FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a boat buoyancy aid. This invention has particular application to a boat buoyancy aid for use in conjunction with a Bimini top to assist in righting a capsized open boat, and for illustrative purposes the invention will be described with reference to this application. However we envisage that this invention may find use in other applications such as providing deplo able reserve buoyancy for boats generally.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the referenced prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

Small motor boats and dinghies are prone to capsize. In most cases, the swamped or capsized vessel has a degree of reserve buoyancy, meaning that the vessel does not sink perse. In the case of a conventional forward or tiller-steered open boat, these are generally of bond wood or cold moulded or strip planked wood, aluminium, fibreglass or other fibre reinforced resin material, or rotary moulded plastic (poly).

Boats may be inherentl buoyant, such as some timber boats, foam or baisa cored resin boats or double skinned poly boats. Others may be provided with

constructed buoyancy, such as watertight or foam filled chambers or voids. For example, it is commonplace to provide aluminium dinghies with thwarts of inverted, flat-bottomed U-shape _s riveted or welded to the hull and/or transom inside the boat and having blocks of buoyancy foam bonded into the hollow undersides.

Self-righting devices for vessels comprising a gas-inflatable bladder arrangement are known. In general these require a purpose made frame or platform elevated above the vessel hull at the ste n and having bolted thereto a relatively large inflatable chamber. For example a self-righting system may include a heavy-duty coated fabric chamber including sewn-in reinforced tabs having multiple eyelets or trapped-head threaded studs to permit bolting and/or lacing to the frame or platform. The volume of the chamber calculated by taking into account the weight, beam and load of the boat. The inflatable chamber is attached to the to of the frame at the stern of the boat and is connected to an external CO2 inflator bottle by hose and trigger assembly, in a capsize, the manually operated CO2 inflator inflates the chamber to self-right a suitable vessel, typicall within half a minute. Protection from the sun for occupants of a small vessel (and rain when not under way) is usually by way of a Bimini top. These structures comprise two or more generally stainless steel (or occasionally aluminium or composite) tubular bows each formed with port and starboard risers supporting an athwart overhead bow portion. One of the bows may be pivoted to opposed gunwale locations to be rotatable fore-and-aft. One or more other of the bows ma be pivoted to opposed riser points on the first bow to also be rotatable fore-and-aft. The net effect is of an overhead framework that may be folded down to the gunwales. The bow portions are located in respective pockets of a poly canvas or vinyl Bimini cover. The assembly of the bows is strut, strap or cable stayed, with tension in the struts, straps or stays functioning to keep the Bimini cover taut between the bow portions.

For the most part such vessels are powered by outboard motors. However, some are inboard-engine powered, such as Hamilton-style jet boats and drive leg-driven boats.

To a greater or lesser extent, a small boat of the type described will, when swamped, reach a stable attitude floating in the water. Depending on the relative location of the centre of buoyant lift relative to the centre of gravity, the attitude may be upright or inverted, or bow up and bow down. The most common attitude for an outboard-powered dinghy having two or more buoyant thwarts is inverted and bow-high. In an accidental swamping and capsize, the buoyant vessel forms a poor support for occupants awaiting rescue, both from the point of view of exposure to the elements and predators and from the point of view to access to safety gear in the vessel. Clinging to an upturned hull in rough seas can prove extremely challenging. As fatigue and exposure take their toll the passengers find it more and more difficult to cling to a wet, slippery and very unstable object.

Food, water, clothing, and all safety gear will be located inside the upturned vessel out of reach and possibly lost to the occupants. it has been widely reported that approximately 85% of boating fatalities in boats under 8m are the result of swamping or capsize. Capsize is often unexpected and happens in a few seconds. There is a likelihood of being unable to grab everything that is needed for enhancing odds of survival other than what is immediately to hand. Many persons have died within the few hours following capsize before help reached them. Men on a fishing trip are the most likely casualty.

For various reasons the aforementioned self-righting systems are unsuited to self- right a Bimini top-equipped vessel. At first instance the presence of a Bimini top effectiveiy prevents a push pit or support frame of sufficient height to be positioned at the stern of the vessel. Secondly, if a frame or support were to vertically clear the Bimini, the excess weight set high would compromise roil stability. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect the present invention resides broadly in a boat buoyancy aid including a Bimini top comprising a fabric cover member supported o two or more tubular bows by integral bow sleeves spaced fore and aft in said fabric cover member, the tubular bows each having a substantially central bow sleeve supporting portion bounded by respective strut portions adapted to elevate the fabric cover member above respective gunwales of a boat hull, said bows in assembly being pivoted to said gunwales to permit folding and having stays to secure the Bimini top in a deployed position, one or more inflatable buoyancy chambers secured to said Bimini top, a fabric closure portion frangibly secured to said Bimini top and adapted to retain and protect each said inflatable buoyancy chamber in its deflated state, a source of inflation gas for each said chamber, and trigger means for causing inflation of said chamber with said inflation gas. The Bimini top may comprise a primary bow having a pair of spaced strut portions each extending from a pivot point on each gunwale and an upper portion forming the aft edge of the Bimini top, the strut portions of the primar bow supporting respective ends of pivotaJiy mounted forward and optionally one or more

intermediate bows. The fabric cover member is usually formed on UV stabilized polyester woven fabric or textile reinforced vinyl (PVC). The integral bow sleeves are usually stitched in, the fore and aftermost sleeves being formed by turning over the leading and trailing cover edges respectively. An bow sleeves

intermittent the fore and aftermost sleeves may be continuous or intermittent athwartships.

The inflatable buoyancy chambers may comprise a pair of spaced chambers each adapted to locate on the cover member at respective port and starboard sides thereof. However, it is preferred that the inflatable buoyancy chambers are located transverse the vessel adjacent the aft edge of the Bimini cover. By this means the Bimini is not impeded while folding. The centre of buoyancy is also located in a vertical plane as close as possible to the plane containing the centre of gravity of an outboard powered vessel. While the centre of gravity of the vessel out of the water is not immediately determinative of th centre of gravity of the immersed and capsized vessel, it may follow that the bias of the engine weight is best offset by appropriately locating the centre of buoyancy of the inflatable chamber.

The inflatable buoyancy chamber may comprise a single layer or multilayer bladder or the like. The buoyancy chamber may comprise a single chamber or multiple chambers. The buoyancy chamber may include woven or non-woven bladder materials. In some embodiments the bladder material may be the same or similar to the bladder materials used in inflatable personal flotation devices

(PFDs), In others the bladder material may be more akin to the laminated used in the construction of inflatable boats, such as fabric-reinforced vinyl materials, HYPALON ^® or the like. The bladder material may be a woven NYLON ^® or polyester material coated with a polyurethane or polyolefin heat bonding/gas seal layer. Lightweight material may for example comprise high tensile or standard closely woven NYLON ^® , having a coating such as flame-retardant or standard thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). Other materials include silicone coated rip stop NYLON ^® , HD Polyester and TPU ether film.

The inflatable buoyancy chamber may be integrally formed with the cover member. For example, the inflatable chamber may comprise a body portion in the manner of an open topped collapsible container seam welded by the periphery of its open top to the cover member. Alternativel the inflatable buoyancy chamber may be installed to the Bimini top. The buoyancy chamber may be capable of direct installation on the Bimini top or may be pre-loaded into a deployment cover incorporating the fabric closure portion. For example, a deployment cover may comprise a low stretch e.g. polyester canvas cover adapted to contain a deflated bladder and be closed by the closure portion by means such as a clip-together means or hook-pile fastening, selected to be frangible to release the inflating chamber. The inflatable buoyancy chamber may be sewn or otherwise secured to the fabric cover, with or without further lacing to one or more said bows. For example, the inflatable buoyancy chamber may be provided with a mounting portion adapted to be one or more of stitched to the cover member and laced to a bow. The aforementioned HYPALON ^® or NYLON® composite fabrics may be seamed with integral mounting flanges formed therein, permitting stitching to the cover member and/or prepared with eyelets, cringles or grommets for lacing.

The one or more buoyancy chambers may be inflated concurrently or

independently.

The inflation gas may comprise COa delivered from com ressed-gas storage means such as a liquid-G02 cartridge or fire-extinguisher-type pressure vessel. Alternattvely, the inflation gas may be compressed air, substantially inert gas such as nitrogen, or inert gas such as helium or argon, although space constraints may limit the use of gases that cannot be liquefied under low to moderate pressure. The compressed-gas storage means is preferably co-located with the inflatable chamber under the fabric closure portion. The trigger means will be selected having regard to the choice of inflation gas and the manner of its storage. In the case of liquid-COg cartridge means, the trigger may be selected from one or more of toggle-puli, immersion or depth-activated (hydrostatic) triggers as are known to the art of PFDs and life raft deployment. In other instances the trigger means may take the form of an automatic or manual valve.

The trigger means may be co-located with the inflation gas supply means or may be remotely operated. For example, in the case of a Bimini top, a liquid-COa cartridge and trigger assembly may be toggle-operated at the assembly or may be cable-operated remotely. The cable may be laid internally or externally of a bow or other frame member to be led to a gunwale or elsewhere. The cable may be led to the same or an opposite gunwale to a port or starboard deployed buoyancy chamber. For example, both lanyards may be led to the starboard gunwale sinc this is th gunwale most likely to be free for the longest in capsize of a tiller steered, outboard-powered dinghy. The remote operating cable may be terminated by a remote pull handle or toggle. The remote pull handle or toggle may be protected from accidental deployment such as a cover or hook-pile fastening-closed pouch. The trigger may be hydrostatic, that is, activated by submergence of the trigger to an activation depth corresponding to an expected depth of submergence on capsize of the vessel. The hydrostatic t igger may be associated or co-located with the compressed-gas storage means under the fabric closure portion. This configuration does not require manual activation, protects the deployment mechanism inside the stowed system and is not as likel to accidentally deploy as water activated systems. In use, on capsize the buoyancy aid apparatus is deployed, changing the relative location of the centre of buoyancy of the vessel relative to the centre of gravity. This has the intended effect of rolling or maintaining the capsized vessel at least on its beam ends to permit access to the inside of the hull and potentially enabling the vessel to be rolled to an upright position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described with reference to the following non-limiting embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the drawings and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the relevant portions of a dinghy suitable for use with one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an exposed perspective view of a boat buoyancy aid when used in the dinghy of Fig, 1 ;

Fig. 3 is a eovered-up perspective view of the boat buoyancy aid of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a covered-up, partially sectioned side view of a second

embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a rear closed view of the apparatus of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is an exposed perspective view of a boat buoyancy aid according to the embodiment of Fig. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the figures there is provided a dinghy 10 having an aluminium hull 1 bounded by a transom 12 bearing an outboard motor 13 and port 14 and starboard 15 gunwales. The gunwales 14, 1 support a Bimini top assembly 18 via pivot mounts 20 supporting the respective ends of a primary bow 21. The primary bow 21 is the aft bow of the Bimini top 16 and pivotally supports a secondary bow 22, and an intermediate bow 23. The bows 21 , 22 and 23 are assembled to a UV stabilized polyester Bimini canvas 24 by threading pre-assembly into fore 25, aft 26 and intermediate 28 sleeve portions. In the example illustrated the Bimini top assembly 16 is tensioned aft b tension struts 27 and tensioned forward by tensioning straps 30, which are selectively detached from the gunwales 14, 15 to allow the Bimini top assembly 16 to fold. In the first embodiment of Figs. 1 to 3, the Bimini top assembly 16 has port and starboard lateral turns at each of which, on the underside of the Bimini canvas 24, is located a buoyanc aid assembly 33, The buoyancy aid assembly 33 comprises an elongate bladder 34 of heat sealed woven YLON ^@ /TPU laminate and secured to the primary bow 21 by a HALKEY-ROBERTS ^® inflation mechanism 35 adapted to inflate the bladder 34 from COs cartridge 36. The bladder is further maintained in its collapsed state by tapes assemblies 37, and is secured to the bows 21 , 22 and 23 by ties {not shown). The tape assemblies 37 are adjustable by hook pile fastenings between a small size retaining the collapsed bladder 34 and a large size retaining the inflated bladder 34.

A protective cover 40 of polyester canvas is stitched to the Bimini canvas 24 side edges and is provided with hook-pile fastening means 41 adapted to rip open as the bladder 34 inflates.

The HALKEY-RGBERTS ^® inflation mechanism 35 has a threaded aperture adapted to receive and sealing!y support the CO2 cartridge 38 whereby operation of a crank (not shown) drives a hollow pin (not shown) through the metal seal of the cartridge 36 to inflate the bladder 34. The crank is operated by a lanyard 43 which passes through a plastic fairlead into the primary bow 21.

In the illustrated embodiment, the lanyards 43 of the port and starboard buoyancy aid assemblies 33 are both led out of the primary bo 21 through a plastic fairlead 44 adjacent the starboard gunwale 1 , and are terminated with respective toggle handles 45. The toggle handles are protected against accidental deployment by, for example, a fabric cover (not shown).

In the embodiment of Figs. 4 to 6, the structural elements of the dinghy 10 and Bimini top are numbered as per Figs. 1 to 3.

In this embodiment, the Bimini canvas 24 has an aft sleeve portion 26 formed as before, with a stitched seam portion extending across the canvas 24 adjacent the primary bow 21. An elongate inflatable chamber 50 extends substantially across the Bimini and is formed of heat sealed woven NYLON®/TPU laminate and secured to the Bimini canvas 24 adjacent the primary bow 21 by stitching an edge portion of the inflatable chamber 50 to the stitched seam portion.

A canvas cover portion 51 is attached to the stitched seam portio concurrentl with the elongate inflatable chamber 50. The canvas cover portion 51 has a free edge 52 having secured thereto a hook-pile fastening tape 53 adapted to engage a complementary tape associated with the trailing edge 54 of the Bimini canvas 24. The canvas cover portion 51 secures over the deflated elongate inflatable chamber 50 in normal operation of the vessel and the free edge 52 is released by the inflating inflatable chamber 50 in emergency use. hydrostatic firing assembly 54 is banjo-bolted to the inflatable chamber 50 to create an operable fluid path from a GO2 cartridge 55 to the chamber 50. When the hydrostatic firing assembly 54 is lowered more than about 10 cm into water, a hydrostatic valve opens and lets wafer meet a water sensitive element that in turn releases a stainless steel coil spring. The spring then drives a needle into the end of the CO2 cartridge 55, which is now punctured so that the gas fills the inflatable chamber 50. Total buoyancy may be reached within 5 to 30 seconds.

Apparatus in accordance with the foregoing embodiments are an integral part of the Bimini top. It is of a compact nature with a gas cartridge incorporated within the package.

It will of course be realised that while the above has been give by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is set forth in the claims appended hereto.