US3841256A

US3841256A - Device for temporarily sealing holes in boats

Info

Publication number: US3841256A
Application number: US00419205A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Savel; R Etchelecou
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-11-26
Filing date: 1973-11-26
Publication date: 1974-10-15
Anticipated expiration: 1991-10-15

Abstract

A tube having one end for insertion through a hole in a boat, which end has concentric bags inflatable on the end thereof, and which bags when inflated are pulled over the hole with the water pressure holding the bags in position over the hole; and expandable legs connected to the tube and movable longitudinally to contact the inside of the boat and to hold the inflated bags and tube in sealing position.

Description

United States Patent 1 Etchelecou et al.

[4 1 Oct. 15, 1974 1 DEVICE FOR TEMPORARILY SEALING HOLES 1N BOATS [76] Inventors: Robert J. L. Etchelecou, 10311 Julio P1., Lakeside, Calif. 92040; John J. Savel, 3144 32nd St., San Diego, Calif. 92104 [22] Filed: Nov. 26, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 419,205

[52] US. Cl, 114/227 [51] Int. Cl 1363b 43/16 Field of Search 114/44, 52, 54, 68, 227,

114/228, 229; 9/9; 116/124 R, 124 B, 124 C, DIG. 8, DIG. 9; 244/1 R, 31, 33

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 2,446,189 8/1948 Oding 114/227 2,687,541 8/1954 Bannister 114/54 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 320 l/l896 Great Britain 1 14/227 Primary Examiner-Trygve M. Blix Assistant Examiner-Jesus D. Sotelo Attorney, Agent, or FirmBrown and Martin [5 7 ABSTRACT A tube having one end for insertion through a hole in a boat, which end has concentric bags inflatable on the end thereof, and which bags when inflated are pulled over the hole with the water pressure holding the bags in position over the hole; and expandable legs connected to the tube and movable longitudinally to contact the inside of the boat and to hold the inflated bags and tube in sealing position.

9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures DEVICE FOR TEMPORARILY SEALING HOLES IN BOATS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The number of small boats used for pleasure and commerce are constantly on the increase. New boat designs have made the hulls of the boats considerably lighter, as well as more fragile. Further boats are now being used in areas that have rocks, and other articles in the water, that can cause holes to be punched in the side of the boats. Such small boats do not have the bilges pumping capabilities, that will cope with water entering through a relatively small hole in the hull of the boat, and thus prevent the boat from rapidly sinking. Thus a small hole knocked in the side of a boat can oftentimes cause the boat to sink and result in loss of life as well as a total loss of a rather expensive boat, including all electronic gear that is normally on such boats.

Thus it is advantageous to have a device for temporarily sealing holes in boats, which device can be quickly, easily and reliably used and that has an inflatable end that adjusts to seal holes of many different sizes, and that has means for holding the sealing device in position until the boat can be returned to safe moorage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a preferred embodiment of this invention, a tube has a first inflatable gas bag connected to one end, with a second inflatable gas bag positioned inside of the first gas bag. A gas source, such as a C cartridge, is secured to the tube at preferably the other end of the tube for passing gas through the tube upon demand and inflating the first and second gas bags. The gas bag end of the tube has first and second valves, that control the gas entering the bags in a manner that both bags are inflated correctly. A retainer housing retains the gas bags in the non-inflated condition in a small folded-up condition with a small diameter that allows the end of the tube and retainer to be inserted through a rather small hole in the boat, without damage to the bags. When the retainer housing is then removed, exposing the bags, the bags are then inflated in the water outside the boat.

The gas bags when inflated cover the hole and are held in position, by the outer water pressure, thereby sealing the hole in the boat.

Since the boat can be moved with the sealing device in position, the sealing device is subjected to the movement of water along the side of the boat. This could require that a person grasp and pull on the other side of the tube to retain the gas bags in position. However to avoid this, expandable legs are positioned along the length of the tube, and expand outwardly at an acute angle to contact the inside of the hull and hold the gas bags in position over the hole.

The inner and outer gas bags, not only provide increased stability of the bags in the compressed condition at the hole that is being sealed, but also provide a safety factor should the outer bag be punctured. With the outer bag being punctured, the inner bag then forms the complete seal and additionally if the outer bag is punctured through contact with sharp edges of the boat hull around the hole, then the punctured bag forms a resilient cover over the jagged edges of the hole, allowing the inner bag to maintain the seal and be protected by the outer bag.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new and improved device for temporarily sealing holes in boats.

