Description RIGID INFLATABLE BOAT

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a rigid inflatable boat, and more particularly, to a rigid inflatable boat including a rotary plate for protecting a rubber tube and easily storing the rubber tube without separating the rubber tube form the rigid inflatable boat when not in use by rotating upward the rotary plate after the rubber tube is flatten in order to keep the rubber tube between a boat body and the rotary plate, thereby protecting the rubber tube from ultraviolet light and avoiding inconvenience of unnecessary attaching and detaching of the rubber tube. Background Art

[2] Generally, rigid inflatable boats are used for leisure or lifesaving. A conventional rigid inflatable boat includes a boat body formed of fiber reinforce plastic (FRP) to provide a room for a passenger, and rubber tubes attached to sides of the boat body and inflated with air for increasing a buoyant force acting on the rigid inflatable boat.

[3] Generally, the rubber tubes are bonded to the boat body or detachably coupled to the boat body. The rigid inflatable boat has advantages of an FRP boat and advantages of a rubber boat.

[4] When the rubber tubes are bonded to the boat body using an adhesive, the rubber tubes can be separated from the boat body due to incorrect bonding, defective adhesive, or aging with time. Furthermore, since the rubber tubes cannot be detached from the boat body, it is difficult to keep the rigid inflatable boat when not in use. Furthermore, since the rubber tubes are directly exposed to ultraviolet light, the lifetime of the rubber tubes decreases. In addition, since skills and specialties are required to repair the rigid inflatable boat, it is difficult and takes more costs for a use to repair the rigid inflatable boat.

[5] On the other hand, when the rubber tubes are detachably attached to the boat body, it takes time and effort for a user to attach or detach the rubber tubes to or from the boat body. Furthermore, the rubber tubes can be damaged when the rubber tubes are attached to or detached from the boat body, thereby causing an unnecessary cost increase. In addition, when the rubber tubes are detached from the boat body and are not used for a long time, the rubber tubes can be deformed or damaged by, for example, an insect or mouse. Furthermore, an accident can occur when the rigid inflatable boat is used with the deformed or damaged rubber tubes. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[6] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a rigid inflatable boat that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

[7] An object of the present invention is to provide a rigid inflatable boat including a rotary plate for protecting a rubber tube and easily storing the rubber tube without separating the rubber tube form the rigid inflatable boat when not in use by rotating upward the rotary plate after the rubber tube is flatten in order to keep the rubber tube between a boat body and the rotary plate, thereby allowing the rubber tube to be sued for a long time without losing the rubber tube and avoiding inconvenience of unnecessary attaching and detaching of the rubber tube.

[8] Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings. Technical Solution

[9] To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a rigid inflatable boat including: a boat body; a rubber tube attached to each side of the boat body for increasing a buoyant force; and a rotary plate including one end hinged on each lower side of the boat body and the other end formed with a hook for coupling with a locker formed on a top portion of the boat body, wherein the rubber tube is connected to an inner surface of the rotary plate and a side portion of the boat body by a connection mechanism, the connection mechanism including a pair of guide plates and insertion bars, the guide plates having one end respectively attached to side portions of the rotary plate and the boat body and the other ends formed with longitudinal guide grooves, the insertion bars being wrapped with protection fabrics and attached to an outer surface of the rubber tube for being inserted into the guide grooves.

[10] Each of the rotary plates may include: a rotary member hinged to the boat body; and a support member connected to the rubber tube by the connection mechanism, wherein the support member is coupled to the rotary member and slidable in the rotary member.

[11] The rigid inflatable boat may further include an elastic band disposed in the rubber tube in a diagonal direction to allow the rubber tube to be shrunken toward the end of the rotary plate hinged on the boat body when air is discharged from the rubber tube.

[12] The rigid inflatable boat may further include an auxiliary rotary plate hinged on

each upper side of the boat body to cover a top portion of the rubber tube.

[13] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed Brief Description of the Drawings

[14] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings:

[15] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a rigid inflatable boat according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[16] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the rigid inflatable boat according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[17] FIG. 3 is a view illustrating how a rubber tube is coupled to a guide plate according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[18] FIG. 4 is a view illustrating how a support member is inserted into a rotary member according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[19] FIG. 5 is a view illustrating how rotary plates are coupled to a boat body when rubber tubes are flattened according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[20] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the rigid inflatable boat with auxiliary rotary plates according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[21] FIG. 7 is a view illustrating the auxiliary rotary plates when the rubber tubes are flattened according to an embodiment of the present invention. Mode for the Invention

[22] A rigid inflatable boat will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings according to the present invention.

