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EP 0 824 445 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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26.01.2000 Bulletin 2000/04 |
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Date of filing: 03.05.1996 |
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International Patent Classification (IPC)7: B63B 1/12 |
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International application number: |
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PCT/EP9601/839 |
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International publication number: |
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WO 9634/792 (07.11.1996 Gazette 1996/49) |
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PLEASURE CRAFT
FREIZEITWASSERFAHRZEUG
EMBARCATION DE PLAISANCE
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Designated Contracting States: |
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AT BE CH DE ES FR GB GR IT LI MC NL SE |
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Priority: |
05.05.1995 IT MI950915
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Date of publication of application: |
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25.02.1998 Bulletin 1998/09 |
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Proprietor: Terzi, Pietro |
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20154 Milano (IT) |
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Inventor: |
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- Terzi, Pietro
20154 Milano (IT)
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Representative: Gislon, Gabriele |
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Marietti e Gislon S.r.l.
Via Larga, 16 20122 Milano 20122 Milano (IT) |
(56) |
References cited: :
EP-A- 0 004 796 DE-A- 2 541 401 FR-A- 1 179 619
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DE-A- 2 508 377 DE-U- 9 402 044 US-A- 3 691 976
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Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
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Technical field
[0001] The present invention relates to a pleasure craft, i.e. to floating craft generally
used for the purposes of sport or leisure, such as sailing dinghies, light multihulls
and windsurfing boards.
Background art
[0002] A problem of known pleasure craft is that they require some skill and physical fitness
from their user. In fact, known dinghies, multihulls and sailboards are subject to
capsizing, even under medium or light wind conditions, if the crew is not skilled
enough. In the case of multihulls, these crafts are also subject to cart wheeling,
i.e. to capsize forward, thus posing a safety problem.
[0003] This is even more true for sailboards. In fact, as is known, there is a substantial
difference between sailing dinghies and windsurfing boards, given the different levels
of effort, skill and physical fitness required to sail these craft, even at non-competitive
level. It is obvious how physically more tiring it is to sail a sailboard compared
to a dinghy in optimum sea and weather conditions.
[0004] Another problem of known craft is that, except for sailboards, they are not easily
dismantled and transported.
[0005] EP-A-0004796, dated 11.04.79, discloses a multi-hull craft having one bow hull and
two, parallel, stern hulls connected by a frame. The hulls, that are inflatable, are
provided with fins to control direction of the craft and the bow hull is acting as
the rudder, being movable for steerage of the craft. The hulls can be removed and
road wheels can be mounted at their place: the frame structure of the craft reflects
its being substantially designed as a "land yacht" having the same motion on solid
ground as in the water and results in a poor behaviour of the craft in water. In fact,
in order to steer the craft, the bow hull is positioned transversal to the forward
direction of the craft, thus generating a resistance to said forward movement.
Disclosure of the invention
[0006] The present invention aims to solve the above problems by providing a pleasure boat
that is very stable and safe, that is easy to sail, from a seated position, in view
of the reduced effort, physical ability and technique required, and that at the same
time is able to reach high speeds and to glide easily.
[0007] A further aim of the invention is to provide a boat that is easily dismantled and
transported on a car.
Disclosure of the invention
[0008] These aims are achieved by the present invention which relates to a pleasure craft
according to Claim 1.
[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the craft according to the invention is in the form of
a sailboat and comprises a mast, mainsail and (if necessary) a jib mounted on a frame
which also supports the crew.
[0010] According to another preferred aspect of the invention, the frame comprises three
arms joined to each other at one end by a common joint and having a means of flotation
at their free ends, which gives the structure of the craft flexibility characteristics
similar to a leaf-spring.
[0011] According to a further preferred aspect of the invention, the means of flotation
are inflatable elements which are attached to the free ends of the arms by means of
a support with rigid coupling.
[0012] The craft according to the present invention offers a number of advantages over boats
known at present.
[0013] Similar to sailing dinghies and motor-boats, the presence of a means of housing the
crew (which in a dinghy comprises the hull) allows the crew to control the craft from
a sitting position and concentrate on the sailing instead of thinking about keeping
their feet on the board (as is the case with windsurfers). Furthermore, compared to
light dinghies or boats with moving centreboards (i.e. without fixed ballast or bulb
keels) the crew stay in the same position in all points of sailing, even closehauled.
The righting moment which opposes heeling when sailing close to the wind is assured
by the position of the centre of gravity of the seated crew with respect to the roll-axis
of the craft, while in a dinghy it is necessary to change position in the boat - hiking
out or using a trapeze where necessary.
[0014] Furthermore, the springiness of the frame and the presence of inflatable means of
floatation result in a damping effect of the stresses to which the craft is subject.
The floating means and the frame flex elastically to absorb the ripples of small waves,
thus dissipating the impact energy of the waves (heaving motion - vertical oscillation)
and enabling the craft to go faster and be more stable while ensuring increased comfort
for the crew.
[0015] Thanks to the springiness of the overall structure, that also absorbs the pitching
and rolling due to sudden squalls, and to the position of the crew, located centrally
to the rear arms, the craft according to the present invention always keeps a stable
and substantially flat position. In this way, the craft is more stable and the crew
can devote more time to the sailing manoeuvres.
[0016] A further advantage is that the craft is easily assembled and dismantled and, once
dismantled, can be easily transported, e.g. on the roof of a car. The use of inflatable
floating means is particularly useful to this purpose.
[0017] Another advantage is the reduced cost of the craft, which can be made from materials
already known in the nautical field and these materials do not call for specialized
or expensive construction techniques.
Best mode for carrying out the invention
[0018] The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the attached
drawings which are by way of example and not limiting and in which:
- fig.1 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of the invention;
- fig.2 is a top view of the embodiment shown in fig.1;
- fig.3 is a partial side view of an enlargement of the area where the frame elements
are interconnected;
- fig.4 is a plan view of the same area shown in fig.3;
- fig.5 is an enlargement of the attachment point of a float to the frame;
- fig. 6 is a perspective view of the embodiment of figures 1 and 2; and
- fig. 7 is a top view of another embodiment of the invention.
[0019] The craft 1 according to the present invention does not have a traditional hull to
house the crew, and comprises a frame 2 formed of tubular elements on which are mounted
three or more means of floatation 6, a means of propulsion of the craft (e.g. the
sail 4 or a motorized form of propulsion), a means of controlling the direction of
the craft (rudder 17 and keel 14) and a means of housing the crew and passenger(s).
[0020] Preferably, the craft of the invention is driven by sail and the figures show embodiments
of this type. Thus, the craft of the drawings comprises a mast 3 with a mainsail 4
and boom 5 mounted on the frame 2 to which are attached the floats 6.
[0021] As can be better seen from fig.2, the frame 2 comprises four arms 7 - 10, interconnected
by a common cross element or joint 11 to which the mast 3 is attached. The arms are
made of a material that is suitable for nautical use: such materials are known in
the art and comprise the various aluminium-based alloys used for the construction
of masts. Arms 7-9 are provided at their ends with floating means 6 and arm 10 is
provided with means to support the crew.
[0022] Arms 7-9 flex elastically i.e. they react jointly as a leaf-spring which reacts to
bending-torsional stress, absorbing the stresses to which the craft is subject in
use, in particular in rough seas, so as to maintain the craft in a substantially flat
position.
[0023] The arms 7-10 are inserted into corresponding housings of the common element 11 and
are kept into place by any suitable means. Preferably, such means comprises a plurality
of tension wires.
[0024] In the shown embodiment, three tension wires 26-28 are connecting (see fig. 2) to
each other arms 7-9 in a plane. Further tension wires are provided under the cross
element 11. Namely, a rod 31 is vertically mounted on the lower face of element 11
and from its end tension wire 22 (a double wire, as shown in fig. 6) is extending
to both lateral sides of arm 7 and is fixed thereto in correspondence of the area
where shrouds and forestay are fixed. Similarly, wire 25 extends to arm 8 and a corresponding
wire 25' (not shown) extends from rod 31 to arm 9.
[0025] Shrouds made of three wires, 23, 24 and 30, are provided on each side of the craft,
wire 30 being attached to mast 3 and wires 23 and 24 being connected to wire 30 and
to arms 7 and 8, respectively. The same arrangement is provided on the other side
of the craft to connect arm 9 also. The main task of these arrangements is to give
enough room to boom 5 to swing.
[0026] Arms 7-10 and cross element 11 are also provided with means to torsionally block
them, i.e. to avoid rotation of the arms within their seats in element 11. Such blocking
means are preferably formed by keys such as those shown with reference 32 in figures
3 and 4. It should be noticed that the use of tension wires and keys to block longitudinally
and torsionally arms 7-10 with respect to common cross element 11 provides an easy
to assemble structure and avoids localization of stresses on a single point of the
elastic arms.
[0027] The means of flotation are attached to the ends of the arms 7 - 9 and are shorter
in length than the frame, unlike those of a catamaran; in fact, their sole function
is flotation and they are physically and functionally distinct from the means of directional
control of the craft, 14 and 17 or 17', unlike crafts known to the art, where the
hull coincides with the means of flotation and also has a more or less directional
function.
