US3883911A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Insulated, tube-framed boat or the like
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-04-22
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Granted: 1975-05-20
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Expires: 1994-04-22
Abstract
Abstract A boat or other load-holding structure that has: upper and lower four-sided members, each formed of end-joined cams (or optionally of thin-metal or plastic pipes) and having strong joints, optionally of double thickness of the can or pipe material; exterior skin means, preferably of mesh, and stucco on the mesh of portland cement, epoxy putty or other cement and light-weight aggregate, but optionally of plywood, plastic or other siding; interior skin means that optionally may be of plywood, stiff, strong plastic sheet or stucco on mesh or panels of plywood, plastic or the like; and insulation adjacent to tubular members. This insulation preferably includes light-weight, economical insulating material inside the cans or pipes, which for example may be cinders, ashes, sand, light-weight topsoil, cotton linter, bits of spent tan-bark, modules or other bits of pine or other bark, shredded bark, sawdust, shells of peanuts or other nuts, rice or other seed hulls, or the like. Optional other insulation, also adjacent to the tubular elements, may include applied-inplace foamed plastic or strips of foam rubber placed in V-shaped spaces between sidewalls of the tubular members. The boat or the like may have a flat or nearly flat bottom; or, when of the catamaran or trimaran type of craft, it may have floats extending below a generally flat bottom deck. The invented light-weight structure may be a houseboat or other boat, a trailer or other wheeled vehicle, or a portable house or other building. Optionally it may be made in sections, bolted and glued together in fianl assembly.
Inventors
- 👤 Alvin Edward Moore
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 14:59
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B3/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24149; Y10T428/24157; Y10T428/25; Y10T428/253
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
300 words
A device of the character described, including: strength-providing framework of a load-holding body, comprising: a plurality of upright, body-wall tubular members, each of which has a pair of end elements and, between said end elements, a plurality of tubes and joints that connect pairs of said tubes together in a line and project beyond their outlines less than an inch; at least one body-bracing frame of four elongated, end-joined, angled beams, forming the general outlines of corners of the body, having spaces between angled sides; means fastening one group of said end elements to portions of one of said angled beams and means fastening a second group of said end elements to portions of an opposite one of said beams; a set of tubular members, having axes at angles to the axes of said upright tubular members, each of which has a pair of end portions that are fixed to and between an opposite pair of said angled beams and between said end portions a plurality of tubes and tubular-member-strengthening joints that connect said last-named tubes together in a line and project transversely to said first-named axes beyond the outlines of said tubes and means fastening said end portions to opposite portions of said angled beams; a second set of tubular members having axes at angles to the axes of said upright tubular members, each of which has a pair of end portions, the said last named end portions being adjacent to and connected to parts of said upright tubular members; an elongated, tubularmember-bracing means, fixed to tubular members at a level in the vicinity of the level of said parts; exterior, waterproofed, body-skin means, adjacent to said tubular members and tubes; interior skin means on the inside of said tubular members; and thermal insulation, adjacent to said tubular members.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
300 words
A device of the character described, including: strength-providing framework of a load-holding body, comprising: a plurality of upright, body-wall tubular members, each of which has a pair of end elements and, between said end elements, a plurality of tubes and joints that connect pairs of said tubes together in a line and project beyond their outlines less than an inch; at least one body-bracing frame of four elongated, end-joined, angled beams, forming the general outlines of corners of the body, having spaces between angled sides; means fastening one group of said end elements to portions of one of said angled beams and means fastening a second group of said end elements to portions of an opposite one of said beams; a set of tubular members, having axes at angles to the axes of said upright tubular members, each of which has a pair of end portions that are fixed to and between an opposite pair of said angled beams and between said end portions a plurality of tubes and tubular-member-strengthening joints that connect said last-named tubes together in a line and project transversely to said first-named axes beyond the outlines of said tubes and means fastening said end portions to opposite portions of said angled beams; a second set of tubular members having axes at angles to the axes of said upright tubular members, each of which has a pair of end portions, the said last named end portions being adjacent to and connected to parts of said upright tubular members; an elongated, tubularmember-bracing means, fixed to tubular members at a level in the vicinity of the level of said parts; exterior, waterproofed, body-skin means, adjacent to said tubular members and tubes; interior skin means on the inside of said tubular members; and thermal insulation, adjacent to said tubular members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
75 words
Structure as set forth in claim 1, in which said device is a boat and comprises floats, each of said floats including: a plurality of float tubular members below and connected to said body framework, each of said last-named tubular members comprising a plurality of tubes and joints that connect pairs of these tubes together in a line and project beyond their outlines; and waterproof exterior float-skin means comprising mesh and stucco on said mesh.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A boat as set forth in claim 2, in which each of said floats comprises foamed plastic in spaces between portions of said float tubular members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as set forth in claim 1, in which said insulation comprises insulating material within said tubular members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device as set forth in claim 1, in which said insulation comprises applied-in-place foamed plastic in spaces between sidewall surfaces of said tubular members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
A device as set forth in claim 1, in which: the said frame is at the top part of said body framework; the said second set of tubular members is at a lower part of said body framework; and the said tubular-member-bracing means comprises a pair of substantially horizontal beams at opposite walls of the body and means securely connecting said beams to elements of said walls.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
A device as set forth in claim 1, in which: said angled beams comprise material capable of being penetrated by and frictional holding of rod-like-elements; the said exterior body-skin means comprises mesh and stucco, coating and impregnating the mesh; and the said device further includes rod-like elements fastening said mesh to said angular members.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
A device as set forth in claim 1, in which: the said spaces between angled-beam sides are open toward the outside of said body and are in foamed-plastic communication with spaces adjacent to tubular elements via holes in said angled sides; and the said exterior body-skin means is conTiguous with and fastened to outer surfaces of said sides.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
A device as set forth in claim 1, in which: the said spaces between angled-beam sides are open toward the outside of said body; the said framework includes, in each of said spaces between beam sides, an elongated framework-strengthening tubular member; and the said exterior body-skin means is contiguous with and fastened to outer surfaces of said sides.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
186 words
A device as set forth in claim 1, in which: the said frame is at a top part of said body framework; each of the said opposite pair of angled beams comprises a flat substantially horizontal beam element, a relatively wide upright beam element that is joined to an outer edge portion of said horizontal element and has lower end portions and a summit that it higher than said lower portions, and a second upright beam element that is joined to an inner edge portion of said horizontal element and has lower end portions and a summit that is higher than said last-named lower portions but is lower than said first-named summit; the said end portions of said first-named set of tubular members are fastened to inner faces of said relatively wide upright elements; lower portions of said last-named tubular members are contiguous with upper edges of said second upright beam elements; and the portion of said exterior body-skin means which is above said last-named tubular members and the said upright beam elements are constructed and arranged to provide shedding of water from said top part.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device as set forth in claim 10, in which the upper edges of said upright beam elements are arcuately curved.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device as set forth in claim 1, in which at least some of the said spaces between angled-beam sides are occupied by end portions of said tubular members.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as set forth in claim 1, in which at least some of said spaces between angled-beam sides are open toward the interior of said body.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device as set forth in claim 1, in which: each of said tubular members comprises a plurality of end-joined cans; and each of the said joints comprises a pair of adjacent can-end caps on can tubes and bonding material between said adjacent caps.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device as set forth in claim 1, in which the tubular members comprises end-joined cans of the same diameter and the said joints comprise lengths of adhesive tape tightly surrounding abutting ends of adjacent pairs of cans.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as set forth in claim 15, in which said adhesive tape is slightly, resistantly yieldable.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device set forth in claim 14, in which: said cans are of the used, liquid-containing type; and each pair of adjoined cans are of different diameters, the end cap of a smaller-diameter can fitting within rims of a larger-diameter can.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device as set forth in claim 14, in which: said cans are of the used, liquid-containing type and at least one of each pair of end-joined cans comprises a piece of adhesive tape closing a previoulsy-made opening.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
A device as set forth in claim 1, in which: each of said tubular members comprises a plurality of lengths of pipe; and each of the said joints comprises a pipe coupling around adjacent pipe ends and bonding material between the pipe ends and coupling.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device as set forth in claim 19, in which at least some of said end elements comprise pipe-end caps and bonding material between said pipe-end caps and end portions of said pipe lengths.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device as set forth in claim 19, in which at least some of said end elements comprise pipe elbows and ends of pipe lengths that are at angles to each other.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
79 words
A device as set forth in claim 2, in which: each of said tubular members comprises a plurality of end-joined pipes; the said joints comprise pipe couplings around adjacent pipe ends and bonding material between the said pipe ends and couplings; the said float tubular members include upright lengths of pipe; and each of the said floats further comprises pipe fittings in which ends of said upright pipes are fastened and ends of otHer, horizontal pipes are also fastened.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
443 words
A device of the character described, comprising a load-holding body, including: an upper, quadrilateral, body-bracing frame comprising: a pair of oppositely placed beams, each of which includes a flat, elongated, substantially horizontal beam element, a relatively wide upright beam element that is joined to an outer edge portion of said horizontal element and has lower end portions and a summit that is higher than said lower portions, and a second upright beam element that is joined to an inner edge portion of said horizontal element and has lower end portions and a summit that is higher than said last-named lower portions but is lower than said first-named sumit; and a second pair of oppositely placed beams, each of which extends between and is connected to opposite end portions of said first-named pair of beams and comprises two elongated upper beam elements that are joined in angles to each other; a top group of tubular members, each of which extends between said relatively wide upright beam elements and has lower portions that are contiguous with upper edges of said second upright beam elements; and means joining opposite ends of said tubular members to inner faces of said relatively wide upright beam elements; a lower, quadrilateral, body-bracing frame comprising: four end-joined beams, each of which includes a lower, planar, substantially horizontal beam element, and an opposite pair of which include upright lower beam elements, angularly joined to said planar elements; a pair of opposite groups of upright body-wall members, each of which has an upper end portion connected to the lower surface of one of said first-named substantially horizontal beam elements and a lower end portion connected to the upper surface of one of said planar beam elements; a second pair of opposite groups or upright body-wall tubular members, each of which has an upper end portion connected to the lower surface of one of said upper beam elements and a lower end portion connected to the upper surface of one of said planar beam elements; a lower group of tubular members, each of which is substantially horizontal and extends between an opposite pair of said lower, upright beam elements and has end portions that are connected to inner surfaces of said lower, upright elements; waterproof exterior skin means and means fastening it to outer portions of said beams and said tubular elements; interior skin means and means fastening it to inner portions of said beams and tubular elements; the top portion of said exterior skin means, above said top group of tubular members, and the said upper body-bracing frame being constructed and arranged to provide shedding of water from the top of said body.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
443 words
A device of the character described, comprising a load-holding body, including: an upper, quadrilateral, body-bracing frame comprising: a pair of oppositely placed beams, each of which includes a flat, elongated, substantially horizontal beam element, a relatively wide upright beam element that is joined to an outer edge portion of said horizontal element and has lower end portions and a summit that is higher than said lower portions, and a second upright beam element that is joined to an inner edge portion of said horizontal element and has lower end portions and a summit that is higher than said last-named lower portions but is lower than said first-named sumit; and a second pair of oppositely placed beams, each of which extends between and is connected to opposite end portions of said first-named pair of beams and comprises two elongated upper beam elements that are joined in angles to each other; a top group of tubular members, each of which extends between said relatively wide upright beam elements and has lower portions that are contiguous with upper edges of said second upright beam elements; and means joining opposite ends of said tubular members to inner faces of said relatively wide upright beam elements; a lower, quadrilateral, body-bracing frame comprising: four end-joined beams, each of which includes a lower, planar, substantially horizontal beam element, and an opposite pair of which include upright lower beam elements, angularly joined to said planar elements; a pair of opposite groups of upright body-wall members, each of which has an upper end portion connected to the lower surface of one of said first-named substantially horizontal beam elements and a lower end portion connected to the upper surface of one of said planar beam elements; a second pair of opposite groups or upright body-wall tubular members, each of which has an upper end portion connected to the lower surface of one of said upper beam elements and a lower end portion connected to the upper surface of one of said planar beam elements; a lower group of tubular members, each of which is substantially horizontal and extends between an opposite pair of said lower, upright beam elements and has end portions that are connected to inner surfaces of said lower, upright elements; waterproof exterior skin means and means fastening it to outer portions of said beams and said tubular elements; interior skin means and means fastening it to inner portions of said beams and tubular elements; the top portion of said exterior skin means, above said top group of tubular members, and the said upper body-bracing frame being constructed and arranged to provide shedding of water from the top of said body.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device as set forth in claim 23, comprising a boat, in which the upper edges of said upright beam elements and said top skinmeans portion are arcuate and conform to a boat-top curve.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
63 words
A device as set forth in claim 24, in which said body is a section of a composite body and further includes bolts, fastened to and jutting outside of a pair of said upper and lower upright beam elements, adapted in final assembly of said composite body to fit in and be secured in holes of upper and lower elements of another section.
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) | 1978-05-19 | 1978-11-18 | 1979-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-19 | 1982-11-18 | 1983-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-19 | 1986-11-18 | 1987-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |