FLOATING VESSEL SYSTEMS AND METHODS

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide floating vessels. A floating vessels is provided by assembling a hull with an integrated multi-beam keel system to a deck to form one or more sealable cavities in which various type of goods may be stored, such as food, electronics, drinks, and/or other goods that a user desires to keep segregated from surrounding water and/or environment while traveling to, from, and on a body of water, such as a pond, river, lake, or ocean, for example, or while visiting a pool. The hull, deck, and any sealing lids of for the floating vessel may be thermally insulating so as to keep goods sealed within thermally isolated from surrounding water and/or the general environment. The floating vessel may include one or more strap anchors and/or fitted slots configured to secure a portage assembly to the floating vessel to facilitate conveying the floating vessel over land to and from a body of water.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/904,288 filed Oct. 3, 2023 and entitled FLOATING VESSEL, which is a continuation of U.S. Design Pat. App. No. 29/888,027 filed Mar. 27, 2023 and entitled FLOATING VESSEL, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

One or more embodiments of the invention relate generally to vessels and more particularly, for example, to systems and methods for conveying goods via floating and/or wheeled vessels.

BACKGROUND

Conveying goods safely and securely during water-based activities can be difficult to accomplish, for example when the goods need to be segregated from surrounding water and environment (i.e., kept clean and/or dry). In particular, with respect to outdoor water-based activities, conventional vessels lack stability and portability and can present a significant disincentive against storing or conveying expensive and/or potable goods. Thus, there is a need for an improved methodology to provide floating vessels, particularly in the context of outdoor activities.

SUMMARY

Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide floating vessels. In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, floating vessels may be provided by assembling a hull with an integrated multi-beam keel system to a deck to form one or more sealable cavities in which various type of goods may be stored, such as food, electronics, drinks, and/or other goods that a user desires to keep segregated from surrounding water and/or environment while traveling to, from, and on a body of water, such as a pond, river, lake, or ocean, for example, or while visiting a pool. In some embodiments, the hull, deck, and any sealing lids of for the floating vessel may be thermally insulating so as to keep goods sealed within thermally isolated from surrounding water and/or the general environment. In further embodiments, the floating vessel may include one or more strap anchors and/or fitted slots configured to secure a portage assembly to the floating vessel to facilitate conveying the floating vessel over land to and from a body of water.

In one embodiment, a floating vessel may include a hull including an integrated multi-beam keel system comprising two or more longitudinal keel beams; a deck fastened to the hull; and one or more sealing lids coupled to the deck and configured to form one or more sealable cavities via the hull, the deck, and/or the one or more sealing lids.

The scope of the invention is defined by the claims, which are incorporated into this section by reference. A more complete understanding of embodiments of the invention will be afforded to those skilled in the art, as well as a realization of additional advantages thereof, by a consideration of the following detailed description of one or more embodiments. Reference will be made to the appended sheets of drawings that will first be described briefly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram of a floating vessel in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a diagram of a floating vessel in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIGS. 3A-3B illustrate diagrams of floating vessels in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates a diagram of a flexible strap for a floating vessel in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates a diagram of a portage assembly for a floating vessel in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method of attaching a portage assembly to a floating vessel in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates a diagram of a floating vessel with a portage assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

Embodiments of the invention and their advantages are best understood by referring to the detailed description that follows. It should be appreciated that like reference numerals are used to identify like elements illustrated in one or more of the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, floating vessels may be provided by assembling a hull with an integrated multi-beam keel system to a deck to form one or more sealable cavities in which various type of goods may be stored, such as food, electronics, drinks, and/or other goods that a user desires to keep segregated from surrounding water and/or environment while traveling to, from, and on a body of water, such as a pond, river, lake, or ocean, for example, or while visiting a pool. In some embodiments, the hull, deck, and any sealing lids of for the floating vessel may be thermally insulating so as to keep goods sealed within thermally isolated from surrounding water and/or the general environment. In further embodiments, the floating vessel may include one or more strap anchors and/or fitted slots configured to secure a portage assembly to the floating vessel to facilitate conveying the floating vessel over land to and from a body of water.

FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram of a floating vessel 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1, floating vessel 100 includes hull 110 attached via fasteners 124 to deck 120, which may be shaped and/or configured to coupled to and/or receive one or more sealing lids 130 and form one or more sealable cavities 112 via hull 110, deck 120, and/or sealing lids 130. For example, in some embodiments, deck 120 may include a recessed step or recess 160 configured to receive sealing lid 130 and form a substantially flush upper surface for floating vessel 100, as can be seen more clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3B. In some embodiments, floating vessel 100 may include two or more sealing lids 130, for example, and one, two, or more segregated sealable cavities 112, which may in some embodiments correspond in number to the number of sealing lids 130. Each of such sealing lids 130 may include one or more flexible straps 132 configured to secure each respective sealing lid 130 to a respective strap slot 122 in deck 120, as shown, and may be hinged to deck 120 via a longitudinal hinge axel 136 disposed along a midline of floating vessel 100. In other embodiments, floating vessel 110 may include a single sealing lid 130 that spans a full width of hull 110, for example, with one or more sets of flexible straps 132 securing it to deck 120 and/or a longitudinal hinge disposed along one side of deck 120.

Also shown in FIG. 1 are towing strap 150 and one or more handles 127, which may be implemented as loop handles as shown. In some embodiments, deck 120 may include one or more strap anchor orifices 126 formed through deck 120, for example, configured to receive and secure handles 127 to deck 120. In some embodiments, towing strap 150 may include one or more coupling links (e.g., carabiners) configured to secure towing strap 150 to floating vessel 100, such as via handle 127. Deck 120 may also include one or more circular slots 128 formed in deck 120, which may be configured to secure a beverage container to deck 120. In some embodiments, floating vessel 100 may include signal flag 140, which may be inserted into deck 120 and help differentiate floating vessels from each other and/or the surrounding environment.

In various embodiments, each sealing lid 130 may include a flexible gasket 134 configured to mate with corresponding gasket ridge 162 formed in deck 120 and seal sealable cavity 112 against environmental ingress, such as against ingress of water and/or dust. For example, flexible gasket 134 may encircle an opening formed in deck 120 to access sealable cavity 112, which may be used to secure goods (e.g., ice 113) within sealable cavity 112. In related embodiments, sealable cavity 112 may be waterproof such that floating vessel may be temporarily submerged without environmental water entering sealable cavity 112. In addition, each sealing lid 130 may include one or more stiffening slots 135 formed within sealing lid 130, for example, and additional stiffening slots formed within hull 110 and/or deck 120, each of which may be configured to render floating vessel 100 rigid enough against external weight so as to be stackable (e.g., with or without goods within sealable cavity/cavities 112) for storage or transport.

FIG. 2 illustrates a diagram of a floating vessel 200 in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. In various embodiments, floating vessel 200 corresponds to floating vessel 100 in FIG. 1, and includes hull 110, deck 120 (e.g., with circular slots 128 and/or strap anchor orifices 126), and/or flexible straps 132. As shown in FIG. 2, hull 110 may include an integrated multi-beam keel system 210, which may be formed by two or more longitudinal keel beams 212, 214, and/or 216 disposed on a bottom of hull 110 and configured to steer floating vessel 200 longitudinally through water. In such embodiments, integrated multi-beam keel system 210 ensures that floating vessel 200 can be towed on water more stably with substantially less risk of capsizing due to listing broadside to predominate currents (e.g., caused by floating vessel 200 being towed through water).

FIGS. 3A-3B illustrate diagrams of floating vessels 300 and 350 in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. In various embodiments, floating vessels 300 and 350 correspond to floating vessels 100 and 200 in FIGS. 1 and 2, and include hull 110, deck 120 (e.g., with circular slots 128 and/or strap anchor orifices 126), sealing lids 130, flexible straps 132, integrated multi-beam keel system 210 with longitudinal keel beams 212, 214, and/or 216, and/or fasteners 124. As shown in FIG. 3A, hull 130 may include fitted slots 310 formed within hull 130 and configured to mate with corresponding fitted buttons that may be formed in another assembly to be mated externally to hull 110, such as a stacking mount, for example, or a portage assembly, such as that shown in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 3B, deck 120 may include flag port 142 formed within deck 120, for example, which may be configured to receive a mast of signal flag 140, as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates a diagram of a flexible strap 400 for a floating vessel (e.g., floating vessel 100, 200, 300, 350) in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. In some embodiments, flexible strap 400 may correspond to flexible strap 132 of FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 4, flexible strap 400 include hinge cylinder 430 coupled to deck stop 422 via rectangular extension 414 and finger lever 410 coupled to deck stop 422 via rectangular cone extension 412. In various embodiments, flexible strap 400 may be formed form any organic or inorganic flexible material, such as rubber or flexible plastic. Deck stop 422 may be configured to mate with strap slot 122 of deck 120, for example, and secure sealable lid 130 to deck 120, as shown in FIGS. 2-3B. Also shown is fastener orifice 432, which may be configured to receive a bolt or wire to secure flexible strap 400 to deck 130.

FIG. 5 illustrates a diagram of a portage assembly 500 for a floating vessel (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 103B) in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. As shown in FIG. 5, portage assembly 500 may include first portage assembly 501 and second portage assembly 502, each of which include fitted buttons 510 formed in mating surface 514 of base 512. In various embodiments, mating surface 514 may be configured to correspond to and/or mate with integrated multi-beam keel system 210, such that fitted buttons 510 are secured within fitted slots 310 of hull 110 such that the portage assemblies fit without slipping or rocking against hull 110. In various embodiments, each portage assembly may include treaded wheels 520 attached via axel 522 to base 512. Each portage assembly may also include one or more securing straps 550, each of which may include storage strips configured to secure each securing strap 550 of a particular portage assembly to another strap of that portage assembly. Each securing strap 550 may be fastened to base 512 via cross-axel 516, as shown.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method of attaching portage assembly 500 to a floating vessel 600 in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. For example, strap anchors 650 may be fastened to deck 120 and/or hull 110 via fasteners 122 (e.g., adjacent flexible straps 132), and each portage assembly 501, 502 may be secured to floating vessel 600 via securing straps 550 of each portage assembly 501, 502, such that fitted buttons 510 and mating surface 514 of base 512 mates with integrated multi-beam keel system 210 and fitted slots 310 of hull 110, as shown. FIG. 7 illustrates a diagram of a floating vessel 700 mated with portage assemblies 501, 502 in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

Embodiments of the present disclosure can thus provide feature rich and convenient floating vessels. Such embodiments may be used to convey various types of goods safely and securely over a body of water. Additionally, embodiments facilitate easy conveyance of relatively heavy goods to and from bodies of water.

Where applicable, the various components set forth herein can be combined into composite components and/or separated into sub-components without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

Embodiments described above illustrate but do not limit the invention. It should also be understood that numerous modifications and variations are possible in accordance with the principles of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is defined only by the following claims.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a hull including an integrated multi-beam keel system comprising two or more longitudinal keel beams;

a deck fastened to the hull; and

one or more sealing lids coupled to the deck and configured to form one or more sealable cavities via the hull, the deck, and/or the one or more sealing lids.