[0028] In particular, the means of flotation 6 are so shaped that their cross-section perpendicular
with respect to the centreline of the craft is circular, elliptical or lenticular.
By centreline is meant the projection on the horizontal plane of the arm 7 and its
corresponding arm 10. The preferred shape of the float is a boat, torpedo or airship
form: in particular, the shape could be defined geometrically as two ogives joined
at their greater base with the front ogive slightly elongated. However, other forms,
such as ellipsoids, can also be used.
[0029] As can be seen in fig.1 the rear arms 8 and 9 (rear with respect to the normal direction
of movement of the craft indicated by the arrow F) are angled with respect to arm
7 while arm 10 is substantially coaxial with arm 7. The angles between the various
arms may be expressed by referring to the projection of arm 8 on the plane of vertical
symmetry (i.e. the plane in which arms 7 and 10 and the mast 3 lie). The preferred
but not limiting angle (α) between the projection of arm 8 and the axis of arm 10
(fig.1) is in the order of 15°. Similarly, the angle β between arms 7 and 8 in projection
onto the horizontal plane (see fig.2) is preferably 138°. The angle between the arms
7 and 9 is equal to angle β. The arm 10 is in line with the bisector of the angle
between arms 8 and 9. Frame 2 thus has a substantially "Y" shape.
[0030] Three floats 6 are mounted on the ends of arms 7-9 in this embodiment, while the
means of housing 12 - comprising a frame structure supporting a pair of seats 13 (figs.
3 and 4) - for the crew is mounted on the arm 10 behind the mast 3, along the centreline
of the craft. The means of housing 12 is thus in a fixed position with respect to
the frame 2 and symmetrical with the centreline of the craft, which runs through the
coaxial arms 7 and 10.
[0031] The directional control of the craft is via one rudder 17 in the embodiment shown
in fig. 1, 2 and 6. The rudder is mounted centrally on a tubular element 20, connecting
the two rear arms 8 and 9, and is actuated by a tiller 15 and a pushrod 16 in a way
known per se in the art. Two tension wires 29 are connecting the rudder area of tube
20 to arms 8 and 9 against flexion. Tubular element 20 also acts as means to improve
rigidity of the structure and to distribute loads between arms 8 and 9.
[0032] Fig. 7 shows a preferred embodiment wherein there are provided two rudders 17' mounted
on tubular element 20, actuated by a tiller 15 and pushrod 16'. Beside rudders 17
or 17', directional means comprises a fin keel 14 fitted in the area of joint 11.
In an alternative embodiment (not shown) a single rudder is mounted on the arm 7 of
the frame 2 forward of the keel 14.
[0033] Rudders 17 or 17' and keel 14 are tiltable and are easily operated by the crew from
their seats.
[0034] As mentioned above, the floating means 6 are attached to the ends of the arms 7,
8 and 9. These floats are of the inflatable type, made of a material such as that
normally used for inflatable dinghies, preferably provided with one or more air chambers
fitted with inflation valves 18. Rigid elements (ribs or stiffeners) may be provided,
preferably applied internally, to shape and reinforce the floats. The embodiments
shown in the drawings are provided with internal rigid elements on the prow of the
floatation means 6 to give the prow end a flat blade shape, with a double bend, longitudinally
to float 6.
[0035] The attachment means connecting the arms 7-9 to the floating means 6 comprises a
union 19 and an extended portion, or
palpebra, 21, that are made in a single piece. Suitable materials are reinforced plastic, e.g.
fiber glass reinforced plastic, that are substantially rigid. Namely, rigidity of
these materials is intermediate between rigidity of the floats 6 and rigidity of the
material of arms 7-9. Thus stresses are transmitted from floats to the arms through
elements having increasing rigidity.
[0036] Portion 21 extends troughout the upper side of inflatable float 6 to stiffen it and
distribute the load; as shown, portion 21 extends more to the prow than to the stern
of the float 6 and is sealed to it in a way known per se in the art.
[0037] In the shown embodiments, the size of the float is such that the weight of water
displaced by the completely submerged float is about 1.5 times the weight of the fully
loaded craft (i.e. of the craft and the crew).
[0038] Similarly to arms and cross element 11, also floating means 6 are longitudinally
and torsionally blocked on arms 7-9. Longitudinally blocking means are comprising
tension wires 33, and torsionally blocking means are comprising keys 34 analogous
to keys 32 previously discussed with reference to common element 11. As above, these
features provide easy assembling of the structure and avoid localization of stresses
in a single point.
