Improved Collapsable Boats.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 28th Jan., 1899
Improved Collapsable Boats.
We, HIRAM DOUGLAS LAYMAN, FANNIE LAYMAN, and FLORENCE WILHELMINA
PARPART, Manufacturers, all of 624, West 25th Street, New York, N.Y., U.S.A.,
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 relates to pneumatic boats employed for fishing, gunning, and
other sports, as well as for more practical purposes, and which are capable of
being expanded or collapsed at will, the advantageous results of which will be
readily appreciated.
The invention has for its prime objects to produce a new and improved construe-
tion of such boats whereby they are rendered safe and durable, and also to
adapt them for use either as a row-boat or as a successful sail-boat
Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear,
and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended
claims.
Referring to the drawings.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of boat adapted to serve as a row-boat,
but which may be converted into a successful sail-boat.
Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of another form of row-boat also capable of such
conversion.
Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view thereof.
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the boat shown in Fig. 3 converted into a
sail-boat.
Fig. 6 is a detail of the removable bottom.
Fig. 7 is a detail of one of the sections composing the bottom.
Fig. 8 is a detail of the removable centre-board.
Similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts in all the figures of the
drawings.
Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 it will be seen that the boat is of
ordinary flat-bottom variety; that it consists of the double bottom 1 reduced
toward its bow-end and upturned at its rear to produce the double wall stern 2;
also in opposite double walled sides connected at their rear ends to the side-
edges of the stern, at their lower edges to the outer edges of the bottom, and at their
front ends meeting to produce the usual bow. At all of these points of juncture
these parts may be reinforced at both their inner and outer sides by the application
of reinforcing strips 4, which may be cemented or otherwise affixed over the
seams.
The material employed it will be understood is preferably rubber cloth, and in
order to give additional strength the double walls of the bottom, stern, and sides
may be internally connected by longitudinally disposed flexible diaphragms 5, of
rubber cloth. The result of the employment of these diaphragms is that when the
sides and bottom of the boat are inflated as when in use, the diaphragms being

page_text: practically unyielding, the double walls remain contracted at those points, while
at each side of the same or between the diaphragms they expand, thus producing a
tubular bottom, stern, and sides that lends strength and also adds to the general
appearance of the boat.
The three compartments comprising the boat are preferably noncommunicating,
and each is therefore provided with an independent inflating nipple 6 conveniently
located; where, should one compartment or section become accidentally punctured
the efficiency or buoyancy of the boat as a whole remains unimpaired."
If desired, narrow, light, wooden or other strips 7 may surmount each gunwale
of the boat and in each may be swiveled in the usual manner, one or a plurality
of our locks 8. These strips 7 may be held in position by any preferred means,
and in either a removable or immovable manner. In the present instance pairs
of rings 9 are secured to the gunwales at opposite sides of the strips 7 and
connected by ties 10 thus retaining the strips removably in position. If desired
similar strips 7, rings 9 and ties 10 and oar locks may be located at the stern to
enable the boat to be steered or propelled by a stern oar.
In Figs. 3 and 4, is illustrated another form and construction of row-boat in
which the same is formed of independent sections differing from those composing
the design just described, and wherein there is illustrated how the oars may be
operated by the feet of the operator leaving his hands free to handle a gun or
fishing rod. The shape is preferably substantially oval, a float-body 12 thus
formed being employed; and the same may be one continuous tubular piece or as
shown in Fig. 3 it may be and preferably is formed in two halves or sections, the
number of sections being increased if desired.
Each section is tubular and of semi-oval shape, while in cross-section it may be
oval, round or any other shape when inflated. The sections are formed preferably
of rubber-cloth, and are suitably valved to permit of inflation when desired.
13 designates a section, which in the present instance forms one half of the float-
body, the rear end of which is preferably reduced as at 14 each section being
provided with substantial end-walls 15. When these sections are assembled, the
two end-walls of one section will abut flatly against those of the companion section,
so that the float body is divided at the front and rear and a puncture in one
section and a consequent escape of air therefrom cannot possibly effect the com-
panion section. The float is preferably formed of independent sections the end
walls of which abut, for the reason that the end walls of the sections are subject
to quite a severe strain and must therefore be made quite substantial. Internal
diaphragms might be substituted for these end walls but experience has shown
that if made too heavy they obstruct a complete collapsing of the float body and
in addition they are troublesome to insert. By giving the float sections the dis-
position shown and indicated as at 14 a fin 16 is produced which serves to steady
the boat, obviates drifting and maintains the boat accurately in its proper course.
Each of the float sections 13 has formed upon its upper side a standing flange 17,
which serves as a gun-wale or breakwater. These gunwales are formed in sections
according to the sections composing the float body 12 although they extend beyond
the same, and hence when brought together overlap.
18 designates the bottom of the boat, the same being arranged subjacent to the
oval shaped float and may be extended up the sides of the latter where it is
securely cemented. The front and rear ends of the bottom are provided with
extensions 19 which occur coincident with the meeting points between the end-
walls 15 and said extensions, which form flaps are carried up over and around the
float sections so as to cover the meeting points at the bow and stern and are
cemented.
The bottom 18 may be depressed at the how to form a depending pocket 20 for
the accommodation of the feet of the occupant, so that the body of the occupant
may be comfortably and naturally disposed. The two converging walls of the
float sections are provided with vertically disposed or superficial ribs or shoulders 21
and ither between or back of the same may be sprung or vertically inserted a
1

page_text: pneumatic seat 22 which is held in position against displacement by means of the
aforesaid ribs or shoulders and yet is capable of immediate vertical withdrawal
in case of accident, and to serve in an emergency as an efficient life preserver.
Connected pivotally to the opposite outer sides of the float 12 is preferably a
pair of paddles 23. Each paddle consists of a paddle arm 24 which is connected
by a spring hinge 25 to the side of the boat, and a pair of folding paddle blades 26,
the same being so constructed as to fold upon themselves when thrown forward
by the springs whereby their resistance is decreased to a minimum and to automati-
cally open and catch the water when drawn to the rear. On suitable bearing posts
in rear of the paddles is pivoted or fulcrummed as at 27 paddle operating levers 28
which are provided at their upper and lower ends with eyes 29. The two paddles
at each side are connected by cords 30 and similar cords 31 are connected to the
rear paddles; the latter cords at their rear ends being provided with ordinary
snap-hooks 32 and are designed to removably engage with either the upper or
lower eyes 29. By engaging the snap-hooks with the upper eyes it will be seen
that the levers are adapted to be vibrated by hand, and when drawn to the rear
will operate the paddles to propel the boat, the spring hinges serving to return
said handles at the end of each stroke. There is also provided means for operating
the boat by foot power. In the latter instance a pair of straps 33 are employed
which at their front ends are provided with stirrups 34 which lie in the depressions
or pockets 20 in the bottom where they may be conveniently engaged by the feet
of the operator. At their rear ends the straps are provided with snap hooks 35
which may be engaged with the upper eyes 29. In such instance the snaps 32 of
the cords 31 are disengaged from the upper eyes 29 and are engaged with the
lower eyes 29 so that the paddles are operated on the forward movements of the
upper ends of the levers as the feet of the operator are simultaneously or alter-
nately thrust forward. This latter construction enables the operator to propel the
boat by foot power alone leaving his hands free to handle his rod or gun, as
desired.
By locating the seat at the point indicated and giving the float sections the
disposition shown a convenient receptacle 351 is produced in the stern of the boat,
said receptacle being partitioned off from the remainder of the boat by the
interposition of the seat and therefore being well adapted for carrying game or
receiving stores which it is desired to keep intact and dry.
By reference to Figs. 5 6 7 and 8 it will be seen how either of the boats described
may be converted into a successful sail-boat and is therefore adapted for such
necessary auxiliaries as a centre-board, sail, and steering apparatus.
There is employed a substantially oval-shaped float body composed of in the
present instance a series of wholly independent detachable inflatable rubber-
sections 36 arranged side by side and retained in place by the overlapping edge
of the usual bottom 37 the said sections and bottom thus producing the shell or
hull of the boat. Any number of sections such as described may be employed in
forming the oval float body of the boat, or a construction of float body agreeing
with either of the constructions heretofore described may be employed for that
now described.
At its rear or stern end a pair of vertigally opposite eyes 38 are located and
upwardly through these eyes is removably inserted the rudder post 39 of the
rudder 40, a space 41 intervening between the rudder and the post so as to permit
of the upward insertion and downward withdrawal of the post from the eyes
when it is desired to unship the rudder. The upper end of the post is a slight
distance above the eyes 38 and to it is removably connected by means of a threaded
collar 42 a tiller post 43 at whose upper end is removably arranged a tiller 44 that
projects into the boat so as to be accessible.
Arranged under the bottom 37 of the boat is a false and preferably removable
bottom 45 of rubber cloth the same partaking in contour of the boat, and com
prising removable sections 46, in this instance four in number. These sections are
provided with pins or tenons 47 along one of their edges and at their opposite

page_text: edges with corresponding holes or mortices 48 or any other convenient means may
be substituted for removably connecting the sections. Each section is also pre-
ferably reduced in thickness and made flexible as at 49 at its centre whereby the
area of the section may be decreased one-half by folding one half upon the other.
A series of straps are arranged at proper points around the false bottom and are
engaged by buckles 50 with which the overlapping edge of the bottom proper
is provided
It is preferable to provide the rear section 46 and the second beyond the same
with superficial tubular ribs 51 and to form a corresponding tubular
rib 52 on the upper edge of a centre-board 58. By arranging the
ribs of the bottom and those of the centre-board in line and SO as
to alternate, it will be obvious that a connection may be made through the medium
of a fixed stud 54 extending from the rib 52 of the centre-board and a removable
pin 55, arranged in the rear rib of the section 46. This also permits of a ready
disengagement of the centre-board when desired, and while preferred, yet is capable
of variation as regards the manner of connecting the same to the false bottom.
An exteriorly threaded socket 56 projects upwardly from the false bottom
through a corresponding opening 57 in the bottom 37 and surrounding the same
and clamping the two bottoms together at this point is a threaded washer 58.
Removably arranged and stepped in the socket 56 is the mast 59 the same being
lightly constructed and if desired formed in sections. Connected with the mast is
the usual boom 60 and the two support in the ordinary manner the sheet or
sail 61. It will of course be obvious that the shape of this bottom may be readily
changed to cause it to correspond to the shape of the bottom of the boat, said
bottom being divided into convenient sections for the purpose of properly folding.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
1. A pneumatic boat comprising a plurality of independent sections each being
provided with an inflating tube.
2. A pneumatic boat comprising opposite sides, and a bottom upwardly disposed
at its rear end to form a stern, said sides bottom and stern being connected at their
meeting edges, and each of the sides and bottom consisting of inner and outer
collapsable walls, and each provided with an inflating tube.
3. In a pneumatic boat, independent inflatable sides, and intermediate bottom
upturned at its rear end to form a stern, the edges of the sides and bottom being
united, means for inflating said sides bottom and stern, and reinforcing strips over-
lapping the sides and bottom and stern at their points of connection.
4. A pneumatic boat having inflatable sides comprising inner and outer walls.
and a longitudinally disposed internal diaphragm connecting the adjacent surfaces
of said walls.
5. A pneumatic boat comprising inflatable sides and an intermediate bottom,
cach consisting of two walls, and diaphragms of flexible material connecting
the inner surfaces of said sides and bottom.
6. A pneumatic boat comprising opposite inflatable sides consisting of an inner
and an outer flexible wall, and a plurality of flexible longitudinally disposed
strips or diaphragms connecting the inner surfaces of said walls, and located at
intervals, whereby each side is given a tubular appearance when inflated.
7. The pneumatic boat consisting of a series of tubular sections having flat
abutting end walls contacting throughout their area, and a bottom stretched under
and connected to said sections.
8. The pneumatic boat consisting of opposite inflatable tubular sections having
abutting end walls, said sections having their rear terminals longitudinally
extended and a bottom arranged under and connecting said sections.
9. The hereindescribed pneumatic beat, the same consisting of opposite curvel
tubular inflatable sections having abutting end walls, a bottom arranged under

page_text: and secured to the sections, and front and rear flaps extending from the bottom
over the meeting points of the sections and secured thereto.
10. The hereindescribed pneumatic boat, the same consisting of the opposite
curved tubular inflatable sections connected together, a bottom arranged there-
under, and a flange or gunwale extending upwardly from the sections and over-
lapping at their ends.
