Boat hulls

A foldable boat hull formed from a blank of thermoplastic sheet material having a predetermined pattern of fold lines along which said blank is folded to form the hull of said foldable boat comprising:

• a blank of a self-supporting flexible sheet of polyolefin having a thickness of 1 to 4 millimeters being adapted to form a foldable boat hull;
• plastic folds provided along a first group of selected fold lines having a fold memory tending to return said blank from a flat orientation to its folded state about said first group of selected fold lines;
• plastic hinges provided along a second group of selected fold lines wherein said polyolefin has undergone molecular reorientation such that said blank hinges freely about said second group of selected fold lines;
• and
• releasable fastening means for securing said blank to form a boat hull in an erected condition, said foldable boat hull being capable of being unfastened by releasing said releasable fastening means and flattened by opening said folds and hinges for storage and shipment;
• said blank being of assistance to an assembler during erection by tending to return to its folded state when the blank is laid flat for reuse.

A collapsible vessel formed by erection and fastening of a sheet material blank, said vessel comprising:

• a blank of self-supporting flexible unitary sheet of polyolefin being adapted to form a vessel;
• a predetermined pattern of fold lines in said blank determining the folding of said blank in the erection of said vessel, selected ones of said fold lines providing plastic folds having fold memory tending when said blank is flat to return said sheet to its folded state about said selected fold lines, and others of said fold lines providing plastic hinges wherein said polyolefin has undergone molecular orientation such that said sheet hinges freely about said other lines;
• and
• releasable fastening means for securing the blank in its folded and erected form to constitute said vessel, said vessel being capable of being unfastened by releasing said releasable fastening means and flattened by opening said folds and hinges for storage and shipment;
• said blank being of assistance to an assembler during erection by tending to return to its folded state when the blank is laid flat for reuse.