Self-righting whitewater raft
First Claim
1. An inflatable raft floatable on water comprising an elongate inflatable hull having a front end and a rear end and which is symmetrical about a vertical longitudinal center plane, and an inflatable righting structure extending centrally of the hull between the hull front and rear ends and disposed substantially above the hull at substantially the midlength of the hull, righting structure being of inverted V configuration having a peak substantially above the midlength of the hull, the ratio of the width of the hull to its length being substantially 0.5.
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Abstract
An inflatable raft has an inflatable hull of catamaran type. The hull has parallel spaced fore-and-aft pontoons centrally of its length between elevated transverse bridges at the ends of the hull. The pontoons and bridges are connected by inclined connecting sections. Along a vertical longitudinal centerplane of the hull there is an inflatable righting structure. The righting structure is of inverted V configuration having legs connected at an arm peak above the hull. Lower ends of the legs are connected to the bridges so that the arm extends between the bridges. Inflatable righting sponsons can extend laterally from the arm at its peak area.
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Citations
36 Claims
- 1. An inflatable raft floatable on water comprising an elongate inflatable hull having a front end and a rear end and which is symmetrical about a vertical longitudinal center plane, and an inflatable righting structure extending centrally of the hull between the hull front and rear ends and disposed substantially above the hull at substantially the midlength of the hull, righting structure being of inverted V configuration having a peak substantially above the midlength of the hull, the ratio of the width of the hull to its length being substantially 0.5.
- 3. An inflatable raft floatable on water comprising an elongate inflatable hull having a front end and a rear end and which is symmetrical about a vertical longitudinal center plane, and an inflatable righting structure extending centrally of the hull between the hull front and rear ends and disposed substantially above the hull at substantially the midlength of the hull, the righting structure including, substantially at its greatest height above the hull, inflatable sponsons extending a selected distance laterally in opposite directions from the center plane to unsupported ends.
- 7. An inflatable raft floatable on water comprising an elongate inflatable hull having a front end and a rear end which is symmetrical about a vertical longitudinal center plane, the hull being of catamaran configuration including a pair of pontoons disposed parallel to each other on opposite sides of the center plane and having bottom extents in a hull base plane, forward and rear bridges disposed transversely in the hull at locations substantially above the base plane, and connecting sections of the hull inclined to the base plane and connecting forward and rear ends of the pontoons to the respective bridges.
- 16. An inflatable raft floatable on water having an inflatable hull of substantially catamaran configuration which is substantially rectangular in plan view and is comprised of a pair of inflatable pontoons parallel to and on opposite sides of a hull vertical longitudinal center plane with lower extents thereof lying in a hull base plane, inflatable substantially straight forward and rear transverse bridges disposed substantially normal to the center plane with lower extents elevated above the base plane a distance greater than the design draft of the raft, and inflatable substantially straight connecting sections of the hull inclined to the base plane and connecting forward and rear ends of the pontoons to adjacent ends of the respective bridges.
- 30. An inflatable raft floatable on water having a hull of substantially catamaran configuration comprised of a pair of pontoons parallel to and on opposite sides of a hull vertical longitudinal center plane with lower extents thereof lying in a hull base plane, forward and rear transverse bridges disposed substantially normal to the center plane with lower extents elevated above the base plane a distance greater than the design draft of the raft, and connecting sections of the hull inclined to the base plane and connecting forward and rear ends of the pontoons to the respective bridges, and an inflatable righting structure disposed centrally of the width of the hull and extending between the bridges, the righting structure having a peak intermediate the bridges which is substantially elevated above the hull.
- 35. An inflatable raft floatable on water comprising a substantially rectangular inflatable hull, the hull being comprised by a pair of spaced parallel pontoons located centrally of the length of the hull with bottom surfaces thereof lying in a hull base plane, forward and rear transverse hull end bridges having lengths normal to a hull vertical longitudinal center plane which are at least equal to the width of the hull, the bridges having lower extents elevated substantially above the base plane, and connecting sections inclined to the base plane connecting the pontoons to the bridges substantially at corners of the raft, the raft further including an inflatable righting arm of substantially inverted V configuration having substantially straight forward and rear legs connected at an arm peak substantially elevated above the pontoons and extending from the peak to connections with the respective bridges.
Specification