Boat Hull And Deck Assembly

Abstract

Plastic boat hulls are connected to their decks through nested inter-fitting tongue and groove joint configurations which are bonded together by fusing, adhesives, or the like. The hull and deck are hollow molded plastic units filled with plastic foam. The units have thin fiberglass plastic type spaced parallel walls connected around the peripheries thereof by configurations which form the inter-fitting joint or seam so that the insert layer between the walls is never exposed and water-tight units are provided.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the attaching of deck and hull components of a boat through inter-fitting nested peripheral portions forming a water-tight rigidifying and strengthening seam without adding to the weight of the boat. Particularly the invention deals with molded fiberglass plastic type boats with foam filled hollow hull and deck components having interfitting peripheral edges forming water-tight reinforcing joint connections between the hull and deck.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Heretofore hull and deck sections of boats were joined with fasteners, added corner and edge members and the like, all of which added to the weight of the boat, increased its cost, and provided constructions which were not water-tight and would break and tear apart under deck loads. When the deck and hull components were composed of molded plastic layers with a hard foam inter-layer, the ends of the three layers were exposed and defeated attempts to satisfactorily cement the components together, due among other things to bulging of the layers under load which would break the bond and expose the interiors of the shells to water. The addition of longitudinal stringers and the like for reinforcing the area of connection or seam proved unsatisfactory because of the added expense and weight, which is a great disadvantage in racing sailboats.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention now provides waterproof reinforcing tongue and groove joint seams between the deck and hull components of boats and is especially useful when these components are composed of molded fiberglass type plastic hollow shells filled with a foam inter-layer.

According to this invention the peripheries of hollow molded fiberglass deck and hull units are shaped to form inter-fitting and preferably interlocking configurations which will cooperate to provide when bonded together a water-tight seam which reinforces the edge or corner between the deck and hull without adding to the weight thereof. The deck and hull components can be molded to desired shapes and contours including configurations for reinforcing struts, center board receiving slots, and the like.

The joint connections of this invention will accommodate deformations of the deck and hull components which can be appreciable in long and narrow boat bodies such as in catamarans. The interfitting joint or seam-forming configuration may be press fit together so that any glue or cement therebetween will be squeezed or pre-stressed and gluing clamps are not needed. In order to provide for the snap fitting of the peripheral edge configurations to form the seam, the foam inter-layer of the hollow deck and hull components may be resilient adjacent these configurations.

It is then an object of this invention to provide hull and deck components of boats with inter-fitting peripheral edges forming a reinforcing joint seam uniting the hull and deck.

A further object of this invention is to provide fiberglass boats composed of foam filled hollow hull and deck shells having inter-fitting peripheral configurations that are snapped together to provide a reinforcing water-tight seam.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved lightweight molded plastic boat constructions with edge configurations adapted to be snapped together to form rigidifying seams.

Another object of the invention is to provide a corner seam uniting the hull and deck of molded plastic boat components composed of shaped inter-fitting edge configurations on the components which when nested and bonded together provide a reinforced stiff connection without the use of other components.

A further object of the invention is to provide hollow molded plastic deck and hull components for boats which are filled with a plastic foam inter-layer and having interfitting peripheral edges easily bonded together to form water-tight reinforcing seams for the boat.

Other and further objects of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description of the annexed sheets of drawings which show a number of preferred embodiments of the invention:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic transverse cross-sectional view through a boat hull and deck construction of this invention showing one form of joint or seam connection between the hull and deck components;

FIGS. 2 through 7 are enlarged fragmentary transverse cross-sectional views showing different embodiments of the joint or seam connection between the hull and deck components;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are transverse cross-sectional views similar to FIGS. 1 through 7 but showing an added joint or seam connection between the center rib of the hull and the longitudinal central area of the deck;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIGS. 1 through 9 but showing a construction according to this invention for a boat having a center board slot;

FIGS. 11, 11a and 12 are views similar to FIGS. 1 through 10 but showing foot tread platforms on the deck;

FIGS. 13, 14, 14a and 15 are views similar to FIGS. 1 through 12 but showing additional modifications according to this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The reference numerals on the drawings have been used to identify the following components and features:

1 Boat body or hull 2 Deck 3 Connection joint or seam 4,4' Outer layer 5,5' Hard foam interlayer 6,6' Inner layer 7 Edge of the boat body or hull 8 Groove 9 Outer edge 10 Inner edge 11 Seal or bond 12 Reinforcing insert 13 Undercut 14 Central longitudinal supporting rib 15 Edges of the groove 16 Centerboard box slot 17 Centerboard box wall 18,18',18" Treads 19,19' Reinforcement laminate 20 Flange 21 Shoulder

In FIG. 1 the boat body or hull 1 has a generally U-shaped cross-section as is customary on long racing boats. The hollow interior of the boat body 1 is covered by a deck 2 secured to the hull by a peripheral seam or joint 3.

