Telescopic Collapsing Boats, Canoes, and Canoe-shaped Boats Covered with Canvas
Year: 1888

page_text: .Date of Application, 12th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 30th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 2nd Nov.,* 1.889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Telescopic Collapsing Boats, Canoes, and Canoe-shaped Boats
Covered with Canvas:
I FELIX ROWLAND JOHN MATTHEWS of Shaldon in the County of Devon Trinity
Pilot do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
A wooden or metal keel a section of which is shewn in fig. 1. Upon the inner
part of the keel are a number of slides (according to the length of boat) as shewn in
Fig. 2. Attached to each of such slides by means of screws are the Timbers or ribs
of the boat as shown in fig. 3.
The sternpost or board is attached to the keel' by a slide in a similar way as the
ribs, and with a bolt on the aft side or a thumb screw on the forward side of stern
post through to the keel to prevent its sliding forward as shown in fig. 4. The stem
of the boat is fastened to keel in the ordinary way see fig. 5.
The port and starboard gunwales are connected together with a hinge at fore end
and are fitted to stem and attached to ribs and knee of stern boards by thumb
screws, this prevents any and each of the ribs and the stern boards from shifting.
Canvas is then stretched on from stem to stern both inside and outside the ribs. The
bottom boards are fixed by screws to each alternate rib with hinges underneath fore
and aft over the other rib and collapsable with the ribs as shewn in fig. 6.
The seats are fitted to frame of boat by a bolt in each end of the seat working in
a socket in ribs and a V shaped stay from centre of seat the apex resting on the.
bottom boards see fig. 7.
To shut boat up remove the thumb screws.attaching gunwale to ribs and stern post
and take out gunwale, lift bolt or remove screw (as the case may be) from stern post.
fixing same to keel and then push stern to stem, the ribs slide over keel by means of
the slides the bottom boards fold up by means of the hinges.
Then, as to the seats, take up stay and fix in rest see fig. 8. The seat will then fall
see fig. 9. representing boat being shut up. The boat is then shut up like a.
concertina rib against rib between stem and stern.
The keel is fitted with hinges underneath and so is wrapped round boat when shut
up see fig. 10., which shows the boat packed for transit and a buckle strap over the
keel which is wrapped round boat. The gunwales and oars are packed in separate.
case see fig. 11. The boat complete and ready.for use is shewn in fig. 12.
Dated this 22nd day of February 1889.
FELIX ROWLAND JOHN MATTHEWS.
FELIX ROWLAND JOHN MATTHEWS.
FELIX ROWLAND JOHN MATTHEWS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Telescopic Collapsing Boats, Canoes, and Canoe-shaped Boats
Covered with Canvas.
I FELIX ROWLAND JOHN MATTHEWS of Shaldon in the County of Devon Trinity
house Pilot 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:
When reference is made to any drawings in this my complete Specification I refer
to and desire to adopt the drawings lodged by me with my provisional Specification
in this matter.
1 make a wooden or metal keel a section of which is shown in fig. I.
Upon the inner part of this keel I fit and place a number of slides (according to
the length of boat) as shewn in Fig. 2 I attach to each of such Slides by means of
Screws the timbers or ribs of the Boat as shewn in Fig. 3.

page_text: The Stern Post or board is attached to the keel by a slide in a similar way as the
ribs and with a bolt on the aft side or a thumb screw on the forward side of Stern
post through to the keel to prevent its sliding forward as shown in Fig. 4 the Stern
of the boat is fastened to keel in the ordinary way see Fig. 5. The Port and Star-
board gunwales are connected together with a hinge at fore end and are fitted to stem
and attached to ribs and knee of stern boards by thumb screws this prevents any
and each of the ribs and the stern boards from shifting Canvas is then stretched
on from stem to stern both inside and outside the ribs.
The bottom boards are fixed by screws to each alternate rib with binges underneath
fore and aft over the other rib and collapsible with the rib, as shown in Fig. 6.
The seats are fitted to frame of boat by a bolt in each end of the seat working in a
socket in rib and a V shaped stay from centre of seat the apex resting on the bottom
Boards, see Fig. 7.
To-shut boat up remove the thumb screws attaching gunwale to ribs and stern post
and take out gunwale, lift bolt or remove screw (as the case may be) from stern post
fixing same to keel and then push stern to stem, the ribs slide over keel by means
of the slides the bottom boards fold up by means of the hinges.
Then, as to the seats, take up stay and fix in.rest see Fig. 8.
The seat will then fall, see Fig. 9 representing boat being shut up. The boat is
then shut up like a concertina rib against rib between stem and stern.
The keel is fitted with hinges underneath and so is wrapped round boat when shut
up, see Fig. 10 which shows the boat packed for transit and a buckle strap over the
keel which is wrapped round boat. The gunwales and oars are packed in separate
case see Fig. 11-The boat complete and ready for use is shewn in Fig. 12.
1 apply the same collapsible and telescopic principle to rafts or floating Vessels.
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 novelty of constructing a boat or floating vessel or raft built on the
principles of sliding open and shutting up as a telescope or concertina...
2. Its compactness for carriage when not in use.
3. Its simplicity in shutting up and unfolding and the rapidity with which the
change can be effected.
4. Its general utility for travelling purposes by reason of its light weight and small
stowage capacity..
Dated this Twenty-eighth day of September 1889.
FELIX ROWLAND JOHN MATTHEWS.