Title:

Kayak or canoe outrigger stabilizer

United States Patent Application 20020069808

Kind Code:

A1

Abstract:

A small boat stabilizer is formed by a pair of elongated tubular buoys secured in laterally spaced parallel relation to respective end portions of the boat by spars extending transversely of respective ends of the boat and secured thereto by adapters.

Inventors:

Hesse, Kent D. (Bentonville, AR, US)

Application Number:

09/730882

Publication Date:

06/13/2002

Filing Date:

12/07/2000

Export Citation:

Click for automatic bibliography generation

Assignee:

HESSE KENT D.

Primary Class:

114/123

International Classes:

B63B1/12; B63B43/04; B63B35/71; (IPC1-7): B63B43/14

View Patent Images:

Download PDF 20020069808

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Primary Examiner:

WRIGHT, ANDREW D

Attorney, Agent or Firm:

ROBERT K. RHEA (OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, US)

Claims:

I claim:

1. A stabilizer for a boat having arcuate peripheral end walls, comprising: a pair of spars transversely overlying and projecting laterally from respective end portions of the boat; clamp means for rigidly connecting the medial portion of the spars to the boat; and, a pair of elongated flotation means having respective end portions extending between and secured in underlying relation to respective end portions of said spars laterally of respective sides of the boat and parallel there with for dampening lateral tilting action of the boat.

2. The boat stabilizer according to claim 1 in which the flotation means comprises: a pair of elongated tubular buoys having arcuately upturned end portions; and, removable plug means for closing the respective end of each buoy.

3. The boat stabilizer according to claim 2 in which the clamp means comprises: a generally U-shaped adapter having upstanding legs and having an upwardly bowed bight portion for transversely contacting a peripheral portion of the respective end surface of said boat; a sleeve overlying and secured to said adapter legs for nesting an intermediate portion of the respective spar of said pair of spars; and, a ratchet tie down including a flexible band supported by said adapter bight portion and cooperatively spanning a transverse peripheral portion of the respective end surface of said boat.

4. The boat stabilizer according to claim 1 in which the clamp means comprises: a generally U-shaped adapter having upstanding legs and having an upwardly bowed bight portion for transversely contacting a peripheral portion of the respective end surface of said boat; a sleeve overlying and secured to said adapter legs for nesting an intermediate portion of the respective spar of said pair of spars; and, a ratchet tie down including a flexible band supported by said adapter bight portion and cooperatively spanning a transverse peripheral portion of the respective end surface of said boat.

5. The boat stabilizer according to claim 2 in which a bracket is interposed between the respective spar and floatation member, said bracket comprising: an inverted U-shaped member having a horizontally disposed bight portion and having legs depending therefrom and secured to the flotation member in partially straddling relation; and, a tube longitudinally secured to the bracket bight portion for surrounding the adjacent end portion of the respective spar.

6. The boat stabilizer according to claim 3 in which a bracket is interposed between the respective spar and floatation member, said bracket comprising: an inverted U-shaped member having a horizontally disposed bight portion and having legs depending therefrom and secured to the flotation member in partially straddling relation; and, a tube longitudinally secured to the bracket bight portion for surrounding the adjacent end portion of the respective spar.

Description:

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] This invention relates to small boats and more particularly to outrigger stabilizers for a kayak or canoe.

[0004] 1. Field of the Invention

[0005] It is well known that canoes or kayaks and other small watercraft are easily upset by sudden movement of an occupant or rough water in which waves against the boat side, tilt it over in an upsetting fashion.

[0006] This invention stabilizes such small boats by providing an outrigger on each side of the boat easily connected with or removed from the boat.

[0007] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0008] Prior art generally discloses a plurality of different designs and apparatus for stabilizing small water craft.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 3,763,813, issued Oct. 9, 1973 to Holtz for Inflatable Canoe And Outrigger for small boats of the inflatable type which illuminates the use of metallic connections and uses fixer fit between adjacent components to rigidly support an outrigger laterally of the boat.