The body or hull 1 is a molded plastic unit of fiberglass or the like fiber-reinforced plastic and has an outer wall 4, a hard foam inter-layer 5 and an inner wall 6. The walls 4 and 6 may be quite thin and the body or hull unit can be molded in half sections composed of the inner and outer layer or shell parts with the hardenable plastic foam interlayer 5 placed therebetween or injected under pressure and then hardened in place.

The deck 2 is a component of the same type as the hull 1 including a thin outer wall 4', a hard foam inter-layer 5' and a thin inner wall 6'.

Since the hull 1 and deck 2 are of very light and relatively thin construction, it is important that the two components be united by a rigid, strong, water-tight connection or seam that does not require additional fittings and which can be bonded together without difficulty, producing an integrated unitary boat body.

As shown in FIG. 2, the connection joint or seam 3 is provided by forming a wedge-shaped tongue or upper edge 7 on the hull 1 with a relatively small angle of inclination. As shown, the outer layer 4 of the hull 1 is connected or merged with the inner layer 6 through the wedge-shaped wall section 7 which may converge to a pointed apex or terminate in a flat upper plane surface as shown. The deck 2 is provided with a bulged periphery or circumferential marginal portion which has a wedge-shaped groove 8 in the lower face thereof corresponding in shape to the wedge edge 7 of the boat hull and large enough to receive this edge 7. Thus, the outer layer 4' of the deck 2 is curved to form a circumferential outer edge 9 whereupon the outer layer 4' extends upwardly to form the outer wedge wall, then merges at the bottom of the groove 8 into the inner layer 6' of the deck which then extends downwardly to an inner edge 10, thereby defining the wedge-shaped groove 8. The inner edge 10 then extends upwardly and merges into the inner layer 6' of the deck 2. The interiors between the outer layer 4' of the deck and the inner layer 6' of the deck are filled with hard foam 5' which, of course, is sealed completely in the deck unit.

For uniting the wedge-shaped edge 7 of the boat hull into the groove 8 of the deck 2, it is preferably coated with a hardenable plastic, glue or other adhesive and the two parts are then pressed together. Due to the wedge inclination of the walls, a firm bonding will result and any deviations from an accurate fitting shape will be corrected by the resiliency of the adjacent parts which is accommodated by having the foam inter-layers 5 or 5' around the margins at least being somewhat resilient and flexible.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the upper horizontal part of the edge 7 on the boat hull 1 is provided with a groove in the top end thereof in the range where the inner-layer 6 merges with the outer layer 4 of the hull 1. Also, in FIG. 3 the edge 7 of the hull 1 and the groove 8 of the deck have a circular, instead of a wedge-shaped configuration, and the inner edge 10 of the groove 8 will snap over the rounded bulge of the edge 7 as the parts are pressed together. The snap fit may be tight enough so that glue or other adhesive need not be used. To improve the water-tightness of the seal between the snapped-together parts, a circumferential seal 11 in the form of a soft rubber strip, plastic or the like may be placed in the groove and surround the bulbous portion of the edge 7 as shown, thereby providing a cushion between the deck and hull. As also shown in FIG. 3, a reinforcement insert 12 composed of glass fibers, a fibrous mat, a metal rail, or the like can be embedded in the foam 5 just inwardly from the outer edge of the deck 5.

In the arrangement of FIG. 3a an inversion of the joint or seam is illustrated with the groove 8 formed in the boat body edge 7 and the circular bulge formed on the deck.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the upper edge 7 of the boat body has a hook-like locking configuration 13 and the deck outer edge 9 has a corresponding profile so that the boat body edge 7 is hooked into the groove 8 of the deck. The undercut or hook-like projection 13 of the nested configurations may be designed so that a little resiliency of the components will permit the parts to be snapped together in locked relationship.

In the FIG. 5 embodiment, an arrowhead projection 7 is formed on the hull and is received in a correspondingly-shaped recess 8 in the deck, thereby providing two hook-like locks 13, one on the outside and one on the inside.

In the FIG. 6 embodiment, the inter-fitting edge and recess are provided with a series of barb-like projections 13 and recesses along the sides thereof. The contour of the recess 8 and the projection 7 is similar to the wedge arrangement of FIG. 1 with the barb and barb recesses being formed in the parts.

In the FIG. 7 embodiment, an M-shaped edge 7 is provided seating in a corresponding contour 8 with the barb and groove arrangement 13 being provided to lock the two parts together. In addition, sealing bands can be interposed between the inter-mated parts.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the hull 1 of the boat is reinforced with a central supporting rib 14 which is also connected with the deck 2 for a better stiffening of both the deck and hull. As shown in FIG. 8, the rib 14 has an edge 7 similar to that shown in FIG. 6 and provided with the barbs, while the central portion of the bottom layer 4' of the deck has a mating groove 8 receiving the edge. The groove 8 is bounded by edges 15. The interlocking barb and groove or toothed arrangement provided by the edges and grooves of the FIG. 8 embodiment can be reinforced with glue or the mere elastic fit of the mating parts can be relied on to form the assembly.

