Improvements in or relating to Collapsible Boats and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after
Amendment (under Section 18 of the Patents. &c. Act, 1883) as allowed by
the decision of the Chief Examiner of the 8th day of February 1898.
Date of Application, 27th Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 6th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 23rd Jan., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Collapsible Boats and the like.
I, JOHN HAWKINS HUTCHINGS, of 78, Clapham Road, Lowestoft, in the County of
Suffolk, Sailmaker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to collapsible boats and the like so constructed that they
may be folded up for convenience of transport and portability.
In carrying out the invention I provide a suitable keel of wood, metal or other
suitable material, and connect to this preferably by joints, a suitable bow and
stem and stern post. From the keel extend preferably flexible ribs to the height
of the gunwale where they are connected with the gunwales, which may also be of
metal, wood or the like. Between the ribs and above the keel, 1 may employ a
keelson carrying pivotted stanchions for supporting the seats and stiffening the
boat generally, the ends of the keelson being connected with braces, preferably
adjustable in length, and the upper ends of the braces being jointed respectively
to the upper ends of the bow and stem and stern post or to brackets connected
therewith.
The seats are hinged or jointed centrally and hinged or jointed at each end to
the gunwales, and adapted to fold when the boat is collapsed downwards through
jointed centres lying when folded near the keelson. When the seats are straight
the gunwales are forced and held apart by the seats the central joint being so
arranged that it may be fixed when the seats are open by a suitable spring catch
or equivalent device, so as to hold them in their proper position. Instead of
jointing the seats direct to the gunwales I may joint them to bands preferably of
metal, connected at the bow and stern to the "braces, and by suitable clips or
equivalent, to the gunwales, the object of this arrangement being that the seats
and appurtenances can be removed complete from the boat, leaving only the hull.
The ends of the gunwales are connected preferably by hinges or equivalent
with the stem and stern post, and are also pivotted at their connection with the
hinges, so as to allow of the double movement necessary when folding the sides
together. Those of the ribs which connect to the stem and stern posts are also
preferably hinged for a similar purpose. The ribs I prefer to make thin and flat
So as to take up little room when the boat is collapsed.
The rowlocks are preferably carried in sockets upon the clips, which hold the side
bands in position, but may be otherwise carried if preferred."
The tackle by which the boat is suspended I prefer to connect with pulleys or
equivalent upon the gunwales so that as the weight of the boat comes upon the
tackle it will tend to close the gunwales together, and thus assist in the folding up
of the boat

page_text: The frame as above described may be covered either inside or outside or both
with canvas or other suitable waterproof and flexible material.
A further protection and support for the occupants of the boat may be provided
upon the inside in the form of canvas or other flaps or lining, containing preferably
thin cork, rubber or equivalent material, and masts and sails may be employed as
required, and connected with the keel or keelson or ribs and seats as needed, and
a pudder and other customary fittings can be used if required.
If desired also collapsilde tubes of rubber or other water and air-tight material
may be carried in any suitable part, conveniently around the sides under the seats;
or these may be arranged near the top outside to serve as fenders, and the pressure
of air or gas in these tubes may be the same as that of the atmosphere or greater,
suitable pumps being employed for charging if required. Where the air is only
intended to be used at atmospheric pressure, one or more screw valves may be
employed for these tubes, left open when the boat and also the tubes are collapsed,
and screwed up or closed when the tubes are distended.
The ribs and other portions requiring protection may be enamelled, painted,
varnished or otherwise protected against rust, and the boat when collapsed may
be provided with a canvas or other waterproof cover or back to protect it. Ties,
hooks or other fastenings may be employed at requisite intervals along the sides to
hold them together when the hoat is collapsed.
These boats may be carried in their collapsed condition in passenger, man of war
and other vessels, stowed in secure or safe places, or on the deck ready for use at
uny time.
Dated this 27th day of February 1896
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (AMENDED).
Improvements in or relating to Collapsible Boats and the like.
1, Jons HAWKINS HUTCHINGs, of 7S, Clapham Road, Lowestoft, in the County of
Suffolk, Sailmaker, 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 boats so constructed that they may be folded up for
convenience of transport and portability.
The invention will he best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings
in which.
Figure is a perspective view of the complete boat in its expanded or working
condition, a portion being broken away to show the framing.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal central section of Figure I and
Figures 3 and 4 are transverse sections on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 showing the
boat in respectively its expanded and collapsed condition.
In Figures 1, 3 and 4 the boat is shown with its outer or canvas cover or
sheathing and in Figure 2 without it, and Figures 3 and 4 are drawn to a larger
scale than that to which Figures 1 and 2 are drawn.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
In carrying out the invention I provide a suitable keel A. of wood, metal or
other material and connect to this preferably by joints A suitable stem and stern
posts B which, in the example represented, are both alike. From the keel A extend
preferably flexible ribs C to the height of the gunwales 1) to which they are
connected, the ribs and gunwales being flat and constructed of metal, wood ori

page_text: other suitable material and as thin as possible so as to take up little room when
the boat is collapsed. When the ribs Care made of flexible metal each pair to
be attached to the keel A may be formed in one piece as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4,
in which a pair is indicated in section by a line which is continuous around the
keel except where interrupted by the rivet A 2. These may be secured in a
groove in the top of the keel A by a strip or bar A' fitting into the groove and
over the ribs, and by rivets or equivalent A passing through the keel A ribs C
and bar A. The ribs C may be secured directly to the gunwales 1) or by means
of straps ar loops or equivalent C₁ fastened to the ribs and encircling the
gunwales : by these last named means the gunwales are free to move through
the loops C' independently of the ribs.
Between the ribs C at the two sides of the boat and above the keel A I employ
a keelson E to which are pivotted stanchions E for supporting the seats F and
stiffening the boat generally, the ends of the keelson E being connected with
braces whose upper ends are jointed to the upper ends of respectively the stem
and stern post B conveniently through brackets G secured to these posts. When
the boat is collapsed the stanchions E are turned down into an approximately
horizontal position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 and in full lines in Fig. 4;
they may be retained in the vertical position by bolts fitted thereon, being made
to engage with holes in the seats as shown in Fig. 3. The braces G are
preferably adjustable in length and for this purpose may each be formed in two
parts, one carrying a screw (with a nut G thereon and the other formed tubular
for receiving the screw and providing an abutment surface for the nut G³ as shown
in Fig. 2; or the two parts of each brace may be connected by a right and left
handed screw or nut or otherwise.
The seats are each formed in two parts hinged together as at at the centre
of the boat and also hinged at F to bands F supported by hooks or clips F
engaging with the gunwales. When the boat is collapsed the seats F fold down-
wards at the centre and lie near the keelson as shown in Fig. 4.
When the
seats are straight the gunwales 1) are forced and held apart by them, suitable
catches preferably being provided to retain the seats in this condition even without
the assistance of the stanchions E. For this purpose I may secure on one half of
the seat a plate F adapted to project below the second half of the seat in which
projecting part is provided an opening F Fig. 4. With this opening a spring
catch or spring-controlled catch mounted on the second half of the seat F, auto-
matically engages when the seat is straightened as shown in Fig. 3 and to release
the catch from the opening F, said catch has to be raised, which, in the example
represented, may be effected by means of the eye or loop passing through the
seat to the top thereof, said loop being moved upwards by hand, or by a suitable
taper bolt, hook or equivalent: instead however of using a catch device such as that
previously described 1 may employ any other device suited to the purpose. Con-
veniently the plate F and catch can be attached to or form part of bolts not
shown in the drawings but lying in line with the parts FF in lugs on the under-
side of each seat so that by screwing them in one direction or the other the plates
and catches can be set or adjusted as exactly as desired. By connecting the seats
to the boat by means of the bands and hooks or clips as before described, the
seats together with their appurtenances may be lifted bodily out of the boat, leaving
only the collapsed hull; with this arrangement it is not compulsory that the seats
should fold, for when the boat is to be collapsed the seats may be removed.
The seats instead of being supported by the bands and clips F may be
hinged directly to the gunwales or connected to the sides of the boat by any suitable
connecting devices.
