SNAG-FREE INSERTS FOR INFLATABLE BOATS

Abstract

Embodiments are directed toward an insert for an inflatable boat having a hull and an inflatable peripheral tube that define a boat cockpit. The insert has a rigid floor and a rigid peripheral sidewall that define an insert cockpit. The insert is configured to register with the boat cockpit while the floor of the insert covers most of the upper surface of the hull and while the peripheral sidewall of the insert covers most of the inner surface of the peripheral tube. Accordingly, the insert facilitates increasing rigidity of the inflatable boat while reducing snaggable features in the inflatable boat.

Claims

1. An inflatable boat, the inflatable boat comprising: a hull that has a hull periphery; a peripheral tube that extends around most of the hull periphery, the peripheral tube defining an inflatable chamber, wherein an upper surface of the hull and an inner surface of the peripheral tube define a boat cockpit; and an insert, the insert including: a rigid floor that has a floor periphery; and a rigid peripheral sidewall that extends upward from the floor periphery and that is coupled to the floor, wherein the floor and the peripheral sidewall define an insert cockpit, wherein the insert is configured to removably register with the boat cockpit while the floor of the insert covers most of the upper surface of the hull and while the peripheral sidewall of the insert covers most of the inner surface of the peripheral tube, whereby rigidity of the inflatable boat is increased while snaggable features of the inflatable boat are reduced.

2. The inflatable boat of claim 1, wherein the insert is devoid of crossbeams, thwarts, and tubes.

3. The inflatable boat of claim 1, wherein the insert is devoid of non-radiused corners.

4. The inflatable boat of claim 1, wherein the peripheral sidewall extends along a port portion of the peripheral tube and along a starboard portion of the peripheral tube, the peripheral sidewall defining a port recess and a starboard recess that is opposite the floor from the port recess, the port recess and the starboard recess being configured to registrably receive a seat.

5. The inflatable boat of claim 1, wherein the floor defines a crown that peaks along a central axis of the floor.

6. The inflatable boat of claim 1, wherein the insert defines a gutter that extends at least partially around the floor, an upper surface of the gutter being disposed below an upper surface of the floor.

7. An insert for an inflatable boat having a hull and an inflatable peripheral tube, an upper surface of the hull and an inner surface of the peripheral tube defining a boat cockpit, the insert comprising: a rigid floor that has a floor periphery; and a rigid peripheral sidewall that extends upward from the floor periphery and that is coupled to the floor, wherein the floor and the peripheral sidewall define an insert cockpit, wherein the insert is configured to removably register with the boat cockpit while the floor of the insert covers most of the upper surface of the hull and while the peripheral sidewall of the insert covers most of the inner surface of the peripheral tube, whereby the insert facilitates increasing rigidity of the inflatable boat while reducing snaggable features in the inflatable boat.

8. The insert of claim 7, wherein the insert is devoid of crossbeams and thwarts.

9. The insert of claim 7, wherein the insert is devoid of non-radiused corners.

10. The insert of claim 7, wherein the peripheral sidewall is configured to extend over an upper surface of the peripheral tube when the insert is in registration with the boat cockpit, the peripheral sidewall defining oar-lock platforms that are configured to retain oar locks.

11. The insert of claim 7, wherein the peripheral sidewall is configured to extend along a port portion of the peripheral tube and along a starboard portion of the peripheral tube when the insert is in registration with the boat cockpit, the peripheral sidewall defining a port recess and a starboard recess that is opposite the floor from the port recess, the port recess and the starboard recess being configured to registrably receive a seat.

12. The insert of claim 7, wherein the floor defines a central region, a bow region, and a stern region, the bow region being disposed forward of the central region and defining a forward incline that extends upward from the central region, the stern region being disposed aft of the central region and defining a rearward incline that extends upward from the central region.

13. The insert of claim 7, wherein the floor defines a drain hole in a bow region of the insert cockpit or in a stern region of the cockpit, the insert further including a cap that is configured to plug the drain hole in a water-tight manner, the drain hole being disposed at a position in the floor that is configured to horizontally align with a valve in a floor chamber of the hull when the insert is in registration with the boat cockpit.

14. The insert of claim 7, wherein the floor defines a crown that peaks along a central axis of the floor.

15. The insert of claim 7, wherein the insert defines a gutter that extends at least partially around the floor, an upper surface of the gutter being disposed below an upper surface of the floor.

16. The insert of claim 15, wherein the gutter is solid.

17. The insert of claim 15, wherein the gutter defines perforations.

18. The insert of claim 7, wherein an upper third of the peripheral sidewall defines boat couplers that facilitate removably securing the insert in the boat cockpit.

