Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02515812 2005-08-11
TITLE
COLLAPSIBLE BOAT HULL
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a collapsible boat hull which can be readily
collapsed
for ease of transportation and readily erected for use.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
It is known to provide collapsible boat hulls, comprising a pair of hingedly
interconnected bottom panels and a pair of side panels hinged to the bottom
panels.
Such boats can be collapsed and folded along the hinging edges of the panels
into a
substantially flat configuration. Typically collapsible boat hulls are also
provided
with a stern member functioning as a transom, a bow member, and seats which
are
mounted onto the boat hull when the boat hull is in an erected configuration.
It is
important that the junction between the boat hull and the bow member, and the
boat
hull and the stern member, are leak-proof. Provision is generally also made to
mount
an outboard motor on the stem member.
Some collapsible boat hulls are provided with rigid stern members, while
others are
provided with diaphragms that can accommodate rigid panels, which rigidify and
stabilise the diaphragm when an outboard motor is mounted thereon. The stress
exerted on the boat hull by the outboard motor mounted on the stern members,
however, has meant that it has not previously been possible to use outboard
motors
whose power exceeds about 4 horsepower.
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Further, the collapsible boat hulls of the prior art, when arranged in their
erected
configuration, are generally flexible rather than rigid, leading to poor
handling in the
water.
The present invention attempts to overcome at least in part some of the
aforementioned
disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a
collapsible
boat hull comprising: a pair of bottom panels, each bottom panel having a
first continuous
hinge along an inner edge thereof and a second continuous hinge along an outer
edge
thereof; and a pair of side panels, each side panel being connected to an
adjacent bottom
panel along a respective second continuous hinge; wherein each of the first
and second
continuous hinges has a spine, the spines having resilient flexibility along
respective
longitudinal and transverse planes thereof, thereby facilitating the bottom
and side panels
to be moved between a folded configuration and an erected configuration.
Advantageously this allows the boat hull to move from a substantially flat
configuration
when folded to form an conventional shape when erected.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is provided
A
collapsible boat hull comprising: a pair of bottom panels, each bottom panel
having a first
continuous hinge along an inner edge thereof and a second continuous hinge
along an
outer edge thereof; a pair of side panels, each side panel being connected to
an adjacent
bottom panel along a respective second continuous hinge; a stem
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member; and a seat, the seat providing a brace between the stem member and the
side
panels.
Preferably, the seat is V-shaped.
Advantageously, this permits force and vibration from an outboard motor
mounted on
the stern member to be transmitted to the side panels.
In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided
a method
of erecting a collapsible boat, the method including the steps of providing a
boat
comprising a pair of bottom panels, each bottom panel having a first
continuous hinge
along an inner edge thereof and a second continuous hinge along an outer edge
thereof, and a pair of side panels, each side panel being connected to an
adjacent
bottom panel along a respective second continuous hinge; providing a
separating
member, the separating member comprising two pins arranged to locate in
apertures
of the side panels, the two pins being arranged to move apart upon the
application of a
force; locating the pins in the apertures; and applying a force to the
separating
member to cause the two side panels to move away from each other.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference
to
the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is an upper perspective view of a collapsible boat hull in accordance
with the
present invention, shown in an erected configuration;
Figure 2 is a side view of the collapsible boat hull of Figure 1, shown in a
collapsed
and folded configuration;
Figure 3 is a top plan view of the collapsible boat hull of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a side elevation view of the collapsible boat hull of Figure 1;
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Figure 5 is a front elevation view of the collapsible boat hull of Figure I;
Figure 6 is a rear elevation view of the collapsible boat of Figure 1; and
Figure 7 is an exploded diagrammatic view of a side panel and a bottom panel
of the
collapsible boat hull of Figure 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
Referring to the Figures, there is shown a collapsible boat hull 10 comprising
a pair of
side panels 12, a pair of bottom panels 14, a stern member 16, and a bow
member 18.
