U.S. patent application number 14/158455 was filed with the patent office on 2014-07-24 for external inflatable drop stitch stability system for boats.
This patent application is currently assigned to TEAM SCARAB, INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is TEAM SCARAB, INC.. Invention is credited to Lawrence C. Smith.
Application Number | 20140202370 14/158455 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51206715 |
Filed Date | 2014-07-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140202370 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Smith; Lawrence C. |
July 24, 2014 |
EXTERNAL INFLATABLE DROP STITCH STABILITY SYSTEM FOR BOATS
Abstract
An inflatable stability and fender system including high
pressure drop stitch D-shaped tubes mounted on a hard sided
monohull of a boat or on the side of a dock by extrusions, thru
bolting and boat ropes for sealing engagement with the monohull of
the boat or the dock.
Inventors: |
Smith; Lawrence C.; (Santa
Barbara, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TEAM SCARAB, INC. |
Santa Barbara |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
TEAM SCARAB, INC.
Santa Barbara
CA
|
Family ID: |
51206715 |
Appl. No.: |
14/158455 |
Filed: |
January 17, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61754480 |
Jan 18, 2013 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
114/345 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63B 43/14 20130101;
B63B 2059/025 20130101; B63B 2043/145 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
114/345 |
International
Class: |
B63B 39/00 20060101
B63B039/00 |
Claims
1. A stability system for a monohull boat comprising: a pair of
inflatable D-shaped drop stitch tubes; an air fill valve positioned
along the length of the tube; and means for attaching one of the
inflatable D-shaped drop stitch tubes on either side of the
monohull boat.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the means of the attaching the
tubes are a plurality of boat rope extensions and rope.
3. The stability system of claim 1 further comprising a coupler for
connecting a plurality of D-shaped drop stitch tubes end to
end.
4. The stability system of claim 1 wherein the system further
comprises a nose cone positioned on an end of each tube.
5. A fendering system for a dock comprising: an inflatable D-shaped
drop stitch tube; an air fill valve positioned along the length of
the tube; and means for attaching the tube to the dock.
6. The fender system of claim 5 wherein the means of attaching the
tube to the dock include a plurality of bolt rope extensions and a
rope.
7. The fender system of claim 5 wherein the inflatable D-shaped
drop stitch tube includes a plurality of sections connected end to
end by a coupler.
8. A boat comprising: a V-shaped hard sided monohull; an inflatable
drop stitch D-shaped tube mounted on either side of the monohull;
an air fill valve positioned along a top surface of each tube; and
an attachment mechanism positioned along the length of the tube for
connecting the tube to each side of the monohull.
9. The boat of claim 8 wherein the attachment mechanism is a
plurality of boat rope extensions and rope.
10. The boat of claim 8 further comprising a coupler for connecting
a plurality of D-shaped drop stitch tubes end to end.
11. The boat of claim 8 further comprising a nose cone positioned
on an end of each tube.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S.
Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/754,480 filed Jan. 18, 2013,
the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Small watercraft, especially outboard powered boats, are
used for fishing, motoring, waterskiing and recreational boating.
Some are inflatable boats with round shaped air tubes or RIB's,
hard sided boats with round air tubes or expensive tubes built with
a combination of foam and air bladders. Inflatable boats offer
increased stability and buoyancy over a conventional monohull boat,
but result in higher cost and a higher degree of complexity to
manufacture. The round shaped air tube takes up interior space and
requires complicated tooling to cradle the tube as well as
complicated attachment to the boat by gluing or bolting systems.
These inflatable boats or RIB's are an original design and are not
available as an aftermarket kit to convert existing hard sided
boats to take advantage of increased stability and buoyancy. The
United States Coast Guard regulations for monohull outboard boats
under 20 feet in length and rated for more than 2 horsepower must
comply with a more sophisticated flotation system called level
flotation.
[0003] Modified or deep V monohull boats have a hump characteristic
which requires larger motors to achieve planing. Larger motors are
problematic in that they are more expensive to operate and are
quite heavy for smaller boats. Another problem with smaller
monohull boats is the instability created when a passenger is
loaded or unloaded in to or out of the boat, or during movement
within the boat. Such instability can lead to a passenger falling
out of the boat and drowning. Consequently, a need exists for an
inflatable stability system for hard sided monohull boats which is
inexpensive, lightweight and easy to manufacture which improves the
stability of the boat when passengers are boarding, unloading, or
moving within the boat.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention is directed to an external inflatable
drop stitch stability system for hard sided monohull boats which
includes a pair of high pressure drop stitch D-shaped tubes
mountable along the side of the boat by extrusions that are
attached by thru bolting to the boat. The D-shaped tubes are
secured by the insertion of two bolt ropes into the extrusions and
inflating the D tubes for a seal to the sides of the hull. An
optional pointed nose cone covers the bow end of the inflatable
tube to lock the system in place and deflects water from entering
the front of the stability system. The nose cone also stops
deflection of the tube and maintains strength and rigidity. The
stability systems allows for easy removal or replacement. The D
tubes when used as a stability system are mounted with the aft end
several inches above the water line when the boat is at rest
without passengers. Alternatively, the D tubes can be positioned at
or a few inches below the water line. The D tubes are mounted just
ahead of the transom and extend along the length of the boat. An
air fill valve is mounted on the top of the inflatable D tube.