[0010] This invention is believed distinctive over this and similar patents by providing outriggers overlying and projecting laterally of a small boat for quickly and easily removably connecting a pair of floatation members to respective ends of the outriggers laterally of a boat and rigidly positioned relative to the boat.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 1,369,670, issued Feb. 22, 1921 to Kauffman for Boat and Design Patent No. 271,095, issued Oct. 25, 1983 to Paster for Commando Landing Craft are believed good examples of the further state-of-the-art for outriggers, pivotally connected to opposite sides of the boat and the rigid positioning of outriggers adjacent the sides of a boat.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] A pair of adapters, transversely overlie respective end portions of a small boat, such as a kayak or canoe and are clamp connected thereto for supporting a pair of outriggers or spars extending transversely of the boat. The remote ends of the spars support respective ends of cylindrical floatation members or buoys having upwardly curved closed end portions by brackets depending from the respective end of each of spar for maintaining the buoys in laterally spaced parallel relation with the boat for dampening lateral tipping motion of the boat.

[0013] The principal object of this invention is to provide outriggers connecting buoys with a small boat, such as a kayak or canoe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 is a top view;

[0015] FIG. 2 is a front end elevational view;

[0016] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view;

[0017] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view, to a larger scale, looking upward at the bottom surfaces of a boat surrounding clamp bracket, per se; and,

[0018] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view, to a different scale, of the area enclosed by the arrow 5 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] The reference numeral 10 indicates the apparatus as a whole comprising a small boat such as a kayak or canoe 12 having a pair of spars or outriggers 18 and 20 extending transversely of the respective end portions 14 and 16 of the boat and connected thereto intermediate their ends by a pair of clamp means or adapters 22 and 24, as presently explained. The respective end portions of the spars projecting beyond the respective sides of the boat support floatation means such as a pair of buoyant tubes 26 and 27, by a plurality of brackets four (4), in the example shown, of forward and rearward pairs of brackets 28-30 and 32-34, respectively. Since the adapters 22-24 and pairs of brackets 28-34 are respectively identical, only one of each is described in detail in the interest of brevity.

[0020] Referring more particularly to FIGS. 2 and 4 the reference numeral 22 indicates the adapter which is U-shaped strap-like in general configuration having an arcuately bowed upwardly bight portion 36 as viewed in FIG. 4, for transverse contiguous contact with the arcuate peripheral surface at respective end portions of the boat 12 and having relatively short upstanding legs 38 and 40 at respective end portions of the bight portion 36 respectively terminating laterally in horizontal wings 42-44. A length of tubular material, such as a sleeve 46, extends between and overlies the wings 44 and 42 and is rigidly secured thereto as by welding. The sleeve 46 is centrally provided with a transverse aperture 48, for the purposes presently explained. A short length of box tubing is secured to the adapter at the juncture of the respective leg and wing to form horizontal sleeves 50 and 52 which longitudinally support the respective end portions of elongated bars 54 and 56 at respective sides of the boat to enable tying equipment, not shown, to the boat. The adapter 22 is secured to the forward end portion of the boat 12 by a flexible buckle equipped band or strap 57, such as a ratchet tie down, overlying the bight portion 36 and extending through apertures 53 in the respective end portion of the bight portion 36, and transversely of the boat peripheral surface. The spars 18 and 20 are longitudinally inserted into the respective adapter tube 46 and fastened intermediate their ends by a pin 49, not shown, extending through the sleeve aperture 48 and a cooperating aperture in the respective spar.

[0021] The buoyant tubes 26-27 are identical and only one is described in the interest of brevity. Tube 26 is substantially equal in length with the boat and of a selected diameter and is characterized by arcuately upturned end portions 60 and 62. Each end of the tube 26 is provided with an expansion plug 72 contacting the inner periphery of the tube to form a water tight tube, which may be used for storing equipment.

[0022] Referring now to FIG. 5, the bracket 28 is generally inverted U-shape having a horizontal bight portion 64 extending transversely of the buoyant tube and includes a pair of legs 66 and 68 having tabs 70 at their depending ends which are apertured and secured to the wall forming the buoyant tube 26. Each end portion of each spar is slideably received in a tube 75 longitudinally overlying the bight portion 64. Each tube 75 is transversely apertured as at 77 for similarly securing the spar end portions within the respective tube 75.

[0023] Obviously the invention is susceptible to changes or alterations without defeating its practicability. Therefore, I do not wish to be confined to the preferred embodiment(s) shown in the drawing(s) and described herein.

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