US3191200A - Boat construction - Google Patents

Description

J1me 1965 c. FOURNILLIER BOAT CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 19, 1963 IN VEN TOR. dn'sfi v fikrnlifr'er Jun 2 1965 c. FOURNILLIER BOAT CONSTRUCT ION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 19, 1963 United States Patent 3,191,200 BOAT CONSTRUCTION Christian Fournillier, Chamonix, Haute-Savoic, France (86 Ave. Victor Daibiez, Peppignan, Pyrenees-Orientales, France) Filed Feb. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 259,644 Claims priority, application France, Feb. 22, E62, 888,845, Patent 1,323,728 3 Claims. (Cl. 9-6) This invention relates to lightweight boats, such as canoes, more particularly of the type used for sport on beaches, e.g. at summer resorts. Such craft are frequently let out on hire by the hour, and hence have to withstand a great deal of wear and tear and rough usage while still remaining seaworthy.

Objects of this invention are to provide an improved manner of construction for a lightweight decked boat which will be easy and economical to carry out with the use of convenient materials such as plastic laminates; to provide such a boat which will be lightweight and sturdy and will retain its seaworthiness for long periods of rough handling; will remain afloat even when damaged as by puncture of its hull; will have clean lines, streamlined throughout; will have good nautical characteristics as to speed, absence of yaw even when paddled over the stern, and will be practically uncapsizable and otherwise safe.

Other objects will appear, together with the features of novelty of the invention, from the ensuing detailed description of an exemplary embodiment selected for illustration but not limitation and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective vie-w of a mold for molding the hull portion of the improved craft, seen from above;

'FIG. 2 is an overhead perspective view of a mold for molding the deck of the boat;

FIG. 3 is a transverse cross section showing both molds of the previous figures, with the respective moldings therein;

MG. 4 shows in perspective the hull of the boat on removal from the mold of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an overhead perspective view of a frame used in providing longitudinal grooved means on the underside of the deck for assembling the deck to the hull;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the hull with the central longitudinal web provided therein;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view showing the deck replaced in its mold for the provision of the groove means serving in the assembly of the deck with the hull, this figure also showing, in cross section, the frame of FIG, 5 overlying the deck in its mold;

FIG. 8 is a cross section-a1 view of the deck and hull in their final assembled condition, inverted;

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing the two parts of a seat used in the improved boat, also showing the mold sections used in producing said parts;

FIG. 10 is a perspective side view of the finished boat; and

FIGS. 11 and 12 are partial cross sectional views of conventional boats of generally similar character, illustrating two of the usual methods heretofore used for assembling the deck and bull therein.

Referring first to FIG. 10 for a general description, the improved boat consists of two main parts, a hull 8 and a deck 7 completely covering the hull. The hull 8 is of low streamlined profile with a long upwardly curving bow, while in cross section, as may be seen e.g. from FIG. 6, the hull 8 is generally flat-bottomed, but formed with longitudinal stiffening grooves or corrugations which also serve somewhat the function of a keel, minimizing yaw. The deck 7 is flat in transverse cross sect-ion, and is formed with transverse stiffening grooves or corrugations 3,l9i,2b Patented June 29, 1965 "ice which also serve to facilitate discharge of water as well as providing a better grip for the users feet when standing upon the deck, and for his hands when climbing aboard from out of the water. Secured to the deck surface amidships is a seat which is in two parts: a ring 21 adapted, when detached, to serve as a lifebuoy, and a bracket 22 serving to secure said ring to the deck and also as a backrest. Projecting from under the bow is a perforate nose member which can be conveniently grasped to pull the boat on and off shore and from place to place. A recess (not shown) is preferably formed under the hull stern for a similar end. The manner of constructing and assembling the above components will now be described.

The two main parts of the boat, deck 7 and hull 8, are separately molded, conveniently from polyester resin laminate, in respective molds.

