Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B32/00—Water sports boards; Accessories therefor
  • B63B32/50—Boards characterised by their constructional features
  • B63B32/56—Boards convertible into vessels or other types of water sports boards, e.g. into sailboats, canoes or water-cycles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B32/00—Water sports boards; Accessories therefor
  • B63B32/50—Boards characterised by their constructional features
  • B63B32/53—Sectionalised boards, e.g. modular, dismountable or foldable boards

Definitions

• the subject of the present invention is a vehicle for multiple uses which can be easily transformed for practicing in particular various sports and leisure activities, which comprises a basic structure common to the various applications and interchangeable elements, so that this vehicle can be used either as a machine nautical powered, sailing, rowing or pedaling, either as a motorized vehicle that can move on snow or ice, or as a land motorized vehicle moving on wheels and powered by an engine or by a sail.
• the objective of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks and to provide a light vehicle, compact, with multiple uses, which in particular allows the practice of many sports or leisure activities from the same basic structure or support. , common to several activities, and of interchangeable elements or modules which allow the basic structure to be easily and inexpensively transformed to adapt it to different uses.
• a multi-purpose convertible vehicle in particular for practicing different sports and leisure activities, which comprises a basic support common to all the different uses, which is composed of a waterproof shell, of flattened and elongated shape. , which is filled with a rigid cellular material and which has sufficient buoyancy to carry at least one person, which hull has on each side of the rear end a horizontal lateral fin.
• Each of the two lateral fins is traversed right through by holes intended in particular to fix a stabilizing float under the aileron.
• the base support is traversed right through by at least one frustoconical vertical well intended to receive alternately different interchangeable elements which fit into said well and which respectively correspond to the various uses.
• the base support comprises a rectangular central well and two circular vertical wells located one at the front and the other at the rear of said central well.
• the base support also comprises several blind holes situated along the longitudinal axis which open onto the upper face of said base support.
• the base support of the vehicle according to the invention has the generally flattened and elongated shape of a windsurfing board.
• a first possible use is the practice of windsurfing.
• we use one of the blind holes to engage the base of the swivel mast we engage a drift in the central rectangular well and we insert in the rear circular well a plug-shaped element which carries at its lower part a fin.
• the front well is closed by a cylindrical plug which has an access hatch and which serves as a storage chest.
• a stabilizing float can be attached under each of the two side fins.
• Other uses of a vehicle according to the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings which clearly show the numerous possible applications of vehicles according to the invention, which are obtained by means of easy-to-carry out transformations which are limited to the substitution of one or more interchangeable elements that just fit into the slots provided for this purpose and lock.
• the following description refers to the appended drawings which represent, without any limiting nature, examples of embodiment and use of vehicles according to the invention.
• FIG. 1 is a top view of the common base support.
• FIG. 2 is an elevational view and Figure 3 an axial section according to AA of the basic support.
• FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the base support equipped with stabilizing floats.
• FIG. 5 is a vertical section of a vehicle according to the invention which is used as a windsurfing board.
• FIG. 6 is a vertical section of a vehicle according to the invention which is a nautical machine with pedals.
• - Figure 7 is a vertical section of a vehicle according to the invention which is a motorized watercraft.
• - Figure 8 is a vertical section of a motorized nautical vehicle according to the invention used to look underwater through a window.
• FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a possibility of using a vehicle according to the invention provided with tracks to move on hard ground with in particular the possibility of sliding on snow or on ice.
• FIG. 10 shows an elevational view of a vehicle according to the invention used as a sand yacht and Figure 11 an assembly view.
• Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 show the basic support which is common to all vehicles according to the invention.
• This support comprises a waterproof shell 1 of generally flattened and elongated shape, symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal axis, which is similar to a windsurfing board.
• This shell can be made of different materials such as wood, metal or plastic.
• this shell is made of polymerizable plastic, for example polyester resin laminated with fiberglass, which allows. to obtain a light shell, having good mechanical and corrosion resistance.
• this shell is filled with a rigid cellular material 8, with closed cells, of low density, which makes the shell rigid and unsinkable.
• the width and thickness of the hull are calculated taking into account the density of the material so that the hull 1 has sufficient buoyancy to carry on water at least one person and preferably several.
• the shell 1 has for example an average width of the order of 70 cm, a length of the order of 3.80 m and a thickness of the order of 20 cm. It is filled with a rigid foam having a density of the order of 0.03 which gives it buoyancy of the order of 300kg.
• the hull 1 has a tapered shape and raised forward, like a bow. Most of it is flat. At the rear, the shell 1 widens and comprises, on each side, a lateral fin 2, which has the shape of a truncated wing. It can be seen in FIG. 2 that the fins 2 are thinner than the shell and that the upper face of the fins is horizontal and extends the upper face of the shell.
• FIGS. 2 and 4 represent a board 1 equipped with two stabilizers 7 fixed under each of the side fins 2.
• the body of the shell 1 is traversed right through by two circular vertical wells 3 having for example a diameter of 30 to 40 mm, which are intended to receive interchangeable elements which are adapted to each of the uses and which will be described below. after.
• the wells 3 are slightly frustoconical and have a top directed downwards which facilitates the installation of the interchangeable elements and. disassembly of these from above.
• the shell 1 has a rectangular central well 5 visible in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4.