In the FIG. 9 embodiment the joint configuration between the center rib 14 and the deck 2 is generally wedge-shaped.

In FIG. 10, the boat hull is illustrated as having a center board slot 16 bounded by two walls 17. The edges 7 of these walls 17 have wedge surfaces or undercut surfaces as desired, fitting in mating grooves 8 in the deck 2 which has a slot that also registers with the slot 16.

In FIG. 11 and 11a, the periphery of the deck 2 can be provided with a tread portion 18 designed at an inclination of 45.degree. with respect to the deck plane, and this can be provided in the region between the mast and rudder of the deck of a sailboat. The tread may extend over the deck surface as shown at 18' in FIG. 11, and a further tread surface 18" may also be provided on the inner periphery of the deck. The tread surfaces 18 and 18" strengthen the deck peripheries and further strengthening can be obtained by a laminate 19 embedded in the tread 18 or 19' embedded in the foam as shown in FIG. 11a.

In the FIG. 11a embodiment, the upper edge of the hull 1 terminates in end edges 7 of the inner layer 6 and outer layer 4, and the foam interior 5 is exposed. The free end edges of the layers 4 and 6 are deformed or flattened outwardly from the foam layer 5. This flattening can be done by heating a boat hull composed of thermoplastic material around the peripheral edges thereof, or these outturned shapes can be made during initial production of the hull. The groove 8 in the bottom face of the deck 2 is correspondingly undercut to receive the outturned beads or flanges 7. During assembly the foam inner layer 5 may engage the bottom of the recess 8 and will be sufficiently resilient to permit the mating of the parts. Cement may be used to form a water-tight joint.

As also shown in FIG. 11a, the inner periphery of the deck 2 may have a downturned flange 20 to rigidify the deck.

In the FIG. 12 embodiment, the mating configuration of the edge 7 and recess 8 is sloped back from the periphery of the hull as shown, eliminating any ledge around the periphery of the hull which might offer resistance to water flow. The sloping contour could be initially molded into the deck and hull components or could be formed afterwards.

In FIGS. 13 through 15, various additional configurations are provided to form the connection joint or seam in deck and hull constructions composed of two fiberglass walls with an interspace therebetween filled with foam plastic. The peripheries of the walls lap over each other and are sealed with cement or the like. The four layers of walls are bent to conform into mating relationship as illustrated, and in the FIG. 15 embodiment the upper edges of the walls 4 and 6 of the hull 1 can be exposed and seated in the recess 8 provided in the inner wall 6' of the deck.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 13, 14 and 14a, the bonded together configurations of the layers greatly stiffen the periphery of the deck. In the FIG. 14 arrangement, a shoulder 21 provides an added support for the deck.

From the above descriptions it will, therefore, be understood that this invention provides tongue and groove joint or seam constructions for uniting deck and hull components of fiberglass boats and is especially useful where these components are composed of thin outer shells encasing a lightweight filling such as plastic foam, fiberglass or the like.

Claims

I claim as my invention:

1. A boat construction comprising a premolded spaced dual wall plastic hull, filled with rigid plastic foam, a pre-molded spaced, dual wall deck filled with rigid plastic foam the edges of said hull and deck being formed with interfitting and interlocking tongue and grooves interlocked with each other, said foam extending into and filling said tongue, said dual wall enveloping said groove and being filled with said foam around said groove to provide a reinforced wall structure around said groove.

2. The boat construction of claim 1 wherein the tongue and groove are wedge-shaped.

3. The boat construction of claim 1 wherein the tongue and groove are snap-fitted together.

4. The boat construction of claim 1 including an elastic sealing band between the tongue and groove.

5. The boat construction of claim 1 wherein the hull has a centerboard slot defined by side walls, the deck overlies the side walls and has a registering slot therethrough and the deck adjacent the registering slot together with the side walls having interfitting tongue and groove configurations.

6. The boat construction of claim 1 wherein the tongue and groove configuration is a cylindrical bulge on one of the components and a cylindrical recess in the other component.

7. The boat construction of claim 1 wherein the tongue and groove configurations include a tongue with a hook-like edge and a groove with a hook recess cooperating to interlock the tongue and groove together.

8. The boat construction of claim 1 wherein the tongue and groove are arrowhead-shaped.

9. The boat construction of claim 1 wherein the tongue and groove have complementary barbs and recesses along the sides thereof to interlock together.

10. The boat construction of claim 1 wherein the hull has a wedge-shape tongue around the periphery thereof and the deck has a mating wedge-shape recess receiving said tongue.

11. The boat construction of claim 1 wherein the hull has a tongue around the periphery thereof with a series of barb-like projections and the deck has a groove receiving said tongue and having barb recesses receiving said projections.