US3812805A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Inflatable pontoon boat
Assignee: Vector Co
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Filing: 1972-10-12
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Granted: 1974-05-28
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Expires: 1992-10-12
Abstract
Abstract There is described a boat having two rubberized fabric inflatable pontoons and two separate open box-like hulls. The hull sections are joined to the pontoons by a beading on the pontoons which engages slots on either side of the hull sections. The pontoons are locked into position when they are inflated.
Inventors
- 👤 D Forssell
- 👤 H Folson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 08:27
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B7/00; B63B7/06; B63B7/08; B63B7/085; B63B1/00; B63B1/02; B63B1/10; B63B1/12; B63B1/121; B63B35/00; B63B35/34; B63B3/00; B63B3/02; B63B3/08; B63B2003/085
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
An inflatable boat comprising a pair of inflatable substantially cylindrical shaped pontoons of flexible material, rigid hull means including at least one unitary hull member having parallel sides extending in a fore and aft direction a distance substantially greater than the diameter of the pontoons, each side having an indented step extending the full length of the side, each forming an elongated aligning groove for receiving one of the pontoons, the two aligning grooves being parallel, radially extending webbing means secured to each of the pontoons along a substantial length thereof, and means releasably securing the webbing means to the hull meaNs within the grooves, the radial extent of the webbing being sufficiently short to be put in tension by the inflation of the pontoons, wedging the inflated pontoons securely in the respective aligning grooves formed by the indented steps to lock the pontoons in spaced apart parallel relationship.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
An inflatable boat comprising a pair of inflatable substantially cylindrical shaped pontoons of flexible material, rigid hull means including at least one unitary hull member having parallel sides extending in a fore and aft direction a distance substantially greater than the diameter of the pontoons, each side having an indented step extending the full length of the side, each forming an elongated aligning groove for receiving one of the pontoons, the two aligning grooves being parallel, radially extending webbing means secured to each of the pontoons along a substantial length thereof, and means releasably securing the webbing means to the hull meaNs within the grooves, the radial extent of the webbing being sufficiently short to be put in tension by the inflation of the pontoons, wedging the inflated pontoons securely in the respective aligning grooves formed by the indented steps to lock the pontoons in spaced apart parallel relationship.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hull means includes two separate hull members positioned one behind the other in a fore and aft direction, each member having equally spaced parallel sides with the grooves of the two sections being aligned in a fore and aft direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus of claim 2 wherein the hull members are shaped such that one member can be nested inside the other section when the boat is disassembled.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus of claim 2 further including removable means for connecting the two hull members together, said means connecting the aft portion of the forward hull member to the forward portion of the aft hull member at a position substantially the horizontal plane above the tangent to the top of the two pontoons.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus of claim 2 wherein each hull member includes an inner and outer molded shell forming a double-walled structure, and plastic foam material filling the space between the shells, each hull member being buoyant in water when fully loaded independently of the pontoons.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
96 words
Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for securing the webbing to the hull means includes a beading attached to each pontoon and extending lengthwise of the pontoon, the hull means having a longitudinal slot positioned on the outside of the hull means at the center of each of the indented steps, the beading sliding into the slots when the pontoons are deflated, the beading securing the webbing under tension by the inflation of the pontoons to hold the pontoons wedged in place in the grooves formed by the indented steps when the pontoons are inflated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus of claim 6 wherein each pontoon when inflated is substantially cylindrical in cross-section over a substantial portion of its length, the inflated pontoons being deformed from the cylindrical shape by the tension of the beading and the wedging action of the indented steps.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
139 words
A boat comprising a rigid unitary hull member formed with a pair of elongated V-shaped parallel steps extending the length of the hull on either side, each step having a narrow open-ended slit at the bottom of the V, a pair of elongated substantially cylindrical inflatable pontoons made of air-tight fabric, the V-shaped steps and associated slits extending longitudinally a distance substantially greater than the diameter of the pontoons, each pontoon including a longitudinal flexible webbing secured to the pontoon and extending radially thereof, the outer edge of the webbing having a beading, the webbing extending through said slits when the pontoons are in assembled position with the pontoons extending along the respective steps, the webbing being placed in tension between the beading and the pontoons when the associated pontoon is inflated within the confines of the V-shaped step.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
139 words
A boat comprising a rigid unitary hull member formed with a pair of elongated V-shaped parallel steps extending the length of the hull on either side, each step having a narrow open-ended slit at the bottom of the V, a pair of elongated substantially cylindrical inflatable pontoons made of air-tight fabric, the V-shaped steps and associated slits extending longitudinally a distance substantially greater than the diameter of the pontoons, each pontoon including a longitudinal flexible webbing secured to the pontoon and extending radially thereof, the outer edge of the webbing having a beading, the webbing extending through said slits when the pontoons are in assembled position with the pontoons extending along the respective steps, the webbing being placed in tension between the beading and the pontoons when the associated pontoon is inflated within the confines of the V-shaped step.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said hull includes a plurality of separate sections positioned one behind the other, each section having steps which are aligned with the steps of the adjacent section, whereby the sections are held in alignment by the pontoons engaging the aligned steps.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
115 words
A boat comprising a rigid frame, a pair of inflatable substantially cylindrical pontoons made of fabric, and means detachably connecting the pontoons to the frame in spaced apart parallel relationship, said means including a radially extending webbing secured to and extending longitudinally of each pontoon, the frame including means on either side of the frame forming a pair of surfaces extending in a fore and aft direction of the boat and engaging an inflated pontoon tangentially at accurately spaced positions on either side of the associated webbing, and means attached to the frame for holding the webbing in tenSion when the associated pontoon is inflated to urge the pontoon against said pair of tangential surfaces.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
115 words
A boat comprising a rigid frame, a pair of inflatable substantially cylindrical pontoons made of fabric, and means detachably connecting the pontoons to the frame in spaced apart parallel relationship, said means including a radially extending webbing secured to and extending longitudinally of each pontoon, the frame including means on either side of the frame forming a pair of surfaces extending in a fore and aft direction of the boat and engaging an inflated pontoon tangentially at accurately spaced positions on either side of the associated webbing, and means attached to the frame for holding the webbing in tenSion when the associated pontoon is inflated to urge the pontoon against said pair of tangential surfaces.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
78 words
Apparatus of claim 10 wherein said means for holding the webbing includes means on either side of the frame forming a pair of tubular passages extending in a fore and aft direction a distance substantially greater than the diameter of the pontoons, each of the passages having a slot for receiving the webbing, and means securing the webbing against being withdrawn from the slot in a transverse direction while permitting movement of the webbing longitudinally of the passage.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus of claim 10 wherein the frame includes an open box-shaped hull that is floatable independently of the pontoons, the pontoons when inflated supporting said hull above the water.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-05-27 | 1977-11-26 | 1978-05-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-05-27 | 1981-11-26 | 1982-05-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-05-27 | 1985-11-26 | 1986-05-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |