Pontoons and Pontoon Vessel

The present invention relates to pontoons and to boats using the pontoons for floatation.

Pontoon boats are often used as recreational vessels. Apart from the pontoons, such vessels are relatively easy to construct in numerous configurations. They are usually configured as twin hulled boats with good stability and low draft.

The pontoons for conventional pontoon boats are fabricated as metal shells, usually aluminum, and in one piece. There are certain disadvantages to this type of construction. It is relatively expensive. The pontoons, once fabricated, are relatively large and bulky to transport. Where an aluminum hull is punctured or otherwise damaged, it is difficult and costly to repair. The pontoons must be fabricated individually for vessels of different sizes.

The present invention is therefore concerned with a novel, sectional pontoon.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a pontoon section comprising a buoyant body having a shell of thermoplastic material with two end walls, one of said end walls having integral lug means projecting therefrom, and the other said end walls having a socket means therein for receiving the lug means of another, similar pontoon section.

The thermoplastic pontoon shell is light weight and rugged. It can easily be molded using for example, a rotational molding technique. Using the lug and socket arrangement, the pontoon sections may be connected end to end with bow and stern sections to form pontoons in varying lengths.

The invention also provides vessels manufactured using the pontoons. According to this aspect of the invention there is provided a vessel comprising at least two pontoons, each pontoon having at least one centre section, a bow section and a stern section arranged end to end, with adjacent ends of the sections having interengaging lugs and sockets, and a deck mounted on the pontoons.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a pontoon comprising a plurality of pontoon sections arranged end to end, each section comprising an integral, thermoplastic shell having a hull portion and a head portion extending along the top of the hull portion, and a groove along each side of the pontoon section, between the head portion and the hull portion, and coupling means coupling the pontoon sections together, the coupling means comprising elongate members engaged in the grooves.

The elongate members are preferably oppositely facing channels, capturing the head portions of the pontoon sections between them and fastened to transverse beams that support the vessel deck.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present invention:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a pontoon boat;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a pontoon;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a pontoon;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section along line 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section along line 5--5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a pontoon section from one end;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a pontoon section from the opposite end; and

FIG. 8 is a view like FIG. 5 showing an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, and most particularly to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a boat 10 having floatation provided by two transversely spaced pontoons 12. A flat, rectangular deck 14 is supported on the two pontoons. The deck carries various furnishings 16 such seating, an operator's console and the like. The boat is driven by a motor (not shown). The pontoons of the boat are illustrated most particularly in FIGS. 2 through 7. Each pontoon includes two centre sections 20, a bow section 22 and a stern section 24, all arranged end to end to provide an elongate pontoon. As illustrated most particularly in FIGS. 4 and 5, each pontoon is manufactured as a thermoplastic shell 26, rotationally molded to the desired configuration. The shell includes a hull portion 28 and a head portion 30 that extends along the top of the hull portion. The head portion has a generally rectangular cross-sectional shape and is separated from the hull portion 28 on each side by an elongate groove 32. Each groove 32 receives the bottom flange of an extruded aluminum channel 36. Two of the channels 36 engage opposite sides of the head portion 30 to capture the head portion between them. The upper flanges of the channels are secured to transverse deck beams 38. Gusset plates 40 breaks the channel webs against the under sides of the beams.

As illustrated most particularly in FIGS. 4 and 6, the front end of each pontoon section, except the bow section, has an integral lug 42 projecting forwardly from the section. The lug has a top panel 44 that slopes downward to the front, a generally vertical end panel 46 and a stepped bottom panel 48 that provides a recess 50 in the bottom of the lug. The lug has two flat side panels 52. The back end of each pontoon section, with the exception of the stern section, has a mating socket 56. As shown most particularly in FIG. 4, the lugs fit into the mating sockets with the stepped bottom panel 58 of the socket engaging with the stepped bottom panel 48 of the lug in order to retain the pontoon sections against longitudinal separation. The lug and socket interengagement also provides a rotational lateral alignment of the sections. The channels 36, as described above, also serve to couple the pontoon sections to ensure that they are not inadvertently disengaged from one another.

The bow section 22 of the pontoon has an upturned leading end 60, while the stern section 24 has a tapering stern 62.

In constructing a vessel using the pontoon sections, pontoons of various lengths can be assembled depending on the number of center pontoon sections employed in the construction. The sections may be made in standard lengths, for example up to four feet that are relatively easily to transport from place to place so that the vessels may be transported in a "knocked down" condition for subsequent assembly by the purchaser or by a regional distributor. The material used for the pontoons may be any of a number of suitable thermoplastics. One particularly suitable material is high density polyethylene, which is a rugged material resistant to inadvertent damage.

While one particular embodiment of the present invention is described in the foregoing, it is to be understood that other embodiments are possible. In one alternative embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 8, rubber inserts 34 are used in the grooves 32 to accommodate a shallower channel flange with some cushioning.

It is to be understood that the scope of the invention is to be ascertained solely by reference to the appended claims.