Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B7/00—Collapsible, foldable, inflatable or like vessels
  • B63B7/06—Collapsible, foldable, inflatable or like vessels having parts of non-rigid material

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the bracing of boats.
• the invention is particularly relevant for the bracing of collapsible boats, such as those formed by panels hinged together. More particularly, the invention relates to a method for bracing such boats when in an erected configuration to provide stiffness and rigidity.
• collapsible boats having bodies formed primarily by a number of panels hinged together. Such boats may be collapsed into a substantially flat configuration for ease of transport and storage, and then erected into a suitable hull shape for use on water.
• One such collapsible boat is described in the applicant's US Patent application Number 11/282,128, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
• rigidity and stiffness including torsional stiffness are largely achieved by the provision of ribs extending laterally across the hull of the boat. These provide lateral support, complementing the longitudinal support provided by stringers, the hull panels and strakes in the hull and thus strengthening the hull in two dimensions. As a result, stiffness and rigidity of the hull is established, particularly in response to torsional forces.
• bracing in collapsible boats is to use seats of the boat for this purpose.
• Such bracing is largely ineffectual, as the seat is spaced from the boat hull, and has no direct connection to panels at the base of the boat.
• a degree of torsional stiffness can be gained near a boat's transom by coupling of the transom to each of the panels.
• the transom of a collapsible boat is a removable member.
• a suitable coupling arrangement can be complex, and make assembly of the boat more difficult.
• the present invention seeks to provide a means for bracing a collapsible boat which overcomes, at least in part, some of the above mentioned disadvantages.
• a means for bracing a boat having two sides and at least one bottom panel, the means for bracing including a first member which extends between one side of the boat and the other, and at least one second member, the at least one second member extending between a bottom panel and the first member, wherein the at least one second member restricts the movement of its associated bottom panel in at least one direction.
• the boat may be a collapsible boat.
• a collapsible boat will have two bottom panels. In this case, it is preferred to have two second members, one extending from each panel.
• the first member may include protrusions extending towards the bow or stern of the boat, with the second members attaching to the protrusions.
• the protrusions may mount over the bow or stern of the boat, for instance over the boat's transom.
• the first member and the bottom panel may each have receiving means for the second member.
• One of the receiving means, preferably on the bottom panel, may allow for the second member to be connected to the receiving means so as to be rotatable about the receiving means.
• the second member may be able to hook about the other receiving means, which may be a protrusion extending from the first member.
• the second member may be rigid. It may also be of adjustable length, and able to be brought into tension when connected between the respective receiving means.
• the first member may be a seat.
• the first member is a rear seat extending between the two sides of the boat, the seat having protrusions extending rearwardly and mounting over the boat's transom. This allows a motor to be mounted on the transom in such a way that force and vibration are transmitted through the protrusions to the seat and thence to the boat sides.
• the second members are connected to the bottom panels so as to be able to rotate about their connection means, and then hook over the projections. This allows the stern and bottom of the boat to be locked together in a rigid fashion.
• the second members may be flexible, for instance being ropes or cables. Flexible second members may be coupled to the protrusions, and be arranged to attach to the receiving means on the bottom panel by a hook- and-loop arrangement.
• the second member may be a composite unit, for instance composed of first cables extending downwardly from the first member and second cables extending upwardly from the bottom panels, the first and second cables being connected by a joining means.
• the joining means may be adjustable, and able to provide tension to the first and second cables.
• the second cables may extend from the joining means, through the receiving means, to another at least one anchoring position.
• the anchoring position may be at the bow of the boat.
• the anchoring position is located on a collapsible two-piece nose cone.
• the nose cone includes two resilient arms which, when in an assembled configuration, form a curved prow of the boat. This allows the assembled boat to be easily manipulated from the front, and also acts to minimise damage to other boats in the event of a low- speed collision.
• the resilient arms may have a gap between their outer ends in the assembled configuration to allow for the passing of a rope or chain between the arms.
• the nose cone has two inwardly depending portions, which when brought together provide the anchoring position. The act of bringing the second cable into tension acts on the two parts of the nose cone, bringing them together into an erected configuration.
• the anchoring position may be a hook over which the second cable can be looped.
• the first member may be a cross bar near the bow of the boat.
• the first cables may connect to the first member, and also to a removable bow cover to maintain the bow cover in position.
• the first may alternatively be the nose cone.
• Figure 1 is a plan view of a boat having bracing in accordance with the present invention
• Figure 2a is a partially cut away view of a boat having bracing in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention
• Figure 2b is an enlarged cut away view of the stern of the boat of Figure 2a;
• Figure 3a is a partially cut away view of a portion of a boat having bracing in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention
• Figure 3b is an alternative cut away view of a portion of the boat of Figure 3a;
• Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the bow of the boat of Figure 1 , showing bracing in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention;
• Figure 5 is a cut away view of the bow of the boat of Figure 4;
• Figure 6 is an enlarged cut away view of a portion of the bow of the boat of Figure 4.
• Figure 7a is a perspective of a two-piece nose cone from the bow of the boat of Figure 1 shown in an assembled configuration; and Figure 7b is a perspective of the nose cone of Figure 7a shown during collapsing. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
• a collapsible boat 10 having a bow 12 and a stern 14.
• the collapsible boat 10 is formed according to the method described in US Patent application Number 11/282,128.
• the boat 10 has two side panels: a port panel 16 and a starboard panel 18; and two bottom panels 20.
• the boat 10 has bracing means at both the bow 12 and the stern 14.
• the bracing means of the stern 14 is in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, and will be described first.
• the stern 14 includes a first member in the form of a rear seat 22.
• the rear seat 22 extends between the port panel 16 and the starboard panel 18, and is rigidly attached to each of the side panels 16, 18 using a releasable connection means.
• the rear seat 22 has two protrusions in the form of longitudinal rods 24 extending away from the seat 22 towards the stern 14.
• the rods 24 mount over a transom 26 of the boat 10.
• the arrangement is such that, in use, force and vibration from an outboard motor mounted on the transom 26 can be transmitted through the rods 24 and seat 22 to the side panels 16, 18. This is in contrast to previous collapsible boats where the force and vibration is transferred to the boat hull through the transom 26.
• This general arrangement is described in US Patent Application number 11/282,128.
• Second members in the form of rigid bracing rods 28 extend, in use, between each of the bottom panels 20 and a respective longitudinal rod 24.
• a bracing rod 28 can be seen clearly in Figures 2a and 2b.
• Each bracing rod 28 has a first connection means 30 for connection to the bottom panel 20 and a second connection means 32 for connection to the longitudinal rod 24.
• the first connection means 30 is substantially in the form of a hook, and is arranged to engage with a first receiving means 34 located on the bottom panel 20.
• the first receiving means 34 is formed by a longitudinally extending bar above the panel 20.
• the second connection means 32 includes a hinged locking portion 36.
• the hinged locking portion 36 is moveable between an open configuration and a closed configuration.
• the bracing rod 28 can be freely rotated about the first receiving means 34, from a position of being prone on the bottom panel 20 to a position where an upper end of the bracing rod 28 is resting against the longitudinal rod 24.
• the hinged locking portion 36 can then be hooked over the longitudinal rod 24 and secured in position, preventing relative movement of the bracing rod 28 and the longitudinal rod 24.
• the longitudinal rod 24 is acting as a second receiving means, for receiving the second connection means 32.
• the bracing rod 28 may also include tensioning means 38.
• the tensioning means may be operable when the locking portion 36 is secured over the longitudinal rod 24, in order to slightly reduce the length of the bracing rod 28 in order to bring it into tension. It will be appreciated that, once the bracing rod 28 is hooked onto the first receiving means 34, locked onto the longitudinal rod 24, and brought into tension, the bottom panel will be restricted from movement relative to the seat 22, at least from movement away from the seat 22. It will also be appreciated that the tension in the bracing rods 28 will be transmitted through the longitudinal rods 24 and the bottom panels 20 to provide a compressive force on the transom 26. This acts to lock or clamp the transom in position, and prevents relative movement of the transom particularly in a vertical direction.
• the bracing rod 28 may also be adjustable in length, for instance using an internal screw thread arrangement.
• FIGS. 3a and 3b show bracing means at the stern 14 in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention.
• the second members are in the form of flexible cables 128.
• Each cable 128 is connected to a longitudinal rod 24 by a second connection means in the form of a sleeve coupling 132.
• the cables 128 are connected to the bottom panels 20 by a hook- and-loop arrangement with the first connection means 30.
• the cables 128 include provision for tensioning during use. It will be appreciated that although the bracing at the stern of the boat has been shown with reference to the boat of US application number 11/282,128, this bracing may be applied to other boats, for instance boats having a transom moulded to the back of the boat.
• the bracing means at the bow 12 is in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention, and can be seen in Figures 4 to 6
• the bow 12 includes a first member in the form of a cross bar 42.
• the cross bar 42 extends between the port panel 16 and the starboard panel 18, and is rigidly attached to each of the side panels 16, 18 using a releasable connection means.
• the bow also includes a composite second member comprising first cables 44, second cables 46 and a joining means 48.
• first cables 44 there are three first cables 44.
• Two first cables 44a extend downwardly from the cross bar 42 to the joining means 48.
• the two first cables 44a are two halves of a single length of cable.
• the third first cable 44b extends from a removable bow cover 50 to the joining means 48.
• Each of the two first cables 44a is connected to the cross bar 42 by a suitable receiving means. This may be releasable, or may represent a permanent connection.
• the second cable 46 forms a loop through an anchoring position 52, first brackets 54 on each bottom panel 20, and second brackets 56 on each bottom panel 20, and upwardly to the joining means 48.
• the second cables 46 may be two separate lengths of rope or cable, one for each bottom panel 20.
• the second bracket 56 acts as a receiving means on the bottom panel 20 for the second member.
• the anchoring positions 52 are located at the bow 12.
• the collapsible boat 12 of the drawings has a collapsible, two piece nose cone 58 at the bow 12 which will be further described below.
• the anchoring positions 52 are located such that a tensile force applied to the positions 52 - such as by a second cable 46 in tension - acts to pull the two pieces of the nose cone 58 together. This is best seen in Figure 6.
• the nose cone 58 may be part of the bow cover 50. It will be appreciated that in alternative embodiments the nose cone may be a single piece.
• the anchoring positions 52 cooperate to form a channel 53.
• the second cables 46 extend from a bracket 55 at their outer end, the bracket 55 being shaped to slot within the channel 53.
• the joining means 48 of the embodiments of the drawings is a strap having a loop 60 at an upper end through which the first cables 44 can be secured and a hook 62 at a lower end which can accommodate the second cables 46.
• the strap includes a buckle 64 for adjustment and tightening.
• the first cables 44 are relatively rigid, with the second cables 46 being flexible ropes.
• the first and second cables 44, 46 are flexible ropes.
• tightening of the joining means 48 by use of the buckle 64 brings the first and second cables 44, 46 into tension.
• This has the effect of locking the nose cone 58 and bow cover 50 into position.
• It also has the effect of restraining movement of the bottom panels 20, in a similar fashion to the bracing of the stern 14 described above.
• the efficacy of this arrangement in restraining movement of the bottom panels 20 is dependent to an extent on the geometry of the second cables 46.
• the second cable 46 is a single loop as shown in the drawings it may be necessary to include means to restrict the sliding of the rope through the brackets 54, 56.
• the second brackets 56 and/or the first brackets 54 may also be moved away from the centre of the boat 10 towards the side panels 16, 18 in order to change the angle through which the tension on the cable 46 acts.
• the two piece nose cone 58 can be best seen in Figures 7a and 7b.
• the nose cone 58 is arranged to fit over the bow 12 of the boat 10 and to provide a water-tight seal at the bow.
• the nose cone 58 has a prow 70 formed by two resilient arms 72.
• the arms 72 are curved towards each other, to create a curved profile at the bow 12.
• the curved arms 72 can thus be used as a handle for the boat 10.
• the resilient nature of the arms 72 means that they can serve as a 'bumper' for the boat 10, preventing damage to other boats during low-speed collision.
• Outer ends of the arms 72 are slightly spaced from each other in an erected configuration. This gap can be used for running a rope or a chain, for instance connected to a sea anchor. Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
• Tents Or Canopies (AREA)
• Clamps And Clips (AREA)
• Professional, Industrial, Or Sporting Protective Garments (AREA)
• Toys (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=40386552

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Citations (6)

Family Cites Families (2)

• 2008
  • 2008-08-22 AU AU2008291679A patent/AU2008291679B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2008-08-22 CA CA2727533A patent/CA2727533A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2008-08-22 EP EP08782991.7A patent/EP2190730B1/en not_active Not-in-force
  • 2008-08-22 NZ NZ583892A patent/NZ583892A/xx not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2008-08-22 WO PCT/AU2008/001243 patent/WO2009026619A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2008-08-22 CN CN2008801092802A patent/CN101808889B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related

Patent Citations (6)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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