Access devices for inflatable and other boats

Equipment for entering and exiting boats is addressed. Generally, the equipment is in the form of “divers' doors” for inflatable or similar boats. However, unlike existing inflatable doors, the doors discussed herein need not necessarily inflate. Instead, they may be formed as flaps moveable between closed and open positions. Ramped rub strakes or other aspects of the boats may assist in diverting water away from any gaps present when the flaps are closed but the boats are travelling at significant speeds.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates principally to devices providing access to inflatable and other boats and exits therefrom and more particularly, but not exclusively, to “divers' (or diver's) doors” for such boats.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,579,714 to Hemphill (the “Hemphill '714 Patent”) illustrates an exemplary divers' door for an inflatable or other boat. As disclosed in the Hemphill '714 Patent:The diver's door includes a removable support section including a device for releasably attaching the support section to the deck of a boat and a corresponding removable tube element attached to the removable support section to form a single unit removable from the deck of a boat.
See Hemphill '714 Patent, Abstract, 11. 4-9. To effect removal of the door from the boat for ingress or egress, the removable tube element is at least partially deflated to allow disengagement of the end cap of the removable element from a hoop flange. After the end cap is disengaged, the removable element may be grasped and removed from its position, thus creating an opening in the inflatable boat. See id., col. 4, 11. 34-38 and 46-53.

Commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,832,864 to Hemphill (the “Hemphill '864 Patent”) details another divers' door for inflatable and similar boats. Like that of the Hemphill '714 Patent, the door of the Hemphill '864 Patent includes a removable inflatable element normally fitted between tubes of an inflatable boat. Likewise, removal of the element is effected by deflating it (at least partially). Both the Hemphill '714 Patent and the Hemphill '864 Patent are incorporated herein in their entireties by this reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides alternatives to the divers' doors of these patents and other such doors in current commercial use. Unlike existing doors incorporating an inflatable element, those of the present invention may, but need not, do so. Instead, they may comprise one or more flaps of material moveable between “closed” and “open” positions.

When closed, the flap bridges space between inflatable or foam-filled tubes of a boat. Preferably, the flap is flexible, so that it may assume when closed a shape similar to that of the exterior of the tubes. By contrast, when the flap is open, it exposes the access space to the boat; further, it may be positioned in the water and available to be grasped by a diver seeking to enter the boat. In at least this manner, an open flap may function as an interface between the boat and the water on which the boat floats.

The configuration and structure of the flap additionally permits its being deployed even when the boat is moving (albeit at relatively slow speeds). However, at higher speeds the flap generally will be closed, so as not adversely to affect performance of the boat. Because wind forces may tend to create gaps between the flap and the inflatable tubes or hull of the boat (especially if the flap is positioned to the outside of the tubes), it may be beneficial to reduce the likelihood of water entering the boat via such gaps.

The present invention accordingly also includes means for diverting water away from, especially, the leading edge of the flap. In particular, rub strakes associated with the flap and tubes may effect such diversion. Strakes on the tubes immediately forward of the flap may, for example, be ramped so as to deflect water away from the leading edge of the flap. The ramped strakes preferably will be made of a flexible extrusion (e.g. Hypalon) covered by fabric, although other materials and configurations may be utilized instead. Alternatively or additionally, the flap may be positioned predominantly to the inside of the tubes.

Versions of the present invention may include one or more straps (or similar objects) to cinch the flap tightly to the remainder of the boat when the flap is closed. These straps conceivably may be permanently formed with or attached to the flap itself Alternatively, they may be permanently attached to some other portion of the boat and connected only temporarily to the flap for closure. This latter structure has the advantage of avoiding the straps entering the water when the flap is deployed, thereby reducing the possibility of the straps snagging on debris or other things in the water. In either circumstance, hooks, levers, or similar equipment additionally may be employed to effect cinching of the flap.

Additionally optionally included as part of the invention may be a bar or handle formed with or connected to the flap. If positioned near the distal end of the flap when deployed, the bar may function in some respects as a step for a diver desiring to exit the water and enter the boat. It further may function as part of the closure and cinching system when the flap is closed.

Because positioned away from the boat in this configuration, the bar also may be grasped easily by someone in the water. Together with optional life lines positioned on the boat forward and aft of the flap, the bar may facilitate efforts to rescue persons in the water. Boats consistent with the invention further may, if desired, include handles positioned on their decks adjacent the flaps, in some cases allowing divers to re-enter the boats unassisted.

Some existing boats lack self-draining decks. Consequently, opening a flap in these boats could permit water to enter and remain in the boats. To reduce this possibility, the invention also includes systems and techniques for raising, temporarily or permanently, decks in the area of the flaps so the decks are no lower than the ambient waterline.

Additional embodiments of the invention may retain buoyant tube structure in the vicinity of the flap. The tube structure may, however, have a lower profile (i.e. decreased height) as compared to adjacent tube sections. Nevertheless, retaining some tube structure in the area of the divers' door avoids reduced buoyancy and rigidity issues associated with having removable tube elements. Alternatively, a rigid spacer may be placed in the door area. Yet alternatively or additionally, the flap itself may have an inflatable portion.

It thus is an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide so-called “divers' doors” for boats, particularly (although not exclusively) ones utilizing inflatable bladders or buoyant foam for flotation.

It is another optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide doors that themselves need not be inflatable.

It is a further optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide doors comprising one or more flaps of material moveable between closed and open positions.

It is also an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide means for diverting water away from the flap (and particularly its leading edge) when the flap is closed and the boat is moving.

It is, moreover, an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide diverting means in the form of ramped rub strakes or flanges on tubes immediate adjacent the leading edges of the flaps.

It is yet another optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide equipment for cinching flaps closed when not needed as divers' doors.

It is, furthermore, an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide one or more steps associated with the flap, one such step conceivably being a bar or handle positioned at or adjacent an end of the flap distal from the boat when deployed.

It is an additional optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide systems and techniques for raising, temporarily or permanently, the levels of boat decks to reduce ingress of water when flaps are open.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art with reference to the remaining text and the drawings of this application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Depicted inFIGS. 1-2are aspects of an exemplary boat10of the present invention. Boat10may (but need not) be similar to the inflatable boats shown inFIG. 1of each of the Hemphill '714 Patent and the Hemphill '864 Patent. Accordingly, boat10may, for example, include deck14, hull16, and one or more tubes18attached thereto. In some versions of boat10, tubes18are inflatable for flotation; in other versions, tubes18may include buoyant foam. Yet other versions of tubes18may include both foam and inflatable materials, while other boats10may lack tubes18entirely. Further, although tubes18preferably are tubular in shape, they may be configured otherwise as necessary or desired.

Also illustrated inFIGS. 1-2is access assembly22of boat10. Assembly22comprises at least flap26and means30for connecting flap26directly or indirectly to any of deck14, hull16, or tubes18. Assembly22also may, if desired, comprise removable section34and one or more hoops38. Section34, if present, may be an inflatable or foam-filled tube element preferably, although not necessarily, formed of materials similar or identical to that of tubes18. Hoops38, if present, beneficially have substantial rigidity and preferably, although again not necessarily, may be made of polyurethane, fabric, or a combination of the two materials.

Hoops38may be employed to facilitate fitting of removable section34in-line with tubes18. They thus are similar to the hoop flanges discussed in the Hemphill '714 Patent and the Hemphill '864 patent, providing structural stability to the exterior contour of boat10and reducing the likelihood of water entering boat10when section34is in place. Any of these optional hoops38may be connected to either tubes18or removable section34.

Shown as well inFIGS. 1-2are one or more handles42. Such handles42may protrude from, be flush with, or otherwise be associated with deck14of boat10. When flap26is deployed and deck14is made accessible to persons in the water, the persons may grasp handles42to facilitate their entering boat10from the water.

Additionally shown inFIG. 1-2are straps46and connectors50of connecting means30. In the version of boat10illustrated in these figures, straps46connect flap26to portion54of either deck14or hull16. Connectors50are designed to permit cinching of straps46, causing flap26when closed to assume the shape of the exterior of tubes18, removable section34, and hoops38.

To deploy flap26, connecting means30need merely be disengaged and section34, if present, removed from its position intermediate tubes18. These actions result in boat10appearing as shown inFIG. 3, with space58existing in perimeter or side wall60of the boat10. Entry into and exit from boat10thus may be achieved simply by passing through space58.

Although proximate end62of flap26must remain connected in some manner to some portion of boat10, distal end66when deployed is designed to enter the water adjacent the boat10(as illustrated inFIG. 3). At or adjacent end66, therefore, bar70may be connected to or incorporated into flap26. Bar70hence may function as a step, or easily-graspable handle, for divers or other persons in the water. (Additionally if desired, bar70may operate as part of connecting means30to which straps46are or may be connected.)

Because flap26is moveable, risk exists that it may tend to separate from perimeter60of boat10and allow water to enter boat10(or accumulate between flap26and section34) even when the flap26is closed. This tendency may be exacerbated when boat10travels at high speed, as leading edge74of flap26could be subjected to substantial air currents caused by the movement of the boat10. Tubes18thus may be provided with means for diverting air and water away from leading edge74when boat10is travelling forward.

FIG. 4illustrates an alternate boat10′ of the present invention. Like boat10, boat10′ may include a deck and a hull as well as one or more tubes18and flaps26. However, rather than having a removable section34to create a gap for a divers' door, boat10′ does so by utilizing section100of tube18. Like section34, section100may be an inflatable or foam-filled tube element. Unlike section34, though, section100may be permanently connected to or formed as part of tube18and of decreased height so as to create the divers' door or opening104when flap26is open.

Another alternate boat10″ is depicted inFIG. 5. Boat10″ includes spacer108in opening104. Spacer108preferably is made of rigid material (e.g. fiberglass) and shaped to fit snugly between portions of tube18so as to provide enhanced rigidity in the area of opening104.

The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing exemplary embodiments and certain benefits of the present invention. Modifications and adaptations to the illustrated and described embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.