• the longitudinal axis of the well 5 coincides with the longitudinal axis of the board 1: the front and rear walls of the well 5 converge one towards the other as seen in Figure 3.
• the plate 1 further comprises, along the longitudinal axis, several blind holes 4, for example 4 holes, which open on the upper face.
• the wells 3 and the holes 4 preferably have a counterbore which forms a peripheral shoulder around the upper end of each of them.
• FIG. 5 represents an example of the use of a base support 1 according to the invention as part of a windsurfing board.
• the hull 1 is equipped with a propulsion assembly 14 consisting of an articulated mast, equipped with a sail and a curved boom.
• the foot of the articulated mast is engaged in one of the blind holes 4.
• An element 13 in the form of a frustoconical plug, carrying at its lower part a vertical fin 13a, is fitted and locked in the rear well.
• An element or module 10 in the form of a sealed box, is fitted into the front well 3.
• the box preferably comprises a hatch or a door at its upper part allowing access to the interior of the box so that it can be used as a storage chest.
• the central well 5 is equipped with a pivoting fin 11.
• This fin has at its upper end a shoe 12 which can slide in two longitudinal grooves located along the two upper edges of the central well 5.
• the front edge of the fin which has a rounded shape rolls the along the front wall of the well, s 5, the shoe 12 slides forward and the fin automatically folds back.
• two propellant assemblies 14 can be placed in the two blind holes 4 located at the front and at the rear to obtain a two-seat sailboard.
• FIG. 6 represents an example of the use of a hull according to the invention as a constituent part of a nautical craft for pedaling trips actuating a propeller.
• the front well 3 is equipped with a propulsion element comprising a frustoconical base which is fitted into the well 3 and which comprises pedals which actuate a transmission assembly 1 movement multiplier comprising a toothed pinion and a worm.
• the worm screw drives a pivoting device 16 which comprises a drive shaft, a bevel gear and a propeller 16a.
• the pivoting device 16 can be oriented by rotating it around a vertical axis by means of a cable control 17 which is connected to a control lever. The pivoting of the device 16 makes it possible to steer the vehicle.
• the central well 5 receives a seat 18, for example a seat with two places arranged back to back.
• the seat 18 is fixed to the shell 1 by means of a trapezoidal base 19 which is fitted into the central well 5.
• a pin enables the seat to be moved forwards or backwards.
• the rear well 3 is equipped with an element 13 in the form of a frustoconical box which is analogous to that which is used on the windsurf board according to FIG. 5.
• FIG. 7 represents an application of a hull 1 as base support d '' a motorized nautical vehicle.
• the central well 5 is equipped with the same double seat element 18 as in the case of FIG. 6.
• the rear well 3 is equipped with an interchangeable element 9 which comprises an outboard motor 9 incorporated in a frustoconical base which fits into the well 3.
• the front well 3 is equipped with a frustoconical base 20 which is fitted into the well and which carries a rudder 20a at its lower part.
• the element 20 has at its upper part two foot supports 20b which allow the element to pivot around a vertical axis to direct it with the feet.
• a motor-nautical machine at high speed can be produced by equipping it with a relatively powerful outboard motor 9 and in this case, the passenger is lying on the board and a fin is attached to each of the fins 2.
• elongated float whose front end is connected to the shell 1 by a transverse rod.
• FIG. 8 represents another application of a hull 1 according to the invention as the basic support of a small vehicle for cruising on the water, making it possible to look at the water or to explore the seabed.
• one of the wells 3 is equipped with an element having a transparent bottom and a removable cover at its upper part.
• An occupant lying on the board can observe underwater through the transparent bottom of the porthole 21. It is also possible to place in the porthole 21 a camera or a camera for taking underwater views.
• FIG. 9 represents an example of application of a support 1 according to the invention as a chassis for a land vehicle with rubber or plastic tracks, for example for taking walks on snow or on ice.
• the front well 3 is fitted with a propulsion element 23 including a motor and transmission ores which cause the notched wheels driving the two tracks 24 placed on either side of the chassis.
• the central well 5 is equipped with a double seat 18 as in the case of FIGS. 6 and 7.
• the rear well 3 is equipped with a trunk 10 similar to that of FIG. 5.
• FIG. 10 represents an example of applications of a hull 1 according to the invention as a support frame for a sailing yacht mounted on wheels.
• the. front well 3 is equipped with an interchangeable element comprising a frustoconical base 25 which is engaged and locked in the well.
• the base 25 carries a propulsion assembly 27 composed of a mast, a boom and a sail. It also carries a steering wheel 26.
• the mast 27 can be engaged in one of the blind holes 4 located in the middle of the board.
• the rear well 3 is equipped with an interchangeable element comprising a frustoconical base 28 which is fitted and locked in the well and which carries, on the one hand, a seat 29 on which a pilot takes place and, on the other hand, an axle provided with two wheels 30.
• the axle is supported by oblique arms 31 which are fixed to the holes 6 of the lateral fins.
• the wheels 26 and 30 can be replaced by other locomotion members such as skates or skis and one obtains, then, a chariot with sails which can move on ice or on snow.
• Figure 11 shows in exploded view different possibilities of using a shell 1 according to the invention.
• Each application is represented by a letter and the arrows indicate the locations of the interchangeable elements which must be used for each application.
• the letter A corresponds to a simple windsurfing board (fig. 5), the letter B to a windsurfing board with two occupants, the letter C to a pedal-powered nautical device (fig. 6), the letter D to a nautical device motorized (fig. 7), the letter E to a sailboat on wheels (fig.10), the letter F to a sailboat on ice or on snow.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
• Motorcycle And Bicycle Frame (AREA)
• Toys (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=9210636

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Cited By (15)

Families Citing this family (8)

Citations (7)

• 1978
  • 1978-07-07 FR FR7820746A patent/FR2430327A1/fr active Granted
• 1979
  • 1979-07-06 WO PCT/FR1979/000058 patent/WO1980000146A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 1979-07-09 IT IT7916305A patent/IT7916305A0/it unknown

Patent Citations (7)

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