Other objects and many advantages of this invention will become more apparent upon a reading of the following detailed description and an examination of the drawings, where like reference numerals designate like parts throughout and in which;

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the complete sealing device in collapsed condition.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a similar sectional view, but with the inflatable head extended.

FIG. 4 illustrates the initial insertion of the device through a hole in the boat structure.

FIG. 5 illustrates the fully sealed position of the device.

Referring now to the drawings, the device for temporarily sealing holes 10 has an elongated tube 12 that extends substantially the entire length of the device. Positioned on one end 42 of the tube 12 is a valve cylinder 36 on which an outer inflatable gas bag 20 and an inner inflatable gas bag 22 are secured. The outer bag 20, is held in sealed position by a retainer ring 40 in a circumferential groove in the outer surface of valve cylinder 36. The end of the bag 22 is held by the resilient retainer 38 in a similar circumferential groove in the valve cylinder 36. A valve opening 24, is covered by a 'flapper check valve member 26 that is retained in position by a retainer 28. A second valve 30, has a ball spring check valve arrangement, wherein ball 32 is biased by spring 34. Spring 34 requires a slight pressure differential of the inflating gas to open the valve and inflate the bag 22.

An outer cylindrical housing 14, is slidably positioned over the end of the tube 12, and rides on cylindrical block 44 secured to the outer surface of the tube end 42. The cylindrical housing 14, encloses the first and second air bags in the manner illustrated, and has an end cap 16. A longitudinal slot 48 with hook end slots 50, co-act with the retainer pin 52 secured to block 44, for positioning and holding the cylindrical housing 14, in an extended position, whereby the

noninflated gas bags

20 and 22 are enclosed as illustrated in FIG. 2, and in a retracted position whereby the gas bags are exposed, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

Expandable legs 10, are pivotally supported by holder 56 that maybe threadably positioned on threads 58 on the tube 12. The legs 54 expand radially outward to an acute angle in the direction of the gas bags. Wing nut 60 locks the holder 56 in position. The holder 56 can either threadably engage threads 58 or be slidably movable therealong.

A gas source means, such as a known CO cartridge 18, is positioned on the other end of the tube 12 and is operable in the known manner, such as by pulling a chain (not shown) or by other known valving arrangements, to cause the gas to pass from the cartridge 18 and expand through tube 12 to inflate the

gas bags

20 and 22.

In operation, when a hole is discovered in a boat, such as in the hull of the boat, then the housing 14 end of the device 10 is inserted through the hole 102, as in FIG. 4. The housing 10 is then rotated around pin 3 4 52, and is pulled toward the other end, to the retracted said open end and to be inflated. position exposing the

bags

20 and 22. The CO car- 4. A device for temporarily sealing holes in boats as tridge 18 is then punctured alowing gas to pass through claimed in claim 3 wherein, the channel 62 of the tube 12 and initially through said housing is slidable on said tube, opening 24 of valve 26 into gas bag 20. This initial gas 5 means connected to said tube and said housing for release, immediately starts the inflating of the bag 20. holding said housing in extreme slidable positions, in this inflation, the bag 20 expands outwardly into the and said positions including a first position wherein water, encountering a water pressure resistance. This said housing encloses said gas bags, and in a second coupled with the normal pressure involved and reposition wherein said housing is moved to expose quired in expanding any gas bag, causes the gas pressaid gas bags. sure to increase in the valve cylinder 34 to the extent 5. A device for temporarily sealing holes in boats as that it overcomes the force of spring 34, allowing bag claimed in claim 1 wherein, 22 to inflate. The pressure differential between the two pressurized gas means conducts gas through said valve openings, and the pressure of the gas entering the valve means including a first check valve for passsystem, is such that both bags are inflated concentriing gas into said first inflatable gas bag, cally with one bag being positioned inside the other bag a second check valve, for passing gas to said second and with a gas space therebetween. The other end of inflatable gas bag, the tube 12 is then pulled, while the bags and 22 are and said second valve being opened only after a cerbeing inflated, correctly positioning the bags over the tain gas pressure exists in the end of said tube, hole 102. Water pressure on the outside of the hull 100 20 whereby said first gas bag is substantially inflated additionally forces the

bags

20 and 22 over the hole before gas is inserted into said second gas bag. 102. To assure that the device will remain in this posi- 6. A device for temporarily sealing holes in boats as tion, the legs 54 are expanded outwardly by moving the claimed in claim 5 wherein, holder 56 down the tube 12, to the point where the end said second valve is positioned in the end of said 104 of the legs contact the inside surface of the hull 25 tube, 100. Wing nut 60 is then threadably moved downsaid second gas bag, encircles the end of said tube wardly against the holder 56 holding and locking the and is secured to the outer circumference of said legs in position, as in FIG. 5. tube,

