DEVICE TO BE MOUNTED ON A BOAT TO ENABLE TO LAUNCH AND TO RETRIEVE THE BOAT FROM AND INTO WATER, BOAT EQUIPPED WITH SUCH A DEVICE AND CORRESPONDING HARBOUR FACILITY

Abstract

A device mounted on a boat to launch and retrieve the boat from and into water and to drive it on solid ground, comprising a first set including at least one wheel that pivots freely and mounted on a holder in the stem area of the boat, and two second sets each including at least one drive wheel mounted on a holder in the rear area of the boat, with one of the second sets on the port side and the other on the starboard side, said sets being arranged to place the at least one free wheel in the front and the drive wheels in the back on the ground to roll on solid ground and to launch and retrieve the boat from and into water, said sets being adjustable so that the drive wheels come into contact with a slip before the at least one free wheel.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Patent applications covering the subject-matter of the present US patent application were filed with the French Patent Office on Jul. 8, 2009 under the application number 0903377 and with the European Patent Office on Jul. 8, 2010 under the application number 10168919.8.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention relates to the field of shallow draft boats, in particular those having a small size, especially boats 7-8 metres long.

[0003] The invention firstly relates to a device to be mounted on a boat, enabling to launch and to retrieve the boat from and into water.

[0004] This device can come in the form of a kit composed of different sets carrying wheels that the user will place on the outside of the hull so as to be able to make the boat roll on solid ground and to launch it into water, remove from the boat for navigation, and replace when it comes back on solid ground, such a kit being therefore particularly intended to equip the existing boats.

[0005] Otherwise, the device can come in a built-in form or with the possibility of being built into the boat, which has, inside its hull, housings or casings for the sets carrying the wheels, these being retractable in the hull for navigation and extended to get the wheels out in order to make the boat roll on solid ground, launch it into water and retrieve it from water.

[0006] The invention also relates to a boat which is equipped or suitable for being equipped in this way.

[0007] Lastly, the invention relates to a harbour facility provided with a water entry and exit slip and a parking area for the boats carrying the device according to the invention, the position of the wheels of the latter being in particular adjusted depending on the slope of this slip.

[0008] In most cases, the owner of a pleasure boat only makes a few trips at sea of his/her boat. Otherwise, the boat is not used and has to be left in a safe place.

[0009] Currently, there are two solutions for boat parking: into water or in dry dock.

[0010] The first solution consists in leaving the boat into water in a recreational harbour's location rented by the year. However, the number of locations of a recreational harbour is very restricted and it is often necessary to wait for several years after the renting application for a location to get it. Another drawback is the extremely high cost for renting a location, added to the insurance and boat caretaking cost.

[0011] Furthermore, the boat being constantly into water, a corrosion of the fittings cannot be avoided, resulting in costly servicing operations. It is also necessary to apply an antifouling paint for preventing marine organism deposit on the boat hull which would occur otherwise. Antifouling paints are naturally toxic and therefore harmful for human beings and the marine environment.

[0012] A second solution consists in retrieving the boat from water and in dry storing it, either in boat dry storage automatic systems or conventionally in a garage, by placing the boat on a trailer.

[0013] To retrieve the boat from water and to launch it again into water, it is possible to use an automatic boat elevator, which can lift the boat out of water and dry position it, either on a trailer or in a boat dry storage automatic system, and which can lift the boat and move it so as to launch it into water.

[0014] The owner is therefore forced to reserve the elevator in advance, for a given schedule, for launching and/or retrieving his/her boat from and into water. The use of the boat is therefore restricted and the owner loses a part of his/her freedom of using the boat. Thus, he/she cannot extend a trip at sea, for example if the navigation conditions are particularly nice, because then, he/she will not be able to retrieve his/her boat from water. Further, the cost for using an elevator is high.

[0015] The owner can also launch and retrieve his/her boat from and into water himself/herself. For launching the boat into water, the boat being placed on a trailer connected to the rear of the owner's vehicle, the owner first has to make the boat reverse on the slip in order to place the trailer into water as much as possible.

[0016] If the owner is accompanied by a person, the owner, or this person, gets on the boat, and the person, or the owner, detaches the boat from the trailer, the boat then floating. The person ashore then has to park the vehicle with the trailer in a parking space and, if he/she takes part in the trip at sea, go to a pontoon to which the person on board the boat brought the boat.

[0017] If the owner is alone, he/she has to detach the boat from the trailer and get on the boat directly. Then, he/she has to moor the boat to a pontoon, and then come back to the boat launch slip so as to fetch the vehicle and the trailer and park them in a parking area.

[0018] For retrieving the boat from water, the owner has to be helped by a person. If this person is on board the boat with the owner, first he/she has to get off the boat at a pontoon, and then go to fetch the vehicle and the trailer to place them on the boat retrieval slip, with the trailer being placed into water as much as possible.

[0019] The person on board the boat leads the latter until the boat retrieval slip and causes the boat to come on the trailer, the boat being lifted by the trailer. Once it has been placed on the trailer, the person ashore attaches the boat to the trailer and the boat can be towed out of the boat retrieval slip.

[0020] As it can be noticed, these boat launching and retrieving manoeuvres are difficult, due to the slip slope, the slip surface quality making driving the vehicle on it difficult, etc. It is also to be noticed that it is extremely difficult to retrieve a boat from water alone.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0021] The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned problems.

