US542340A - Collapsible boat - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) R. K. LARAWAY;

GOLLAPSIBLE BOAT.

No. 542,340, Patented July 9, 1895.

Izivsntur. 7 MMXZM 2y Witnesses- To all whom it may concern:

. UNITED STATES PATENT -rrrcn.

RANSOM K. .LARAWAY, OF BATIDLE GREEK, MICHIGAN.

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SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 542,340, dated July 9, 1895.

Application :fild January 5,1895. Serial No. 533,916- -(I\To.model. I

'Be it known that I, RANsoM K. LARA AY, a citizen of the United States, residing at B'attle Greek, in the countypof Calhoun and State of Michiganphaveinven'ted certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Boats; and I do declare thefollowin'g to bea full, clear, and exact d'escription'of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the have only such means of removal as the "life the same to any place desired.

In the illustrations forming part of this specification, and wherein letters and numerals'of reference are used, thesa-me letters and figures designate'like parts i n'each-of the several views.

Referring to the views, Figure 1 is'a vertical central longitudinal section showing the oppositeinside of the boat. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal plan View showing the boat collapsed ready for packing, with its normal form in dotted lines. Fig. 3 represents the three members inside the boats bottom in proper form and position 'for use; and Figs. 4 and 5 represent, respectively, the transverse vertical division bracel-boards with attachments in form and for novel uses, ,as hereinafter described.

Referring to the letters and numerals-designating the different parts, A represents the main frame or inside, made of single side pieces of light, strong, flexible wood, one for each side, connected together at or near their end portions by hinges a a, and having vertical cleats 1 2 fixed on the inside thereof at suitable points equidistant from the center or Where :the rowlock is preferably located, and at a proper point near the boat-bottom a hole dis made in the'cleat for engagement of a fastening bolt or latch for the twin divisionboards C. These division-boards are made fiaring from top to bottom, exactly the width and depth'designed for the inside of the boat at the points indicated for the seats and equidistant from therowlocks, :as already seen, and when forced down in engagement with said rcleats 1 2 act as spreaders and brace boards of and for the boat, as is evident. The'top edge of the said vertical braceboards-O'are cut out orcurve downward, so as to form an easy seat-support, as presently appearing, and from the outermost upper 4 corners of said vertical transverse boards 0 rise threaded upright and thumb-nut bolts 0', and below are located the fixed spring bolts or latches d, the office of which is to engage the holes d of the said vertical cleats 1 2, whereby the said brace-board is firmly locked to the side A of the main frame'or boat side.

The gunwales D are provided with central rowlocks R and are firmly but removably locked to the frame A and transverse division brace-boards O by means of the bolts and nuts 0 thereof, while most convenient and easy-sitting seats E,'situated directly above the said divisions'O, are provided, ofsimilar material composing the outer covering of the said boat,-(represented by A.) The said outer canvas covering may be made of any substantial cloth, suc'h'as duckj suitably saturated or coated with flexible-substance impervious to water, and is only to be permanently attached to thesides A at the top and middle portion thereof, leaving that end portion indicated by dotted lines loose to be held in fore and aft the seats E, as shown, and

strengthening cleats embracing the inside and outside of the boat-body A may be added to the under side of the gunwales D, but these .only add weight and are an inoumbrance,

since the combination and construction de scribed provides a boat sufficiently strong for all practical purposes and one that can be quickly placed in convenient compass l'or travcling, in manner following, to Wit: Loosening the straps s and removing the thumb-nuts c the gunwales D are laid down with the canvas seats spread, as shown in Fig. 5, when the vertical division-boards C are readily removed in the manner already indicated, whereby the frame is collapsed, together with its canvas covering A, as appearing in Fig. 2, when it is placed lengthwise prone on the center of the canvas seats E E, and the bottom is folded on either or both sides of said portion already packed, the division-boards O, oars, and any other articles grouped alongside or within, when the whole is firmly bound in a compact and convenient shape to handle by means of theloose transportation straps 3 provided for that purpose.

Having thus clearly described and illustrated my invention and described its mode of operation, incidentally touching upon some of its many great advantages, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. Acollapsible boat, comprised of an outer envelope of impervious canvas, inner sides, composed of longitudinal strips of Wood connected at their end portions by hinges, an inside bottom comprising a plurality of longitudinally folding boards or strips of wood connected together by hinges, removable divis on boards and braces, provided with means for securing the same to the said side strips, and gunwales removably secured to the said division boards and braces, substantially in the manner, and for the purposes set forth.

2. A collapsible boat, comprised of an outer envelope, or covering'of canvas, made impervious to water, inner sides, constituting the body part thereof, composed of longitudinal strips of wood connected at their end portions by hinges; gun-wales carrying row locks, removably secured to the said body part, the inner bottom part comprising a plurality of longitudinal strips of wood placed side by side and connected by hinges; vertical braceboards located transversely of the boat, and

. ering of impervious canvas, the side portions of wood, extending longitudinally the entire length of said boat,hinged togetherat or near the ends thereof, gun-wales, provided with row-locks and removabl y attached to said side portions, the boat inside bottom board, composed of a plurality of wooden strips placed side by side, and hinged together, vertical transverse brace and division boards, provided with means for removably securing the same to said boat sides, substantially in the manner and for the purposes illustrated and described.

4. In a collapsible boat, the outer covering of canvas, the side portions of wood extending longitudinally the entire length and forming the inside of the boat hinged together at their end portions; gun-wales provided with row locks, and having a plurality of canvas seats attaching them transversely in length, corresponding with the width of the top of the brace-bars, or division boards; division brace-boards removably fixed to the side-portions, and to the said gun-wales, and a plurality of strips of wood, placed side by side, and secured together by hinges,the whole constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. In a collapsible boat, the main frame or sides A, thelbottom B, the canvas covering, A, the transverse brace-division boards 0, the gun-wales D, provided with row locks R, and canvas seats E, and means, substantially as shown illustrated and described, for attaching the several parts together and for collapsing and packing the same, for the purposes set forth.

6. In a collapsible boat, the canvas covering, the gunwales made in sections and hinged together at their ends, combined with the bottom, the side cleats, the division boards, and the seats, having their ends supported upon the gunwales and bolted in position, substantially as set forth.

7. In a collapsible boat, the canvas covering, the canvas seat, having its ends secured to the gunwales and located above the recessed top edges of the division boards, combined with the division boards and the vertical side pieces to which the ends of the division boards are fastened, substantially as shown.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RANSOM K. LARAWAY.

Witnesses:

FRANK W. CLAPP, E. J. Hones.

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