IMPROVEMENTS IN COLLAPSIBLE OR FOLDING BOATS
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Pyndar Wright at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th March 1882.
JOHN PYNDAR WRIGHT of Redhill in the County of Surrey "IMPROVEMENTS
IN COLLAPSIBLE OR FOLDING BOATS
"
The object of this invention is the formation or construction of boats in such
manner that they may collapse and fold (but in some cases collapse only) and in
this way be made to occupy a small space or compass, but when expanded and
ready for use form a firm and stiff boat.
In carrying my invention into effect and as applied to a boat capable of being
collapsed and folded I make each side of the boat in say three portions with hinges
uniting the two end pieces to the central or middle piece; the hinges are made of
webbing or other suitable material or of metal or of both and are placed preferably
on the outer surface. The bottom of the boat is made of waterproof flexible
material which is connected to the lower edges of the sides and at the bow and
stern or ends comes up and is secured inside between the same by cement, nails, or
in any other suitable manner. The flexible bottom is carried inside the wood work
a short distance before reaching the ends in such manner as to allow the sides
when collapsed to lie a few inches apart at the ends. The side pieces of the boat
are kept apart and stiff by a central burden or bottom piece or pieces held in
position by ribs or guides at or about the midships portion; the bow and stern or
ends are similarly provided with burdens or bottom pieces made to suit the contour
of the boat and these pieces while serving to keep the sides apart also act as an
inside bottom or floor to the boat. Seats or thwarts are fitted and secured to the
inner sides to which they serve as stiffeuers; the bow and stern or end pieces are
secured together by lashings, hooks, or other suitable appliances.
According to one modification the gunwale only may be made of wood,
and in one or several pieces the sides of waterproof canvas and the bottom of
wood.

page_text: According to another modification or arrangement the sides may be made of
wood and the lower parts connected together by webbing and the whole boat
enclosed in waterproof material which is capable of being wholly or partially
expanded with air.
According to another arrangement there are no hinges at the sides but the frame
extends from bow to stern and the bottom is formed of waterproof material as
before described while the floor may be composed of separate pieces of wood or of
pieces hinged to the sides either in combination with or without air chambers.
The object of placing the hinges on the outer surface of the sides is that when
the boat is expanded they operate very effectively as stiffened girders opposing the
action of the floorboards and seats and thus materially tend to keep the structure
firmly together, also in the case where no hinges are used the sides act as
stiffened girders rather the contrary would take place were the hinges on the inner
Bide,
When folding and collapsing the structure the stretchers burdens and seats are
removed the two sides then are free to come together but owing to the hinges
being on the outside surface the framing must be turned over in order to bring the
hinges on the inside, this done the bow and stern or end pieces can be folded over
on the central piece; the burdens and other fittings are placed between the folded
surfaces and the whole lashed or secured together in any convenient manner.
When the side pieces are not hinged the boat could only be reduced in width;
this arrangement would be more particularly applicable to boats carried or stowed
on shipboard.
In those cases where I use an entire covering of waterproof material for the
collapsible and folding boat or collapsible boat only, I prefer to make the air
chamber flat on each side of the lower portion of the casing and not "shaped" one
object being that when the chamber is not inflated the material can be smoothly
folded and into a smaller compass than if it were shaped but of course it may be
shaped. A chamber is preferably made on each side and inflated through tube
leading to the inside of boat or otherwise. Stem and stern pieces may be fitted
to the waterproof casing.
For strengthening the gunwales of all or any of these boats I attach boards
binged to the side in such manner that when the boat is opened they will turn
down at an angle to the side thus holding them firmly for the purpose of stiffening
the side and when closed they can be turned up and lie flat in the same plane as
the sides; also for making pontoons in the same manner the sides being of wood
or other material connected together at the bottom and if desired at top by flexible
waterproof or airproof material and held apart when open by suitable means.
Boats constructed according to my invention are applicable for use on inland
waters as well as for ships' use; they can be packed into small space and are
readily made available for use when required.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Pyndar Wright in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th September 1882.
JOHN PYNDAR WRIGHT of Redhill in the County of Surrey
IN COLLAPSIBLE OR FOLDING BOATS
"
"IMPROVEMENTS
The object of this Invention is the formation or construction of boats in such a
manner that they may collapse and fold (but in some cases collapse only) and in
this way be made to occupy a small space or compass, but when expanded and
ready for use form a firm and stiff boat,
In carrying my invention into effect and as applied to a boat capable of being
collapsed and folded I make each side of the boat in say three portions with hinges
uniting the two end pieces to the central or middle piece; the hinges are made of
webbing or other suitable material or of metal or of both and are placed preferably
on the outer surface.
The bottom of the boat is made of waterproof flexible material (such as
waterproofed canvas or macintosh) which is connected to the lower edges of the
sides and carried upwards above the water line at the bow and stern or ends
comes up and is secured inside between the same by cement; nails, or in other
suitable manner. The flexible bottom is carried inside the wood work a short
distance before reaching the ends in such manner as to allow the sides when
collapsed to lie a few inches apart at the ends. The side pieces of the boat are
kept apart and stiff by a central burden or bottom piece or pieces held in position
by ribs or guides at or about the midships portion; the bow and stern or ends are
similarly provided with burdens or bottom pieces made to suit the contour of the
boat and these pieces while serving to keep the sides apart also act as an inside
bottom or floor to the boat and to distribute the weight of the occupants. Seats or
thwarts are fitted and secured to the inner sides to which they serve as stiffeners
(the bow and stern or end pieces are secured together by lashings, hooks or other
suitable appliances. The sides may be made of wood, sheet metal, canvas stiffened
with wood, paper, or other suitable material. If made of wood I prefer to make
thern of two or more thin layers with the grains crossing each other.
The strength of the boat or punt depends chiefly on the sides which being forced
apart on opening the boat and connected at their ends while stayed and held in
position by the flexible bottom, which is tightly stretched between them, act as
girders, and support the weight of the occupants. This is especially the case when
the hinges are placed outside, but I have also by special means which will be
described further on provided for the needed stiffness of the sides in case the
hinges are arranged inside the boat.
According to one modification or arrangement the sides may be made of wood
and the lower parts connected together by webbing and the whole boat enclosed in
waterproof material which is capable of being wholly or partially expanded
with air.
The object of placing the hinges on the outer surface of the sides is that when
the boat is expanded they (the sides) operate very effectively as stiffened girders
opposing the action of the floorboards and seats and thus materially tend to keep
the structure firmly together also in the case where no hinges are used the sides act
as stiffened girders-rather the contrary would take place were the hinges on the
inner side.
When folding and collapsing the structure the stretchers burdens and
seats are removed the two sides then are free to come together but owing to the
hinges being on the outside surface the framing must be turned over in order to

page_text: bring the hinges on the inside this done the bow and stern or end pieces can be
folded over on the central piece; the burdens and other fittings are placed between
the folded surfaces and the whole lashed or secured together in any convenient
manner. When the side pieces are not hinged the boat would only be reduced in
width; this arrangement would be more particularly applicable to boats carried or
stowed on shipboard.
In those cases where I use an entire covering of waterproof material for the
collapsible and folding boat or collapsible boat only I prefer to make the air
chamber flat on each side of the lower portion of the casing and not " shaped" one
object being that when the chamber is not inflated the material can be smoothly
folded and into a smaller compass than if it were shaped, but of course it may be
shaped. A chamber is preferably made on each side and inflated through tube
leading to the inside of boat or otherwise. Stem and stern pieces may be fitted to
the waterproof casing.
For strengthening the gunwales of all or any of these boats I attach boards
hinged to the side in such manner that when the boat is opened they will turn
down at an angle to the side thus holding them firmly for the purpose of stiffening
the side and when closed they can be turned up and lie flat in the same plane as
the sides Also for making pontoons in the same manner the sides being of wood
or other material connected together at bottom and if desired at top by flexible
waterproof or airproof material and held apart when open by suitable means.
Boats constructed according to my Invention are applicable for use in inland
waters as well as for ships use; they can be packed into small space and are
readily made available for use when required.
Figure 1 is a side view, Figure 2 a longitudinal section Figure 3 a plan and 4 a
vertical cross section of a flat bottomed boat constructed according to this part of
my Invention when expanded ready for use; Figure 5 is a plan showing it ready
for being collapsed and folded, Figure 6 shows the sides when folded up to be
stowed away with the other parts. The sides A may be of pine or other light
wood. Strips a of ash or rock elm are carried along the top as a gunwale, other
strips b being carried along outside. Pieces of ash c are placed across the grain of
the sides to attach the hinges d to. In the boat here shown these are of stout
webbing with a fold of waterproof canvas underneath rivetted with copper rivets.
The webbing although abundantly strong is liable to stretch so that it is often
desirable to use metal hinges either in combination with it or alone. If the boat
as in the case here illustrated folds in more than two lengths, it is advisable that
some such arrangement should be made as shown in Figure 7, where the pieces
ddare rivetted to two adjoining pieces of the side while the interposed link d
when the boat is folded as shown in Figure 6 allows a space between two of the
folded sections in which the third section may lie.
To
The waterproof flexible bottom ƒ comes an inch or two up the sides, on the outer
side of which it is nailed and the edges afterwards covered by the strips of wood e
with the exception of an inch or two at the joints, for convenience of folding.
allow the boat to fold freely the flexible bottom f is carried inside at f1 being some
inches from the end of the boat and then upwards as far as the gunwale (Figure 5)
when it will be seen that the two sides of the boat when laid flat and parallel to
each other as shown at Figure 5 are 3 or 4 inches apart and so can fold easily in
any required direction. The loose ends g in figure 5 which serve to keep out the
water when the sides are raised can be gathered in at the top by the cord h and
those edges which are nailed to the sides are afterwards covered by strips of wood i
which serve for the wedge shaped pieces k, Figure 3 to rest against. These pieces
are partly to cover the loose folds of macintosh and partly to strengthen the ends
of the boat, and to hold the bottom boards firmly in their place.
The floor in Figure 3 is in 3 sections a middle one and two end ones m. It is
laid on the canvas bottom and does not usually require any other support. To
ensure the symmetry of the boat the posts C, Figures 1 and 3 which serve also to
afford good hold for the hinges, are caused to project a little distance from the

page_text: side and fitting into corresponding grooves cut in the floor pieces ensure the two
sides being exactly in properly relative position. The edges of the floor pieces
which come against the sides may be bevelled off at any described angle and will
then serve to keep the sides at a corresponding inclination outwards.
To fold up the boat the loose bottom I m m is removed and the sides laid flat
as at Figure 5. Either end as Nos. 1, 1, will then fold downwards under the
middle sections No. 2. The opposite ends Nos. 3, 3, will then likewise fold under
the two middle sections which last two can then be folded together when the boat
will lie in comparatively small compass as shewn at Figure 6. The seat or seats P
Figures 2 and 3 are loose and rest at each end on strips of wood r Figures 5 and 6
which may be attached to the sides at any required point and rowlocks can also be
attached to the gunwale as required. Holes are provided at the ends through
which cords are passed and the ends lashed together (Figures 1 and 5) when the
boat is ready for use but any suitable fastening such as straps, thumbscrews, clips
or other devices may be used for this purpose.
The boat above described can also be made without any lateral hinges the two
sides simply closing in towards each other when the bottom boards are removed.
In this case the loose folds g Figure 5, are not required but the flexible waterproof
bottom is carried the full length of the boat and the ends are permanently hinged
together by a fold of waterproof canvas or other material. Figure 8 is a side view
of a folding Canoe, Figure 9 cross section figure 10 plan Figure 11 a plan of the
canoe ready for folding figure 12 horizontal section through stem and stern posts
and Figures 13 and 14 are side elevation and end view of part of boat where stemn
and stern post are attached. The flexible waterproof bottom is not attached
directly to the sides which are connected instead by bands of webbing attached at
intervals to their lower edges and acting as a support to the loose bottom which is
preferably made in several sections as in the flat bottomed boat or punt above
described. The wedge-shaped pieces used in the former case are here dispensed
with, their places being taken by the backboard k and stretcher k¹ which pass from
side to side of the boat keeping the floor pieces firmly down and the sides properly
up and extended apart.
The sides A and bottom are made as in the folding punt Figures 1 to 7 but of
slighter material and folded in the same manner. The water is excluded by a
covering of macintosh or macintosh combined with canvas consisting of air-
chambers u along each side of the boat connected by a waterproof flexible bottom x
The macintosh airchambers and bottom are at the ends of the boat tacked and
connected to pieces of wood t of wedge shape section Figure 12; the macintosh
ends g are then covered by the strips of wood v which are nailed or screwed
firmly on and which serve the purpose of stem and stern posts as shown at
Figures 8 and 12.
To open the boat the sides A are as in Figure 1 forced apart in the middle
and the floor or bottom pieces put in resting on the webbing bands the
backboard k and stretcher k¹, are put in their places and the sides fastened
together at the bow and stern with a lashing strap and buckle or other means.
The whole is now placed inside the macintosh waterproof cover ux and the
narrow metal plates y Figure 13 which are rivetted to the wooden sides at each
end of the boat are placed into the metal socket. Figure 14 which is screwed to the
inside of the wedge shaped piece t Figure 12 of the stem or stern posts. The air-
chambers u are then inflated by means of suitable pipes u' with valves as shown
in Figure 8.
According to another arrangement there are no hinges at the sides but the frame
extends from bow to stern and the bottom is formed of waterproof material as
before described while the floor may be composed of separate pieces of wood
or of pieces hinged to the sides either in combination with or without air
chambers.
Beneath the waterproof bottom there may be a false bottom of wood in parts

page_text: hinged together and to the sides these latter may be covered with cork having its
greatest thickness at or near the waterline.
Figure 15 is a side elevation figure 16 a plan. Figure 17 a side elevation
shewing boat folded or collapsed. Figure 18 is a cross section. Figure 19
cross section of boat folded up. Figure 20 a horizontal section through stem
and stern posts.
The sides A of the boat are preferably of thin planking of any flexible wood
(but they may equally be made of sheet metal or other suitable material) They
are strengthened with vertical ribs or battens C and covered outside with cork b
which is shaped so as to have its greatest thickness at or near the water line and
tapering off towards the bottom and towards the gunwale and thus altering the
outer primitive line of a flat sided punt into the usual curves of a boat, the cork b
applied in this manner also renders the boat unsinkable as well as unlikely to be
stove in against a ship's side in lowering. Over the cork 6 canvas is stretched
and painted. The gunwale d is of any suitable wood such as ash or elm. The
seats e are hinged to the sides of the boat and also in the middle of their length as
shown at Figure 19 in such a manner that they may fold upwards as the boat
closes the floor 7 folds in the same manner.
Supports for the seats may be arranged by carrying a rod e¹ from the underside
of the seat to the floor, if this is hinged at each end it will fold freely with the
seats and floor.
A flexible waterproof bottom of canvas for other suitable material is secured to
the lower edge of the sides passing underneath the floor.
To protect the flexible waterproof bottom fan outside or false bottom may be
applied. It is preferably divided into 3 parts longitudinally a centre h which
carries the keel h¹ and two side flaps (i) which are hinged to the keel piece h
and folds upwards against the sides of the boat A when collapsed best seen at
figures 17 and 19.
The keel h¹ may be attached to the stem and stern posts tt by any arrangement
which will allow them to slide on it as they are of necessity further apart when
the boat is closed than when it is open. An arrangement as at Figure 17 may be
adopted where one end of the keel is hinged to the stern post at a and the other
end slides on an iron bolt t¹ fastened into the stem.
The sides can be hinged together in any suitable manner at the ends but it is
preferred to use bands of strong webbing as shewn at Figure 20 or several folds of
stout canvas f' firmly nailed to each of the sides A and also to a strip of wood A'
which lies between them and inside the boat and to which the stem or stern post t
is bolted the ends of the webbing or canvas hinges are then covered with strips of
wood A².
In order to strengthen the gunwale, boards may be adopted hinged to it as at
Figure 21 which represents in plan a portion of the gunwale of a boat the
stiffening board B being turned down at right angles to the gunwale C best seen
in vertical cross section at Figure 23 which is curved when the boat is expanded.