[0022] Consequently, it first relates to a device to be mounted on a boat to enable to launch and to retrieve the boat from and into water through a boat launch and retrieval slip and to drive it on solid ground, wherein it comprises:

[0023] a first set constituted by at least one freely pivotable wheel or group of freely pivotable wheels mounted on a holder to be mounted in the stem area of the boat; and

[0024] two second sets each constituted by at least one drive wheel mounted on a holder to be mounted in the rear area of the boat, with one of the second sets on the port side and the other on the starboard side, said sets being arranged so that, when they are mounted in the stem area and on the port side and on the starboard side, respectively, the at least one free wheel in the front and the drive wheels in the back are placed on the ground, in order to make the boat roll on solid ground and to launch and retrieve it from and into water, said sets being adjustable so that, when the boat is retrieved from water, the drive wheels come into contact with said slip before the at least one free wheel, said sets being further retractable in order to leave the boat hull free for navigation, means being provided for the control of the drive wheels.

[0025] In accordance with a first embodiment, the holders of the first set and second sets each are provided, on the one hand, with adjustable mounting means on the outside of the boat hull, which is provided with complementary means for receiving said holders, and, on the other hand, with means enabling the user to remove each of the sets from the boat once the latter has been launched into water and to bring them back into the boat, and then to mount them again from the boat in preparation for the arrival on the slip leading to solid ground, the holder of the first set consisting in a so-called stem bar, which is to be positioned along the boat stem line, which may go down to the keel, and fit the stem curvature, and to which is connected a pivot axis of the at least one free wheel, and the holder of each second set consisting in a so-called tidal leg carrying at its base its associated at least one drive wheel. Advantageously, the holder of the first set comprises means for damping the boat weight on the at least one free wheel and the holder of each second set comprises means for damping the boat weight on the at least one drive wheel.

[0026] The first set and/or the second sets are advantageously arranged so as to be able to float in case the user makes them fall into water. In particular, the first set and/or the second sets are provided with at least one float so as to float into water.

[0027] In accordance with a particular implementation of the device of the invention, the stem bar includes a front bar and a rear bar which are pivotable with respect to each other so as to fit the boat stem curvature by extending down to the keel, at least one of the bars being adjustable in length so as to adapt to the boat sizes, at least one of the bars being edged by shims in order to better fit the stem shape. Optionally, the stem bar carries floats externally, on the front bar or the rear bar, or on both. Optionally, the at least one bar adjustable in length is edged by lateral wings linked by transverse rollers freely rotatable so as to ensure stem bar positioning and locking.

[0028] Alternatively, the stem bar is formed by a chain, consisting in successive flat links hinged one to another, at least one flat link being foldable along its free borders in order to form shims allowing to better fit the shape of the stem.

[0029] Alternatively, the stem bar consists in a curved-shape one-piece bar, whose curve fits the stem curve of the boat to be equipped with the device.

[0030] In particular, the stem bar can have means for adjusting the longitudinal position of the at least one free wheel, allowing to adjust the position of the at least one free wheel such that, when the boat equipped with said device arrives on a boat retrieval slip, the drive wheels of the tidal legs first touch the boat retrieval slip. These adjusting means may consist in particular in a series of spaced-apart holes in which the pivot axis of the at least one free wheel can come in order to secure the at least one free wheel to the stem bar.

[0031] Also, the stem bar can be provided, at its stem side end, with a means for its securing to the boat, such as a screw securing means for a securing to a ear stem plate, as well as with a handle that the user can grip to bring the stem bar back on board, and is provided with, at its keel side end, at least one passage for at least two lines or a tightening strap for maintaining the stem bar against the stem.

[0032] In case of use of at least two lines, at least one line is on the port side and at least one line is on the starboard side and a first end of each of the at least two lines is received in said at least one passage and attached there to the stem bar. The other end of the at least two lines, opposite to said first end, advantageously carries floats and is advantageously arranged to cooperate with turnbuckles installed on the boat and allowing to permanently adjust the length of said lines or straps.

[0033] In case of use of a tigthening strap, said at least one passage consists in a ring carried by the stem bar, advantageously by the underside of the stem bar, and in which is threaded the tigthening strap. When the stem bar is to be maintained against the boat stem, a first end of the tightening strap is removably attached to a first border area of the boat, optionally using attaching means carried by said end of the tightening strap or using attaching means carried by the boat, and the second end of the tightening strap, opposite to said first end, is attached to the border area of the boat, opposite to said first border area, in a manner allowing to tighten the strap around the hull once the first end has been attached to the first border area, so as to securely maintain the stem bar against the boat stem. To that end, the second end of the tightening strap may optionally carry tightening attaching means, such as ratchet and cam buckle tensioning assembly. Two stopping means, such as stopping rings, may be made integral with the tightening strap, on either side of the stem bar, after the tightening strap has been threaded in said at least one passage, so as to prevent the strap from escaping out of the stem bar.

[0034] Each leg can include:

[0035] a fixed body;

[0036] a moving body moveable with respect to the fixed body for damping the uneven ground when the boat rolls on solid ground, and provided with bearing means arranged to support the boat;

[0037] the at least one drive wheel connected to the fixed body;

[0038] an engine driving the at least one drive wheel and controlled by said control means;

[0039] securing means for securing the driving tidal leg to the boat; and

[0040] at least one carrying and/or gripping handle for the boat launch.

[0041] Alternatively, each leg can include:

[0042] a single body;

[0043] the at least one drive wheel connected to the single body;

[0044] an engine driving the at least one drive wheel and controlled by said control means;

[0045] securing means for securing the driving tidal leg to the boat; and

[0046] at least one carrying and/or gripping handle for the boat launch.

[0047] Optionally, the leg includes, associated to the engine, a braking device, such as a braking device with a ratchet wheel and a pawl. The leg may also carry at least one float.

[0048] If the device is intended to be used with rigid-hull-type boats, it is advantageously provided that:

[0049] the legs are arranged to each be placed on a lateral side of the boat hull, symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal median plane of the boat;

[0050] the bearing means are constituted by a support platform leaning against the boat hull when the device is in mounted position, in order to support the boat, the position in height and in depth of the support platform with respect to the moving body being adjustable so as to fit to the hull curvature; and

[0051] the means for securing the leg to the boat are constituted by a threaded rod extending from the leg and passing through a hole made in the boat hull and cooperating with a nut in order to lock the driving tidal leg against the boat hull, or are constituted by a bracket to be placed on the edge of the boat and means for removably securing the upper portion of the leg body to the outer face of the bracket in mounted position thereof.

[0052] If the boat is intended to be used with pneumatic-type boats, the sides of which are constituted by sponsons connected by a rear panel carrying an engine, it is advantageously provided that:

[0053] the legs are arranged to be secured to the rear panel, on each side of the engine;

[0054] the bearing means are constituted by a bearing piece secured to the rear panel and comprising an area protruding from a first surface of the bearing piece in order to create a shoulder, the end face of the protruding area coming into contact with the rear panel in the mounted position, and by a support block which is secured to the leg moving body and having, on its upper edge, a groove receiving the shoulder of the bearing piece in order to support the boat; and

[0055] the means for securing the leg to the boat are constituted by a connection block to be secured to the moving body of a two-part body or to the single body and provided with a threaded hole receiving a bolt passing through a through hole made in the rear panel in order to secure the connection block to the boat, the position in height of the connection block with respect to the moving body of a two-part body or to the single body being adjustable.

[0056] In accordance with a second embodiment of the device according to the invention, the first set and the two second sets are built into a boat and are retractable in casings formed in the hull, said sets being provided with means for mounting their holders in said casings and means for controlling their extension out of said casings so as to position the wheels in a position for making the boat roll on solid ground and for launching and retrieving it from and into water, and their retraction in the casings to leave the boat hull free for navigation.

[0057] In every instance, the means for controlling the drive wheels are advantageously hand-held control means or control means applied to the instrument panel.

[0058] The invention also relates to a boat which is equipped or ready to be equipped permanently with the device as defined above.

[0059] The invention also relates to a method for initially adjusting the device according to the invention, wherein it comprises the following steps:

[0060] the boat is placed on legs such that its true waterline, which is painted on its hull, is horizontal;

[0061] the second sets and the first set are positioned on the boat;

[0062] the slope of the boat launch slip of the harbour facility is physically represented by a line B, for example using a cord;

[0063] the height of the drive wheels and of the at least one free wheel are adjusted with respect to this line B to ensure that the drive wheels will come into contact with the slip before the at least one free wheel.

[0064] The initial adjustment of the device will generally depend on the boat it is intended to equip and on the slope of the boat launch and retrieval slip of the harbour facility which will be frequented.

[0065] Lastly, the invention relates to a harbour facility for receiving boats equipped with a device as defined above and boats equipped or ready to be equipped permanently with the device as defined above, in order to allow parking thereof, said harbour facility comprising a boat launch and retrieval slip leading to a boat ground parking area, the slip having a slope for which the means for driving the boats were adjusted so that the drive wheels of the rear drive means touch the boat retrieval slip first, said harbour facility also comprising an area for receiving the boats once they have been retrieved from water. The harbour facility advantageously comprises a parking area constituted by parking spaces.

[0066] The slip slope is advantageously of 4-6°, in particular of 5°, in order to ensure a good grip of the drive wheels when they arrive on the slip while getting out of water.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0067] To better illustrate the subject-matter of the present invention, particular embodiments thereof will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing.

[0068] On this drawing,

[0069] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rigid-hull-type boat, equipped with a device according to a first embodiment of the invention, which comes in the form of a kit, the boat being depicted by dash and dot lines and the kit members being depicted in an exploded view in the position they will occupy on the hull once they have been mounted;

[0070] FIG. 2 is, at a bigger scale, an exploded perspective view of the stem bar-free wheel set of the kit in FIG. 1;

[0071] FIG. 3 is an elevation view of a driving tidal leg set of the kit in FIG. 1;

[0072] FIGS. 4A to 4C are side views of a boat respectively during first to third adjusting steps of the kit in FIG. 1;

[0073] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a boat into which is built the device according to the invention, in accordance with a second embodiment;

[0074] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a harbour facility in which boats equipped with the device according to the invention can be parked;

[0075] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a pneumatic-type boat, which is equipped with a kit according to the invention, constituting an alternative of the one in FIG. 1 for pneumatic boats;

[0076] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a driving tidal leg of the kit depicted in FIG. 7

[0077] FIG. 9 is a schematic side view of the pneumatic boat of FIG. 7, with a stem bar made in accordance with an alternative;

[0078] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternative driving tidal leg set of the kit of FIG. 1;

[0079] FIGS. 11 and 12 depict in exploded perspective view and in the mounted state, respectively, an alternative mode for the securing of the driving tidal leg set of the kit of FIG. 1; and

[0080] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an alternative stem bar-free wheels set of the kit of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0081] With reference to FIG. 1, it is illustrated a rigid-hull-type boat 1 on which is installed a kit-type removable device 2 according to a first embodiment of the invention.

[0082] The removable device 2 includes a first set constituted by a stem bar 3 placed under the boat stem and extending down to the keel and carrying free wheels 33, and two second sets each constituted by a driving tidal leg 4 which will be described more in detail hereinafter, the legs 4 being placed on each side of the boat in the stern area, a control device 5 being arranged in the pilot house to enable to control the legs 4.

[0083] With reference now to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the stem bar 3 includes a front bar 31 and a rear bar 32.

[0084] The front bar 31 includes a U-shaped plate 311 in which a full-bar-shaped moving portion 312 slides.