The ends of the gunwales D are connected preferably by hinges or equivalent D'
to the stem and stern posts B, and are also pivotted as at D at their connection
with the hinges D) so as to allow of the double movement necessary at these joints
when folding the sides together; the bands and those of the ribs C which are

page_text: connected to the stem and stern posts B for example, the last two at each end of
Fig. 2 are also similarly double-hinged to the posts 1 for a like purp
The rowlocks I are preferably pivotted in sockets H carried by clips which
like the clips are secured to and assist in supporting the bands ; if desired
however the rowlocks may be mounted on the boat in any other convenient manner.
The tackle by which the bent is suspended I prefer to connect with the pulleys
or equivalent secured upon the gunwales D by clips or equivalent J, so that as
the weight of the heat comes upon the tackle, it will tend to close the gunwales
together, and thus assist in the folding up of the heat. In Fig. 4 the beat is shown
in the collapsed condition in which it would ordinarily be when suspended by
tackle when however it is desired to stow the boat away, the flexibility and joint-
ing of the ribs allows it to be pressed into comparatively a very small space and
almost flat.
The frame may be envered either inside or outside or both with canvas or other
suitable waterproof and flexible material or sheathing K; in the example
represented the frame is covered on lath sides with this waterproof material which
for this purpose is formed into a double casing approximately curresponding in
general shape to that of the frame. This covering K is held in position at the
lower part by the keelson E beneath which, and between which and the keel A or
har its inner part or casing esses as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, and at its
upper art it may be secured to the gunwales by any or all of the clips H
and
or it may be sceured in position in any other convenient manner.
A farther protection and support for the necupants of the boat may be provided
upon the inside in the form of removable canvas or other flaps or lining L, contain-
ing preferably thin enrk, ruller or equivalent material and masts and sails
(not shown in the drawings) may he employed as required, and connected with the
heel A, keelson E or ribs and seats as needed, and a rudder and other
en-tomary fittings can be used if ruins. To accommodate the rudder-pintles
I prefer to secure two clips M to the sieta post B outside the sheathing h. con
veniently by means of bolts MP passing through the arms of the clips as shown
in Fig. 1. thoagh other mans may be employed for the purpose,
If desired als enllapsable tuls of rubler or other water and air-tight material
may be carried in any suitable part of the brat, e nveniently around the sides under
the scats F; or these may be arranged near the top at the outside of the boat to
serve as fenders, and the pressure of air or gas in these tubes may be the same
as that of the atmu phere or greater, mitable pumps being employed for charging
fquired. Where the air is only intended to be used at atmospheric pressare
one or more crew valves may be employed for these tubes, left open when the boat
and also the tubes are collapsed and screwed up or elesed when the tubes are
distended.
The riles (and other portions requiring protection may be enamelled, painted.
varnished or otherwise protected and the heat when collapsed may be provided
with a canvas or other waterproof cover or bag to protect it. Tes M and hooks
or other fastening My he employed a requisite intervals along the sides or
gunwales D to hold them together when the boat is collapsed as in Fig. 4.
The before described hosts may be carried in their collapsed condition in
passenger, men-of-war and other vessels, slowed in secure or safe places, or on
deek ready for use at any time.
Having now particularly deseriled and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed declare that what I
claim is:
1. In eollapsable boats the combined construction & arrangement of the various
jarts substantially as described and illustrated,
2. In a collapsable boat the combination with the keel of stem and stern pest
jointed thereto, flexible ribs gunwales jointed to the ribs and stem and stern posts,
and a sheathing or skin for all the said parts substantially as described.

page_text: 3. In a collapsable boat the combination with the keel of stem and stern posts
jointed thereto, flexible ribs jointed to the keel, hinges secured to the stem and
stern posts, pivots connecting flexible ribs to the hinges, and gunwales jointed to
the ribs and stem and stern posts, loops secured to the ribs and encircling the gun-
wales, braces connecting the keelson with the stem and stern posts and screw
adjustments for the braces, a folding or hinged seat and a catch device for prevent-
ing the folding of the seat until required, a stanchion and a pivot connecting the
stanchion to the keelson substantially as described.
Dated this 4th day of November 1896.
JOHN HAWKINS HUTCHINGS.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.