U.S. patent application number 11/495864 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-17 for hexagonal-cell inflated watercraft.
Invention is credited to Eric E. Brown, Karen C. Stephens, Willy Stephens.
Application Number | 20080014809 11/495864 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38949815 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080014809 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brown; Eric E. ; et
al. |
January 17, 2008 |
Hexagonal-cell inflated watercraft
Abstract
In inflatable watercraft made of recyclable materials is
presented, where the interior structure of the watercraft is a
honeycomb of plastic cells, each with an inflation hole. The board
can be made lighter than air, or made of transparent material, and
requires a minimum amount of molding.
Inventors: |
Brown; Eric E.; (Oceanside,
CA) ; Stephens; Karen C.; (Oceanside, CA) ;
Stephens; Willy; (Oceanside, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STEVEN W. WEBB
655 2ND STREET
ENCINITAS
CA
92024
US
|
Family ID: |
38949815 |
Appl. No.: |
11/495864 |
Filed: |
July 28, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60808845 |
May 30, 2006 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
441/40 ;
441/74 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63B 32/57 20200201;
B63B 5/24 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
441/40 ;
441/74 |
International
Class: |
B63B 35/58 20060101
B63B035/58 |
Claims
1. A hexagonal cell inflated watercraft, said watercraft comprised
of a body, a top skin, and plurality of fins, the body comprised of
a honeycomb of hexagonal cells, the honeycomb in a generally flat
shape, the hexagonal cells each possessing sides one inch in
length, each side of each hexagonal cell possessing an air hole,
the body in the shape of a surfboard or a sailboard, the walls of
the hexagonal cells of varying width depending on the strength
requirements of different areas of the body, the body possessing an
integral bottom skin that is molded in one piece with the honeycomb
of hexagonal cells and covering the bottom surface of the honeycomb
of hexagonal cells, the integral bottom skin possessing a plurality
of one-way, snap-in slots capable of accepting fins, the body
assembled by casting the honeycomb of hexagonal cells and the
bottom skin in one piece of body material, the top skin comprised
of body material and separately cast and attached to the upper
surface of the honeycomb of hexagonal cells such that the upper
surface is completely covered, the top skin possessing a plurality
of sealable air holes, the hexagonal cell inflated watercraft
capable of being inflated by means of pumping gas into the
invention at one or more of the sealable air holes.
2. The hexagonal cell inflated watercraft of claim 1, where the
body is comprised of either PET or PTEG plastic.
3. The hexagonal cell inflated watercraft of claim 1 where the
number of sealable air holes is two, one at each end of the top
skin.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application completes and extends Provisional Patent
Application 60/808,845, filed May 30, 2006.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to boards and boats for
recreational use, including surfboards and boogie boards. The
invention also relates to lightweight construction, inflatable
aquatic equipment, and composite construction.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It is an object of this invention to provide a design for a
lightweight, rigid, inflatable watercraft.
[0004] It is an additional object of this invention to make the
inflatable watercraft out of recycled and recyclable plastics, such
as PTEG or PET, that are commonly available.
[0005] It is an additional object of this invention to provide an
inflatable watercraft with hexagonal cellular construction that
permits individual cells to be inflated with lighter-than air
gases.
[0006] It is an additional object of this invention to provide
one-way snap-on fins that are sealed with plastic after being
snapped on to the watercraft.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 Top view of preferred embodiment
[0008] FIG. 2. Front cross-section view of the invention
[0009] FIG. 3. Top view of cell walls
[0010] FIG. 4. Perspective view of cell walls
[0011] FIG. 5. Top view of cell walls showing relative size
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, this invention 100 consists of a plastic
skin stretched over a board-shaped structure comprised of hexagonal
cells 110, the cells 110 and the skin 101 manufactured from
recyclable plastic, such as PET or PTEG. The skin is a maximum
thickness of 1/8 inch at stress points, but may be substantially
less on other parts. In FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be seen that the fins
103 are separately constructed and inserted in one-way, snap-in
slots 104.
[0013] The invention 100 can be configured as a surfboard or boogie
board, or as a sailboard or other flat aquacraft. The preferred
embodiment is as a surfboard.
[0014] The honeycomb of hexagonal cells 110 will be molded as a
single flat layer of cells, in one piece with the skin 101 forming
the bottom surface of the board. The top skin 102 will then be
vacuum-formed over the structure and heat-sealed or glued to the
bottom assembly skin 101.
[0015] As seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, the cell walls 111 possess air
holes 112 that allow the board to be filled with gas, including
lighter-than-air gasses. The gas pressure is set at the two
pressurization holes 115,116 set in the top of the nose and tail.
The air holes 112 are made in the cells 110 after the bottom
assembly is formed by means of heated punches penetrating the walls
111 of the cells 110.
[0016] Based on the desired strength and rigidity of sections of
the board, the cell walls 111 can be of a variety of thicknesses,
varying from place to place depending on strength demands. The skin
101,102 of the board can also vary in thickness depending on the
strength requirements of individual board features. For example,
the fin assemblies 103 and snap-in slots 104 will require stronger
and therefore thicker plastic because of strength requirements,
while the upper and lower surfaces can be relatively thin.
[0017] The size of the hexagonal cells 110 is illustrated in FIG.
5, relative to a typical human foot 120. As shown, cells 110 are
typically two inches in diameter with a 1'' hexagon side. A typical
board 100 would be between 51/2 and 91/2 feet in length with a
width between 18 and 25 inches.
[0018] This invention has other applications, potentially, and one
skilled in the art could discover these. The explication of the
features of this invention does not limit the claims of this
application; other applications developed by those skilled in the
art will be included in this invention.
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