[0085] Each side wall of the U-shaped plate 311 is provided with a first row of holes 313 which are spaced apart from each other by a constant pitch along the longitudinal direction of the U-shaped plate 311. These first rows of holes 313 are located at the same height such that each hole 313 of a side wall corresponds to a corresponding hole 313 on the opposite side wall.

[0086] Through holes 312a are made in the moving portion 312 and they are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the moving portion 312 by a pitch which is equal to that of the row of holes 313.

[0087] The arrangement of these different holes 313 and 312a allows adjusting the position of the moving portion 312 in the U-shaped plate 311, and therefore the length of the stem bar 3. Indeed, the moving portion 312 can slide in the U-shaped plate 311 and be locked in position using a bolt (not shown) passing through a hole 313 of a first side wall of the U-shaped plate 311, the corresponding through hole 312a and the corresponding hole of the second side wall of the U-shaped plate 311.

[0088] It can also be seen that the free end of the moving portion 312 ends in an axis 315 having a central opening 315a into which a pin 316a cooperating with a dowel pin 316b is placed. The axis 315 carries a handle 315b enabling to handle the stem bar 3, particularly from the boat.

[0089] A second row of holes 317 is provided on each side wall of the U-shaped plate 311, which rows of holes 317 are located above the respective rows of holes 313 and are parallel thereto. These second rows of holes 317 are located at the same height such that each hole 317 of a side wall corresponds to a corresponding hole 317 on the opposite side wall.

[0090] Rollers 318 are arranged in the U-shaped plate 311 through axis (not shown) passing through a central opening made in each roller and each end of an axis lying in a hole 317 in order to be integral with the U-shaped plate 311. The sizes of the axis and of the central openings into which are inserted the axis are such that the roller can rotate freely with respect to the axis. The rollers 318 promote the stem bar 3 positioning and locking against the stem line.

[0091] It is also to be noted that the row of holes 313 is spaced apart from the row of holes 317 such that the moving portion 312 can slide in the U-shaped plate 311 without being blocked by the rollers 318.

[0092] The front bar 31 is connected by a hinge 31a to the rear bar 32 in order to be pivotable with respect to the latter. The rear bar 32 is a full bar in which a first row of through holes 321 and a second row of through holes 322 are made.

[0093] The through holes 321 are made in the vertical direction and are spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction of the rear bar 32.

[0094] The holes 322 are made transversally, their role being indicated hereinafter.

[0095] A group of two free wheels 33 linked by their axle is mounted on a vertical axis 331 passing through the rear bar 32 through one of the through holes 321 and is pivotable by 360° around this axis and can roll on the ground when the stem bar 3 mounted on the boat hull.

[0096] There could be only one free wheel 33 mounted on the vertical axis 33' and freely pivotable by 360°.

[0097] A damping block 332 or "silent block" is intended to absorb the vibrations which are generated when the free wheels 33 roll on the ground.

[0098] Providing a row of through holes 321 along the longitudinal direction of the rear bar 32 allows to adjust the position of the free wheels 33.

[0099] It can also be seen that, against the side walls of the front bar 31 and of the rear bar 32, are affixed two pairs of tilted side plates or shims 319 widening upwards in mounting position. Each shim 319 is connected to the front bar 31 or to the rear bar 32 by a hinge (not shown) in order to be pivotable with respect to the front bar 31 or to the rear bar 32 and to be secured at a given slope. These shims 319 allow to fit the stem bar 3 against the hull.

[0100] With reference again to FIG. 1, it can be seen that the stem bar 3 is placed under the boat 1 so as to extend approximately from the keel to the stem. The stem bar 3 is positioned in such a way that the connection between the front bar 31 and the rear bar 32 is located at the transition between the keel and stem of the boat 1.

[0101] The fact that the front bar 31 can pivot with respect to the rear bar 32 allows the stem bar 3 to globally fit the specific curvature of the hull of the boat 1, which can vary from boat to boat.

[0102] The stem bar 3 is advantageously provided with at least one float 35 in order to ensure the stem bar 3 floatation, two floats 35 being shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, one under the front bar 31, the other under the rear bar 32. The technical features of the floats 35 are defined with respect to the stem bar 3 mass, in order to ensure a sufficient floatation of the latter.

[0103] An end plate 34 provided with ears 34a is secured to the boat stem by screws 34b such that the ears 34a extend from the stem. This plate could be a plate already present on the boat and therefore already used for other purposes. However, it is preferable that the kit according to the invention includes this plate 34 which is intended to be secured on the stem so as to receive the stem bar 3 provided with its group of free wheels 33 (or with its free wheel 33).

[0104] The length of the front bar 31 is adjusted by sliding the moving portion 312 in the U-shaped plate 311 such that the axis 315 is positioned between the ears 34a, enabling the pin 316a to pass through the ears 34a and the through hole 315a and to extend from them in order to enable the dowel pin 316b to lock the pin 316a.

[0105] The front end of the stem bar 3 is thus secured to the boat 1. The rear end of the stem bar 3 is pinned against the keel using two lines 323, a first end of each line 323 being secured to the rear bar 32 via through holes 322 and the other end being secured to the boat 1. Both lines 323 can thus be arranged in two opposite holes 322 selected along the bar 32.

[0106] Several lines 323 secured in different holes 322 can also be provided.

[0107] In the vicinity of the points of securing the lines 323 to the boat 1, turnbuckle systems for the boat can advantageously be installed so as to permanently adjust the length of the lines 323. The end of the lines which is opposite to the securing end on the stem bar 3 is advantageously formed into an eyelet to be inserted in a turnbuckle. A line is advantageously provided with a float, just before each eyelet. The lines on the port side and on the starboard side are advantageously marked with colours, respectively green and red, this code being understood by boaters.

