PLEASURE CRAFT HAVING AN IMPROVED DECK CONSTRUCTION

Abstract

A pleasure craft is provided in which one or more decks of the craft have a deck construction in which a base body is provided, and in which a first part of supporting and stiffening members is arranged on an upper face of the base body, and a second part of the supporting and stiffening members is arranged on a lower face of the base body. This construction optimizes and rationalizes the arrangement of components of the installations of the craft in terms of size, weight and the required amount of space, as well as in terms of required power, this resulting in a reduction of time and cost for mounting the installations of the craft.

Claims

1. A pleasure craft (100), of the type comprising a main deck (104) and a hull (102), the inner space of which is divided into several overlying decks (108, 110), wherein each of said decks (104, 108, 110) comprises a base body (2), having an upper face (2a) and an opposite, lower face (2b), and wherein each of said decks (104, 108, 110) further comprises supporting and stiffening members (4,6), characterized in that, in one or more decks of said craft, a first part of said supporting and stiffening members (4, 6) is arranged on said upper face of said base body, and a second part of said supporting and stiffening members (4, 6) is arranged on said lower face of said base body, and in that mutually adjacent supporting and stiffening members (4, 6) arranged on said upper face (2a) of said base body (2) define, together with said base body (2), corresponding upward open seats or channels (5), and mutually adjacent supporting and stiffening members (4, 6) arranged on said lower face (2b) of said base body (2) define, together with said base body (2), corresponding downward open seats or channels (7).

2. The pleasure craft (100) according to claim 1, wherein said supporting and stiffening members comprise a plurality of longitudinal girders (4), substantially parallel to one another and to the longitudinal axis of said craft, and a plurality of transverse beams (6), substantially parallel to one another and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said craft.

3. The pleasure craft (100) according to claim 1, wherein said supporting and stiffening members arranged on said upper face of said base body are all substantially oriented in the same direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of said craft, and wherein said supporting and stiffening members arranged on said lower face of said base body are all substantially oriented in the same direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of said craft.

4. The pleasure craft (100) according to claim 2, wherein, in one or more decks, the supporting and stiffening members are arranged according to the following configuration: said longitudinal girders (4) are all provided on said upper face (2a) of said base body (2) and said transverse beams (6) are all provided on said lower face (2b) of said base body (2).

5. The pleasure craft (100) according to claim 1, wherein said craft comprises installations including ventilation/air-conditioning systems, hydraulic systems and electrical systems, wherein said systems comprise components such as cable conduits, ducts, pipes, cables and the like, and wherein part of said components is arranged on said upper face (2a) of said base body (2) and housed in said upward open seats or channels (5) and part of said components is arranged on said lower face (2b) of said base body (2) and housed in said downward open seats or channels (7).

6. The pleasure craft (100) according to claim 1, wherein covering panels are removably applied to said upper face (2a) of said base body (2).

7. The pleasure craft (100) according to claim 1, wherein covering panels are removably applied to said lower face (2b) of said base body (2).

8. The pleasure craft (100) according to claim 6, wherein said supporting and stiffening members arranged on said upper face of said base body are provided with seats or connecting means for installing floor plates.

9. The pleasure craft (100) according to claim 1, wherein a superstructure (106) is provided on said deck, and wherein the inner space of said superstructure (106) is divided into overlying decks (112, 114).

10. The pleasure craft (100) according to claim 9, wherein said decks (114, 116) of said superstructure (6) comprise a base body (2) having an upper face (2a) and an opposite, lower face (2b), wherein each of said decks (114, 116) of said superstructure further comprises supporting and stiffening members (4, 6), and wherein, in one or more decks of said superstructure, a first part of said supporting and stiffening members (4, 6) is arranged on said upper face of said base body, and a second part of said supporting and stiffening members (4, 6), is arranged on said lower face of said base body, wherein mutually adjacent supporting and stiffening members (4, 6) arranged on said upper face (2a) of said base body (2) define, together with said base body (2), corresponding upward open seats or channels (5), and mutually adjacent supporting and stiffening members (4, 6) arranged on said lower face (2b) of said base body (2) define, together with said base body (2), corresponding downward open seats or channels (7).

11. The pleasure craft (10) according to claim 1, wherein said pleasure craft is a luxury pleasure craft, such as a yacht.

12. The pleasure craft (100) according to claim 2, wherein said supporting and stiffening members arranged on said upper face of said base body are all substantially oriented in the same direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of said craft, and wherein said supporting and stiffening members arranged on said lower face of said base body are all substantially oriented in the same direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of said craft.

13. The pleasure craft (100) according to claim 2, wherein, in one or more decks, the supporting and stiffening members are arranged according to the following configuration: said longitudinal girders (4) are all provided on said lower face (2b) of said base body (2) and said transverse beams (6) are all provided on said upper face (2a) of said base body (2).

