Access ladder for a pleasure boat, including a support for a boat tender

Abstract

The ladder (2) includes a lower support structure (16) designed to receive a boat tender such as a small craft, a surfboard or paddleboard, a buoy, etc., during navigation. The angle of the support structure can be adjusted as needed. A pulley for lifting the tender with a sling can be positioned at the top of the ladder. The dimensions and angle of the ladder are adjustable by means of a telescopic structure of the uprights (4, 6), crossbars (8, 28, 30, 43), and flexible mounting using pivoting, adjustable-length mounting arms (12, 14). (Fig. 1)

Description

Title of the invention: Access ladder for a pleasure boat, including a support for a boat tender technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a ladder for accessing a pleasure boat, comprising a support for a boat tender, which may be, for example, a small boat, a surfboard or paddleboard, or a buoy.

[0002] Conventional access ladders lack such support, and the tenders of pleasure boats must therefore either be towed, which can prove tricky especially in rough seas, or taken on board the boat, where the volume is reduced.

[0003] On the contrary, the invention allows the annex to be kept in a fixed position relative to the boat, essentially above water but outside of it, and thus simplifies its transport without compromising passenger comfort. General description of the invention

[0004] In general form, the invention thus relates to a ladder for accessing a pleasure boat, integrated into the hull of the boat and comprising two essentially vertical uprights and successive steps connecting the uprights, characterized in that it comprises a support structure for a tender of the boat, said support structure being connected to a lower end of the ladder.

[0005] The support structure allows the dinghy to be safely brought close to the hull of the boat, and then helps to lift it. It then allows the dinghy to be held in place against the ladder for the entire duration of navigation after it has been secured.

[0006] Advantageously, the support structure is articulated to the uprights, pivoting around an axis extending in a direction the width of the ladder. Raising and then securing the annex is thus facilitated.

[0007] However, it is advantageous that the support structure can be maintained at certain specific inclinations. For this purpose, it can then be connected to the uprights by at least one pivot equipped with a mechanism for locking the support structure at fixed angular positions relative to the uprights.

[0008] According to a possible improvement, the ladder may also include, at an upper end, a shelf projecting into the inside of the boat.

[0009] Lifting the annex and securing it to the support structure and against the ladder can be accomplished using a lifting rope. An advantageous embodiment of the invention then comprises, at an upper end, a pulley rotating freely about an axis of rotation extending in a width direction of the ladder, and intended for said rope for lifting the annex or for securing the annex to the support structure and against the ladder.

[0010] Moreover, it is then preferred that the ladder include a rail extending in the width direction of the ladder, from which the pulley is suspended, and along which the pulley slides freely.

[0011] Another important aspect of the invention is the ability to adapt the ladder to different shapes and inclinations of the hull to which it is to be fixed. The ladder may then include at least some of the following characteristics:

[0012] Its width can first be adjusted if the support structure, the degrees, and possibly a support structure for the tablet, are each composed of two portions respectively connected to the uprights and fitted into each other in mutual sliding.

[0013] Its height can be so if the uprights each consist of a plurality of tubes arranged in succession and sliding into one another, each provided with one of the steps of the ladder, and means of reciprocal stopping of the tubes at a plurality of total lengths of the uprights.

[0014] Its inclination can be so if the ladder includes arms for fixing the uprights to the hull, each of the arms being articulated to the hull at one end and to one of the uprights at an opposite end, and having an adjustable length.

[0015] The previous settings are simplified if there are four arms, each of the uprights being connected to an essentially vertical arm and an essentially horizontal arm.

[0016] A further improvement is achieved if each arm has a shock absorber, in order to reduce the repercussions on the hull of shocks carried on the ladder.

[0017] Lifting is particularly facilitated if the shelf includes two platforms mounted and sliding separately on an upper structure of the ladder in a direction of the width of the ladder, so as to clear a gap between them.

[0018] Another aspect of the invention is a pleasure sailboat, equipped with the ladder according to the above, integrated into the stern. Brief description of the figures

[0019] The various aspects, characteristics and advantages of the invention will now be explained by means of the following figures, which illustrate a particular embodiment thereof, given purely for illustrative purposes: • [Fig.l]: a general view of a realization of the ladder, in oblique perspective; • [Fig.2]: another general view, in side perspective; • [Fig.3]: a construction detail, allowing adjustment of the scale dimensions; • [Fig.4]: a construction detail of the fixing arms; • [Fig.5]: the construction of the upper tablet; • [Fig.6]: the steps for raising a boat tender; • [Fig.7]: an example of the position of the ladder on a sailboat. Detailed description of the invention

[0020] A ladder 2 embodiment according to the invention is shown in [Fig. 1]. Its structure comprises two essentially vertical uprights 4 and 6, rungs 8 connecting the uprights 4 and 6, provided with integrated steps 9, three in number here, and four attachment arms connecting the ladder 2 to the hull 10 of a pleasure craft, including two upper arms 12 and two lower arms 14. According to the invention, the ladder 2 also includes a support structure 16 at its lower end, as well as a shelf 18 at its upper end. Apart from a few minor details, the ladder 2 has a symmetrical structure in front view, with, among other things, identical uprights 4 and 6 and attachment arms 12 and 14 arranged in pairs at identical heights and lateral positions.

[0021] Throughout this description, the ladder 2 and its surroundings will be referenced with respect to transverse T, longitudinal L, and vertical V directions associated with the boat and its hull 10, considering the ladder 2 to be already fixed to the boat. The longitudinal direction L connects the bow to the stern of the boat, the transverse direction T connects port to starboard and corresponds to a width direction of the ladder 2, and the vertical direction V is the physical vertical and therefore corresponds to a height direction of the ladder 2. Furthermore, the ladder is assumed to be fixed to the stern of the boat in this description, but other locations remain possible.

[0022] The support structure 16 comprises, in this embodiment, a main arch 22 composed of two sides 24 and 26 respectively articulated to the lower ends of the uprights 4 and 6, and a connecting bar 28 joining the sides 24 and 26. It further comprises a reinforcing bar 30 also joining the sides 24 and 26, parallel to the connecting bar 28 and midway thereto, and of articulations 32 and 34 between the sides 24 and 26, and the uprights 4 and 6. The bars 28 and 30 extend as degrees 8 in the transverse direction T or width direction of the ladder 2, and the sides 24 and 26 are perpendicular to it. The joints 32 and 34 allow pivoting of the support structure 16 around this same transverse direction T. However, their pivots are made up of screws fitted with nuts which can be tightened at will to lock these pivots and maintain the current inclination of the support structure 16.

[0023] The upper structure of the ladder 2 comprises an upper hoop 40, two sides 41 of which (similar, only one appearing in the Figure) are respectively connected to the uprights 4 and 6 by upper joints 42 whose axis of rotation is in the transverse direction T. The upper hoop 40 extends on either side of the gunwale 15 of the hull 10, and it is reinforced by a cross member 43 extending in the transverse direction T, slightly outside and above the gunwale 15.

[0024] The shelf 18 is placed on the cross member 43 and the upper arch 40. It can be mounted on them by means of elastic snap-fit ​​means (not shown). It can consist of a removable cup-holder shelf, installed during navigation and removed at the dock when the ladder 2 needs to be used. It extends over the gunwale 15 and is essentially inside the boat.

[0025] The ladder 2 has adjustable dimensions, and also adjustable inclinations relative to the hull 10, in order to adapt it to many models of boats on which it would be installed, and to portions of hull 10 of various surfaces and inclinations, while providing good conditions of access to the boat.

[0026] Adjusting its width is possible if all the elements extending in the corresponding direction (the transverse direction T) are deployable. These elements are then composed of two complementary portions, nested one inside the other by sliding freely within the other, and respectively connected to the uprights 4 and 6. Thus, the bars 28 and 30 are each composed of a pair of telescopic tubular segments (28a and 28b, 30a and 30b) in extension, sliding one inside the other with play.

[0027] The same arrangement of nested and mutually sliding tubular segments is applied to the rungs 8, the crossbar 43, and the upper hoop 40, for the same effect of deployment at will. Figure 3 shows, however, that at least some of these tubular segments, such as 8a and 8b for each of the rungs 8, are provided with holes 11, suitable for extension. The insertion of rivets 13 or similar locking means then makes it possible to immobilize their deployment and maintain the ladder 2 at the desired width. The same construction can be applied to the rungs 28 and 30 of the support structure 16, as well as to the upper hoop 40, the crossbar 43, or any other structure that extends in the transverse direction T.

[0028] The integrated steps 9, shown here near the upright 4, could be longer, placed more in the middle of the steps 8, or supplemented by steps near the upright 6, depending on the width and extent of expansion of the ladder 2.

[0029] The height adjustment of the ladder 2 can be achieved by means of another telescopic structure, in this case relating to the uprights 4 and 6. Each of these consists of tubular segments (4a, 4b and 4c for upright 4) of alternating diameters, arranged in succession and sliding freely into one another, the end of one of the steps 8 being welded to each. The total length of the uprights 4 and 6 is set by joining the tubular segments 4a, 4b and 4c in pairs, for example by inserting rivets 13 through holes 11 placed as an extension of the walls of these segments, repeating the construction of [Fig.3].

[0030] We now refer to [Fig.2].

[0031] The cross member 43 carries a rail 44 extending in the transverse direction T, from which a pulley 45 is suspended. The pulley 45 rotates freely and slides freely along the rail 44.

[0032] Adjusting the dimensions of the ladder 2, as well as its inclination, is facilitated by a particular construction of the fixing arms 12 and 14. Each one includes first a connecting rod 46 of adjustable length.

[0033] Further details of the mounting arms are as follows. The upper mounting arms 12 each include, between the connecting rod 46 and a flange 62 for attaching to the shell 10, a double articulation 64 about the longitudinal direction L and the transverse direction T; they also include, between the other end of the connecting rod 46 and a fitting 68 welded to the upper structure of the ladder 2 (here, to the respective side 41 of the upper hoop 40), another articulation 66 about the transverse direction T (approximately). Since the connecting rods 46 of the mounting arms 12 are essentially vertical, their variations in length displace the ladder 2 vertically.

[0034] The inner mounting arms 14 each comprise a similar structure: a mounting collar 72 connects them to the shell 10 and leads, via a double joint 74, to the connecting rod 46; and the connecting rod 46 is connected, at its opposite end, to a fitting 78, welded to the relevant upright (4 or 6), by a joint 76. The double joint 74 is again around the longitudinal L and transverse T directions, and the opposite joint 76 is here around the vertical V direction (approximately). However, the connecting rods 46 of the lower mounting arms 14 are essentially horizontal, so that their changes in length affect the inclination of the ladder 2, causing it to rotate around the upper joints 42.

[0035] Figure 4 illustrates the construction of the variable-length connecting rods 46. Each is composed of three extending tubes, successively 48, 50, and 52. The central tube 50 slides within the other two thanks to a smaller diameter. Each of its ends is occupied by a nut-and-plate 53 or 54. The two outermost tubes 48 and 52 each contain a piston 55 provided with a threaded rod 56 that engages with the respective nut 53 or 54. They also each contain, between a bottom wall 57 at the respective end of the connecting rod 46 and the piston plate 58, a compressed spring 60. As the threads of the nuts 53 and 54, as well as those of the threaded rods 56, have opposite directions, the rotations that can be applied to the central tube 50 will have to vary its depth in each of the extreme tubes 48 and 52 in the same way, and therefore the total length of the connecting rod 46 (the pistons 55 being immobile in rotation).

[0036] By varying the lengths of the essentially vertical upper mounting arms 12, the height of the ladder 2 is adjusted according to the waterline height of the boat; by adjusting the length of the lower mounting arms 14, essentially in the longitudinal direction L, the angle it makes with the hull 10 is adjusted to bring it to a suitable inclination. The internal degrees of freedom of the mounting arms 12 and 14 make these adjustments possible.

[0037] In addition, the springs 60 are shock absorbers which absorb the shocks which could have been transmitted to the hull 10 via the ladder 2, thanks to a temporary deformation of the connecting rods 46.

[0038] The shelf 18 consists of a pair of platforms 18a and 18b extending from and freely sliding on the upper hoop 40, as shown in [Fig. 5]. Their gap 79 allows the passage of a sailboat's backstay if the ladder 2 is attached to its stern. It also allows the passage of a lifting sling, operated from inside the boat, by clearing access to the pulley 45.

[0039] The operation of the invention will now be described primarily with reference to Figures 2 and 6. The boat to which the hull 10 belongs includes a dinghy 82, here a surfboard, to be secured. It is attached to the lifting sling 80 mentioned above, which is passed through the pulley 45. By pulling the sling 80 from inside the boat, the dinghy is brought close to the support structure 16 (state A of [Fig. 6]); then it is passed over the support structure 16 (state B), and further pulling on the sling 80 leads to the righting of the dinghy 82, which is finally placed against the uprights 4 and 6 (state C). The dinghy 82 can then be attached to the ladder 2 (for example, to fastening rings 83 established on the arch 22, shown in [Fig. 2]) and transported without worry during navigation; The sling 80 can also contribute to this support, by hooking its end to the hoop 22.During these operations, the pulley 45 slides on the rail 44, eliminating transverse inclinations of the sling 80 and the risk of it jumping out of the pulley 45.

[0040] The inclination of the support structure 16 can be modified during these lifting operations. It is thus possible to lower it initially (state A) to facilitate the berthing of the annex 82 against the ladder 2. The horizontal position of the support structure 16, shown in most of the Figures, is suitable when the annex 82 has been raised and must be held in place. However, an upward inclination of the support structure 16 (shown in state C) can also be used to to reinforce this support during navigation, or to avoid protruding excessively from the hull 10, when the boat is at the dock for example, and in the absence of the annex 82.

[0041] Figure 7 illustrates that the invention can be used, in particular, on a sailboat 84 pleasure boat, scale 2 being fixed to its stern, generally flat on such pleasure boats, with an inclination which depends on the models.

[0042] The invention could be implemented in many other ways than this embodiment, particularly with regard to the constitution of the support structure 16, that of the fixing arms 12 and 14, their orientations, and their points of connection to the uprights 4 and 6. The annexes 82 considered may be of any nature, without being limited to floating bodies.

[0043] All common construction materials can be considered for its manufacture, such as stainless steels (316L, 304, etc.), carbon, plastics, metals such as iron, copper, lead, or wood.

Claims

Demands

1. Ladder (2) for accessing a pleasure craft (84), integrated into the hull (10) of the craft and comprising two essentially vertical uprights (4, 6) and successive steps (8) connecting the uprights, characterized in that it comprises a support structure (16) for a tender (82) of the craft, said support structure being connected to a lower end of the ladder.

2. Ladder according to claim 1, characterized in that the support structure is articulated to the uprights, pivoting around an axis extending in a width direction (T) of the ladder.

3. Ladder according to claim 2, characterized in that the support structure (16) is connected to the uprights (4, 6) by at least one pivot (32, 34) provided with a locking mechanism for the support structure at fixed angular positions relative to the uprights.

4. Ladder according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises, at an upper end, a shelf (18) projecting into the inside of the boat.

5. Ladder according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises, at an upper end, a pulley (45) rotating freely about an axis of rotation extending in a width direction (T) of the ladder, and intended for a rope (80) for raising the annex (82) or for holding the annex on the support structure and against the ladder (2).

6. Ladder according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a rail (44) extending in the width direction (T) of the ladder, from which the pulley (45) is suspended, and along which the pulley slides freely.

7. Ladder according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it is of variable width, the support structure (16), the steps (8), and optionally a support structure (40, 43) for the shelf, are each composed of two portions (a, b) respectively connected to the uprights and fitted into each other by mutual sliding.

8. A ladder according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the uprights each consist of a plurality of tubes (4a, 4b, 4c) arranged successively and sliding one inside the other, each provided with one of the rungs of the ladder, and means reciprocal stopping (11, 13) of the tubes at a plurality of total lengths of the uprights.

9. Ladder according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises fixing arms (12, 14) of the uprights (4, 6) to the shell (10), each of the arms being articulated to the shell by one end and to one of the uprights by an opposite end, and having an adjustable length.

10. Ladder according to claim 9, characterized in that there are four arms, each of the uprights (4, 6) being connected to an essentially vertical arm and an essentially horizontal arm.

11. Ladder according to any one of claims 9 or 10, characterized in that the arms each have a shock absorber (60).

12. Ladder according to claim 4, characterized in that the shelf (18) comprises two platforms (18a, 18b) mounted and sliding separately on an upper structure (40, 43) of the ladder in a ladder width direction, so as to clear a gap (79) between them.

13. Pleasure sailboat, characterized in that it includes the ladder according to any one of claims 1 to 12 integrated into the stern.

Images