Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B43/00—Improving safety of vessels, e.g. damage control, not otherwise provided for
  • B63B43/02—Improving safety of vessels, e.g. damage control, not otherwise provided for reducing risk of capsizing or sinking
  • B63B43/10—Improving safety of vessels, e.g. damage control, not otherwise provided for reducing risk of capsizing or sinking by improving buoyancy
  • B63B43/14—Improving safety of vessels, e.g. damage control, not otherwise provided for reducing risk of capsizing or sinking by improving buoyancy using outboard floating members

Definitions

• This invention relates to buoyant supports. It particularly relates to buoyant supports of an inflatable type, which are normally stored in a compact, rugged deflated condition ready for deployment in emergencies.
• buoyant devices that are permanently inflated must be structured not only to perform the desired function of providing buoyancy in an emergency, but also to withstand use as fenders if they are to be durable.
• both permanently inflated and foam filled buoyant support devices tend to drag in the water when the watercraft is under way, particularly where the watercraft has a low freeboard, or where heeled in the wind, thereby adversely affecting the performance of the watercraft.
• the means for securing the inflatable member to the support surface is substantially continuous along the length of the inflatable member.
• such means comprises one or more flaps integrally secured to the inflatable member and anchored to the support surface.
• the securing means includes a pair of transversely spaced apart flaps having bulbous ends rooted in a pair of grooves formed in or on the support surface.
• the inflatable member is folded along the length thereof in serpentine fashion, from transversely opposed sides thereof, so as to leave a central air space running substantially along the length of the folded inflatable member, into which air space there is connected a hose for inflating the inflatable member, thereby facilitating gas transfer from a container locating externally to the inflatable member in which gas may be stored under pressure, and the rapid deployment of the emergency device.
• buoyant support is used in the singular, it will usually be desirable to limit the axial extent of the inflatable member, if only from a manufacturing and handling standpoint, whereby two or more devices will normally be secured to a watercraft.
• vehicle used herein as the description proceeds will include watercraft, trail and road vehicles such as snowmobiles, cars, trucks, trailers, and the like for travel on ice over a body of water.
• the means for retaining the inflatable member in its folded condition will comprise a tough, relatively inextensible cover, whereby the device may also find service as a fender for the watercraft. Since the cover protects the inflatable member from damage likely to be caused by forces to which the watercraft is exposed during normal service, the inflatable member may be more lightly structured, in comparison to those devices where the inflatable member is at all times fully exposed and called upon to perform double duty as a fender.
• the inflatable member will have indicia on the surface thereof that will give a clear visual indication when the member is inflated that an emergency situation exists. Such indicia will be substantially concealed when the inflatable member is folded in its non-inflated condition.
• FIG. 1 - shows in perspective view a watercraft to which the flotation device of the invention is fitted, ready for deployment in an emergency
• FIG. 2 - is a plan view from above in schematic form of the watercraft of Fig. 1 showing the flotation device deployed and a system for its rapid development, in schematic form
• FIG. 3 - shows in perspective, exploded view on enlarged scale a component part of the buoyancy device of the invention
• FIG. 4 - is a fragmentary cross section on 4-4 of Fig. 2
• FIG. 5 - is a cross section corresponding to Fig. 4, but showing the complete buoyant device in its folded condition ready for deployment; and
• FIG. 6 - is a perspective, exploded view on an enlarged scale of another embodiment of end cap corresponding to Figure 3.
• FIG. 7 - is an exploded perspective view of a further embodiment of the flotation device of the invention.
• FIG. 8 - is a transverse sectional view of the embodiment shown in Figure 7; and FIG. 9 - is a longitudinal section of the embodiment shown in Figure 7. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
• an exemplary boat with which the buoyant device of the invention may be used is denoted generally therein by the numeral 10.
• Boat 10 has a waterline W, hull H, gunwales G, transom T.
• a pair of buoyant devices 12 in accordance with the invention are secured to both the port and starboard sides of H adjacent gunwales G.
• Buoyant device 12 comprises a rigid, axially extending plate 14 having a rear face 18, front support surface, transverse sides 22, 24 and, in the embodiment shown in Figure 3, end portions 26, one end portion 26 having a relatively deep transverse channel 28 in forward surface 20.
