DONNO, Francesco (Viale Ercole Marelli 8, Sesto San Giovanni, I-20099, IT)
| CLAIMS 1. Side shield (10) for a boat (12) for beaching and mooring situations, which includes an elastic structure (26) arranged to be placed outside the said boat (12) along the side (24) of the boat (12), in order to attenuate impact energy, as well as fabric (14) arranged on top of the said elastic structure (26) , for holding the elastic structure (26) in place, which said fabric (14) is further arranged to be attached to the said side (24) of the boat (12) with the aid of at least one cord (34) belonging to the side shield (10), from at least one attachment point (30, 32), characterized in that the fabric (14) is arranged doubled to form at least one pleat (36) parallel to the longitudinal direction of the side shield (10) at at least one said attachment point (30, 32), where each said cord (34) is arranged inside each said pleat (36) longitudinally, in order to lock the pleat to each attachment point (30, 32) and to distribute the strain evenly to the fabric (14), with the aid of each pleat (36) and each cord (34) . 2. Side shield according to Claim 1, characterized in that it further includes a fillable air bag (28) located between the side (24) of the boat (12) and the said elastic structure (26), in order to tighten the fabric (14) around the elastic structure (26). 3. Side shield according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the said fabric (14) is arranged to be attached to the boat (12) with the aid of mechanical compression between at least one attachment plate (38) belonging to each said attachment point (30, 32) and the boat's side (24), in which at each attachment point (30, 32) each attachment plate (38) and the boat's side (24) has an end (39) . 4. Side shield according to Claim 3, characterized in that at each attachment point (30, 32) the cord (34) is arranged to press against the said ends (39) of the attachment point (30, 32). 5. Side shield according to Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that at each attachment point (30, 32) the length S of each pleat (36) in compression is 5 - 25 %, preferably 10 - 15 % of the height H of the side shield. 6. Side shield according to any of Claims 1 - 5, characterized in that the main shape of the cross-section of the said side shield (10) in the vertical direction is rectangular. 7. Side shield according to any of Claims 1 - 6, characterized in that its height is 140 - 300 %, preferably 160 - 250 % of its width. 8. Side shield according to any of Claims 1 - 7, character!zed in that, in the operating position, the side shield (10) is supported from underneath with the aid of a shelf (27) belonging to the side (24) of the boat. 9. Side shield according to Claim 8, characterized in that the portion of the side shield (10) protruding from the said shelf (27) is 15 - 70 %, preferably 40 - 60 % of the width of the side shield (10) . 10. Boat (12), which comprises an at least partly open-model hull and an outboard engine, characterized in that it includes a side shield (10) according to any of Claims 1 - 7. 11. Boat according to Claim 10, characterized in that the height of the side shield (10) in the stern part (20) of the boat (12) in the vicinity of the outboard engine is 120 - 180 %, preferably 130 - 160 % of the height of the side shield (10) in the other parts of the boat (12), where the stern part (20) of the boat (12) comprises 10 - 33 %, preferably 15 - 25 % of the total length of the boat (12). 12. Boat according to Claim 10 or.11, characterized in that the side shield (10) is arranged to keep the boat's (12) outboard engine above the water surface should the said boat (12) cap¬ size . |
The present invention relates to a boat-side shield for beaching and mooring situations, which includes an elastic structure arranged to be placed outside the boat along the side of the boat, in order to attenuate impact energy, as well as fabric arranged on top of the elastic structure, for holding the elastic structure in place, which fabric is further arranged to be attached to the side of the boat with the aid of at least one cord belonging to the side shield, from at least one attachment point. The invention also relates to a boat equipped with a corresponding side shield. The invention is intended to prevent the structure of the boat from damage in beaching and mooring situations, in which the boat is in contact with another boat, or some other fixed object . In side shields according to the prior art, there is generally a plastic part, which can be filled with air, and which runs around the sides of the boat. A problem with an air-filled side shield is its possible bursting, which will lead to a loss of the impact-attenuating effect of the side shield. In addition, if the boat being used represents the so-called RIB class of boats, in which the side shield has also the task of floating the boat, the bursting of the side shield will be especially deleterious . Publication AU 2004201648 of the prior art discloses a side shield, which has an essentially circular cross-section, and which is filled with a material increasing the buoyancy properties. In addition, space is made inside the filling material for air-filled bags. A drawback of such a solution is that the round shape takes up a large amount of space inside the hull of the boat as well, thus considerably reducing the deck space. In addition, the manufacture of the air bag inside the side shield is labourious in terms of manufacturing technique.
Publication US 5,651,328, in which a flotation collar is at- tached to the boat with the aid of attachment points, is also known from the prior art . The drawbacks of such a solution are its complicated construction and the point loadings on the fabric caused by the attachment. Due to the point-type attachment, the fabric is liable to tear in the case of impacts.
The present invention is intended to create a side shield for a boat for beaching and mooring situation, and a corresponding boat equipped with the side shield, which side shield is simple in construction, and in which the loading of the attachments is distributed evenly over the fabric. The characteristic features of the side shield according to the present invention are stated in greater detail in the accompanying Claim 1 and the characterizing features of the boat according to the invention in the accompanying Claim 10.
This intention can be achieved by means of the side shield for a boat for beaching and mooring situations, which includes an elastic structure arranged to be placed outside the boat along the side of the boat, in order to attenuate impact energy, as well as a fabric fitted on top of the elastic structure, in order to hold the elastic structure in place. The fabric is further arranged to be attached to the side of the boat with the aid of cords belonging to the side shield, at at least one attachment point. The fabric is arranged in a double layer to form at least one pleat parallel to the longitudinal direction of the side shield, at at least one attachment point, where each cord is arranged inside each pleat longitudinally, to lock it to each attachment point, and in order to spread the strain evenly over the fabric, with the aid of each pleat and each cord. The structure attenuates impacts directed to the hull of the boat in beaching and mooring situations, without taking up deck space in the boat. The cords distribute the strains directed to the side shield evenly over the fabric, so that the side shield can be implemented without point-like loadings on the fabric. The side shield preferably includes an inflatable air bag located between the side of the boat and the elastic structure, in order to tighten the fabric around the elastic structure. With the aid of the air bag, the fabric is stretched tight, so that the surface of the side shield is made free of creases and the elastic structure will not move while sailing or under strain.
According to one embodiment, the fabric is arranged to be attached to the boat with the aid of mechanical compression between at least one attachment plate belonging to each attachment point and the side of the boat, in which there is an end at each attachment point and at the side of the boat. With the aid of the attachment plate, the attachment is made secure and sturdy.
At the attachment points , the cord is preferably arranged to press against the ends of each attachment point, so that strains acting on the fabric are directed to the cord and the strain acting on the bolts remain small.
At each attachment point, the length S of each pleat being compressed can be 5 - 25 %, preferably 10 - 15 % of the height H of the side shield. Compression taking place over a sufficiently long distance will ensure a sufficient contact area for friction.
According to one embodiment, the main vertical shape of the cross-section of the side shield is rectangular. The height of the side shield can be 140 - 300 %, preferably 160 - 250 % of its width. The rectangular side shield takes up only a little of the boat's deck space, but still protects the sides of the boat from collisions. The elastic structure can be of a closed- cell foam plastic.
According to one embodiment, the side shield is supported in the operating position from underneath with the aid of a shelf belonging to the side of the boat. The portion of the side shield rising from the shelf can be 15 - 70 %, preferably 40 - 60 % of the width of the side shield. With the aid of the shelf, the side shield can be easily supported from underneath.
The present invention is also intended to create a boat, which comprises a partly open-model hull and an outboard engine, and which includes a side shield according to any of the embodiments described above.
Preferably, the height of the side shield in the stern part of the boat in the vicinity of the outboard engine is 120 - 180 %, preferably 130 - 160 % of the height of the side shield at other places in the boat, in which the stern part of the boat com- prises 10 - 33 %, preferably 15 - 25 % of the total length of the boat. The side shield is preferably arranged to keep the outboard engine above the water surface, should the boat capsize. Thanks to this property, the boat's engine will remain above the water surface, even if the boat capsizes for some reason.
In the following, the invention is described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings depicting some embodiments of the invention, in which
Figure la shows a cross-section of the construction of the side shield according to the invention,
Figure lb shows an enlargement of the lower attachment point of the fabric, according to Figure la, Figure 2 shows an axonometric partial cross-section of the construction of the side shield according to the invention,
Figure 3 shows the side shield according to the invention attached to a boat.
Figure la shows a cross-section of the side shield according to the invention. The side shield 10 is formed of an elastic structure 26, fabric 14 surrounding it, an air bag 28, attachment points 30 and 32, and cords 34. The side shield is attached to the side 24 of the boat from attachment points 30 and 32, with the aid of attachment plates 38. The fabric 14, which is formed from a single piece, runs around the elastic structure 26 and also through the attachment points 30 and 32. The number of attachment points can vary according to the application, and in some applications there may be only one attachment point.
The attachment plate 38 belonging to both attachment points 30 and 32 can be attached to the attachment points 30 and 32 belonging to the boat, with the aid of bolts 40, for example. However, most of the forces arising during use and acting on the fabric 14 are taken care of not by the bolts 40 but by the cords 34 inside the fabric 14. Figure lb shows the attachment of the side shield is shown in greater detail. Although the enlargement only concerns the lower attachment point 30, the construction of the upper attachment point 32 is similar in its basic principle. The angle of the attachment point 32 relative to the vertical portion of the boat's side can vary considerably, according to construction of boat. In addition the contact surface area between the boat's side 24 and side shield 10 can vary consider- ably according to different types of boat. The relation between the shelf 27 on the boat's side 24 supporting the side shield 10 from beneath and the portion of the side shield 10 above the shelf 27 can vary greatly. The share of the side shield above the shelf can be 15 - 65 % of the width of the shelf. The portion of the side shield above the side of the boat can be, for its part, 10 - 50 % of the height of the side of the boat. Natural-rubber-based Hypalon fabric, for example, or some other fabric material that is sufficiently durable for the purpose, can be used as the fabric material in the side shield. The material inside the elastic structure of the side shield can be preferably foam plastic. Foam plastic has closed cells, so that if it is wetted it does not absorb water, which would lead to a great additional weight for the side shield. The cellular structure of foam plastic contains a large amount of air space, which improves its buoyancy and reduces weight. In addition, the structure of a side shield manufactured from foam plastic means that the puncturing of the surface material will have practically no effect on the load-bearing capacity of the side shield, unlike traditional air-filled side shields. The elastic struc- ture used in the side shield can also be of some other material suitable for the purpose, which does not absorb water into itself. The elastic structure of the side shield according to the invention can also consist of several different materials. The different materials can have, for example, different elas- ticities, which will affect the properties of the side shield. The different materials can form different zones inside the side shield, which have mutually differing properties.
Figure lb shows the attachment of the fabric 14 to the attach- ment points 30 and 32. For the attachment, there are holes in the fabric, through which attachment elements, for example bolts 40, are placed. There are preferably at least two bolts, so that each attachment plate is set securely in place and the strain acting on a single bolt will remain small. For any one attach- ment point there is preferably one attachment plate, with the side of the boat, or some structure on the side of the boat preferably acting as the counter-piece. With the aid of the bolts and nuts, the attachment plate 38 is tightened against the side of the boat, so that the fabric 14 remains in mechanical compression between the attachment plate 38 and the side of the boat. The fabric will then remain between the attachment plate and the side of the boat mostly with the aid of friction. Each attachment plate covers the entire length of the side shield, i.e. it is continuous over the entire length of the side shield. So that excessive force will not be directed through the bolts to the holes in the fabric, there is a cord running inside the fabric, parallel to the longitudinal direction of the side shield. The open fabric runs doubled between the attachment plate and the boat's side, so that the unified fabric forms a closed pleat 36 outside the attachment point, which is the loop 36 in the cross-sectional image according to Figure lb. The length S of the pleat 36 compressed at the attachment points 30 and 32 is 5 - 25 %, preferably 10 - 15 % of the height H of the side shield 10. The relation of the length S to the height H can vary between the attachment points, for example, at attachment point 30 the relation can be 12 %, whereas at attachment point 32 the relation can be 15 % . A sufficiently large contact surface area will ensure sufficient friction at the attachment points between the fabric and the attachment plates and the side of the boat. Differing from the figures, in some embodiments the number of pleats in the fabric can be two or more.
A continuous cord 34 runs longitudinally along the pleat 36. In other words, the cord 34 is glued between the double-folded fabric, at the fold. Once the air bag 28 has been filled when the side shield 10 is installed and the fabric 14 has tightened, the pleat 36 made in the fabric 14 pulls out between the attachment plates 38, thus pressing the cord 34 against the ends 39 of the attachment points 30 and 32. Thus, in strain situations, the tension in the fabric caused by the side shield acts on the cords, and not on the bolt holes. In addition, the strain acting on the fabric is distributed over the whole length of the side shield. The ends of the cord can be burned to become spherical, so that they cannot slip out of the pleat. The open ends of the fabric 14 can be led from the attachment point 32 to the oppo- site side of the attachment point 32 relative to the cords 34, where the ends of the fabric can be joined. At the upper attach- ment point 32 two pleats 36 are preferably formed, because both open ends of the fabric 14 are pleated at the attachment point 32. Cords 34 are also placed in both pleats 36. An air bag 28 is installed between the elastic structure 26 and the side 24 of the boat. In the air bag is a connection, with a valve at the end of it, to the inside of the boat. With the aid of this, the air bag is filled in connection with the installation of the side shield, so that the fabric becomes tight and crease-free, according to Figure 2. In addition, the tensioning prevents movement of the elastic structure inside the fabric during sailing or under strain. The air bag can be attached to the side of the boat, for example, by gluing. The location of the air bag between the boat's side and the elastic structure facilitates the manufacture of the elastic structure considerably. In addition, the maintenance of the air bag will be easier when required. The overall elasticity of the side shield can also be adjusted with the aid of the degree of filling of the air bag, by adding air to, or letting it out of the air bag.
The main vertical shape of the cross-section of the side shield is that of the gunwale, so that it does not take up as much space laterally as the round shape according to the prior art. Thus, the boat's deck space is saved for other purposes. In this connection, the fact that the side shield is substantially higher than wide means that the height of the side shield is 140 - 300 %, preferably 160 - 250 % of its width. The height of the side shield can be 40 - 120 cm, preferably less than 70 cm, however, varying according to the type of boat. The shape of the cross-section of the side shield can deviate considerably, but its main shape is always rectangular in the vertical direction. The possibility for many different shapes of cross-section also provides freedom for boat-specific design. According to the embodiments shown in the figures, the outer corners of the rectangular shape can be considerably rounded. Figure 3 shows the side shield 10 attached to a boat 12. The height of the side shield in the stern part 20 of the boat is higher than in the middle or front of the boat. The height of the stern part of the side shield is 120 - 180 %, preferably 130 - 160 % of the height of the side shield at other places in the boat. The stern part 20 of the boat 12 comprises 10 - 33 %, preferably 15 - 25 % of the total length of the boat 12. The length of the higher part 20 is about 1 - 3 metres, measured from the stern of the boat. The higher stern part is intended to improve the buoyancy of the boat and through that its operational reliability in emergencies. If a steering error or similar causes the boat to capsize, the side shield will float the boat. Thanks to the higher stern part of the side shield, the boat's engines will then remain above the water surface, so that when the boat is righted the engines will still be in operating condition. With the aid of this property, the boat can achieve a better Solas classification.
In the embodiment according to Figure 3, in displacement-hull boats the side shield comes above the water surface, or at least near to the water surface, so that in normal operating situations its buoyancy effect will be small. If the boat's hull is damaged, the side shield will be able to keep the boat afloat. The side shield runs round the boat, except for the stern, which is naturally left free for the engines. In the side shield, there can be a reinforced part 17 according to Figure 3, which is made of a particularly durable material. There can be a shelf on the side of the boat for the side shield, on which the side shield is installed and supported. This can be seen clearly in Figure 1. The shelf means that the side shield will protrude from the width of the boat by considerably less than the side shield's own width.
According to one embodiment, the side shield is a bag-like structure. In the structure, the fabric of the side shield can be opened from the top, so that the elastic structure can be easily changed inside the fabric. Such a structure facilitates the installation, maintenance, and repair of the foam plastic. Thanks to the fabric pocket that can be opened, the side shield can be repaired even when the boat is in the water.
The side shield according to the invention can be used in all applications, in which there is a possibility to attach it.
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