U.S. patent application number 10/535077 was filed with the patent office on 2006-02-09 for flexible keel and fiting therefor.
This patent application is currently assigned to GIBBS TEHNOLOGIES, LTD. Invention is credited to Neil Graham Jenkins.
Application Number | 20060027156 10/535077 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 9947723 |
Filed Date | 2006-02-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060027156 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jenkins; Neil Graham |
February 9, 2006 |
Flexible keel and fiting therefor
Abstract
Water craft or amphibious vehicle includes a hull 12 fitted with
at least one elongate longitudinal keel; which may be extruded from
rubber. The keel has at least one mounting formation, to engage
with channel formation. The keel may be mounted directly into hull;
alternatively, at least one mounting structure may comprise an
extrusion; mounted into a channel in the hull. The keel may be
flexible to resist damage if grounded; but is laterally stiff to
aid handling on water. The keel may be slid into place
longitudinally; and may be finished with a rubber end piece,
protected by a further metal end piece. Both end pieces may be
detachable. Keel may be foam filled; or may be inflated with fluid
to alter its cross section.
Inventors: |
Jenkins; Neil Graham;
(Warwickshire, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
YOUNG & BASILE, P.C.
3001 WEST BIG BEAVER ROAD
SUITE 624
TROY
MI
48084
US
|
Assignee: |
GIBBS TEHNOLOGIES, LTD
TOTOLA
VI
|
Family ID: |
9947723 |
Appl. No.: |
10/535077 |
Filed: |
November 12, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
November 12, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB03/04918 |
371 Date: |
May 13, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
114/256 ;
114/140 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63B 2231/44 20130101;
B63B 3/38 20130101; B60F 3/0038 20130101; B63B 41/00 20130101; B63B
32/60 20200201; B63B 2039/063 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
114/256 ;
114/140 |
International
Class: |
B63B 3/38 20060101
B63B003/38; B65D 88/78 20060101 B65D088/78 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 13, 2002 |
GB |
0226443.0 |
Claims
1. A water craft having a keel mounted to the underside of the
craft, the keel comprising an elongate member having at least one
mounting formation for cooperative engagement with at least one
corresponding mounting formation on the underside of the water
craft, for removably mounting the elongate member on the water
craft wherein the keel is vertically compressible.
2. A water craft as claimed in claim 1, in which the elongate
member is an extrusion.
3. A water craft as claimed in claim 1, in which the elongate
member is flexible.
4. A water craft as claimed in claim 1, in which the elongate
member is adapted for sliding engagement with the at least one
corresponding mounting formation on the underside of the water
craft.
5. A water craft as claimed as claimed in claim 1, in which the at
least one formation on the elongate member has a profile adapted
for complementary engagement with the at least one corresponding
mounting formation on the underside of the water craft.
6. A water craft as claimed in claim 1, in which the at least one
corresponding mounting formation is provided in a mounting member
mounted to the underside of the water craft.
7. A water craft as claimed in claim 6, in which the mounting
member is an extrusion.
8. A water craft as claimed in claim 6, in which the mounting
member is made from extruded aluminium.
9. A water craft as claimed in claim 1, in which the water craft
has a hull and the keel is removably mounted to the hull.
10. A water craft as claimed in claim 6 in which the water craft
has a hull and the keel is removably mounted to the hull and in
which the hull is a moulding having a channel formation and the
mounting member is located in the channel.
11. A water craft as claimed in claim 1, in which the water craft
is an amphibious vehicle.
12. A water craft as claimed in claim 1 in which the elongate
member is made from extruded rubber or synthetic rubber.
13. A water craft as claimed in claim 1 in which the keel further
comprises a tip member located adjacent a forward end of the
elongate member.
14. A water craft as claimed in claim 1, in which the at least one
corresponding mounting formation is a re-entrant channel into which
a formation on the elongate member is slidably received.
15. A water craft as claimed in claim 1, in which the elongate
member has an elongate, longitudinal cavity.
16. A water craft as claimed in claim 15, in which the elongate
member is adapted to be inflated, using either water or gas, to
vary its profile.
17. A water craft as claimed in claim 15, in which the cavity is
filled with a foam material.
18. An amphibious vehicle having a hull and a keel mounted to the
hull, wherein the keel comprises an elongate extruded member having
at least one mounting formation for cooperation with at least one
corresponding formation on an extruded mounting member attached to
the hull, for removably securing the elongate member to the hull
and wherein the keel is vertically compressible.
19. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 18, in which the at
least one corresponding formation is a re-entrant channel into
which a formation on the elongate member is slidably received.
20. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 19, in which the
channel is open at one end and the keel further comprises a tip
member attached to the hull adjacent the open end to prevent the
elongate member from being withdrawn from the channel in use.
21. An amphibious vehicle as claimed in claim 20, in which a metal
cap member is provided over the tip member.
22. (canceled)
23. A water craft as claimed in claim 6, in which the water craft
has a hull and the keel is removably mounted to the hull.
24. A water craft claimed in claim 9, in which the hull is a
moulding having a channel formation and the mounting member is
located in the channel.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a water craft having a
keel. In particular, but not exclusively, the invention relates to
an amphibious vehicle having a keel.
[0002] A keel is provided on the underside of a water craft, for
example a boat, surfboard, sailboard or the like, one purpose of
which being to assist in the stability and control of the craft in
use, in particular against lateral wind and water forces.
[0003] In the case of a small water craft which is intended to be
portable and to be stored on land, for example a surfboard or
sailboard, a keel can make the craft less portable, and difficult
to store.
[0004] An amphibious vehicle is required to emulate a boat as
closely as possible on water, as well as operating as a road
vehicle on land. A keel is often provided on the hull of an
amphibious vehicle to aid handling and manoeuvrability of the
vehicle on water. However, in the transition from water to land, or
simply as the vehicle manoeuvres on land, there is a risk that the
keel may strike or drag on the surface along which the vehicle is
moving and thus become damaged.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is an object of the invention to provide a water craft
having a keel in which the above mentioned disadvantages are
reduced or substantially obviated.
[0006] It is a further object of the invention to provide a water
craft having a keel which is easily repairable or replaced in the
event of it being damaged.
[0007] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a water craft having a keel mounted to the underside of
the craft, characterised in that the keel comprises an elongate
member having at least one mounting formation for cooperative
engagement with at least one corresponding mounting formation on
the underside of the water craft, for-removably mounting the
elongate member on the water craft.
[0008] The elongate member is preferably an extrusion.
[0009] The elongate member is preferably flexible.
[0010] Preferably, the elongate member is adapted for sliding
engagement with the at least one corresponding mounting formation
on the underside of the water craft.
[0011] Conveniently, the or each formation on the elongate member
has a profile adapted for complementary engagement with the at
least one corresponding mounting formation on the underside of the
water craft.
[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the at least one corresponding
mounting formation is provided in or on a mounting member mounted
to the underside of the water craft.
[0013] Preferably, the mounting member is an extrusion. More
preferably, the mounting member is made from extruded
aluminium.
[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the water craft has a hull and
the keel is removably mounted to the hull.
[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the underside of the hull is a
moulding having a channel formation, and the at least one
corresponding mounting formation is provided in or on a mounting
member located in the channel.
[0016] Preferably, the water craft is an amphibious vehicle.
[0017] Preferably the elongate member is made from rubber or
synthetic rubber.
[0018] Preferably, the keel further comprises a tip member located
adjacent a forward end of the elongate member.
[0019] Preferably, the elongate member has an elongate,
longitudinal cavity. In which case, the elongate member may be
adapted to be inflated, using either water or gas, to vary its
profile.
[0020] Alternatively, the cavity may be filled with a foam
material.
[0021] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is
provided an amphibious vehicle having a hull and a keel mounted to
the hull, characterised in that the keel comprises an elongate
extruded member having at least one mounting formation for
cooperation with a corresponding formation on an extruded mounting
member attached to the hull, for removably securing the elongate
member to the hull.
[0022] Preferably, the at least one corresponding formation is a
re-entrant channel into which a formation on the elongate member is
slidably received. The channel may be open at one end and the keel
may further comprise a tip member attached to the hull adjacent the
open end to prevent the elongate member from being withdrawn from
the channel in use. In a particularly preferred embodiment, a metal
cap member is provided over the tip member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] The invention will now be described, by way of example only,
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0024] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view from below of a water
craft having a keel in accordance with the invention;
[0025] FIG. 2 is a side view of the keel shown in FIG. 1;
[0026] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view taken on line
A-A, through a part of the base of the hull of FIG. 1;
[0027] FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view similar to
that of FIG. 3 but showing an alternative arrangement for mounting
the keel to the hull; and
[0028] FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view similar to
that of FIGS. 3 and 4, showing a further alternative arrangement
for mounting the keel to the hull.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0029] A water craft in the form of an amphibious vehicle is
indicated generally at 10 in FIG. 1, having a body which
incorporates a hull 12. A keel 14 is provided centrally on the base
of the hull 12 in the longitudinal axis and extends along
substantially the entire length of the base.
