Improvements in Collapsable Boats.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Feb., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 1st Nov., 1893-Accepted, 1st Feb., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Collapsable Boats.
WO, THEOPHILUS OSBORN SMITH, of Medley-on-Thames, Oxford, Boat
Builder, and HORACE FULLER of Vernon Lodge, St. Aubyne, Jersey, Gentleman
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of collapsable bonts,
and has for its object to provide a boat which can be collapsed within a very
small compass, and which can be fixed in extended position rapidly and securely.
In constructing the boat we employ canvas to form the sides and also to connect
various parts, the canvas being put together first after shaping properly to give
the required form to the boat. According to the construction we prefer to
employ, the canvas is made in four main pieces, viz. ; two sides, the stern piece
approximately square, and the bottom piece. The latter is more conveniently
made in two or three parts divided longitudinally. The two sides are united at
the bow and roped or furnished with a cord or rope at the extreme end, in order
to prevent the wear of the canvas which would otherwise occur. After the parts
are connected thoy aro made water proof and rot proof, thereby ensuring that
the stitches and connections be also water proof. The framework of the boat
consists of a small decking, a bottom formed in two main parts having a separate
keel, and a stringer about midway between the bottom and decking, carrying the
thwarts and struts or supports for holding the parts in extended position. The
bottom is divided longitudinally at the centre, the two sides being sufficiently far
apart to allow a keel to be attached to the canvas and be supported loosely between
them. The keel is allowed a little play in order that it may project, when the
boat is extended, below the bottom, especially towards the stern, taking the place
of the dead wood in ordinary boats and preventing swinging, and when collapsed
may lie flat between the two parts. Each section of the bottom is also double, a
longitudinally placed board properly shaped being fixed on the canvas at the
outside, and a number of small transverse planks on the inside following the same
outline. Great strength is thus obtained without much weight and the parts can
spring into the required shape easily when the boat is extended, lying flat when
collapsed.
The stern is formed of a stout wooden board of suitable shape having &
stern post at centre, hinged to the underside of the decking at the rear end in such
a manner that it can fold up under the same, the latter being formed with a groove
in which the stern post will lie when collapsed, thereby allowing the stern to lie
flat. The stern is fixed in position by means of a small locking piece loosely
hinged to a larger bar extending centrally for the greater part of the length of
the vessel and fixed to the keel, the canvas being situated between it and the keel.
The locking piece is hinged by cords or other means which allow it to more-freely,
so that it can be shifted out of the way when the stern is to be folded over. The
piece abuts against the stern post at one end and against the end of the contral bar
at the other, so that when pressed down the stern is rigidly fixed in position. The
bow end of the decking is furnished with a similar groove to that in the stern part,
in which is supported a vertical plank curved at the front to form the curve of the
bow, a similar locking device to that already described being employed to fix it in
position. The plauk is attached to the decking by a cord or other arrangement
which will allow it to lie flat when the boat is collapsed, but will prevent it
becoming disengaged. Cords may be attached to both locking pieces and to the
stern and bow pieco, by which they can be disengaged rapidly for collapsing. The

page_text: struts used to hold the boat in extended position are hinged to the thwarts or seats,
in such a manner that when the boat is collapsed they will lie horizontally, but
when extended they will be turned into a vertical position, holding the decking
and bottom apart. The struts for the bottom and docking may be made in one
piece, or the struts for the decking may be separate and hinged to the top of the
thwarts, being arranged so that when turned down they will not interfere with the
edge of the decking, but allow the latter to lie flat on the thwarts. For the stern
seat we may attach to the upper struts a cross rail which will form a back when
extended.
If the upper and lower struts for the end thwarts are. connected together, 1
we may arrange the upper one by means of a pin and slot in such a manner that
it can turn slightly to one side on the lower strut, moving out of the way of the
decking when the boat is collapsed. The lower struts are so shaped underneath
that they cause the bottom to take a shallow V form when extended. With this
arrangement of parts the whole boat can be collapsed in a flat form, having the
same shape iu plan as the boat, but only a few inches in depth. The boat can be
slung in the usual manner and when lowered the weight of the bottom and struts
will cause it to be extended sufficiently to allow it to be manned, the parts being
put properly into place afterwards.
