Abstract:
Alternative collar assemblies for use with watercraft including rigid-hulled boats are described. The collars may include both foam materials and one or more inflatable compartments, thereby offering multiple advantages over existing foam or inflatable collars. Optionally included in or on the collars are reinforcing material (such as but not limited to Kevlar) and an abrasion-resistant coating surrounding the foam and inflatable compartments. Similarly, compartments comprising the collar optionally may be nested.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to collars and associated components useful in conjunction with watercraft and more particularly to collars adapted to include both foam and inflatable compartments or, alternatively, multiple nested inflatable or foam compartments for, among other things, enhanced durability.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,685 to Hemphill, et al., incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference, illustrates and details various foam collars designed to be affixed to the external surfaces of boat hulls. These collars typically include laminates of closed-cell foams such as (but not necessarily limited to) cross-linked polyethylene-ethylene vinyl-acetate copolymers. Also disclosed in the Hemphill patent are reinforcement coatings (such as polyurethane), which may be adhered to the foam laminates for added abrasion resistance or strength.  
           [0003]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,870,965 to Hansen, also incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference, describes boats having foam members mounted to rigid hulls. The foam members are denominated “stabilizers” in the Hansen patent, since they purportedly “act as a running surface when a sharp turn is performed at high speed” in an associated boat. See Hansen, col. 2, 11. 38-39. Likewise, the foam members detailed in the Hansen patent supposedly enhance the righting moment of a hull by “contact[ing] and displac[ing] an increasing volume of water as the boat lists.” See id. at 11.59-61.  
           [0004]    According to the Hansen patent, the stabilizing members disclosed therein:  
           [0005]    can be formed of any suitable buoyant foam which can withstand the harsh environment encountered by a high speed watercraft including normal docking and moorage bumping. It is also advantageous that the stabilizing members be formed from a foam that does not absorb water and has some memory. In the preferred embodiment . . . , a closed cell polypropylene or polyethylene foam . . . is used to form the stabilizing members . . . .  
           [0006]    . . . In order to increase damage tolerance, it may also be beneficial to coat or cover the exterior of the stabilizing members with a protective material, such as a rubber, liquid vinyl or some other plastic material.  
           [0007]    Id. at col. 6, 11. 1-17. Such stabilizing members are expressly contrasted with inflatable tubes, with the latter decried as subject to undesired deflation and requiring availability of a pump. See id. at 11. 18-25. Additionally, although Kevlar is listed as a material from which the hull can be made, see id. at col. 3, 11. 28-29, as noted above only rubber, liquid vinyl, and “other plastic” material are recited as the substances from which a protective coat or cover for the members may be made.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention provides alternative collar assemblies for use with watercraft including rigid-hulled boats. Unlike the foam members of the Hansen patent, the collars of the invention are not true “stabilizers” (although they arguably may add stability in certain situations). Instead, they function substantially as fenders, like the collars of the Hemphill patent.  
           [0009]    Additionally unlike the stabilizers of the Hansen patent, many of the foam collars described herein include both foam materials and one or more inflatable compartments. They thus in some senses are composites, offering multiple advantages over existing collars by virtue of incorporating both inflatable material and foam. Yet further benefits may be obtained through use, consistent with the present invention, of reinforcing material (such as but not limited to Kevlar) and an abrasion-resistant coating surrounding the foam and inflatable compartments.  
           [0010]    In some embodiments of the innovative collars, an elongated, inflatable bladder is positioned within and substantially circumscribed by a hollow foam tube. In turn, portions of the foam tube are covered by a sleeve-like reinforcing material and the material may be coated or covered with an abrasion-resistant layer. Thus, when the bladder is inflated, it tends to force the foam tube against the sleeve of reinforcing material, facilitating a close, relatively uniform fit. As well, this inflation tensions the sleeve, enhancing energy absorption of the collar and reducing the likelihood that irregularities in the outer surface of the sleeve will cause damage to it.  
           [0011]    In some other embodiments of the collars, the foam material may abut or be adjacent to the inflatable bladder, but not necessarily circumscribe it, within the sleeve-like reinforcing material or other cover. Additional reinforcement or anti-ballistic protection may be provided intermediate the foam material and bladder within the cover, and the foam may be closed cell if desired. Although typically the inflatable bladder will be positioned toward the exterior of the corresponding boat, some versions of the invention permit either the foam material to be so positioned or the collar oriented so that portions of both the bladder and foam material are positioned toward the exterior. Alternatively, collars may include foam material on either or both sides of the anti-ballistic material to provide support therefor, with the inflatable bladder allowing the collars to assume varying widths depending, at least in part, on the sizes of the bladders and extent to which they are inflated. Providing buoyancy enhancement in this manner may facilitate transport of boats containing these collars in some circumstances, particularly when deflating the bladders partially or completely reduces the widths of the boats sufficiently to permit them to fit on certain trailers or within bays of certain aircraft.  
           [0012]    Yet other embodiments include multiple nested compartments within a collar. Preferably (but not necessarily), the compartments will have elliptical cross-sections with different spacing between the foci of the ellipses. Each such compartment may be inflatable, although it alternatively may be made of or filled (partially or completely) with foam. Various compartments may be interlinked if desirable to allow fluid communication between them or isolated so as to preclude fluid communication, thus reducing possibility that deflation of one compartment would result in deflation of the isolated other compartments. Additionally, the nesting of inflatable compartments, and possible inflation of different compartments to different pressures, allows the shape of the finally-inflated collar to be varied to suit different applications.  
           [0013]    It therefore is an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide innovative collars or similar components of, typically, watercraft.  
           [0014]    It is another optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide collars including both foam materials and inflatable compartments.  
           [0015]    It is an additional optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide collars incorporating therein or thereon either or both of a reinforcing material and an abrasion-resistant coating.  
           [0016]    It is a further optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide collars comprising multiple nested compartments.  
           [0017]    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. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a collar assembly of the present invention shown attached to a boat.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative collar assembly of the present invention likewise shown attached to a boat.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 is a schematicized, cross-sectional view of a second alternative collar assembly of the present invention.  
         [0021]    FIGS.  4 - 5  are cross-sectional views of an exemplary version of the collar assembly similar to that depicted schematically in FIG. 3. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0022]    Illustrated in the FIG. 1 is collar assembly  10 . Assembly  10  typically is designed to be tubular, with FIG. 1 showing its generally-circular cross-section. Assembly  10  need not be tubular, however, but rather may be shaped in any manner consistent with any of the objectives of the present invention.  
         [0023]    As but one example of an alternatively-shaped structure, assembly  10  may have an elliptical cross-section instead.  
         [0024]    Collar assembly  10  additionally is designed for attachment to hull H of a watercraft such as boat B. Acting as a fender for the boat B, in some instances assembly  10  preferably is mounted to hull H sufficiently above the static waterline as to remain above the surface of the water during normal boating operations. In other instances, assembly  10  may be mounted so as to contact the water surface during normal operations. If made of buoyant materials (as is typical) assembly  10  can, of course, provide buoyancy to hull H.  
         [0025]    Assembly  10  can be bolted or otherwise mounted, affixed, or attached to hull H in any suitable way. As detailed in FIG. 1, embodiments of assembly  10  may comprise bladder  14 , foam material  18 , and sleeve  22 . Additionally optionally included in assembly  10  may be a reinforcing material made, in part, of aramid or other fibers such as, but not limited to, materials manufactured under the trademark Kevlar. If present, the reinforcing material typically would be positioned intermediate sleeve  22  and foam material  18  in order to protect both the foam material  18  and bladder  14 .  
         [0026]    Usually (although not necessarily) centrally located radially within assembly  10 , elongated bladder  14  is designed to be inflated with air or other suitable fluid. Accordingly, bladder  10  may connect to hose  26  or other ancillary equipment (e.g. a valving mechanism) to enable it to be inflated (and, if appropriate, deflated) after assembly  10  is formed. As well, bladder  14  may be made of any material adapted to retain whatever inflation fluid is used, including Hypalon and other air-holding materials conventionally used for standard inflatable marine collars.  
         [0027]    Surrounding substantially all of bladder  14  in some embodiments of assembly  10  is foam material  18 . Typically tubular with a hollow core (as detailed in FIG. 1), material  18  may be made of EVA, PVC, or any appropriate foam, although polyethylene presently is preferred. Such foam preferably is closed cell, however, to minimize the likelihood of its absorbing water should the surface of sleeve  22  be penetrated or breached.  
         [0028]    Foam material  18  additionally may include one or more channels to permit hose  26  or other inflation-related equipment to be accessible outside assembly  10 . Likewise, foam material  18  need not always surround substantially all of bladder  14 , although its doing so usually will be advantageous, particularly in preventing penetration of bladder  14  by a foreign object outside boat B. Alternatively, foam material  18  may achieve this objective by surrounding at least the portions of bladder  14 —typically those furthest from hull H—most likely to encounter a foreign object.  
         [0029]    Detailed also in FIG. 1 is covering or sleeve  22  designed to envelope some or substantially all of foam material  18 . One embodiment of sleeve  22  comprises fabric coated with polyurethane; unlike some existing foam collar assemblies, therefore, the foam material itself need not be coated. As a result, potential delamination of the foam and coating can be avoided. Additionally, so coating sleeve  22  assists it in resisting damage, particularly from abrasion, when boat B is docked or in use. Other embodiments of sleeve  22  may be uncoated or coated with coatings other than polyurethane, such coatings including but not being limited to Hypalon and PVC.  
         [0030]    For added strength and damage resistance for assembly  10 , a layer of relatively-flexible fibrous material may be included, typically intermediate sleeve  22  and foam material  18 . One such flexible material may be a layer of Kevlar. In addition to providing enhanced strength, the layer may also inhibit projectiles from penetrating assembly  10  sufficient to deflate bladder  14 .  
         [0031]    Because foam material  18  surrounds some or substantially all of bladder  14 , inflating bladder  14  forces its outer wall  30  against the inner core  34  of material  18 . Similarly, because foam material  18  is only partially deformable, inflating bladder  14  forces the outer surface  38  of material  18  against sleeve  22  (or any intermediate reinforcing material), thus effectively tensioning assembly  10 . This tensioning itself is advantageous, not only permitting the exterior surface  42  of sleeve  22  to be more uniform in appearance, but also likely reducing the opportunity for any slack in sleeve  22  to be snagged or caught (and thereby damaged). By contrast, merely deflating bladder  14  can de-tension assembly  10 , facilitating removal of either or both of material  18  and bladder  14  from within sleeve  22  for replacement or repair.  
         [0032]    Those skilled in the art will recognize that multiple assemblies  10  may be used in connection with a single boat B and that multiple bladders  14  (or other inflatable compartments) may exist within a single assembly  10 . More than one foam material  18  similarly may be utilized as part of assembly  10 , and sleeve  22  may be sectioned or configured differently than as shown in FIG. 1 (and indeed may be a simple cover or coating rather than a sleeve). Yet additionally, for example, foam material  18  need not have an annular cross-section, and neither bladder  14  nor core  34  need have a circular cross-section.  
         [0033]    Depicted in FIG. 2 is an alternative collar assembly  100 . Like assembly  10 , assembly  100  usually is tubular, with FIG. 2 showing its generally (but not necessarily) circular cross-section. Again like assembly  10 , assembly  100  may be attached to boat B in any appropriate manner.  
         [0034]    As shown in FIG. 2, assembly  100  may comprise bladder  114 , foam material  118 , and outer skin, cover, or sleeve  122 . Because bladder  114  typically will be inflated with air or other fluid in use, assembly  100  additionally may include hose  126  and any ancillary components necessary to permit inflation (and perhaps deflation) of the bladder  114 . Assembly  100  also may, if desired, include reinforcing material  128 , illustrated in FIG. 2 as interposed between bladder  114  and foam material  118  within sleeve  122 . Reinforcing material  128  in some embodiments may provide anti-ballistic protection and, as noted earlier, may be made in whole or part of aramid fibers or other suitable materials (including, but again not limited to, those manufactured under the trademark Kevlar).  
         [0035]    Detailed in FIG. 2 is that foam material  118 , rather than circumscribing some or all of bladder  114 , is adjacent to or abuts the bladder  114  within sleeve  122 . Material  118  preferably is closed cell and may be made of EVA, PVC, or any suitable foam. Similar to bladder  14 , bladder  114  may be made of Hypalon or other material capable of retaining inflation fluid. As depicted in FIG. 2, material  118  may have substantially semi-circular cross-section, as may bladder  114  (at least when inflated). When positioned in the manner shown in FIG. 2, with their respective faces  129 A and  129 B adjacent, bladder  114  and material  118  collectively may have generally circular cross-section. Fuller inflation of bladder  114  hence serves to tension assembly  100 , much as inflation of bladder  14  tensions assembly  10  of FIG. 1. Lesser inflation (or deflation) of bladder  114 , by contrast, effectively decreases the width of assembly  100 , facilitating transport of boat B particularly on certain trailers or in certain aircraft.  
         [0036]    Although FIG. 2 illustrates bladder  114  as being positioned further to the exterior of boat B than is foam material  118 , components of assembly  100  may be oriented differently than shown in FIG. 2. Positions of bladder  114  and material  118  could, for example, be reversed, so that a projectile launched from outside (and toward) boat B would have to pass through sleeve  122 , foam material  118 , and optional reinforcing material  128  before reaching bladder  114 . Alternatively, bladder  114  and foam material  118  could be rotated within sleeve  122  (or assembly  100  rotated relative to boat B) so that a portion of each is far to the exterior of boat B within sleeve  122 . Yet alternatively, either foam material  118  or bladder  114  could be present on both sides of reinforcing material  128  if appropriate or desired.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 3 illustrates, somewhat schematically, aspects of another collar assembly  200 . Although typically tubular, assembly  200  advantageously has elliptical (rather than circular) cross-section in use and is formed of multiple nested compartments  204 , three of which ( 204 A-C) are shown in FIG. 3. Those skilled in the art will recognize that fewer or greater numbers of compartments  204  may be utilized instead. Regardless of the number of compartments  204 , however, nesting them in this manner allows the shape of assembly  200  to be varied to suit different applications.  
         [0038]    In the version of assembly  200  depicted in FIG. 3, the foci of the elliptical cross-section of compartment  204 A are more closely spaced than are the foci of the elliptical cross-section of compartment  204 B. Likewise, the foci of the elliptical cross-section of compartment  204 B are more closely spaced than are the foci of the elliptical cross-section of compartment  204 C. This permits nesting of compartments  204 , with compartment  204 A being enclosed by compartments  204 B and  204 C and compartment  204 B being enclosed by compartment  204 C. Although complete nesting of this sort is often advantageous, partial nesting may also be useful in some circumstances. Thus, versions of assembly  200  need not necessarily completely enclose any particular compartment  204  within another. Preferably, however, compartments  204  will be positioned such that they effectively form a common wall  208  adjacent boat B.  
         [0039]    Any or all of compartments  204  may be inflatable and, accordingly, comprise a bladder made of material impervious (or at least substantially so) to the inflation fluid. Alternatively, any or all compartments  204  may be made or (wholly or partly) filled with foam. Any inflatable compartments  204  further may be interlinked if desired to permit concurrent inflation or deflation or isolated to preclude such concurrent inflation and deflation (or interlinked at times and isolated at other times). Valves utilizing the Venturi principle further optionally may be included to facilitate rapid inflation and deflation of any inflatable compartments  204 . Likewise, sleeves, coatings, reinforcing materials, inflation valves, and mounting equipment may be used with or form part of assembly  200 .  
         [0040]    FIGS.  4 - 5  depict an illustrative embodiment of assembly  200  attached to boat B. In this embodiment, assembly  200  includes inflatable compartments  204 A-C forming common wall  208 . The remainder of assembly  200  comprises foam section  212 . Each compartment  204 A, B, or C, when considered together with foam section  212 , has a cross-section that is either circular or, preferably, more or less elliptical in shape. Alternatively, compartments  204 A-C may be deemed to have semi-circular or semi-elliptical cross-sections when considered alone.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 4 shows full inflation of compartments  204 A-C, with boat B having a resulting beam width designated X. FIG. 5, by contrast, illustrates compartments  204 A-C in deflated condition (as, for example, for storage or transport); in such state, the beam width of boat B is designated Y, where Y is less than X (i.e. Y&lt;X). By inflating compartments  204 A-C to differing pressures, beam widths between X and Y may also be achieved. Assembly  200  thus provides variable beam width for boat B using multiple inflatable compartments  204 .  
         [0042]    Although the foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing embodiments of the present invention, numerous modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Generally, in fact, any appropriate assembly combining attributes of foam and inflatable compartments, or nesting foam-filled or inflatable compartments, could in certain cases satisfactorily achieve at least some aspects of the present invention.