[0030] As can be seen best from FIG. 2, the keel 14 comprises a
main elongate member 16, which extends along the greater part of
the length of the base of the hull 12. The elongate member 16 is
formed as an extrusion of a relatively flexible material. Any
suitable material can be used but in preferred embodiments the
elongate member is made of rubber or synthetic rubber. The keel
also has a tapered tip member 18 which is positioned adjacent to
the forward end of the elongate member 16. The tip member 18 may be
made of any suitable material but is also preferably made from
rubber or synthetic rubber and is shaped to provide good
hydrodynamic performance as the vehicle travels forwardly through
the water. A metal cap 20 may be positioned over the tip member 18
to protect the tip member from damage. The metal cap 20 is shaped
to complement the shape of the tip member.
[0031] The keel 14 assists in the handling and manoeuvrability of
the vehicle 10 on water. The material and configuration of the
elongate member 16 are selected so as to provide sufficient lateral
stiffness in order to withstand the lateral water pressures, whilst
being readily compressible vertically to resist damage through
impact with the ground when the vehicle is being used on land or in
the transition between land and water use.
[0032] Whilst the elongate member 16 is designed to resist being
damaged, such damage may nevertheless occur. In order that repair
and/or replacement of the elongate member can be effected, the
elongate member 16 is adapted to be slidably removable from the
hull 12, as will be described below. Removal of the elongate member
16 from the hull, may also be useful when servicing of the vehicle
and/or repair of the hull are required. Preferably the tip member
18 and the metal cap 20 are also removably mounted to the hull so
that the entire keel 14 can be removed for replacement and/or
repair.
[0033] With the exception of the hull 12 and the keel 14, the
amphibious vehicle 10 is of a known construction and will not be
described in any further significant detail.
[0034] Part of the base of the hull 12 is shown in FIG. 3, which
includes a channel formation 22 extending in the longitudinal axis
of the hull 12 and having a re-entrant profile. The elongate member
16 is formed as a hollow extrusion of substantially bell or
V-shaped cross-section and has an upper (as viewed) mounting
portion 24 which is slidably received in the channel formation 22.
The upper mounting portion 24 of the elongate member 16 has an
outer profile which is formed so as to correspond with the
re-entrant profile of the channel formation 22, to enable the
elongate member to be securely mounted to the hull 12 in a
complementary sliding fit.
[0035] The hollow configuration of the elongate member 16 having a
generally V-shaped cross-section provides the required lateral
stiffness, but is readily compressible vertically. In a
particularly preferred embodiment, the elongate member 16 is
produced from a rubber material having a hardness of Shore 45-55.
If required, the elongate member 16 can be adapted so as to be
inflatable, using either water or gas, in order that the profile of
the elongate member can be varied.
[0036] In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the cavity in the
elongate member 16 is filled with a foam material. In this
arrangement, the vertical and lateral stiffness of the elongate
member 16 can be adjusted by appropriate selection of the foam
material and the thickness and shape of the outer walls. A foam
filled elongate member could be produced by means of a two-part
extrusion process. Alternatively, the foam could be injected into
the cavity of the elongate member 16 after it has been
extruded.
[0037] The channel formation 22 is closed at the rear end of the
vehicle and open at the forward end such that the elongate member
16 can be slid into and out of the channel formation 22 through the
open, forward end. The tip member 18 is fixed to the hull adjacent
to the open end of the channel formation 22 to prevent the elongate
member from being withdrawn from the channel formation in use. The
tip member 1 8 may be solid rather than hollow so that it is less
susceptible to impact damage than the elongate member 16. The metal
cap 20 also helps to prevent the tip member 18 from being damaged
and from being ripped off the hull in the case of an impact. The
tip member 18 may be fixed to the hull using screws, bolts or like
fasteners or may be bonded to the hull.
[0038] The elongate member 16 can be easily removed from the hull
12, as required, by removing the metal cap 20 and the tip member 18
and sliding the elongate member out of the channel formation 22. To
replace or fit the elongate member 16, the above procedure is
reversed.