[0039] It should be noticed that the use of inflatable floating means is strictly related
to the characteristics of frame 2. In fact, frame 2 permits to the craft to remain
always in a substantially plane condition, thus avoiding substantial deformation of
the inflatable floats 6.
1. A craft (1), comprising means of directional control (14, 17, 17'), three or more
means of flotation (6) mounted on a frame (2) which supports means of propulsion (4),
and means (12) of housing the crew, the said means of flotation being substantially
circular, elliptical or lenticular in cross-section with respect to the centreline
of the craft, characterized in that said frame (2) comprises three or more arms (7-9)
interconnected by a common element and provided with said flotation means (6) and
in that said means of directional control are physically and functionally separate
from said means of flotation and comprises a fin (14) located on said frame (2).
2. A craft according to Claim 1, wherein said means of flotation (6) are comprised of
inflatable elements.
3. A craft according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein said means of flotation (6) has a hull
shape with raised bows and lowered stern, comprising two ogive extremities joined
on their greater base with the forward ogive being more elongated.
4. A craft according to Claims 1 to 3, wherein said means of flotation (6) are comprising
substantially rigid elements (19, 21) to detachably connect them to said frame (2).
5. A craft according to any previous claim, wherein said frame (2) is at least in part
elastically flexible and is reacting elastically overall as a leaf-spring.
6. A craft according to any claim 1 to 5, further comprising means (22, 25-28, 32-34)
to longitudinally and torsionally blocking said arms (7-9) on said common element
(11) and said floating means (6) on said arms (7-9).
7. A craft according to claim 6, wherein said blocking means are comprising tension wires
(22, 25-28, 33) and keys (32, 34).
8. A craft according to any previous claim, further comprising a mast (3) and sail (4)
located on said common element.
9. A craft according to claim 8, comprising means of housing the crew (12,13), mounted
behind the said mast (3) and along the centreline of the craft.
10. A craft according to any previous claim, wherein said means of directional control
comprises two rear rudders (17').
11. A craft according to any of the Claims 1 to 10, comprising three arms (7-9) supporting
the said means of flotation (6) and a rear arm (10) to support the means of housing
the crew (12, 13).
12. A craft according to claim 11, further comprising a tubular element (20) connecting
two of said arms (8, 9) supporting said floating means (6).
13. A craft according to any previous claim, wherein rigid elements or ribs are provided
internally to said floating means (6).
14. A craft according to any previous claim wherein said fin (14) is located in the area
of said common element (11).
1. Wasserfahrzeug (1), umfassend Richtungssteuerungsmittel (14, 17, 17'), drei oder mehr
Schwimmelemente (6), die an einem Rahmen (2) befestigt sind, der Antriebsmittel (4)
trägt, und Mittel (12) zum Aufnehmen der Schiffsmannschaft, wobei die Schwimmelemente
im Querschnitt in bezug auf die Mittellinie des Wasserfahrzeuges im wesentlichen rund,
elliptisch oder lentikular sind, gekennzeichnet dadurch, daß der Rahmen (2) drei oder
mehr Arme (7 - 9) umfaßt, die durch ein gemeinsames Element miteinander verbunden
und mit den Schwimmelementen (6) versehen sind, und daß das Richtungssteuerungsmittel
körperlich und funktionell von den Schwimmelementen getrennt ist und eine Finne (14)
umfaßt, die am Rahmen (2) angeordnet ist.
2. Wasserfahrzeug gemäß Anspruch 1 , bei dem die Schwimmelemente (6) aus aufblasbaren
Elementen bestehen.
3. Wasserfahrzeug gemäß Anspruch 1 oder 2, bei dem die Schwimmelemente (6) die Form eines
Schiffskörpers mit erhöhtem Bug und abgesenktem Heck haben, das zwei spitzbogige Ränder
umfaßt, die an ihrer größeren Basis mit dem vorderen Spitzbogen verbunden sind, der
länglicher ist.
4. Wasserfahrzeug gemäß den Ansprüchen 1 bis 3, bei dem die Schwimmelemente (6) im wesentlichen
starre Elemente (19, 21) zum lösbaren Verbinden mit dem Rahmen (2) umfassen.
5. Wasserfahrzeug gemäß einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, bei der der Rahmen (2) mindestens
teilweise elastisch anpassungsfähig und insgesamt elastisch wie eine Blattfeder reagiert.
6. Wasserfahrzeug gemäß einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, das außerdem Mittel (22, 25 - 28,
32 - 34) zum längs- und drehsteifen Arretieren der Arme (7 - 9) an dem gemeinsamen
Element (11) und der Schwimmelemente (6) an den Armen (7 - 9) umfaßt.
