Roll formed pontoon and method of manufacture
OwnerRaymond M. Manderfeldinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for making a pontoon for a pontoon boat and the pontoon made from the method. The method having an initial step of providing a sheet metal strip that has a width and a length. The strip is then formed longitudinally through successive rollers to provide a central portion having a closed cross section in which the lateral edges of the strip meet. After this stage of the process, end caps are formed at each end of the central portion. Typically, one of the end caps is a nose cone that is pointed and cuts the water as the boat moves forward. The end caps may be formed independently and separately of the strip or may be formed from material at the end of the formed strip.
Claims19
A method for making a pontoon for a pontoon boat comprising the steps:
- (a) providing a metal strip having a width, a length, and lateral edges;
- (b) forming said metal strip longitudinally to provide a cross sectional shape in which the lateral edges of said strip are adjacent to each other;
- (c) joining the lateral edges of the strip to produce a hollow central portion having a closed cross section and opposite ends;
- and
- (d) forming end caps from said opposite ends of said central portion to form an enclosed hollow pontoon said end caps being formed continuously from said metal strip so that a portion of said pontoon has no joints between said central portion and each said end cap.
A method for making a pontoon for a pontoon boat comprising the steps:
- (a) providing a metal strip having a width, a length, and lateral edges;
- (b) forming said metal strip longitudinally to provide a cross sectional shape in which the lateral edges of said strip are adjacent to each other;
- (c) joining the lateral edges of the strip to produce a hollow central portion having a closed cross section and opposite ends;
- (d) cutting said closed cross sectional shape to a desired length;
- (e) partitioning said central portion into separate chambers;
- and
- (f) forming end caps from said opposite ends of said central portion to form an enclosed hollow pontoon, one of said end caps being tapered wherein rollers form said tapered end cap.
A method for making a pontoon for a pontoon boat comprising the steps:
- (a) providing a metal strip having a width, a length, and lateral edges;
- (b) forming said metal strip longitudinally to provide a cross sectional shape in which the lateral edges of said strip are adjacent to each other;
- (c) joining the lateral edges of the strip to produce a hollow central portion having a closed cross section and opposite ends;
- and
- (d) forming end caps from said opposite ends of said central portion to form an enclosed hollow pontoon wherein no joints are made below a waterline of said pontoon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.