Ships – Boats – boat component – or attachment – Sectional
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-07
2001-09-04
Sotelo, Jesus D. (Department: 3617)
Ships
Boats, boat component, or attachment
Sectional
C114S07700R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283057
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to boats, and in particular, a boat having an articulated bow.
2. Description of Related Art
Various types of boat designs have been proposed which include providing boats composed of a plurality of sections which may be assembled to create a complete boat. Additionally, various boat designs exist wherein the bow of the boat may be pivoted, or articulated, with respect to another part of the boat. Typically, the bow is pivoted upwardly about an axis parallel with the earth's surface. Such articulation has been provided for various reasons, including permitting easier transportation and storage of the boat. It is believed that a disadvantage of many of the prior art designs is that the articulation may only be carried out while the boat is on dry land, or alternatively, can only be accomplished with the boat in the water with great difficulty. Another disadvantage of such designs is that if the total height of the boat is of concern from a transportation or storage perspective, such designs, wherein the bow articulates upwardly about a horizontally disposed axis may increase the overall height of the boat after the bow has been articulated, and can exceed the height restrictions imposed upon the size of the storage facility, or storage or stowage area. For example, in the case of pleasure craft which might be stored, or stowed, upon a much larger ship such as a yacht or ocean liner, it would be desirable to have the bow articulated to its open, or collapsed, position, thus shortening the length of the boat, prior to the pleasure craft being lifted upon the larger vessel, as by use of a crane or other similar type device.
If the boat is intended for operation at high speeds and/or in heavy seas, another potential disadvantage with prior art designs is that it is believed that such designs do not have the requisite strength characteristics to withstand the forces imposed upon the boat at high speeds and/or in rough seas. Additionally, the bow must also be rigidly secured to the remaining portion of the boat when the articulating bow is in its open and closed positions with respect to the remaining portion of the boat. It is believed that prior art designs do not adequately provide for such rigid securing.
Accordingly, prior to the development of the present invention, there has been no boat with an articulating bow, or method for articulating a bow of a boat, which: can be efficiently made and used on both land and in the water; is easy to transport and store; doe not increase the height of the boat when it is in its open, or collapsed, condition; and provides a secure and strong connection of the articulating bow to the remaining portion of the boat, so as to withstand the forces acting upon the boat when it is operating under high speeds and/or in heavy seas.
Therefore, the art has sought a boat with an articulating bow, and method for articulating the bow of a boat which: is efficiently made and used, regardless of whether or not the boat is in the water or on land; is easy to transport and store; does not increase the height of the boat when the boat is in its open, or collapsed, configuration; and provides a secure and strong connection between the bow and the remaining portion of the boat when the boat is operating at high speeds and/or in heavy seas.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention, the foregoing advantages have been achieved with the boat and the method of articulating the bow of a boat of the present invention.
The boat of the present invention includes: a bow; a stem; at least one hinge associated with the bow and stern to attach the bow to the stem, whereby the bow may articulate about a substantially vertical axis; the bow being movable, while the boat is in a body of water, between a first closed, normal operating position, and a second, open position with the bow disposed beside the stern; and at least one lock member to lock the bow to the stern in the first closed, operating position. Another feature of the invention is that the stern may have a front and the bow may have a rear, the front of the stern having a stern bulkhead, which provides a substantially watertight seal to prevent water from entering the stern, and the rear of the bow having a bow bulkhead, which provides a substantially watertight seal to prevent water from entering the bow. A further feature of the present invention is that the at least one hinge decouples the bow from the stern from the first, closed operating position to the second, open position by first moving the bow in a forward direction, outwardly away from the stern. Another feature of the present invention is that a first outwardly extending flange may be disposed along the front of the stern, a second outwardly extending flange may be disposed along the rear of the bow, and one of the flanges mates with the other flange, when the bow is in the first, closed, operating position. An additional feature of the present invention is that the second flange of the bow may telescopically receive the first flange of the stern, when the bow is in the first, closed, operating position.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the foregoing advantages have been achieved through the method of articulating the bow of a boat. The method for articulating a bow of a boat to a stern of the boat, about a substantially vertical axis, may include the steps of: associating at least one hinge with the bow and the stern; and the at least one hinge decouples the bow from the stern by first moving the bow in a forward direction outwardly away from the stern. Another feature of the method of the present invention may include the step of utilizing at least one multi-element hinge as the at least one hinge, and the at least one multi-element hinge may provide articulation of the bow with a compound locus. A further feature of the method of the present invention may include the steps of: providing the stern with a first outwardly extending flange disposed along the front of the stern; providing the bow with a second outwardly extending flange disposed along the rear of the bow; and one of the flanges mates with the other flange when the bow is in a first closed, operating position. A further feather of the method of the present invention may include the step of telescopically receiving the first flange of the stern within the second flange of the bow.
The boat and method for articulating the bow of a boat of the present invention, when compared with previously proposed prior art boat designs and articulation methods, have the advantages of: being easily made and used, regardless of whether or not the boat is on land or in the water; being easier to transport and store because of the reduced length of the boat; not increasing the height of the boat when the bow has been articulated and the boat is in its open, or collapsed, configuration; and providing a secure, rigid, and strong connection between the bow and the remaining portion of the boat when the boat is used at high speeds and/or in heavy seas.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2149903 (1939-03-01), Thompson
patent: 3129443 (1964-04-01), Maturi et al.
patent: 3186369 (1965-06-01), McLennan et al.
patent: 4366769 (1983-01-01), Lingeman
patent: 4522143 (1985-06-01), Holzbaur
patent: 4715312 (1987-12-01), Bouvart
patent: 4869194 (1989-09-01), Cummins
patent: 5642686 (1997-07-01), Jeswine
patent: 736273 (1943-06-01), None
Ellis Lawrence S
Killeen Shawn
Thompson Adrian
Bracewell & Patterson L.L.P.
Sotelo Jesus D.
United States Marine, Inc.
LandOfFree
Boat with articulating bow and method for articulating the... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Boat with articulating bow and method for articulating the..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Boat with articulating bow and method for articulating the... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2520995