Zodiac International

Zodiac

Michel Eymard

An inflatable boat (1) includes at least one inflatable buoyancy tube (2) forming two substantially parallel branches (3) that are united towards the forward end (4). A bottom (5) that is rigid in the transverse direction is held between the two branches (3) of the inflatable tube (2). A transom (6) is provided for supporting an outboard motor assembly. The boat is characterized in that the stern portion of the underside of its bottom (5) supports at least one projecting bulb (7) that is elongate in the longitudinal direction of the boat and that is constituted by a flexible bag which is inflated by a fluid under pressure. This bulb (4) is disposed facing the position occupied by an arm of the motor assembly that plunges into the water and that supports at least one thrust member together with anticavitation plates.

Inflatable boat operating as a catamaran, and having improved stability

The craft incorporates a keel (3) essentially constituted by an elongated capacity (4) formed out of a flexible or resilient material which is distortable and watertight. A water inlet opening (6) is provided in the wall of this elongated capacity (4) oriented towards the bow of the craft and maintained in the open condition, in order to have the water back pressure prevailing in this elongated capacity (4) as soon as the craft is moving in the forward direction, said elongated capacity (4) being then at least partially filled with water.

Keels of craft

An inflatable reservoir for containing a liquid, more especially an inflatable swimming pool, formed from a single sheet of a flexible and fluid tight material defining a bottom supporting thereover the liquid filling the reservoir and a peripheral space formed by the remainder of the sheet folded back on itself inwardly over the whole of its periphery so as to form approximately a tube filled partially with liquid and partially with gas, discontinuous mechanical connection means being provided for connecting the free edge of the folded down remainder of the sheet to the bottom.

Inflatable reservoir for containing a liquid, more especially an

An inflatable envelope surrounding a compression beam, at least one flexible traction beam associated with the compression beam and surrounding envelope. The traction and compression beams are coplanar and at least one flexible diagonal mechanical network is interposed between the beams integral therewith. The envelope, the compression and traction beams and the diagonal network are connected together so that the inflation of the envelope maintains the assembly of these elements in shape.

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Toulouse, France

Michel Eymard