GB2134454A - Canoes - Google Patents

Abstract

A canoe (10) has a seat (13) and two footrests (14). The footrests are formed as buoyancy tanks. The two footrests have lugs hinged together on a pin defined by one end of a cord (32). The other end of the cord can be secured at a cleat 23 accessible to the canoeist. The hinged ends of the lugs are located in a transverse slot (20) in a fore-strengthener (15) and the footrests occupy a uniform width space between the strengthener and the hull of the canoe. By pulling on the cord (32) the footrest position can be easily adjusted by the canoeist. The footrests serve their conventional footrest function, they are adjustable, they serve as buoyancy tanks, and they serve to give lateral support to the strengthener (15). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Canoes This invention relates to canoes.

My co-pending G.B. application No.82 36031 (published as G.B. 2 111 91 5A) filed 17th December 1982 discloses a canoe having a seat and a streng thenerforward of the seat between hull and deck characterised in further having a forward rigid tank providing a buoyancy function, a strengthener support function, and a limit function to prevent the feet of the canoeist reaching too deeply into the fore end of the canoe.

The present invention provides a canoe having a seat, footrests and a forward tank providing a buoyancy function characterised in that the forward tank provides the footrests. The tank may be in two parts on members hinged together with means for setting them adjustably in the fore and aft directions such as by a cord running from the hinge of the members. The tank parts may be constructed to provide lateral strength to a fore strengthener, especially in accident conditions.

One form of canoe according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a plan view, Figure 2 is a sectional elevation on the line II - II of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a perspective enlarged view of the tank footrests of the canoe.

In Figures 1 and 2 a thermoformed orthermoset high density polyethylene canoe 10 has a cockpit 11, a deck 12, a cockpit seat 13, footrests 14, a forward stengthener 15 and an aft strengthener 16. The forward strengthener 15 has for support: deck screws 18, engagement in a recess 17 below the seat 13, and the footrests 14 which extend between hull and strengthener 15. The aft strengthener 16 has for support: deck screws 20, engagement in the recess 17, and struts 19 between hull and strengthener.

Supplementary fore and aft buoyancy tanks can be provided if required.

The strengthener 15 is provided with a through transverse slot 22 which provides a guide for hinged lugs 30 (Figure 3) on the footrests 14.

Referring now to Figure 3, the footrests 14 are rigic and hollow to provide forward buoyancy. The lugs 30 both have holes 31 through which a cord 32 is passed (thereby defining at one end a hinge pivot) and terminated with a knot 33 in a recess 34 in one oi the lugs 30. In this way a hinge is formed and at the same time the location of the hinge can be adjustably set in the fore and aft direction by anchoring the free end of the cord in the cockpit such as on a cleat 23 (Figure 2).

The strengthener 15 has a shaped body part 15a and the side walls of this part are parallel with the hull as seen in the plan view of Figure 1. The footrests occupy substantially the full lateral dimension between part 15a and hull and hence give lateral support to the strengthener 15. The fact that the side walls of part 15a and hull are parallel as described above means that the footrests can be adjusted in position whilst sustaining support of strengthener 15.

To show the full range of adjustment of the footrests they have been shown in Figures 1 and 2 in both extreme positions.

In use, the canoeist enters the cockpit and releases the cord 32 from the cleat 23 so that the footrests are freed. The footrests are then adjusted and secured by re-engaging the cord with the cleat.

In accident conditions the footrests above described can perform three functions in addition to their conventional footrest function. First they prevent the feet of the canoeist reaching too deeply into the fore end of the canoe. Second, they provide lateral support for the strengthener 15 and therefore inhibit twisting of the canoe which could trap the canoeist's legs or feet and inhibit folding of the canoe. Third, they provide buoyancy.

1. A canoe having a seat, footrests and a forward tank providing a buoyancy function characterised in that the forward tank provides the footrests (14).

2. A canoe as claimed in claim 1 in which the tank is in two parts and on members (30) hinged together with means (32, 23) for setting the two parts adjustably in the fore and aft directions.

3. A canoe as claimed in claim 2 in which said means includes a cord (32) having one end defining a hinge pivot and the other end securable by the canoeist when in the cockpit.

4. A canoe as claimed in any preceding claim in which there is a fore-strengthener (15) shaped to provide a part (1 5a) parallel to the hull of the canoe and the footrests (14) are movable in the space between said part and hull to provide lateral strength to the strengthener.

5. A canoe according to claim 1 having a forestrengthener (15) provided with a through transverse slot (22) which provides a guide for a pair of pivoted lugs (30) having a respective footrest (14) on each lugs.

6. A canoe according to claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Canoes This invention relates to canoes. My co-pending G.B. application No.82 36031 (published as G.B. 2 111 91 5A) filed 17th December 1982 discloses a canoe having a seat and a streng thenerforward of the seat between hull and deck characterised in further having a forward rigid tank providing a buoyancy function, a strengthener support function, and a limit function to prevent the feet of the canoeist reaching too deeply into the fore end of the canoe. The present invention provides a canoe having a seat, footrests and a forward tank providing a buoyancy function characterised in that the forward tank provides the footrests. The tank may be in two parts on members hinged together with means for setting them adjustably in the fore and aft directions such as by a cord running from the hinge of the members. The tank parts may be constructed to provide lateral strength to a fore strengthener, especially in accident conditions. One form of canoe according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a plan view, Figure 2 is a sectional elevation on the line II - II of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a perspective enlarged view of the tank footrests of the canoe. In Figures 1 and 2 a thermoformed orthermoset high density polyethylene canoe 10 has a cockpit 11, a deck 12, a cockpit seat 13, footrests 14, a forward stengthener 15 and an aft strengthener 16. The forward strengthener 15 has for support: deck screws 18, engagement in a recess 17 below the seat 13, and the footrests 14 which extend between hull and strengthener 15. The aft strengthener 16 has for support: deck screws 20, engagement in the recess 17, and struts 19 between hull and strengthener. Supplementary fore and aft buoyancy tanks can be provided if required. The strengthener 15 is provided with a through transverse slot 22 which provides a guide for hinged lugs 30 (Figure 3) on the footrests 14. Referring now to Figure 3, the footrests 14 are rigic and hollow to provide forward buoyancy. The lugs 30 both have holes 31 through which a cord 32 is passed (thereby defining at one end a hinge pivot) and terminated with a knot 33 in a recess 34 in one oi the lugs 30. In this way a hinge is formed and at the same time the location of the hinge can be adjustably set in the fore and aft direction by anchoring the free end of the cord in the cockpit such as on a cleat 23 (Figure 2). The strengthener 15 has a shaped body part 15a and the side walls of this part are parallel with the hull as seen in the plan view of Figure 1. The footrests occupy substantially the full lateral dimension between part 15a and hull and hence give lateral support to the strengthener 15. The fact that the side walls of part 15a and hull are parallel as described above means that the footrests can be adjusted in position whilst sustaining support of strengthener 15. To show the full range of adjustment of the footrests they have been shown in Figures 1 and 2 in both extreme positions. In use, the canoeist enters the cockpit and releases the cord 32 from the cleat 23 so that the footrests are freed. The footrests are then adjusted and secured by re-engaging the cord with the cleat. In accident conditions the footrests above described can perform three functions in addition to their conventional footrest function. First they prevent the feet of the canoeist reaching too deeply into the fore end of the canoe. Second, they provide lateral support for the strengthener 15 and therefore inhibit twisting of the canoe which could trap the canoeist's legs or feet and inhibit folding of the canoe. Third, they provide buoyancy. CLAIMS

1. A canoe having a seat, footrests and a forward tank providing a buoyancy function characterised in that the forward tank provides the footrests (14).

2. A canoe as claimed in claim 1 in which the tank is in two parts and on members (30) hinged together with means (32, 23) for setting the two parts adjustably in the fore and aft directions.

3. A canoe as claimed in claim 2 in which said means includes a cord (32) having one end defining a hinge pivot and the other end securable by the canoeist when in the cockpit.

4. A canoe as claimed in any preceding claim in which there is a fore-strengthener (15) shaped to provide a part (1 5a) parallel to the hull of the canoe and the footrests (14) are movable in the space between said part and hull to provide lateral strength to the strengthener.

5. A canoe according to claim 1 having a forestrengthener (15) provided with a through transverse slot (22) which provides a guide for a pair of pivoted lugs (30) having a respective footrest (14) on each lugs.

6. A canoe according to claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawing.