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This application claims priority from German Patent Application No. 10 2004 027 020.1 filed Jun. 2, 2004.
There are foldable boats of different manufacturers and designs. The starting point for the invention is the collapsible boat U.S. Pat. No. 5,488,922, the complete specification of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Boats of this type have the advantage of being relatively easy to store and transport but the size and capacity of the boat is also similarly limited by what can be relatively easily transported and stored.
According to the invention, this size and capacity limitation of known collapsible boats is overcome by an extension module. The extension module can be optionally assembled together with the collapsible boat without wasting any component of the original boat in that the boat and extension module share the same transom or rear part. In this regard, the extension module is dimensioned with the same cross section as the rear portion of the collapsible boat. The extension module preferably also includes at least one bench to provide the extension module, and thereby to provide the extended collapsible aluminum boat with the necessary rigidity for stability and seaworthiness.
FIG. 1 is a top plan view depicting a collapsible boat and extension module according to the invention.
FIG. 2 is a partial cross section of a rear edge of the collapsible boat, that depicts the sealing and mating profile.
FIG. 3 is a partial cross section of a front edge of the extension module, that depicts the sealing and mating profile for frictional interlock with the rear edge profile of the boat.
FIG. 4 is a partial cross section depicting use of a quick connector snapped into place to hold a rear edge of the boat extension profile in frictional interlock with the stern mount profile sealed and mated thereto.
The Figures generally depict assembly of an extended collapsible boat 10 in accordance with the invention. FIG. 1 includes dashed arrows which show how a collapsible boat 12 made for example in accordance with the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 5,488,922, can be extended in length and capacity by addition of an extension module 14. Stern or rear part 16 may be connected to a rear edge 18 of extension module 14 or to a rear edge 20 of boat 12 as desired. In this regard, front edge 22 of extension module 14 is provided with the same cross sectional size and shape as rear edge 20 of boat 12, so that they may fit snugly together and rear edge 18 of the extension module matches the same size and shape as well for ease of mounting stern piece 16.
Extension module 14 preferably includes at least one bench 24 in order to provide sufficient rigidity and structural integrity to extension module 14 to make boat 10 seaworthy. Of course, more than one bench 24 may be provided as desired or as necessary based on the length of extension module 14.
Rear edge 20 of boat 12 is provided with a profile 30 as shown in FIG. 2. Front edge 22 of extension module 14 is provided with a mating profile 32 which is designed to provide a frictional interlock 34 between boat 12 and module 14 to form extended boat 10 with a sealed structural joint. Frictional interlock 34 is depicted in FIG. 4 between rear edge 18 of extension module 14 having a profile 30, and stern mount 26 having a mating profile 30. In this manner, stern mount 26 can be frictionally interlocked with either rear edge 20 of boat 12 or rear edge 18 of extension module 14. Stern mount 26 has a profile 38 for mounting the stern 16. In either case, a quick connector 36 is snapped in place to retain the parts in frictional engagement.