Inflatable boat

Abstract

The inflatable boat (1) comprises: - at least one basic structure (2) intended, in use, to be partly submerged in a water element and to float with respect to the latter; - at least one inflating body (3) associated with the basic structure (2) and intended, in use, to be positioned above the free surface of the water element; wherein the inflating body (3) is adapted to delimit, at least partly, an inflating chamber (4) adapted to contain at least one inflating fluid of the inflating body (3); and wherein the inflatable boat (1) comprises at least one supporting body (7) of the inflating body (3) associated with the basic structure (2) in a removable manner.

Description

[0001] INFLATABLE BOAT

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to an inflatable boat.

[0004] Background Art

[0005] As is known, an inflatable boat is a specific type of vessel comprising a hull, intended to be partly submerged in a water element and to float with respect to the latter, and an inflating body, associated with the hull and intended, in use, to be positioned above the waterline of the water element.

[0006] The inflating body is generally made of rubberized fabric of the reinforced type and internally defines an inflating chamber into which an inflation fluid (generally pressurized air) is introduced.

[0007] The inflating body is also provided with valve means that allow the inflation fluid to be introduced into or extracted from the inflating chamber.

[0008] In conventional inflatable boats, the inflating body is made in a single body piece and is rigidly connected to the hull, preferably by bonding.

[0009] The use of inflatable boats of known type is associated with certain drawbacks, mainly related to the difficulties that may arise when maintenance work needs to be carried out on the inflating body.

[0010] More specifically, if the inflating body needs to be repaired, the entire inflatable boat must be sent to the facility responsible for repairing the inflating body, since the inflating body is rigidly connected to the hull.

[0011] It is clear that moving the entire inflatable boat is very complex because it requires a suitable means of transport, which is often not readily available and can be very expensive.

[0012] In addition to this, moving the entire inflatable boat can be complex and difficult to carry out manually.

[0013] Description of the Invention

[0014] The main aim of the present invention is to devise an inflatable boat that allows simplifying and speeding up the maintenance and / or repair phase of the inflating body of the inflatable boat itself.

[0015] A further object of the present invention is to devise an inflatable boat that allows the inflating body to be repaired without necessarily having to resort tothe use of high-capacity and / or very expensive means of transport.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to devise an inflatable boat that allows the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art to be overcome by means of a simple, rational, easy and effective to use, as well as affordable solution.

[0017] The aforementioned objects are achieved by this inflatable boat having the characteristics of claim 1.

[0018]

[0019] of the

[0020] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of an inflatable boat, illustrated by way of an indicative, yet non-limiting example, in the attached drawings, in which:

[0021] Figure 1 is an axonometric view of an inflatable boat according to the invention; Figure 2 is an axonometric, partly exploded view of the inflatable boat according to the invention;

[0022] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of some components of the inflatable boat according to the invention;

[0023] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional, partly exploded view of some components of the inflatable boat according to the invention.

[0024] Embodiments of the Invention

[0025] With particular reference to these figures, reference numeral 1 globally denotes an inflatable boat.

[0026] The inflatable boat 1 comprises:

[0027] at least one basic structure 2 intended, in use, to be partly submerged in a water element and to float with respect to the latter;

[0028] at least one inflating body 3 associated with the basic structure 2 and intended, in use, to be positioned above the waterline of the water element; wherein the inflating body 3 is adapted to bound, at least partly, an inflating chamber 4 adapted to contain at least one inflation fluid of the inflating body 3. The basic structure 2 comprises a bottom portion 5, which is substantially flat and intended to be arranged, in use, substantially parallel to the waterline of the water element.

[0029] More specifically, during the use of the inflatable boat 1, the bottom portion 5 isintended to be submerged in the water element.

[0030] The basic structure 2 also comprises a pair of sides 6 laterally associated with the bottom portion 5 and arranged transversely to the latter.

[0031] The sides 6, when in use, are arranged transversely to the waterline of the water element and emerge, at least partly, therefrom.

[0032] In other words, the basic structure 2 is of the hull type.

[0033] The inflating body 3 is associated with the basic structure 2 at the sides 6.

[0034] The inflating body 3 is preferably made of rubberized fabric.

[0035] The inflating body 3 comprises valve means (not shown in detail in the figures) adapted to allow the inflation fluid to enter / exit the inflating chamber 4.

[0036] The inflation fluid is preferably pressurized atmospheric air.

[0037] According to the invention, the inflatable boat 1 comprises at least one supporting body 7 of the inflating body 3, associated with the basic structure 2 in a removable maimer.

[0038] The inflating body 3 is associated with the sides 6 of the basic structure 2 by interposition of the supporting body 7.

[0039] The supporting body 7 is adapted to hold the inflating body 3 and is associated with the sides 6 of the basic structure 2 in a removable manner.

[0040] The methods for connecting the supporting body 7 to the basic structure 2 will be described in greater detail in the remainder of this disclosure.

[0041] Conveniently, the supporting body 7 and the inflating body 3 are rigidly associated with each other to define at least one inflating module 8 provided with the inflating chamber 4 and connected to the basic structure 2 in a removable manner.

[0042] For example, the inflating body 3 is secured to the supporting body 7 by interposition of a bonding agent.

[0043] If necessary, the inflating module 8 can be disconnected from the basic structure 2 and reconnected at a later time, if required.

[0044] For example, if maintenance work needs to be carried out on the inflating body 3, the inflating module 8 can be detached from the basic structure 2 by moving only the inflating module 8, without displacing the entire inflatable boat 1.

[0045] This specific technical expedient allows significantly simplifying themaintenance process of the inflating body 3, particularly in terms of transport, since the inflating module 8 is much less bulky than the entire inflatable boat 1. Furthermore, maneuvering the inflating module 8 only is certainly easier than moving the entire inflatable boat 1.

[0046] Advantageously, the supporting body 7 is made of composite material.

[0047] Preferably, the composite material is selected from the list comprising at least: Kevlar, carbon fiber, and fiberglass.

[0048] This specific design choice allows for a supporting body 7 that is lightweight yet robust at the same time.

[0049] This makes it possible to have a supporting body 7 that is capable of withstanding shocks satisfactorily and that is durable.

[0050] At the same time, it is possible to create a lightweight inflating module 8 that can be easily handled and transported.

[0051] With reference to the possible embodiment shown in the figures, the supporting body 7 is partly inserted within the inflating body 3, with the supporting body 7 and the inflating body 3 bounding the inflating chamber 4.

[0052] In other words, the inflating body 3 is open on one side and defines a connecting opening 9 through which the supporting body 7 is inserted within the inflating body 3.

[0053] With reference to this particular embodiment, the inflating body 3 has a substantially elongated shape and has a cross-section that is substantially C-shaped.

[0054] According to an alternative embodiment of the inflatable boat 1, not shown in the figures, the supporting body 7 is externally associated with the inflating body 3, the inflating body 3 being closed and bounding the inflating chamber 4. In other words, according to this particular embodiment, the inflating chamber 4 is solely bounded by the inflating body 3.

[0055] For example, the inflating body 3 made according to this latter embodiment has a substantially elongated shape and a substantially circular cross-section.

[0056] Still with reference to this particular embodiment, the supporting body 7 is associated with an outer wall of the inflating body 3.

[0057] Usefully, the inflatable boat 1 comprises removable connection means 10, 11 ofthe supporting body 7 to the basic structure 2.

[0058] With reference to the possible embodiment shown in the figures, the removable connection means 10, 11 comprise at least a first coupling portion 10, defined on the supporting body 7, and at least a second coupling portion 11, defined on at least one outer perimeter edge of the basic structure 2, wherein the first coupling portion 10 and the second coupling portion 11 are associable in a removable maimer.

[0059] The second coupling portion 11 is defined on the sides 6 of the basic structure 2 and faces outward so as to connect easily to the first coupling portion 10 defined on the supporting body 7.

[0060] Usefully, the first coupling portion 10 and the second coupling portion 11 are associable with interference.

[0061] More specifically, one of either the first coupling portion 10 or the second coupling portion 11 is embeddable within the other of either the first coupling portion 10 or the second coupling portion 11.

[0062] Advantageously, one of either the first coupling portion 10 or the second coupling portion 11 is substantially concave, and the other of either the first coupling portion 10 or the second coupling portion 11 is substantially convex. With reference to the possible embodiment shown in the figures, the first coupling portion 10 is substantially concave and the second coupling portion 11 is substantially convex.

[0063] The first coupling portion 10 is substantially C-shaped.

[0064] The second coupling portion 11 is made protruding from the sides 6 of the basic structure 2.

[0065] Always with particular reference to the possible embodiment shown in the figures, the second coupling portion 11 can be snap-fitted within the first coupling portion 10.

[0066] According to an alternative embodiment not shown in the figures, the removable connection means 10, 11 comprise fasteners of the quick-coupling type.

[0067] For example, the removable connection means 10, 11 comprise a plurality of screws that can be screwed onto the basic structure 2 and onto the supportingbody 7.

[0068] Usefully, the inflating body 3 comprises a plurality of inflating portions 3a, and the inflatable boat 1 comprises a plurality of supporting bodies 7, each of the supporting bodies 7 being adapted to hold a respective inflating portion 3a. According to the specific embodiment shown in the figures, the inflating body 3 comprises two inflating portions 3a and the inflatable boat 1 comprises two supporting bodies 7.

[0069] More specifically, one of the inflating portions 3a is associated, by interposition of the relevant supporting body 7, with one of the sides 6 of the basic structure 2; the other of the inflating portions 3a is associated, by interposition of the relevant supporting body 7, with the other of the sides 6 of the basic structure 2. The inflating portions 3a and the supporting bodies 7 have a length substantially equal to the length of the side 6 to which they are coupled.

[0070] In other words, the inflatable boat 1 comprises a plurality of inflating modules 8.

[0071] With reference to the figures, the inflatable boat 1 comprises a pair of inflating modules 8; each of the inflating modules 8 is coupled to a respective side 6 of the basic structure 2 in a releasable maimer.

[0072] The fact of providing a plurality of inflating modules 8 allows further simplifying the maintenance phase of the inflating body 3, as it is possible to detach from the basic structure 2 only the inflating module 8 requiring repair. Furthermore, the presence of a plurality of inflating modules 8 allows, if necessary, for the replacement of the damaged inflating module 8 only, thus significantly reducing the maintenance costs of the inflatable boat 1.

[0073] Conveniently, each of the inflating modules 8 defines at least one of either an overhanging portion or a lowered portion, wherein the overhanging portion of an inflating module 8 is positionable where a respective lowered portion of an inflating module 8 arranged adjacent is located, the overhanging portion covering, at least partly, the respective lowered portion.

[0074] In other words, the inflating modules 8 are partly overlapped when mounted on the basic structure 2, so as to connect the inflatable modules 8 themselves in a substantially watertight manner.In this way, it is possible to prevent water from entering between the same inflating modules 8 during use of the inflatable boat 1.

[0075] It has in practice been ascertained that the described invention achieves the intended objects, and in particular, the fact is emphasized that thanks to the presence of the supporting body of the inflating body, which is associated with the inflatable boat’s hull in a removable maimer, it is possible to simplify and speed up the maintenance and / or repair phase of the inflatable boat’s inflating body itself

[0076] Furthermore, the fact of being able to disconnect the inflating body from the inflatable boat’s hull eliminates the need to use high-capacity and / or very expensive means of transport during maintenance on the inflating body itself

Claims

CLAIMS1) Inflatable boat (1) comprising:at least one basic structure (2) intended, in use, to be partly submerged in a water element and to float with respect to the latter;at least one inflating body (3) associated with said basic structure (2) and intended, in use, to be positioned above the free surface of the water element;wherein said inflating body (3) is adapted to delimit, at least partly, an inflating chamber (4) adapted to contain at least one inflating fluid of said inflating body (3);characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one supporting body (7) of said inflating body (3) associated with said basic structure (2) in a removable maimer.2) Inflatable boat (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said supporting body (7) and said inflating body (3) are rigidly associated with each other to define at least one inflating module (8) provided with said inflating chamber (4) and connected to said basic structure (2) in a removable manner. 3) Inflatable boat (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said supporting body (7) is partly inserted within said inflating body (3), said supporting body (7) and said inflating body (3) bounding said inflating chamber (4).4) Inflatable boat (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims 1 to 2, characterized by the fact that said supporting body (7) is externally associated with said inflating body (3), said inflating body (3) being closed and bounding said inflating chamber (4).5) Inflatable boat (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises removable connection means (10, 11) of said supporting body (7) to said basic structure (2).6) Inflatable boat (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said removable connection means (10, 11) comprise at least a first coupling portion (10), defined on said supporting body (7), and at least a second coupling portion (11), defined on at least one outerperimeter edge of said basic structure (2), wherein said first coupling portion (10) and said second coupling portion (11) are associable in a removable maimer.7) Inflatable boat (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said first coupling portion (10) and said second coupling portion (11) are associable by interference.8) Inflatable boat (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that one of either said first coupling portion (10) or said second coupling portion (11) is embeddable within the other of either said first coupling portion (10) or said second coupling portion (11).9) Inflatable boat (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that one of either said first coupling portion (10) or said second coupling portion (11) is substantially concave and the other of either said first coupling portion (10) or said second coupling portion (11) is substantially convex.10) Inflatable boat (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, characterized by the fact that said removable connection means (10, 11) comprise fasteners of the quick type.11) Inflatable boat (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said supporting body (7) is made of composite material.12) Inflatable boat (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said composite material is selected from the list comprising at least: kevlar, carbon fiber, fiberglass.13) Inflatable boat (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said inflating body (3) comprises a plurality of inflating portions (3a) and by the fact that said inflatable boat (1) comprises a plurality of supporting bodies (7), each of said supporting bodies (7) being adapted to hold a respective said inflating portion (3a).14) Inflatable boat (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises a plurality of inflating modules (8) and by the fact that each of said inflating modules (8) defines at least one ofeither an overhanging portion and a lowered portion, wherein said overhanging portion of one said inflating module (8) is positionable where a respective said lowered portion of one said inflating module (8) arranged adjacent is located, said overhanging portion covering, at least partly, said respective lowered portion.

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