Improvements in or appertaining to Collapsable Boats.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Feb., 1896
Complete Specification left, 25th Nov., 1896-4ccepted, 13th Feb., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or appertaining to Collapsable Boats.
I, MELLARD TRELEAVEN READE of 2 South John Street in the City of
Liverpool, Architect and Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its principal object a method of constructing collapsable
boats whereby the skin of the vessel can be made of solid comparatively unyielding
material for the most part and yet that it shall be able to fold up into a com-
paratively small compass and comparatively flat or at least capable of for boats
being nested together when collapsed.
The invention practically consists first in forming the junction of the sides with
the bottom of substantially the sanie curve both horizontally and vertically so that
when the side is bent over on to the bottom every part of the curved bottom of the
side shall be able to hinge on the curved side of the bottom, secondly, in forming
the materials of sufficiently elastic material to be able to straighten out the slight
curve of the bottom when the box is collapsed to some extent or altogether. This
latter however is not an absolutely sine qua non, and in thus speaking of bottoms
and sides I allude to any curved portion of the vessel which is caused to be
hinged, thus, I may form the sides of three pieces, first bilge stringers extending
upwards a short distance, secondly the main side, thirdly a hinged piece capable of
lying flat against the side or of standing out sideways into the vessel. This piece
will have the curve of its lower edge corresponding to the horizontal curve of the
side where it joins it so that it also can hinge equally well at all points on the side
of the boat. This piece will be connected by a hinged stretcher with knuckle
joint in the centre or a fastening or sleeve which will keep it rigid in the extended
position when in place. There can be two or more of these stretchers in the
length of the boat if desirable but one will probably be found to be sufficient
except in very large boats. The sides and bottom I prefer to form of elastic
material such as steel and aluminium plates then pine, ash, or white cedar boards
covered over with Willesden card, pegamoid or other water-proof extremely tough
elastic material. The wooden slats are glued preferably with marine glue or other
glue insoluble in water to the Willesden card or other material, but where metallic
plates are used this waterproof material can be dispensed with though even then it
is often useful. The sides are hinged to the bilge stringers by a layer of waterproof
canvas or other extremely tough flexible material both inside and out: they can
however be rigidly attached. The thwarts can be pinned on the hinged inner side
piece and when the boat is collapsed can be either tied to its upper surface
even placed in the boat below the collapsed sides. It will be seen from
this that the vertical section of the boat from stem to stern is preferably a
continuous curve and that the plan of the boat from stem to sterm is a similar
curve on each side and that therefore the boat is about twice the width of its
depth.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in or appertaining to Collapsable Boats.
I, MELLARD TRELEAVEN READE, of 2, South John Street, in the City of
Liverpool, Architect and Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention bas for its principal object a method of constructing collapsable
boats, whereby the skin of the vessel can be made of solid comparatively unyielding
material for the most part, and yet that it shall be able when not in use to fold up
into a comparatively small compass. When folded the boat takes the form of a
flat shallow box or vessel of the necessary depth or thickness to contain floor
gratings, side stringers, stretchers, seats, etcetera, which for the most part I make
so as to fold up with the boat automatically.
The invention will be understood from the following description, reference being
had to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of my improved collapsable boat
extended into shape for use;
Figure 2 a plan thereof;
Figure 3 a sectional elevation thereof on the line x-y of Figure 2;
Figure a half plan of the boat collapsed;
Figure 5 an elevation thereof;
Figure 6 a cross section amidships of the boat when extended;
Figure 7 a cross section amidships of the boat collapsed;
Figures 8 and 9 are fragmentary views on an enlarged scale showing details of
constructions;
Figure 10 a half elevation of the boat jointed at the bottom as well as at the sides
and capable of folding into an even smaller compass than the preceding examples;
Figure 11 an end view thereof;
Figures 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 diagrammatic cross sections amidships of the
same boat, showing the boat extended and the boat collapsed, and the various
positions the boat assumes in the process of collapsing;
Figures 17 to 23 inclusive are diagraminatic views which will be hereafter
explained;
Figure 24 is a fragmentary side elevation of a boat, having a square stern;
Figure 25 a plan thereof;
Figure 26 a half end elevation looking towards the stern;
Figures 27 and 28 half end elevations of the beat partly collapsed; aud
Figure 29 the boat entirely collapsed.
I will first describe Figures 1 to 9 inclusive of the drawings, in which similar
letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views.
By the present invention I prefer that the vertical section of the boat from stem
to stern shall be a continuous curve, and the plan of the boat from stem to stern
shall be a similar curve on each side when extended into shape for use. To enable
me to secure this result, I form the junction of the sides with the bottom A of the
boat, of substantially the same curve when hinged together, so that when the sides
are folded over on to the bottom A, every part of the curved bottom edge of the
sides shall be able to hinge on the curved edge of the bottom A; that is to say,
the adjacent edges of the parts or at least some of them will be of dissimilar
curvature, so long as they are laid flat before being put together, but the dissimilar
curvature of their edges is such that if they be bent laterally so as to assume a
continuous curvature from stem to stern, every part of the adjacent edges of the
curves will be able to be hinged together and the sides be folded or extended as

page_text: required. The sides are, by preference, formed of three longitudinal pieces or
sections, first, the bilge stringer or strake B, secondly, the mainside C and thirdly
the hinged piece D capable of lying flat against the side when the vessel is
collapsed or of standing out sideways into the vessel to form a strengthening web
or flange when the boat is opened out for use. The stringer or strake B, which is
interposed and hinged between the curved edges of the main side and the
bottom A, has its shape determined according to the model of the boat required,
and with regard to the form the boat is desired to assume when collapsed. It is a
long but comparatively narrow strip of wood in two thicknesses or other suitable
material, capable of being easily bent longitudinally, but generally speaking
having one or both of its edges of less pronounced curvature when laid flat than
the edges of the main sides and bottom are when laid flat. The flexible pieces D,
moreover, will have the curve of their edges, where they are hinged to the sides
corresponding to the lateral curves of the sides where they join them, so that they
also will hinge equally well at all points on the inside of the boat, but when
folding against the inside of the boat they lose their sheer and enable the sides also
to straighten out when the boat is folded. These pieces are connected together by
a folding stretcher or thwart E, which is generally used as an appliance for
extending the boat, and keeps it open when in use. The overlapping ends of the
two parts of said stretcher are pivotted together in the centre at e and one end of
each is pivotted to the piece D, which, as already stated, is hinged to the sides,
the stretcher being arranged to keep the sides rigid in the extended position, but
to fold up inside the boat when collapsed. There can be two or more of these
stretchers in the length of the boat if desirable, but one is usually found to be
sufficient except in large boats, and they may form the cross seats for the person
rowing the boat. I prefer, however, to provide a separate plank e over the
stretcher E, which forms the cross seat, and at the same time renders it doubly
sure that the stretcher will not fold accidentally when the boat is in use on the
water. For the further purpose of spreading the sides near the end or ends of the
boat and to give rigidity to the boat when in use, I provide wood moulds For
stretchers hinged to the floor at each end and seats hinged to F at one end and
engaging the floor of the boat at the other. The moulds F can fold flat on the
floor and the seats flat on them. When raised the moulds wedge apart the
converging edges of the web pieces D, and keep them in that position. The moulds
are prevented swinging past the perpendicular by chocks on the inner egdes of the
webs D, and they are prevented returning by the seats engaging the floor. Gare
ring bolts attached to the boat for towing purposes, H chafing pieces, by
preference formed in short lengths to enable the boat to bend freely, and f slats
forming a flexible floor grating, e² a support for the cross seat, e a catch to hold
the boat collapsed.
The longitudinal parts or sections A, B, C and D forming the hottom and sides
of the boat are constructed of superficially comparatively rigid material, yet
sufficiently elastic or flexible to be able to straighten out or partially straighten
A suitable
out their lateral curves or some of them when the boat is folded.
material is wood, or 'steel or aluminium plates strengthened or not with angles,
tees, etcetera, or, if desired, I may have a lining of pine, ash or white cedar boards
and (or) a covering of Willesden card, pegamoid or other waterproof extremely
tough elastic material. The main sides and bottom are hinged to the bilge
stringers B. by the following arrangements set forth in Figures 8 and 9 in which
the sides and bottom are shown constructed of two skins II of mahogany or other
suitable wood in narrow widths laid to cross one another diagonally at suitable
angles and nailed or rivetted together with painted calico J or calico and marine
glue between. The longitudinal joint shown in Figure 8 is adapted for the smaller
class of beats such as punts, yacht's dinghies, etcetera, in which the bilge
stringer B is formed of two thicknesses of planking K, having two layers of oiled
canvas k rivetted between them, the edges of this canvas being bifurcated aud
rivetted over the sides C and bottom A. Chafing strips H may be placel so as to

page_text: protect the edges of the canvas. In Figure 9, which shows a joint for larger
hoats, Lis a strip of Balata belting or other suitable material, which is rivetted
through the planking, k a strip of canvas on the outer side of the boat, and secured
by rivetting with the combing strips M through the canvas k, inner planking I' and
the strip of Balata belting L. The canvas k is left sufficiently loose to enable the
side C to hinge upon the stringer when the boat is collapsed. By these arrange-
ments a thoroughly waterproof hinge is produced. It is of course obvious that
other forms of hinge can be used in special cases, and various combinations of metal
hinges covered with continuous webs of canvas or other suitable material to render
the joints watertight.
To fold the boat all that is necessary is to disengage the boards f2 from the flor
and fold them, together with the pieces F, flat on to the floor. By collapsing the
stretcher E, the main sides will now fold flat with the bottom, the sides and bottom
straightening out lengthways, while the stringers B are only partially straightened
and remain curved laterally as shown in Figure 4, the boat being held close by
means of a catch e. To unfold the boat, the catch e³ is unfastened an 1 one of the
sides C is raised, this raising causing the opposite side to automatically rise also,
the sides and bottom bending lengthways of the boat from end to end, the stretcher E
straightening out by being pulled towards the bow until locked in position. The
boat by its own weight may also be extended by lifting at each end. The pieces F
and are then unfolded and locked to make the boat rigid. These operations can
be performed very rapidly and the boat is then ready for launching. The longi-
tudinal piece D or stringer is so disposed in a curve and hinged to the laterally
curved folding sides, that as the sides straighten, the stringer straightens in unison
and folds up against the side, but when the boat is expanded, it lies edgeways to
the side and distributes the thrust and tension of the stretcher.
It will be obvious from the above description that the bottom of the boat may
be constructed equally well with an additional pair of hinged joints longitudinally
along the centre. Figures 10-16 show an arrangement of this character in which
the bottom A is divided into two parts and a stringer or flexible keelson A' inserted
between. By this arrangement the boat can be folded into a smaller space than if
the bottom be made in one piece. The boat when opened out for use is shown in
Figures 10, 11 and 12. Figures 13, 14, 15 and 16 are midships cross sections of
the boat illustrating its different positions while being closed up. The remaining
reference letters indicate parts which have already been described in the earlier
part of the specification; 1 do not confine myself to any particular number of
stringers, as I may even have more than three in each boat according to the size,
shape and compass into which the boat is required to be folded.
Figures 17-23 inclusive illustrate as examples the curves or shapes that the
edges of the superficially rigid but longitudinally flexible parts (of which the boat
or vessel is built up) may assume, showing their dissimilar curvature when laid flat
before being put together. Thus the stringer B shown in Figure 17 has its two
opposite edges dissimilar in curve, and both edges are dissimilar in their curves from
the curve of the adjacent edge of the longitudinal side piece C, Figure 18. To
hinge the edges of B to the bottom edge of C and to the edge of A, B is bent
laterally from end to end, so that its edges shall follow the curve of the bottom
edge of C and the adjacent edge of the bottom A, a fragment only of the bottom
being shown. In folding or collapsing these pieces when hinged together, both A
and C will bend laterally to a curve so that their edges will coincide respectively
with the curves of the two opposite edges of B (Figure 17) while in opening or
expanding them the lateral bend from end to end of all the parts A, B and C will
increase in proportion. Figure 20 is a cross section through the centre showing
the parts folded. Figure 21 a cross section through the centre showing the parts
expanded. It must be understood that I do not restrict myself to any particular
form of curve. Thus in Figure 17, the stringer is shown with two concave edges
of dissimilar curvature, but in Figures 22 and 23 I show stringers of different shape
which can be equally well used in the construction of a boat according to my

page_text: vention, thus in Figure 22 the stringer has straight edges, while in Figure 25, one
ge is curved and the other is a wave-like edge.
My invention is well adapted to square stern boats, and the arrangement by
hich the stern is collapsed is shown in Figures 24 to 29 inclusive, the reference-
tters being as far as possible the same as in the earlier parts of the specification..
he lines of this boat are similar to the boats hereinbefore set forth, the several
arts or segments of the sides and bottom being continued on to form the end and
inged together by flexible waterproof hinges. The stern pieces however may be
gid or they may be even made of canvas or other suitable material kept strained.
y a wooden transom, stretcher or other means as desired. a are segmeuts hingel.
the bottom segments A, e segnents hinged to the sides C, and ab intermediate-
ieces hinged respectively to and between a and c and to A' and B. These
ieces a, a, b and c fold together into the boat to the position shown in Figure 29,
when the boat is collapsed, Figures 27 and 28 showing them in the process of
olding.
It will be readily perceived that my new method of making all or at least some
of the joints with their adjacent hinged edges of dissimilar curvature when laid
Hat, enables me to produce collapsable boats of much more varied models and of
greater efficiency than has hitherto been possible with superficially rigid (or almost.
rigid) materials. For example in the boats illustrated, it would be impossible to-
make them so as to contain floor boards, seats, stringers, etcetera, when collapset,
that is in a shallow form if the adjacent hinged edges of the sides and bottom.
were not of dissimilar curvature. In speaking of the curvature of these edges,
I am now referring to their curvature when the pieces are laid flat before being.
hinged together.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.
1. The improvement in folding boats or vessels, which consists in so forming the
superficially comparatively rigid, but longitudinally flexible parts or sections of
which the boat is built, that when laid flat before being hinged together, the
adjacent edges shall be of dissimilar shape or curvature, but when bent from end
to end laterally, the edges thereof shall coincide or assume substantially the same
curve, substantially as described.
2. In a folding boat whose bottom and main sides are formed of sections with
similar or dissimilar curved edges, inserting between the said bottom and main sides
a stringer or its equivalent, whose edges are straight or curved, and one or both of
its edges dissimilar from the adjacent edge or edges of the sides and bottom when
laid flat, but which shall assume a curve or curves coinciding with the curves of
the edges of the sides and bottom when the stringers are bent laterally from end.
to end, substantially as described.
3. In a folding boat, the combination of three or more superficially rigid, but.
longitudinally flexible pieces or sections forming the bottom and main sides, and an
intermediate piece or stringer with edge or edges of different shape or curvature
to adjacent edge or edges of side and bottom when laid flat, between each main
side and the bottom, the said pieces being of such a form that when hinged together
and opened out, they form a boat having lines curved lengthwise from end to end,
but which when folded, will close up and lie flat in compact form, substantially as
described.
4. The combination in a folding boat, of two superficially comparatively rigid,
but longitudinally flexible pieces or sections with an intervening stringer between
forming the bottom, and two superficially rigid, but longitudinally flexible sections
forming the sides, with an intervening stringer between each of them and the
bottom, said pieces or sections being of such a form that when hinged together at
5 their adjacent edges, they shall form a boat which can be folded into compact
form or opened out when required for use, substantially as described.

page_text: 5. The combination with a folding boat, of a flexible but superficially com-
paratively rigid longitudinal stringer so disposed in a curve and hinged to the
laterally bent folding sides, that as the sides straighten in folding the boat, the
stringer straightens in unison and folds up against the side, but when the boat is
expanded it lies edgeways to the side, and distributes the thrust and tension of
the stretcher and seats, substantially as described.
or
6. In a folding boat, having longitudinal stringers hinged to the main sides
inside, the combination therewith of a stretcher in two parts with a central pivot
and overlapping ends, the extremities being pin-jointed to the stringer on either
side of boat, and adapted to keep the boat open in its extended position, or fold
when the boat is collapsed, substantially as set forth.
7. A folding boat constructed of longitudinal sections, or parts of flexible but
superficially comparatively rigid material, in combination with the continuous
longitudinal water-proof hinges or joints by which the adjacent edges of the parts
or sections are hinged together, substantially as described.
8. In a folding boat, forming the main sides and bottom of layers of wood in
narrow widths, so laid as to cross each other diagonally, and the bilge stringers
which are located between the sides and bottom of two layers, with two layers of
waterproof canvas rivetted between, the edges of said canvas being bifurcated and
rivetted over the adjacent edges of the sides and bottom to form a hinge or hinges,
substantially as described.
9. In a folding boat, forming the sides and bottoms of layers of wood in narrow
widths so laid as to cress each other diagonally, and the bilge stringers which are
located between the sides and bottom, of one or more layers, in combination with
strips of water-proof canvas, the opposite edges of which are secured to the layer
or layers at their adjacent edges, forming the subsidiary hinge, and strips of Balata
belting or other suitable material rivetted through the planking on the inner side
at the joint to form the hinges proper, substantially as described.
1. In a folding boat with square stern, the manner of forming the end sections
and hinging them together and to the ends of the bottom and sides so that they
shall fold inwards the boat when collapsed, substantially as described.
11. The several combined arrangements and constructions of parts forming my
improved folding boats, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 24th day of November 1896.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and London, Patent Agents.