NL2001178C2 - Foldable multi-hull rowing boat. - Google Patents

Description

Nr. NLP182443A

Foldable multi-hull rowing boat

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an easily collapsible and inflatable and therefore easily transportable, for example in the trunk of a car, vessel with a rowing device, comprising two or more elongated hulls, wherein at least one of the hulls comprises one or more inflatable floating compartments .

Inflatable catamarans, i.e. catamarans with inflatable hulls, are known from, for example, SU1675155, US4782777, GB2171652, AU3905385, US4284024 and US4936242. However, these are not suitable for rowing but for sailing or windsurfing.

There are inflatable canoes on which a rowing construction can be fitted. Hereby the rower makes a reciprocating movement on a bench as described in CA2201763, US4649852, and EP0158525. Due to the related weight displacement, the nose and the bow of the boat are pushed up and down with each haul, which has an adverse effect on the sailing speed and the stability of the vessel. Precisely in the case of a canoe or any vessel with a (short) length of, for example, less than 4 meters, this up and down movement is considerable and the sailing properties with a rowing movement going back and forth on a bench are insufficient.

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Moreover, the inflatable canoes are too wide for a rapid progress that is interesting for the more experienced rower. The speed of rowing boats also depends on the width of the hull. Smaller hulls are fast but also 5 shaky. That makes a narrow boat unsuitable for a large group of potential rowing users because they lack the practice and skill.

With a multi-hull vessel such as a catamaran a stable boat can be realized that is nevertheless narrow hulls and therefore fast. Patent FR2587966 and FR2827257 describe a rowing catamaran on which the navigator moves back and forth by means of a mobile bench. The catamaran potentially has a faster speed than the mentioned canoes, but here too the rower moves up and down which causes the boat to move up and down, which is unfavorable for the speed of the boat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to at least partly eliminate one or more of the aforementioned disadvantages, the invention provides a vessel with a rowing device, comprising two or more elongated hulls, wherein at least a first hull of the hulls comprises one or more inflatable floating compartments, characterized in that at least the first hull comprises a first frame which extends in the longitudinal axis of the first hull and is foldable into parts, in particular retractable and extendable or retractable, and the vessel further comprises one or more comprises connecting elements which connect the hulls in a more or less parallel, juxtaposed position with respect to each other, the rowing device being placed on the one or more connecting elements.

Partly because of the frame that extends in the longitudinal direction of the hull, a narrow, and thus fast, inflatable hull can be obtained which has sufficient rigidity.

In one embodiment, the one or more connecting elements are foldable or extendable. Because both the connecting elements and the first and / or second frame are foldable, the dimensions of the folded or collapsed vessel can be further reduced.

In one embodiment the rowing device comprises two extendable or foldable explanators, also referred to by the English term "riggers".

In one embodiment, the rowing device comprises an explanatory structure that can be moved back and forth in the direction of travel. Such a movable explainer construction usually comprises movable footrests along with the explainer. Using a reciprocating rigger or explainer construction, moving up and down can also be greatly reduced on a shorter boat, so that a good speed can be achieved. The up and down moving riggers are usually attached to a slidable footboard 20, so that with the foot movement the rower can move the riggers in the longitudinal axis of the boat. Various variants of this movable rigger (US4889509; FI874563; DE1288939; GB607158; DE3016857 GB2044706; GB804510; gb2099773) have been patented. With regard to the easily transportable recreational boats, the roller riggers have now also been presented on surfboards (US: 4976423; DE3828212).

However, these have the drawback that a surfboard is needed that is no longer always available, that the connection of the rowing structure with the surfboard depends on the type of surfboard and that it is difficult to make it generic and that the surfboards are too wide to allow sufficient speed. without extreme effort. In the meantime, the aforementioned roller rigger has also been set up for a catamaran (W00212059). The speed and stability of the construction are favorable. The application in question relates to a roller trigger on a catamaran with hard (non-inflatable) carriers of a length of 4 meters which must be transported on the roof of a car. This is an obstacle for a large group of rowing users who want to row but do not want to have an object on their car. Moreover, the boat patented there and the relevant rigger construction WO0212059, as well as all other aforementioned roller-rigger constructions, cannot be folded or made foldable in a simple manner.

In one embodiment the vessel comprises two retractable and extendable oars. Various oars have been patented (AU2003205746; RU2057685), but none of the oars are retractable and extendable so that they can easily be stored in a bag with a length of up to 1.10 meters.

An embodiment of the vessel comprises a second hull with one or more inflatable floating compartments, wherein the second hull comprises a second frame which extends in the longitudinal axis of the second hull and is foldable into parts, in particular retractable and extendable or in and foldable, and wherein the vessel 20 further comprises one or more connecting elements which connect the first and second hull in a more or less parallel, juxtaposed position with respect to each other. The vessel preferably comprises two identical or equivalent hulls, such as a catamaran, whereby a better sailing behavior can be obtained.

In an embodiment the first and / or the second frame, in the extended or extended position, extends from at least near the bow to at least near the fence of the first hull. As a result, the stability of the hull in the direction of navigation can be improved.

In an embodiment, the inflatable floating compartments are placed under the first and / or second frame, wherein each frame comprises at least two beams or tubes that run parallel to each other and are spaced apart, such that the beams are preferably at least near to each other located sides of the hull. The stiffness of the hull can hereby be further improved, at least in the direction of travel.

In one embodiment, the vented first hull with the first frame retracted and / or folded up and connecting elements is adapted to prepare the vessel for the sailing use purpose with a few simple folding and sliding movements and aeration of the floating compartments.

In one embodiment the vessel is arranged so that the outer dimensions of the vessel in the retracted and / or folded and vented state are such that it can be placed in a passenger car, in particular in the cargo space thereof.

In an embodiment, the first frame and / or the connecting elements are made of a rigid material, and wherein at least the first hull, at least the floating compartments thereof, are substantially made of a flexible material.

In one embodiment, the first frame and / or the connecting elements are made of a lightweight material. In one embodiment, the lightweight material comprises a fiber-reinforced plastic. In one embodiment, the lightweight material comprises a lightweight metal, preferably aluminum.

The aspects and measures described in this description and claims of the application and / or shown in the drawings of this application can, where possible, also be applied separately from each other. These individual aspects can be the subject of split-off patent applications that are aimed at this. This applies in particular to the measures and aspects that are described per se in the subclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 35

The invention will be elucidated on the basis of a number of exemplary embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. Shown is:

Figure 1 is a top view of a rowing catamaran according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the rowing catamaran; Figure 3 shows a front view of the rowing catamaran; and

Figure 4 shows a number of steps of a method for folding the rowing catamaran.

10 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows the top view of the rowing catamaran. The rowing catamaran consists of two or more frames or carriers 1 which are extendable and extendable or collapsible in the longitudinal axis of the catamaran and which each comprise a hull 2 with one or more inflatable floating compartments. In the example shown, the supports each consist of two beams or tubes running parallel to each other at a distance of approximately 10 centimeters.

The carriers are connected to each other with one or more hinged, foldable or extendable connecting elements 3 which extend substantially transversely to the carriers and which the hulls 2, in particular the carriers 1 thereof, in a more or less parallel, in addition to 25 position together.

One or more vertical beams 11 are placed on one or more of the connecting elements 3 on which a seat 4 for the rower is mounted (see figure 3).

A beam 5 extending in the direction of travel and parallel to the carriers is mounted in the middle of the connecting elements 3. A second beam 6 with U-shaped wheels 13 is mounted on this beam 5 so that it can be moved back and forth in the longitudinal direction of the catamaran. The U-shape of the wheels ensures that the second beam 6 can only be moved in the direction of travel.

Mounted on the second beam 6 are foldable or removable explanators or riggers 7 and two 7 footrests with fixing points 8 where the rower can secure his feet so that he can move the second beam and the riggers back and forth during the haul in the longitudinal direction of the catamaran can move.

The rowing catamaran has oars 10 which are mounted on the rigger by means of a usual pin connection 9.

Figure 2 shows a side view of the rowing catamaran. The inflatable floating compartments 2 are mounted under the carriers. The space between the tubes of the carrier ensures that the inflatable floats during use are clamped between the tubes by the upward pressure so that they do not shoot sideways during use.

