# US 10,479,449 B2 · Inflatable watercraft and method of making same

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- Number: US 10,479,449 B2
- Document ID: US10479449B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/904,999
- Filed: 2018-02-26
- Published: 2019-08-29
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2018-02-26
- Assignees: Bote, LLC
- Applicants: Bote, LLC
- Inventors: Corey Cooper
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479449B2

## CPC

- B63B 7/087: {Motor mountings, e.g. transom panels for outboard motors}
- B63B 32/40: Twintip boards; Wakeboards; Surfboards; Windsurfing boards; Paddle boards, e.g. SUP boards; Accessories specially adapted therefor
- B63B 32/51: Inflatable boards, e.g. drop-stitch inflatable boards
- B63B 32/70: Accessories not specially adapted for a particular type of board, e.g. paddings or buoyancy elements
- B63B 34/10: Power-driven personal watercraft, e.g. water scooters (water jet propulsion B63H11/00; jet steering B63H25/46); Accessories therefor
- B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06)

## Abstract

A watercraft is made of at least two inflatable members, each being made of a drop-stitch which provides strength and stiffness comparable to a solid material. Air pressures of twenty to thirty pounds are possible with drop-stitch material. Using near net shape structures, a cockpit is formed by stacking one inflatable member on top of the other. The two members are separately inflatable and bound together adhesively or with heat welding or tacking. Advantageously, the watercraft can function as both a board type watercraft or as a boat, capable of being paddled while standing up, or motored with an outboard motor.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An inflatable watercraft comprising:
a first inflatable member having a forward end, an aft end, a bottom surface, a top surface and a peripheral side surface between the bottom and top surfaces; and
a second inflatable member having a forward end, an aft end, a bottom surface, a top surface and a peripheral side surface between the bottom and top surfaces, wherein
the bottom surface of the second inflatable member is positioned in contact with the upper surface of the first inflatable member to define a hull and deck which are rigid when both the first and second inflatable members are inflated,
the second inflatable member includes an open space extending from the aft end towards the forward end, and defining a cockpit area when both the first and second inflatable members are inflated, and
the first inflatable member includes an open space extending from the aft end towards the forward end, and together with a portion of the open space of the second inflatable member defining an engine well.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The inflatable watercraft of claim 1, wherein the first and second inflatable members are bonded to each other at an interface between the lower surface of the second inflatable member and an upper surface of the first inflatable member.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The inflatable watercraft of claim 1, wherein the first and second inflatable members are made of a drop stitch material.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The inflatable watercraft of claim 3, wherein the first and second inflatable members are inflatable to air pressures of between 10 and 30 pounds per square inch.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The inflatable watercraft of claim 1, wherein the peripheral side surfaces of the first and second inflatable members are vertically and horizontally aligned.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The inflatable watercraft of claim 5, further comprising a sidewall bonded to the aligned peripheral side surfaces of the first and second inflatable members.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The inflatable watercraft of claim 1, further comprising an pump capable of generating air pressure in a range of 10 to 30 pounds per square inch.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The inflatable watercraft of claim 1, further comprising a storage bag capable of containing the first and second inflatable members when deflated.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The inflatable watercraft of claim 1, further comprising a mounting bracket for supporting an outboard motor, the mounting bracket being configured for detachably connecting to the inflatable watercraft near the engine well.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The inflatable watercraft of claim 9, further comprising an outboard motor having a drive shaft configured to extend through the engine well when the outboard motor is mounted on mounting bracket.