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US20120216741A1 - Protective device for a boat and method of using same - Google Patents

Protective device for a boat and method of using same Download PDF

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Publication number
US20120216741A1
US20120216741A1 US13/499,244 US201013499244A US2012216741A1 US 20120216741 A1 US20120216741 A1 US 20120216741A1 US 201013499244 A US201013499244 A US 201013499244A US 2012216741 A1 US2012216741 A1 US 2012216741A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
protective device
boat
top portion
air
water
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US13/499,244
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English (en)
Inventor
Cato Jansen
Alf Egil Stensen
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of US20120216741A1 publication Critical patent/US20120216741A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B59/00—Hull protection specially adapted for vessels; Cleaning devices specially adapted for vessels
    • B63B59/04—Preventing hull fouling
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B17/00—Vessels parts, details, or accessories, not otherwise provided for
    • B63B17/02—Awnings, including rigid weather protection structures, e.g. sunroofs; Tarpaulins; Accessories for awnings or tarpaulins

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a device and a method for the protection of a boat. More particularly, it relates to a protective device for a boat which is floating in a water, the protective device including a bottom portion which is arranged to be placed floatingly on or submerged in the water underneath the hull of the boat, and a top portion which is connected to the bottom portion.
  • the invention is directed in particular, but not exclusively, towards the protection of pleasure boats which have a reduced frequency of use for periods of the year. Still, it is to be emphasized that the protective device is also useful in periods of the year with a high frequency of use, for example, several times weekly.
  • a boat In particular during the winter season it may be desirable to protect a boat from precipitation and wind. This may be done by covering the boat with a tarpaulin or other provisional devices, or the boat may be placed in a building either on water or on land. It may also be desirable to protect the boat throughout the year from contaminants like airborne particles and bird droppings and from sunlight.
  • the present invention is directed towards boats that are floating in water, thereby allowing use of the boat all year round without the boat having to be carried to or from a storage site on land.
  • So-called boathouses of the kind in which the boat is placed floatingly under a superstructure provide good protection against precipitation and wind. This is particularly true when the boathouse is provided with a closable opening.
  • buildings are expensive.
  • permission from the authorities is required in order to erect such permanent buildings, which is very hard to get in many places. Because of that, only a very limited number of boathouses are available, and boathouses are therefore not a real alternative for the great majority of boat owners.
  • a drawback of such boathouses is, however, that it is not is normally possible in practice to protect the hull of the boat and submerged propulsion means from corrosion which is particularly pronounced in sea water, from fouling, and from possible ice.
  • a floating boathouse which has the form of a floatable cover is known.
  • the cover is shaped and dimensioned to have a relatively tight fit around the boat which it is to accommodate.
  • the cover is provided with a closable opening through which the boat may be moved in.
  • the boathouse is provided with mooring means, which secure the boathouse, and thereby the boat to a so-called mooring finger, for example. It is also proposed to provide the boathouse with a drainage pump to drain the water from the boathouse so that the boat is stored dry.
  • the boathouse according to NO 165532 B solves several of the drawbacks related to protecting a pleasure boat placed in storage from the elements and from contaminants.
  • the cover be formed with a relatively tight fit against all sides of the boat. This will mean that each cover must be “tailored” to the individual boat, which may entail relatively large costs. In addition, a tight-fitting cover could cause limited or poor air circulation between the boat and the cover, which could induce condensation problems with subsequent moisture damage. The biggest drawback is probably related to the fact that the cover must be formed of a relatively robust material to maintain the desired shape.
  • the boathouse is formed with a relatively tight fit will mean that it will not be possible for a person to stay between the outside, for example the deck, of the boat and the cover. Thus, the boat must be moved out of the cover if maintenance is to be carried out on the boat. Thereby the advantages of the boathouse cannot be utilized if the boat is going to receive surface treatment and it at the same time is a desire to have protection against dust or precipitation, for example.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,138,963 a U-shaped dock is known, which is provided with a bottom portion.
  • the bottom portion is constituted by a flexible and watertight material which is attached to and hangs down from the internal periphery of the dock.
  • a top portion to provide a protective roof for a boat which is placed in the dock.
  • the top portion is attached to the dock independently of the bottom portion.
  • the top portion and the bottom portion are both dependent on being attachable to the dock.
  • the invention has for its object to remedy or reduce at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art, or at least to provide a useful alternative to the prior art.
  • a protective device for a boat floating in a water, the protective device being arranged to enclose both the portion of the boat which is submerged in the water and the portion which is above a waterline, the protective device being constituted by a cloth-like material which is formed as a bag, which bag is included at least as part of or is connected to a supporting device to be able to support at least a portion of the bag which is above the waterline in a distended position.
  • the protective device may be constituted by, for example, a partially immersed pipe body which is arranged to accommodate a boat.
  • a cloth-like material will be flexible when affected by external forces, it has a relatively low weight and it can be packed up when not in use.
  • the protective device is provided with at least one closable opening.
  • the supporting device may be arranged to be activatable.
  • the activatable supporting device is activated by means of a gas.
  • the gas may be air, for example, which is filled into the activatable supporting device.
  • the gas which is filled into the activatable supporting device has a pressure which is higher than the pressure outside the activatable supporting device.
  • the protective device includes a bottom portion and a top portion which can be formed by the same material or by different materials.
  • the bottom portion and the top portion are made in one piece and from the same material.
  • the bottom portion may be arranged to float on or be submerged in the water. If, in the latter variant, the bottom portion is made of a floatable material, it is an advantage if the bottom portion is connected to one or more sinker elements which ensure that the bottom portion is pulled down into the water in order thereby to facilitate the movement of the boat into the protective device.
  • the bottom portion could also be made with a double bottom or some other form of container which could be activated to increase the buoyancy of the protective device. This will be relevant in the case of the protective device being of the type that floats on the water.
  • the bottom portion can be filled with or emptied of a gas such as air.
  • the bottom portion may be made of a buoyancy material of a relatively solid form and which cannot be filled with or emptied of a gas in its situation of use.
  • the bottom portion may be made in one piece or in several pieces which have been connected to each other.
  • the activatable supporting device is constituted by one space which is defined by the top portion and bottom portion and possibly a water surface on or in which the bottom portion is floating or submerged. In such an embodiment, the activatable supporting device will be “punctured” when at least one of the at least one closable opening is open.
  • the activatable supporting device is constituted, in one embodiment, by several elongated channels arranged in connection with the top portion.
  • the activatable supporting device is constituted by a double cloth which is arranged to form one or more spaces.
  • the activatable supporting device is constituted by a combination of two or all of the above-mentioned supporting devices.
  • the protective device may easily be folded up after the gas in the supporting devices has been equalized with the pressure outside the supporting devices.
  • the top portion is further provided with one or more mechanical supporting elements which are arranged to support at least a portion of the top portion in a distended position independently of the activatable supporting device.
  • a mechanical supporting element which may be suitable is an elongated rod element. It is an advantage if the rod element is elastically flexible.
  • the liquid in which the boat is floating inside the protective device can be isolated from the water in which the protective device is floating, after the closable opening has been closed. This gives the possibilities of placing the boat in a liquid which is less corrosive than sea water for example, is frost-proof, could reduce fouling and/or has other preferred properties.
