form. In its preferred form, the tensionable means comprises a loop of rope encircling the opposite ends of the boat structure and extending longitudinally thereof between corners of the structure to hold the bottom in its bowed form. Preferably, a exible, watertight covering forms the sides of the erected structure, extending upwardly from the longitudinal edges of the bottom.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed specification and the attached drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a preferred form of the foldable boat of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal, sectional view of the boat of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the boat of FIGS. 1 3 with the canvas covering removed;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view of the hinge taken along line 5 5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentar sectional view taken along line 6 6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 2 illustrating the corner structure of the extended boat; and

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the folded boat.

The boat structure of the invention includes a bottom 10 made up of two

panel sections

12 and 14 which are hinged at their abutting ends by a transverse hinge 15. The panel sections are preferably made of thin plywood or other exible material. A tensionable means, preferably a rope 16, is provided for bowing the bottom 10 in a plane extending transversely of the hinge 15. The outer ends of the two

panel sections

12 and 14 have aiixed thereto and respectively support upwardly extending, relatively

short end members

22 and 24. The smaller end member 24 of the panel section 14 is the stem of the boat structure while the larger end member 22 of the other panel section 12 serves as the stern of the boat. The

end members

22 and 24 are provided with notches 17, as best seen in FIG. 7, adjacent their upper, outer corners to receive the rope 16.

Referring to FIG. 4, it will be seen that the rope 16 takes a loop form encircling the opposite ends of the structure and extending longitudinally thereof between corners of the structure to hold the bottom 10 in its bowed form. More exactly speaking, the rope 16 encircles the outside faces of the two

end members

22 and 24 and is seated in their respective notches 17. The longitudinally extending portions or

lengths

19 and 21 of the rope 16 outline the upper edges of the

boat sides

23 and 25. One end of the rope 16 is provided with an eye 18 with the other end of the rope carrying a snap hook 20 which in the extended boat structure engages the eye and draws the rope taut. The inclusion of a turnbuckle adjacent the hood 20 is sometimes desirable to provide for adjustment of the length of the rope 16. The rope 16 may be a continuous non-ending piece providing a somewhat undersized loop having no eye 18 and snap lock 20. In extending the boat using a continuous rope, the loop is placed about one of the

end members

22 or 24 and the panel section of the other end member is flexed inwardly beyond its normal erected position, following which the loop is slipped over the latter end member into its notches 17.

In the preferred form of the boat structure illustrated in the drawing, the two

panel sections

12 and 14 are hinged by the hinge 15 to permit folding of the sections in an upward direction. A bridging member 26, preferably made of plywood and of the same width as the boat structure extends across the hinge 15 and is removably held at its ends to the concave side of the bowed bottom 10 by

cleats

28 and 30. The two

cleats

28 and 30 have substantially the same width as the bottom 10 and are held thereto by screws 33.

A covering 34 made of waterproof canvas or other exible, watertight material is cut and sewn to lit the frame defined by the bowed bottom 10 and the longitudinally extending

lengths

19 and 21 of the rope 16. The longitudinally extending

lengths

19 and 21 provide part of the support for the

canvas sides

23 and 25 of the boat structure. The canvas covering 34 has a zipper 44 or a gromment and lacing arrangement on its upper surface (see FIG. 1) which extends to a manhole or cutout area 46. Once the canvas covering 34 is installed, it is not necessary to remove it as the boat frame may be collapsed within the covering. In folding or collapsing the boat, the zipper 44 is opened, the rope 16 loosened, and the bridging stabilizing member 26 removed from its cleats 2S and 30. With these steps, the canvas covering 34 becomes slack and the two

panel sections

12 and 14 may be folded to provide the compact package illustrated in FIG. 8.

Referring to FIG. 3, which illustrates the boat in water, it will be seen that the force of the Water takes up the slack in the

canvas sides

23 and 25 and tends to lay the canvas along the longitudinal edges of the plywood bottom 10 of the boat structure. This is an important feature of the invention as it affords stability, providing a keel 37 or a keel 39 when the boatman shifts his weight to one side or the other of the boat structure. When the boatman shifts his weight toward side 23 (see FIG. 3), the keel 37 dips downwardly and tends to compensate for veering action which might otherwise occur because of the tendency of the boat to move to the opposite side from which the boatman is paddling. Similarly, when the boatman shifts his weight toward the side 25, keel 39 of that side governs. Thus, the boatman may paddle on either side of the boat structure and still continue on a straight course. If the boatman desires maneuverability, he centrally locates his weight; and the boat assumes the horizontal position of FIG. 3 and becomes highly maneuverable.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been disclosed herein for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that various changes, modifications, and substitutions may be incorporated in such embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention as dened by the claims which follow.

I claim:

A foldable boat structure comprising:

a bottom having two panel sections connected together means for locking the hinge with the panel sections in' about a transverse hinge;

an extended position;

a tensionable means for bowing said bottom in a plane extending transversely of the hinge, said tensionable means comprising a loop of rope encircling opposite ends of the structure and extending longitudinally thereof between corners of the structure to hold the bottom in its bowed form; and

a flexible, watertight covering extending upwardly from longitudinal edges of said bottom and forming sides of the foldable boat.

A foldable boat structure comprising:

a bottom having two panel sections connected together about a transverse hinge;

means for locking the hinge with the panel sections a bottom having two panel sections connected together about a transverse hinge;

tensionable means for imparting a bowed shape to the bottom in its extended position, said tensionable means comprising a loop of rope encircling opposite ends of the structure and extending longitudinally thereof between corners of the structure to hold the botton in its bowed form;

said panel sections being hinged to permit folding of the sections in an upward direction;

means for locking the hinge with the panel sections in their extended positions; and

a exible, watertight covering for forming sides eX- tending upwardly from the longitudinal edges of the bottom.

4. A boat structure in accordance with claim 3 wherein the means for locking the hinge comprises a bridging member extending across the hinge and removably held to the concave side of the bowed bottom.

5. A foldable boat structure comprising:

a bottom having two panel sections connected together` about a transverse hinge, said panel sections at their outer ends having short, upwardly extending end members;

tensionable means for imparting a bowed shape to the bottom in its extended position, said tensionable means comprising a loop of rope encircling the end members of the respective panel sections and extend-V ing longitudinally of ythe bottom between the corners thereof to hold the bottom in its bowed form with said longitudinally extending portions of the ropepro-V viding a foldable upper-frame;

said panel sections being hingedto fold in an upward direction;

means for locking the hinge with the panel sections in an extended position, said locking means cornprising a bridging, member extending across the hinge and removably held to the concave side of the boat bottom; and

a flexible, watertight covering enclosing the boat bottom and forming sides extending upwardly from the longitudinal edges of thewbottom to the foldable rope frame.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Wardwell July 5, 1881 Vaghi Apr. 12, 1910 Grimston Feb. 27, Jackson Oct. 18,

Claims

1. A FOLDABLE BOAT STRUCTURE COMPRISING: A BOTTOM HAVING TWO PANEL SECTIONS CONNECTED TOGETHER ABOUT A TRANSVERSE HINGE; MEANS FOR LOCKING THE HINGE WITH THE PANEL SECTIONS IN AN EXTENDED POSITION; A TENSIONABLE MEANS FOR BOWING SAID BOTTOM IN A PLANE EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF THE HINGE, SAID TENSIONABLE MEANS COMPRISING A LOOP OF ROPE ENCIRCLING OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE STRUCTURE AND EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF BETWEEN CORNERS OF THE STRUCTURE TO HOLD THE BOTTOM IN ITS BOWED FORM; AND A FLEXIBLE, WATERTIGHT COVERING EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM LONGITUDINAL EDGES OF SAID BOTTOM AND FORMING SIDES OF THE FOLDABLE BOAT.