[0108] With reference now to FIG. 3, it is shown an elevation view of a set constituted by a "tidal leg"-type leg which carries at its base a drive wheel 43 and which is sometimes called a "driving tidal leg" hereinafter. This driving tidal leg 4 includes a fixed body 41 and a hollow moving body 42, in which an upper portion of the fixed body 41 is accommodated.

[0109] The drive wheel 43 is mounted integrally with a shaft 44 extending in the lower portion of the fixed body 41 and connected to it by bearings so as to be able to rotate.

[0110] The shaft 44 carries a ratchet wheel 45 carrying on its periphery notches causing the rise of a pawl 46 during a rotation in the direction corresponding to the forward movement of the boat, but locked by the pawl 46 in the other direction. The pawl 46 is connected to a control mechanism allowing, if needed, to maintain it disengaged from the notches whatever the ratchet wheel 45 rotation direction is.

[0111] An electric motor 47, integral with the fixed body 41, drives the shaft 44 to rotate, for example via a belt.

[0112] The moving body 42 and the fixed body 41 are connected via a damping block 42a, enabling the moving body 42 to slightly move with respect to the fixed body so as to damp the vibrations generated when the boat moves on the ground.

[0113] A threaded rod 42b projects from the upper portion of the moving body 42 in order to extend through a hole 42g made in the boat 1 hull when the driving tidal leg 4 is in position of use. This threaded rod 42b cooperates with a nut 42c for securing in position the driving tidal leg 4 to the boat 1.

[0114] The moving body 42 also has a boat launch handle 42d and a carrying handle 42e.

[0115] Further, a support platform 48 comes to fit to the moving body 42 in order to enter into contact with the boat 1 hull when the driving tidal leg 4 is in position of use. The support platform 48 includes a L-shaped plate 48a and two connection blocks 48b.

[0116] Both connection blocks 48b extend from the L-shaped plate 48a in order to make the support platform 48 integral with the moving body 42. For this purpose, each connection block 48b has through holes 48c arranged in rows and in columns. The moving body 42 has a column of threaded holes 42f on each side thereof. A screw (not shown) makes the support platform 48 integral with the moving body 42 by screwing in a through hole 42c and a threaded hole 42f.

[0117] Providing for columns and rows of through holes 48c allows an adjustment of the support platform 48 in depth and in height, respectively.

[0118] Thus, the position of the support platform 48 can be modified so as to fit the boat 1 hull curvature when the driving tidal leg 4 is in position of use, as shown in FIG. 1. In this way, the L-shaped plate 48a comes to support the boat 1, enabling to lock the driving tidal leg 4 in position, together with the threaded rod 42b-nut 42c connection.

[0119] It can also be seen in FIG. 1 that the driving tidal leg 4 is also provided with floats 49 and that the control device 5 controls the electric motor 47 of each driving tidal leg 4 using levers 52 and control cables 51 connected to the control device 5 and to the electric motor 47.

[0120] The electric motor 47 is powered either by a battery or the boat batteries, or by an on-board power generator. The power wires are secured to the wall of the driving tidal leg 4, for example by stapling.

[0121] It is now referred to FIGS. 4A to 4C, showing the three steps for adjusting the kit device of the invention to a specific boat.

[0122] Indeed, it is necessary to adjust the device of the invention such that, when the boat is retrieved from water, the wheels 43 of the driving tidal legs 4 come first into contact with the boat launch slip, before the group of free wheels 33, in order to ensure their drive function.

[0123] The slope of the boat launch slip can be of 4-6°, particularly of 5° or approximately of 5°, so as to ensure a good grip of the drive wheels when they arrive on the slip while getting out of water.

[0124] This is achieved by adjusting the position of the free wheels 33 in the longitudinal direction of the stem bar 3.

[0125] FIG. 4A shows a side view of the boat 1 lying on legs 60, such that its true waterline A, which is painted on the boat 1 hull, is horizontal.

[0126] The driving tidal legs 4 are then positioned on each side of the hull and the support platform 48 is adjusted so that it leans against the hull in order to support the boat 1 weight.

[0127] Then, the stem bar 3 is secured and the slope of the shims 119 is adjusted so that they come into contact with the underpart of the hull for properly positioning the stem bar 3.

[0128] Then, the slope of the boat launch slip of the port which will be frequented is physically represented by a line B, for example by means of a cord, and the position of the free wheels 33 is adjusted such that these wheels 33 are located above this line B, as can be seen in FIG. 4B.

[0129] When the legs 60 are removed, the boat 1 is in the position for moving on solid ground, which position is shown in FIG. 4C.

[0130] These different steps for adjusting the device of the invention are performed when this device is used for the first time with a specific boat 1. Given that the longitudinal position of the free wheels 33, the slope of the shims 319 and the positions in depth and in height of the support platform 48 are not modified when using the device of the invention, these different adjusting steps are only necessary at the first use.

[0131] On solid ground, the boat 1 is supported and moved by the device of the invention. It can be parked in a harbour facility 7, as shown in FIG. 6.

[0132] This harbour facility 7 in dry dock, for receiving boats equipped with the device of the invention, defines a parking area provided with parking spaces 71, an area 72 for receiving boats and a boat launch and retrieval slip 73. The area 72 for receiving boats is an area having a flat surface, enabling the users who arrive at the harbour facility to know that they are on solid ground, and particularly, that the ground is flat. Therefore, the user can, for example, disengage the pawl 46 in order to be able to perform a reverse movement.

[0133] When the user wants to launch the boat 1 into water, all he/she has to do is control the electric motors 47 using the control device 5 for leading the boat 1 to the boat launch slip 73. The boat 1 is caused to rotate on the right by only controlling the electric motor 47 on the port side, and to rotate on the left by only controlling the electric motor 47 on the starboard side.

[0134] The brake device, constituted by the ratchet wheel 45 and the pawl 46, enables to prevent a reverse movement. However, if a reverse movement is necessary, the user can disengage the pawl 46 from the ratchet wheel 45 in order to enable the wheel 43 to rotate in both directions. This can be particularly necessary for leaving a parking space 71.

[0135] Once into water, the user detaches the stem bar 3 and recovers the latter, which at this time floats on water thanks to the floats 35, using the lines 323, for storing it on board the boat. The user also detaches each driving tidal leg 4 and lifts them using the boat launch handles 42d.

[0136] Then, the user can navigate freely.

[0137] When he/she wants to go back to the port, the user, for example when arriving inside an area delimited by marking buoys and dedicated for the mounting/removing of the device according to the invention, attaches the front end of the stem bar 3 to the end plate 34, then draws the rear end of the stem bar 3 against the keel using the lines 323, in order to lock the stem bar 3 in position.

[0138] Then, the user places the driving tidal legs 4.

[0139] Of course, the user can first attach the driving tidal legs 4 and then the stem bar 3.

[0140] Once the device of the invention in position, the user steers the boat 1 so as to drive it on the slip 73 of the harbour facility 7. Thanks to the adjusting of the device of the invention before the first use, the wheels 43 of the driving tidal legs 4 touch the slip 73 first and the user can therefore control the boat 1 displacement until the area 72 for receiving boats by controlling the electric motors 47.

[0141] The brake device enables to prevent the boat 1 from reversing in the event of a breakdown of the motors 47 while the boat 1 is still on the slip 73.

[0142] The members constituting the device according to the first embodiment of the invention described above are not built into the boat 1, and thus the user has to attach and detach these different members.

[0143] According to a second embodiment, shown in FIG. 5, the sets the device of the invention is made up of are built into the boat 100 such that the user does not have to carry out these mounting and removing operations any longer.

[0144] The first set 120 with free wheel(s) comprises the at least one free wheel or the at least one free wheel group on their own holder, without the stem bar.

[0145] The second sets 130 are constituted by the driving tidal legs without the means for gripping them, fitting them to the hull and installing them against the hull, which have been described with reference to the first embodiment.

[0146] The boat 100 is provided with a casing 110 enclosing the first set 120 and two casings 110 each enclosing a driving tidal leg 130.

[0147] The control device (not shown) controls, in addition to the rotation of the electric motors of the driving tidal legs 130, extension/retraction mechanisms enabling to extend and to retract the at least one free wheel 120 and the driving tidal legs 130 respectively out of and into the casings.

[0148] Once into water, the user, through the control device, causes the at least one free wheel 120 and the driving tidal legs 130 to be retracted in the corresponding casings 110. When he/she wants to go back to the port, the user causes the at least one free wheel 120 and the driving tidal legs 130 to be extended out of the casings 110.

[0149] The displacement of the boat 100 is identical to the displacement of the boat 1 equipped with the kit according to the first embodiment of the invention.

[0150] Both first and second embodiments of the invention described above relate to the use of the device of the invention with rigid-hull-type boats.

[0151] It is referred to FIG. 7, where it is shown a pneumatic-type boat 200, which is equipped with a device according to an alternative of the first embodiment of the invention. The boat 200 sides are constituted by sponsons 210 connected to the rear area of the boat 200 by a rear panel 220 holding an engine 230.

[0152] The device according to this alternative includes a stem bar 300, two driving tidal legs 400 and a control device 500.

[0153] The stem bar 300 is identical to the stem bar 3 of the device according to the first embodiment of the invention, except for the fact that its front portion is bended for fitting the hull of such a boat.

[0154] It is now referred to FIG. 8, where it can be seen that the driving tidal leg 400 differs from the driving tidal leg 4 according to the first embodiment by the fact that it is not provided with a support platform 48 and it is not secured on the lateral sides of the boat. Indeed, the sponsons 210 being pneumatic, the driving tidal legs 4 according to the first embodiment cannot be secured in the way described above.

[0155] Consequently, the driving tidal leg 400 is secured to the rear panel 220 of the boat 200, on each side of the engine 230.

[0156] The support platform 48 is replaced with a connection block 401, a support block 402 and a bearing piece 403.

[0157] The moving body 420 of the leg 400 has, on each side thereof, threaded holes 421 arranged in a column.

[0158] The connection block 401 is provided with a column of through holes 401a and the support block 402 is also provided with a column of through holes 402a.

[0159] The connection block 401 and the support block 402 are secured to the moving body 420 by two bolts 404 respectively passing through a through hole 401a and a through hole 402a to each be screwed in a threaded hole 421.

[0160] Arranging the threaded holes 421, the through holes 401a and the through holes 402a in column enables to adjust the position of the connection block 401 and of the support block 402 in height in order to adapt the leg 400 arrangement to the specific configuration of the rear panel 220.

[0161] Each leg 400 is secured to the rear panel 220 by a bolt 405 passing through a through hole 401b made in the connection block 401.

[0162] The shear strength of the bolt 405 not being sufficient to bear the stress exerted by the boat weight, it is provided that the bearing piece 403 is secured to the rear panel 220 by two screws 403b passing through through holes 403a made in the piece 403 and coming to be screwed in two threaded holes of the rear panel 220.

[0163] The bearing piece 403, coming in the form of a rectangular-shaped plate, includes an area 403c protruding from a first surface of the plate, thereby creating a shoulder, the end face of the protruding area 403c being intended to lean against the rear panel 220 once the bearing piece 403 has been secured to the boat 200.

