US3797435A

US3797435A - Emergency floatation apparatus for watercraft

Info

Publication number: US3797435A
Application number: US00193014A
Authority: US
Inventors: M Dunson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-10-27
Filing date: 1971-10-27
Publication date: 1974-03-19
Anticipated expiration: 1991-03-19

Abstract

Emergency floatation equipment for watercraft. The invention contemplates an inflatable, elongated float, which may be secured to the side of a watercraft and of sufficient size, when paired with a similar float secured to the opposite side of the watercraft, is capable of supporting the same. A unique attachment system is contemplated whereby the weight of the boat is substantially evenly distributed along the length of the inflatable float regardless of the weight distribution of the boat.

Description

Dunson EMERGENCY FLOATATION APPARATUS FOR WATERCRAFT Inventor:

Filed:

Marcus H. Dunson, 151 12 S.

Halsted, Harvey, 111.760426 Oct. 27, 1971 App]. No.: 193,014

[52] US. Cl. 114/68, 9/3 [51] Int. Cl. B63c 9/02 [58] Field of Search 1. 9/3, 1 R, 400; 114/122, 114/123, 121, 68

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2.319.132 5/1943 Hood 1 .1 114/123 1100.100 8/1963 Carpenter... 114/123 X 2,848,725 8/1958 Sloulin 9/3 2.794.191 6/1957 Gaskouit2..... 114/123 X 2.919.451 1/1960 Long 1 1 9/3 X 3.115.860 12/1963 Payne 1. 114/123 X 3.121.888 2/1964 Morgan et a1. H; 9/3

1 Mar. 19, 1974 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 118.729 9/1918 Great Britain 114/68 Primary Examiner-Trygve M. Blix Assistant ExaminerDona1d W. Underwood Attorney, Agent, or FirmHofgren, Wegner, A11en, Stellman & McCord [57] ABSTRACT Emergency floatation equipment for watercraft. The invention contemplates an inflatable, elongated float, which may be secured to the side of a watercraft and of sufficient size, when paired with a similar float secured to the opposite side of the watercraft, is capable of supporting the same. A unique attachment system is contemplated whereby the weight of the boat is substantially evenly distributed along the length of the inflatable float regardless of the weight distribution of the boat. 1

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures EMERGENCY FLOATATION APPARATUS FOR WATERCRAFT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to inflatable floats for attachment to watercraft to support the same without capsizing in emergency situations.

Many types of watercraft have long employed built-in floatation systems of one sort or another for the purpose of precluding the watercraft from sinking and leaving its occupant in the water without a means of support. Depending upon the type and size of the watercraft, the approach taken may include the employment of closed cell plastic foams secured to the watercraft at various locations or the provision of sealed, aircontaining bulkheads at various locations on the watercraft. The use of foam floatation systems is generally superior to the use of air-type bulkheads in that the latter, if punctured, provide no buoyancy. But in either event, such floatation systems do not provide stability to the watercraft when the same is inundated with the result that in high seas or waves, even though the water craft will remain afloat, it is easily overturned with the result that its occupant will be spilled into the water. In such emergency situations, it may be difficult, if not possible, for an occupant to swim back to the watercraft after being spilled and even if such is accomplished successfully, if the watercraft cannot be righted, the occupant will be forced to hang on to the same rather than sit within it. Over a prolonged period of time, the occupant may become weak through exposure, lose hisgrip and drown.

Moreover, many of the larger types of vessels within even the general small craft category do not employ floatation systems of any sort. In such watercraft, principal reliance is placed on bilge pumps in emergency situations but should there be a power failure so that such pumpscannot be operated, the boat will eventually fill and sink.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the principal object of the invention to provide a new and improved floatation system for watercraft. More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved emergency floatation system for watercraft that will support a watercraft, even when inundated, without substantial danger of capsizing even under extremely adverse conditions.

The exemplary embodiment of the invention achieves the foregoing object by means of a construction employing an elongated, inflatable bladder or float, normally of a length to extend from the bow to the stern of the watercraft to which it is attached. In the usual situation, two such floats are employed, one for securement to each side of the watercraft.

Along the length of the float are a plurality of secur ing elements for securing the float at spaced locations along its length to the side of the boat. The securing elements are attached to the float in such a way as to detime a pressure distributing system which distributes the weight of the watercraft along the entire length of the float without particular regard to the exact weight distribution of the watercraft.

According to the preferred embodiment, the attachment of the securing elements to the float is accomplished by surrounding the latter with an envelope formed of a sheet of flexible material. The envelope has a plurality of apertures along its length at locations corresponding to the locations of the securing elements and a cable, having its ends attached to respective end ones of the securing elements is interposed between the float and the envelope with loop-like projections emerging exteriorly of the envelope through the apertures. Each intermediate securing element is slidably attached to the cable loops andthe system serves to dis tribute the weight of the boat substantially equally along the length of the float.

The invention also contemplates that the envelope have an adjustable cross section so that the same may be used with floats of different sizes thereby permitting use of the system with different types of watercraft having different emergency buoyancy requirements.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a watercraft having an emergency floatation system made according to the invention secured thereto;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an emergency tion device made according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken approximately along the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of the system employed in conjunction with watercraft during an emergency situation; and

FIG. 5 illustrates one configuration of the system in a non-emergency situation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A typical watercraft, generally designated 10, with which the invention may be used is somewhat diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 1 and includes a bow 12, a transom l4 defining the stern and opposed gunwales 16 defining the sides of the craft ll0.

The transom 14, depending upon the type of craft, may be adapted to support an outboard motor, shown in dotted lines at 18.

Emergency floatation devices, generally designated 20, made according to the invention are secured to the gunwales 16 as by eyelets 22 located at various points along the entire length of each gunwale. If an outboard motor is to be employed on the craft, the floatation devices 20 may extend beyond the transom 14 to be turned thereabout as shown in dotted lines at 24 to provide additional support for the stern of the boat posed by the disproportionate weight distribution caused by the presence of an outboard motor 18.

With reference now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the emergency floatation devices 20 will be described. Each includes an elongated, inflatable bladder or float 26 formed of rubber or the like and including an inflating valve 28, normally at one end thereof, for inflation purposes. The elongated float 26 will have sufficient length to extend from substantially the bow of the craft to the stem and possibly partially around the transom when an outboard motor is to be employed.

The float 26 is closed by an envelope 30 formed of a sheet offlexible material such as a fabric-like material. Preferably, the material employed for the envelope 30 will be plastic or synthetic to preclude rotting of the same over a substantial period due to exposure to water.

In the preferred form of the invention, the envelope 30 is formed by a planar sheet of the material wrapped about the float 26 and provided with adjustable securing means for securing the long edges of the sheet together. As illustrated in FIG. 3, one edge of the sheet defining the envelope 30 is provided with a plurality of eyelets 32 (only one of which is shown) along its length while the opposite long edge of the sheet is provided with corresponding eyelets 34 (again, only one of which is shown).

At any desired location intermediate the eyelets 32 and 34, there may be provided a corresponding set of eyelets 36 which in conjunction with the eyelets 34 serve to define the adjustable securing means.

More particularly, when the eyelets 32 and 34 are aligned as illustrated in FIG. 3, the long sides of the sheet may be secured together as by a long stitched configuration of a suitable cord or cable passing through the eyelets 32 and 34 to define an envelope 30 having a maximum cross section transverse to its length so that a relatively large diameter float 26 may be accommodated therein. On the other hand, if the eyelets 36 are aligned with the eyelets 32, and secured together in the same manner, the envelope 30 will have a lesser cross section transverse to its length for holding a lesser size float 26.

The purpose of the foregoing construction is as follows. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, emergency floatation requirements of watercraft will vary depending upon the size of the watercraft and the provision, if any, for internal floatation systems. Thus, a larger watercraft will require a greater size float 26 than would a smaller watercraft and by means of the foregoing construction, a single size of envelope 30 can accommodate different size floats 26 as may be required by the emergency buoyancy requirements of a particular type of watercraft.

The floatation device 20 is secured to a watercraft by means of a plurality of securing means 40, 42, 44, 46, 48 and 50, located along the length of the device at 10- cations corresponding to the location of the eyelets 22 on the craft 10. Each of the securing means 40-50 may comprise a conventional spring hook formed of a rigid hook member 52 having its hook normally closed by a spring element 54. Conventionally, such an element will include an eyelet 56 secured by a conventional swivel construction to the

elements

52 and 54.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the envelope 30 is provided with a plurality of apertures 58 defined by metal eyelets along its length at locations corresponding to the locations of the eyes 22 on the craft l and the location of the securing means 40-50. While as illustrated, there is but a single aperture 58 at each location, it will be apparent that each aperture 58, and particularly those intermediate the ends, could be formed of two separate apertures if desired.

The securing means 40-50 are secured to the assemblage of the float 26 and envelope 30 by a cable 60. The cable 60 is principally located between the envelope 30 and the float 26 and has its ends threaded through the endmost ones of the apertures 58 to be fixedly secured to the eyes 56 of the securing elements 40 and 50 respectively. Intermediate the ends of the cable 60, loop portions 62 thereof extend through the v apertures 58 and are threaded through the eyelets 56 of the intermediate ones of the securing means 42-48. Thus, the securing means 42-48 are slidably engaged by the cable 60.

The cable arrangement and the envelope 30 define a pressure distributing system whereby the weight of the watercraft is distributed substantially equally along the entire length of the float 26. For example, if that portion of the watercraft at the point of attachment to the securing element 50 is disproportionately heavy, it will be appreciated that such weight will tend to draw a portion of the cable 60 out of the aperture 58 associated with the securing element 50. This in turn will result in a shortening of the loop 62 associated with the securing element 48 which will tend to draw up more heavily on the watercraft and thereby place a greater load on the corresponding portion of the float 26. Furthermore, the provision of the envelope 30 tends to distribute the weight more evenly along the length of the float 26. In particular, that portion of the cable 60 within the envelope 30 and the envelope itself tend to preclude bulging of the portions of the float 26 intermediate the securing elements which would result in such portions bearing a lesser load than the portions thereof immediately adjacent the securing elements.

The ends of the envelope 30 may be defined by a plurality of inwardly directed flaps 64 formed of the same material as the envelope 30 and each having an eyelet 66 near its innermost end. Through the eyelets, a suitable securing means, such as a cord 68 may extend and the arrangement is such that the inflation valve 28 may project therethrough. This construction provides ease of access while further providing positive capture of the float 26 within the envelope 30.

Turning now to FIG. 4, location of the system on a watercraft 10 will be seen to provide a broad base of floatation support for the craft l0 externally of its confines. Thus, all forces tending to capsize the craft 10 are located wholly within the base of support provided in contrast to foam or bulkhead support systems conventionally used wherein the base of support is generally no more than a line extending down the keel of the craft. Accordingly, with the present invention, an occupant of an inundated craft could actually place all of his weight on one of the gunwales 16 without capsizing the craft, an impossibility with current available floatation systems. And, of course, such a base of support will be provided even for craft not having floatation systems but relying on bilge pumps or the like.

FIG. 5 illustrates somewhat schematically a craft with the floatation devices of the invention being provided with additional securing elements indicated schematically at 70 attached in any suitable way to eyes 72 on the upper sides of the gunwales 16. Such a provision may be made if the invention is to be permanently disposed in an inflated condition on the craft so that it will not provide a drag against motion of the craft by reason of the same being held well above the waterline thereof.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to floatation apparatus permanently secured at all times to the exterior of a watercraft. For rather large watercraft, it may be possible to suitably stow the emergency floatation apparatus until the possibility of the need exists at which time it may be secured in place and inflated as by a pressurized gas bottle maintained for that purpose.

