US3090339A - Molded plastic pontoons - Google Patents

Description

E. CARR Y I MOLDED. PLASTIC omotms I Ma 21,1963

2 sheets-s e t 1' Filed Apx il e, 1962 A-r ToQNEYs 'r; E. CARR I MOLDED PLASTIC PONTOONS l2 ZOINVENITOR; .THOMAE E. CAZIZ ATTORNEYS I and more reliable in comparable utility.

' 3,090,339 MOLDED PLASTICPONTOONS Thomas E. Carr, 9.0; Box 402, Sterling City, Tex.

" 1 Filed Apr. 6, 196,2, Ser. No. 185,579 t 1 Claim. (Cl. 114 66.5)

' This invention relates to improved 'rnolded plastic pone.

toons for use in constructing water craft, rafts, floats, and other structures usetul'forwater sports, and for other uses, such as military pontoon bridges and aircraft.

United statfispatcmo The primary object of the invention is the provision of molded plastic pontoons of the kind indicated, which are lighter in weight,-cheaper, more durable, and hence safer service than existing pontoons of Another object of the invention is the provision ofimproved pontoons of the character indicated above, which comprise bodies of molded plastic, which constitutethe buoyant components of the pontoons, and hollow plastic covers for the bodies, which constitute the rigidifying and stress resisting components of the pontoons,

Afurther object of the invention is'the provision of pontoons of the character indicated above, wherein mount-.

ing eyes, of the same material, as the covers, are secured to the covers, for receiving and securing to the pontoons, cross members, of suitable material, in the construction shock damage, and water-proof; should the covers 14 be ruptured,

incapable of substantialabsorption of water-,so that even in a damaged condition, the pontoons retain their reliable I flotation characteristics.

Inverted channel mounting eyes plastic or other materials, and have base flanges extending from both sides thereof, adapted to rest upon the upper surfaces of the bodies 12,, and be covered by the material of the covers 14, as shown in FIGURES 2, 3, 4 and 7,

. so that the eyes are securely fixed to the covers and anof buoyant structures involving two or more pontoons.

Other important objects and advantageous features of ,the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein, for puris set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

chored to the bodies. The eyes 16 extend crosswise of the bodies, at spaced intervals therealong, and provide transversely elongated rectangular bores 24, for the reception of rectangular cross section cross members 26,

which are adapted to be secured in the eyes, asby means of bolts 28, extended through the sidewalls of the eyes, for constructing such as a two-pontoon float 32, having a fiat platform 33 laid upon and suitably secured to the cross members 26.

. The bodies 12 are preferably of mutilated semi-cylindri-Q cal solid cross section, provided fiat top surfaces 34, and arcuate side surfaces 36, which merge, at theirlower ends, into V-shaped centered keels 38. As shown in FIGURE] '4, the keels and side surfaces of the bodies 12 having pointed ends 40, formed by the convergent curving of the 1 side surfaces 36 and the keels 38, to the top surfacest34.

30 poses of illustration only, -a specific form of the invention FIGURE 1 is anexploded perspective view showing a t plurality of eyes before application to a molded buoyant body; FIGURE 2 is a perspective view showing a part of the coverbeing spray applied to the body to form its cover and 'to-secure' the eyes thereto;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged vertical transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of'a float involving Itwo of the pontoons and cross members; I

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged end elevation of FIGURE 5,

showing, in phantom lines, a deck imposed thereon;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary verticallongitudinal section taken on the line 7.-7 of FIGURE 6; and

FIGURE 8 is a view like FIGURE 7, showing alternate forms of eyes and cross members.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like and I related numerals designate like and related parts throughout the several views, and first to FIGURES 1 through7, the numerals 10 generally designate individual pontoons,

composed of molded buoyant bodies 12," covers 14, and mounting eyes 16, secured by the covers to the bodies.

The bodies are moulded to shape of buoyant plastic foam material, such aspolystyrene having expandable I beads, and having a closed cell constituttion, such as is commercially known as Styrafoam, or ofpolyurethane rigid foam.

The covers 14 are coatings of fiber glass, impregnated I or otherwise, applied to all of the surfaces of the bodies '12, as by means of a pressure spray nozzle 18, as shown in FIGURE 2, and which dries to form the rigid stressa resistant structural components of the pontoons. The

fiber glass covers 14 are abrasion-, water-, and corrosion: proof, and are highly resistant to collision and other A beneath andbonded to the cove In FIGURE 8 is shown an alternate form of eye 16a and cross member 2611. The cross member 26:; is in the form. of an I-beam 26a, of suitable materiaL-including lightweight metal, having a vertical web 44, a top flange 46, and a bottom flange 48, which are 'conformably enclosed by the flat tubular web composed of sidewalls 30a,

and flat tubular upper and lower pontoons and 52, re-

spectively, and a wider base flange 20a, which is 'over-' laid by and secured to the cover surface 34 of the body 12.

be produced otherwisethan as hereinabove described, as by forming the covers 14 with attached eyes 16, and then injecting the material of the bodies into the covers.

While there have been "shown and described preferred forms of the invention, his to be understood that the 14 and rests upon the top Pontoons in accordance'with the present invention, can,

invention is not necessarily confined thereto, and that any change or changes in the structure-of and in the relative arrangements of components thereof are contemplated as being within the scope of the invention as defined by the claim appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

A pontoon comprising an elongated molded body of buoyant plastic foam, a rigid fiber glass cover conformably and transverse channelmounting eyes upstanding'frorn the cover, said eyes hav'f and positioned enclosing and covering said body,

ing base flanges bearing upon the body References Cited in the file of this'patent STATES PATENTS France Dec. 17,

3,090,339}? Patented: May 211, i953 The bodies 12, even g are non-absorbent and 16 are preferably. molded'of fiber glass,'but can be made of other suitable

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