• Forward face 20 is provided with a pair of parallel axially extending wells 34 therealong, and at the bottom of each well a bulbous slot 36, the slots and wells being in communication with transverse channel 28 at an end 26 of plate 14.
• Transverse sides 22, 24 each have an axially extending bulbous groove 38 therein, the grooves each having an outwardly opening entrance thereto respectively identified as 42.
• Wells 34, slots 36 and' grooves 38 each communicate with channel 28.
• Plate 14 is secured to hull H by means of bolts 45 passing through holes 46 located at intervals along each plate, using nuts 48 and washers 49.
• Buoyant device 12 further comprises an elongated inflatable bladder 50.
• Bladder 50 is provided with a pair of flaps 52 generally coextensive therewith, each flap being welded along one edge thereof to the bladder to form a unitary structure therewith.
• the other (distal) edge 54 of each flap 52 has a bulbous cross section, and is reinforced with a wire core 56.
• Bladder 50 is retained on plate 14 by threading bulbous edges 54 in slots 36 from entry channel 28, thereby capturing edges 54.
• Bladder 50 is folded along its length, upper portions of the bladder forming a first series of serpentine folds 60, and lower portions a similar series of serpentine folds 62, leaving a small air space 64 therebetween running the length of the uninflated bladder.
• a hose 66 passes through aperture 68 in transverse channel 28 in plate 14 to connect to the interior of bladder 50, preferably in direct communication with air space 64 so as to facilitate the rapid transfer of air or other gas to and from bladder 50 along the length thereof.
• Figure 5 illustrates another embodiment of the invention in which plate 14 has no transverse channel and has an opening 94 for receiving a hose 66 to connect to the interior of bladder 50
• Bladder 50 is desirably exhausted under moderate vacuum to facilitate the compaction of folds 60 and 62 at least during such time as a cover 70 is fitted over the folded bladder.
• Cover 70 has a relatively thick wall and may suitably be fabric or wire mesh reinforced to provide durability.
• the upper and lower edges of cover 70, respectively indicated as 72, 74, are bulbous, and are respectively received in grooves 38 by threading therealong from channel 28.
• Lower edge 74 of cover 70 is reinforced with a wire core 76, whereby it is not susceptible to being pulled out of groove 38 through the entrance 42 thereto.
• the upper edge 72 of cover 70 is not similarly reinforced, and upon inflation of bladder 50 the upper edge of the cover will deform sufficiently whereby it will squeeze through the entrance 42, to automatically release the cover along one edge only thereof.
• bladder 50 may be inflated to a small positive gas pressure following the fitting of cover 70, to enhance the performance of the buoyant devices 12 as fenders when in their folded, covered condition. Additionally, such partial inflation of bladder 50 will enlarge central air space 64 and serve to open up branch passages, thereby increasing the speed with which bladder 50 may be deployed in an emergency.
• Bladder 50 preferably is provided with indicia 90 thereon that will clearly serve as a warning signal to an observer that an emergency situation exists, and that assistance should be rendered. It will be appreciated that under normal, non-emergency situations bladder 50 will be folded to substantially conceal indicia 90, whereby a warning signal is not conveyed. This contrasts with those buoyant devices that are intended for use in a permanently inflated condition, where any signal would always be visible.
• support plate 100 having front support surface defined by planar body portion 101 is adapted to be secured to the hull of a vehicle or container for travel or conveyance on water, such as a boat hull previously described.
• Support plate is formed by extrusion from a metal such as aluminum alloy and comprises the planar body portion 101 with a longitudinal central bulbous slot 102 and opposite longitudinal bulbous side groove 104 at side 105 and longitudinal rectangular side groove 106 at side 107.

Landscapes

• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
• Refuge Islands, Traffic Blockers, Or Guard Fence (AREA)
• Gear Transmission (AREA)
• Cyclones (AREA)
• Non-Portable Lighting Devices Or Systems Thereof (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=25673199

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Families Citing this family (7)

Family Cites Families (7)

• 1990
  • 1990-05-11 WO PCT/CA1990/000155 patent/WO1990013473A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1990-05-11 AU AU56545/90A patent/AU638016B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1990-05-11 EP EP19900906812 patent/EP0487527A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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