[23] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a rigid inflatable boat according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the rigid inflatable boat according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a view illustrating how a rubber tube is coupled to a guide plate according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a view illustrating how a support member is inserted into a rotary member according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a view illustrating how rotary plates are coupled to a boat body when rubber tubes are flattened according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the rigid inflatable boat with auxiliary rotary plates according to an embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 7 is a view illustrating the auxiliary rotary plates when the rubber tubes are flattened according to

an embodiment of the present invention.

[24] Referring to FIGs 1 to 7, the rigid inflatable boat of the present invention includes a boat body 10 formed of fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) and rubber tubes 20 attached to both sides of the boat body 10 for increasing a buoyant force acting on the rigid inflatable boat.

[25] The rigid inflatable boat further includes rotary plates 30. One ends of the rotary plates 30 are respectively hinged on both lower sides of the boat body 10. Hooks 36 are formed on the other ends of the rotary plates 30 for coupling with lockers 12 formed on a top portion of the boat body 10.

[26] Each of the rubber tubes 20 is disposed between the rotary plate 30 and the boat body 10, and the rotary plate 30 supports the rubber tube 20. Therefore, even when the rigid inflatable boat collides with a shore rock or submerged rock by accident, the rubber tube 20 is not torn or damaged since the rotary plate 30 protects the rubber tube 20. Thus, an unexpected accident can be prevented.

[27] Preferably, the rotary plate 30 is outwardly bent like a conventional keel formed on a lower portion of a boat to minimize fluid resistance.

[28] In the current embodiment, the hooks 36 and the lockers 12 are provided to fix the rotary plates 30 to the boat body 10 when the rubber tubes 20 are flattened. However, other mechanisms such as a latch mechanism can be used instead of the hooks 36 and the lockers 12.

[29] The rubber tube 20 can be disposed between the rotary plate 30 and the boat body

10 using a connection mechanism to prevent the rubber tube 20 from departing from the disposed position. Preferably, the connection mechanism may include a pair of guide plates 40 attached to one sides of the rotary plate 30 and the boat body 10, and a pair of insertion bars 45 attached to both sides of the rubber tube 20 for coupling with the guide plates 40. The guide plates 40 are formed with guide grooves 42 for receiving the insertion bars 45, and the insertion bars 45 are wrapped in protection fabrics 47.

[30] Therefore, the rubber tube 20 can be easily fixed between the rotary plate 30 and the boat body 10 by inserting the insertion bars 45 into the guide grooves 42 of the guide plates 40, and the rubber tube 20 can be easily stored in the fixed position without separation.

[31] That is, after flattening the rubber tube 20 by discharging air from the rubber tube

20, the rotary plate 30 can be rotated upward to couple the hooks 36 of the rotary plate 30 to the lockers 12 of the boat body 10 so as to fix the rotary plate 30. Then, the rubber tube 20 is covered with the rotary plate 30 and safely kept in the covered position.

[32] The rotary plate 30 includes a rotary member 31 hinged on the boat body 10 and a

support member 34 connected to the rubber tube 20 by the connection mechanism. Preferably, the support member 34 is slidably coupled to the rotary member 31.

[33] Therefore, when the rubber tube 20 is flattened by an external depressing force, the support member 34 is inserted into the rotary member 31 by a predetermined length. Then, when the depressing force is removed and the rubber tube 20 returns to its original shape, the support member 34 returns to its original position. Thus, the rotary plate 30 (i.e., the rotary member 31 and the support member 34) is not (or less) damaged.

[34] Preferably, the rotary member 31 includes a hooking protrusion 32 formed on an inner edge to a predetermined height, and the support member 34 includes a coupling protrusion 35 formed on an outer edge to a predetermined height for coupling with the hooking protrusion 32, such that the support member 34 can be slidably coupled to the rotary member 31 without separation.

[35] An elastic band 22 is disposed in the rubber tube 20 in a diagonal direction, such that the rubber tube 20 can be easily shrunken toward a lower end of the rotary plate 30 hinged on the boat body 10 when air is discharged from the rubber tube 20. Thus, when the rotary plate 30 is rotated, the shrunken rubber tube 20 does not protrude outwardly. As a result, when the rigid inflatable boat is not in use, the rubber tube 20 can be easily disposed.

[36] In the current embodiment, the elastic band 22 is used to shrink the rubber tube 20 to a desired shape. However, other elastic members such as a spring can be used to shrink the rubber tube 20 to a desired shape.

[37] Preferably, the rigid inflatable boat can further includes auxiliary rotary plates 38 hinged on both upper sides of the boat body 10 to cover top portions of the rubber tubes 20.

[38] Therefore, when a use enjoys fishing on the rigid inflatable boat, he/she can use the top surfaces of the auxiliary rotary plates 38 for putting something. Furthermore, since the auxiliary rotary plates 38 cover narrow gaps between the rubber tubes 20 and the boat body 10, the auxiliary rotary plates 38 prevent unexpected accidents such as being caught in the gap between the rubber tubes 20 and the boat body 10.

[39] The operation and effects of the rigid inflatable boat of the present invention will now be described. First, the guide plates 40 including the guide grooves 42 are attached to both sides of the boat body 10 and inner surfaces of the support members 34 of the rotary plates 30. Then, the rotary members 31 of the rotary plates 30 are hinged on both lower sides of the boat body 10.

[40] Thereafter, the insertion bars 45 wrapped with the protection fabrics 47 are attached to both sides of rubber tubes 20 in correspondence with the guide plates 40 attached to the boat body 10 and the rotary plates 30. Then, the insertion bars 45 attached to the

rubber tubes 20 are inserted into the guide grooves 42 of the guide plates 40 attached to the boat body 10 and the support members 34 of the rotary plates 30. In this way, the rubber tubes 20 can be stably fixed between the boat body 10 and the rotary plates 30.

[41] After that, the rigid inflatable boat can be used after injecting air into the rubber tubes 20. When the rigid inflatable boat is not in use, the rubber tubes 20 are flattened by discharging air from the rubber tubes 20, and the rotary plates 30 are rotated upward to couple the hooks 36 of the rotary plates 30 to the lockers 12 of the boat body 10 for fixing the rotary plates 30.

[42] Here, since the rubber tubes 20 are disposed between the boat body 10 and the rotary plates 30 when not in use, the rubber tubes 20 can be safely kept for a long time. Furthermore, since the rubber tubes 20 are covered with the rotary plates 30, the rubber tubes 20 can be protected from unexpected damages. Therefore, the rubber tubes 20 can be used for a long time.

[43] Meanwhile, when the rubber tubes 20 are inflated for use, the rotary plates 30 protect and support lower portions of the rubber tubes 20. Therefore, even when the rigid inflatable boat collides with a shore rock or submerged rock, the rubber tubes 20 are torn or damaged owing to the rotary plates 30. Furthermore, the rubber tubes 30 can float on water more stably owing to the rotary plates 30. Thus, the rigid inflatable boat may be less shaken by waves.

[44] Moreover, the rotary plates 30 are bent into a predetermined shape to reduce fluid resistance so that the rigid inflatable boat can move on water more smoothly.

[45] As described above, according to the present invention, the rubber tubes are protected by the rotary plates. Furthermore, the rubber tubes can be safely kept between the boat body and the rotary plates when not in use by rotating the rotary plates upward and fixing the rotary plates to the boat body after flattening the rubber tubes. Therefore, when not in use, the rubber tubes can be easily kept in a safe place without separating the rubber tubes from the rigid inflatable boat. Thus, the rubber tubes can be used for a long time since they are not easily lost. Industrial Applicability

[46] In addition, since it is not necessary to attach or detach the rubber tubes to or from the rigid inflatable boat, the rigid inflatable boat can be conveniently used. Furthermore, the rotary plates reduce fluid resistance and thus increase the speed of the rigid inflatable boat when the rigid inflatable boat moves on water. Moreover, since the rotary plates expand the bottom surface area of the rigid inflatable boat, the rigid inflatable boat is less shaken by waves. Thus, the rigid inflatable boat can be used safely and stably.

[47] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and

variations can be made in the present invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.