Abstract: A craft includes a rigid hull (1) that consists of a V-shaped bottom (5) and a bridge (4) on which a load can rest. The hull includes plating consisting of compartmentalized pneumatic floats (2), the rear compartments (32) of which are combined with an inflation and deflation system so as to vary the buoyancy of the craft. The craft also includes a submergible hull (1), the central cavity (9) of which is formed between the bottom (5) and the bridge (4) and is open at the rear so as to be automatically filled or emptied, the central cavity (9) containing at least one bag (10) that is combined with an inflation and deflation system enabling the buoyancy to be varied and consequently the level of immersion of the stern (7) to be changed as needed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a boat (1) with a general contour defined by a periphery of predetermined shape and comprising a float (2) closed on itself along the periphery and formed by at least one floating tube (3); this tube is longer than this periphery and extends locally within the periphery towards the inside (INT) of the boat and has a curved portion (5) with a concavity turned towards the outside (EXT) and defining a re-entrant zone (7); a tent fabric (15) is fixed, along the periphery defining the general contour of the boat, to the tube except for the portion (5) defining the re-entrant zone (7).

Abstract: The invention relates to a flotation element for vessels, consisting of concrete comprising closed-cell expanded foam beads, such as polypropylene beads, which are coated with a flexible binder, such as polyurethane, whereby the unfilled inter-bead volumes do not exceed approximately 20% of the volume of the floatation element. Preferably, one such floatation element comprises a concrete core as indicated above, a polyurethane coating around the core and a bonding film, such as polyurethane, which is disposed between the core and the coating. The invention is suitable for the construction of vessel floats.

Abstract: A sea survival device (1) comprising a container (2) with several shells (3, 4) enclosing respective pneumatic liferafts (5, 6) in the deflated and folded-up state, and inflation means; one half-shell (4) enclosing a liferaft (6) is closed by a closure partition (7); the automatically triggered inflation means are operationally associated with at least the first liferaft (5) in a manner such that said first liferaft (5) is inflated first when the survival device (1) is deployed operationally; and the liferaft (6) is operationally associated with inflation trigger means suitable for trigging inflation thereof only once the first liferaft (5) is inflated.

Abstract: Support device (1) for a container enclosing a pneumatic life raft, comprising a support plate (2) and means (3) for stowing the container on the plate which comprises two separate bases (4) located opposite one another, in line with one another and at a distance from one another; the stowing means being able to comprise a rigid bar (5) of variable length extending from one base to the other by spanning the container with one end (6) articulated in rotation (11, 12) on a base (4a) and its other end (7) which may be fixed by releasable fixing means to the other base (4b); blocking means (8) blocking the container transversely to the bar; said support device may support containers of various dimensions.

Abstract: The inventive inflatable life raft comprises a peripheral pneumatic float (1) and a bottom (2) fixed thereto and is characterised in that a mechanically résistant belt (4) extends along the float (1) circumference, is fixed thereto along the entire length thereof and said belt (4) bears or incorporâtes fixing means (8) for at least one towing line in such a way that towing forces are distributed through the entire circumference of the float and the raft can withstand high towing forces without any damages.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and devices for launching into the water, from a height H greater than a predetermined height hmax, a life-saving object designed to be able to be launched into the water in free fall from this maximum height hmax. One end of a halyard is fixedly hooked to the life-saving object or to the launch site; the halyard functionally cooperates respectively with the launch site or the life-saving object so that the life-saving object falling by gravity is braked on and/or by the halyard over at least one part (H-hmax) of its drop height. By controlling the braking effect, the life-saving object, falling from the height H in a braked manner over at least one part (H-hmax) of this height hits the surface of the water (5) with a kinetic energy not exceeding that which it would have at the end of a non-braked free fall from at most the height hmax.

Abstract: An inflatable boat possessing at least two inflatable chambers (1) and a device (2) for distributing gas under pressure, the device comprising: a leaktight enclosure (3) possessing a first orifice (5) and at least two second orifices (6) connected to said chambers (1); at least two closure valves (7) associated respectively with the two second orifices (6) and normally urged into a position for closing the respective second orifices (6); and means (9) for simultaneously driving all of the closure valves (7) selectively in the opening direction or in the closing direction; this makes it possible to control simultaneous inflation or deflation of all the inflatable chambers (1).

Abstract: Apparatus including an inflatable enclosure delimited by a flexible wall to which an accessory is secured. The wall has an opening defined by an edge to which a protruding reinforcement is secured; two rigid frames straddle the edge of the opening on each side of the wall, at least one frame including a groove accommodating the reinforcement; the two frames are clamped against one another, trapping the reinforcement in the groove; the accessory is secured to a frame; and the accessory mounted on the wall is leaktight with respect to the fluid used for inflating the enclosure.

Abstract: An inflatable boat comprising: an inflatable float that is U-shaped and open at the stern, and that braced by a transom; a floor that is disposed inside the space defined by the float, and a V-shaped keel formed of a flexible canvas sheet fastened to the float and to the transom and tensioned by a longitudinal inflatable keel-forming spacer interposed between the floor and the canvas sheet; the inflatable keel-forming spacer is formed by at least two elongate and flat chambers inflated under a relatively high pressure; and the two chambers have their respective bottom longitudinal edges touching and their respective top longitudinal edges spaced apart from each other so that the keel-forming spacer is generally V-shaped in cross-section.

