US 4,274,170 AGranted

Collapsible kayak

OwnerDouglass E. Simpsoninventor

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Abstract

Collapsible kayak framework having a plurality of longitudinal members, formers and cockpit structure, which cockpit structure, when folded forms a portion of backpack frame. Longitudinal members extend between the bow and stern, and are releasably interconnected by the formers and the cockpit structure. Mid portions of the keelson, chine and gunwale member portions are interconnected so as to form two halves of a foldable cockpit structure, which halves are maintained apart when in the cockpit structure by releasable transverse deck members. The mid portions are hinged to each other for swinging together to form a compact frame forming basis of the backpack frame. When the structure is folded, the spaced transverse deck members extend downwardly from one gunwale member mid portion, lower ends of the deck members carrying ends of shoulder straps, and a belt portion to permit the complete folded kayak structure to be carried on a person's back.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A collapsible kayak having a framework characterized by a plurality of longitudinal members including forward and aft keelson member portions, forward and aft port and starboard chine and gunwale member portions, and forward and aft longitudinal deck members;

formers and a cockpit structure, the longitudinal members releasably interconnecting the cockpit structure with the bow and stern of the kayak;
the cockpit structure including:
(a) a keelson member mid portion, port and starboard chine member mid portions spaced on opposite sides of the keelson member mid portion, and port and starboard gunwale member mid portions spaced above the chine member mid portions, the mid portions interconnecting longitudinally the respective forward and aft longitudinal members,
(b) forward and aft interconnecting members interconnecting adjacent member mid portions so as to form a frame of generally parallel mid portions, each interconnecting member having a respective port and starboard portion which is rigidly and non-hingedly fixed to the respective port and starboard chine and gunwale member mid portions to form rigid port and starboard cockpit frame halves,
(c) the port and starboard cockpit frame havles being hinged relative to each other about the keelson member mid portion by at least one of said port and starboard portions of said interconnecting members being hinged to said keelson member mid portion to effectively permit the cockpit structure to be folded about the keelson member mid portion to permit the port and starboard mid portions to approach each other,
(d) forward and aft transverse deck members adapted to extend between the gunwale member mid portions to define with the gunwale member mid portions a cockpit opening to receive a kayakist, each transverse deck member having at least one end releasably connected adjacent an opposite end of one of the gunwale member mid portions, the forward and aft longitudinal deck members being releasably connected to the forward and aft transverse deck members.
so that when the framework is assembled the forward and aft keelson, chine and gunwale member portions are connected to the respective keelson, chine and gunwale member mid portions of the cockpit structure to form a generally smoothly curved framework.

4 more elements

A method of folding a kayak into a framework suitable for use as a backpack frame, in which the kayak has:

a skin and a plurality of longitudinal members including forward and aft keelson member portions, forward and aft port and starboard chine and gunwale member portions, and forward and aft longitudinal deck members;
formers and a cockpit structure;
the cockpit structure including a keelson member mid portion, port and starboard chine member mid portions and port and starboard gunwale member mid portions, forward and aft interconnecting members interconnecting the mid portions on each side of the cockpit structure to form rigid port and starboard cockpit halves hinged about the keelson member mid portion, forward and aft transverse deck members each having at least one end releasably connected adjacent opposite ends of one of the gunwale member mid portions for swinging thereabout, the method being characterized by:
(a) removing the kayak framework from the skin,
(b) removing the formers and disconnecting the longitudinal members from each other, from the transverse deck members and from the mid portions of the cockpit structure,
(c) folding the cockpit structure about the keelson member mid portion so as to bring the chine and gunwale member mid portions closer together,
(d) securing the longitudinal members for easy carrying,
(e) positioning the transverse deck members to extend from one side of the cockpit structure in a similar direction,
(f) connecting a band to extend between the transverse deck members adapted to engage a wearer's torso and simultaneously maintaining the transverse deck members apart to maintain the band taut,
(g) connecting a pair of shoulder straps to positions adjacent upper and lower ends of the transverse deck members so as to form two loops to engage a person's shoulders so as to resemble a backpack frame structure in which the mid portions of the cockpit structure extend generally normally to the transverse deck members and are disposed on a side of the deck members remote from the person's back.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.