Inflatable keel floor chamber for inflatable kayaks
First Claim
1. An inflatable kayak comprising:
- an inflatable peripheral structure defining at least one buoyancy chamber having elongated side sections that come together at a fore section and a aft section to form a passenger compartment,an inflatable floor cushion supporting a floor of the passenger compartment, the floor cushion including a top wall, a bottom wall, and at least one side gusset, wherein the surface area of the top wall is less than the surface area of the bottom wall, and,a plurality of elongated, I-beam baffles extending between the top wall and the bottom wall, each I-beam baffle having a midpoint, between the fore section and aft section, and an end, wherein the height of at least one I-beams baffle measured from the junction of the top wall to the junction of the bottom wall is greater at the midpoint of the baffle than at the end of the baffle.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The inflatable kayak includes an inflatable peripheral structure defining at least one buoyancy chamber having elongated side sections that come together at a fore section and a aft section to form a passenger compartment. An inflatable floor cushion supports a floor of the passenger compartment. The floor cushion includes a top wall, a bottom wall, and at least one side gusset. The surface area of the top wall is less than the surface area of the bottom wall. A plurality of elongated, I-beam baffles extends between the top wall and the bottom wall. Each I-beam baffle has a midpoint, between the fore section and aft section, and an end, wherein the height of at least one I-beams baffle measured from the junction of the top wall to the junction of the bottom wall is greater at the midpoint of the baffle than at the end of the baffle. In another embodiment, the inflatable kayak includes an inflatable floor cushion wherein the distance between at least two I-beam baffles along the top wall is less than the distance between at least two I-beam baffles along the bottom wall.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An inflatable kayak comprising:
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an inflatable peripheral structure defining at least one buoyancy chamber having elongated side sections that come together at a fore section and a aft section to form a passenger compartment, an inflatable floor cushion supporting a floor of the passenger compartment, the floor cushion including a top wall, a bottom wall, and at least one side gusset, wherein the surface area of the top wall is less than the surface area of the bottom wall, and, a plurality of elongated, I-beam baffles extending between the top wall and the bottom wall, each I-beam baffle having a midpoint, between the fore section and aft section, and an end, wherein the height of at least one I-beams baffle measured from the junction of the top wall to the junction of the bottom wall is greater at the midpoint of the baffle than at the end of the baffle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An inflatable floor cushion of a kayak comprising:
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an inflatable floor cushion including a top wall, a bottom wall, and at least one gusset joining the top wall and bottom wall to define a chamber, a plurality of elongated I-beam baffles within the cushion, each I-beam baffle including a midpoint, between the fore section and aft section, and an end, wherein the distance between at least two I-beam baffles along the top wall is less than the distance between the same two I-beam baffles along the bottom wall. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. An inflatable kayak comprising:
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an inflatable peripheral structure defining at least one buoyancy chamber having elongated side sections that come together at a fore section and a aft section to form a passenger compartment, wherein the buoyancy chamber of the peripheral structure includes a first compartment and a second compartment disposed concentrically around the first compartment, an inflatable floor cushion, wherein the floor cushion supports a floor of the passenger compartment and includes a top wall, a bottom wall, and at least one side gusset, wherein the surface area of the top wall is at least 5% less than the surface area of the bottom wall, a plurality of elongated, I-beam baffles extending in the longitudinal direction from the fore section of the kayak to the aft section of the kayak, between the top wall and the bottom wall, each I-beam baffle having a midpoint, between the fore section and aft section, and an end, wherein the height of at least one I-beam baffle measured from the junction of the top wall to the junction of the bottom wall is greater at the midpoint of the baffle than at the end of the baffle, wherein the distance between at least two I-beam baffles along the top wall is less than the distance between the same two I-beam baffles along the bottom wall, a cover of flexible material that is less elastic than the material of the peripheral structure and floor cushion, wherein the cover encases the peripheral structure and inflatable floor cushion, forming a substantially inelastic skin against which the peripheral structure and floor cushion can be inflated to form a structure that is more rigid than the peripheral structure and floor cushion, and a shell spanning beneath the passenger compartment and extending along the lower and outer sides of the peripheral structure and cover to further support the floor cushion and protect the tube and cover.
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Specification