FIG. 1 shows the mold used in making the hull 8. This mold is seen to comprise a main mold section 1 in the general form of the hull 8, provided at its fore end with removably attached, e.g. bolted-on, mold portions 2. and 3 serving to mold the afore-mentioned perforate nose or grasping ring. The bottom 4 of the main mold section 1 is formed with longitudinal corrugations to impress similar corrugations in the bottom of the hull for the reasons indicated above. FIG. 2 shows the mold used in making the deck 7, which comprises a mold member 5 formed with transverse corrugations 6 for the reasons indicated. The cross sectional shape of the two molds 1 and 5, as well as that of the moldings 7 and 8 provided thereby, are best seen in FIG. 3.

The molds thus described may be made from any suitable materials, including wood, metal, and the like, but it is preferred herein to make them out of polyester laminate.

Any suitable molding technique may be used in producing the polyester laminate hull and deck by means of the molds described. Thus, according to one suitable procedure, sometimes known as contact molding, the inner surface of the mold is first coated with a suitable moldstripping agent, then the polyester material is applied in successive layers, each layer being successively reinforced with suitable filler material, such as fibreglass, as it is laid on. After the suitable number of layers has been applied, the mold is exposed to polymerizing conditions, and after the proper time the molded part is removed from the mold. This removing operation involves, in the case of the hull, dismantling the removable mold sections 2 and 3 as earlier described.

Alternatively, a vacuum molding process may be applled. In this case, there would be provided for each of the two parts, deck and hull, of the boat, a two-part mold, one mold section being of the concave configuratron shown herein, while the other section would be of a complementary convex shape, means being provided for maintaining the two sections of each mold in accurately spaced relation with the spacing therebetween corresponding to the desired thickness of the part being molded. Filler or reinforcing fabric is applied on the male section, the female section is placed over the male section, and resin monomer is poured into a trough completely surrounding and communicating with the base of the mold. A vacuum is then applied in the space be tween the mold sections by connecting the top of said space with a suitable vacuum pump, and this causes the resin to rise from said trough into the said space under the action of the surrounding atmospheric pressure to fill the space between the mold sections.

A further alternative procedure for molding, using the one-part concave molds shown in the drawings, is to spray the polyester monomer and filler material simultaneously into the mold by means of a specially designed spray gun efiective to produce a mixture between said components at the time of spraying.

These are trimmed'off to provide the final deck and hull members. The two members are assembled by a process which will now be described. The general idea undep lying this assembly process is to join the two. parts by tral web 12, with the deck member 7 provided with its grooved elements 18 and 24, the grooves of said elements means of-tongue-and-groove joints extending longitudicraft structure- The finished assembly is shown (inverted) in FIG. 8, and it will be seen that there are two side tongue-and-groove joints each involving, a side edge of the hull engaging a. groove provided in the corresponding side *of the deck, .and a central tongue-and groove joint involving a longitudinal web projecting from the midline of the deck and engaging a groove provided along the midline of the hull.

The longitudinalweb 12 is lowing manner. A steel strip 9 (see FIG. 4,); is-po'sitioned edgewise along the midline of the hull 8, being retained thereon by means of longitudinally spaced metal clamps 10, The opposite side, faces of the steel strip 9 are first coated witha mold stripping agent, then coated with resin monomer which is also spread some distance over the surface of the hull member 8 on each side of the strip, soas to provide the two L-shaped elements shown at 11 and 11a in FIG. 6. It will be noted'from this figure that the afore-mentioned longitudinal corrugations provided in the hull member are so disposed as, to define a central valley along the fore-aft midline of the hull member. After polymerization of the monomer and withdrawal of the steel strip 9 and clamps 10, there is thus defined a'longitudinal groove between the spaced vertical wall portions of the molded elements 11 and other suitable material, and is, inserted a tight fit in the of the deck member may first be filled with resin monomer reinforced with close-cut fibre glass. The hull member 8 is then'applied so as to force the projecting sides of the hull into the grooves of the side elements 24 of the deck, andthe central Web 12 of the hull into the groove in the central element 18. of the deck, under substantial pressure so as to force some of the resin out of the grooves, and this pressure is maintained by suitable press means for the, time required to ensure complete polymerization;

- The assembled deck and hull. are then separated from i thedeck mold member 5, and the visible surfaces may :first provided in the foll aforesaid groove between the" elements 11-11a, being moreover adhesively secured therein by means of polymerizable resin or the like.

t The next step is toiprovide the under surface of the deck member 7 with longitudinal grooved means, -in-,

cluding a central grooved, element (such as 18, FIG. 8) for receiving the free edge of the web 12 of. the hull,

and side grooves (24, FIG. 8) for receiving the free' side edges of the hull member 8. For this purpose there is preferably used a frame or jig (FIG. 5) which is in the .general shape of the deck '7, and includes a peripheral, member 15 extending completely around they by muscular effort.