  • the bottom portion must be made of a sufficiently diffusion-tight material. Such a material could also provide galvanic isolation between the boat and the water in which the protective device is floating.
  • At least one of the at least one closable is opening has, in its closed position, an inlet portion which is above the water surface of the water in which the protective device is floating.
  • the protective device is provided with mooring openings so that the moorings of the boat can be passed through the openings substantially independently of the protective device.
  • This has the advantage of loads from the boat being transmitted directly to a landing stage, for example, or another mooring point, and not by way of the protective device.
  • the protective device may thereby be dimensioned weaker, in terms of strength. Because of the through-going moorings, the protective device and the boat can, to a certain degree, be moved independently of each other.
  • a method of providing a protective device for a boat on a body of water wherein a bottom portion of the protective device is placed floatingly on or submerged in the water, and a top portion which is connected to the bottom portion is placed over at least a portion of the boat, and wherein the method includes supplying an activatable supporting device included in the top portion with a gas at overpressure in order thereby to support at least a portion of the top portion in a distended position.
  • FIG. 1 a shows a side view of a protective device according to the present invention
  • FIG. 1 b shows an end view of the protective device shown in FIG. 1 a , viewed from the left towards the right;
  • FIG. 2 a shows a side view of a protective device according to the present invention, in which a closable opening is in an opened position;
  • FIG. 2 b shows an end view of the protective device shown in FIG. 2 a , viewed from the left towards the right;
  • FIG. 3 a shows a side view of a protective device which has been folded up around a drum
  • FIG. 3 b shows the folded up protective device of FIG. 3 a seen from the left towards the right.
  • the reference numeral 1 indicates a protective device according to the invention.
  • the protective device 1 is placed between two mooring fingers 3 .
  • the mooring fingers 3 are secured to a quay 5 in a manner known per se.
  • the protective device 1 will also be referred to as a boathouse 1 .
  • the boathouse 1 is formed as an elongated, sausage- or bag-shaped body 10 which is provided with a first end portion 12 and a second end portion 14 .
  • the body 10 is constituted by a top portion 11 and a bottom portion 11 ′ connected thereto.
  • first end portion 12 is arranged to be opened so that a boat 16 (shown in FIGS. 1 b and 2 b ) may be moved into the boathouse 1 .
  • the other end portion 14 may be openable as well.
  • the body 10 of the boathouse 1 is provided with several channels 18 extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the body 10 and perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the body 10 .
  • the latter channels 18 may extend from a water surface 19 on one side of the boathouse 1 over to the water surface 19 on the other side of the boathouse 1 .
  • the channels 18 could also be positioned in the water surface 19 along portions of the boathouse 1 to provide stability and buoyancy therein. This embodiment is not shown in the figures but will be particularly relevant when the boathouse 1 is placed in a freely floating manner (without any mooring fingers 3 ) and secured to a mooring point.
  • the body 10 constitutes part of the channels 18 .
  • the channels 18 are provided with a valve (not shown) of a kind known per se in order that the channels 18 can be filled with or emptied of a gas such as air.
  • the channels 18 may be interconnected or they may be separated.
  • the channels 18 When the channels 18 are supplied with air at overpressure relative to the ambient pressure of the boathouse 1 , the channels 18 will inflate and distend the boathouse 1 .
  • the air-filled channels 18 thus form a supporting device for the boathouse 1 .
  • the channels 18 could provide a complete supporting device for holding the boathouse 1 in its distended condition.
  • the supporting device of the boathouse 1 may be provided by means of mechanical supporting devices, such as elastic rods of the kind used in so-called mountain tents. The rods may then be inserted into guides which replace or supplement said channels 18 .
  • the supporting device of the boathouse 1 may also be provided by pumping a gas, preferably air, into the boathouse 1 after it has been closed.
  • a gas preferably air
  • the gas will be referred to as air.
  • other gases than air may be used for the purpose.