Each bottom panel 14 has a first continuous hinge 20 along an inner edge
thereof, and
an second continuous hinge 22 along an outer edge thereof. In the embodiment
of the
drawings, each of the first continuous hinges 20 is connected to respective
first and
second sides of a centrally disposed keel member 24. In an alternative keel-
less
embodiment of the invention, the two bottom panels 14 are connected along a
single
common first continuous hinge 20.
Each bottom panel 14 is connected to a corresponding side panel 12 along its
second
continuous hinge member 22. Spines of each of the first and second continuous
hinge
members 20,22 have resilient flexibility along respective longitudinal and
transverse
planes thereof, thereby facilitating the bottom and side panels 14, 12 to be
collapsed
and folded from a first position wherein the boat hull 10 is in an erected
configuration
shown in Figure 1 to a second position wherein the boat hull 10 is in a
collapsed and
folded state as shown in Figure 2.
The side and bottom panels 12, 14 are made from stiff, lightweight materials
that have
high tensile strength and resist abrasion. Typically, the side and bottom
panels 12, 14
are made from a composite fibreglass material. Alternatively, the side and
bottom
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panels 12, 14 man be made from a marine grade aluminium honeycomb closed cell
composite panel of approximately 10 mm width, such as a 5052 HR Al composite
panel, or a heavy duty alternative such as kevlar and polypropylene. These may
be a
combination of composite or honeycomb structures.
Preferably, the rigidity of the material is such that when the boat hull 10 is
in the
erected configuration, the boat hull 10 is almost rigid and rides very well in
the water.
Further, the side and bottom panels 12, 14 could also be made from a rigid
and/or
composite aluminium, plywood or plastics materials, with high tensile strength
and
abrasion resistivity.
to The keel member 24 is substantially flat and elongate. It is arranged to be
longitudinally aligned along the keel line of the boat hull 10. The keel
member 24
may be made from any suitable rigid or semi-rigid material including metal,
plastics
or wood having sufficient flexibility from a mid-ship line 1 (see Figure 7)
forward to
the aft of the boat hull 10 to form a compound curve toward the bow increasing
its
curvature and tension to partly form a unique bow shape while the boat hull 10
is
being erected.
Each side panel 12, shown in isolation in Figure 7, is substantially flat and
elongate
having an inner surface 26, an outer surface 28, a gunwale edge 30, an inner
edge 32,
an aft edge 34, and a fore edge 36. The gunwale edge 30 of the side panel 12
is
shaped to define a first continuous convex curve 38 descending from the aft
edge 34
to the fore edge 36, as shown in Figure 7. A descent of the first continuous
convex
curve 38 becomes steeper from about the mid-ship line 1 towards the fore edge
36.
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The inner edge 32 of the side panel 12 is shaped to define a second continuous
convex
curve 40 descending from the aft edge 34 to the fore edge 36, as shown in
Figure 7.
A descent of the second continuous convex curve 40 becomes steeper from about
the
mid-ship line 1 towards the fore edge 36. The descent of the second continuous
convex curve 40 is greater than the descent of the first continuous convex
curve 38
such that the side panel 12 is asymmetrically disposed about a central
longitudinal
plane A-A of the side panel 12. Accordingly, the fore edge 36 is shorter in
length
than the aft edge 34, and the fore side edge 36 is disposed asymmetrically
about the
central longitudinal plane A-A towards to the gunwale edge 30.
Typically the aft edge 34 is disposed at substantially right angles to the
gunwale edge
30 and the inner edge 32. However, the angle may vary by as much as 20 . The
aft
edge 34 is substantially symmetrically disposed about the central longitudinal
plane
A-A of the side panel 12.
The depth of the side panel 12 may be varied from the gunwale edge 30.
Each bottom panel 14, shown in isolation in Figure 7, is substantially flat
and
elongate having an inner surface 42, an outer surface 44, an inner edge 46, an
outer
edge 48, an aft edge 50, and a fore edge 52.
The inner edge 46 of the bottom panel 14 is shaped to define a substantially
straight
longitudinally disposed portion 54 between the aft edge 50 and about the mid-
ship
line 1, and a third continuous convex curve 56 descending from about the mid-
ship
line 1 to the fore edge 52, as shown in Figure 7.
The outer edge 48 of the bottom panel 14 is shaped to define a fourth
continuous
convex curve 58 which flares outwardly from the aft edge 50, reaching its
maximum
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outward extent at a point rearwardly disposed of the mid-ship line 1, then
descends
from about the mid-ship line 1 to the fore edge 52, as shown in Figure 7. The
difference in shapes of the inner edge 46 and outer edge 48 mean that the
bottom
panel 14 is asymmetrically disposed about a central longitudinal plane B-B of
the
bottom panel 14.
Accordingly, the fore edge 52 is shorter in length than the aft edge 50.
Typically the
fore edge 52 is rearwardly inclined from the outer edge 48 by about 20 ,
although this
may vary by 20 .
Typically the aft edge 50 is disposed at substantially right angles to the
inner edge 46
and the outer edge 48. The aft edge 50 is substantially symmetrically disposed
about
the central longitudinal plane B-B of the bottom panel 14.
The width of the bottom panel 14 may be varied from the inner edge 46.
It is envisaged that the length of the collapsible boat hull 10 of the present
invention
could vary from about 2m to 8m in length.
The shape of the side and bottom panels 12, 14 are adapted such that when the
collapsible boat hull 10 is in the erected configuration, the side panels 12
bend
inwardly and the bottom panels 14 bend upwardly such that the stem of the boat
hull
10 is raised above the stern of the boat hull 10, as in a conventional small
boat hull.
Accordingly, the collapsible boat hull 10 handles very well in the water when
it is in
the erected configuration.
The side and bottom panels 12, 14 are shaped such that as the boat hull 10 is
opened
from its folded configuration, each side panel 12 provides a tensile force to
its
corresponding bottom panel 14 and vice versa . This tensile force causes
portions of
the bottom panels 14 from about the mid-ship line 1 to the aft edges 46
thereof to be
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directed upwardly in a continuous curve, as shown in Figure 4, and respective
portions of the side panels 12 from about the mid-ship line 1 to the aft edge
34 thereof
to form a concave curvature to define the sides of the boat hull 10. In this
way, the
boat hull 10 is afforded a conventional shape, rather than the flat-bottomed
hull or
variations of cathedral designs and gull wing designs generally available in
prior art
collapsible boat hulls.
The bottom panels 14 are interconnected to the opposing sides of the keel
member 24
along the whole length of the bottom panels' 14 inner edges 42 by the pair of
first
continuous hinges 20. The wings of the first continuous hinges 20 are fastened
to the
outer surface 44 of the bottom panels 14 and the opposing sides of the keel
member
24 by suitable fastening means such as rivets or screws, together with an
adhesive/sealant.
The outer edge 48 of each bottom panel 14 is interconnected along its whole
length to
the inner edge 32 of a corresponding side panel 12 by a second continuous
hinge 22.
The wings of each second continuous hinge 22 are fastened to respective outer
surfaces 44, 28 of corresponding bottom and side panels 14, 12 with suitable
fastening
means such as rivets or screws, together with an adhesive/sealant.
The first and second continuous hinges 20, 22 are made from a plastics
material, the
spines thereof being typically a plasticised membrane of a co-polymer material
and
the wings thereof being typically a PVC material which provide a water-tight
seal
along the length of each of the first and second continuous hinges 20, 22.
The bow member 18 is shaped to substantially cap a space defined by the fore
edges
36, 52 of the side and bottom panels 12, 14 and the keel member 24 when the
boat
hull 10 is in the erected configuration. The bow member 18 is generally rigid
and can
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be formed as an integral member from a mouldable material such as fibreglass
or
suitable plastics material. Alternatively, it can be formed as a frame covered
with
waterproof fabric membranes, such as canvas, sailcloth, or vinyl fabrics such
as
Rip Stop TM
The bow member 18 can be provided with a sealing means to provide a waterproof
seal between the bow member 18 and the fore edges 36, 54 of the side and
bottom
panels 12, 14 and the keel member 24 when the bow member 18 is capped
therearound.
