Folding rigid-bottom boat
First Claim
1. A folding rigid-bottom boat for routine and emergency use by occupants as an auxiliary watercraft comprising:
- (a) a hull comprised of complementary rigid bow and rigid stern elements including respective transversely-extending mating bulkhead elements;
(b) complementary rigid hinge elements cooperating for pivotally connecting said mating bulkhead elements together for permitting said bow and stern elements to be folded onto themselves into a storage configuration and away from each other into an unfolded use configuration, wherein said mating bulkhead elements are joined together by the complementary rigid hinge elements to form a centrally-disposed joint defining a single bulkhead extending along said joint; and
(c) flexible topsides secured to said hull along at least port and starboard sides of said hull and deployable for providing a freeboard extending upwardly from the hull and for further providing rigidity to the hull when said boat is in the unfolded use configuration, wherein the flexible topsides are unconnected to and independent of the rigid hinge elements; and
(d) a sole compartment sealable against water intrusion positioned in the bottom of the hull to define with the hull a double bottom, the sole compartment having a volume sufficient to displace sufficient water to keep the boat with a payload afloat in the absence of a waterproof barrier in the joint between the bow and stern elements.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A folding rigid boat for routine and emergency use by occupants as an auxiliary watercraft and including complementary rigid bow and rigid stern sections joined together along respective mating edges to form a hull, complementary rigid hinge elements cooperating together to form a centrally-disposed joint pivotally connecting the bow and stern sections along a port-to-starboard axis in vertically spaced-apart relation to the bottom of the hull for permitting the bow and stern sections to be folded onto themselves into a storage configuration and away from each other along the joint into an unfolded use configuration. Flexible topsides are secured to the hull along at least port and starboard sides of the hull for providing an upwardly-extending freeboard to the hull when the boat is in the unfolded use configuration. The topsides are unconnected to and independent of the rigid hinge elements. Waterproofing is carried by the bow and stern sections and is unconnected to and independent of the rigid hinge elements for preventing water leakage through centrally-disposed joint when in the boat is in the unfolded use configuration.
67 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A folding rigid-bottom boat for routine and emergency use by occupants as an auxiliary watercraft comprising:
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(a) a hull comprised of complementary rigid bow and rigid stern elements including respective transversely-extending mating bulkhead elements;
(b) complementary rigid hinge elements cooperating for pivotally connecting said mating bulkhead elements together for permitting said bow and stern elements to be folded onto themselves into a storage configuration and away from each other into an unfolded use configuration, wherein said mating bulkhead elements are joined together by the complementary rigid hinge elements to form a centrally-disposed joint defining a single bulkhead extending along said joint; and
(c) flexible topsides secured to said hull along at least port and starboard sides of said hull and deployable for providing a freeboard extending upwardly from the hull and for further providing rigidity to the hull when said boat is in the unfolded use configuration, wherein the flexible topsides are unconnected to and independent of the rigid hinge elements; and
(d) a sole compartment sealable against water intrusion positioned in the bottom of the hull to define with the hull a double bottom, the sole compartment having a volume sufficient to displace sufficient water to keep the boat with a payload afloat in the absence of a waterproof barrier in the joint between the bow and stern elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A folding rigid boat for routine and emergency use by occupants as an auxiliary watercraft, comprising:
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(a) complementary rigid bow and rigid stern elements joined together along respective mating edges to form a hull;
(b) complementary rigid hinge elements cooperating together to form a centrally-disposed joint pivotally connecting said bow and stern elements along a port-to-starboard axis in vertically spaced-apart relation to the bottom of the hull for permitting the bow and stern elements to be folded onto themselves into a storage configuration and away from each other along the centrally disposed joint into an unfolded use configuration;
(c) flexible topsides secured to said hull along at least port and starboard sides of the hull for providing an upwardly-extending freeboard to the hull when said boat is in the unfolded use configuration, the topsides unconnected to and independent of the rigid hinge elements for providing further rigidity to the hull; and
(d) waterproofing means carried by the bow and stern elements and unconnected to and independent of the rigid hinge elements for preventing water leakage through centrally-disposed joint when the boat is in the unfolded use configuration; and
(e) a sole compartment sealable against water intrusion positioned in the bottom of the hull to define with the hull a double bottom, the sole compartment having a volume sufficient to displace sufficient water to keep the boat with a payload afloat in the absence of a waterproof barrier in the joint between the bow and stern elements. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification