US4597355A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Folding semi-rigid inflatable boat
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1984-09-28
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Granted: 1986-07-01
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Expires: 2004-09-28
Abstract
Abstract According to the invention, a folding, semi-rigid inflatable boat has a rigid hull portion with a rigid bow half and rigid stern half connected by a transverse hinge. The hull portion has a top extending from the bow along opposite sides of the boat to the stern. The top of the hull portion is below the gunwales of the boat. An inflatable gunwale portion extends rearwardly from the bow of the boat watertightly along the top of the hull portion on opposite sides of the boat.
Inventors
- 👤 Trevor Kirby
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 18:46
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B7/00; B63B7/06; B63B7/08; B63B7/082; B63B2007/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A folding, semi-rigid inflatable boat having a bow, a stern and gunwales and comprising: (a) a hull portion having: (i) a rigid bow half and a rigid stern half foldably connected by a transverse hinge means for permitting said halves to be folded and unfolded towards each other; (ii) a top extending from said bow along opposite sides of the boat to said stern; and, (b) an inflatable gunwale portion generally disposed above said top and extending rearwardly from said bow along opposite sides of the boat, said inflatable gunwale portion being watertightly connected to said top, and: (i) in an inflated condition, providing flotation support and maintaining said hull portion in an unfolded condition; and, (ii) in a deflated condition, enabling said bow and stern halves to be folded towards each other along said transverse hinge.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
A folding, semi-rigid inflatable boat having a bow, a stern and gunwales and comprising: (a) a hull portion having: (i) a rigid bow half and a rigid stern half foldably connected by a transverse hinge means for permitting said halves to be folded and unfolded towards each other; (ii) a top extending from said bow along opposite sides of the boat to said stern; and, (b) an inflatable gunwale portion generally disposed above said top and extending rearwardly from said bow along opposite sides of the boat, said inflatable gunwale portion being watertightly connected to said top, and: (i) in an inflated condition, providing flotation support and maintaining said hull portion in an unfolded condition; and, (ii) in a deflated condition, enabling said bow and stern halves to be folded towards each other along said transverse hinge.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
126 words
A boat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the boat has a bottom, the bow half of the hull portion has a first bulkhead adjacent the hinge means, the first bulkhead having a top which is above the bottom of the boat when the boat is positioned for use and a bottom connected to the bottom of the boat, the stern half of the boat has a second transverse bulkhead adjacent the hinge means, the second bulkhead having a top which is above the bottom of the boat when the boat is positioned for use and a bottom which is connected to the bottom of the boat, and the hinge means hingedly connects the top of the first bulkhead to the top of the second bulkhead.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A boat as claimed in claim 2, wherein each said half of the hull is watertight from the bottom of the boat to the top of the hull portion and the top of its bulkhead.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A boat as claimed in claim 3, wherein the tops of the bulkheads are adjacent the top of the hull portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A boat as claimed in claim 4, further comprising sealing means extending along the hinge means for making the boat watertight along the tops of the bulkheads.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A boat as claimed in claim 5, wherein the boat has an inside and the sealing means comprises a flexible interior sealing strip bonded to the two bulkheads along the hinge means and extending over the hinge means on the inside of the boat.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
A boat as claimed in claim 6, wherein the sealing means further comprises a flexible exterior sealing strip bonded to the two bulkheads along the hinge means and extending over the hinge means on a side of the hinge means opposite the interior sealing strip.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A boat as claimed in claim 7, wherein at least one said sealing strip has outer ends bonded to the gunwale portion adjacent the top of the hull portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A boat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hull portion has a bottom which is substantially V-shaped in transverse section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
82 words
A boat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bow has a top, the stern has a top, the hinge means is substantially mid-way between the bow and the stern, and the hinge means permits the halves of the hull portions to be folded towards each other when the gunwale portion is deflated until the top of the bow is adjacent the top of the stern, the deflated gunwale portion being receivable substantially within and between the halves of the hull portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
75 words
A boat as claimed in claim 2, wherein the boat has an inside and the hull has a bottom, the boat further comprising a first box-shaped member connected to the bottom of the bow half of the hull portion and the first bulkhead inside the boat and a second box-shaped member connected to the bottom of the stern half of the hull portion and the second bulkhead inside the boat adjacent the first box-shaped member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
A boat as claimed in claim 11, wherein the gunwale portion extends continuously and watertightly along the top of the hull portion on opposite sides of the boat and the gunwale portion has two sealed ends adjacent the stern on opposite sides of the boat.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
A boat as claimed in claim 12, wherein the gunwale portion has a bottom, the boat further comprising a transom at the stern extending between the two ends of the gunwale portion, the transom having a top above the bottom of the gunwale portion when the boat is positioned for use.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A boat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gunwale portion is of a tubular, flexible material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
A boat as claimed in claim 14, wherein the gunwale portion is of an elastomeric material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
A boat as claimed in claim 6, wherein the interior sealing strip has end portions which extend sealingly between the gunwale portion and the top of the hull portion of the boat.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
A boat as claimed in claim 16, wherein the end portions are rounded.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1989-06-30 | 1989-12-30 | 1990-07-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-06-30 | 1993-12-30 | 1994-07-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-06-30 | 1997-12-30 | 1998-07-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |