NO341899B1

NO341899B1 - Inflatable boat

Info

Publication number: NO341899B1
Application number: NO20161060A
Authority: NO
Inventors: Christian Rokseth
Original assignee: Packrafting As
Priority date: 2016-06-24
Filing date: 2016-06-24
Publication date: 2018-02-19
Also published as: WO2017222388A1; NO20161060A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a boat wherein at least parts of the boat are made of collapsible material, and comprises at least one inflatable element 3, at least one integrated storage room, having an opening 10, and at least one fastening means for attaching at least one strap 8, 9 to carry the boat. The fastening means is arranged at the opening 10 of the storage room, and the parts of the boat being of collapsible material are configured sothat the boat may be packed, and exposing the area com prising the fastening means and the opening of the storage room. The present invention also relates to a method for packing an inflatable boat according to the invention, com prising the following steps:a) deflating the at least one inflatable element 3 by opening a valve 6, 7, b) packing the inflatable boat from a distal end towards a proximal end wherein the proximal end is closeto the fastening means, until the area comprisingthe opening 10 of the storage room and the fastening means for the strap is exposed on one side, and c) attaching straps 11, lines or covers around the packed boat.The present invention relates to a boat where at least parts of the boat are made of collapsible material, and comprises at least one inflatable element 3, at least one integrated storage room, having an opening 10, and at least one fastening means for attaching at at least one strap 8, 9 to carry the boat. The fastening means is arranged at the opening 10 of the storage room, and the parts of the boat being of collapsible material are configured so the boat may be packed, and exposing the area com prising the fastening means and the opening of the storage room. The present invention also relates to a method for packing an inflatable boat according to the invention, com prising the following steps: a) deflating the at least one inflatable element 3 by opening a valve 6, 7, b) packing the inflatable boat from a distal end towards a proximal end where the proximal end is closeto the fastening means, until the area comprisingthe opening 10 of the storage room and the fastening means for the strap is exposed on one side, and c) attaching straps 11, lines or covers around the packed boat.

Description

Inflatable boat

Technical field

The present invention relates to an inflatable boat and a method for packing and possibly converting the inflatable boat to a backpack, according to the preamble of the independent claims.

Background

Boats and water have been used for a long time for recreational purposes. Inflatable boats are convenient as the user may store them at a distant place and bring them to the site of use and inflate the boat whenever needed. Access to a quay, shed or the similar is thus not necessary. However, traditional inflatable boats are heavy and may be cumbersome to carry even for a short distance.

In recent years the number of hikers has been increasing, and they have difficulties bringing along a boat, even an inflatable boat, due to weight and size. A hiker also needs to carry a backpack containing food and other equipment in addition to the boat.

There have been made attempts to solve the problem, but there is yet a problem when the boat should be carried, and especially when the boat should be carried in addition to other equipment. US20130200115 describes an inflatable kayak which can be converted between a first configuration as a kayak and second configuration as a backpack. However, the described solution is heavy and the converting from kayak to backpack is time consuming.

The documents CN20369282U, DE3204420 and US5474481 describe various configurations of inflatable boats. The mentioned boats are heavy and the conversion from boat to backpack is time consuming

The object of the present invention is thus to provide a solution for converting a boat to a backpack and a backpack to a boat, which is fast and efficient at the same time as the backpack should be easy to carry and both the backpack and the boat should comprise a storage room.

Summary of invention

The above said objects are met by a boat and a method for packing such a boat, according to the characterizing part of the independent claims. Further advantageous features are stated in the corresponding independent claims.

The present invention is related to a boat having at least one inflatable element, and wherein at least parts of the boat are made of collapsible material. The boat further comprises at least one storage room, having an opening, and at least one fastening means for attaching at least one strap to carry the boat. The fastening means is arranged at the opening of the storage room. The parts of the boat being of collapsible material are configured so that the boat may be packed, and exposing the area comprising the fastening means and the opening of the storage room. The storage room is a non-removable part of the boat, and at least some of the walls constituting the storage room is also constituting walls of the boat or the walls of the inflatable element.

By "inflatable element" it is herein meant any element which may be inflated and deflated, and which may alter shape during inflation and deflation. In a preferred embodiment it should retain the gas and remain in the inflated shape, at the least partly, until it is deflated.

By "packing" or "packed" it is herein meant folding, rolling, creasing, wrapping and the similar, in order to reduce the size of the material being packed.

In a preferred embodiment the boat should be packed until the area comprising the fastening means and the opening of the storage room is on one side, and the packed boat on the opposite side. In this way, the opening to the storage room is available even when the boat is packed and a strap is fastened to the fastening means, converting the boat to a backpack.

The storage room should preferably be in the bow of the boat, as the user of the boat will be sitting in the stern, and thus the weight distribution is improved when the storage room is in the front.

An advantage of the invention is that it is possible to reach into the storage room both when the boat is unpacked, packed, and converted to a backpack. The contents of the storage room should not need to be removed during the packing/unpacking and deflating/inflating. A user will thus save both time and weight, compared to known systems. The contents may be in the same room at all times both when used as a boat and a backpack. There is no need to reorganize, remove or replace the contents in the storage room when the boat is converted to a backpack or the opposite.

The storage room may be a part of the inflatable element, and it will not be possible to reach into the storage room without deflating the boat. However, in an alternative embodiment the storage room is separated from the inflatable element by walls separating the room from the gas inside the inflatable element, and then it will be possible to open and reach into the storage room without deflating the boat. In any embodiment, the contents of the storage room should not be in conflict with the inflatable element when the boat should be deflated, packed and possibly converted to a backpack.

In yet an alternative embodiment, having a storage room separated from the inflatable element, the inflatable element may be a longitudinal tube, which is shaped or bent as an open-ended oval circle. In such an embodiment, the storage room is arranged between the ends of the element, and together the inflatable element and the storage room will constitute a closed oval circle. The bottom of the boat may be fastened to the inflatable element and storage room, and contribute to keep the shape of the boat.

In another embodiment the storage room is inside the inflatable element, and the opening to the storage room is also an opening to the inflatable element. The storage room may be provided with bags fastened to the inside of the opening, in order to avoid that the contents may move to random places inside the inflatable element. When using bags, the bags are fastened to the opening, and thus the contents of the storage room will not come in conflict with the inflatable element when the boat should be packed, and it is still possible to reach the contents of the storage room even when the boat is packed, and possibly converted to a backpack.

The design of the boat and the parts of collapsible material may be performed in many ways, in order to render it possible to pack the boat in such a way that the area comprising the fastening means and the opening of the storage room is exposed. This will be obvious to a person skilled in the art. When a boat containing parts of non-collapsible material should be packed, the parts of collapsible material should be in the folds, and any parts of non-collapsible material must be in the parts between each fold. It is however, preferred that the whole boat is made of collapsible material, as the packing may be performed randomly. In a preferred embodiment, parts of the boat are rolled, and parts are folded. In a more preferred embodiment the parts of the boat surrounding the storage room are not packed, and thus the material in these parts may be of collapsible material or non-collapsible material.

In order to manufacture the boat as efficient as possible, it is most preferred to manufacture the whole boat of collapsible material. By "collapsible material" it is herein meant any material which may be folded or rolled at any location, and it may be stretchable for instance when inflating an inflatable element. The material should also be weather resistant and withstand wear, tear and ripping, at the same time as it should be lightweight. Preferred materials of the boat material are PU Nylon, PU vectran or similar material.

The fastening means for the straps is arranged at the opening of the storage room, and the storage room is preferably at the bow of the boat as said above. By positioning the straps at the bow of the boat, it becomes possible to carry the boat even when the boat is inflated.

In a preferred embodiment the straps are a backpack harness having a hip strap and two shoulder straps. The fastening means for fastening the hip strap is preferably at the gunwale of the boat, and the means for fastening the shoulder straps should be at a convenient distance from the hip strap.

To maneuver the boat it is preferred to use oars, in conventional matter. The fastening means for the straps, or the straps may comprise devices for attaching the oars or oar shafts. When the oar shafts are fastened to the means or straps they will reinforce the packed boat, and make it easier and more convenient to carry the boat when it is converted to a backpack. The oar blade may be fastened anywhere on the packed boat, or even placed inside the storage room. In an alternative embodiment, the oar shafts are just inserted between the packed boat and the straps, and held in place by pressure from the straps to the boat.

The invention also relates to a method for packing a boat according to the invention, as described above. The method comprises the following steps:

a) deflating the at least one inflatable element,

b) packing the deflated boat from a distal end towards a proximal end wherein the proximal end is close to the fastening means, until the area comprising the opening of the storage room and the fastening means for the strap is exposed on one side, and

c) attaching straps, lines or covers around the packed boat.

The packed boat may be converted to a backpack by fastening straps to the fastening means.

When the boat is packed in step b) above, it is preferred to place the boat with the bottom up, and fold the longitudinal sides towards the middle, until a desired width is achieved. Then the boat is folded or rolled from the distal end until the rolled boat rolls upon the contents of the storage room. If the storage room is empty, the boat should be rolled until a package is achieved, having a rolled boat on one side, and the fastening means for the straps on the opposite side.

When the boat is packed, it should be secured according to step c) above, in order to avoid that the packed boat unpacks unintentionally. This may be performed by attaching straps or lines around the packed boat, either around the whole package, or when the straps for carrying the boat is attached to the fastening means, from strap to strap. In an alternative embodiment, a cover is wrapped around the packed boat, which both will keep the packed boat together, but which also will render the outside of the packed boat smooth and prevent that surroundings may tear the boat. Any contents in the storage room is not in removed or reorganized during packing and unpacking.

When the boat should be used, the packing is reversed. The straps or cover holding the package together is released and removed, and the rolled or packed boat is unfolded. Then the sides of the boat are unfolded, and the boat is turned having the bottom facing downwards, and air or other gas is added to the inflatable element as described above. In most cases it is convenient to release the straps for carrying the boat when paddling, but it is not necessary.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention the inflated boat can be part of a tent. The tent comprise of an inflated boat, a tarpaulin cover and oars. An oar is attached in each longitudinal end of the boat and forms a support for the tarpaulin cover. The boat is part of the base of the tent, the oars is the upwards support for the tarpaulin cover. The tarpaulin cover is arranged over the boat and the oars and creates a tent. The tarpaulin cover can have an opening that serves as an entrance to the tent.

Description of figures

The invention will now be described with the help of the enclosed figures, showing a boat according to the present invention. The different parts of the figures are not necessarily in scale to each other, as the figures are merely for illustrating the invention.

The following description of an exemplary embodiment refers to the drawings, and the following detailed description is not meant or intended to limit the invention. Instead, the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims.

Reference throughout the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the subject matter disclosed. Thus, the appearance of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout the specification is not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described according the accompanying figures, where

Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of an inflated boat and a backpack harness

Fig. 2 shows a view of the boat being carried when inflated,

Fig. 3 shows the boat when partly deflated and packed,

Fig. 4 shows a view of the boat packed and converted to a backpack, and

Fig. 5 shows a view of the boat inflated and with a person sitting in it.

Detailed description

Figure 1 and 5 shows an inflatable boat having a bow 1 and stern 2, being a preferred embodiment of the invention. In Figure 1 the backpack harness is shown in exploded view, and in Figure 5 the same boat is shown when a person with a double paddle oar 12, is sitting in it. The boat has one inflatable element 3, designed as an oval circle at the periphery of the boat, wherein the longitudinal ends of the oval circle constitutes the bow 1 and stern 2. The inflatable element constitutes both the sides and the gunwale of the boat, and the bottom 5 of the boat is fastened to the lower side of the inflatable element 3. Both the inflatable element 3 and the bottom 5 are made of collapsible material. Further, the inflatable element has two valves 6, 7, one at the bow and one at the stern, in fluid communication with the inside of the element.

The shown boat is provided with fastening means (not shown) for attaching a strap to carry the boat, at the bow of the boat. In the embodiment shown in the Figures, the strap is a carrying harness having two shoulder straps 8 and one hip strap 9. The strap may be used to carry the boat when inflated as shown in Figure 2, or the boat may be deflated, packed and converted to backpack as shown in Figure 4. In the shown embodiment, the fastening means for the hip strap is provided in the bow, at the gunwale of the boat, and the fastening means for shoulder strap is at a convenient distance in direction towards the stern of the boat.

There is a storage room having an opening 10 at the bow of the boat. The storage room may be inside the inflatable element 3, but it may also be arranged separately, without fluid-communication with the inflatable element. The opening 10 to the storage room is arranged between the means for fastening the straps, and thus the storage room will also be available when the boat is deflated and converted to a backpack.

In the shown embodiment, the opening 10 of the storage room is provided with an airtight zipper.

When the boat should be used as a boat, it is inflated by filling gas such as air through the valve 6, 7 into the inflatable element. If the boat is packed and converted to a backpack it must be unpacked before it is inflated. The inflatable element is inflated until the boat is sufficiently rigid and has the desired carrying capacity. In a preferred embodiment, the boat is provided with means showing when the boat is sufficiently inflated.

Fig. 2 shows a view of an inflated boat being carried on the back of a person. It is not necessary to remove or reorganize the contents of the storage room while carrying the inflated boat.

Fig. 3 shows a method for packing the boat. Firstly, not shown, the boat is deflated by opening a valve 6, 7 and releasing the gas inside the inflatable element 3. The boat is placed with the bottom 5 facing upwards, and the opening 10 to the storage room is facing downwards. The contents of the storage room do not need to be removed or reorganized during packing of the boat. First the longitudinal sides of the boat is folded towards the middle, preferably by folding one side of inflatable element 3 onto the bottom 5 of the boat, and then the other side. The distance between the folded sides reflects the width of the packed boat. Then the boat is rolled from the stern 2 towards the bow 1, and the rolled boat section is secured to the bow section and can be even further secured with a number of straps 11, preferably compression straps, or covers. As the opening 10 to the storage room is arranged between the means for fastening the carrying harness 8, 9, it is possible to reach the contents in the storage room even after the boat is packed as a backpack, as shown in Figure 4.

The invention as described above may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to any specific structure or function presented throughout this disclosure. Rather, these aspects are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. Based on the teachings herein one skilled in the art should appreciate that the scope of the disclosure is intended to cover any aspect of the disclosure disclosed herein, whether implemented independently of or combined with any other aspect of the disclosure. Further, the example above and the Figures are given to illustrate the invention, and should not be used to confine the invention as defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A boat wherein at least parts of the boat are made of collapsible material, comprising:

- at least one inflatable element (3),

- at least one storage room having an opening (10),

characterized in that

- the boat further comprises at least one fastening means for attaching at least one strap (8, 9) to carry the boat, wherein the fastening means is arranged at the opening (10) of the storage room,

- the parts of the boat being of collapsible material are configured so that the boat may be packed, and exposing the area comprising the fastening means and the opening of the storage room, and

- the storage room is a non-removable part of the boat, wherein at least some of the walls constituting the storage room is also constituting walls of the boat or walls of the inflatable element.

2. A boat according to claim 1, characterized in that the whole boat is made of collapsible material.

3. A boat according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the opening (10) to the storage room is close to the bow (1) of the boat.

4. A boat according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the fastening means or strap (8, 9) comprises members for attaching oars or oar shafts, wherein the oar shafts constitutes a backbone when the packed boat is converted to a backpack.

5. A boat according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the storage room is separate from the inflatable element (3).

6. A method for packing an inflatable boat according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising the following steps:

a) deflating the at least one inflatable element (3) by opening a valve (6, 7), b) packing the inflatable boat from a distal end towards a proximal end wherein the proximal end is close to the fastening means, until the area comprising the opening (10) of the storage room and the fastening means for the strap is exposed on one side,

c) attaching straps (11), lines or covers around the packed boat.

7. A method according to claim 6, characterized by further comprising the step of converting the packed boat to a backpack, by attaching straps (8, 9) to the fastening means.