Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
  • B63C5/00—Equipment usable both on slipways and in dry docks
  • B63C5/02—Stagings; Scaffolding; Shores or struts
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
  • B63C15/00—Storing of vessels on land otherwise than by dry-docking

Definitions

• the present invention relates to nautical accessories and in particular to a stand or frame used for storing boats.
• the present invention provides a new, innovative keel blocking system for boats, which is inexpensive and can be quickly applied, and moreover, which is versatile, reliable, and easy to store when it is not used.
• the present invention attains its objects by providing a stand or frame to be used for supporting stored boats, which is characterised in that that it is used in combination with an analogous, oppositely positioned stand, said stands being connected to each other by means of at least one chain, which is tensioned by means of a screw coupler, each stand having an upper support plate or plane and a base structure formed by box-like sections subtending the angles beta, gamma, epsilon and zeta which are respectively comprised in the intervals from 58 to 64 degrees, from 26 to 32 degrees, from 54 to 58 degrees, and from 47 to 51 degrees, whereas the angles alpha and delta are respectively of 90 and 75 degrees.
• Figure 1 is a view of the stand or frame 1 according to the present invention, showing the attachment means 2 for the chain 12 used for realising the connection with an analogous stand or frame 1' (not shown), and showing also the support feet 17, 18,
• This figure also shows the angles alpha, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon, and zeta, which determine the slanting angles for the three versions of the stand or frame 1.
• Figure 2 is a schematic, enlarged illustration of the support joint 8 allowing a free rotation of the support plate 4.
• Figures 3 and 4 are illustrations of the support joint 8, after assembling its lower side onto the box-shaped section bar 15 and its upper side to the support plane 4.
• Figure 5 is a schematic drawing of the support plane 4, showing the holes 34 and 34' obtained on the box-shaped section bar which will receive the upper end of the parallelepiped 35.
• Figure 6 is a general illustration of the articulated connection joint 9 which is to be hinged, on its upper part, to the support plane 4, and at its lower end on the box-like section 15, thereby allowing only a longitudinal rotation of the support plane 4.
• Figure 7 is a complete representation of the stand or frame according to the present invention, in its version with detachable parts, showing the seats A, B, and C suited to respectively receive the ends 63 and 64 of the box-shaped section bars 22 and 23 which will be mutually fitted to each other by means of the
• U-shaped bracket 66 the latter being welded onto an end 65 of the box-shaped section bar 23.
• Figure 8 is a front view of the stand including a telescopically adjustable system for the box-like section bar 22, this figure showing a box-like section bar 60 that allows the rotation of the box-like section 23 in the rear-forward directions by virtue of two projections 61 and 62 which are respectively hinged (pivoted) to corresponding brackets 56 and 57 by means of pins 58 and 59.
• Figure 9 is a side view of the stand, provided with the telescopically adjustable system for the box-like section 22 consisting of the half-units 22a and 22b, this figure showing also the rotation joints formed by the brackets 49, 50, and 56, 57 welded on the box-like section bar 21, and by the pins 51, 52, 58 and 59, which allow the rotation of the box-like section bar 16 in the forward-rearward directions.
• the present invention aims at disclosing a practical and quick system for the "keel blocking" of boats used for recreation or work purposes and whose total length does not exceed twenty-five metres.
• This system has the peculiarity of employing at least a pair of stands (frames) 1 which are connectable to each other by tensioning a chain 12.
• This "binary" system can be used both for sailboats and motorboats and it is formed by two separate stands or frames 1, which are identical to each other, and which are used in a symmetrical, coupled arrangement so as to take advantage of the intrinsic structural symmetry of the underbody of any boat.
• each single pair of stands below the underbody of the boat to be stored, in such a way that each stand or frame is associated to an exactly oppositely positioned identical frame, arranged symmetrically below the opposite side of the underbody.
• a binary (or two-part) stable support is obtained, which will include a plurality of such pairs of stands corresponding in number to the extension (length) of the boat to be stored.
