High-pressure boat with narrow bottom and counterweight

Abstract

High-pressure boat with a narrow bottom and counterweight, comprising an inflatable and deflated tubular body, the tubular body having a bow, a midsection and a stern, the bow, midsection and stern being connected sequentially; the midsection comprising a floor plate and side tubes, the number of side tubes being two and the two side tubes being arranged symmetrically on both sides of the floor plate; a central seating area being formed between the floor plate and the two side tubes; characterized in that the side tube consists of at least two side wall partial tube sections; wherein, in the case of a single side tube, the side wall partial tube sections are successively connected in the vertical direction to form a single piece; wherein the side tube has an elliptical or quasi-elliptical cross-section perpendicular to its central axis; wherein the side tube is combined with the base plate, wherein the middle part has a U-shaped cross-section in the vertical direction.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of portable backpack boats, in particular a high-pressure boat with a narrow bottom and counterweight. More precisely, the present application describes an inflatable kayak, in particular an inflatable whitewater kayak, whose product code is "MRS-Orca" and with which an Eskimo roll can be reliably performed. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Modern kayaks are descended from the traditional small boats used by Inuit, which were made of a wooden frame and covered with animal hides and were used for hunting. A kayak is a type of canoe and is a small boat propelled with a double-bladed paddle and has a low seating position. The Eskimo roll is a self-rescue technique used by Inuit when their kayaks capsize while hunting.

[0003] For a modern kayaker using a hard-shell whitewater kayak, the Eskimo roll is the optimal self-rescue method in the event of an unexpected capsize. Those who have mastered the Eskimo roll can right their kayak immediately in whitewater using underwater maneuvers, preventing separation of the paddler and boat (in whitewater, such separation can lead to temporary drowning). The proficient application of the Eskimo roll largely ensures a paddler's safety in whitewater and is a skill that advanced paddlers must master.

[0004] With hard-shell whitewater kayaks, the shape of the kayaks allows a user to reliably perform the Eskimo roll. However, with existing inflatable kayaks, it is difficult to perform the Eskimo roll reliably, even if the user has mastered the skill; and righting the kayak can fail in critical moments. The present application provides a high-pressure, narrow-bottomed boat with a counterweight that helps the user perform the Eskimo roll more reliably. REVELATION OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable whitewater kayak with a novel structure to improve agility, secondary stability and high reliability when performing the Eskimo roll.

[0006] To solve the above problem, the present invention uses the following technical embodiment:

[0007] A high-pressure, narrow-bottomed, counterweighted boat comprising an inflatable and deflated tubular body, the tubular body having a bow, a midsection, and a stern, the bow, midsection, and stern being connected sequentially; the midsection comprising a floor plate and side tubes, the number of side tubes being two, and the two side tubes being arranged symmetrically on both sides of the floor plate; a central seating area being formed between the floor plate and the two side tubes; wherein the side tube consists of at least two side wall sub-tube sections; wherein, in the case of a single side tube, the side wall sub-tube sections are successively joined to form a single piece in the vertical direction; wherein the side tube has an elliptical or quasi-elliptical cross-section perpendicular to its central axis; wherein the side tube is combined with the base plate, the middle part having a cross-section in the vertical direction that resembles a U-shape.

[0008] The cross-section of the side tube perpendicular to the central axis of the side tube is rugby-shaped.

[0009] The height of the side tube is greater than the width of the side tube.

[0010] The base plate is made of a flexible material.

[0011] The cross-section of the side wall partial tube section is circular, elliptical, or quasi-elliptical.

[0012] The existing cylindrical side tubes will be changed to side tubes with an elliptical or quasi-elliptical cross-section.

[0013] By placing a tension bar inside the side tube, the side tube is shaped elliptically or quasi-elliptically.

[0014] The side tube comprises a first partial tube outer wall and at least one first partial tube tension strip, wherein at least one first partial tube tension strip is provided, wherein the first partial tube tension strip is arranged within the first partial tube outer wall, wherein a side wall partial tube section is formed between the first partial tube tension strip and an inner side of the first partial tube outer wall, and between two adjacent first partial tube tension strips and the inner side of the first partial tube outer wall;

[0015] or wherein the side tube consists of at least two independent side wall sub-tube sections; wherein two adjacent side wall sub-tube sections are successively joined in the vertical direction by gluing or sewing to form one piece.

