Kayak

Claim 2

A watercraft providing a hull relatively broad intermediate its ends and tapering therefrom toward appreciably more narrow nose portions at its opposite ends, including intermediately disposing transverse rib means, nose members separate from and spaced longitudinally from said transverse rib means, and a framework of individual connector elements extending between and interconnecting said rib means and said nose members, characterized by said rib means including at least one rib device having plug-like protuberances defining an arrangement of attachment locations for said connector elements which conforms, approximately, to the transverse outline of the hull at a mid section thereof, said connector elements which connect to said rib means being tubular to provide for their slip fit to said protuberances, each of said nose members being hollow and presenting in a rear face thereof a plurality of closely grouped openings, and an end of each said connector element which connects to a nose member having in connection therewith an adapter portion of barb-like configuration the form of which facilitates its penetration of one of said openings while resisting withdrawal therefrom, said adapter portions of barblike configuration being relatively loosely received in said openings to provide for free pivotal movement thereof with respect to the related one of said nose members and tight fitting cover means in containing relation to the assembly comprising said rib means, said nose members and said connectors in an assembled relation thereof.

Claim 3

A watercraft providing a hull relatively broad intermediate its ends and tapering therefrom toward appreciably more narrow nose portions at its opposite ends, including intermediately disposing transverse rib means, nose members separate from and spaced longitudinally from said transverse rib means, and a framework of individual connector elements extending between and interconnecting said rib means and said nose members, characterized by said rib means including at least one rib device having plug-like protuberances defining an arrangement of attachment locations for said connector elements which conforms, approximately, to the transverse outline of the hull at a mid section thereof, said connector elements which connect to said rib means being tubular to provide for their slip fit to said protuberances, each of said nose members being hollow and presenting in a rear face thereof a plurality of closely grouped openings, and an end of each said connector element which connects to a nose member having in connection therewith an adapter portion of barb-like configuration the form of which facilitates its penetration of one of said openings while resisting withdrawal therefrom, said adapter portions of barb-like configuration being relatively loosely received in said openings to provide for free pivotal movement thereof with respect to the related one of said nose members and tight fitting cover means in containing relation to the assembly comprising said rib means, said nose members and said connectors in an assembled relation thereof.

Claim 4

A watercraft providing a hull relatively broad intermediate its ends and tapering therefrom toward appreciably more narrow nose portions at its opposite ends, including intermediately disposing transverse rib means, nose members separate from and spaced longitudinally from said transverse rib means, and a framework of individual connector elements extending between and interconnecting said rib means and said nose members, characterized by said rib means including at least one rib device having plug-like protuberances defining an arrangement of attachment locations for said connector elements which conforms, approximately, to the transverse outline of the hull at a mid section thereof, said connector elements which connect to said rib means being tubular to provide for their slip fit to said protuberances, each of said nose members being hollow and presenting in a rear face thereof a plurality of closely grouped openings, and an end of each said connector element which connects to a nose member having in connection therewith an adapter portion of barb-like configuration the form of which facilitates its penetration of one of said openings while resisting withdrawal therefrom, said adapter portions of barb-like configuration being relatively loosely received in said openings to provide for free pivotal movement thereof with respect to the related one of said nose members and tight fitting cover means in containing relation to the assembly comprising said rib means, said nose members and said connectors in an assembled relation thereof.

Claim 5

A watercraft according to claim 1, wherein each said nose member is made of a molded plastic or the like and the said adapter portions of said connector elements are snap fitted to effect a generally semi-permanent connection thereof to said nose members.

Claim 6

A water craft providing a hull relatively broad intermediate its ends and tapering therefrom toward appreciably more narrow nose portions at its opposite ends, comprising intermediately disposing transverse rib means including at least two rib devices longtitudinally spaced apart in a mid-section of said hull, each rib device having a frame-like configuration and a unitary lightweight rigid construction embodying connector means, nose members separate from and spaced longitudinally from said rib devices, individual connector elements in the form of substantially rigid tubes some of which extend between and interconnect said rib devices and others of which have one end connected with a nose member and the other end connected with the adjacent of said rib devices, said tube connector elements having a plug and socket-type connection with the connector means of said rib devices and being separable therefrom for assembly and disassembly of said hull and the said tube connector elements which connect to said nose members each having a barb-like adapter at the end thereof which connects to the related nose member, said barblike adapters being snap fit to said nose members and tight fitting cover means in containing relation to the assembly comprising said rib means, said nose members and said connector elements, said tight fitting cover means being applied to hold said rib means and said interconnecting elements in an assembled relation.