To enable the board B to be hinged securely to the curved gunwale C and at the
same time to be turned up as shewn in plan Figure 22. in order to allow the boat
to close a strip of wood D which is straight or nearly so on one side and curved on
the other is interposed and firmly attached to the gunwale. the effect of this is that
when the side of the boat or gunwale C is curved that edge of the interposed piece
of wood D which is in contact with the stiffening board B will be straight and
when the boat is closed and the gunwale C is straight or nearly so the side of the
interposed piece of wood D which is in contact with B will be curved the stiffening
board B of which the edge is shewn in Figure 22 necessarily taking the same curve, or
the same contrivance may be adopted in order to hinge rectangular flooring boards
to the curved sides of the boat as at Figure 16 where D D represent the interposed
strips, the flooring boards, e the seats, and d the sides of the boat. Both seats
and floor are represented as hinged and the latter jointed to the sides with the

page_text: interposed strips D D and also in the middle of their length or along the line x y
but either seats or bottom may be made in one piece and placed in position after
the boat is opened. A modification with a hinged bulkhead completely across the
boat is shewn in plan at Figure 24, Figure 25 shews the boat in plan when
collapsed and Figure 26 is a perspective view. The bulkheads B B fold from each
other or towards the bow and stern respectively when the boat is closed as shewn
at Figure 25.
Air chambers B'B' preferably wedge shaped, may be placed in the space enclosed
by the hinged bulkheads and fitted with valves allowing them to fill with air as
the boat opens as shewn at Figure 24 coverings or decks of wood and canvas F are
placed over and protect the air-chambers B¹ B' from injury. These can if desired
be carried high enough to render the boat self-righting.
The boat can be expanded by connecting a suitable tackle B to the two bulk-
heads B B and this when hauled upon will cause the boat to open as at Figures 24
and 26.
The boat shown at Figures 15, 16 &c can be opened by connecting the tackle to
the stem and stern posts or by carrying cords from the under side of the seats
through sheaves attached to the keel or to the sides of the boat in either case
tightening the cords will cause the boat to open. Or if not too large it can be
opened by hand simply by pushing the binged seats downwards. Figure 27
represents in perspective and Figure 28 a Cross section of a canoe with wooden
sides covered and rounded off with cork but constructed to fold in the middle of its
length.
The sides A A when the floor Z best seen at Figure 28 is removed fold out-
wards and lie flat as in Figure 5 but are preferably hinged on their flat or inner
sides A A but to ensure the regular curve of the boat being preserved a hook or
link C shewn in detail at Figure 29, or its equivalent is attached to the curved or
outer side b of one of the two hinged sections and can be slipped over a pin
or stud d attached to the outer side of the adjoining section and thus preventing
the edges of the joint from receding from each other when the entire side is bent
to a curve and securing the advantages of an outside hinge.
The boats above described can be used as pontoons for military and other
bridges.
I declare that I Claim.
First The construction of collapsible flat bottomed boat or punt in which the
bottom is made of waterproof flexible material to which the sides are connected in
the manner shown at Figure 5, which sides may be in parts hinged together so
that the whole can be also folded up or not hinged so that the boat can only be
collapsed the boat being extended and held in position for use by one or more
bottom boards with or without the aid of thwarts the sides being connected at
their ends and thus forming stiff girders substantially as described with reference
to Figures 1 to 7.
Second: In combination with the boat or punt hereinbefore firstly claimed the
air chambers u and waterproof flexible bottom x, also the stem and stern pieces tv,
substantially as described with reference to Figures 8 to 14.
Third-The construction of collapsible boat in which the sides are made flat on
their inner surface and have outer cork coverings, shaped or curved, or not so
covered but hinged together at the ends and connected by flexible waterproof
material which may have a false bottom of wood in parts hinged to the sides
and to the stem or stern post with the necessary play to allow for the increased
length when collapsed and the boat being extended for use by means of
hinged flooring boards and thwarts substantially as described with reference to
figures 15 to 20.
Fourth-The construction of gunwale in parts hinged together in such manner

page_text: as to give increased strength or stiffness substantially as described with reference
to Figures 21 to 23.
Fifth: The combination of flat-bottomed folding and collapsing canoe substan-
tially as described with reference to Figures 27 to 29.
In witness whereof I the said John Pyndar Wright have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Second day of September in the year of Our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
J. P. WRIGHT. (L.S.)