• a single pair of stands is conceptually structured so as to realise a "rigid" system suited to support any kind of boat, in any meteorological condition, without the need of additional checking and adjusting operations.
• This binary, "rigid” system can be obtained by connecting the two lateral, opposite stands 1 and 1', by means of a chain 12 equipped with a screw coupling 13 that directly couples the two separate stands 1, 1'.
• This pair of stands or frames 1, 1' after they have been rendered operative simply by unhooking the boat from the crane which allowed its haulage, will be secured to each other by tightening the screw coupler 13, and this, in turn, will tension the chain 12 and consequently will fix (immobilise) the couple of stands 1 and 1' in the transversal direction.
• the very weight of the boat, in combination with the tensioning of the chain 12, will prevent any additional movement of the support stands 1 and 1' in presence of forces due to atmospheric agents and accidental collisions.
• each stand 1 realised according to the present invention is provided with an upper support plane or plate 4, capable of rotating in all directions by virtue of the articulated joint 8, so as to perfectly lie on the outer surface of any kind of underbody.
• the rotation angle of said support plate 4, with respect to its central axis, will however be restricted to no more than 60°.
• This limitation of the rotation angle is introduced in order to prevent a possible transversal orientation of the support plane 4, that is, with an angle of 90° with respect to the ideal plane defined by the underbody of the boat to be stored, in which case the underbody could be damaged along the edge 5 of contact with the support plate 4, that - in this situation - corresponds to the very thickness of the support plate itself.
• the articulated joint 8 is realised by hinging the box-like section 29 (which is welded to the underside of the support plate 4), to the upper one (26) of two superimposed metallic parallelepipeds 26 and 27, which in turn are welded together perpendicularly, reaching a total height of 10 cm; these parallelepipeds are then connected to the box-like section bar 15 by means of a pin traversing this box-like section at the location of the holes 33 and 33'; on the other hand, they are connected to the box-like section 29 by means of a pin traversing the latter through the holes 34 and 34'.
• One pin (not shown) will pass through the box-like section bar 15 and through the parallelepiped 27 due to the presence of the holes 28 and 33, 33' which are obtained respectively on the parallelepiped 27 and on the end part of the box-like section bar 15. Moreover, the greater side of the two parallelepipeds 26 and 27 will be slightly smaller than the side of the box-like section bar 15, which in turn is similar to the side of the box-like section 29.
• the hull stored in accordance with the present invention must also be stabilised by laying the lower side of the keel of the boat onto a plurality of blocks of common wood, like that used for sailboats, or onto lifting cubes and blocks like those used for other typologies of boats, thereby transmitting to them a large amount of the total weight of the boat and leaving to the lateral stands a marginal percentage of the total weight besides the essential task of maintaining the stability and safety of the stored boat.
• a forward stand and a stand placed astern may also be positioned in such away that the boat, besides being laterally stabilised by the above pairs of lateral stands, is also stabilised longitudinally.
• this latter pair of stands will be provided with a support joint 9 ( Figure 6) having only a longitudinal rotational degree of freedom.
• a transversal movement of the articulated joint 9 is absent in order to prevent an accidental lateral sliding of the boat.
• This is achieved by introducing only the parallelepiped 35 into the upper end of the box-like section bar 15.
• This metallic parallelepiped will have a height equal to 90 millimetres and a shorter edge slightly shorter than the inner width of the box-like section bar 15.
• the body of the parallelepiped 35 is traversed by two holes 36 and 37 which allow to hinge it — by means of pins - to the respective box-like sections 15 and 29, so as to permit only a longitudinal oscillation.
• the structure of the stand 1 according to the present invention is formed by a metallic box-like structure 1 whose upper end 15 is telescopic.
• This mechanism is realised using a metallic box-like section bar 15 having a cross section which is slightly smaller than the cross-section of the outer skirt 16, so that the telescopic section 15 will be able to slide easily inside the metallic box-like section bar 16.
