US1215164A - Collapsible pontoon. - Google Patents

Description

G. JOHNSTON.

COLLAPSIBLE PONTOON.

APPLICATION FlLED MAR. 9, 191a.

Patented Feb. 6, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET I WITNESSES ATTORNEYS G. JOHNSTON.

COLLAPSIBLE PONTOON.

Patented Feb. 6, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 M/l/E/VTOI? ka /w/on day/Kevan; L/AWA $6 momvm GREENHOW JOHNSTON, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

COLLAPSIBLE PONTOON.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 6, 1911?.

Application filed March 9, 1916. Serial No. 83,155.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, GnnnNI-Iow JOHNSTON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Pontoons, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to collapsible pontoons and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements herein de scribed and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a collapsible pontoon which may be taken down or set up and which while being of exceedingly light weight, is nevertheless strong and durable.

A further object of my invention is to provide a collapsible pontoon having few parts which may be readily assembled.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification and the novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which- Figure 1 is a erspective view of one of the pontoon IIIGHEJGI'S.

Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view showing the manner of securing the canvas covering.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the bottom and sides of the folding frame.

Fig. 4: is a detail perspective view of a portion of-the collapsible frame.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view showing the means for securing the frame members together.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the device.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section through the device.

Fig. 8 is a transverse section.

Fig. 9 is a detail view showing the securing flange.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a bottom composed of longitudinal members 1 and cross members 2. Each of the longitudinal members 1 is provided with a groove 1 on its outer upper side arranged to receive the side frame members. The latter consist of longitudinal strips 3 which are hinged to the longitudinal members 1 at 4. The longitudinal members 3 have uprights 5 supporting a longitudinal member 6 which is grooved at 6 at its inner side as shown in Fig. 5.

There are two of these side frame members hinged to the bottom. These are arranged to fold over, in the manner shown in Fig. 3.

As will be seen from Fig. 5, the bottom forward ends of the member 3 are curved upwardly, while the bottom is extended on beyond the curved ends. This extension of Q the bottom is flexible and may be brought up against the curved portion, so as to round up the end of the pontoon member as shown in Figs. 1 and 7. In order to hold the bent portion of the bottom against the curved edges of the members 3, I provide a flange or lip 7 which is secured to an upper frame 8, which is designed to form the fourth side of the rectangular framework of the pontoon member. This frame 8 is designed to lit in the groove 6 of the side members (i and when the extended end of the bottom is bent around the curved forward end of the side members, the lip or flange 7 is drawn up closely against the end and bolts such as those shown at 9 in Figs. 5 and 6 are passed through the members 6 and 8 thereby securing the frame together.

The body of the pontoon member consists merely of a resilient waterproof covering 10 which is preferably canvas which has been treated to give it waterproof properties. The canvas may be made in the form of a bag into which the front end of the frame of the pontoon member is slipped. This bag is longer than the frame. It may be folded over the rear end of the frame as shown in Fig. 2 and may be provided with snaps 11 arranged to engage buttons on the canvas body portion so that when the end is brought over the rear portion of the frame, it may be fastened in the manner indicated in Fig. 1 at 12.

Obviously a pontoon member made in the manner described might be of any suitable dimensions. I prefer to make the pontoon members foldable in both directions, that is to construct the sides so they may be folded laterally toward each other. I also prefer to make the pontoon member in one or more sections, these sections being joined by hinges 13. This permits the whole pontoon to be folded compactly and take up very little space. In transporting the device, the canvas covering may be loosened at the rear end of the frame. The bag may then be opened and pulled up over the framework. The bolts 9 may be removed from the top member Sand the latter may be slid forwardly until the forward end of the bottom frame is released, when the latter will spring down to the position shown in Fig. 3. The top frame 8 may then be removed and folded and its two sections folded together. The bottom frame member, together with the side frame members may be folded together and these placed with the folded top member, thus making a compact and light bundle.

A pontoon made as described, has the advantage of being light and easily transported. At the same time, the waterproof covering is provided with a stiff framework making a very buoyant body. Such aepontoonmember may be used with others of boats, bridges or members are similar construction for other devices where pontoon needed.

I claim: 7

1. A pontoon member comprising an interior frame and an exterior waterproof fabric covering therefor, said interior frame comprising side members having curved ends, a bottom member hinged to said side members and having a spring end arranged to be bent up into engagement with the rounded ends of said side members,'-means fOr securing the spring end of the bottom, said securing means comprising a flange secured to the top member ofthe interior frame and arranged to engage said vspring end and bolts for securing the top frame member to the side members of the frame.

2. A pontoon member comprising an interior frame, said interior frame consisting of side members having curved forward ends, a bottom member hinged tosaid 'side members and having a spring end arranged to be bent up into engagement with the curved ends of said side members, means for securing the spring end of the bottom member to the curved side members, and an exterior waterproof covering made in the shape of a bag, said bag the pontoon member whereby the bag may be folded over one end of the pontoon member, and means for securing the folded portion of the bag. 7

3. A pontoon member comprising an interior frame, said interior frame consisting of side members having curved forward ends, a bottom member hinged to said side members and having a spring to be bent up into engagement with the curved ends of said side members, means for V securing the. spring end of the bottom member to the curved slde members, and a waterproof covering covering comprislng a bag having one end rounded to conform with the curved end of the frame, said frame being arranged ,to enter the bag, and said bag being prolonged beyond the folded over one end of the frame, and means for securing the folded endof the bag.

7 onnnnnow Jonns'rou.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. i

being longer than end arranged for the frame, said frame whereby the bag may be u

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