11. The hereindescribed pneumatic boat having an oval-float-body a bottom
arranged thereunder and a depression or pocket having an inclined rear and a
front abrupt wall formed in the bow end of said bottom.
12. The hereindescribed boat consisting of a pneumatic float of substantial oval
shape, and having its rear portion extended and reduced to produce a fin, and a
bottom arranged thereunder and connected to the sides of the float.
13. The herein described pneumatic boat consisting of a substantially oval-shaped
float-body, a bottom arranged thereunder and connected thereto, and a pneumatic
seat removably wedged between and held in position by the converging sides of
the float body by impinging thereagainst.
14. The hereindescribed pneumatic boat, the same consisting of an oval float-
body, a bottom connected to the same, ribs at the inner sides of the body, and
a seat inserted between the sides of the body in rear and retained in position by
the ribs.
15. The hereindescribed pneumatic boat, the same consisting of an open float-
body of substantially oval-shape and having its sides rearwardly disposed and
gradually converged at the stern end, a bottom arranged under the body and
secured thereto, and a seat supported by the body and interposed between the
converging sides of the body in advance of the point where the sides meet, whereby
a pocket or receptacle is formed.
16. The hereindescribed pneumatic boat, consisting of a tubular float-body and
a connecting bottom, in combination with pairs of hinged folding paddles arranged
at opposite sides of the body, and means for operating said paddles.
17. The hereindescribed pneumatic boat, the same consisting of an oval float
body, a bottom having a depression and a seat arranged in rear of the depression,
of pairs of opposite folding paddles hinged to the sides of the body, levers ful-
crummed at the sides of the body and adapted to operate the paddles, and straps
extending from the levers to the said depression in the bottom and adapted to be
operated by the feet of the operator.
18. The pneumatic boat comprising the oval float and bottom, combined with
opposite pairs of folding paddles hinged to the sides of the body, springs for
throwing the paddles forward, connections between the paddles, levers fulcrummed
in rear of the paddles and connections between the levers and paddles.
19. The pneumatic boat consisting of the tubular float and bottom, combined
with the opposite pairs of hinged paddles connected and spring operated in one
direction, the oppositely fulcrummed levers having upper and lower eyes, and
cords leading from said paddles and provided with snap-hooks for engaging either
of said eyes.
20. The hereindescribed pneumatic boat the same consisting of a series of
independent inflatable sections arranged side by side to form a continuous oval
float body, and a bottom connecting and arranged under and extending over the
sides of the sections.
21. In a boat, an oval float-body having the vertically aligning eyes at its stern,
combined with the rudder having the rudder post arranged loosely in the eyes and
spaced from the rudder, the tiller post removably connected to the rudder post
above the eyes and the tiller extending from the tiller post.
a bottom
22. The pneumatic boat having a continuous oval float-body and
arranged thereunder combined with a removable false bottom arranged under the
bottom proper and having a centre-board.
23. The pneumatic boat having a continuous oval float-body and a subjacent

page_text: bottom, combined with a false bottom removably arranged under the bottom
proper and adapted to fold, and a centre-board connected therewith.
24. The pneumatic boat having a continuous oval shaped float-body and sub-
jacent bottom, combined with a false bottom consisting of a series of detachable
sections, and a centre-board detachably connected thereto.
25. The pneumatic boat having the continuous oval float-body and a subjacent
bottom, combined with a false bottom arranged under and removably connected
with the bottom proper said false bottom consisting of a series of detachable fold-
ing sections and a removable centre-board.
26. The pneumatic boat consisting of the oval shaped float-body the bottom
arranged subjacent and connected thereto, combined with the false bottom consist-
ing of a series of sections having studs at one edge and holes at the other and means
for securing the false bottom to the bottom proper.
27. The combination with the oval shaped float-body and its bottom, of the false
bottom having straps radiating therefrom, buckles arranged on the float body for
engaging the straps and a centre-board removably connected to the false bottom.
28. The combination with the oval float body, and its bottom, of the false bottom
removably connected therewith and having the bored ribs, of the centre-board
having the corresponding ribs, the stud, and removable pin.
29. The combination with the oval float-body and its bottom having a perfora-
tion, of a removable false bottom having a centre-board, a socket secured to the
false bottom extending through the perforation in the bottom proper and adapted
to receive a mast, and a washer threaded on the socket.
1000
Dated
day of
1808.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.