In this condition, the boat may then be moved to said first valve is positioned in the side of said tube safer waters or to a mooring where the hole in the boat outside said second bag, is repaired under safe conditions. and said first bag is sealably secured to the outer cirl-laving described my invention, 1 now claim: cumference of said tube and enclosing said first l. A device for temporarily sealing holes in boats valve. comprising, 7. A device for temporarily sealing holes in boats as a tube having an end for inserting through a hole in claimed in claim 1 wherein,

a boat, said pressurized gas means comprises a source of gas said tube end having a first inflatable gas bag secured positioned at the other end of said tube.

thereto, 8. A device for temporarily sealing holes in boats as a second inflatable gas bag positioned inside of said claimed in claim 1 wherein,

first gas bag and being connected to the end of said 0 said tube has expandable legs positioned along the tube, length of said tube, which legs pivot outwardly to means for pressurized gas inflating said first and secan acute angle in the direction of said inflatable 0nd air bags, bags, and said tube end having valve means for selectively said expandable legs are movable along the length of passing pressurized gas to each of said first and secsaid tube, ond bags, inflating both of said bags. and means for holding said legs at a given position 2. A device for temporarily sealing holes in boats as along the length of said tube whereby said legs exclaimed in claim 1 wherein, pand outwardly to contact the inside of a boat to said tube end has a housing, for enclosing said first hold the inflated bags in the hole of said boat sealand second gas bags in the non-inflated condition. ing said hole.

9. A device for temporarily sealing holes in boats as 3. A device for temporarily sealing holes in boats as claimed in claim 8 wherein,

claimed in claim 2 wherein, said tube is threaded,

said housing has cylindrical and relatively narrow disaid legs have a threaded member for threadably enameter for inserting through ahole in a boat, and gaging said threads on said tube, having a releasable end that allows said tube end and said holding means comprises wing nut.

and said inflatable bags to be passed out through

Claims

1. A device for temporarily sealing holes in boats comprising, a tube having an end for inserting through a hole in a boat, said tube end having a first inflatable gas bag secured thereto, a second inflatable gas bag positioned inside of said first gas bag and being connected to the end of said tube, means for pressurized gas inflating said first and second air bags, and said tube end having valve means for selectively passing pressurized gas to each of said first and second bags, inflating both of said bags.

2. A device for temporarily sealing holes in boats as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said tube end has a housing, for enclosing said first and second gas bags in the non-inflated condition.

3. A device for temporarily sealing holes in boats as claimed in claim 2 wherein, said housing has cylindrical and relatively narrow diameter for inserting through a hole in a boat, and having a releasable end that allows said tube end and said inflatable bags to be passed out through said open end and to be inflated.

4. A device for temporarily sealing holes in boats as claimed in claim 3 wherein, said housing is slidable on said tube, means connected to said tube and said housing for holding said housing in extreme slidable positions, and said positions including a first position wherein said housing encloses said gas bags, and in a second position wherein said housing is moved to expose said gas bags.

5. A device for temporarily sealing holes in boats as claimed in claim 1 wherein, pressurized gas means conducts gas through said valve means including a first check valve for passing gas into said first inflatable gas bag, a second check valve, for passing gas to said second inflatable gas bag, and said second valve being opened only after a certain gas pressure exists in the end of said tube, whereby said first gas bag is substantially inflated before gas is inserted into said second gas bag.

6. A device for temporarily sealing holes in boats as claimed in claim 5 wherein, said second valve is positioned in the end of said tube, said second gas bag, encircles the end of said tube and is secured to the outer circumference of said tube, said first valve is positioned in the side of said tube outside said second bag, and said first bag is sealably secured to the outer circumference of said tube and enclosing said first valve.

7. A device for temporarily sealing holes in boats as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said pressurized gas means comprises a source of gas positioned at the other end of said tube.

8. A device for temporarily sealing holes in boats as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said tube has expandable legs positioned along the length of said tube, which legs pivot outwardly to an acute angle in the direction of said inflatable bags, said exPandable legs are movable along the length of said tube, and means for holding said legs at a given position along the length of said tube whereby said legs expand outwardly to contact the inside of a boat to hold the inflated bags in the hole of said boat sealing said hole.

9. A device for temporarily sealing holes in boats as claimed in claim 8 wherein, said tube is threaded, said legs have a threaded member for threadably engaging said threads on said tube, and said holding means comprises wing nut.