Claim 7

A water craft providing a hull relatively broad intermediate its ends and tapering therefrom toward appreciably more narrow nose portions at its opposite ends, comprising intermediately disposing transverse rib means including at least two rib devices longtitudinally spaced apart in a mid-section of said hull, each rib device having a frame-like configuration and a unitary lightweight rigid construction embodying connector means, nose members separate from and spaced longitudinally from said rib devices, individual connector elements in the form of substantially rigid tubes some of which extend between and interconnect said rib devices and others of which have one end connected with a nose member and the other end connected with the adjacent of said rib devices, said tube connector elements having a plug and socket-type connection with the connector means of said rib devices and being separable therefrom for assembly and disassembly of said hull and the said tube connector elements which connect to said nose members each having a barb-like adapter at the end thereof which connects to the related nose member, said barblike adapters being snap fit to said nose members and tight fitting cover means in containing relation to the assembly comprising said rib means, said nose members and said connector elements, said tight fitting cover means being applied to hold said rib means and said interconnecting elements in an assembled relation.

Claim 8

A watercraft including a hull structure comprised of transverse rib means in the form of an open framework and, longitudinally spaced therefrom, means defining shaped nose elements, rod-like longitudinally extending connector elements disposing between the respective nose elements and the adjacent portions of said rib means, means pivotally attaching said connector elements to said nose elements and means defining detachable telescoping connections between said connector elements and said adjacent portions of said rib means providing for interfitting assembly thereof without the need For tools, said hull structure having an enveloping skin the configuration of which is defined by the outline of said rib means and said nose elements, and said rib means having portions thereof displaced inwardly from said skin to provide an accommodation of a displacement of said skin due to externally applied forces.

Claim 9

A watercraft including a hull structure comprised of transverse rib means in the form of an open framework and, longitudinally spaced therefrom, means defining shaped nose elements, rod-like longitudinally extending connector elements disposing between the respective nose elements and the adjacent portions of said rib means, means pivotally attaching said connector elements to said nose elements and means defining detachable telescoping connections between said connector elements and said adjacent portions of said rib means providing for interfitting assembly thereof without the need For tools, said hull structure having an enveloping skin the configuration of which is defined by the outline of said rib means and said nose elements, and said rib means having portions thereof displaced inwardly from said skin to provide an accommodation of a displacement of said skin due to externally applied forces.

Claim 10

A watercraft including a hull structure comprised of transverse rib means in the form of an open framework and, longitudinally spaced therefrom, means defining shaped nose elements, rod-like longitudinally extended connector elements disposing between said rib means and the respective nose elements, means pivotally attaching said connector elements to said nose elements, and means defining telescoping connections between said connector elements and said rib means providing for an interfitting assembly thereof into a hull structure without the need for tools, said hull structure having an enveloping skin the configuration of which is defined by the outline of said rib means and said nose elements, said rib means having the bottom thereof displaced inwardly from said skin in a concave arcuate configuration and side portions being similarly formed to lend strength and stability to the assembled watercraft and to accommodate displacement of said skin due to externally applied forces.

Claim 11

A watercraft including a hull structure comprised of transverse rib means in the form of an open framework and, longitudinally spaced therefrom, means defining shaped nose elements, rod-like longitudinally extended connector elements disposing between said rib means and the respective nose elements, means pivotally attaching said connector elements to said nose elements, and means defining telescoping connections between said connector elements and said rib means providing for an interfitting assembly thereof into a hull structure without the need for tools, said hull structure having an enveloping skin the configuration of which is defined by the outline of said rib means and said nose elements, said rib means having the bottom thereof displaced inwardly from said skin in a concave arcuate configuration and side portions being similarly formed to lend strength and stability to the assembled watercraft and to accommodate displacement of said skin due to externally applied forces.

Claim 12

A watercraft as in claim 5 wherein the upper portion of said rib means is a flatly arcuate frame section presenting a convex surface uppermost.