Patent US3744071A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3744071A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sectional boat construction
Assignee: Kaman Aerospace Corp
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Filing: 1971-03-24
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Granted: 1973-07-10
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Expires: 1991-03-24
Abstract
Abstract Three basic boat sections or units are described herein, which boat sections can be joined to one another in a variety of configurations as each boat section has at least one end with a generally flat bulkhead adapted to mate with a flat bulkhead on any of the other boat sections. Each bulkhead associated end of each boat section further includes portions of latching means adapted to releasably secure these boat sections to one another. At least one of the three boat sections has a pointed end to define the bow of either a short two or three section boat, or alternatively to define opposite ends of a canoe or three section boat. Various other boat configurations utilizing four or more of said typical three boat sections can also be assembled readily.
Inventors
- 👤 R Bossler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 14:26
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B34/00; B63B34/20; B63B34/21; B63B34/23
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
346 words
A sectional boat comprising a first boat section having two oppositely disposed convex sides which meet to define one end of the boat and having a bottom integrally connected to these sides, said first boat section having an aft bulkhead connected to said sides and to said bottom to provide a watertight first boat section, a second boat section having two convex sides and a bottom similar to those of said first boat section and defining an opposite end of the boat, said second boat section having a forward bulkhead adapted to mate with said aft bulkhead of said first boat section, means located in part on said first section and in part on said second boat section for latching said first and second boat sections so that said bulkheads abut one another, said latching means comprising manually operable fasteners adjacent the upwardly facing gunwale surfaces of said abutting boat sections and located above the normal water line of the resulting boat, said latching means further including a projecting lug on one of said bulkheads, and a cooperating socket on the other of said bulkheads for receiving said lug, said lug and socket being located in line with the longitudinal center line of the bottoms of said boat section to hold said bulkheads in abutment with one another below the normal water line of the resulting boat, said projecting lug comprising a headed stud which is secured with its axis along said center line with said headed portion defining an inwardly facing annular flange, and said socket being further defined by a plate secured to the bulkhead of said other boat section so that said plate''s outer surface is oriented in co-planar relationship to the outer surface of said other boat section bulkhead and so that the inner surface of said plate will engage said flange on said headed lug, said plate defines a downwardly open generally V-shaped notch to facilitate assembly of said boat sections particularly when one of said gunwale fasteners is manually fastened and prior to manual fastening of the other gunwale fastener.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
346 words
A sectional boat comprising a first boat section having two oppositely disposed convex sides which meet to define one end of the boat and having a bottom integrally connected to these sides, said first boat section having an aft bulkhead connected to said sides and to said bottom to provide a watertight first boat section, a second boat section having two convex sides and a bottom similar to those of said first boat section and defining an opposite end of the boat, said second boat section having a forward bulkhead adapted to mate with said aft bulkhead of said first boat section, means located in part on said first section and in part on said second boat section for latching said first and second boat sections so that said bulkheads abut one another, said latching means comprising manually operable fasteners adjacent the upwardly facing gunwale surfaces of said abutting boat sections and located above the normal water line of the resulting boat, said latching means further including a projecting lug on one of said bulkheads, and a cooperating socket on the other of said bulkheads for receiving said lug, said lug and socket being located in line with the longitudinal center line of the bottoms of said boat section to hold said bulkheads in abutment with one another below the normal water line of the resulting boat, said projecting lug comprising a headed stud which is secured with its axis along said center line with said headed portion defining an inwardly facing annular flange, and said socket being further defined by a plate secured to the bulkhead of said other boat section so that said plate''s outer surface is oriented in co-planar relationship to the outer surface of said other boat section bulkhead and so that the inner surface of said plate will engage said flange on said headed lug, said plate defines a downwardly open generally V-shaped notch to facilitate assembly of said boat sections particularly when one of said gunwale fasteners is manually fastened and prior to manual fastening of the other gunwale fastener.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
181 words
A sectional boat as defined in claim 1 further characterized by a third boat section intermediate said first and second boat end sections, said third boat section having a forward bulkhead identical to the bulkhead on said second boat section to permit the forward end of said third boat section to abut the aft bulkhead of said first boat section, first means for latching said first boat section to said third boat section, an aft bulkhead of said third boat section which is identical to the aft bulkhead on said first boat section to permit the aft end of said third boat section to abut the forward bulkhead of said second boat section, and second means for latching said third boat section to said second boat section, said first and second boat section latching means comprising parts of said means for latching said first and second boat sections respectively whereby said first and second sections can be latched to provide a two section boat and said first, third and second sections can be latched to provide a three section boat configuration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
A sectional boat as defined in claim 2 wherein said first and second boat end sections are substantially identical in overall length, and wherein said third section is slightly longer than said end sections so that at least one of the latter can be stowed inside said third section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
A sectional boat as defined in claim 2 wherein said third boat section has opposed sides which are convex to provide continuous longitudinal sides for said three section boat, said third section being slightly longer than at least one of said end sections to permit stowage of thE latter inside said third boat section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
A three section boat configuration as defined in claim 4 wherein said first and second latching means each comprise at least two overcenter catches, each of which catches are mounted to an upwardly facing gunwale surface of two of said three boat sections, and strike means on the adjacent ends of each of said boat sections for cooperating with said catches to hold the adjacent bulkheads in abutment with one another.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
88 words
A three section boat configuration as defined in claim 5 wherein said first and second latching means further include a projecting lug on two of the four bulkheads associated with said three boat sections, and cooperating sockets on the other two bulkheads for receiving said lugs respectively, said lugs and sockets all located in line with the longitudinal center line of the bottoms of said boat sections to hold adjacent pairs of bulkheads in abutment with one another below the normal water line of the three section boat.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
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US3287754A
Cited
US3266067A
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US3340552A
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US3611458A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-09 | 1977-01-08 | 1977-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-09 | 1981-01-08 | 1981-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-09 | 1985-01-08 | 1985-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |