GB2030078A - Improvements relating to cockpit liners for small craft - Google Patents

Abstract

A cockpit liner (5) is provided for a canoe (1) which is inserted through the cockpit opening (7) and secured thereto. The edges of the liner and cockpit opening are closed by a cockpit rim (8) so that the interior of the canoe (1) is sealed off from the exterior to provide buoyancy regions (9 and 10) fore and aft of the canoe (1). The liner (5) may be formed in sections (either vertical or horizontal) to assist in their insertion through the cockpit opening (7), these sections being secured together once installed. The liner may be modified to suit a kneeling paddler or may be adapted to incorporate a casing which will lie between the legs of the paddler which may be used as a stowage area or as a centreboard casing if the canoe is to be modified to carry a sail. A breathing hole (ideally incorporating a one way valve) is preferably formed in the wall of the liner (5) to prevent a negative pressure from building up within the canoe (1) which could cause water to be drawn in. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to cockpit liners for small craft The term small craft includes kayaks, canoes, baidarkas and surf shoes (or surf skis). Such craft may possibly be modified to serve as sailing craft by the addition of a mast etc.

Conventionally kayaks and canoes have been made with an open cockpit, possibly with a canvas surround which fits round the body of the canoeist. When such craft overturn they can readily fill with water and emptying a filled canoe in deep water requires the presence of two persons to lift the up-turned canoe clear of the water surface. A cockpit liner in the form of a canvas pocket in which the canoist sits has been used in the past but this can be dangerous if it fails since it can wrap around the legs of the canoeist and trap him.

It is an object of this invention to provide effective means for preventing water entering a small craft.

Accordingly this invention provides a cockpit liner for small craft comprising two or more parts which are either separate or flexibly interconnected to enable the liner to be inserted through the cockpit opening of the craft so as to be a close fit within the craft, and including a liner rim for attaching the liner to the surrounding edges of the cockpit so as to define closed fore and aft buoyancy tanks when the liner is integrally secured within the craft.

Such a cockpit liner provides a rigid pocket in which the canoeist will sit and thus it is only the liner pocket itself which can basically fill with water whilst the remaining parts of the small craft act as buoyancy tanks. Furthermore such a liner provides greater rigidity to the small craft and added protection for the occupant should the craft strike an obstacle.

Other advantages are that solo deep water emptying is possible merely by rotating the craft and that an abandoned craft will not fill with water and create a major hazard in surf conditions, for example.

The cockpit liner may be formed without a floor in which case the floor of the craft itself will define the base of the liner pocket. Preferably however the cockpit liner will incorporate its own floor. The liner rim may be a separate flexible cockpit rim adapted to fit over the upper edge of the cockpit liner.

In one preferred construction the liner comprises fore and aft parts and the flexible interconnection is defined by flexible joints in the upper portions of the side walls of the two parts, the lower portions thereof being separate. This enables the liner to be flexed as it is inserted through the cockpit opening in the craft and once positioned the separate lower portions may be secured together, such as by fibre glass.

In another preferred embodiment the liner comprises upper and lower sections which will be secured together after separate insertion into the cockpit opening.

The cockpit liner may advantageously define a central casing ahead of the cockpit liner seat opening for use as a storage area or as a centreboard casing. If the parts of the cockpit liner do not themselves completely close off the cockpit opening, an additional deck closer section may be provided for enclosing the liner within the craft. If this deck closer section is movably positioned over the opening to the central casing (when provided) this will allow access thereto.

It is particularly preferred that the cockpit liner should incorporate a breathing hole through the liner to communicate with the interior of the craft when installed. This ensures that the interior of the craft will not be subjected to a negative pressure (due to the effect of waves or cooling of a warm craft as it is placed in the water) which might allow water to enter through small holes such as at joins. If the breathing hole incorporates a nonreturn valve from the interior of the liner, this can result in the creation of a positive pressure within the craft which will tend to prevent even further the possible ingress of water.

The invention also extends to a small craft whose cockpit incorporates a cockpit liner of this invention as hereinbefore defined, integrally secured therein. The cockpit liner may readily be secured to the internal walls of the craft by glass fibre. In the preferred embodiment the craft will also include a water trap in the floor of the craft formed by a pair of inclined planes extending upwardly towards one another and lying transversely of the craft so as to define a gap for the receipt of water into the trap, and a pumping device for enabling water to be pumped from the trap.

From a further aspect the invention provides a method of constructing a small craft comprising the steps of forming a cockpit liner of this invention as hereinbefore defined, inserting the parts of the liner through the cockpit opening of the craft and positioning the cockpit liner in the required position relative to the cockpit opening, and finally integrally securing the cockpit liner to the internal walls of the craft and closing the join between the liner and the cockpit by the liner rim.