[0164] The support block 402 has, on its upper edge, a groove 402b which can receive the shoulder of the bearing piece 403.

[0165] Thus, the position of the support block 402 in height is adjusted with respect to the moving body 420 such that, once the leg 400 has been secured to the rear panel 220, the bearing piece 403 comes to press on the support block 402. This enables the leg 400 to bear the boat 200 weight.

[0166] The boat 200 is launched into water and retrieved from water and the device of the invention is adjusted and removed in the same way as the one described above for rigid-hull-type boats.

[0167] The displacement of the boat 200 is also identical to the displacement of the boats 1 and 100 equipped with the device according to the first embodiment and the second embodiment of the invention, respectively.

[0168] It is also to be noted that it is possible to add to the boat members enabling to warn third parties about a boat manoeuvre, for example a flashing light or a siren, particularly in the event of a reverse displacement of the boat in the harbour facility.

[0169] It can further be provided that the lines 323 connected to the stem bar 3 and the floats 49 of the driving tidal legs 4 be red-coloured for the port side and green-coloured for the starboard side, such that the person on board the boat knows what line 323 he/she has to secure on the port side and what line he/she has to secure on the starboard side, and likewise for the two driving tidal legs 4.

[0170] With reference to FIG. 9, the boat 200 is equipped with a curved-shape one-piece stem bar 300' which is an alternative implementation of the stem bar 3, 300. The free wheels 32 are mounted on the stem bar 300' in the same way as the one shown in FIG. 2. The stem bar 300' is applied against the stem and maintained in this position is the same way as described above for the stem bar 3, 300. The stem bar 300' is provided at the rear with shims 319 fulfilling the same function than the shims 319 of FIG. 2, and, at the front, it is hingeable between two parallel ears 250 formed at the front of the boat.

[0171] It is now referred to FIG. 10, where it can be seen a tidal leg 4' that is made substantially like the tidal leg 4 of FIG. 1 and the composing parts of which are designated by the same reference numbers, with the difference that it includes two wheels 43 instead of one wheel, the wheels 43 being mounted on the same axle and provided on both sides of the body 42 that is here made of a single part, in order to ensure a better balance of the tidal leg.

[0172] The leg 4 of FIGS. 1 and 8, the body of which is in two parts, could also be equipped with two wheels 43 instead of one wheel.

[0173] It is now referred to FIGS. 11 and 12, where it can be seen an example of a device for mounting the tidal leg on the boat hull which has the advantage of not requiring the drilling of a hole in the hull.

[0174] To this end, a bracket 50 is placed on the edge of the boat hull. On the outer face 50a of the bracket is secured, via screws 51, a plate-shape part 52 carrying a horseshoe-shaped protuberance 52a opening downwards. The body 42 of the tidal leg 4 is extended at its upper portion by a small plate 42h carrying on its face facing outwards a lug 42i, which is caused to be caught in a housing provided behind an overhanging portion 52j at the upper portion of the horseshoe-shaped protuberance 52a, the small plate 42h being caused to be positioned in the inner space of the protuberance 52a in the mounted position. A cover 53 is then positioned over the plate-shaped part 52--small plate 42h assembly in the mounted position. The cover 53 has a cut-out 53a for letting pass the overhanging portion 52j.

[0175] The water launch handle 42e carried by the cover 53 has not been depicted on FIGS. 11 and 12.

[0176] It is now referred to FIG. 13, where it can be seen a stem bar 3' in accordance with an alternative to the stem bar 3 of FIG. 1, the parts common to both stem bar being designated by the same reference numbers.

[0177] The difference between the stem bars 3 and 3' lies in the fact that the stem bar 3' is formed by a series of flat links 3'a hinged one to another along an axis 3'b. In the illustrated example, one link 3'a every two links is folded back along its two free borders to form two wings 319. The last link 3'c, on which the free wheels 33 assembly is mounted, is longer than the other links and has two wings 319 on both sides.

[0178] This implementation with a chain of links allows a good adjustment of the stem bar 3' to the stem of the boat.

[0179] The stem bar 3' may also be advantageously used on pneumatic-type boats.

[0180] The disclosed device, several embodiments of which are described above, enables an easy displacement of a grounded boat. It is therefore conceivable to create temporary harbour facilities, particularly during summer when the traffic is very important, by temporarily installing boat launch and retrieval slips.

[0181] The harbour facility can also be provided with trailer parking spaces, such that, if the owner of the boat does not want to leave his/her boat in the harbour facility throughout the year, he/she can secure the boat to the trailer conveniently and tow the boat using a vehicle, as well known.

[0182] It is also contemplated that the boat be driven on the road using the driving tidal legs, which enables to avoid using a vehicle and a trailer.

[0183] Of course, the embodiments which were described above were given as an indication and in a non restrictive way and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1- A device to be mounted on a boat to enable to launch and to retrieve the boat from and into water through a boat launch and retrieval slip and to drive it on solid ground, wherein it comprises: a first set constituted by at least one freely pivotable wheel or group of freely pivotable wheels mounted on a holder to be mounted in the stem area of the boat; and two second sets each constituted by at least one drive wheel mounted on a holder to be mounted in the rear area of the boat, with one of the second sets on the port side and the other on the starboard side, said sets being arranged so that, when they are mounted in the stem area and on the port side and on the starboard side, respectively, the at least one free wheel in the front and the drive wheels in the back are placed on the ground, in order to make the boat roll on solid ground and to launch and retrieve it from and into water, said sets being adjustable so that, when the boat is retrieved from water, the drive wheels come into contact with said slip before the at least one free wheel, said sets being further retractable in order to leave the boat hull free for navigation, means being provided for the control of the drive wheels.