14. The pleasure craft (100) according to claim 2, wherein, in one or more decks, the supporting and stiffening members are arranged according to the following configuration: said longitudinal girders (4) are provided partly on said lower face (2b) and partly on said upper face (2a) of said base body (2) and said transverse beams (6) are all provided on said upper face (2a) of said base body (2).

15. The pleasure craft (100) according to claim 2, wherein, in one or more decks, the supporting and stiffening members are arranged according to the following configuration: said longitudinal girders (4) are provided partly on said lower face (2b) and partly on said upper face (2a) of said base body (2) and said transverse beams (6) are all provided on said lower face (2b) of said base body (2).

16. The pleasure craft (100) according to claim 2, wherein, in one or more decks, the supporting and stiffening members are arranged according to the following configuration: said longitudinal girders (4) are all provided on said lower face (2b) of said base body (2) and said transverse beams (6) are provided partly on said upper face (2a) and partly on said lower face (2b) of said base body (2).

17. The pleasure craft (100) according to claim 2, wherein, in one or more decks, the supporting and stiffening members are arranged according to the following configuration: said longitudinal girders (4) are all provided on said upper face (2a) of said base body (2) and said transverse beams (6) are provided partly on said upper face (2a) and partly on said lower face (2b) of said base body (2).

18. The pleasure craft (100) according to claim 2, wherein, in one or more decks, the supporting and stiffening members are arranged according to the following configuration: said longitudinal girders (4) are provided partly on said lower face (2b) and partly on said upper face (2a) of said base body (2) and said transverse beams (6) are provided partly on said face upper (2a) and partly on said lower face (2b) of said base body (2).

19, The pleasure craft (100) according to claim 1, wherein said supporting and stiffening members arranged on said upper face of said base body are provided with seats or connecting means for installing floor plates.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0044] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the annexed drawings, in which:

[0045] FIG. 1 is a schematic view in longitudinal section of an example of a pleasure craft;

[0046] FIG. 2 schematically shows a portion of a deck construction of a pleasure craft of the type illustrated in FIG. 1, according to prior art;

[0047] FIG. 3 schematically shows a portion of a deck construction of a pleasure craft of the type illustrated in FIG. 1, according to the invention;

[0048] FIG. 4 schematically shows a further portion of the deck construction of a pleasure craft of the type illustrated in FIG. 1, according to the invention;

[0049] FIG. 5 is a partial schematic view in cross-section of a pleasure craft of the type illustrated in FIG. 1, which compares the deck construction according to prior art with the deck construction according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0050] Below, special reference is made to a luxury pleasure boat, more particularly a yacht.

[0051] The invention must not be understood as limited to this type of vessels.

[0052] In general, the invention is applicable to pleasure crafts of the type comprising a main deck on which a superstructure can be provided, and a hull, the inner space of which is divided into a plurality of overlying decks.

[0053] Referring at first to FIG. 1, this schematically illustrates a pleasure craft 100 according to prior art.

[0054] Said craft 100 essentially comprises a hull 102 and a main deck 104, on which a superstructure 106 for the passengers and the craft owner is provided.

[0055] The inner space of the hull is divided into one or more overlying decks.

[0056] In particular, in the craft illustrated in FIG. 1, the inner space of the hull 102 is divided into two overlying decks, namely a lower deck (or middle deck) 108 and an underlower deck (or lowermost deck) 110.

[0057] The inner space of the superstructure 106 as well may possibly be divided into one or more overlying decks.

[0058] In particular, in the craft illustrated in FIG. 1, the inner space of the superstructure 106 comprises two overlying decks 112, 114 above the main deck.

[0059] It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the number of decks inside the hull 102 as well as the number of decks inside the superstructure 106 may also be different.

[0060] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a portion of the construction of a craft of the type illustrated in FIG. 1, which portion shows the making of deck constructions according to prior art.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 2, a deck comprises a base body 12 (planking).

[0062] The upper face 12a of the base body 12 is flat and intended for laying coverings for the flooring of the deck.

[0063] All the supporting and stiffening members 14, 16, instead, are provided entirely on the lower face 12b of the base body 12.

[0064] Accordingly, all the components of the installations of the craft, too, are provided entirely on the lower face 12b of the base body 12.

[0065] These components may include ducts and cable conduits 18 of the ventilation/ari-conditioning systems, tubes 20 of the hydraulic systems, cables and cable ducts 22 of the electrical systems, etc.

[0066] Further components of said installations are provided on the flanks of the hull, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0067] Turning now to FIGS. 3 and 4, these schematically illustrate portions of the construction of a craft of the type illustrated in FIG. 1, which portions show the making of deck constructions according to the invention.

[0068] According to the invention, one or more decks of the craft - in the illustrated embodiment, all the decks of the craft - has/have a base body 2, and at least part of the supporting and stiffening members 4, 6 of the deck(s) is arranged on the upper face of said base body.

[0069] In particular, in the described preferred, though in no-way limiting embodiment, one or more decks of the craft - in the illustrated embodiment, all the decks of the craft - has/have a base body 2, on the upper face 2a of which there is arranged a first part of the supporting and stiffening members 4, 6 of the deck, and on the lower face 2b of which there is arranged a second part of the supporting and stiffening members 4, 6 of the deck.

