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Patent Searching and Data


Title:
UNSINKABLE SAILBOAT
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2009/113041
Kind Code:
A2
Abstract:
An unsinkable sailboat comprises a hull (2) with a keel made from a relatively rigid material and a pair of lateral sides (5, 6) with respective lower portions (5', 6') and upper portions (5', 6') or topsides. Each of the sides (5, 6) has a flotation member (7) of lower density than water which at least partially defines the corresponding upper portion (5', 6') to act as a reserve of buoyancy for the hull (2) and at least partially prevent it from sinking even when there is water therein.

Inventors:
BELVISI FRANCESCO (IT)
Application Number:
PCT/IB2009/051060
Publication Date:
September 17, 2009
Filing Date:
March 13, 2009
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
BELVISI FRANCESCO (IT)
International Classes:
B63B43/14
Domestic Patent References:
WO2001072579A12001-10-04
Foreign References:
DE2011383A11971-09-23
FR1277002A1961-11-24
NL289044A
US6192822B12001-02-27
US4917035A1990-04-17
US4416639A1983-11-22
US5878685A1999-03-09
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
MAROSCIA, Antonio (Contrà Porti 21, Vicenza, IT)
Download PDF:
Claims:

CLAIMS

1. A sailboat comprising a hull (2) with a keel made of a relatively rigid material and a pair of lateral sides (5, 6) with respective lower portions (5 1 , 6') and upper portions (5", 6") or topsides, characterized in that each of said sides (5, 6) comprises a flotation member (7) with a density lower than water, which at least partially defines the corresponding upper portion (5", 6") in sucha way to provide a flotation reserve for said hull (2) and at least partially prevent it from sinking even when there is water therein.

2. Boat as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that each of said flotation members (7) has a substantially tubular shape with an outer wall (9) made of a relatively yielding material.

3. Boat as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said tubular flotation member (7) defines an internal variable-volume chamber, susceptible of being filled with a predetermined amount of gas.

4. Boat as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that said flotation member (7) is formed of a single body made of a material with density lower than water.

5. Boat as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of said flotation members (7) is applied to its respective side (5, 6) at the top edge (10, 11) thereof.

6. Boat as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of said flotation members (7) extends along its respective side (5, 6) and has its front (14, 15) and rear (16, 17) ends close to the bow (8) and to the stern (18) of said hull (2).

7. Boat as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that said floating members

(7) are mutually joined at their respective front ends (14, 15).

8. Boat as claimed in claim 6 or 7, characterized in that each of said flotation members (7) has a substantially annular cross section, with a diameter gradually decreasing from said rear end (16, 17) to said front end (14, 15).

9. Boat as claimed in any of the preceding claims 6 to 8, characterized in that each of said flotation members (7) at least partially projects radially sideways and outwards from a respective side (5, 6) of said pair.

10. Boat as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized by comprising a main mast (3) adapted to be removably fixed to said hull (2) without shrouds or any other similar stabilization members.

11. Boat as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized by comprising a centerboard (22) designed to be removably attached to said keel and extend thereunder.

12. Boat as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized by comprising a blade rudder (24) which is removably hinged to said hull (2) at its transom.

Description:

UNSINKABLE SAILBOAT

The present invention generally finds application in the field of watercrafts and particularly relates to a sailboat.

Background art

Sailboats are known to typically comprise a hull made of a relatively rigid material, such as fiberglass-reinforced plastic, composite materials, such as carbon fiber, aluminum alloys or other metal alloys, wood and the like.

Such boats also have one or more sail supporting masts, whose number is selected as a function of the length and type of watercraft.

The masts are secured to the hull and may be maintained upright by one or more ropes, known as shrouds.

There may be also a rudder for steering the boat and a lower appendage, known as centerboard, which projects downwards from the hull to compensate for any stresses exerted by the wind through the sails which would tend to cause the boat to move in a direction other than the predetermined course.

One of the main drawbacks of these prior art watercrafts is that, in the sailing position, the hulls are not adequately protected from accidental shocks.

Furthermore, the lateral sides of the hulls have topsides that do not provide adequate protection from ingress of water, which involves the risk that the boat may sink if too much water is taken on.

Disclosure of the invention

It is a main object of the present invention to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks by providing a sailboat that has a simple construction and a low weight.

A particular object is to provide a sailboat that is equipped with a reserve of buoyancy and has a relatively reduced sinking risk.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a sailboat whose hull is always protected from accidental shocks or collisions.

A particular object is to provide a sailboat that has superior performances and is simple to steer.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a sailboat that has reduced maintenance requirements, can be easily carried and has a small bulk both during transport and out of water.

These and other objects as better explained hereafter, are fulfilled by a sailboat as defined in claim 1.

Thanks to this configuration, the boat of the invention will have a particularly low weight and be effectively protected against accidental shocks or collisions, and will be further equipped with a reserve of buoyancy that will ensure its unsinkability.

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more apparent upon reading the detailed description of a preferred, non-exclusive embodiment of a sailboat of the invention, which will be described as a non- limiting example with the help of the annexed drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a sailboat of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the boat of Fig. 1 ;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a detail of the boat of Fig. 1 ; FIG. 4 is a top view of the boat of Fig. 1 ; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the boat of Fig. 1.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

Referring to the above figures, a sailboat according to the invention, generally designated by numeral 1 , comprises a hull 2 having a keel made of a substantially rigid material, with one or more masts secured thereto for supporting respective sails, as is known in the art.

In the particular configuration of the figure, which shall be considered by way of example and without limitation to the invention, a single mast 3 is provided, for supporting the mainsail 4.

The hull 2 may have any length whatever and be made of any material of those commonly used in the art.

For example and without limitation, such material may be fiberglass- reinforced plastic or any other plastic material of adequate stiffness, aluminum or one of its alloys or possibly a composite material such as carbon fiber, Kevlar® or the like.

According to the invention, the hull 2 has a pair of lateral sides 5, 6 with respective predetermined waterlines which delimit, for each of them, a lower portion, designated by 5' and 6' respectively, which defines the underbody of the boat 1 and an upper portion or topside, designated by 5" and 6" respectively.

As used herein, the term waterline is indented to indicate the design waterline, determined by the intersection of the design water plane π ad the

outer surface of each side 5, 6.

The term topside is intended to indicate the part of the sides that is designed to be above water-level.

According to a peculiar characteristic of the invention, each of the sides 5, 6 is at least partially formed of a flotation member 7 with a density lower than water, which defines at least part of the respective upper portion or topside 5", 6".

Thus, the hull 2 will be equipped with a flotation reserve, provided by these flotation members, which will prevent sinking even when the boat 1 takes on too much water.

In a preferred, non limiting embodiment of the invention, the hull 2 may have a single flotation member 7 extending on both lateral sides 5, 6 over at least part of their length.

Preferably, the flotation member 7 may encircle the hull 2 also at the bow 8.

As particularly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the flotation member 7 may have a substantially tubular shape, with an outer wall 9 made of a relatively yielding plastic material.

The wall 9 may define an internal variable-volume chamber, susceptible of being filled with a predetermined amount of a gas, particularly air.

Thus, the flotation member 7 will also act as a protection against accidental shocks or collisions for the hull 2, and improve safety thereof.

Furthermore the flotation member 7 may be easily deflated whenever the boat has to be carried out of the water, thereby considerably reducing its

overall bulk.

Alternatively, the flotation member 7 may be made of a material selected from the group of materials of lower density than water.

For instance, a foamed polymeric material may be used, such as polyurethane foam, polystyrene or the like of either open- or closed-cell structure.

Advantageously, the flotation member 7 may be applied to the sides 5, 6, at their top edges 10, 11.

Permanent fixation of the flotation member 7 to the hull 2 may be obtained by gluing, and possibly by pre-shaping the top edges 10, 11 of the sides 5, 6.

For example, the top edges 10, 11 may be formed with respective mutually facing hollows 12, 13, for at least partially receiving a respective portion of the flotation member 7, as shown in Fig. 3.

Thus, the flotation member 7 will considerably reduce the likelihood of taking on water into the hull 2, by defining the upper limit for the water plane during sailing.

As shown in Fig. 4, the flotation member 7 may include a pair of lateral portions T, 7" extending along respective sides 5, 6 of the hull 2.

Each lateral portion 7', 7" may have respective front 14, 15 and rear 16, 17 ends, which are situated close to the bow 8 and to the stern 19 of the hull 2.

Particularly, the lateral portions T, 7" of the flotation member 7 may be joined together at their respective front ends 14 and 15.

If the flotation member 7 is formed of a pneumatic tube, the variable-volume chamber may be undivided or include two or more sections, to ensure flotation of the boat 1 even when the flotation member 7 becomes damaged at a predetermined point, with air being released therefrom.

Also, each of the lateral portions 7', 7" of the flotation member 7 may have a substantially circular cross section.

Advantageously, for each of the lateral portions 7', 7", the diameter of the cross section may gradually decrease from the rear end 16, 17 to the front end 14, 15.

This particular characteristic will provide the advantage of allowing the hull 2 to have an excellent hydrodynamic behavior, even when the boat is heeling.

Therefore, due to its configuration, the flotation member 7 will gradually lead the boat into flotation with homogeneous waterlines even under heeling conditions, and avoid kickbacks on the hull 2 which would affect its performances.

According to another aspect, the lateral portions T, 7" may at least partially project sideways and outwards from their respective sides 5, 6.

Particularly, the lateral portions 7', 7" may be a substantially seamless extension of the side wall of the hull 2 at the stern 18 and progressively overhang as they extend towards the bow.

According to another particularly advantageous aspect of the invention, the boat 1 may have a main mast 3 removably fixed to the hull 2 without the help of shrouds or the like.

The use of an unshrouded mast 3 will allow easy dismantling thereof

whenever the boat 1 has to be carried out of the water, for further bulk reduction.

For maximum reduction of the overall weight of the boat 1 , the mast may support the mainsail only 4, and have a wishbone boom 19 with two hoists 20, 21 acting thereon for sail adjustment.

The hull 2 may be also equipped with a centerboard 22, possibly a fin keel 23, which will project downwards from the hull keel 2 to lower the center of gravity of the boat 1 and compensate for any stresses exerted by the wind through the sail 4.

Advantageously, the centerboard 22 may be also removably fixed to the hull 2 for simplified transportation and reduction of bulk out of water.

Particularly, the hull 2 may be of the retractable keel type, for both simple removal of the centerboard 22 and draft adjustment.

The boat 1 may be also equipped with a blade rudder 24, also removably fixed to the hull 2 at the transom.

Furthermore, the hull 2 may be designed to receive an outboard engine, not shown, for allowing a combined sail-engine use.

The above disclosure clearly shows that the invention fulfills the intended objects and particularly meets the requirement of providing a sailboat that ensures high safety, light weight and simple consutruction.

The boat of this invention is susceptible of a number of changes and variants, within the inventive principle disclosed in the appended claims. All the details thereof may be replaced by other technically equivalent parts, and the materials may vary depending on different needs, without departure from the

scope of the invention.

While the boat has been described with particular reference to the accompanying figures, the numerals referred to in the disclosure and claims are only used for the sake of a better intelligibility of the invention and shall not be intended to limit the claimed scope in any manner.