[0005] Another aspect of the invention is that the inflatable drop
stitch stability system can be installed along docks or seawalls as
a fender system only for both boats and docks. A coupler can attach
multiple D tubes together end to end to form the fender system. The
fender system would be attached to a side wall of the docks or
seawall.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a boat incorporating an
external inflatable drop stitch stability system of the present
invention;
[0007] FIG. 2 is perspective view of the D-shaped tubes of the
stability system of FIG. 1;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a coupler for adjoining
adjacent D-shaped tubes; and
[0009] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the stability system as a
fender system for a dock.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the external inflatable drop stitch
stability system 10 for boats 12 of the present invention. The
stability system 10 includes a pair of high pressure drop stitch
D-shaped tubes 14 (only one is shown) mounted on either side 16 of
a monohull boat 12 by aluminum, plastic or stainless steel
extrusions 18 that are attached by thru bolts 20 into the side of
the boat. The D-tubes are secured by the insertion of two bolt
ropes 22 extending into the extrusions. FIG. 1 depicts the
extrusions, bolts and bolt ropes along the top of the D tube,
however a second set of extrusions, thru bolts and bolt rope would
be positioned along a bottom surface of the D tube which is
obscured by the water line. An air fill valve 24 is positioned on
an upper surface of the D tubes for inflation of the D tubes for a
seal to the sides of the hull.
[0011] A nose cone 26 is positioned on the bow end of the D tube to
lock the system in place and deflect water from entering the front
of the D tube stability system. The nose cone also stops deflection
of the D-tube and maintains strength and rigidity. The D tubes are
mounted with the aft end several inches above the water line when
the boat is at rest without passengers. Alternatively, the D tubes
can be mounted at or slightly below the water line. The D tubes are
mounted just ahead of the transom and have a length of about 40% to
about 60% of the water line length. The air flow valve is mounted
on the top of the inflatable tube and preferably located at 50% of
the overall length so that the tube can be mounted on either the
port or starboard side and have the fill valve located at the same
distance from the transom.
[0012] The D tubes are manufactured from high pressure drop stitch
material having a construction which refers to upper and lower
fabric layers and also a core section made up of an array of
threads extending throughout the drop stitch structure. A benefit
of this material is that the inflated walls of the material create
rectangular shapes of varying lengths, widths and depths, instead
of taking on a rounded "balloon" shape. Consequently, the use of
high pressure drop stitch material allows the tubes to be
manufactured in a D-shaped configuration which is ideal for use on
hard sided monohull boats. The stability system of the present
invention provides an aftermarket solution for increased stability
and buoyancy for monohull boats. The stability system is ideal for
monohull outboard boats under 20 feet in length and rated for more
than 2 horsepower. The stability system meets the sophisticated
floatation requirements implemented by United States Coast Guard
regulations.
[0013] Modified or deep V monohull boats have a hump characteristic
which requires larger motors to achieve planing. The present
invention allows for the use of smaller and lighter, less costly
engines, which use less fuel to achieve similar performance. The
present invention improves the safety of any monohull boat it is
added to. Using lighter engines with less fuel improves the balance
of the boat. The stability system also improves stability when
people are boarding or are loaded with more weight to one side than
with normal seating, a common occurrence when fishing or other
recreational sports.
[0014] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 for applications requiring a
number of tubes 14, a coupler 28 can be utilized to connect
individual sections of tubes together end to end. The coupler 28 is
also D shaped and has an internal configuration 30 sized to accept
the exterior configuration of the D tubes. In certain
circumstances, the coupler 28 also can have an air fill valve 32
for inflation of the tubes.
[0015] As shown in FIG. 4, the invention can also be used as a
fender system 34 for docks or seawalls 36. The fender system 34
would include a plurality of high pressure drop stitch D tubes 14
connected by connectors 28 and attached to a vertical wall 38 of
the dock or seawall. The D tubes would be attached to the vertical
wall 38 similar to the attachment method to the side of the boat
hole; however, other attachment mechanisms can be utilitzed.
[0016] The present invention has been described and illustrated
with various embodiments thereof, however changes and,
modifications can be made therein which are within the full
intended scope of the invention. Changes or alterations could
include plastic or other material for the attachment extrusions for
receipt of the thru bolting. Other attachment mechanisms can be
utilized besides extrusions and thru bolting such as adhesives,
rivets, or other attachment mechanisms well known in the art.
Example dimensions for the D tubes could include 6'' to 8'' wide,
6'' to 18'' high and 5' to 18' long. However, the exact size and
dimension for the D tubes will depend upon the specific boat for
which it is utilized as a stability system, or for a fendering
system depending upon the particular application. The invention
contemplates the use of D tubes with the optional coupler, or
manufactured in custom lengths which would not require
couplers.
[0017] The present invention provides improved lateral and
longitudinal hull stability while at rest and in motion. The
stability system increases buoyancy and load capacity and is a
solution for level flotation compliance. The stability system of
the present invention is an external solution and provides no
sacrifice of interior space within the vessel. The present
invention can be utilized as a permanent fendering for hull
protection or for docks, hoists and walls. The present invention
enhances performance, saves fuel and reduces operating costs.
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