[0016] The number of first partial pipe track sections is 2 to 9.

[0017] The side tube consists of 3 to 10 side wall sub-tube sections that are connected to each other in the vertical direction.

[0018] The width of the central seating area is slightly greater than the user's body width.

[0019] The high-pressure boat with a narrow bottom and counterweight further comprises an inflatable boat floor support plate, wherein the inflatable boat floor support plate is arranged on the floor plate.

[0020] The inflatable boat floor support plate is positioned at a typical draft of the boat floor.

[0021] The high-pressure boat with a narrow bottom and counterweight also includes a footrest located in the bow.

[0022] The footrest can be filled with a solution to adjust the weight of the footrest.

[0023] The high-pressure boat with a narrow bottom and counterweight further comprises a transition section, wherein the bow and the middle section or the middle section and the stern are each connected by the transition section.

[0024] One end of the transition section connected to the middle section is elliptical or quasi-elliptical, with one end of the transition section connected to the bow or stern being circular.

[0025] Between the bow and the middle section, the end of the transition section connected to the middle section is elliptical or quasi-elliptical, and the end of the transition section connected to the bow is circular; or between the stern and the middle section, the end of the transition section connected to the middle section is elliptical or quasi-elliptical and the end of the transition section connected to the stern is circular.

[0026] When the high-pressure boat with a narrow bottom and counterweight is in an inflated and naturally resting state, the bow is raised relative to the bottom plate in one direction from the midsection to the bow; When the high-pressure boat with a narrow bottom and counterweight is inflated and naturally at rest, the stern is raised relative to the bottom plate in one direction from the middle section to the stern.

[0027] The horizontal plane on which the end of the bow furthest from the middle section is located lies above the horizontal plane on which the end of the bow closest to the middle section is located; The horizontal plane on which the end of the stern furthest from the middle section is located lies above the horizontal plane on which the end of the stern closest to the middle section is located.

[0028] Application of the above-described high-pressure boat with narrow bottom and counterweight:

[0029] The high-pressure boat with a narrow bottom and counterweight is used in calm water or rapids. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The present invention is explained by means of examples and with reference to the accompanying drawings. These include: Fig. Figure 1 shows a front view of a high-pressure boat with a narrow bottom and counterweight according to a first embodiment. Fig. Figure 2 shows a rear view of the high-pressure boat with a narrow bottom and counterweight according to the first embodiment. Fig. Figure 3 shows a top view of the high-pressure boat with a narrow bottom and counterweight according to the first embodiment. Fig. Figure 4 shows an underside view of the high-pressure boat with a narrow bottom and counterweight according to the first embodiment. Fig. Figure 5 shows a right-hand side view of the high-pressure boat with a narrow bottom and counterweight according to the first embodiment. Fig. Figure 6 shows a left side view of the high-pressure boat with a narrow bottom and counterweight according to the first embodiment. Fig. Figure 7 shows a schematic view of the principle for the partial deployment of the high-pressure boat with a narrow bottom and counterweight according to the first embodiment. Fig. Figure 8 shows a schematic view of the structure of Fig. 7 without a first partial pipe outer wall. Fig. Figure 9 shows a two-dimensional line drawing of Fig. 8. Fig. Figure 10 shows a schematic sectional view of a central section of the high-pressure boat with a narrow bottom and counterweight according to the present application in the vertical direction.

[0031] Reference symbols in the figures: 1-bow; 2-middle section; 3-stern; 4-first partial tube outer wall; 5-first partial tube drawbar; 6-transition section. DETAILED EXECUTION FORMS

[0032] All features or steps disclosed in this description in all disclosed methods or processes, with the exception of mutually exclusive features and / or steps, can be combined in any way.

[0033] Unless otherwise stated, each feature disclosed in this description can be replaced by another equivalent or alternative feature serving a similar purpose. That is to say, unless otherwise stated, each feature is merely an example of a number of equivalent or similar features. Examples of implementation

[0034] The stability of a boat refers to its ability to resist an external torque that causes it to deviate from its original equilibrium position and list, and to return to its original equilibrium state once the external torque is removed. During a voyage, the boat is disturbed by various external forces such as wind and waves, which disrupt its equilibrium. When subjected to an external torque, the boat will list. In this case, a sufficiently stable boat, under the combined action of buoyancy and gravity, generates a restoring torque to counteract the effect of the external torque and prevent further listing. After the external torque is removed, the restoring torque returns the boat (after a certain periodic oscillation) to its original equilibrium position.

[0035] Currently, existing backpack boats typically have a flat bottom and a cylindrical midsection at both ends. This design is advantageous for improving the boat's static stability. Due to their structural advantages, existing backpack boats exhibit strong stability in calm waters, effectively maintaining their balance and preventing capsizing. This stability is referred to as initial stability or primary stability.

[0036] Although such a design with high initial stability offers greater inherent stability, it is simultaneously hampered by a lack of controllability and agility, etc. Typically, a paddler relies too heavily on the hull's inherent stability, which limits the development of a higher level of paddling technique.

[0037] At the same time, a boat with high initial stability also has its own limitations. In larger whitewater waves, if the hull reaches a certain degree of heeling, the righting torque can suddenly decrease, which is unexpected and can easily lead to capsizing. Therefore, increasing attention is being paid to the boat's secondary stability.

[0038] It is also very difficult to use the Eskimo roll to right a boat with high initial stability, and the success rate of the Eskimo roll is not high, making it difficult to use as a reliable self-rescue method. The main reason is that, due to the high buoyancy and high initial stability, the torsional resistance of the Eskimo roll is also high. To make the kayak easy to perform an Eskimo roll, a boat design with high secondary stability and medium primary stability should be used.

[0039] "Whitewater" refers to the white foam created by the collision of flowing water and rocks. It is often used to describe fast-flowing waters. Compared to still waters, whitewater is characterized by a rapid current. If a raft is used for whitewater rafting, the paddler will be swept away by the current after capsizing. Due to the inherent stability of the raft, it is very difficult for the user to right themselves using the Eskimo roll.

[0040] As mentioned earlier, the Eskimo roll is primarily used with hard-shell whitewater kayaks. Due to the characteristics of hard-shell whitewater kayaks, executing the Eskimo roll is relatively simple. On the other hand, hard-shell whitewater kayaks themselves are made of rigid materials and cannot be efficiently stowed, which somewhat limits their application.

[0041] In view of the problems mentioned above, the present application, as shown in the figures, provides a high-pressure boat with a narrow bottom and counterweight, which is essentially a backpack boat but, based on existing backpack boats, allows the user to perform the Eskimo roll more easily, thereby effectively expanding the range of applications.

[0042] A high-pressure, narrow-bottomed boat with a counterweight according to this embodiment comprises an inflatable and deflated tubular body, the tubular body having a bow, a midsection, and a stern, wherein the bow, midsection, and stern are successively joined to form a single unit. The midsection comprises a floor plate and side tubes, wherein the number of side tubes is two and the two side tubes are arranged symmetrically on both sides of the floor plate; wherein a central seating area is formed between the floor plate and the two side tubes.

[0043] In this embodiment, the side tube consists of at least two side wall sections; in the case of a single side tube, the side wall sections are joined sequentially in the vertical direction to form a single piece; the side tube has an elliptical or quasi-elliptical cross-section perpendicular to its central axis. The cross-section of the side wall section is circular, elliptical, or quasi-elliptical. The height of the side tube is greater than its width. That is, the cross-section of the side tube is elliptical or quasi-elliptical, with a long upper and lower portion and a narrow center.

[0044] In a specific example, the side tube consists of three side-wall sub-tube sections. The side tube comprises a first sub-tube outer wall and first sub-tube tension rails. There are two first sub-tube tension rails, each located within the first sub-tube outer wall. A side-wall sub-tube section is formed between the first sub-tube tension rail and an inner surface of the first sub-tube outer wall, and another side-wall sub-tube section is formed between two adjacent first sub-tube tension rails and the inner surface of the first sub-tube outer wall. As shown in the figures, the first sub-tube tension rails are arranged vertically and divide the first sub-tube outer wall into three cavities, thus forming three side-wall sub-tube sections. Based on the action of the first sub-tube tension rail, the side tube is formed into a structure with an elliptical or quasi-elliptical cross-section.In this structure, the cylindrical side tubes in existing backpack boats are changed to side tubes with an elliptical or quasi-elliptical cross-section in accordance with the present application.

[0045] In the present application, the structure and lines of the inflatable whitewater kayak are adapted to achieve the performance of a hard-shell whitewater kayak using an inflatable structure. Based on the structural improvements described above, the hull width can be reduced. In the present application, by incorporating the tow bars into the inflatable hull sides on both sides of the boat (i.e., the first partial tube tow bar is located in the first partial tube outer wall), the circular cross-section of the inflatable hull sides is shaped into an ellipse or quasi-ellipse, whose longitudinal axis is oriented vertically, in order to reduce the hull width, which promotes paddling efficiency and hull control.

[0046] Based on the improved structure, the rolling resistance of the hull of the present application is reduced during the Eskimo roll. In the prior art, the simplest method for reducing boat buoyancy is to reduce the size of the hull. However, since the human body cannot be reduced in size, this method is not practical. In the present application, the cylinders on the sides of the boat are modified into quasi-elliptical shapes, which, while maintaining the same height, makes the hull narrower, thus reducing the rolling resistance when performing the Eskimo roll.

[0047] At the same time, the cross-section of the midsection of the improved hull resembles a U-shape, effectively enhancing secondary stability. As mentioned earlier, existing backpack kayaks are very stable in calm water and waves, meaning they possess good primary stability; however, in heavy whitewater, the righting torque can suddenly decrease upon reaching a certain degree of hull tilt, which is unexpected and can easily lead to capsizing, making it even more difficult to use the Eskimo roll for self-rescue. The bottom of the present application is slightly curved and combines with the side tubes on both sides, resulting in an overall U-shaped form. In this application, the secondary stability of the hull is excellent, providing the paddler with a greater degree of control.Although the stability of the boat hull depends primarily on the user's balance, this further develops and stimulates the paddler's control skills. This cannot be achieved with existing backpack boats.

[0048] Furthermore, the present application can improve the overall shape of the hull and ensure its stiffness. Normally, a reduction in the hull's side width impairs its stiffness, whereas in the present application, internal tension strips are used between the narrow side and the bow, as well as between the narrow side and the stern, for stepwise shape adjustment (i.e., the first partial tube tension strip is located within the first partial tube outer wall), thereby achieving a smooth transition of the external shape while simultaneously meeting the requirements for the hull's streamlined shape and stiffness.

[0049] In an alternative embodiment, the side tube consists of at least two independent side wall sub-tube sections; wherein two adjacent side wall sub-tube sections are successively joined in the vertical direction by gluing or sewing to form a single piece. In this alternative embodiment, the cross-section of the side wall sub-tube sections is circular, elliptical, or quasi-elliptical, and the side wall sub-tube sections are joined by gluing or sewing to form a single piece, thereby creating a side tube, wherein the cross-section of the side tube is elliptical or quasi-elliptical.

[0050] The floor panel is made of a flexible material. The inner width of the central seating area of ​​the hull is slightly wider than the user's body width, ensuring sufficient comfort. Simultaneously, the floor panel of the central section and the two side tubes have a U-shaped cross-section in the vertical direction. In a specific example, the outer width of the hull in the central seating area is approximately 65 cm to 75 cm, preferably 65 cm to 70 cm. Furthermore, an inflatable floor support plate, also made of a flexible material, is provided. This structure shapes the cross-section of the floor into a gently transitioning U-shape, improving secondary stability and helping the paddler better control the kayak's heeling angle.

[0051] In this embodiment, the inflatable boat floor support plate is only located at the usual draft of the boat floor. At the same time, no inflatable boat floor support plate is located at the raised areas of the bow and stern; instead, only a boat floor cover is used to reduce weight, decrease maintenance, and increase the interior space of the boat.

[0052] Furthermore, a transition section is provided, wherein the bow and the midsection, and the midsection and the stern, are each connected by the transition section. In particular, it is provided that between the bow and the midsection, the end of the transition section connected to the midsection is elliptical or quasi-elliptical, and the end of the transition section connected to the bow is circular; and that between the stern and the midsection, the end of the transition section connected to the midsection is elliptical or quasi-elliptical, and the end of the transition section connected to the stern is circular.

[0053] Furthermore, it is provided that when the high-pressure, narrow-bottomed boat with counterweight is inflated and naturally at rest, the bow is raised relative to the bottom plate in a direction from the midsection towards the bow. That is, the horizontal plane on which the end of the bow furthest from the midsection is located lies above the horizontal plane on which the end of the bow closest to the midsection is located. When the high-pressure, narrow-bottomed boat with counterweight is inflated and naturally at rest, the stern is raised relative to the bottom plate in a direction from the midsection towards the stern. That is, the horizontal plane on which the end of the stern furthest from the midsection is located lies above the horizontal plane on which the end of the stern closest to the midsection is located.

[0054] It should be stated that after inflation of the narrow-bottomed, counterweighted high-pressure boat, the bow and stern are raised relative to the midsection, regardless of whether the boat is at rest or in whitewater. The foregoing assumption of a naturally resting state is merely for the sake of clarity and does not constitute a limitation. It should be stated that after inflation, the narrow-bottomed, counterweighted high-pressure boat retains its relatively rigid shape, even when subjected to external forces. This structure helps to reduce bow dive, aids in crossing waves, meets the requirements for use in whitewater, and improves course stability.

[0055] In the present application, the design of the raised bow and stern, in conjunction with the structural improvements to the midsection, helps to adjust the center of gravity, which is advantageous for performing the Eskimo roll. At the same time, this structure helps to lift the bow when passing through waves. Furthermore, the overall structural design, in which the bow and stern are relatively raised, allows the midsection to dive deeper, thus improving secondary stability.

[0056] Furthermore, the high-pressure, narrow-bottomed, counterweighted boat includes a footrest located in the bow. The footrest can be filled with readily available river water to adjust its weight. Because the novel inflatable whitewater kayak of the present application is very light, the overall center of gravity of the boat and paddler is concentrated in the midsection, while the bow and stern are lighter, resulting in low inertia at the bow. When the bow collides with the whitewater current, it is easily deflected and difficult to steer. To increase the stability of the bow, the most effective method is to increase the weight in the lower part of the bow. Since water is readily available, the present application also includes a footrest located in the bow, which can be filled with water and whose capacity can be adjusted.This structure serves both as a footrest and increases the weight of the bow, thereby increasing its inertial energy and improving bow stability, which is advantageous for steering. Experimentation allows for the addition of an appropriate amount of water to fine-tune the hull's course stability within an easily controllable range.

[0057] Compared to existing backpack boats, the present application offers the following advantages.

[0058] Firstly, the high-pressure boat with narrow bottom and counterweight of the present application can reliably perform an Eskimo roll.

[0059] Actual test results show that with the inflatable whitewater kayak of the present application, the user can easily use the Eskimo roll in whitewater for self-rescue, with the technical requirements and success rate being similar to those of a hard-shell whitewater kayak, which is not achievable with existing backpack boats.

[0060] Secondly, the high-pressure, narrow-bottomed, counterweight boat of the present application can achieve similar performance to hard-shell whitewater kayaks, including higher agility after improvement of power transmission efficiency and the ability to comprehensively control the angle of heel.

[0061] Specifically, the narrower hull and flexible control of the heeling angle (often referred to as secondary stability in kayaking) of the high-pressure, narrow-bottomed, counterweight boat of the present application enable a flexible and agile steering response in whitewater, allowing the user's technical skills to be fully exploited.

[0062] Thirdly, the high-pressure boat with a narrow bottom and counterweight, as described in the present application, is flexibly portable.

[0063] The inflatable whitewater kayak described in this application is easy to carry and, along with the appropriate whitewater kayaking accessories, can be fully packed in a backpack; its weight is less than half that of a hard-shell whitewater kayak. This application allows for more flexible routes and a wider range of uses, thus expanding the application range of backpack kayaks.

[0064] Finally, it can happen that beginners are unable to capsize the high-pressure, narrow-bottomed, counterweighted boat described in this application and have to get out on their own. If this occurs with a hard-shell whitewater kayak, water usually enters the hull through the hatch, leaving the hull suspended. The user then has to pull the hull to shore to drain the water, which is physically very strenuous.

[0065] The inflatable whitewater kayak of the present application retains its buoyancy in the water, even if water enters the kayak; and the paddler can use this buoyancy to avoid the rapids and then reach calmer water; at the same time, the user can enter the high-pressure, narrow-bottomed, counterweighted boat in the water, paddle to shore, and drain the water there, requiring less physical energy. Based on the improved structure, it is easier for novice paddlers to master the appropriate rolling technique.

[0066] The present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. The present invention extends to all new features or combinations disclosed in this description, as well as to each new step or combination of the disclosed methods or processes.

Claims

[1] High-pressure boat with a narrow bottom and counterweight, comprising an inflatable and deflated tubular body, the tubular body having a bow, a midsection and a stern, the bow, midsection and stern being connected sequentially; the midsection comprising a floor plate and side tubes, the number of side tubes being two and the two side tubes being arranged symmetrically on both sides of the floor plate; a central seating area being formed between the floor plate and the two side tubes; characterized by that the side tube consists of at least two side wall sub-tube sections; wherein, in the case of a single side tube, the side wall sub-tube sections are successively joined to form a single piece in the vertical direction; wherein the side tube has an elliptical or quasi-elliptical cross-section perpendicular to its central axis; wherein the side tube is combined with the base plate, wherein the middle part has a U-shaped cross-section in the vertical direction. [2] High-pressure boat with narrow bottom and counterweight according to claim 1, characterized by that the base plate is made of a flexible material. [3] High-pressure boat with narrow bottom and counterweight according to claim 1, characterized by that the cross-section of the side wall partial tube section is circular, elliptical or quasi-elliptical. [4] High-pressure boat with narrow bottom and counterweight according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that by arranging a tension bar inside the side tube, the side tube is shaped elliptically or quasi-elliptically. [5] High-pressure boat with narrow bottom and counterweight according to claim 4, characterized bythat the side tube comprises a first partial tube outer wall and at least one first partial tube tension strip, wherein at least one first partial tube tension strip is provided, wherein the first partial tube tension strip is arranged within the first partial tube outer wall, wherein a side tube partial section is formed between the first partial tube tension strip and an inner surface of the first partial tube outer wall, and between two adjacent first partial tube tension strips and the inner surface of the first partial tube outer wall; or wherein the side tube consists of at least two independent side tube partial sections; wherein two adjacent side tube partial sections are successively joined in the vertical direction by gluing or sewing to form one piece. [6] High-pressure boat with narrow bottom and counterweight according to claim 1, characterized by, that it further comprises an inflatable boat floor support plate, wherein the inflatable boat floor support plate is arranged on the floor plate. [7] High-pressure boat with narrow bottom and counterweight according to claim 1, characterized by , that it also includes a footrest located in the bow. [8] High-pressure boat with narrow bottom and counterweight according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by , that it further comprises a transition section, wherein the bow and the middle section or the middle section and the stern are each connected by the transition section. [9] High-pressure boat with narrow bottom and counterweight according to claim 8, characterized by , that one end of the transition section connected to the middle section is elliptical or quasi-elliptical, wherein one end of the transition section connected to the bow or stern is circular. [10] High-pressure boat with narrow bottom and counterweight according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by , that when the high-pressure boat with a narrow bottom and counterweight is in an inflated and naturally resting state, the bow is raised relative to the bottom plate in a direction from the midsection to the bow; wherein, when the high-pressure boat with a narrow bottom and counterweight is inflated and naturally resting state, the stern is raised relative to the bottom plate in a direction from the midsection to the stern.

Images