Figure 3 shows the front view of the rowing catamaran. In the example, the connecting element 3 can be folded approximately in the middle, extendable and hinged or pivotable. At the ends, the connecting elements are curved 12 at the level of the carriers, so that the distance of the user's seat from the water surface is greater than with a non-curved beam.

Figure 4 shows a number of steps of a method for preparing the rowing casaman for use with a few simple folding and sliding movements and venting the floating compartments for transport and can be stored in a designated carrying bag.

Figure 4a is similar to Figure 1 after the straps 10 have been removed from the bar 9.

In Figure 4b, the inflatable floating compartments 2 are detached from the carriers 1 so that they can be vented for transport.

Figure 4c shows the rowing catamaran with collapsed riggers.

Figure 4d shows how the carriers consisting of tubes that fit into each other are pushed in, whereby the length of the catamaran is reduced.

Figure 4e shows the rowing catamaran after the beam 6 which is movable up and down 8 is rolled in that position, whereby the total length of the rowing catamaran is the least.

Figure 4f shows in a front view how the rowing catamaran is folded with the foldable connecting elements.

Figure 4g shows how the oars 10 are folded in three parts or pushed together.

Figure 4h shows how all parts are stored in a bag 13, the outer circumference being such that it is smaller than the size of the trunk of a passenger car.

The above description is included to illustrate the operation of preferred embodiments of the invention, and not to limit the scope of the invention. Starting from the above explanation, many variations will be evident to those skilled in the art that fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Briefly summarized, the invention relates to a simple foldable and inflatable and therefore easily transportable, for example in the trunk of a car, multi-hull rowing boat, in particular a catamaran with good rowing properties with which recreational and more experienced rowers can row recreational on all types of waters. The collapsible and inflatable rowing catamaran consists of two (or more) carriers which can be retracted and retracted in the longitudinal axis of the catamaran or that can be folded in and out, each of which contains one or more inflatable floating compartments. The carrier are mutually connected with one or more foldable or extendable connecting elements. A bench is attached to the connecting elements and a connecting element can be moved back and forth with two extendable or foldable supports.

Claims (12)

A vessel with a rowing device comprising two or more elongated hulls, wherein at least a first and a second hull of the hulls (2) each comprise one or more inflatable floating compartments, characterized in that at least the first hull has a first frame (1) which extends in the longitudinal axis of the first hull and can be extended and retracted in parts in the longitudinal axis, at least the second hull comprises a second frame which extends in the longitudinal axis of the second hull and in the longitudinal axis in parts is extendable and extendable, the first and the second frame in extended or extended position extend from at least near the bow to at least near the fence of the first hull, the inflatable floating compartments are placed under the first and / or second frame, each frame comprising at least two girders that run parallel to each other and are spaced apart, such that the girders are positioned at least near opposite sides of the hull and the vessel further comprises one or more connecting elements (3) connecting the first and second hull relative to each other in a more or less parallel, juxtaposed position, the rowing device being placed on the one or more multiple connecting elements. Vessel according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and / or the second frame consists of tubes that fit into each other and that can be slid in and out. 3. Vessel as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the one or more connecting elements are foldable or extendable. Vessel according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the rowing device comprises two extendable, then foldable, spacers (7). 5. Vessel as claimed in any of the claims 1-4, characterized in that the rowing device comprises an interpreter structure that can be moved back and forth in sailing direction. Vessel according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two retractable and extendable oars (10). 7. Vessel as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the vented first and / or second hull with the first and / or second frame retracted and connecting elements is arranged to provide the vessel with a few simple folding and sliding movements and aerating the prepare floating compartments for the purpose of use. Vessel according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer dimensions of the vessel in the retracted and / or folded and vented condition are such that it can be placed in a passenger car, in particular in the cargo space thereof. 9. Vessel as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the first frame, the second frame and / or the connecting elements are made of a rigid material, and wherein at least the first hull, at least the floating compartments thereof, are substantially made of a flexible material . 10. Vessel according to claim 9, wherein the first frame, the second frame and / or the connecting elements are made of a lightweight material. The vessel of claim 10, wherein the lightweight material comprises a fiber-reinforced plastic. The vessel of claim 10, wherein the lightweight material comprises a lightweight metal, preferably aluminum. -o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o- 2001 1 78