The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 18, 2000
Filed:
Apr. 14, 1999
Dominique Pestel, Courbevoie, FR;
Bernard Franchetti, Le Vernet, FR;
Zodiac International, Issy les Moulineaux, FR;
Abstract
A mixed hull inflatable craft convertible into a closed box for its storage or transport is disclosed. The hull has a rigid body (1) with a top edge (5), a plane to which is fixed an inflatable buoyancy tube (7), a rigid closing panel corresponding in contour to the edge and an inverted U-shaped profile (15) interlocking the tube to the hull. The profile overlaps the top edge (5) of the body and has a first groove (16) open upwards and inside the body, retaining a ring (18) carried by a flexible skirt (19) connected to the tube; a second groove (20) open upwards and outside the body, receiving the edge of the panel closing the body (1) in the closed box conformation and supporting the flexible skirt (19) of the inflated tube located outside the body in the craft conformation; and an elastomer bead (21) located on the outside under the second groove (20) forming a sealed bearing surface for the inflated tube (7) in the craft conformation.