[0039] It will, be understood that whilst it is preferred that the
channel 22 is open at the forward end this is not essential and the
channel could be open at the rearward end or indeed at both ends.
Furthermore, whilst in the preferred embodiment the open end of the
channel is closed by the tapered tip member 18 any suitable means
for preventing withdrawal of the elongate member 16 could be
used.
[0040] In the manufacture of amphibious vehicles and other water
craft, it is common practice to produce the hull 12 as a one-piece
moulding from a suitable material such as glass fibre. However,
producing a re-entrant channel formation, such as the formation 22
in FIG. 3, directly in a moulded hull is difficult and time
consuming. FIG. 4 shows an alternative mounting arrangement which
is designed to over come this problem.
[0041] FIG. 4 shows modified hull 12 for an amphibious vehicle in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. The
underside of the hull 12 is formed as a one-piece fibre-reinforced
moulding having an integrally formed substantially rectangular
channel formation 28. Although the channel formation 28 is shown as
having substantially vertical faces, it will be understood by those
skilled in the art that a draft angle could be applied to the
vertical faces to aid de-moulding. A mounting member 30 is securely
bonded in place in the channel formation 28, although any suitable
securing means can be used. The mounting member 30 consists of an
elongate extrusion having a re-entrant channel formation 32 which
corresponds in profile with the profile of the mounting formation
24 on the elongate member 16. The elongate member 16 is slidably
secured in the channel 32 of the mounting member 30 in the same way
as it was secured in the channel formation 22 in the previous
embodiment. The extruded mounting member 30 can be manufactured
from any suitable material but is preferably made of extruded
aluminium (including aluminium alloys) or some other material which
is capable of withstanding prolonged immersion in sea water.
[0042] By providing the corresponding mounting formation 32 for the
elongate member 16 in a mounting member 30 which is itself attached
to the hull, the need to produce a re-entrant mounting channel
formation in the hull is avoided, so reducing manufacturing time
and cost for the hull. The outer profile of the mounting member can
be selected such that the channel formation 28 in the hull is easy
to mould. Furthermore, because both the elongate member 16 and the
mounting member 30 are extrusions, the time and cost of
manufacturing the keel can be kept to a minimum.
[0043] A further embodiment of a keel according to the invention is
shown in FIG. 5. In this embodiment, two elongate extruded mounting
members 34, 36 are mounted in a rectangular cross-section, channel
formation 38 in the underside of the hull 12. Each extrusion 34, 36
is of a substantially rectangular box-section, wherein the lower
wall of the box-section, as viewed, includes an aperture 40 which
extends along the length of the extrusion 34, 36 such that each
mounting member provides a re-entrant channel formation 41. The
elongate member 42 is of substantially V-shaped cross-section and
the free end of each limb of the V-shape includes an enlarged
formation 44, which is slidably received in the channel 41 of a
respective extrusion 34, 36. The enlarged formations 44 are of a
dimension greater than the width of the aperture 40 in each
extrusion 34, 36, to slidably secure the elongate member 42 to the
mounting members 34, 36 on the hull 12.
[0044] Whereas the invention has been described in relation to what
is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not
limited to the disclosed arrangements but rather is intended to
cover various modifications and equivalent constructions included
within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. For
example, whilst the invention has been described above principally
in relation to an amphibious vehicle, it will be understood that
the invention can be applied to any form of water craft, for
example a boat, surfboard, sailboard or the like. Furthermore,
whilst in the preferred embodiments, the corresponding mounting
formation on the underside of the water craft takes the form of a
re-entrant channel, this need not be the case and any suitable
formation(s) can be used to enable the elongate member to be
removably mounted to the hull. For example, rather than the
corresponding mounting formation being in the form of a continuous
channel, it could take the form of a number of channel portions
spaced apart along the length of the underside of the water craft.
Moreover, whilst it is preferred that the elongate member be a
slide fit with the corresponding mounting formations this also is
not essential and the elongate member can be arranged, for example,
to be a snap fit with the corresponding mounting formations on the
underside of the water craft. Alternatively, it could be arranged
that the elongate member is mounted by inserting one side at a time
into the corresponding mounting formations rather than being slid
in longitudinally. It should also be understood that whilst in the
preferred embodiments only one keel is shown on the hull of the
vehicle, more than one keel can be used on a water craft in
accordance with the invention. For example two keels can be fixed
along the hull, one on either side of the longitudinal centre line
of the hull.
* * * * *