Dated this 1st day of February 1893.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Collapsable Boats.
We THEOPHILUS OSBORN SMITH of Medloy-on-Thames Oxford, Boat Builder,
and HORACE FULLER of Vernon Lodge, St. Aubyns Jersey, Gentleman 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 improvements in the construction of collapsable boats,
and has for its object to provide a boat which can be collapsed within a very small
compass and which can be fixed in extended position rapidly and securely.
In constructing the boat we employ canvas to form the sides and also to connect
various parts, the canvas being put together first after shaping properly to give the
required form to the boat. According to the construction we prefer to employ the
canvas is made in four main pieces miz.: two sides, the stern piece, and the bottom
piece. The latter, however is more conveniently made in two sections together
longitudinally. The two side pieces are connected together at the bow, and are
roped or furnished with a cord or rope at the extreme end, in order to prevent the
wear of the canvas which would occur. After the parts are connected they ure
made waterproof and rotproof thereby ensuring that the stitches and connections be
also waterproof. The framework of the boat consists of a narrow decking or gun-
wale, a bottom formed in two main parts having a separate kecl, a transom or stern,
and a stringer about midway between the bottom and gunwale carrying the thwarts.
To the thwarts or other part of the framing are hinged the struts or supports for
holding the boat in extended position.
The bottom is divided longitudinally at the centre, the two sides being sufficiently
far apart to allow a keel to be attached to the canvas and supported loosely between
them. The keel is allowed a little play in order that it may project, when the host
is extended, below the bottom, especially towards the stern, taking the place of the
deadwood in ordinary boats and preventing swinging and when collapsed may lie
flat between the two parts.

page_text: Each section of the bottom is also double, one part being outside the canvas and
the other on the inner side. The former is constructed of longitudinal planking and
the latter of transverse planking.
The transom or stern is hinged to the underside of the decking or gunwale and is
furnished with a hinged stern post at the centre, the stern post when the boat is
extended being fixed by abutting against the end of the keel which is notched to
receive it. A separate locking piece may if desired be used but in the simpler arrange-
ment above described the keel itself forms the locking piece. The bow is formed
by means of a vertical plank curved at the front to give the proper curve to the
bow, the plank being held in position by suitable guides, allowing it to be released
whenever desired. The struts are hinged so as to lie flat when the boat is collapsed,
and clear of the seat and other parts. The struts which hold the decking or gun-
wale at the proper height above the thwarts may form part of the other struts or
may consist of separate pieces bearing against the underside of the gunwale and
the thwart. The struts are so formed at the bottom as to give the bottom of the
boat a shallow V form when extended. When the boat is fully extended and the
parts are fixed properly the boat will have the usual curvo from stem to stern in
side elevation.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood reference is had to
the accompanying drawings in which
Figs. 1 to 5 show the general arrangement of a boat constructed according to my
invention. Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section and Fig. 2 a plan of the boat in extended
position Fig. 3 a oross section of the same, Figs. 4 and 6 respectively a cross and a
longitudinal section showing the boat collapsed,
Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are views of the main pieces of canvas used in the building of the
boat,
Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section of a canoe constructed according to my
invention, and Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are detail views of the same.
Referring to the canvas, A is the side piece, two of which are employed, stitchod
to each other at the bow end, to the bottom pieces A¹ (Fig. 7) at their lower
edges, and to the stern piece A' (Fig. 8) at the rear ends. In order that tho said
pieces may give the proper shape to the sides of the boat when the latter is
extended, bands a of canvas aro fixed on the inner side of the pieces A as shown
in Fig. 6. When used for canoes the transoin cloth Aª will of course be dispensed
with and the stern end shaped the same as the bow.
Tho canvas is renderod rot proof by chemical treatment and is dressed on the
other side with elastio paint to make it waterproof.
The canvas is fixed to the gunwale B around its upper edges, chafing pieces b
and inwale 6' being furnished. The gunwale is shaped or sawn to the required
shape and the inwale afterwards secured, the ends of the two gunwale pieces being
next secured to the transom piece C, and at the bow end to the metal plate b³,
which binds the two ends together. The chafing pieces aro fastened on after the
canvas is attached.
At about the middle of the boat when extended the stringers D are fixed to the
canvas sides connected at the front end to each other by a small metal plate or
other simple means. The outer heading d is fixed on the outside of the canvas
over the stringers D.
The stringers serve to carry the thwarts or seats E.
The bottom of the boat is formed in two main parts each consisting of outer
and inner pieces F and F'. The former are composed of longitudinal planking
and the latter of transverse planking. The bottom canvas is situated between
these parts and a small space is allowed between each side in which the keel G is
fitted to the central part of the canvas, that part being left a little loose to allow
of the keel projecting a short distance when the boat is extended. The keel is
formed of two strips one fixed on the upper side of the canvas and the other on the
underside, the canvas being preferably connected at the centre, the keel thua
Covering the joint. The longitudinal planks are of such a thickness as to readily

page_text: '
•
allow of their taking up the rockered form desired when the boat is extended or
. geared.
A central plank or keelson H is provided which covers the joints of the bottom
and keel and prevents them being injured from the inside also serving to distribute
any strain caused by the weight of the cargo or crew. This plank will carry the
mast step if a mast be employed, the hole e in the front thwart allowing for its
insertion.
J. J are the stretcher frames which in the arrangement shown are hinged
respectively to the gunwale and to the central thwart, but it is obvious that they
may all be hinged to either gunwale or thwarts. The ond strotchera J serve to
extend the whole side of the boat while J' extends the lower part between the
bottom and thwart.
Separate pieces'j are shown, connected with the central thwart which serve to
support the gunwale. These consist of small curved boards or plates the outer
and upper end of which bears against the under side of the gunwale, the other
curved end bearing against the end of the slot j' in the thwart.
A small pin projects on either side and bears on top of the thwart, supporting
the block j, so that when the inner end is pressed down the pin will be slidden over
the thwart, which is slightly scooped at that part, and force up the outer end
under the gunwale.
K is the transom, made in the arrangement shown, in two parts, hinged to one
another, the upper one being hinged to the transom piece C. The storn post k is
fixed to the lower one of these and when the boat in geared rests in a notch in the
end of the keel, which locks it securely in place at the same time allowing it to be
pulled out from the top and collapsed as shown in Fig. 5.
The sternpost L shown in side elevation in Fig. 1 consists of a plank with the
front curved to give the proper shape to the bow. This post is held in place by a
guide formed of two bars, extending from the front thwart to the end of the
boat, between which the post is retained. The rear end of the stern post is also
curved as is the upper edge so that when pushed down at the rear a cam action
will take place forcing the end in an upward direction, the nose being inserted in
the socket formed by the plate b on the end of the gunwale, A loose pin is
employed which is placed between the upper curved edge of the post and the
guide and which when the post is to be fixed in position is forced to the rear,
holding the post firmly in place. To release the post the pin
and the rear end raised.
pushed forward
The pin and post are both loosely attached to the framework of the boat by
cords or otherwise allowing the post to be laid flat, when the boat is collapsed.
M is the rope or cord which is fixed at the extreme end of the boat and is
double sewn on both sides to the seam of the canvas covering, the upper end is
knotted and pushed through a hole in the plate For is otherwise fixed in a simple
manner, the lower end being inserted in a metal shod which also serves as a
connection between the keel and the sides of the bottom planking.
Referring to Figs. 9 to 12. showing the invention applied to a canoe, the stem
and stern parts L' and L' are similar in form and are locked in position by the
looking pieces or deadwoods lº to which they are hinged by metal plates and bolts
or in any other secure manner. The stretchers or frames J' are hinged to the
upper part of the boat or gunwale and are cut away as shewn in Fig. 12. to allow
of access to the ends of the boat. The back rest N is inclined at an angle to the
stretcher J' by means of a distance pieco n hinged to the back rest so that when
collapsed it may be pulled flat.
The bottom board O is placed between this back rest and the other stretcher J'
holding the stretchers rigidly in extended position, the locking pieces / abut
against these stretchers and thus hold the stem and storn posts in place.
The end stem and stern stretchers J are retained in place by a shoulder on the
locking piece and are recessed at bottom to allow of the smaller end of the locking"
pieces passing through. They are connected to the stretchers J' by cords and the

page_text: latter are also furnished with cords at the bottom extending to the centre of the
boat so that when the bottom board is removed, by simply pulling the cords
the stretchers are raised and the boat collapsed.
The bottom board also serves to hold in place the.side pieces P, which support
the sides and gunwale of the boat at the centre as shewn in Fig. 11. The usual
decking is provided, the other parts of the canoe being practically the same as
those already described in the ordinary boat the shape and proportions being
different.
According to the construction of boat described in this Specification the said
boat can be collapsed into a flat form as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of only a few
inches in depth all the parts of any greater depth lying horizontally. On the boat
being raised or elung by the ring bolts at the stem and stern as provided in ordinary
boats the bottom and stretchors will fall into their places and maintain the
framework in open position while the boat is being lowered allowing it to be
manned without further manipulation. When on board the crew can readily place
the parts in their proper position and fix them as above described.
This boat can fulfil all the purposes of an ordinary ships boat or yachts tender or
of any other small or medium sized boat with the advantage that several can be
stored in the space now occupied by one.
It is obvious that in several details as regards the fixings modified devices may
be employed with equal advantage and I therefore do not restrict myself to the
precise arrangement shown or described.
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 collapsablo boat or canoe comprising a complete shell of canvas, a
gunwale fixed to the upper edges of the canvas, a plank bottom and stretchers or
supports bolding the parts open, the framework collapsing, vertically upon itself,
substantially as and for the purposes specified.
(2.) A collapsable boat comprising a complete shell of canvas, a gunwale fixed
to the upper edges of canvas, a plank bottom, a transom capable of being folded
over and stretchers or supports holding the framework open, the framework
collapsing vertically upon itself, substantially as described.
(3.) A collapsable boat in which a complete shell of canvas is employed,
consisting of two side pieces united at the bow end to each other and at the stern
to a transom piece and at the lower edges to a bottom piece or pieces, the whole
being then rendered rot and waterproof, in combination with a framing which can
collapse vertically upon itself, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
(4.) In a collapsable boat, the combination with a shell of canvas, of a gunwale,
a transom piece continuous with it, stringers parallel with the gunwale carrying
thwarts or seat, a transom hinged to the top or transom piece with stern post for
fixing, and stretchers hinged to the thwarts or gunwale and bearing on the bottom
holding the boat extended, substantially as described.
(5.) In a collapsable boat the combination with the parts mentioned in Claim 4
of a stern post or plank having front curved to form the bow and held in suitable
guides and fastened by a locking piece, substantially as described.
(6.) In a collapsable boat or canoe the combination with a completo shell of
canvas and framework comprising gunwale, stringers and plank bottom suitably
formed, and stem and stern posts, of a protecting rope at the extreme end of the
stem or stem and stern, substantially as described and for the purposes specified.
(7.) In a collapsable boat or canoe the combination with a complete shell of
canvas, gunwale, stem and stern posts, and stringer carrying thwarts and stretchers,
of a plank bottom fixed to the canvas formed in two main parts, between which a
keel is loosely fitted the canvas allowing sufficient play for the proper projecting of
the keel, substantially as specified.
(8.) In a collapsable bont, the combination with a complete shell of canvas, stem

page_text: and stern posts, stringer carrying thwarts and stretchers and loosely fitted keel, of
a plank bottom fixed on either side of the canvas, the innor part of transverse, and
the outer of longitudinal planking; substantially as described.
(9.) The improved collapsable buat, constructed and operating substantially as
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings and for the purposes 5
specified.
1
tea this 1st day of November 1893.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.