The invention may be performed in various ways and preferred embodiments thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a canoe for a seated paddler incorporating a cockpit liner of this invention; Figure 2 illustrates another form of liner for a kneeling paddler; Figure 3 illustrates several possible forms for cockpit liners of this invention; Figure 4 and 5 are side and plan views respectively of a particularly preferred form of cockpit liner showing a lower section thereof; Figures 6 and 7are side and underneath plan views of the upper section of the liner shown partly in Figs. 4 and 5; Figure 8 illustrates a deck closer for use with the liner shown in Figs. 4 to 6; and Figure 9 illustrates the parts shown in Figs.

4 to 8 installed in a canoe.

Fig. 1 shows a canoe 1 formed from upper and lower sections 2, 3 secured together along a join line 4. Installed within the canoe is a cockpit liner of this invention adapted for a seated paddler 6. The liner 5 is secured within the cockpit opening 7 to the interior of the canoe 1 and is closed at the edge of the opening 7 by a rim 8. By this means buoyancy sections 9 and 10 are formed into which water cannot enter through the cockpit open ing 7. This drawing also illustrates a footrest 11 which may be secured within the liner 5 and there is also a stowage area 1 2 to the rear of the paddler 6. The liner 1 3 shown in Fig. 1 is specifically designed for a kneeling paddler 14 and again is secured to the cockpit opening 7 by a rim 8 so as to prevent water entering into the buoyancy sections 9 and 10.

Various possible designs of cockpit liners are illustrated in Fig. 3. Thus there is a one piece main section 1 5 shown in sketch A which effectively forms two portions joined by a flexible interconnection 1 6 which enabls the liner to be flexed as it is introduced into the cockpit opening 7. This section 1 5 incorporates a part 17 of the rim 8 of Fig. 1, the remaining part of the rim being provided by a separate portion 1 8 which will subsequently be secured to the edge of the cockpit opening. The liner shown in sketch B is in two parts 19, 20 which will separately be inserted into the canoe 1 through the cockpit opening 7. The part 20 carries a rim 21 integrally therewith.When these two parts are inserted they will be secured together (by gluing or glass fibre) and also the rim 21 will be secured to the edge of the cockpit opening.

As can be seen the portion 20 defines a stowage area 22 to the rear of the seating position of the paddler. Another possible design is illustrated in sketch C. This comprises a main lower section 23 carrying a part 24 of the rim. When the section 23 has been manoeuvred into position the upper section 25 will be inserted through the cockpit opening and secured by gluing or the like both to the lower portion 23 and the interior of the canoe. The upper portion 25 carries the other part 26 of the rim. A form of liner for a kneeling paddler is illustrated in sketch D and comprises front and rear portions 27 and 28 which will be separately inserted in the cockpit opening 7 and secured together and to the opening 7 by means of the rim sections 29 and 30. The front portion 27 has knee bulges 31 whilst the rear portion 28 has foot wells either side of a seat block and divider 32.

A specifically preferred design of liner is illustrated in Figs. 4 to 9. This comprises a lower liner section 33, an upper liner section 34 and a deck closer 35. The lower section is formed with a seat pan 36 and a foot well 37 to enable the paddler to place his foot centrally when entering or leaving the kayak. The portion 33 also carries a part 38 of the rim, the other part 39 being carried by the upper section 34. Between them the parts 33 and 34 also define a casing by sections 40A and 40B which will lie between the knees and lower legs of the paddler and is specifically designed to act as a centreboard casing to receive a centreboard when the kayak is modified to act as a sailing carrier. Alternatively the base of this casing 40 could be closed thus leaving room for stowage of day items, flares, food, drink, etc.The two portions 33 and 34 will be inserted separately into the cockpit opening 7 and then they will be joined together by gluing or the like. Alternatively the two portions could be secured together first of all and the combined unit inserted into an opening larger than the normal cockpit opening. This will leave an open space in front of the rim portion 39 (and over the casing 40) which will be closed off by the deck closer 35 which carries a rim portion 36 which will link with the rim portion 39. The rim comprising the parts 38 and 39 will be secured to the edges of the cockpit opening and the edges of the closer 35 will also be secured about the remaining opening as illustrated in Fig. 9, such as by riveting and sealing with resin.It would also be possible to design the deck of the kayak so that the deck closer 35 can be slid forward to expose the opening to the casing 40, whilst in the rearward position the closer 35 would effectively close off the interior of the kayak.

The portion 33 of the liner incorporates a breathing hole 41 incorporating an air flap valve which will allow air to enter the interior of the kayak 1 but will not allow air to leave through the opening 41. This opening is formed in a pyramid-shaped protrusion 42.

Also carried by this protrusion is a snap hook 43 to which may be secured lanyards from tackle bags. This will be of use where the cockpit liner is in the form of a pod which may be readily inserted and removed from the cockpit opening 7 so that the rear area 10 acts as a stowage space for the tackle bags. A removable pod would have certain other advantages, the main one being that an enthusiast could have his own pod which could be inserted into several different kayaks. Of course a seal joint for the cockpit rim to the cockpit opening would be necessary.

Fig. 9 illustrates a simple water trap which comprises two gently inclined planes 44 lying transversely of the floor of the canoe 1. Their upper ends will be about 2 inches above the floor of the canoe and will form an opening about 10 inches wide. Any water which may enter the canoe body will tend to fall into this trap as it surges from one end to another of the canoe and it can then readily be removed by a suitable pump such as a diaphragm pump or possibly an automatic siphon pump.

In the construction methods discussed above the liner has been inserted into the completed body of the canoe, in one or more parts, and then secured in position. However it would be possible to incorporate the liner during the initial construction of a canoe to the deck section 2 before the hull section is secured along the joining line 4 (usually be clamps and gluing). In one design of canoe the deck is provided in separate sections which are secured to the hull section 3 and again the liner could be secured to one of the deck sections before these deck sections are secured to the hull section.

The cockpit liner described and illustrated provides many advantages, many of which have been discussed above. The main ones are the provision of buoyancy within the canoe and the prevention of a canoe or kayak filling with large quantities of water and that the liner gives the canoe or kayak substantial strength and rigidity and added protection for the paddler against injury should the craft strike a rock or other obstacle.

The term cockpit liner used herein should be taken to mean both a fixed liner which will be positively and permanently secured into the craft during construction thereof or a cockpit pod which will be introduced into the cockpit opening of an otherwise finished craft either for permanent securement therein or as a dismountable item. In all such cases the liner will be attached to the cockpit opening in a watertight manner by the liner rim.

Claims (14)

1. A cockpit liner for small craft comprising two or more parts which are either separate or flexibly interconnected to enable the liner to be inserted through the cockpit opening of the craft so as to be a close fit within the craft, and including a liner rim for attaching the liner to the surrounding edges of the cockpit so as to define closed fore and aft buoyancy tanks when the liner is integrally secured within the craft.

2. A cockpit liner according to claim 1, formed without a floor.

3. A cockpit liner according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the liner rim is a separate flexible cockpit rim adapted to fit over the upper edge of the cockpit liner.

4. A cockpit liner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, including a block shaped to fit in the fore end of the cockpit liner to act as a footrest.

5. A cockpit liner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the liner comprises fore and aft parts and the flexible interconnection is defined by flexible joints in the upper portions of the side walls of the two parts, the lower portions thereof being separate.

6. A cockpit liner according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the liner comprises upper and lower sections which will be secured together after separate insertion into the cockpit opening.

7. A cockpit liner according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which defines a central casing ahead of the cockpit liner seat opening for use as a storage area or as a centreboard casing.

8. A cockpit liner according to any one of claims 1 to 7 including a deck closure section for enclosing the liner within the craft.

9. A cockpit liner according to claims 7 and 8, wherein the deck closure section is movably positioned over the opening to the casing to allow access thereto.

1 0. A cockpit liner according to any one of claims 1 to 9 including a breathing hole through the liner to communicate with the interior of the craft when installed.

11. A cockpit liner according to claim 10, wherein the breathing hole incorporates a non-return valve from the interior of the liner.

1 2. A cockpit liner for small craft substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 3. A small craft whose cockpit incorporates a cockpit liner according to any one of claims 1 to 12, integrally secured therein.

14. A craft according to claim 13, wherein the cockpit liner is secured to the internal walls of the craft by glass fibre.

1 5. A craft according to claim 1 3 or claim 14, including a water trap in the floor of the craft formed by a pair of inclined planes extending upwardly towards one another and lying transversely of the craft so as to define a gap for the receipt of water into the trap, and a pumping device for enabling water to be pumped from the trap.

1 6. A small craft substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 7. A method of constructing small craft comprising the steps of forming a cockpit liner of this invention as defined in any one of claims 1 to 12, inserting the parts of the liner through the cockpit opening of the craft and positioning the cockpit liner in the required position relative to the cockpit opening, and finally integrally securing the cockpit liner to the internal walls of the craft and closing the join between the liner and the cockpit by the liner rim.

1 8. A method of constructing a small craft substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.