Abstrict The Inflatable Boat Bra is a mechanism designed to protect inflatable
objects from leakage caused by laceration and abrasion. The second
purpose is to furnish a way to organize the equipment commonly used
in inflatable boats. The Boat Bra is made of a fabric that is highly
abrasion resistant to cover the air tubes of an inflatable boat.
The fabric is fastened in position by the use of a plurality of
grommets on the fabric and a plurality of D rings glued to the inflatable
tube of the boat. These are fastened together by the use of shock
cords. This method allows the Bra fabric to slide over the inflatable
tube fabric without damage to either. On the inside of the boat
mesh bags are fastened to the fabric in such a manner as to allow
them to hang to the boat floor. This furnishes a method of organizing
equipment in a way that it is still visible and accessible.
Claims I claim:
1. A fabric covering assembly for covering an inflatable object
to protect it from abrasions, lacerations, and deflation, comprising:
(a) a sheet of fabric of a size to cover a substantial portion
of the exterior of an inflatable object and including a plurality
of reinforced openings to accommodate the passage of existing protrusions
on said inflatable object,
(b) a plurality of grommet fasteners,
(c) a plurality of adhesive fasteners with D-rings,
(d) a plurality of mesh pouches,
(e) a plurality of elastic shock cords,
(f) means for joining said grommet fasteners to said sheet of fabric
at spaced locations,
(g) means for joining said adhesive fasteners to said inflatable
object at spaced locations,
(h) means for joining said mesh pouches to said sheet of fabric,
(i) said grommet fasteners being joined to the sheet of fabric,
and the adhesive fasteners being joined to the inflatable object,
and further wherein said grommet fasteners and said adhesive fasteners
are fastened together by means of said elastic shock cords thereby
holding said sheet of fabric snugly on said inflatable object, and
said mesh bags joined to the sheet of fabric providing a system
for storing equipment on the inside of said inflatable object.
Description BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an abrasion and laceration resistant
covering (Bra) for inflatable objects.
2. Description of Prior Art
Before this date inflatable boats have created a great deal of
owner frustration due to their easily lacerated fabric and then
tending to deflate. Lacerations are produced by unavoidable contact
with sharp objects. Barnacles, nails protruding from docks and sharp
rocks are a few of the offenders. Laceration holes are a major factor
in shortening the life of inflatable boats.
Boats of this type tend to be expensive. They range from $1400.00
to $2800.00 for a 10 foot length. Inflatables in the 18 to 20 foot
range may cost as much as $24000.00.
The closest prior art that I have been able to find is the auto
bra. I can find no patent number on any that I have seen for sale.
This is designed to cover the front of the fenders and grill of
an auto. The material is a soft vinyl for the purpose of protecting
against rock chips in the auto paint.
The inflatable boat bra is used in a totally different industry,
on different products, offers protection against different assaults,
fastens in a different manner and adds a feature of equipment organization
by the use of mesh bags that fit along the inside of the inflatable
boat. The very nature of inflatable boats require that the manufacturer
use fabrics that will hold air and are resistant to sun rot. These
fabrics are prone to laceration and puncture. Heretofore the recommended
solution for leaks has been to apply a patch to the boat fabric.
Often times the patch must be applied while the boat is in use and
will not hold. A hole close to a boat feature, such as a seam or
D ring, is almost impossible to patch due to a change in surface
level.
An additional use of the bra is to organize equipment. Inflatable
boats are commonly purchased as work or sport boats These activities
usually entail the carrying of considerable equipment that ends
up in a pile on the floor of the boat. Moving from one end to the
other of the boat becomes very difficult because of a disorganized
pile of equipment. This also tends to damage the more delicate equipment.
Attached to the bra in the area to be inside of the inflatable boat
are a plurality of mesh nylon pouches. These are used to organize
the equipment that is being used in the boat.
Most inflatables are gray, white, black or some other color that
is difficult to see in rough water. A drab color is a severe disadvantage
if the inflatable boat is used as a life raft or lost at sea.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES
The objects and advantages for my invention are:
(a) It helps solve the problem of leaks in inflatable boats from
the preventive perspective, not the repair perspective.
(b) Can be made from the most abrasion and laceration resistant
fabric with total disregard for holding air.
(c) Extends the life of costly inflatable boats.
(d) Organizes costly and delicate equipment of avoid damage.
(e) Has a large color variety making the inflatable boat more visible
in rough water, adding a safety factor.
DRAWINGS AND FIGURES
In the drawings closely related figures may have the same number
but different alphabetical suffixes:
FIG. 1A depicts a top view of a D ring that is glued to the boat
to secure the bra.
FIG. 1B depicts a side view of a D Ring.
FIG. 2A shows a top view of a grommet that is attached to the bra
fabric in close proximity to the D ring (FIG. 1).
FIG. 2B depicts a side view of a grommet.
FIG. 3 depicts a shock cord that attaches the D rings (FIG. 1)
and the grommets (FIG. 2) together and that puckers the fabric in,
around the aft (rear) of the inflatable tubes.
FIG. 4 depicts a nylon mesh pouch for organizing equipment on the
inside of the boat.
FIG. 5A is a top view of a button-hole type opening designed to
allow passage of a D ring that is existing standard equipment on
an inflatable tube of the boat.
FIG. 5B is a side view of a button-hole type opening designed to
allow passage of a D ring that is standard equipment on an inflatable
tube of the boat.
FIG. 6A is a top view of a button-hole type opening that is designed
to allow passage of an oar lock that is standard equipment on an
inflatable tube of the boat.
FIG. 6B is a side view of a button-hole type opening that is designed
to allow passage of an oar lock that is standard equipment on an
inflatable tube of the boat.
FIG. 7 shows an overall view of the inflatable boat bra as it fits
on an inflatable boat. The method of attachment is a major aspect
in the effectiveness of abrasion resistance. The use of D rings
and shock cords instead of more ridged application, allows the fabric
of the bra to slide over the fabric of the boat, preventing damage
to either.
FIG. 8 depicts a cut away view of how the bra is positioned from
the interior of the boat.
FIG. 9 shows a view of the inflatable boat from above depicting
the location of a plurality of mesh bags that are the organizational
aspect of this invention.
Further objects and advantages are to provide an inexpensive but
fashionable protection for almost all inflatable equipment. This
type of preventive protection is very light weight and can be made
of many different fabrics in an unlimited variety of shapes and
sizes. Still further objects and advantages will become apparent
from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF FIGS. 1-9
The fasteners of choice to be glued onto the fabric of the boat's
inflatable tube is the common D ring (FIG. 1). The fastening pad
is made of a nylon and PVC laminated with a stainless steel D shaped
ring at the pad center. I don't believe an active patent exists
for this object as, to my knowledge, it has been universally for
sale for over 20 years.
The grommets fastened to the bra fabric (FIG. 2) can be of brass
or plastic material. These fasten to the bra fabric in close proximity
to the D rings. The grommet is without an active patent as it has
been for sale for over 20 years.
The shock cord (FIG. 3) is to fasten together a D ring (FIG. 1)
and a grommet (FIG. 2) thus helping to secure the bra fabric to
the inflatable tube of the boat. The shock cord (FIG. 3) is also
used to fasten the bra fabric to the conically tapered aft (rear)
end of the round inflatable tube of the boat. This is done by a
drawstring effect.
The portion of the bra fabric that covers the interior aspect of
the boat tube has fastened to it the organizing pouches (FIG. 4).
These nylon mesh pouches can be flat stitched or made with a bellows,
and can be either a detachable form or permanently fastened to the
bra fabric or a combination of both. They are designed to hold equipment
in an organized manner. A mesh fabric is used to allow water to
pass out of the pouch while the equipment remains visible.
The bra fabric has a number of reinforced openings in it (FIG.
5) to allow the passage of factory installed D rings whose purpose
is to fasten a safety rope to the top of the inflatable tube of
the boat.
One of the propulsion methods of the boat is rowing with oars.
The oar locks protrude through the reinforced openings in the bra
fabric (FIG. 6).
OPERATION
To make the bra usable it must be fastened to the inflatable boat
or other inflatable object for which it is made. The size and shape
of the bra must vary according to the size and shape of the inflatable
boat or inflatable object that it is designed to protect and organize.
To apply the bra unfold it and lay it out on the boat so that the
shapes coincide. The bra is U shaped so be sure the closed end of
the bra lays along the forward end of the boat. The tubes should
be about 2/3 inflated at this time. Pull the bra around the tube
so it covers the entire upper 3/5. Note that the grommets are spaced
along the inside and outside edge of the bra fabric. The material
should extend 4 to 5 inches below the center line of the outside
of the boat tube. This should align the reinforced openings in the
bra fabric (FIGS. 5 and 6) with the oar locks and D rings that must
pass through them.
Align as perfectly as possible the bra fabric onto the boat tubes.
Now glue a D ring on the outside toward the back of each inflatable
tube and two to the outside and forward aspect of the tube, in close
proximity to the grommets in the bra fabric. Allow the glue to cure.
Next take the shock cord (FIG. 3) and securly tie the grommets
and the D ring together in the very front and back of the boat.
Now is the time to inflate the boat tubes to their recommended pressure.
This should snug the bra to the boat tubes and you can make any
last minute adjustments that are necessary. Glue on the remaining
D rings, one in close alignment with each grommet. Allow time for
the glue to cure and fasten the remaining grommets and D rings together
with the shock cord (FIG. 3). This should secure the bra to the
boat.
Attaching the bra to the inflatable with the D ring grommet and
shock cord method is a very important aspect of producing protection
from abrasions. With this method it allows the bra fabric to slide
over the inflatable fabric when contact is made with a sharp object.
This slide factor further reduces the laceration protential of the
already laceration resistant bra fabric and is a key principle that
makes this invention work.
The organizing mesh pouches should be hanging easily and ready
to use.
SUMMARY RAMIFICATIONS AND SCOPE
One of the major frustrations and life shortening weaknesses of
inflatable boats is their susceptability to abrasion and lacerations
creating leaks. Further frustration and equipment damage is caused
by the difficulty of organizing equipment in the boat. The Inflatable
Boat Bra helps to solve both leakage and organizational problems.
Being made of highly abrasive and lacerative resistant material
and also providing see through mesh pouches for organizing equipment.
The bra can be made of highly visible colors making the boat easy
to find even in rough water. This becomes important if the boat
is lost at sea or if the boat is used as a life raft.
Although the description above contains many specificties, these
should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but
as providing illustrations of some of the presently prefered uses
of this invention. For example: the bra can be made to fit over
any inflatable or abrasion prone equipment. Thus the scope of the
invention should be determined by the appended claims and their
legal equivalents, rather than by examples given.
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