• the length of the box-like section 15 will vary in proportion thereto, so as to entirely ' compensate for the height variation of the underbody to be stored, with respect to the ground.
• the latter may be fixed at a precise height by utilising a series of holes 6, 6', 6", 6'" obtained on the internal box-like section 15 and on the external one 16, that is, thereafter, the proper extension can be fixed simply by introducing a pin 25 between the correspondingly aligned holes.
• the projection length of said telescopic section bar 15 can vary from a minimum value of 5 cm to a maximum of 135 cm.
• These support feet 17, 18 and 19 also allow the insertion of a lifting plate of a motorised trolley, or of a conveying bucket, underneath the lower section bar, in order to permit the lifting of the stand 1 and to facilitate its transportation and displacement.
• the metallic section bar 16 "intersects" the section bar 21 exactly at the centre of its total length. At the intersection point between these two metallic sections, there are provided two holes 7 and T , which allow the rapid downflow of rainwater entering from the upper, open side of the box-like section 16, thereby avoiding accumulation of water inside.
• the section bar 16, which extends to the point where it intersects the section bar 21, also has a safety function.
• the stand of the present patent application may include detachable (demountable) box-like section bars 22 and 23, by virtue of three seats A, B, C which receive and lock therein, by suitable nuts and bolts introduced in corresponding through holes, the upper end 63 of the box-like section 22 and the end 64 of the box-like section 23.
• the section bar 23 On the other end 65 of the section bar 23, that is, on the end opposite to the end 64 received inside the box-shaped seat B 5 there is welded an U-shaped bracket suited to receive and lock therein, by a nut-and- bolt arrangement, the lower end of the box-like section bar 22, after the upper end 63 of the latter has been fixed inside the seat A, using the respective pin.
• the three seats A, B and C have a cross section suited to perfectly lodge the ends of the section bars 22 and 23 which have - in these ends - through holes allowing the tightening of the section bars 22 and 23 inside the respective seats A, B and C by means of nuts and bolts.
• a further development of the invention provides for the use of the above stand for supporting boats so that, at the same time, the stand can be disassembled, to facilitate transportation and storage, and is adjustable in height and inclination.
• This particular, improved embodiment of the invention which is graphically presented in Figs. 8 and 9, is practically realisable because the three section bars 24, 16 and 20, which are directly welded on the box-section 60, which in turn is parallel to the lower section bar 21, are in this case movable and adjustable, and consequently can be completely folded (are collapsible).
• the box-like section 60 is connected with the lower box-like section 21 by means of two movable joints 41 and 42 which allow the brackets 56 and 57 to respectively rotate around the pins 58 and 59 which in turn are connected, by passing through through-holes, to the box-like structures 61 and 62 welded on the lower side of the box-like structure 60.
• This movable connection makes the entire upper part of the stand completely collapsible (foldable).
• the box-like section bar 22 projecting below the underbody is formed by the two half-units 22a and 22b and is in turn provided with two movable connections realised by means of the brackets 49 and 50 and respectively welded to the box-like sections 23 and 16, thereby allowing the vertical rotation of the individual section bars 22a and 22b around the pins 51 and 52 when the two sections 22a and 22b are disconnected from each other.
• the two section bars 22a and 22b are telescopically connected and rendered adjustable in length by virtue of the introduction of a pin 47 into one of the holes 48, 48', 48", 48'", 48 IV , ...
• the box-like section 16 is in turn telescopically adjustable in combination with the box-like section bar 15, and the latter can be completely inserted telescopically within the section bar 16.
• These box-like "telescopic extensions” allow to extend (vary) the total length of the box-like section 16 up to about 3 metres, maintaining at the same time an optimum angle of contact with respect to the underbody of the boat, by virtue of an optimisation of the angle ⁇ .
• reinforcing collars are provided to stiffen the terminal part of the telescopic box-like section bars, to render them less deformable and to provide improved seats for the pins and nuts used for fastening the various section bars.