' as with suitable adhesive, amidships (see FIG. 10).

the upper part of FIG. 7 has a steel strip supported edge-' wise therein and projecting therefrom normally to the general plane of the frame. The said steel strips correspond.

in thickness to the thickness of the projecting sides of the hull member 8, and the thickness of the web, 12, a

respectively. The deck member line of the under surface of the deckmember. while the side strips engage the inner surfaces of; the side flanges of said deck member. Resin -'monomer is then applied assemblyis exposed to polymerization, and thereafter:

the frame is removed whilethe deck member may be 7 is placed-in its .mold 5. ;The' frame shown in FIG. 5 is lowered into the deck. mem-g ber in the manner shown in FIG. 7, so that-the central,

' strip projecting from frame member 16 engages thefmid be trimmed free of any excessresim, There has thus been obtained a sturdy, highly watertight decked boat structure in which the provision of'the central fore-aft web 12 separating theinner capacity of the boat into two separate watertightdcompartments not only improves the strength of the assembly between the deck and hull portionsfof the boat due to the additional central grooveand-tongue joint provided thereby, but provides a further and valuable safety ,feature sinc'e in the case of the hull being punctured or damaged, as by hitting a rock, the chances are that one of thetwo separate compartments will remain watertight and will serve to keep the craft afloat. I a

If desired, each of ,the'two watertight compartments of the boat may be filled with vsuitable lightweight materials suchflas expanded plastic, polyurethane foam, cork composition, or the like. r '-Referring to FIG. 9, the ,seat provided for the boat shown comprises, as previously mentioned, an. annular member 21, which may .be molded in a simple two-part .mold consisting of the two semi-toroidal mold sections Miami 20.. The seatfurther includes a backrest and supporting bracket member 22, which may be produced,

a backrest for the occupant of the boat, and has its ends shaped to provide gripping recesses in .which diametri cally opposed areas of the ring seat 21 will be gripped under firm pressure due to the resiliency of the plastic support member 22, while. being removable therefrom- The flat seat portion of the support member 22 is secured to the upper surface. of the deck, The annularmember 21 isrnolded from suitable lightweight plastic foam or the like, so as to be buoyant enough to serve as a lifebuoy inan emergency. Should the craft be in danger of sinking, the occupant can separate the ring member- 2t1-from the supp0rt'22'by suitable action exerted firs-t on one then on the other of the gripping end portions of the support, and don the 'lifebuoy thus made available. Normally, with the ring seat 21 in place asinFIG. :10, it will be noted that the pressure "of the occupants back will assistein' retaining the seat the novellightdecked boatof theinventionincludes a' number of advantageous features ofvparticular value in connection with the, field of use earlier specified herein,

but also havingbroader applicability. While the said the manner of assembly of the two parts vof the vboatin allowed to remain in its "mold It will be understood that the steel strips; of the frame member are coated with V mold-stripping agent prior to this. molding step.

- To assemble the hull member 8,'provided with its cen accordance with this invention is considerably more desirable than the types of assembly heretofore commonly used in boats' of' comparable characten, Thus, in the conventional type or hull and deck assembly illustrated in FIG. 11, the, deck 27 andhull 28 are provided with outwardly projectingflanges :25'and 26, which are adhesively bonded to assemble the: deck and bull members.