2- Device according to claim 1, wherein the holders of the first set and second sets each are provided, on the one hand, with adjustable mounting means on the outside of the boat hull, which is provided with complementary means for receiving said holders, and, on the other hand, with means enabling the user to remove each of the sets from the boat once the latter has been launched into water and to bring them back into the boat, and then to mount them again from the boat in preparation for the arrival on the slip leading to solid ground, the holder of the first set consisting in a so-called stem bar, which is to be positioned along the boat stem line, which may go down to the keel, and fit the stem curvature, and to which is connected a pivot axis of the at least one free wheel, and the holder of each second set consisting in a so-called tidal leg carrying at its base its associated at least one drive wheel.

3- Device according to claim 2, wherein the holder of the first set comprises means for damping the boat weight on the at least one free wheel and the holder of each second set comprises means for damping the boat weight on the at least one drive wheel.

4- Device according to claim 2, wherein the first set and/or the second sets are provided with at least one float so as to float into water.

5- Device according to claim 2, wherein the stem bar includes a front bar and a rear bar which are pivotable with respect to each other so as to fit the boat stem curvature by extending down to the keel, at least one of the bars being adjustable in length so as to adapt to the boat sizes, at least one of the bars being edged by shims in order to better fit the stem shape.

6- Device according to claim 2, wherein the stem bar is formed by a chain, consisting in successive flat links hinged one to another, at least one flat link being foldable along its free borders in order to form shims allowing to better fit the shape of the stem.

7- Device according to claim 2, wherein the stem bar consists in a curved-shape one-piece bar, whose curve fits the stem curve of the boat to be equipped with the device.

8- Device according to claim 2, wherein the stem bar has means for adjusting the longitudinal position of the at least one free wheel, allowing to adjust the position of the at least one free wheel such that, when the boat equipped with said device arrives on a boat retrieval slip, the drive wheels of the tidal legs first touch the boat retrieval slip.

9- Device according to claim 2, wherein the stem bar is provided, at its stem side end, with a means for securing the stem bar to the boat, as well as with a handle that the user can grip to bring the stem bar back on board, and is provided with, at its keel side end, at least one passage for at least two lines or a tightening strap for maintaining the stem bar against the stem.

10- Device according to claim 2, wherein each leg includes: a fixed body; a moving body moveable with respect to the fixed body for damping the uneven ground when the boat rolls on solid ground, and provided with bearing means arranged to support the boat; the at least one drive wheel connected to the fixed body; an engine driving the at least one drive wheel and controlled by said control means; securing means for securing the driving tidal leg to the boat; and at least one carrying and/or gripping handle for the boat launch.

11- Device according to claim 10, wherein it includes, associated to the engine, a braking device.

12- Device according to claim 10, intended to be used with rigid-hull-type boats, wherein: the legs are arranged to each be placed on a lateral side of the boat hull, symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal median plane of the boat; the bearing means are constituted by a support platform leaning against the boat hull when the device is in mounted position, in order to support the boat, the position in height and in depth of the support platform with respect to the moving body being adjustable so as to fit to the hull curvature; and the means for securing the leg to the boat are constituted by a threaded rod extending from the leg and passing through a hole made in the boat hull and cooperating with a nut in order to lock the driving tidal leg against the boat hull.

13- Device according to claim 10, intended to be used with pneumatic-type boats, sides of which are constituted by sponsors connected by a rear panel carrying an engine, wherein: the legs are arranged to be secured to the rear panel, on each side of the engine; the bearing means are constituted by a bearing piece secured to the rear panel and comprising an area protruding from a first surface of the bearing piece in order to create a shoulder, the end face of the protruding area coming into contact with the rear panel in the mounted position, and by a support block which is secured to the leg moving body and having, on its upper edge, a groove receiving the shoulder of the bearing piece in order to support the boat; and the means for securing the leg to the boat are constituted by a connection block to be secured to the moving body and provided with a threaded hole receiving a bolt passing through a through hole made in the rear panel in order to secure the connection block to the boat, the position in height of the connection block with respect to the moving body being adjustable.

14- Device according to claim 1, wherein the first set and the two second sets are built into a boat and are retractable in casings formed in the hull, said sets being provided with means for mounting their holders in said casings and means for controlling their extension out of said casings so as to position the wheels in a position for making the boat roll on solid ground and for launching and retrieving it from and into water, and their retraction in the casings to leave the boat hull free for navigation.

15- Device according to claim 1, wherein the means for controlling the drive wheels are hand-held control means or control means applied to the instrument panel.

16- Boat equipped or ready to be equipped permanently with the device as defined in claim 14.

17- Method for initially adjusting the device according to claim 1, wherein it comprises the following steps: the boat is placed on legs such that its true waterline, which is painted on its hull, is horizontal; the second sets and the first set are positioned on the boat; the slope of the boat launch slip of the harbour facility is physically represented by a line B, for example using a cord; the height of the drive wheels and of the at least one free wheel are adjusted with respect to this line B to ensure that the drive wheels will come into contact with the slip before the at least one free wheel.

18- Harbour facility for receiving boats equipped with a device as defined in claim 1 and boats as defined in claim 16 in order to allow parking thereof, said harbour facility comprising a boat launch and retrieval slip leading to a boat ground parking area, the slip having a slope for which the means for driving the boats were adjusted so that the drive wheels of the rear drive means touch the boat retrieval slip first, said harbour facility also comprising an area for receiving the boats once they have been retrieved from water.

19- Harbour facility according to claim 17, wherein the slip slope is of 4-6.degree., in particular of 5.degree..

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