Unitary aluminum watercraft and method of production of same
AssigneeMarine Research and Development, Inc.
InventorBilly D. May
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A unitary aluminum watercraft is constructed from a single sheet of deep-formable aluminum by forcing a mold into the sheet to imprint the mold into the sheet and then forcing the perimeter portions around the mold. Excess sheet material is removed and than placed into a replica mold. A deck is installed and bonded to the interior bottom surface of the body by a structural flotation foam, such as urethane, to form a unitized structural beam which eliminates the need for a keel and the accompanying structural ribs and below-waterline rivets usually required.
Claims20
A method of producing a watercraft for passengers having a unitary body comprising the steps of:
- A. forming a unitary watercraft body from a single unitary sheet of deep-formable metal;
- B. providing a mold in a desired shape corresponding substantially to the body of the watercraft;
- C. forcing the mold into the sheet of metal to cause the mold to imprint the shape of the mold onto the sheet;
- D. fabricating a rigid floor adaptable for attachment to the watercraft body;
- and
- E. attaching the floor to the watercraft body.
A passenger watercraft comprising:
- a unitary unfolded sheet metal body including a lower portion having an interior surface and opposite side portions and opposite end portions, said body being forcibly molded of deep-formable metal without folding thereof, said lower portion of said body having a continuous bottom throughout without welds below a waterline of said watercraft to minimize drag and to maximize resistance to leaks, said body having welds upstanding from said bottom at said opposite end portions;
- a rigid floor, said floor including a substantially planar floor member having an upper surface and lower surface, said floor member being located adjacent said lower portion and extending between said end portions and said side portions and contacting thereabout said interior surface of said lower portion;
- and
- means for attaching said floor member to said lower portion of said body between said interior surface of said lower portion of said body and said lower surface of said floor member, said means including a unitized structural beam engaged throughout said lower surface of said floor member and extending throughout the extent of said body lower portion below said floor member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.