PLEASURE CRAFT HAVING AN IMPROVED DECK CONSTRUCTION

Abstract

A pleasure craft is provided such as a luxury pleasure craft. The craft eliminates the need for transverse bulkheads in one or more decks inside the hull of the craft, thus improving the aesthetics and usability thereof. The hull of the pleasure craft defines an imaginary or virtual freeboard deck located below the main deck of the craft. A cavity is arranged on one or more decks on both sides of the hull separate from the remaining space of the corresponding deck and delimited on its outer side by the corresponding side wall. The imaginary or virtual freeboard deck is therefore at a height equal to the extension in the vertical direction of the cavities from the floor of the corresponding deck.

Claims

1: A pleasure craft, comprising a main deck and a hull, the hull having two opposite sides and two opposite side walls and an inner space between the opposite side walls, wherein the opposite side walls of the hull are made of framing, wherein the inner space of the hull is divided into a plurality of overlying decks, each overlying deck having a floor and an overall height from the floor and an overall width between the two opposite sides of the hull, wherein, in one or more deck of the overlying decks inside the hull, along each of the opposite sides of the hull, a lateral cavity is provided, which is separate from a remaining space of the corresponding deck, each lateral cavity having an outer side, an inner side and an upper side, each lateral cavity being delimited on its outer side by a corresponding side wall of the hull and extending vertically from the floor of the corresponding deck at a given distance from the corresponding side wall of the hull, which distance is less than half of the overall width of the corresponding deck, and over a given extension which is less than the overall height of the corresponding deck, each lateral cavity being delimited on its outer side by the framing of the corresponding side wall of the hull, on its inner side by an additional framing, which is provided at the given distance from the corresponding side wall of the hull and extends from the floor of the corresponding deck in a substantially vertical direction over the given extension, and on its upper side by a connecting framing which extends in a substantially horizontal direction between an upper end of the additional framing and the corresponding side wall of the hull, thus joining with the framing of the side wall of the hull.

2: The pleasure craft according to claim 1, wherein each lateral cavity is delimited on its lower side by the floor of the corresponding deck.

3: The pleasure craft according to claim 1, wherein each lateral cavity has a lower side and is communicating at its lower side with one or more underlying watertight compartments.

4: The pleasure craft according to claim 1, wherein the hull has a longitudinal axis and each lateral cavity has a longitudinal direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hull, and wherein each lateral cavity is divided along the longitudinal direction into separate compartments by means of transverse bulkheads.

5: The pleasure craft according to claim 1, wherein the inner space of the hull is divided into two overlying decks, a lower deck immediately below the main deck and an underlower deck below the lower deck, the lateral cavities being provided in the lower deck.

6: The pleasure craft according to claim 5, wherein each lateral cavity has a lower side and is communicating at its lower side with one or more underlying watertight compartments provided in the underlower deck.

7: The pleasure craft according to claim 5, wherein each lateral cavity has a height between 10% and 70% of the overall height of the lower deck.

8: The pleasure craft according to claim 5, wherein each lateral cavity has a width between 1% and 10% of the overall width of the lower deck.

9: The pleasure craft according to claim 5, wherein the lower deck is made without transverse bulkheads.

10: The pleasure craft according to claim 1, wherein the pleasure craft is a yacht.

11: The pleasure craft according to claim 7, wherein each lateral cavity has a height between 20% and 50% of the overall height of the lower deck.

12: The pleasure craft according to claim 8, wherein each lateral cavity has a width between 2% and 5% of the overall width of the lower deck.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0059] 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:

[0060] FIG. 1a is a schematic cross-sectional view of the hull of a pleasure craft according to prior art;

[0061] FIG. 1b is a sectional view taken along the line B-B of the craft of FIG. 1a;

[0062] FIG. 2a is a schematic cross-sectional view of the hull of a pleasure craft according to the invention;

[0063] FIG. 2b is a sectional view taken along the line B-B of the craft of FIG. 2a.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0064] Below, special reference is made to a luxury pleasure craft, more particularly a yacht.

[0065] The invention must not be understood as limited to this type of vessels.

[0066] In general, the invention is applicable to pleasure crafts of the type comprising a main deck and a hull, the inner space of which is divided into a plurality of overlying decks.

[0067] However, in yachts and other luxury pleasure crafts, optimization of spaces constitutes a critical point at the designing stage because said crafts—even very long yachts—have in any case reduced overall dimensions in comparison with other types of vessels, and because the passengers' comfort is a parameter of fundamental importance.

[0068] Referring at first to FIGS. 1a and 1b, these schematically illustrate a pleasure craft 100 according to prior art.

[0069] Said craft 100 essentially comprises a hull 102 and a main deck 104, on which a superstructure (not shown) for the passengers and the craft owner is provided.

[0070] The height T from the bottom of the hull is the draught of the craft.

[0071] The inner space of the hull is divided into one or more overlying decks.

[0072] In particular, in the craft illustrated in FIGS. 1a-1b, the inner space of the hull is divided into two overlying decks, namely a lower deck (or middle deck) 106 and an underlower deck (or lowermost deck) 108.

[0073] In known vessels, the freeboard deck coincides with the main deck 104.

[0074] Accordingly, all the space below the main deck 104 has to be divided into watertight compartments.

[0075] This results in the need to provide a plurality of transverse bulkheads distributed over the longitudinal length of the vessel both between the underlower deck 108 and the lower deck 106 and between the lower deck 106 and the main deck 104.

[0076] Referring in particular to the lower deck, as can be seen in FIG. 1b, this is divided, by means of transverse bulkheads 110, into a plurality of separate compartments 112a-112f.

[0077] The provision of the transverse bulkheads 110 and the division into compartments 112a-112f poses a very penalizing constraint on the arrangement of spaces and furniture in the lower deck, which constitutes a considerable disadvantage, especially in luxury pleasure crafts.

[0078] Turning now to FIGS. 2a-2b, these schematically show a pleasure craft 10 according to the invention.

[0079] The craft 10, as well, essentially comprises a hull 12 and a main deck 14, on which a superstructure (not shown) for the passengers and the craft owner is provided.

[0080] In this case, as well, the height T from the bottom of the hull 12 is the height of the draught of the craft 10.

[0081] In this case, as well, the inner space of the hull is divided into one or more overlying decks, in particular two overlying decks, namely a lower deck (or middle deck) 16, which is above the draught limit T, and an underlower deck (or lowermost deck) 18.

[0082] According to the invention, inside the lower deck, along each opposite side of said hull, a lateral cavity 20 is provided, separate from the remaining space of the lower deck 16.

[0083] Each cavity 20 is delimited on its outer side by the framing of the side wall of the hull, on its inner side by an additional framing 22, which is provided at a given distance D from the corresponding side wall 12a, 12b of the hull 12 and extend over a given height H from the floor of the lower deck in a substantially vertical direction, and on its upper side by a connecting framing 24 extending in a substantially horizontal direction between the upper end of the additional framing and the corresponding side wall 12a, 12b of the hull 12, thus joining at said height H with the framing of the side wall of the hull.

[0084] In other words, the inner space of the lower deck 16 is laterally defined by the additional framing 22 up to said given height H and from the side walls 12a, 12b of the hull above said given height H (unlike what is described in U.S. Pat. No. 865,155, where the inner space of the floating cabin is entirely delimited by its own walls, which are different and separate from the hull walls).

[0085] Inferiorly, the bulkheads 20 can be delimited by the floor of the lower deck. Therefore, they are watertight compartments, entirely separate from the inner space of the hull 12.

[0086] However, said cavities are preferably open at their bottom and communicating with underlying watertight compartments of the underlower deck. In this case, in case of a hull breach, the floodwater will advantageously be guided towards said lower watertight compartments, thus promoting stability of the craft.

[0087] The cavities 20 may possibly be divided along the longitudinal direction into separate compartments by introducing transverse bulkheads.

[0088] In case of a breach in a side wall 12a, 12b of the hull 12, water may flood into the corresponding cavity 20, but it cannot reach the remaining space of the lower deck.

[0089] In this way, the provision of the cavities 20 makes it possible to define an imaginary or virtual freeboard deck PBL located at a height H above the floor of the lower deck 16.

[0090] The freeboard deck is thus at a dramatically reduced height in comparison with known crafts, in which it coincides with the main deck.

[0091] Thanks to the invention, it is possible to eliminate the transverse bulkheads from the lower deck and such transverse bulkheads will have to be provided solely in the underlower deck.

[0092] As can be seen in FIG. 2b, the lower deck 16 of the pleasure craft 10 is no longer divided along the longitudinal direction into separate compartments.

[0093] In particular, the craft shown in FIGS. 2a-2b implements the teachings of Italian patent No. 102020000007294, which provides for housing all the machinery of the engine room, as well as those of the technical room associated therewith, in the underlower deck (i.e. without the engine room and/or the technical room protruding into the lower deck).

[0094] Accordingly, the lower deck 16 can be made as a single space entirely free from any hindrances.

[0095] This advantageously allows for large margins of freedom in arranging the spaces and furniture, and provides an aesthetically more appealing environment in comparison with the crafts of known type (see FIG. 1b).

[0096] The width D and the height H of the lateral cavities 20 are chosen each time according to the specific requirements of each vessel.

[0097] In any case, said cavities 20 will have a height H less than the overall height of the lower deck, and a width D less than half of the overall width of the lower deck.

[0098] For example, said height H may be between 10% and 70% of the overall height of the lower deck, and preferably between 20% and 50% of the overall height of the lower deck; and said width D may be between 1% and 10% of the overall width of the lower deck, and preferably between 2% and 5% of the overall width of the lower deck.

[0099] As a result, the total volume subtracted from the lower deck 16 by the cavities 20 will be limited.

[0100] In addition, the surfaces of said cavities 20 may be easily integrated into the furniture of the lower deck and therefore exploited by the passengers.

[0101] It will be apparent from the above description that the pleasure craft according to the invention makes it possible to achieve the objects set forth above, remarkably improving usability of the lower deck.

[0102] It will also 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.

[0103] In particular, the invention is not limited to pleasure crafts comprising only two overlying decks inside the hull, but it can also be applied to pleasure crafts with any number of overlying decks inside the hull.

[0104] In this case, separate cavities according to the improved deck constructions of the invention may be provided in one or more decks.

[0105] In particular, such cavities will preferably be provided at least in the deck immediately above the draught of the craft or in one or more decks above the draught of the craft.