19. A method of providing an inflatable boat, the method comprising: providing a hull that has a hull periphery; providing a peripheral tube that extends around at least a majority of the hull periphery, the peripheral tube defining an inflatable chamber, wherein an upper surface of the hull and an inner surface of the peripheral tube define a boat cockpit; providing an insert, the insert including: a rigid floor that has a floor periphery; and a rigid peripheral sidewall that extends upward from the floor periphery and that is coupled to the floor, wherein the floor and the peripheral sidewall define an insert cockpit; removably registering the insert with the boat cockpit such that the floor of the insert covers most of the upper surface of the hull and such that the peripheral sidewall of the insert covers most of the inner surface of the peripheral tube, whereby rigidity of the inflatable boat is increased while snaggable features of the inflatable boat are reduced.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: before registering the insert with the boat cockpit, removing the insert from being in a nested configuration with a second insert, the second insert including: a second rigid floor that has a second floor periphery; and a second rigid peripheral sidewall that extends upward from the second floor periphery and that is coupled to the second floor, wherein the second floor and the second peripheral sidewall define a second insert cockpit, wherein the second insert is configured to removably register with the boat cockpit while the second floor of the second insert covers most of the upper surface of the hull and while the second peripheral sidewall of the second insert covers most of the inner surface of the peripheral tube, whereby storage of the insert and the second insert is improved; and without employing a fastener, installing a seat in the insert, wherein the peripheral sidewall is configured to extend along a port portion of the peripheral tube and along a starboard portion of the peripheral tube when the insert is in registration with the boat cockpit, the peripheral sidewall defining a port recess and a starboard recess that is opposite the floor from the port recess, wherein installing the seat in the insert includes registering the seat with the port recess and with the starboard recess.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings.

[0020] FIG. 1 is an isometric perspective view of an insert disposed in an inflatable boat according to the principles of the invention.

[0021] FIG. 2 is an isometric perspective view of the insert of FIG. 1 separated from the inflatable boat.

[0022] FIG. 3 is an isometric top plan view of the insert of FIG. 1.

[0023] FIG. 4 is an isometric port elevational view of the insert of FIG. 1.

[0024] FIG. 5 is an isometric bow elevational view of the insert of FIG. 1.

[0025] FIG. 6 is an isometric cross-sectional view of the insert and boat of FIG. 1, taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 1.

[0026] FIG. 7 is an isometric cross-sectional view of the insert and boat of FIG. 1, taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 1.

[0027] FIG. 8 is an isometric bow elevational view of a seat configured to be received in the insert of FIG. 1.

[0028] FIG. 9 is an isometric bow elevational view of a second seat configured to be received in the insert of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0029] A snag-free insert for inflatable boats in accordance with the principles of the invention is generally indicated at reference number 2 in the various figures of the attached drawings wherein numbered elements in the figures correspond to like numbered elements herein.

[0030] FIG. 1 shows the insert 2 installed in the cockpit of an inflatable boat 4. The boat 4 has one or more inflatable chambers defined by one or more peripheral tubes that are typically rubber and that define the gunnels or gunwales of the boat 4. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the boat 4 has a continuous peripheral tube 6 that extends around the entire periphery of the boat 4 and that defines the gunnel of the boat 4, and the tube 6 defines one or more inflatable chambers. In other embodiments, the entire periphery of the boat 4 except for the transom is defined by one or more peripheral tubes that define one or more inflatable chambers. The insert 2 is configured to be nestingly received and registered in the boat 4. The insert 2 has a rigid floor 8 and one or more rigid peripheral sidewalls that extend upward from the periphery of the floor 8. The one or more peripheral sidewalls are configured to extend along and over a majority of each inner face of each of the one or more peripheral tubes of the boat 4. In some embodiments, where the transom lacks an inflatable tube, the one or more peripheral sidewalls of the insert 2 cover at least a portion of the inner side of the transom and thereby increase rigidity of the insert 2, and in other embodiments, the insert 2 does not cover the non-inflatable transom.

[0031] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the boat 4 has one peripheral tube 6 that extends along the entire perimeter of the boat 4, so the insert 2 has one continuous peripheral sidewall 10 that extends along the entire inner side of the peripheral tube 6. In some embodiments, the insert 2 forms a unitary structure defined by the floor 8 and the peripheral sidewall 10. The upper surfaces of the floor 8 and the inner surfaces of the sidewall 10 are generally devoid of surfaces that may be snagged by fishing lures or flies and, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, protect the tube 6 and boat floor 12 from puncture by lures or flies in the boat 4. In particular, the insert 2 covers the entirety of the upper surface of the floor 12 of the boat 4 and, in some embodiments, covers at least a portion of the peripheral deck defined by the upper surface of the peripheral tube 6 that defines the gunwales. The insert 2 is devoid of sharp corners (for example, all surface transitions or corners are radiused), poles, tubes, thwarts, yokes, or fasteners (except oar locks, as described below). Accordingly, the insert 2 provides a snag-free environment in the boat 4.

[0032] The insert 2 is generally rigid and lightweight. In some embodiments, the exterior material of the insert 2 includes laid up fiberglass, infused carbon fiber, or thermoformed plastic using positive or negative dies. In some embodiments, the floor 8 includes a core (not shown) encased in the exterior material. In some embodiments, the floor core includes plywood or foam, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), recycled PET (rPET), Divinycell, or others. In some embodiments, the foam core of the floor 8 is approximately ⅜ inches thick. In some embodiments, the foam core of the floor 8 has a density of at least 70, 80, 90, 100, or 115 kilograms per cubic meter. In some embodiments, much of the remainder of the insert 2 other than the floor 8, such as the sidewall 10, includes a laminate bulker (not shown), such as bulker available under the mark LANTOR SORIC®, that is approximately 3 millimeters thick and encased by the exterior material. In other embodiments, the remainder of the insert 2 other than the floor 8 includes one of the materials described with respect to the floor core to provide a core (not shown) that is approximately ⅛ to ¼ inches thick that is encased by the exterior material. The insert 2 preferably has oar-lock platforms, such as the oar-lock platforms 14, 16, disposed on the port and starboard portions of the insert 2 at the top of the sidewall 10. In some embodiments, the oar-lock platforms 14, 16 are thicker than the rest of the insert 2 (for example, the oar-ock platforms 14, 16 are defined by thicker cores that include one or more of the materials described with respect to the floor core) to facilitate securely receiving a fastener such as a bolt to couple oar locks (for example, aluminum oar locks) (not shown) to the insert 2. Accordingly, the insert 2 is rigid and lightweight such that it may be easily carried by hand by two average-strength adult humans.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 3, the insert 2 has seat receptacles, such as the seat receptacles 32-38 disposed in the sidewall 10. Each of the receptacles 32, 36 disposed on the port side of the insert 2 is longitudinally aligned with a respective one of the receptacles 34, 38 that are disposed on the starboard side of the insert 2 to define a first pair of receptacles 32, 34 and a second pair of receptacles 36, 38. Each pair of seat receptacles facilitates removably receiving a seat, such as the seat 70 in FIG. 22 or the seat 72 in FIG. 23, that extends from the port side of the insert 2 to the starboard side of the insert 2 into registry with the pair of seat receptacles (i.e., as represented with the double-sided arrows in FIGS. 3, 22, and 23, the left-to-right lengths of the seats 70 and 72 as shown in the bow elevational views of FIGS. 22 and 23 is approximately the same as the distance between the inner surface of the substantially vertically portion of the port seat receptacle and the inner surface of the substantially vertical portion of the starboard seat receptacle in each receptacle pair). As shown in the figures (for example, FIG. 5), the receptacles 32-38 are recessed outward from the sidewall 10, with a substantially vertical portion and a substantially horizontal portion defining the receptacles 32-38. In some embodiments, the seat receptacles 32-38 are configured to receive the seats with an interference fit, thereby preventing the seats from sliding forward or aft and also toward starboard or port, and thus facilitate retaining the seats without use of fasteners that could snag passengers, clothing, fishing lines, flies, or lures. In some embodiments, the seats 70, 72 are defined by openable and closable containers such as coolers or livewells that can be hand lifted out of the insert 2 by one average-strength adult human.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 6, the floor 8 is defined by a central region 40 and bow and stern regions 42, 44 that are inclined along their respective central axes relative to the central axis of the central region 40, wherein such central axes of the regions 40-42 are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the insert 2 when viewed from above (see FIG. 3), thereby defining a rocker or rocker angle. In some embodiments, the seat receptacles 34-38 are longitudinally aligned with the central region 40 and elevated above the central region 40 to facilitate the seats 70, 72 extending laterally across, over, and spaced above the central region 40 by a short distance (for example, a half, one, or two inches to allow water on the central region to flow under the seats 70, 72. As shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, the seats 70, 72 are devoid of snaggable features and have radiused corners and solid walls instead of and without poles, tubes, or cross members, and such solid walls preferably define storage compartments under sitting surfaces atop of such seats 70, 72. As shown in FIG. 22, the seat 70 has a lid portion 74 that defines a sitting region and forms an openable and closable cap to a container portion 76 that is configured to register with the seat receptacles 32-38. As shown in FIG. 23, the seat 72 has a lid portion 78 that defines a sitting region and forms an openable and closable cap to a container portion 80 that is configured to register with the seat receptacles 32-38. The seats 70, 72 are configured to be vertically retained in the receptacles 34-38 by their own weight or an interference fit. In some embodiments, the seats 70, 72 are replaced with snag-free casting stands that are configured in similar manners as the snag-free seats 70, 72.

[0035] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, a gutter 46 in the insert 2 extends along at least the central region 40 of the floor 8 and, in some embodiments, extends around the entire perimeter of the floor 8, including the central region 40, the bow region 42, and the stern region 44. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the floor 8 has a slight crown or camber, at least in the central region 40, that extends from the port portion to the starboard portion and that peaks along the longitudinal axis of the insert 2 to promote water running off the floor 8 toward the peripheral gutter 46 and to increase the structural integrity and rigidity. In some embodiments, the gutter 46 is solid, making the insert 2 water-tight and thus buoyant. Accordingly, if the inflatable boat 4 loses buoyancy, the insert 2 facilitates continued flotation for the passengers, especially after unnecessary gear (for example, coolers, food, beverages, or others) is offloaded to decrease weight, thereby improving safety for the passengers.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 3, the sidewall 10 defines multiple boat couplers, such as the boat couplers 47-56, that are configured to secure the insert 2 to the boat 4. In some embodiments, anchoring features are disposed along the top of the peripheral tube 6 (for example, D-ring patches, such as polyvinyl chloride patches having D-rings secured thereto, with such patches being adhered to the boat 4), and the boat couplers 47-56 are disposed in the sidewall 10 at positions that substantially align with such features to facilitate running straps from or through such features to or through the boat couplers 47-56 (for example, woven nylon straps, such as those available under the mark CORDURA) to secure the insert 2 in the boat 4. If the boat 4 begins to lose or loses buoyancy (for example, two or more of the chambers are punctured), the straps may be decoupled (for example, untied or cut) from the boat couplers 47-56 or the anchoring features to enable separating the insert 2 from the boat 4, the boat 4 may be rolled up and either left on shore or brought into the insert 2, and the insert 2 may be used as a boat to proceed to safety.

[0037] In some embodiments, the boat couplers 47-56 include slots defined in the upper portions of the sidewall 10, such as slots having a major dimension of approximately 1.25-1.5 inches and a minor dimension of approximately 0.25 inches and spaced approximately 0.75 inches from the peripheral edge of the insert 2. Ten boat couplers 47-56 are shown, but this number and the spacing of such couplers varies based on the model or size of the inflatable boat for which the insert is intended. When the insert 2 is disposed in the boat 4 without securing the insert 2 to the boat 4 (other than under the force of gravity), the insert 2 may automatically separate from the boat 4 when the boat loses buoyancy as the boat 4 begins to sink and is pulled away from the insert 2.

[0038] In some embodiments, the insert 2 defines a solid gutter 46 disposed between the floor 8 and the sidewall 10. The floor 8 defines at least one drain, and the insert 2 has a water-tight cap for each drain, such as the caps 62, 64 shown in FIG. 3, to facilitate draining water from the insert 2 into the space between the floor 8 of the insert 2 and the floor 12 of the inflatable boat 4. The caps are threadably coupled to such drains, and the drains are disposed above or near the inflation or deflation valves (not shown) for the floor chamber of the boat 4 to facilitate inflating and deflating the boat 4 while the insert 2 is disposed in the boat. In some embodiments intended for use on urban rivers near a telephone or car, the gutter 46 includes perforations (not shown) to promote passage of water collected in the gutter 46 to space between the floor 8 of the insert 2 and the floor 12 of the inflatable boat 4 (see FIGS. 6 and 7), thereby promoting maintenance of a dry surface for passengers to stand on and thus increasing safety of the passengers (i.e., the insert 2 may be self-bailing).

[0039] The insert 2 is symmetric about its longitudinal axis (the major horizontal axis of the insert 2). In embodiments for boats such as the boat 4 that have a tube 6 extending about the entire circumference of the boat 4, the insert 2 is symmetric about its lateral axis (the minor horizontal axis of the insert 2). The boat 4 is 14 feet long. For larger boats, the insert 2 may not be symmetric front to back to facilitate different seating arrangements to move the captain away from the center of the boat, such as having ⅔ of the boat in front of the oarsman as dictated by the positions of the oar-lock platforms and the seat receptacles being shifted toward the stern or bow of the boat. The seat receptacles positioned for the person rowing are spaced aft of the oar-lock platforms by approximately the same amount, regardless of the position of such oar-lock platforms to facilitate the oarsman sitting on a bench disposed in such receptacles and using oars extending through oar locks mounted on such oar-lock platforms.

[0040] The insert 2 is configured to be nestingly received by another of such inserts and is configured to nestingly receive another of such inserts (without modification to the insert from storage and use in the boat 4) to facilitate compact storage of numerous such inserts. In some embodiments, the insert 2 is seamless to increase structural integrity and reduce snaggable features. The insert 2, including the floor 8 and peripheral sidewall 10, are preferably integral to each other to further reduce snaggable features. Accordingly, the insert 2 is configured to provide a rigid floor, even when installed in white-water rafting boats that have inflatable hulls.

[0041] In some embodiments, the insert is manufactured with composite infusion, such as carbon fiber open molding or infusion, fiberglass open molding or infusion, or others, by laying up dry composite layers in an open mold that defines an inverted shape of the insert, applying a vacuum surface such as a bag to an opposite side of the layers after laying them up, pulling a vacuum in the space defined by the surface and the open mold (with the layers in such space), and injecting resin into such space. Accordingly, the manufacturing process facilitates a unitary body for the insert that provides improved structural integrity over multiple hand-laid composite components that are subsequently joined to form the body.

[0042] As used herein, the following terms take the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The term “or” is an inclusive grammatical conjunction to indicate that one or more of the connected terms may be employed. For example, the phrase “one or more A, B, or C” or the phrase “one or more As, Bs, or Cs” is employed to discretely disclose each of the following: i) one or more As, ii) one or more Bs, iii) one or more Cs, iv) one or more As and one or more Bs, v) one or more As and one or more Cs, vi) one or more Bs and one or more Cs, and vii) one or more As, one or more Bs, and one or more Cs. The term “based on” as used herein is not exclusive and allows for being based on additional factors not described. The articles “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references. Plural references are intended to also disclose the singular. The term “one or more” discloses no more than a single one or more than one, up to and including all.

[0043] The terms “bow,” “forward,” “stern,” and “aft” are defined relative to the longitudinal axis of the insert 2 to orient the reader and do not limit the orientation of any described component in a given application. The terms “inner”, “inward”, “outer”, and “outward” are defined relative to the passenger area of the insert 2 or boat 4, with the terms “inner” and “inward” referencing a direction generally extending toward the intersection of the longitudinal and lateral axes of the insert 2 or boat 4 and with the terms “outer” and “outward” referencing a direction generally extending away from such intersection. The term “transverse” refers to a non-parallel orientation and includes but is not limited to a perpendicular orientation.

[0044] The term “rigid” refers to elements with a modulus of rigidity that is at least 0.05, 0.1, or 0.15 Gpa.

[0045] The terms “thwart”, “yoke”, and “crossbeam” refer to components that are fixed or fastened to the boat or insert. Accordingly, the seats 70, 72 are not thwarts, yokes, or crossbeams.

[0046] The term “snag-free” refers to elements lacking projections such as thwarts, yokes, crossbeams, tubes, or fasteners and lacking non-radiused corners. The term “snaggable” refers to features that are omitted from a snag-free element, including projections such as thwarts, yokes, crossbeams, tubes, or fasteners and including non-radiused corners.

[0047] The term “most” refers to a majority, inclusive of an entirety.

[0048] The term “removably” refers to an element being configured to perform the described action of the verb modified by the term “removably” with the ability to remove the acted upon element from the described object of the phrase without the use of tools beyond human hands and without damaging either of the elements.

[0049] The term “configured” refers to an element being one or more of sized, dimensioned, positioned, or oriented to achieve or provide the recited function or result. The term “directly coupled” refers to a component that contacts (for example, when bolted), is integral with, or is welded to another component. The term “indirectly coupled” refers to a component that is coupled to one or more other components that are coupled to a second component or one or more further components that are coupled to the second component. The term “coupled” should be understood to disclose both direct and indirect coupling of components or elements that are described as being coupled to each other, and different embodiments may be directly coupled or indirectly coupled.

[0050] While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, each disclosure of an element or component preferably having a feature or characteristic is intended to also disclose the element or component as being devoid of that feature or characteristic, unless the principles of the invention clearly dictate otherwise. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiments. Moreover, each feature, characteristic, element, or component described herein may be implemented in combination with one or more other features, characteristics, elements, or components described herein.