This invention relates to an amphibious craft.

Numerous different types of water craft are launched and landed on beaches and slipways. Difficulty is often encountere and this may result in the bottom of the craft becoming damaged and/or in persons getting unduly wet. Still further, launching and landing operations may require a disproportionate amount of physical effort and wastage of time.

It is known to launch some craft using a launching trailer. If a launch is to be made through waves or surf, then the use o a launching trailer is either difficult or impossible. Furthermore, there is the cost of the launching trailer which ca be substantial.

Hovercraft are known and these are easily able to move between water and land. The hovercraft are however highly specialized craft which are extremely costly to manufacture and operate.

In order to attempt to overcome the above problems, amphibious craft with roller means in the form of wheels are known. Such amphibious craft have the wheels permanently in th water detracting from performance or are of complex design incorporating undercarriages or folding arm arrangements supporting the wheels.

It is the intention of the present invention to provide an amphibious craft having roller means which are simple and easil constructed and operated.

Accordingly, in one non—limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided an amphibious craft comprising a least one hull for enabling the craft to float on water, th craft being such that at least a part of the hull mounts th roller means and is rotatable from a first position in which th roller means are stowed for use of the craft on water, and second position in which the roller means are deployed for use of the craft on land.

The mounting of the roller means on at least a part of the hull enables the roller means to be stowed and deployed in a particularly simple and easy manner, simply by rotating the said at least a part of the hull. The rotation will normally be done while afloat. Various types of construction may be employed for enabling this rotation but they are able to be made and operate in a much simpler manner than using an under carriage or a folding arm arrangement.

The craft will usually be one in which the roller means are so mounted as not substanti lly to interfere with the performance of the craft in the water. Thus, usually, the roller means will be mounted above the water level to which the water will normally rise when the craft is in the water.

The craft may be one in which the roller means partially projects from the side of the hull in the stowed position of the roller means, whereby the roller means acts as fenders affording protection to the hull.

Preferably, the roller means are wheels. The wheels may be pneumatic wheels or solid wheels. Other types of roller means such for example as rollers and continuous tracks may be employed.

The roller means may be driven roller means for enabling the craft to move over land under its own power. In this case, the craft may include an electric motor for driving the roller means. Alternatively, the roller means may be non-driven roller means, whereby the craft is such that it requires to be towed or pushed over the land.

The craft may include drive means for rotating the said at least part of the hull between its first and second positions. The drive means may be a chain and sprocket drive means, a worm and worm gear drive means or a ram drive means. The drive means is preferably power operated but it may be manually operated if desired.

Any suitable and appropriate type of craft may be provided with the roller means. Thus, for example, the craft may be a

catamaran, the catamaran having a platform portion and first and second hulls, and the first and second hulls each being provided with the roller means.

Alternatively, the craft may be a boat. The boat may be a sailing boat, a rowing boat or a motor boat such for example as a life— raft or a speed boat.

The boat may also be an inflatable boat. Where the boat iε an inflatable boat, then it may advantageously be a rigid inflatable boat.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a firεt amphibious craft in the form of a catamaran;

Figure 2 is an end view of the catamaran as shown in figure 1 and illustrates roller means in a stowed position for use of the craft on water;

Figure 3 is an end view of the catamaran as shown in Figure 1 and illustrates the roller means in a deployed form for use of the catamaran on land;

Figure 4 iε an exploded perspectove view showing roller means in the form of a cheel and its associated housing;

Figure 5 iε a perepective view showing a second amphibious craft in the form of a boat;

Figure 6 is a rear view of the boat as shown in Figure 5 and illustrates the roller means in a stowed position for use of the boat on water; and

Figure 7 is an end view of the boat as shown in Figure 5 and illustrates the use of the roller means in a deployed condition for use of the boat on land.

Referring to Figureε 1 to 3, there is shown an amphibious craft in the form of a catamaran 2. The catamaran 2 comprises two hulls 4, 6 and a platform portion 8. The platform portion 8 has a cabin part 10. The catamaran 2 has roller means in the form of wheels 12 each provided in a recessed housing 14 in the

hulls 4, 6.

As can be seen from a comparison of Figures 2 and 3, the entire hulls 4, 6 are rotatable. More specifically, the entire hulls 4, 6 are rotatable from a first position as shown in Figure 2 in which the wheels 12 are stowed for uεe of the craft on water. In the stowed position of the wheels 12, the wheels 12 extend outwardly from the εide of the catamaran 2 and thus act as fenders for protecting the side of the catamaran from damage, for example as might occur when landing at a quay. Figure 3 illustrates how the hulls 4, 6 have been rotated to a second position in which the wheels 12 are deployed for use of the craft on land. In this second position, the wheels extend downwardly and they are the lowest point of the catamaran 2 so that they are available for rolling over land. As can also be seen from Figures 2 and 3, the rotation of the hullε 4, 6 provideε a particularly simple and effective way of moving the wheels 12 into and out of a position in which they are available for running over land in order to enable the catamaran to be moved over the land. It is not necessary for the wheels themselves to be provided with complex constructional arrangements. The wheels remain mounted in their recessed housings 14 and it is only necesεary to rotate the hullε 4, 6.

The rotation of the hullε 4, 6 may be effected by pivoting the hullε 4, 6 about hingeε 16 which connect the hulls 4, 6 to the platform part 8 of the catamaran 2. Movement of the hulls 4, 6 about the hingeε 16 can be effected by any powered drive means such for example as a chain and sprocket drive means, a worm and worm gear drive means, or a ram device. The drive means may be powered by an electric motor or the drive means may be manually driven, for example by rotating a handle.

As can be seen from figure 2, when the wheels 12 are stowed for use of the catamaran 2 on water IB, the wheels are above the water level 20 to which the water 18 rises when he catamaran 2 is in the water 18. Thus the wheels 12 do not substantially interfere with the performance of the catamaran 2 in the water 18

— -I — because the wheels 12 do not run in the water and they create negligible aerodynamic drag since only a small part of the wheelε 12 projects outwardly beyond the sides of the hulls 4, 6.

The wheels 12 may be driven by an electric motor (not shown) for enabling the catamaran 2 to move over land under its own power. Alternatively, the wheelε 12 may be non-driven wheelε so that the catamaran will then require to be towed or pushed over the land.

Figure 4 shows a wheel 12 mounted for rotation on an axle 22 which is mounted in mounting pieces 24. The mounting pieces 24 are located in formed recesses 26 in the housing 14 as shown. The mounting pieces 24 may be retained in position by retainer pieces 28 which slidingly locate in keyways 30.

Referring now to Figureε 5 to 7, there iε shown an amphibious craft in the form of a boat 32. The boat 32 has a pair of hull parts 34, 36. The boat 32 also has a main part 40 between the hull parts 34 and 36 and seats 38 over the wheels 42. Hull parts 34, 36 are each provided with roller means in the form of wheels 42.

Figure 6 illustrateε the wheelε in their stowed position for uεe of the boat 32 on water 18. Aε can be seen from Figure 6, the wheels 42 are above the water level 20 so that the wheels 42 do not interfere with the performance of the boat 32 by dragging in the water IB.

Figure 7 shows the wheels 42 deployed for uεe on land 44. the land 44 has been shown just under the εurface of the water 18 aε might occur if the boat 32 were to run aground on to shallows.

Figures 6 and 7 also illustrate how the hull parts 34, 36 are moved between their first position aε shown in Figure 6 and their second position aε shown in Figure 7 by lever 46 having locking poεition 48. 49 iε the hinge for the hull partε 34, 36.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention deecribed above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modification may be effected. Thuε, the amphibiouε craft may be

other than the illustrated catamaran 2 and the boat 32 and it may be, for example, a rigid inflatable craft. Also, other types of roller means than wheels may be employed so that, for example, the roller means may be rollers or continuous tracks. Also, inεtead of rotating the entire hullε, parts of the hull on which the roller means are mounted could be rotated. Also, the roller means may be mounted on the deck of the catamaran instead of within recesses.