Generally, the bow member 18 is releasably fastened to the boat hull 10 by
means of
resilient tensioning straps 60 or clips secured to receiving means 62 provided
on an
outer surface 28 of the side panels 12.
The stem member 16 is shaped to substantially fit a space defined by the aft
edges 34,
50 of the side and bottom panels 12, 14 and the keel member 24 when the boat
hull 10
is in the erected configuration. In a preferred embodiment of the invention,
the stem
member 16 comprises a membrane 64 which provides a waterproof seal across the
aft
edges 34, 50 of the side and bottom panels 12, 14, and a removable, rigid
transom
member 66 which locates outside the membrane 64 when the boat hull 10 is in
the
erected configuration.
The membrane 64 is preferably constructed of strong, flexible or semi rigid
materials
such as vinyl or suitable plastics such as polypropylene.
The transom member 66 may be shaped and adapted for mounting of short or long
shaft outboard motors thereon in accordance with well known principles.
The stern member 16 further includes a removable supporting member 68 located
internally of the membrane 64. Each of the side panels 12 includes a guide 70
located
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adjacent the aft edge 34. The supporting member is held, in use, between the
guides
70 and the membrane 64 and provides additional rigidity and protection to the
membrane 64.
The boat hull 10 is provided with a detachable rigid V-shaped seat 72 disposed
adjacent to the stern member 16 when the boat hull 10 is in the erected
configuration,
with an apex 74 of the V-shaped seat 72 is rearwardly disposed relative to
respective
free ends 76 of the V-shaped seat 72. The free ends 76 of the V-shaped seat
member
72 are engaged, in use, by locking members 78 located on the inner surfaces 26
of the
side panels 12. Preferably, the locking members 78 are spring loaded, and
cooperate
1o with catches adjacent the free ends 76 of the V-shaped seat 72 when the V-
shaped
seat 72 is in a desired location.
The angle of the apex 74 is preferably about 120 , although may range from an
acute
angle through to a straight seat (ie an angle of 180 ). Accordingly, the
length of the
V-shaped seat 72 will vary according to the angle of the apex such that the
free ends
76 of the V-shaped seat 72 can be engaged to respective side panels 12 of the
boat
hull 10.
The apex 74 of the V-shaped seat 72 can be spaced as much as 30% of the length
of
the boat hull 10 from the stern member 16. Alternatively, the apex 74 can be
integral
with the stem member 16. Typically, the apex 74 is provided with a rearwardly
extending longitudinal strut 80 provided with suitable fastening means to
facilitate
interconnecting the stern member 16 and the apex 74 of the V-shaped seat 72.
Accordingly, the V-shaped seat 72 acts as a brace to readily transfer the
force and
vibration of an outboard motor, when the outboard motor is mounted on the stem
member 16, to the side panels 12 of the boat hull 10. In this way, an outboard
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of greater than 4 horsepower can be readily mounted on the stem member 16 and
used
to its full capacity without destabilising the transom member 66, affecting
the
integrity of the boat hull 10, or substantially diminishing the quality of
handling of the
boat hull 10 in the water.
The V-shaped seat 72 is typically mounted midway up the side panels 12, but
may be
positioned anywhere between a location within about 20% of the inner edge 32
and a
location adjacent a gunwale line of the boat hull 10.
Advantageously, the V-shaped seat 72 has an ergonomic design that affords more
efficient use of available space in the boat hull 10.
The boat hull 10 is also provided with a detachable second seat 82 comprising
an
elongate member transversely disposed between the side panels 12 when the boat
hull
10 is in the erected configuration. The second seat 82 is generally positioned
substantially on a mid-ship line 1 of the boat hull 10, but it may be
positioned at a
location at or between about 20 % of the length of the boat hull 10 fore or
aft of the
mid-ship line 1. The second seat 82 is typically mounted midway up the side
panels
12, but may be positioned anywhere between a location within about 20% of the
inner
edge 32 and a location adjacent a gunwale line of the boat hull 10
Outer ends of the second seat 82 are engaged, in use, by locking members 84
located
on the inner surfaces 26 of the side panels 12. Preferably, the locking
members 84 are
spring loaded, and cooperate with catches adjacent the outer ends of the
second seat
82 when the V-shaped seat 72 is in a desired location.
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Typically the transom member 66, the V-shaped seat 72 and the second seat 80
can be
made from a rigid lightweight material including, but not limited to,
composite
materials, fibre glass, aluminium, plywood, rigid PVC, and rigid plastics
materials.
Although in the preferred embodiment of the invention the V-shaped seat 72 and
the
second seat 82 are engaged by locking members 78, 84s, the invention envisages
other fastening means which may be used. Suitable fastening means include, but
are
not limited to, latches and barrel bolts, stainless steel or metallic alloy
male/female
receptors, self latching/locking devices, and known locking devices that can
be
manually or automatically operated.
The collapsible boat hull 10 further includes a V-shaped forward bar 86 which
fastens
at opposed ends thereof to gunwale edges 30 between the fore edges 58 and the
second seat 82. The forward bar 86 can support a flexible spray deck if
desired.
The collapsible boat hull 10 may optionally be provided with detachable clamp-
on
rollicks disposed on the gunwale line, and/or a detachable fore deck formed
from
flexible materials, such as mesh, vinyl, sail cloth or plastics materials to
conveniently
hold life jackets, safety equipment, fishing equipment, and the like.
Alternatively, the collapsible boat hull may have a rigid foredeck,
constructed of
material such as fibreglass, alloy, plywood or plastics. The rigid foredeck
may be
removable, and is preferably foldable for easing stowing.
In the collapsed and folded state, the bottom and side panels 14, 12 are
substantially
disposed contiguously upon one another as shown in Figure 2. In the collapsed
and
folded state, the bottom and side panels 14, 12 may be readily inserted into a
carrier
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bag shaped to accommodate the collapsed and folded boat hull 10, and
transported on
or in a marine or land vehicle.
In use, from the collapsed and folded state, the bottom and side panels 14, 12
and the
keel member 24 can be readily opened and assembled to the open configuration.
In
order to assist with this operation, a separating member 90 may be employed.
The separating member 90 comprised two elongate members 92 hingedly connected,
with pins 94 extending laterally from outer ends thereof. The pins 94 are
sized to
located within corresponding apertures 96 in the gunwale edges 30. A downward
force applied to one of the elongate members 92 causes the pins 94 to move
apart,
thus forcing the side panels 12 into their erected configuration.
The bow member 18 is then capped around the space defined by the fore edges
36, 52
of the side and bottom panels 12, 14 and the keel member 24, and secured
therearound by securing tensioning straps 60 from the bow member 18 around
receiving means 62, or alternately by the use of latches.
The transom member 66 is also fitted into the space defined by the aft edges
34, 50 of
the side and bottom panels 12, 14 and the keel member 24, outside the membrane
66.
The membrane 66 may be looped over the transom member 66 and secured by
releasable means such as hook and loop fasteners 88.
Guide means may be used to facilitate attachment of the second seat 82 and the
V-
shaped seat 72 to the side panels 12 and the transom member 16 respectively by
engaging the fastening means provided for that purpose.
Once these members, together with the forward bar 86, are in place the
separating
member 90 may be removed.
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Optionally, once the boat hull 10 is erected the outboard motor may also be
mounted
on the stem member 16.
Advantageously, the ready erection of the boat hull 10 in its erected
configuration can
be achieved in most locations, including shallow water.
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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