Abstract: An inflatable boat for high speed towing applications having a compartmentalized hull and an improved tow-ring mounted beneath the hull, the hull including first and second buoyancy chambers, the second chamber being vertically disposed beneath the first chamber. Inclined, flexible reinforcing partitions are substantially vertically disposed within the second buoyancy chamber to substantially divide the chamber into a plurality of sub-chambers, and restrain the bottom wall of the chamber upon inflation, to form outwardly projecting convex arcuate portions having longitudinal grooves defined therebetween. The tow-ring includes a reinforced hollow structure having interior reinforcing walls and a convexly curved top wall, portions of the walls together defining a peripherally disposed pair of longitudinal tie-line tunnels and a transverse tie-line tunnel, sized to receive a tie-line therethrough.

Abstract: A rigid inflatable boat of the kind comprising a hull with an inflatable bouyancy collar, in which the collar comprises a number of separate inflatable members each of which has an axially extending bore so that it may be securely attached to mountings on the hull straps passing through it. Additional mountings may be provided on the deck so that spare inflatable members can be carried on deck for use as seats by the crew. These are used to replace the collar members in the event of accidental damage to them.

Abstract: A rigidifier for an inflatable boat of the type having a flexible floor and an inflatable tubular portion around the periphery of the floor forming a cockpit. The rigidifier comprises a floorboard member removable from and receivable in the cockpit to overlay the floor. The member is rigid in one direction to provide rigidity to the floor and collapsible in another direction so that it may be rolled up after being removed from the cockpit. The rigidifier further comprises a framework adapted for detachable connection to the floorboard member to provide rigidity to the floorboard member in another direction so that rigidity is provided to the floor of the boat in substantially all directions.

Abstract: A knockdown type inflatable sailboat which has a carrier system composed of two inflatable rafts assembled with a plurality of U-like fastening elements of a hull assembly and which uses a power system located on the bow with a main mast to support a sail which is further fastened by means of a rod and two riggings, and a steering system composed of rudders and water breakers.

Abstract: A self-bailing stabilized life raft includes a bailing chamber located between a stabilization chamber and a flotation platform. Water received from a flexible floor of the flotation platform is exhaused from the bailing chamber in response to wave and/or occupant interaction with the life raft. A raft inflation apparatus includes a pump chamber actuated by raft motion.

Abstract: An inflatable catamaran which may be constructed principally of plastic sheet stock and plastic tubing and be easily assembled for use and disassembled for storage and shipping. A catamaran with inflatable pontoons having fore and aft pockets on each side thereof and spreader members with depending ends spaced laterally for inserting into the pontoon pockets joining the pontoons and spreader members in a rectangular catamaran configuration. A deck may be formed between the spreader members, and mast and keel are attached to one spreader member and a rudder to the other spreader member.

Abstract: An inflatable boat assembly comprises a hull including a recess disposed at the front outside portion thereof and longitudinal grooves disposed at the outer side walls thereof, and an inflatable U-shaped floating tube containing longitudinal projecting rails disposed at the inner side walls thereof for tightly engaging the tube to the hull whereby the boat assembly provides an improved floating force which produces improved safety against sinking.

Abstract: A floatable water craft which includes a first relatively large doughnut-shaped inner tube and a pair of second and third doughnut-shaped inner tubes. The inner tubes are preferably inflated with air although they may be filled with a foam material for adding additional buoyancy thereto. A frame is carried by the large inner tube and the frame includes an elongated longitudinal support member resting on diametrically opposite sides of the inner tube and a lateral cross support having opposite end portions resting on opposite sides of the first inner tube adjacent the longitudinal axis defined by the longitudinal support member. The ends of the lateral cross member hold the outrigger arms and include apparatus for mounting the second and third inner tube thereto for stabilizing the craft as per conventional outrigger devices. The apparatus may include an electric motor driven power drive unit and a steering device therefore.

Abstract: A boat, especially a catamaran, having a rectangular collapsible frame with a one-man mast stepping structure. The tubular frame is comprised of fore, aft and central sub-frame assemblies which can be collapsed so as to be easily car topable and serve as a rack for containing other components of the catamaran. Inflatable hulls are secured in bracket arches on the undersides of the sub-frame assemblies. A rudder frame or cage is pivotally mounted on an aft sub-frame assembly and is adapted to receive a rudder, which is identical to and interchangeable with daggerboards. A system of adjustable rope stays is provided for adjusting the mast.

Abstract: A convertible, collapsible shelter apparatus for use on land and in a body of water comprises a buoyant vehicle in combination with a shelter assembly. The buoyant vehicle has (a) an inflatable frame, (b) a flexible member whose perimeter is sealingly attached to the frame, and (c) anchors for holding a spaced plurality of pole members. The shelter assembly has (a) a plurality of struts which are removably held by the anchors and extend upwardly therefrom and across the floor, (b) a flexible cover supported by the struts and which extends to proximate the perimeter of floor and has an entrance for an occupant of the shelter; (c) an inflatable cushion which covers the frame and is removably retained against the floor by the frame, and (d) fasteners for holding a bottom portion of the cover proximate an edge of the cushion. When the cushion, the struts, and the cover are removed from the vehicle to form a tent, the fasteners are capable of maintaining the cover proximate the cushion.

Abstract: Aquatic vessels having inflatable hull envelopes that receive transversely (i.e., are transected by) tie members for carrying framework upon which decking, propulsion devices, etc. are supported. The hull envelopes, which are generally cigar-shaped, are located side by side, with or without spacing of adjacent envelopes apart. Engine-propulsion and/or wind-propulsion devices can be supported on the framework, with or without adaptation of the envelopes thereto. Such vessels are useful for general transportation or for special recreational uses such as carrying persons for deep-sea fishing, or pulling persons on water skies along the surface, or persons held aloft by a parachute-like sail (or "parasail") above the surface, and are capable of high-speed travel.

Abstract: An inflatable life raft which forms a passenger receptacle, has a removable canopy for covering the passenger receptacle and is formed from a flexible walled housing which includes inner and outer walls, with a plurality of chambers being formed between the walls. A bleeder mechanism, in the form of a plurality of cords disposed in the chambers keep substantially all of the areas of the chambers in communication with each other so that inflation and more especially deflation, can be readily accomplished without forming air pockets caused by the inner and outer chamber walls sticking together precluding the free flow of air.

Abstract: An inflatable sailboat which may be constructed principally of plastic sheet stock and plastic tubing and be easily assembled for use and disassembled for storage and shipping. A sailboat with an inflatable hull having a plurality of tubing anchors mounted thereon for slidingly receiving anchor rods to locate and support a mast fitting on the upper side, a keel at the bow and a rudder at the stern. A mast and sail which are readily assembled and mounted on the hull and which are readily disassembled for storage and shipping.

Abstract: A liferaft having a seat chamber which serves as a cushion between occupants of the raft and a deck in a "dry evacuation" situation, to avoid occupants, in a partially filled raft, from totally compressing the seat chamber and suffering injury due to impacting the deck. The seat chamber is internally divided by dividers into a plurality of sub-compartments each divider being in the form of a wall which allows gas to pass for inflation but resists rapid expulsion of gas from any one subcompartment upon impact.

Abstract: A hull is provided with two pneumatic side stabilizers jointed pointwise at the front and housed in longitudinal concavities formed on the side of the hull. Each stabilizer is received at its front end in a tapering cover formed at the prow of the boat and is removable in order to be stored in the inflated state inside the boat, thereby reducing the width of the boat for road transport.

Abstract: This invention relates to a small scale semi-submersible boat for naval combat comprising a hull of which a first, water-tight part is insubmersible and a second part is submersible.In the submersible part of the hull is accommodated at least one balloon or caisson serving as float which has a wall capable of being perforated and is inflated by means of a gas to enable the boat to float, the said boat also having a device for perforating the wall of the aforesaid balloon or caisson of a similar boat of an opponent, so as to damage the buoyancy of the opponent's boat.

Abstract: Apertures in the floor of an inflatable boat are provided to render it self-bailing. They are formed by grommets penetrating the permanently-attached, continuous and integral floor which extends from one lateral buoyancy tube to the other, preferably in a thickened region thereof comprising a flange attachment to the tubes. They are overhung by the buoyancy tubes, when the floor is generally horizontal. An area in the central region of the floor is raised above the waterline of the boat.

Abstract: A collapsible sail board is disclosed which includes an inflatable flotation member, a multisection mast, a collapsible boom, a sail, and a keel. The mast is detachably mounted on the upper side of the inflatable member so it is universally pivotable with respect thereto, and the keel is detachably mounted on the under side of the inflatable member with an attachment pocket which firmly secures the keel to the inflatable member when the latter is in an inflated condition. The sail board is lightweight and totally collapsible to a size which allows it to be contained within a suitcase so that it is easily transportable.

Abstract: A boat of the type having a rigid hull portion is provided about the periphery thereof with a slotted retaining channel for receiving a first boltrope of a shroud which is provided on an opposite edge with a second, parallel boltrope; a plurality of individual slotted channel segments are attachable to the second boltrope and releasably attachable to the interior of the hull; inflatable bladders are disposed in and retained by the shroud.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a rubber boat including a boat body composed of a ring-shaped air barrel and a bottom cloth which is provided to be spread on the lower surface of the air barrel and has a mounting opening for receiving an air mat; and a boat bottom composed of the air mat. The air mat is fitted into the mounting opening, and the peripheral portion of the air mat and the marginal portion around the mounting opening are connected together by a connecting cord in such a manner as to define a drain space therebetween.

Abstract: The present invention describes an inflatable, removable keel for use with an inflatable rubber boat. The keel is interposed between the dunnage and the bottom sheet of the boat and includes at least one tab pair connected to a rigid zone present on the keel. The tab pair bears gripping strips which are adapted to cooperate automatically and removably with complementary gripping strips found on the bottom sheet.

Abstract: A water bicycle comprising two relatively parallel, elongated floating bodies and a frame supported by said floating bodies provided with a seat whereby each of the floating bodies is provided with a frame part supported by the associated floating body and a spacing member is releasably arranged between the two frame parts for maintaining the frame parts at a given distance from the other and the floating bodies connected therewith, the seat being supported by an auxiliary frame provided with two guides cooperating with guides forming part of the frame parts on the floating bodies so that in the longitudinal direction of the floating bodies the guide parts are slidable over or in one another, while bolt are provided for fixing the guides in a desired position relative to one another.

Abstract: A circular floatation vehicle, particularly for rafting as an amusement ride, the vehicle having an annular tube with a circular platform inset, wherein the platform inset is constructed with a central contoured core to seat a plurality of occupants around the core, whereby the core provides a common back rest and seat, allowing the occupants to be seated around the core facing outward from the center of the floatation vehicle for improved visibility and safety.

Abstract: A flexible protective device is formed with a base member of bendable material having a resilient pad on one surface, a thin plastic coating on the opposite surface, and a plurality of bendable arms extending from the base member. The base member of one embodiment is provided with a pivot hinge to allow adaptability to any angular configuration. Another embodiment uses a bendable spine with extensions therefrom.The methods of making and using this protective device are also part of the invention.

Abstract: A gas-inflatable, floating, portable, seat is especially adapted for supporting a child or other person in sitting position and is designed to be used in a boat or other vehicle or independently float on the water. The seat includes a first, generally annular-shaped, lower, inflatable float chamber fabricated from flexible sheet material adapted to provide needed buoyancy when placed in the water. A second, generally annular-shaped, upper, inflatable float chamber is secured on top of the first chamber and is formed with an open segment on a backside thereof to accommodate an upright seat back and the second chamber provides armrests on opposite sides of the seat back. A separately inflatable, seat cushion is detachably mounted on the lower float chamber in the open segment of the second float chamber.

Abstract: A device for releasably connecting a rigid deck and a rigid hull to the covers of the bladders of an inflatable boat comprises an assemblage of two rigid plates joined together along their edges to form a sealed chamber which is fastened to the covers of the bladders, or directly to these latter, through bolts acting through the intermediary of suitable pressure elements. Holes passing through the edges of the two rigid plates are provided for the bolts.

Abstract: A rigid inflatable boat (RIB) has a rigid hull portion and a flexible hull portion with a connection between them. The connection is provided by a boltrope, or the like, received in a grooved anchor. The flexible hull portion includes an enclosure, preferably of a conforming fabric, with a number of inflatable bladders enclosed by the fabric. The boltrope is preferably attached to the fabric of the enclosure by textile tape and stitching. The enclosure fabric is impregnated with a finishing material, such as a resin, while in the position it will be in when containing inflated bladders, and is cured in that configuration. A transom is pivotally mounted to the rigid hull portion, and braces hold the transom in an upright position during use. The sides of the transom are scalloped to receive and position the flexible hull portion, and a significant amount of the flexible hull portion extends aft of the transom.

Abstract: A plurality of rod elements, an inflatable mattress and a cover are configured so that they can be assembled to form a stable raft having good flotation characteristics for supporting an adult individual while traversing a body of water. The components used to form the raft can be reassembled to form a tent. The components can also be disassembled and packaged into a compact, lightweight parcel for easy backpacking.

Abstract: The boat comprises in combination two lateral canvases (8) disposed tangentially to the two compartments (6,7), and a bottom canvas (11) held under tension by a longitudinal keel (9) interposed between a floor (10) and said bottom canvas (11).

Abstract: A tube cover has top and bottom flat portions stitched together along mutual peripheral edges, and a hitch which consists of a plurality of crossing straps that are interconnected by stitching, and a D-ring attached to one of the straps.

Abstract: A boat has an inflatable buoyancy tube attached to a rigid hull by clamping an edge portion of the hull between flexible flanges secured to the tube, using comparatively rigid clamping strips. The clamping strips are pressed together by a releasable securing arrangement passing through the gunwale of the hull, for example nuts and bolts spaced along the strips. Tightenable straps anchored by the bolts may be added for extra security.

Abstract: A mast supporting structure for an inflatable dinghy including a pair of stringers for connection to the floor of the dinghy, a mast receiving tube adapted to receive the lower end of a mast, a transverse support member resting on the floor of the dinghy and which supports the lower end of the mast receiving tube, and a plurality of struts. The transverse support member is connected to one of the stringers at each of its ends and each strut being connected at one end to the mast supporting tube and at the other end to one of the stringers. The mast supporting structure may be connected together in articulated fashion so that it may be collapsed into a neat package in which all the parts lie alongside one another for transport and storage. When erected the mast supporting structure is connected to the floor of an inflatable dinghy and provides a rigid support for a sail carrying mast.

Abstract: Bifacial inflatable life raft structure defining a plurality of boarding stations equally useable by evacuees irrespective of facial orientation of the structure upon a body of water. Sea ballast structure with such a life raft is also disclosed.

Abstract: An automatically disconnecting connector apparatus for a floatable device, such as a fisherman's float tube, includes one coupling member having an aperture and another coupling member having another aperture. The other coupling member is bifurcated so that it can receive the first-mentioned coupling member therein. In this relationship, the apertures of the coupling members are aligned for receiving a shaft of a pin member which is retained in the apertures by gravity when the floatable device is in an upright position. The pin member is automatically extracted in response to gravity when the floatable device is overturned, thereby automatically disconnecting the connector apparatus.

Abstract: An inflatable boat is provided with a multi-keel by having an inflatable member or members constrained to lie between the flexible skin of the boat and a reaction surface. Preferably there is a rigid deck as a reaction surface overlying the flexible skin with two parallel inflatable tubes under the deck spaced apart by a distance equal to half the width of the deck.

Abstract: A gas-inflatable, floatable, portable seat is especially adapted for supporting a child or other person in sitting position and is designed to be attached to a boat or other vehicle or be independently floatable on the water. The seat comprises a first, generally annular-shaped lower inflatable float chamber fabricated from flexible sheet material defining a lower leg compartment for a person and adapted to provide needed buoyancy when placed in the water. A second, generally annular-shaped, upper inflatable float chamber is secured on top of the first chamber and is formed with an open segment on a backside thereof to provide armrests on opposite sides of the open segment. An inflatable seat structure comprises an upstanding back projecting upwardly of the second float chamber with a generally upstanding outer back face and a seat cushion projecting inwardly of the back into the leg compartment through the open segment of the second float chamber to support a child or person in sitting position.

Abstract: According to the invention, a folding, semi-rigid inflatable boat has a rigid hull portion with a rigid bow half and rigid stern half connected by a transverse hinge. The hull portion has a top extending from the bow along opposite sides of the boat to the stern. The top of the hull portion is below the gunwales of the boat. An inflatable gunwale portion extends rearwardly from the bow of the boat watertightly along the top of the hull portion on opposite sides of the boat.

Abstract: An inflatable portable boat is disclosed having a pair of spaced apart sockets or aperture members attached to the rear of the boat. An electric motor is provided with a housing having upper and lower pins. The sockets are spread apart to allow insertion of the pins, and when released, the sockets hold the motor assembly in place. A handle is inserted in the upper pin of the motor housing to allow the motorboat to be turned within the sockets to provide directional control for the motorboat.

Abstract: A linked vehicle includes several units which are arranged one after another in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and are connected by bending links with one another so that the individual units can pivot relative to one another. The individual units can include two frame parts which can be built of one or more floating members and can be connected with one another by cross-connecting members. Rigidly constructed baskets can be inserted into open regions provided in the individual units. According to a further development of the invention, the units have sliding surfaces provided on their underside and possibly also on their side walls, which sliding surfaces can support the links on a fixed base and are made of a slidable material which has, on the material of the fixed base, a friction coefficient which is as low as possible. The base can be formed by a channel in which the vehicle is driven and guided by potential energy.

Abstract: A demountable catamaran has a pair of inflatable hull structures each comprising an inflatable hull tube (4) and an extruded generally rectangular aluminium tubular beam (5) having at its lower surface two inclined support surfaces on opposite sides of a channel having a narrow entry. The hull tube (4) has an upstanding web extending through the entry to carry an enlarged bead (15) within the channel to lock the inflatable tube to the hull beam (5). The hull beams (5) are secured by demountable joints to cross beams (2) and (3). The seam of each hull carries a rudder assembly which can yield when the rudder hits an underwater obstruction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic boat of the inflatable-deflatable type capable of being propelled by a motor and comprising at least one inflatable member forming two parallel or substantially parallel arms joined at the front to form a stem-post and a rear board connecting these two arms and intended to receive or to house at least one motor, the two arms having, at least in their parallel or substantially parallel portions, a multi-lobe shaped cross section whose large axis slopes. The boat is characterized by the fact that a lateral canvas is fixed tangentially to at least some of the lobes on the outer side of the respective arm and by the fact that the slope of the large axis of the arm, the relative size of the lobes of this arm and the number of these lobes are such that the mean angle formed by this lateral canvas and the horizontal plane is between 5.degree. and 45.degree..

Abstract: A planing type boat having a water ballast chamber provided at the bottom of the boat includes a partition wall provided in the water ballast chamber to divide the chamber into front and rear compartments and formed with an opening for communicating these compartments with each other. In the initial stage of planing, the water in the rear compartment is fastly discharged due to a combined action of inertia, gravity and aspiration induced by the outside flow whereas the water in the front compartment which is restricted in its rearward flow by the partition wall structure is discharged relatively slowly as compared with the water in the rear compartment. The weight of the water therefore substantially acts on the front compartment in the initial stage of planing thereby effectively preventing the bow of the boat from being excessively lifted with the result that the time required for entering a complete planing is minimized.

Abstract: An inflatable, reversible liferaft designed to carry several persons and having an integral reserve buoyancy compartment which may be inflated at the discretion of the passengers in an emergency.

Abstract: An expansion type life-saving raft, in which the life saving raft is folded with the awning thereof being placed inside when it is housed in a container, after which fitting members are fixedly provided at opposite positions on the outer peripheral part of the annular gas chamber which is folded in mutual confrontation, and subsequently providing a fastening mechanism, which is capable of being ruptured, etc. by force of expansion of the annular gas chamber, between the fitting members, thereby making it possible to expand the raft with the awning thereof being positioned upward without failure so as to enable individuals to promptly be evacuated into the life-saving raft.

Abstract: A rigid inflatable boat (RIB) is provided having multiple inflatable bladders defining a ring around the hull generally at or above the waterline, with the inflatable bladders connected to the hull and to each other in a manner facilitating rapid mounting and demounting, and easy repair, thereof. A positioning structure, such as a through-extending hole, is formed in the hull for positioning each bladder with respect to the hull, and a holding structure, such as a separate inflatable portion of the bladder, or a rigid flange, or a strap is associated with each bladder to cooperate with the positioning structure to releasably hold each bladder to the hull at the positioning structure when the bladder is inflated, while allowing ready demounting when the bladder is deflated. The bladders may be provided with interlocking end structures to stabilize the positions of the bladders with respect to each other, and the hull. A shroud or shrouds may also surround the bladders.

Abstract: An inflatable bottom structure in an inflatable boat avoids blisters in the xposed, heavy duty outer walls of superimposed upper and lower inflatable floors by a composite wall construction wherein an outer layer of synthetic rubber material, in which a heavy woven synthetic fiber fabric is embedded, and an inner synthetic rubber layer, disposed on a flexible tension strand holding scrim cloth layer, are fused and cured into a unitary wall.

Abstract: An inflatable boat having parallel side sponsons joined by a floor and hag a rigid keelson member includes a demountable transom capable of supporting an outboard motor. The transom is characterized by a motor mount pad connected to the keelson and having folding attachment arms connected to the sponsons.

Abstract: A self-collapsible, inflatable device consists of a sheet made of a thermoplastic material having a memory set such that it forms into a coil when unrestrained and at least one inflatable member, semi-rigid when inflated and capable of being coiled when deflated, the inflatable member being mounted on a surface of the sheet which assumes a concave shape when the sheet is allowed to form into a coil. In one preferred embodiment the sheet includes upper and lower sheet members joined at their respective leading edges and the inflatable member is attached to the lower surface of the upper sheet and the upper surface of the lower sheet. The inflatable member and the upper and lower sheets are arranged such that the self-collapsible device coils itself when the inflatable member is deflated.

Abstract: A watercraft, which is propelled by a swivellable propulsion fin, which extends from its swivel axle parallel to the longitudinal direction of the watercraft and which is swivellable laterally by a drive device. The swivellable propulsion fin is arranged on the stern of the watercraft in the prolongation thereof.

Abstract: An inflatable boat includes a mechanical propulsion assembly operable by the legs of the user. The inflatable boat has three independent air chambers inflatable to give the boat an operative fork shape. A throw-like shaft mounted in bushes on the branches of the fork shape receives propulsive force from the user's feet. A pair of paddles keyed to the throw-like shaft propel the boat. Shoe-like sheaths may be included on the throw-like shaft for resting the user's feet. When dismantled, the boat does not occupy much space, is easily transportable and is inexpensive.