  • the first end portion 12 is provided with elastic ribs 20 which extend, in FIG. 2 a , from guides in an end portion of the body 10 through guides in an end portion 12 .
  • the ribs 20 may be, for example, of the same kind as the elastic rods mentioned above.
  • the ribs 20 may be connected to an annular body 22 which is arranged in a guide, for example, in a transition portion between the body 10 and the first end portion 12 .
  • Both the annular body 22 and the ribs 20 can be removed from said guides.
  • the primary purpose of the annular body 22 is to provide a relatively shape-stable opening while, at the same time, it provides support when the ribs bend as the opening in the first end portion 12 is being closed.
  • bottom portion and the top portion are made of a rigid, tubular body, for example, the above-mentioned annular body 22 will normally not be necessary.
  • the end portion 12 may be brought into a closed position, as shown in FIGS. 1 a and 1 b , by bringing the ribs 20 towards each other at the outer edge of the end portion 12 . This may be achieved by placing a string or wire in a slide guide at said outer edge, so that the end portions of the ribs 20 are brought together at a constriction portion 21 .
  • the constriction portion 21 is above the water surface 19 , and leakage between water inside the boathouse 1 and outside the boathouse 1 is thereby substantially prevented.
  • the boathouse 1 In its closed position, the boathouse 1 provides protection of the boat 16 from the elements, from contaminants like airborne particles and bird droppings and, depending on the degree of opaqueness of the body 10 , from sunlight.
  • a ventilation device and/or an air-conditioning plant (not shown) of a kind known per se, may be placed in connection therewith.
  • the constriction portion 21 could be a leakage point. Air which is carried into the boathouse 1 through the second end portion 14 , for example, may thereby flow through the space of the boathouse 1 and out through said leakage point. Thereby air exchange which would be favourable to the air humidity inside the closed boathouse 1 is provided.
  • the air supply rate must, of course, be higher than the overall leakage rate of the boathouse 1 .
  • the overpressure inside the boathouse 1 could also be measured by a pressure sensor which is connected to an alarm installation. When considerable pressure changes are detected while, at the same time, the alarm is activated, one or more signals will be emitted. This may be very useful in case of, for example, a burglary or by possible damage to the cloth of the boathouse 1 .
  • the ventilation plant could also be connected automatically to a fire retardant of a kind known per se, or be controlled automatically to evacuate air which is within the protective device upon the detection of smoke, heat above a predetermined level or flames.
  • the water inside the boathouse 1 may be optimized for a boat which is in winter storage, for example. Any sea water may be replaced with freshwater and antifreezing and/or antifouling agents may be added to the water.
  • a hose (not shown) between the cooling-water discharge from the motor of the boat 16 and an outside of the boathouse 1 , the water may easily be pumped out by means of the cooling-water pump of the boat. Alternatively, a separate pump may be used.
  • freshwater for example, may be introduced into the boathouse by means of a hose (not shown).
  • the protective device 1 could be module-based.
  • the body 10 for example, could be made in sheets of cloth which may be joined by means of means known per se, such as, but not limited to, a zip fastener, a Velcro® fastener, a rail system, which could all provide a sufficiently tight joint.
  • the protective device 1 could be adapted for boats of different sizes.
  • FIGS. 3 a and 3 b show the protective device 1 in a collapsed position in which the protective device 1 has been rolled onto a drum 24 , thereby occupying minimal space.
  • the ribs 20 and ring 22 have been removed from the first end portion 12 .
  • the present invention thus provides a boathouse 1 which possesses substantial advantages compared with prior art boathouses, also with respect to flexibility.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Tents Or Canopies (AREA)
  • Cleaning Or Clearing Of The Surface Of Open Water (AREA)
  • Casings For Electric Apparatus (AREA)
  • Professional, Industrial, Or Sporting Protective Garments (AREA)
US13/499,244 2009-09-29 2010-09-28 Protective device for a boat and method of using same Abandoned US20120216741A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NO20093075A NO330437B1 (no) 2009-09-29 2009-09-29 Beskyttelsesinnretning for en bat og framgangsmate ved bruk av samme
NO20093075 2009-09-29
PCT/NO2010/000352 WO2011040818A1 (fr) 2009-09-29 2010-09-28 Dispositif de protection pour un bateau et procédé d'utilisation de ce dispositif

