Collapsible boat with a folding transom

摘要

Collapsible boats with foldable rigid transoms are disclosed. A collapsible boat includes a collapsible hull formed from a plurality of panels that extend from a first end to a second end of the collapsible/inflatable boat. Each of the panels is connected with at least one the other panels. The collapsible hull is configurable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. A folding rigid transom is used to constrain at least two rear margins of the panels when the hull is in the expanded configuration. The folding rigid transom and seats remain attached to the hull when the hull is in the collapsed configuration. A collapsible boat can have one or more interior members that are inflatable to support the collapsible hull in the expanded configuration.

主权项

1. A boat comprising:
a collapsible hull having a first end and a second end, the hull comprising a plurality of panels extending between the first end and the second end, each of the panels being connected with at least one other of the panels, each of the panels having a rear margin disposed to the second end of the boat, the panels including side panels that include a port side panel and a starboard side panel, the hull configurable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, the hull further comprising a flexible diaphragm connected with the rear margins of the panels, the flexible diaphragm configured to have a substantially compact configuration when the hull is in the collapsed configuration, and the flexible diaphragm providing a water-tight barrier when the hull is in the expanded configuration; a folding rigid transom, separate from the flexible diaphragm, to constrain at least two rear margins of the panels when the hull is in the expanded configuration, the folding rigid transom remaining attached to at least one of the port side panel or the starboard side panel when the hull is in the collapsed configuration; and a releasable connector operable to prevent folding of the folding rigid transom when the folding rigid transom is constraining the at least two rear margins of the panels, wherein the releasable connector comprises at least one of (i) one or more vertically oriented retaining pins, or (ii) one or more reconfigurable latch members.