7. Wasserfahrzeug gemäß Anspruch 6, bei dem die Arretiermittel aus Spanndrähten (22,
25 - 28, 33) und Federn (32, 34) bestehen.
8. Wasserfahrzeug gemäß einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, das außerdem einen Mast (3)
und ein an dem gemeinsamen Element angeordnetes Segel (4) umfaßt.
9. Wasserfahrzeug gemäß Anspruch 8, das außerdem Mittel zum Aufnehmen der Schiffsmannschaft
(12, 13) umfaßt, die hinter dem Mast (3) und entlang der Mittellinie des Wasserfahrzeuges
befestigt sind.
10. Wasserfahrzeug gemäß einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, bei dem das Richtungssteuerungsmittel
zwei hintere Ruder (17') umfaßt.
11. Wasserfahrzeug gemäß einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 10, umfassend drei Arme (7 - 9), die
die Schwimmelemente (6) tragen und einen hinteren Arm (10) zum Tragen des Gehäuseelementes
der Schiffsmannschaft (12, 13).
12. Wasserfahrzeug gemäß Anspruch 11, das außerdem ein rohrförmiges Element (20) umfaßt,
das zwei der Arme (8, 9) verbindet, die die Schwimmelemente (6) tragen.
13. Wasserfahrzeug gemäß einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, bei dem die starren Elemente
oder Rippen innerhalb der Schwimmelemente (6) vorgesehen sind.
14. Wasserfahrzeug gemäß einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, bei dem die Finne (14) im
Bereich des gemeinsamen Elementes (11) angeordnet ist.
1. Embarcation (1), comprenant des moyens de commande de direction (14,17,17'), trois
éléments de flottaison (6) ou plus montés sur une ossature (2) qui supporte des moyens
de propulsion (4), et des moyens (12) de logement de l'équipage, lesdits éléments
de flottaison étant sensiblement circulaires, elliptiques ou lenticulaires en section
transversale par rapport à l'axe central de l'embarcation, caractérisée en ce que
ladite ossature (2) comprend trois bras (7-9) ou plus , interconnectés par un élément
commun et pourvus desdits éléments de flottaison (6), et en ce que lesdits moyens
de commande de direction sont physiquement et fonctionnellement séparés desdits éléments
de flottaison et comprennent une dérive (14) placée sur ladite ossature (2).
2. Embarcation selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle lesdits éléments de flottaison
(6) sont constitués par des éléments gonflables.
3. Embarcation selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans laquelle lesdits éléments de flottaison
(6) ont une forme de coque à avant relevé et arrière abaissé, comportant deux extrémités
en ogive reliées à l'endroit de leur plus grande base, l'ogive avant étant plus allongée.
4. Embarcation selon les revendications 1 à 3, dans laquelle lesdits éléments de flottaison
(6) comportent des éléments sensiblement rigides (19,21) pour les fixer de façon démontable
à ladite ossature (2).
5. Embarcation selon une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle ladite
ossature (2) est au moins en partie élastiquement flexible et elle réagit élastiquement
dans son ensemble comme un ressort à lame.
6. Embarcation selon une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, comprenant en outre des
moyens (22,25-28, 32-34) pour bloquer longitudinalement et en torsion les dits bras
(7-9) sur ledit élément commun (11) et lesdits éléments de flottaison (6) sur lesdits
bras (7-9).
7. Embarcation selon la revendication 6, dans laquelle lesdits moyens de blocage comprennent
des câbles de tension (22,25-28,33) et des clavettes (32,34).
8. Embarcation selon une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant en outre
un mât (3) et une voile (4) placés sur ledit élément commun.
9. Embarcation selon la revendication 8, comprenant des moyens de logement de l'équipage
(12,13), montés derrière ledit mât (3) et le long de l'axe central de l'embarcation.
10. Embarcation selon une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle lesdits
moyens de commande de direction comprennent deux gouvernails arrière (17').
11. Embarcation selon une quelconque des revendications 1 à 10, comprenant trois bras
(7-9) qui supportent lesdits éléments de flottaison (6) et un bras arrière (10) qui
supporte les moyens de logement de l'équipage (12,13).
12. Embarcation selon une quelconque des revendications 11, comprenant en outre un élément
tubulaire (20) reliant deux desdits bras (8,9) qui supportent les dits éléments de
flottaison (6).
13. Embarcation selon une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle des
nervures ou des éléments rigides sont prévus à l'intérieur desdits éléments de flottaison
(6).
14. Embarcation selon une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle ledit
aileron (14) est situé dans la région dudit élément commun (11).