Abstract: Life raft (1) launched by davit (7) and comprising for this purpose hanging means (4, 5) able to be held in a hook (6) suspended from the davit (7), this raft (1) being fitted out with equipment comprising at least one load (102) that is heavy or heavier than the others, which raft is characterized in that the heavy or heavier load (102) is attached to the aforesaid raft hanging means (4, 5), as a result of which, when the raft is hoisted by the davit, the heavy load or at least the heaviest load remains suspended from the raft hanging means without touching the raft, and the raft, being much better balanced, occupies a more horizontal position.

Abstract: Pneumatic boat (1) including two inflatable buoyancy chambers (2) extending at least on either side and kept spaced apart by a rigid bottom and by a rear panel (6), at least one stabilizing flap (15) being secured to the base of the rear panel (6) so as to extend rearwards beyond the latter; the flap (15) is fixed to the base of the rear panel (6) by a wing (11) and screws (12) capable of allowing the flap to occupy, selectively, a functional position and a nonfunctional position; the flap (15) is dimensioned and shaped such that, in the functional position, it extends, laterally, beyond the lateral edge of the base of the rear panel (6) and such that its lateral edge (16) is engaged under the corresponding inflatable chamber (2) and simply bears freely, vertically upwards, against the latter.

Abstract: A semi-rigid pneumatic boat (1) comprising: a rigid hull (2) defined by a rigid underwater hull (3) closed on the top by a rigid floor (4) and bordered on two sides by two pneumatic floats (5); a ballast (8) arranged in the rear part of the rigid hull (2) and pumping means for filling it with water or emptying it thereof; two pneumatic chambers (10) defined in the respective rear parts of the two floats (5) and pneumatically isolated from the rest of the floats; means (12, 13) for inflating and means (14) for deflating the rear chambers; the boat having no rear board; thus, by filling the ballast (8) and by deflating the rear chambers (10) the boat is nosed up, with its rear part submerged and a load (25) may be brought closer, against the floor (4), and then by emptying the ballast and re-inflating the chambers (10) the boat is set afloat, supporting the load (25).

Abstract: An inflatable boat with a V-shaped hull comprising at least a central longitudinal strip that is rigid, and that is made up of a plurality of longitudinal segments assembled together end-to-end, and secured together by releasable fixing means which comprise: at each side top end, at least one longitudinally-extending projecting finger on an end of one segment and at least one respective facing longitudinal recess provided in the abutting end of the adjacent segment; and, in the tip portion of the V-shape and inside the hull, at least one connection member on an end of one segment, and at least one corresponding connection member situated inside the adjacent segment, and a retaining pin suitable for being engaged through the mutually aligned perforations in the two connection members.

Abstract: The boat is delimited around its perimeter by a float closed upon itself and comprising at least two superposed floating fender sections. The lower fender section is longer than the upper fender section and extends locally beyond the upper fender section towards the outside. The projecting region delimited by the lower fender section beyond the upper fender section is covered by a covering fixed to the projecting portion of the lower fender section and to that part of the upper fender section bordering this projecting region. Thus, the boat is provided with a projecting zone forming a low platform area onto which a person in the water can raise himself or herself in order to get into the boat more easily.

Abstract: A rigid container having a generally horizontal elongated and non-parallelepiped shape, for containing a pneumatic inflatable life raft in deflated and folded state, is detailed. The container may be formed by two respectively upper and lower mutually assembled half-shells. The lower half-shell has, on its outer convex face, a zone with generally planar axial surface whereby the container can rest in stable position on a subjacent substantially planar support surface.

Abstract: Composite-shell pneumatic craft convertible into a closed box, having a rigid hull and an inflatable float fixed to the edge thereof, a removable rigid panel constituting a lid for the hull containing the deflated float; a profile fixed along the outer edge of the hull comprises a supporting flank and a groove with narrow opening which opens into an upper wall close to the flank; the groove holds a bead joined to flexible skirt of the float; the upper wall, in its part adjacent to the groove opposite to the flank, can support a lip of the removable panel; a portion of the flank cooperates with members for fixing the profile to the hull.

Abstract: Device for removably securing an oar (3) to an edge of a boat, comprising an oarlock (4) accommodating a coupling member secured to the shaft (6) of the oar (3); the oarlock (4) comprises a base (7) supporting, via a spindle (22), a pivoting transverse arm (12) which has a cylindrical housing (13) opening into its front end (14) and locking means which have, to the rear and along the axis of the orifice of the housing (13), selectively a section provided with a hole (15) of the same diameter as the housing and a section provided with a hole (16) of a smaller diameter; a pivot (17) secured radially to the shaft (6) of the oar (3) having the same diameter as the housing (13) and hollowed by an annular groove (18) of a diameter equal to the smaller diameter of the locking means.

Abstract: A device (1) for attaching a flexible linear element to an inflatable tube of an inflatable craft comprising a stud (2) in the shape of a spherical cap with a discoidal mounting base (3) and with a through passage (4) with a cylindrical central channel (5) extended on both sides by two flattened slots (6), this passage (4) emerging in a cavity (7) formed in the stud (2); the end of the flexible linear element (18,29) is made fast to a locking peg (19) that engages with a wedge action in the central channel (5); the locking peg (19) comprises a shank (20) made up of two axial parts (21,22) capable of gripping the end of the flexible linear element and an enlarged head (26) integral with an axial part (21,22) and capable of engaging in the cavity (7) to form a fastening.