US3377095A - Portable handles for boats - Google Patents

Description

April 9, 1968 E. w. ALLEN 3,377,095

I PORTABLE HANDLES FOR BOATS Filed Aug. 31, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Elmer W. Allen I N VEN TOR.

A ril 9, 1968 E. w. ALLEN 3,377,095

' PORTABLE HANDLES FOR BOATS Filed Aug. 31, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2

Elmer. H. I Allen INVENTOR.

United States Patent Office 3377,95 Patented Apr. 9, 1938 3,377,095 PORTABLE HANDLES FOR BOATS Elmer W. Allen, Hines, Minn. 56647 Filed Aug. 31, 1966, Ser. No. 576,392 Claims. (Cl. 294-19) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An elongated supporting arm structure bifurcated at one end and adapted to embracingly receive one end of a boat between the furcations thereof with the one end of the boat supported from the bifurcated end of the supporting arm structure, the other end portion of the support arm structure being adapted to project outwardly of the terminal end of said one end of said boat and including a free end portion adapted to be manually engaged and lifted by a person and including downwardly facing load distributing pad means positionable on the shoulders of such a person for carrying the adjacent end of the boat while portaging the same.

This invention relates to a novel and useful assembly to assist in portaging a boat and more specifically to an assembly adapted to be utilized in pairs, one assembly for supporting and carrying each end of an associated boat.

The assembly of the instant invention has been primarily designed for use in conjunction with canoes and includes generally coplanar divergent arms for embracing therebetween opposite side portions of the bow of a canoe. However, the included angle defined by the divergent arms of the assembly may be readily varied so as to adapt the arms to embracingly receive therebetween different boat bow configurations. Still further, although the assembly of the instant invention is adapted to be utilized in pairs of assemblies attached to opposite ends of a double-ended canoe, it is to be noted that a single assembly of the instant invention can be readily utilized in conjunction with substantially any bow construction of a boat which is to be carried while other means may be utilized to carry the stern portions of the boat if it is not of the double-ended type adapted to have another assembly of the instant invention operatively associated therewith.

The main object of this invention is to provide a lifting assembly to assist in portaging a boat such as a canoe and enabling a canoe to be more readily carried by two persons while'being portaged.

Another object of this invention is to provide a lifting assembly which may be utilized in conjunction with any bow-like end of a boat to assist in lifting that end of the boat.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a lifting assembly that may be readily disassembled and stored in a compact state.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a lifting assembly in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble-free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts through, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of the bow portion of a canoe shown with one of the lifting assemblies of the instant invention operatively associated therewith and a person carrying the bow of the canoe by means of the lifting assembly illustrated in phantom lines;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the assemblage illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the assembly of the instant invention shown in a knocked down compact state in readiness to be stored;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary top plan view similar to that of FIGURE 1 illustrating a slightly modified form of lifting assembly adapted to be utilized in conjunction with a slightly modified canoe bow structure; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 55 of FIGURE 4 and on somewhat of an enlarged scale.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates a canoe including a bow structure referred to in general by the reference numeral 12 and inner and outer gunwales 14 and 16 extending along the upper edges of the opposite sides 18 and 20 of the canoe 10. Further, the canoe 10 additionally includes a bracing deck panel 22 secured between the forward extremities of the sides 18 and 20.

The lifting assembly of the instant invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 24 and includes a pair of generally coplanar divergent arms 26 and 28 having inverted J-shaped hooks or channel-defining members 30 removably secured to the terminal ends of the divergent end portions thereof by means of suitable fasteners 32. In addition, the arms 26 and 28 include an ulated terminal end portions 34 and 38, respectively, on the ends thereof remote from the hooks 3t and the arms 26 and 28 are longitudinally slotted centrally intermediate their opposite ends as at 40 and 42 and the opposite ends of an elongated strap or web 44 are secured in the slots 45) and 42. Still further, the end portions of the arms 26 and 28' adjacent the terminal end portions 34 and 38 are provided with longitudinally spaced apertures 48 for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The lifting assembly 24 further includes a lifting arm portion generally referred to by the reference numeral 50 including a handgrip 52 on one terminal end portion and having a pair of socket-defining sleeve members 54 and 56 secured to opposite sides of and remote from the handgrip 52. The sleeve members 54 and 56 are apertured as at 58 and are adapted to have the angulated terminal end portions 34 and 38 removably telescoped thereinto, suitable locking pins 60 being supported from the lifting arm portion 50 adjacent the sleeve members 54 and 56 by means of a flexible tethering member 62 and being receivable through the apertures 58 formed in the sleeve members 54 and 56 and suitable apertures 64 provided therefor in the free ends of the terminal end portions 34 and 38.

