Abstract:
A catamaran has a pair of spaced-apart pontoons, each having a forward tapered end and a rearward end. An underwing is affixed to the pontoons and spans therebetween. The underwing has a forward end and a rearward end. A platform is pivotally connected to the underwing forward end and/or rearward end and conforms to the pontoons at their forward tapered end or their rearward end, respectively. The platform also has a forward end. A power assembly (e.g., oil hydraulic, air hydraulic, cable lift, chain lift, spring loaded, gear-driven, and other lifting mechanisms) is connected to the platform for one or more of lowering or raising the platform from a stowed position to a plurality of working positions—including positions below the waterline—of the catamaran and for one or more of raising or lowering the platform back to the stowed position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     None  
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH  
       [0002]     Not applicable.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The present invention generally relates to watercraft and more particularly to a catamaran with a forward hinged underwing or bridgework lowerable at sea to insert or extract person(s), article(s), and/or equipment, into or from the water, or onto or from the land, or onto or from rock piles, rock jetties, break walls; insert or extract submarines into or from the water; assist in the efforts of homeland security, military, police and law enforcement, fire-fighting, rescue, and like operations; assist in high speed rescue excursions, including under-fire personnel recovery; assist in turbulent and turbid water rescue, including rescue and recovery from water around dams and waterfalls; assist in aircraft and aircraft personnel recovery; assist in the interdiction of illegal watercraft (smugglers, etc.) and their personnel, contrabands, materials, etc.; assist in buoy and wall servicing at the proper height; and/or provide for the roll on and roll off capabilities of wheelchairs, carts with wheel(s), and specially designed gurneys for rescue operations.  
         [0004]     The superior nautical qualities of catamaran type watercraft are well known. Their high beam-to-length ratio and their shallow draft provide desirable stability and resistance to capsizing. In addition, some specialized catamarans offer high speed, extremely smooth ride, enhanced stability, and greater maneuverability due to their hull shape and propulsion location. This combination of improved speed, stability, ride, and maneuverability provides a unique solution to many age-old problems with the current technologies of landing craft (i.e., landing craft are very slow, unstable in comparison, difficult to maneuver, and are wet as a transport platform). Such superior nautical qualities make catamaran watercraft ideally suited for a variety of inland waterway, lake, close to shore, and open ocean tasks. Such tasks include, inter alia, those listed above. For present purposes, “at sea” means any body of water upon which the inventive catamaran can operate, including, inter alia, inland waterway, lake, ocean, sea, or like body of water.  
         [0005]     One drawback against other vessel types relates to the superior ability of the catamaran&#39;s skipper or crewman to easily accomplish the enumerated tasks. Heretofore, U.S. Pat. No. 5,173,182 proposes an environmental work vessel having a catamaran hull and a pivotally mounted debris scoop mounted between the pontoons. U.S. Pat. No. 3,815,541 proposes a pontoon houseboat having capacity to receive and retain a small craft between the pontoons. In  FIGS. 22 and 23 , a hinged platform that lowers into the water is disclosed. U.S. Pat. No. 4,020,777 proposes catamaran having a hinged platform between the two pontoons that lowers for retrieving buoys from the water. U.S. Pat. No. 4,545,315 proposes a remote control catamaran type craft with a hinged platform disposed between the pontoons, which platform lowers to retrieve fowl from the water during hunting trips.  
         [0006]     Despite such prior proposals, there still exists a need in the art to modify a catamaran or pontoon-type watercraft so that it can easily perform the tasks listed above. It is to such need that the present invention is addressed.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     A catamaran has a pair of spaced-apart pontoons, each having a forward tapered end and a rearward end. An underwing is affixed to the pontoons and spans therebetween. The underwing has a forward end and a rearward end. A platform is pivotally connected to the underwing forward end and/or rearward end and conforms to the pontoons at their forward tapered end or their rearward end, respectively. The platform also has a forward end. A power assembly (e.g., oil hydraulic, air hydraulic, cable lift, chain lift, spring loaded, gear-driven, and other lifting mechanisms) is connected to the platform for one or more of lowering or raising the platform from a stowed position to a plurality of working positions—including positions below the waterline—of the catamaran and for one or more of raising or lowering the platform back to the stowed position. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     For a fuller understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of the catamaran floating in a body of water;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is an overhead view of the catamaran of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a side-elevational view of the catamaran of  FIG. 1  with the forward portion of the underwing lowered into the water, for example, to insert or extract person(s), article(s), or equipment into or from the water; or to roll down a retrieval gurney for an unconscious or otherwise disabled person.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is an overhead view of the catamaran of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of a typical hinge assembly shown in  FIG. 5 —other rotational systems also are applicable;  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  is a side elevational view like that in  FIG. 3  with a crewmember of the catamaran standing on the lowered forward underwing for retrieving a person floating in the water;  
         [0017]      FIG. 9  is a side elevational view like that in  FIG. 3  with the forward hinged underwing resting upon the beach;  
         [0018]      FIGS. 10-12  are side elevational views like those in  FIGS. 8 and 9  with the adjustable platform or ramp at different appropriate heights for different missions; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 15  is an overhead view like that in  FIG. 2  with a specially louvered or grated platform and extension for allowing water to pass therethrough. 
     
    
       [0020]     The drawings will be described in further detail below.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]     As described above, there is a need to be able to insert or extract person(s), article(s), equipment, into or from the water, or onto or from the land, or onto or from rock piles, rock jetties, break walls; insert or extract submarines into or from the water; assist in the efforts of homeland security, military, police and law enforcement, fire-fighting, rescue, and like operations; assist in high speed rescue excursions, including under-fire personnel recovery; assist in turbulent and turbid water rescue, including rescue and recovery from water around dams and waterfalls; assist in aircraft and aircraft personnel recovery; assist in the interdiction of illegal watercraft (smugglers, etc.) and their personnel, contrabands, materials, etc.; assist in buoy and wall servicing at the proper height; provide for the roll on and roll off capabilities of wheelchairs, carts with wheel(s), and specially designed gurneys for rescue operations which actually allow people in the water to be placed onto a gurney that is then rolled onto the deck, that when upon arrival at the shore or dock, can be rolled to the ambulance. Such “tasks” are well within the capability of the inventive catamaran disclosed herein.  
         [0022]     At sea, extraction could involve search, rescue, and recovery missions wherein a watercraft has capsized or otherwise is in distress such that people and/or articles are in the water; turbulent and turbid water rescue and recovery in waters around dams and waterfalls; the interdiction of contraband (articles or people) at sea; as well as high speed rescue, including in under-fire conditions. A variety of other situations similarly could require the watercraft to be able to easily extract person(s), article(s), or equipment from the water or to easily insert divers or swimmers into the water.  
         [0023]     On land, quickly inserting and extracting personnel could involve littoral warfare, Special Forces that need to be whisked ashore at a moment&#39;s notice, and other conflicts with military implications to fight the ongoing war on terrorism and the battles of the 21 st  century. It also could involve extracting unwary people who get stranded on rock piles and rock jetties in a rising tide.  
         [0024]     With police or law enforcement operations, a notable advantage of this hinged underwing is the ability to provide a work area at the proper height for law enforcement officers while on patrol and while boarding other craft and equipment. During most law enforcement and interdiction operations, the bow of the patrol boat is pointed towards the area of issue, which could be another boat, Jet Ski, buoy servicing, and/or other aids to navigation (e.g., ATON), etc. Often, a common problem on most law enforcement boats is the fact that the bow is too high for the execution of many desired operations. For boarding of other craft and equipment, the bow is often too high for many small boats and jet skies. This movable bow area provides an excellent working platform for many different applications.  
         [0025]     Regardless of the motivation, the watercraft of choice often is a catamaran, because of its superior nautical qualities, such as, for example, beam-to-length ratio and shallow draft, which provides desirable stability and resistance to capsizing. In addition, some specialized catamarans also offer high speed, extremely smooth ride, and enhanced maneuverability due to their hull shape. This combination of improved speed, stability, ride, and maneuverability provides a unique solution to many age-old problems with the current technologies of landing craft (i.e., landing craft are very slow, unstable in comparison, difficult to maneuver, and are wet as a transport platform). The catamaran&#39;s speed would be important in interdiction efforts, homeland security missions, military operations—including littoral warfare—police and law enforcement patrols, fire-fighting and rescue operations—including high-speed and turbulent water rescue, and other like applications.  
         [0026]     Referring initially to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a catamaran,  10 , is seen floating in a body of water,  12 , having a waterline,  14 . Body of water  12  can be an ocean, lake, river, inland waterway, or any body of water upon which the catamaran can be run. A crewman,  16 , stands before a helm,  18 . The catamaran as shown has a pair of optional hatches,  20  and  22 , and twin water jet assemblies,  24  and  26 , powered by engines not shown. Catamaran  10  could be propelled with water jets, conventional underwater gear with propellers, Inboard/Outboards, or Outboards, and other propulsion systems. A cabin or other enclosure also could be provided for catamaran  10 , such as, for example, a small medical facility, airlift operations from the deck, etc. Much of the description focuses on the hinged platform extending from the forward end of the underwing. Such hinged platform, however, also can extend from the rear edge of the underwing, or from both the front and rear edges of the underwing, as those skilled in the art will appreciate.  
         [0027]     Catamaran  10  includes a pair of pontoons,  28  and  30 , (see also  FIG. 7 ) each have a forward tapered section,  32  and  34 , respectively, as is typical in catamaran design. Interconnecting pontoons  28  and  30  is an underwing or bridgework,  36 . Hatches  20  and  22 , crewman  16 , and helm  18 , all rest atop deck  36 . Additional lifesaving gear, anchor, line, and the like, are carried aboard catamaran  10  in conventional fashion, and as needed depending upon its mission, marine regulations, type of water upon which it operates (e.g., salt water or fresh water), and the like. The size of catamaran  10  also fits its mission, marine regulations, type of water upon which it operates, and like factors well known to the skilled seaman.  
         [0028]     In order to provide a rescue capability, a platform,  38 , is hingedly or pivotally connected to the forward edge of underwing  36 . Railings,  40  and  42 , extend adjacent to hinged platform  38  for safety. Referring now also to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , crewman  16  has moved forward to a control,  44 , in order to control and operate the catamaran with full visibility of people and equipment in the water and to control the elevation of platform  38 . In addition, lights can be installed, night vision equipment, etc., for night or inclement weather extraction and insertion operations. While a variety of mechanisms for raising and lowering platform  38  can be envisioned and utilized (e.g., oil hydraulic, air hydraulic, cable lift, chain lift, spring loaded, gear-driven, and other lifting mechanisms), a simple line (for example, steel or other suitable cable) and pulley system is illustrated in the drawings. Specifically, a line,  46 , surmounts a pulley,  48 , and is connected to platform  38  at a connection point,  50 , and to a motor assembly,  52 , which includes a reel for line  46  to be wound about. The skilled artisan will appreciate that other power sources capable of lowering and raising platform  38  with line  46  can be used, including a hand crank, as is necessary, desirable, or convenient.  
         [0029]     Platform  38  also can retain an extension,  54 , at its forward end, which extension can unfold or otherwise extend from platform  38  into and, perhaps, slightly under waterline  14  to aid in the ability of crewman  16  to walk onto extension  54  to insert or extract person(s), article(s), or equipment into or from the water. Platform  38  also will be seen to flare out at its forward end to follow the contour of forward tapered sections  32  and  34 . Such shape results in a larger working area for platform  38  which can be especially useful when platform  38  is lowered into a working or rescue position.  
         [0030]     Referring now to  FIGS. 5, 6 , and  7 , platform  38  will be seen in an upward or stowed position and in phantom in a lowered position, such as for extracting person(s), article(s), or equipment from the water, or inserting divers or swimmers into the water. A portion of platform  38  and extension  54  are slightly under waterline  14  in  FIG. 5 , although this is not necessary. While a variety of hinge systems can be envisioned, a simple hinge system is shown in  FIG. 6 . Specifically, a hinge assembly,  56 , pivotally connects underwing  36  to platform  38 . Extension  54  also is folded back onto platform  38  in a stowed position. Extension  54  also desirably is hingedly connected to platform  38  and is capable of being unfolded by crewman  16  to an operating condition.  
         [0031]      FIG. 8  illustrates novel catamaran  10  rescuing a person,  58 , from the water. Specifically, platform  38  has been lowered, extension  54  unfolded, and crewman  16  has walked down onto extension  54  to reach person  58 . The ability of platform  38  and especially extension  54  to reach below waterline  14  enables crewman  16  to more easily reach person  58 . Such design may even permit a single crewman to affect a rescue at sea.  
         [0032]      FIG. 9  illustrates another anticipated use for novel catamaran  10 . Crewman  16  has driven catamaran  10  to a beach,  60 , which can be directly accessed with lowered platform  38 . Extension  54  still is in its folded and stowed position, but may be extended, if needed. Regardless, the design of pivoting platform  38  enables catamaran  10  to land crewman  16  onto shore  60  for extracting person(s), article(s), or equipment, or to unload people or cargo, or for any other use desired.  
         [0033]      FIGS. 10 through 14  depict crewman  16  standing at various elevations on adjustable platform extension  54  at appropriate heights and level for standing for a specific mission. Also note  FIG. 12  where extension  54  is elevated at 90 degrees to the horizon for providing a stop for approaching boats and protection for crewman  16 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 15  shows a specially designed platform  62  and extension  64  with special louvered holes (apertures) allowing water passing through without adversely affecting the maneuverability of catamaran  10 . This provides for slow operation with the underwing  38  fully lowered and the boat in forward motion. Platform  62  and extension  64  are variants of platform  38  and extension  54 . Platform  62  and extension  64  are of grated construction to allow passage of water through its structure while the vessel is in motion, consequently expanding its abilities and uses beyond that of platform  38 . Examples of platform  62  and extension  64 &#39;s abilities over that of platform  38  and extension  54  would be insertion or extraction of people, article(s), or equipment onto or from rock piles, rock jetties, and break walls; as well as turbulent or turbid rescue and recovery missions, including those around dams and waterfalls. What makes platform  62  able to do this and not platform  38  is because the grated construction allows water to pass through rather than over and into the boat; this “passing through of water” prevents flooding and submergence of the boat into turbulent waters; it also affects handling and maneuverability.  
         [0035]     Another example of platform  62  and extension  64 &#39;s unique abilities over platform  38  and extension  54  is high speed rescue, including in under-fire conditions; the high speed is achieved because of reduced water drag and water flow over the platform  62  and extension  64  compared with platform  38  and extension  54 . Of course, other construction of platforms  38 / 62  and extensions  54 / 64  are possible, as those skilled in the art will appreciate.  
         [0036]     While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Also, all citations referred herein are expressly incorporated herein by reference.