Similarly, the invention is not restricted to the exterior location of the emergency floatation device in an inflated condition. For example, the same could be held substantially in the position illustrated in FIG. 5 while deflated and then inflated when the need arises, again by a bottle of gas under pressure maintained for that purpose. The invention also contemplates that the apparatus could be stored in a deflated condition exteriorly of the craft but attached thereto within a suitable housing for that purpose and inflated only when required. For example, such housing structures could consist of movably mounted splash rails which would open to permit full inflation of the floatation devices by bottled gas or the like when the need arises.

I claim:

1. Emergency flotation equipment for watercraft comprising: an elongated, flexible, tubular member adapted to receive and retain a sufficient volume of air to at least partially support, by buoyancy, the weight of a watercraft; a plurality of means located along the length of said tubular member for securing the same to the side of a watercraft; and means for interconnecting each of said securing means and said tubular member to distribute the weight of the watercraft substantially along the entire length of the tubular member to thereby support the watercraft, said interconnecting means including an elongated cable having its ends secured to respective endmost ones of said securing means and intermediate portions slidably secured to intermediate ones of said securing means.

2. Emergency floatation equipment according to claim 1 wherein said interconnecting means further including an envelope formed of flexible sheet-like mate rial surrounding and enclosing said tubular member.

3. The emergency floatation equipment according to claim 2 wherein said envelope is provided with means for adjusting the size of its cross section in a direction transverse to its length whereby a single envelope can be employed with tubular members of different cross sections, and thus varied supporting characteristics, to suit the buoyancy requirements posed by varying types of watercraft.

4. The emergency floatation equipment according to claim 1 further including additional securing means adapted to be secured to the side of a watercraft for normally holding said emergency floatation device above the water line thereof.

5. A pair of emergency floatation devices according to claim 1 in combination with a watercraft having a transom adapted to receive an outboard motor, one of said devices being secured by said securing means, to each side of said watercraft, each of said devices having a length sufficient to extend substantially from the bow of the watercraft along the length of the watercraft and partially about said transom to provide additional buoyancy in the region of any outboard motor mounted on said transom.

6. Emergency floatation equipment for watercraft comprising: an elongated, tubular bladder; gas valve means on said bladder for permitting said bladder to be inflated by a source of gas under pressure and for normally retaining gas within said bladder; an elongated, tubular envelope formed of a sheet-like material snugly surrounding said bladder; means defining a plurality of apertures in said envelope at spaced points along the length thereof; a plurality of securing means located along the length of said envelope and exteriorly thereof, said securing means being adapted to be connected to the side of a watercraft; and an elongated cable having its ends secured to respective endmost ones of said securing means, said cable being threaded through said apertures so as to define loops exterior of said envelope at said points along the length of said envelope, intermediate ones of said securing means having portions slidably received in said loops; whereby said envelope and said cable distribute the weight of a watercraft to which said device may be attached along substantially the entire length of said tubular bladder to maintain the watercraft in a substantially horizontal attitude during an emergency situation.

7. An emergency floatation device of claim 6 wherein said envelope is formed from a sheet; and further including means for securing the long ends of said sheet together to define said tubular envelope, said securing means being adjustable whereby said tubular envelope can accommodate tubular bladders of different cross sections as may be required by the buoyancy require ments of different watercraft.

8. The emergency floatation device of claim 6 wherein the ends of said tubular envelope are defined by a plurality of inwardly directed flaps; and means securing said flaps together to capture said bladder within said envelope.

Claims

2. Emergency floatation equipment according to claim 1 wherein said interconnecting means further including an envelope formed of flexible sheet-like material surrounding and enclosing said tubular member.

7. An emergency floatation device of claim 6 wherein said envelope is formed from a sheet; and further including means for securing the long ends of said sheet together to define said tubular envelope, said securing means being adjustable whereby said tubular envelope can accommodate tubular bladders of different cross sections as may be required by the buoyancy requirements of different watercraft.