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20120216741A1 true US20120216741A1 (en) 2012-08-30

Family

ID=42733711

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US13/499,244 Abandoned US20120216741A1 (en) 2009-09-29 2010-09-28 Protective device for a boat and method of using same
US13/499,200 Abandoned US20120210928A1 (en) 2009-09-29 2010-09-28 Protective device for a boat and method of using same

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US13/499,200 Abandoned US20120210928A1 (en) 2009-09-29 2010-09-28 Protective device for a boat and method of using same

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (2) US20120216741A1 (fr)
EP (2) EP2483144A4 (fr)
NO (2) NO330437B1 (fr)
WO (2) WO2011040818A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2015013768A1 (fr) * 2013-07-31 2015-02-05 Wood Dru Aide à la flottaison de bateau

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2948286A (en) * 1956-11-19 1960-08-09 Turner Harold Dale Air-supported building
US3055379A (en) * 1959-07-16 1962-09-25 Elijah C Fink Inflatable tent structure
US4021972A (en) * 1975-07-09 1977-05-10 James Edwin Choate Air supported, multi-wall, insulated structure and process of producing same
US5138963A (en) * 1991-07-26 1992-08-18 Eco Safe Systems, A General Partnership Of Ca Boat enclosure assembly for boat maintenance
US5279244A (en) * 1993-06-03 1994-01-18 Commonwealth Of Puerto Rico Combined mooring slip and underwater body protector against marine growth

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US2976875A (en) * 1958-06-16 1961-03-28 Du Pont Anchoring means
US3137307A (en) * 1960-06-02 1964-06-16 Ralph N Jackson Inflatable structural members
US3747131A (en) * 1971-12-14 1973-07-24 P Koliomichalis Inflatable swimming pool cover
US3778528A (en) * 1972-04-27 1973-12-11 I Kushner Modular building unit and method for making same
DE2430728A1 (de) * 1974-06-26 1976-01-22 Hundsdoerfer Hans Joachim Vorrichtung zur aufnahme eines schwimmenden bootes, insbesondere einer segeljacht, eines motorbootes o.dgl.
US4152791A (en) * 1975-10-06 1979-05-08 Rose Alan C Fluid control arrangements, applicable to spa facilities
US4075723A (en) * 1976-09-20 1978-02-28 Kellwood Company Boat cover means
US4825479A (en) * 1988-02-08 1989-05-02 Bonneau Pierre P Inflatable swimming pool cover
GB8916988D0 (en) * 1989-07-25 1989-09-13 Goddard David L Inflatable housing
USD321254S (en) * 1990-02-02 1991-10-29 Cecil Harp Inflatable pool cover
US6167658B1 (en) * 1999-09-28 2001-01-02 William J. Weiner Boat weather cover and ventilation system
US6327991B1 (en) * 2000-04-07 2001-12-11 John E. Eichert Boat maintenance
DE10136889A1 (de) * 2001-07-24 2002-12-19 Hans-Hubert Wendl Schwimmende Bootsgarage
AU2002242793A1 (en) * 2002-02-28 2003-09-16 David Goddard Floating inflatable boat house
US7032532B2 (en) * 2003-05-30 2006-04-25 Canvas Innovations Llc Watercraft cover
ES2286926B1 (es) * 2005-09-07 2008-12-01 Kafloat, S.L. Dispositivo de flotacion, procedimiento de montaje y funcionamiento del mismo.
CA2628458A1 (fr) * 2007-04-02 2008-10-02 Jean-Marc D. Turcot Structure gonflable permettant de couvrir des vehicules utilitaires sport, des embarcations et des moyens de transport semblables

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2948286A (en) * 1956-11-19 1960-08-09 Turner Harold Dale Air-supported building
US3055379A (en) * 1959-07-16 1962-09-25 Elijah C Fink Inflatable tent structure
US4021972A (en) * 1975-07-09 1977-05-10 James Edwin Choate Air supported, multi-wall, insulated structure and process of producing same
US5138963A (en) * 1991-07-26 1992-08-18 Eco Safe Systems, A General Partnership Of Ca Boat enclosure assembly for boat maintenance
US5279244A (en) * 1993-06-03 1994-01-18 Commonwealth Of Puerto Rico Combined mooring slip and underwater body protector against marine growth

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2015013768A1 (fr) * 2013-07-31 2015-02-05 Wood Dru Aide à la flottaison de bateau

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2011040818A1 (fr) 2011-04-07
WO2011040819A1 (fr) 2011-04-07
NO20093075L (no) 2010-08-12
EP2483144A1 (fr) 2012-08-08
NO330437B1 (no) 2011-04-11
NO20100690L (no) 2010-08-12
EP2483145A1 (fr) 2012-08-08
EP2483144A4 (fr) 2013-03-27
US20120210928A1 (en) 2012-08-23
EP2483145A4 (fr) 2013-03-27
NO332139B1 (no) 2012-07-02

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