• box-like section bar 16 On the lower side of box-like section bar 16, and precisely at the intersection point between the box-like section bar 16 and the box-like section bar 23, there is a slit (not shown) allowing the downflow of water which inevitably enters inside the box-like section 16 when the latter is exposed to the inclemency of the weather.
• the stand 1 according to the present invention may be specifically realised for a particular use, that is, for the storage of motorboats, corresponding to underbodies with a modest draft, such that the height of the boat from the ground - during the storage period ⁇ is limited.
• the stand or frame has a geometry and angles (of its base) respectively equal to 90, 58 and 32 degrees, for the angles alpha, beta and gamma, and respectively of 75, 54 and 51 degrees, for delta, epsilon and zeta.
• the degree of projection of the box-like section bar 15, along its axis varies between 5 and 75 centimetres, reaching a total, maximum height above the ground equal to 156 centimetres.
• the above angles of the base structure may have a tolerance of about 2 degrees with respect to the nominal values.
• Example 2 A second, specific use of the stand 1 according to the present invention may regard the storage of boats with a noticeable draft, such as sailboats. Due to the presence of the bulbous bow and of the helm, sailboats are stored at a considerable height above the ground.
• the stand 1 according to the present invention will have geometries of the base angles characterised by values of the angles alpha, beta and gamma, respectively equal to 90, 64 and 26 degrees, while the angles delta, epsilon, and zeta will correspond to 75, 58 and 47 degrees.
• the projection (extension) of the telescopic box-like section 15 in the direction of its axis is comprised between 5 and 135 centimetres, which corresponds to a height (from the ground) of 289 centimetres.
• the above angles of the base structure may have tolerances, with respect to the nominal values, of about 2 degrees.
• Example 3 It is possible to realise a stand, as described herein, having an intermediate height. It is ideal for displacement hulls, that is, for hulls having an intermediate draft and therefore requiring an intermediate height from ground, between those of the two above embodiments.
• the angles delta, epsilon and zeta will be respectively equal to 75°, 54° and 51°.
• the extension (projecting length) of the telescopic box-like section 15 in the direction of its axis varies between 5 centimetres and 105 centimetres, with a maximum height from the ground equal to 220 centimetres.
• the above angles of the base structure may have a tolerance from the nominal values within 2°.
• a further realisation of the stand according to the present patent application may be obtained with the box-like sections 22 and 23 which are in this case detachable (demountable) by virtue of the three seats A, B and C which are capable of receiving and locking, by suitable nuts and bolts, the upper end 63 of the box-like structure 22 and the end 64 of the box-like structure 23.
• the three seats A, B and C have a cross-section suited to accurately receive the ends of the section bars 22 and 23 which, at these ends, have through holes that allow the tightening or locking of the box sections 22 and 23 inside the respective seats A, B and C 5 to be performed by means of the bolts and nuts.
• Example 5 A further development of the present invention regards the use of a stand, as herein described, for the support of boats, which is at the same time demountable, in order to facilitate its transportation and storage, and height-adjustable.
• the box-like section bar 22 formed by the two half-units 22a and 22b is in turn provided with two movable connections, realised by means of the brackets 49 and 50, respectively welded to the box-like sections 23 and 16, thereby allowing the vertical rotation of the individual section bars 22a and 22b around the pins 51 and 52.
• the two section bars 22a and 22b are telescopically connected and rendered adjustable in length by virtue of the introduction of a pin into one of the holes 48, 10 48', 48", 48'", 48 IV , ...

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
• Holders For Apparel And Elements Relating To Apparel (AREA)
• Ladders (AREA)

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Family Applications (1)

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Cited By (1)

Citations (7)

• 2005
  • 2005-04-19 IT ITRM20050188 patent/ITRM20050188A1/it unknown
• 2006
  • 2006-04-14 WO PCT/IT2006/000253 patent/WO2006111994A1/en not_active Ceased

Patent Citations (7)

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