Usually the assembled flanges are thereafter coated with a fillet 29 of plastic or the like so as partly to conceal the unattractive and potentially dangerous projection. The single flange-to-flange assembly thus provided is considerably less reliable than the multiple groove-and tongue assembly provided according to the invention, the flanges tending to open apart under stresses and impacts to which the boat is subjected in use, bringing about a dangerous leaky condition. Moreover, the projection or fillet completely surrounding the craft interferes with the clean streamlining thereof, as well as providing an obstacle for a swimmer attempting to clamber on board. Another usual method of assembly is depicted in FIG. 12. The deck 30 is of substantially larger width than the hull and has downwardly projecting side flanges 32, which fit over outwardly jutting flanges at the top of the hull 3-1. The channel-like recess thus defined is filled with a suitable mastic or compound as at 32. This again introduces an objectionable projection around the hull. Moreover, the water-tightness of the resulting assembly is particularly unreliable because an inward deformation of the hull wall as indicated in chain lines, and as may be caused by the pressure developed during the application of the mastic filling 32, and by impacts sustained during the use of the craft, e.g., on collision with another craft, very easily destroys the seal between the hull and deck.

It will be apparent to those familiar with the art that various changes and modifications may be made in the specific details of embodiment, and steps of procedure, described and illustrated herein, without exceeding the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A decked boat comprising a molded hull member and a molded deck member, said hull member having side walls projecting towards the deck member, means on the underside of the deck member defining longitudinal grooves along the sides thereof, the outer edge portions of said hull walls being received in said grooves and permanently fixed to the faces defining the grooves, a web extending between said members on the longitudinal midplane of the boat, and further means on the underside of the deck member and the upper side of the hull member defining longitudinal grooves along the midlines thereof, opposite edge portions of said web being respectively received in said longitudinal grooves and permanently fixed to the faces defining said longitudinal grooves, to provide a watertight assembly between said members and define two separate watertight longitudinal compartments therebetween.

2. In a boat, the provision of a seat assembly for an occupant of the boat, said assembly comprising a buoyant annular member dimensioned to serve as a lifebuoy, and supporting means secured to said boat and having upwardly projecting arm portions detachably engageable with spaced areas of said ring member for supporting said ring member in a position slanting downward from the aft to forward so as to provide a stable reclining seat for said occupant when said ring member is engaged with said arm portions and to provide a lifebuoy when said ring member is disengaged therefrom.

3. A boat comprising a molded hull having a generally flat, longitudinally corrugated bottom and upstanding side walls, and a generally flat, transversely corrugated molded deck extending across the top of said hull to provide an enclosed capacity in said boat, means defining longitudinal grooves along the sides of the under surface of said deck, the upper edges of said hull side walls being received in said grooves and permanently fixed to the faces defining said grooves and sealing said capacity, a longitudinal web extending in said capacity along the longitudinal midplane of said boat, and means defining additional grooves along the longitudinal midlines of the under surface of said deck and upper surface of said hull, the opposite edges of said web being respectively received in said additional grooves and permanently fixed to the faces thereof to provide two separate watertight compartments in said capacity.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 802,221 10/05 Kuhnen 9-12 2,866,985 1/59 Blackmore 96 2,916,004 12/59 Parr 114-61 2,965,061 12/60 Bank 11466.5 X 3,092,850 6/63 Klopstock 9-6-5 FERGUS S. MIDDLETON, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A DECKED BOAT COMPRISING A MOLDED HULL MEMBER AND A MOLDED DECK MEMBER, SAID HULL MEMBER HAVING ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE DECK MEMBER DEFINING LONGITUDINAL GROOVES ALONG THE SIDES THEREOF, THE OUTER EDGE PORTIONS OF SAID HULL WALLS BEING RECEIVED IN SAID GROOVES AND PERMANENTLY FIXED TO THE FACES DEFINING THE GROOVES, A WEB EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID MEMBERS ON THE LONGITUDINAL MIDPLANE OF THE BOAT, AND FURTHER MEANS ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE DECK MEMBER AND THE UPPER SIDE OF THE HULL MEMBER DEFINING LONGITUDINAL GROOVES ALONG THE MIDLINES THEREOF, OPPOSITE EDGE PORTIONS OF SAID WEB BEING RESPEC-

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