[0070] Preferably, the supporting and stiffening members provided on a same face of the base body 2 are all substantially oriented in the same direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the craft.

[0071] In the illustrated embodiment, the longitudinal girders 4, substantially parallel to one another and to the longitudinal axis of the craft, are provided on the upper face 2a of the base body 2, whereas the transverse beams 6, substantially parallel to one another and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the craft, are provided on the lower face 2b of the base body 2.

[0072] It is evident that, in an alternative embodiment of the invention, the longitudinal girders may be provided on the lower face of the base body and the transverse beams may be provided on the upper face of said base body.

[0073] It is also evident that, in further alternative embodiments of the invention, it would be possible to devise different configurations in which part of the longitudinal girders and/or transverse beams is arranged on the upper face and part thereof is arranged on the lower face of the base body.

[0074] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, mutually adjacent supporting and stiffening members arranged on the upper face 2a of the base body 2 - namely, in the illustrated embodiment, mutually adjacent longitudinal girders 4 - define, together with said base body 2, corresponding upward open seats or channels 5; similarly, mutually adjacent supporting and stiffening members arranged on the lower side 2b of the base body 2 - namely, in the illustrated embodiment, mutually adjacent transverse beams 6 -define, together with said base body 2, corresponding downward open seats or channels 7.

[0075] As a result, advantageously, part of the components of the installations of the craft (electrical systems, hydraulic systems, ventilation/air-conditioning systems, ...) can be arranged on the upper face 2a of the base body 2 and housed in said upward open seats or channels 5, and part of the components of said installations can be arranged on the opposite, lower face 2b of said base body and housed in said downward open seats or channels 7.

[0076] On the upper face 2a of the base body 2, and possibly also on the lower face 2b of the base body 2, there will be provided covering panels closing said upward open seats or channels 5 and said downward open seats or channels 7, respectively.

[0077] However, said panel will be coupled to the base body in a removable manner, so as to provide easy access to components of the installations of the craft in case maintenance or repair operations are required.

[0078] In this regard, it should be noted that, advantageously, the supporting and stiffening members provided on the upper face of the base body 2 may be integrated in the supporting structure of the floor plates, thus replacing (either partially or completely) the dedicated metal frames that are used for supporting floor plates in solutions of known type.

[0079] According to prior art, said metal frames are later applied to the supporting frame 2 and connected thereto.

[0080] On the contrary, in the solution according to the invention, it will be possible to directly exploit the supporting and stiffening members provided on the upper face 2a of the base body 2, which are already integrated to said base body 2. Correspondingly, said supporting and stiffening member may be provided with seats or connecting means for installing floor plates.

[0081] This will result in a reduction of the times and costs for installing the floor plates, besides ensuring stable, affordable laying thereof.

[0082] As mentioned in connection with the solution of known type of FIG. 2, in the construction according to the invention, too, the components of the installations of the craft may include ducts and cable conduits 18 of ventilation/air-conditioning systems, tubes 20 of hydraulic systems, cables and cable conduits 22 of electrical systems, and so on.

[0083] Thanks to the fact that on each face 2a, 2b of the base body 2 there are arranged supporting and stiffening members 4, 6, which are all substantially oriented in the same direction, in the preferred embodiment of the invention described herein, it will be possible to avoid winding paths for the above-mentioned components and the number of intersections will be reduced dramatically.

[0084] The engineering of the installations of the craft will thus advantageously be optimized and rationalized in terms of size, weight and the required amount of space of the components, as well as in terms of required power.

[0085] In addition, as can be seen in particular in FIG. 3, depending on the requirements of the spaces provided in the different decks, the same component of a system (i.e., a cable conduit, a duct, a cable, etc.) may extend partly over one of the faces of the base body 2 and partly on the opposite face of said base body, while remaining within the overall required amount of space of the supporting and stiffening members 4, 6 of the corresponding deck, simply by providing a through-hole in the base body 2.

[0086] Moreover, again by providing a through-hole in the base body 2, a component of a system (namely, a cable conduit, a duct, a cable, etc.) provided on the upper face of the base body 2 may be arranged in the underlying space at any point of the deck and - vice versa - a component of a system (namely, a cable conduit, a duct, a cable, etc.) provided on the lower face of the base body 2 may be arranged in the overlying space at any point of the deck.

[0087] The invention thus makes it possible to dramatically reduce (if not completely eliminate) crossings on the flanks of the hull.

[0088] The advantages of the invention are also apparent from FIG. 5, in which - still with reference to an exemplary craft of the type illustrated in FIG. 1 (in which the superstructure has been omitted for the sake of clarity) - there are shown the two solutions in comparison with each other, and in particular a deck construction according to prior art in the right portion of FIG. 5 and a deck construction according to the invention in the left portion of FIG. 5.

[0089] In any case, it will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the above detailed description has been given by way of non-limiting example and that several modifications and variants are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.