The lifting arm portion 50 includes a bowed portion 66 intermediate its opposite ends which opens downwardly and has a soft resilient pad member 68 secured therein for padding the shoulder 70 of a person 72 having the bowed portion 66 resting upon his shoulder.

Accordingly, it may be seen from FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings that the assembly 24 may be operatively connected to the bow of the canoe 10 with the strap passing beneath the adjacent end of the canoe, the bow of the canoe received between the arms 26 and 28, and the members 30 engaged over the outer gunwales 16 to thereby support the bow for carrying purposes.

With attention now directed more specific-ally to FIG- URES 4 and 5 of the drawings there will be seen a modified form of canoe generally referred to by the reference numeral 10' and whose reinforcing deck panel 22' is provided with a centrally located aperture 23. The assembly 3 -J of the instant invention utilized in conjunction with the canoe is generally designated by the reference numeral 24 and comprises a substantial duplicate of the assembly 24 except that the strap 44 has been removed and suitable L-shaped and apertured mounting brackets 76 are secured to the arms 26 and 28' by means of suitable fasteners 78 secured through apertures 48' corresponding to the apertures 48 and a cross rod 80 has its opposite ends secured through the upper end portions of the brackets 76 by means of the fasteners 82 and has an eye member 84 slidably mounted thereon including a threaded shank portion 86 which projects through the aperture 23 and is secured through the latter by means of a suitable wing nut 88.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An assembly to assist in portaging a boat, said assembly being generally horizontally disposed and including a pair of generally coplanar divergent arms joined together at adjacent ends and an elongated lifting arm portion extending away from the juncture between said adjacent ends in a direction generally opposite to the direction in which said arms diverge, said arms being adapted to embrace therebetween the bow of a boat with said arms extending along the opposite sides of said boat, first means carried by the free end portions of said arms adapted to engage adjacent opposite side portions of said boat to prevent downward movement of said free ends relative to said boat, and second means carried by said assembly intermediate said free end portions and the juncture between said adjacent ends and adapted for operative connection with the adjacent bow portions of said boat to prevent downward movement of said adjacent bow portions relative to said assembly.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said first means define downwardly opening channels adapted to embracingly receive therein the adjacent gunw'ale portions of said boat.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said second means comprises a lifting strap of considerably greater length than the distance between and having its opposite ends secured to the adjacent portions of said arms adapted to cradle said bow therein.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said second means comprises a rigid brace extending between said arms intermediate said first means and said juncture and adapted to overlie and be removably secured to said bow.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein the end of said lifting arm portion adjacent said juncture defines a pair of opposite side sockets extending longitudinally of said lifting arm portion and open at their ends adjacent the divergent ends of said arms, the ends of said arms remote from said divergent ends thereof being removably received in said sockets.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said arms include angulated end portions defining the ends thereof received in said sockets.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein the end of said lifting arm portion adjacent said juncture defines a pair of opposite side sockets extending longitudinally of said lifting arm portion and open at their ends adjacent the divergent ends of said arms, the ends of said arms remote from said divergent ends thereof being removably received in said sockets, said first means defining downwardly opening channels adapted to embracingly receive therein the adjacent gunwale portions of said boat.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein the end of said lifting arm portion adjacent said juncture defines a pair of opposite side sockets extending longitudinally of said lifting arm portion and open at their ends adjacent the divergent ends of said arms, the ends of said arms remote from said divergent ends thereof being removably received in said sockets, said second means comprising a lifting strap of considerably greater length than the distance between and having its opposite ends secured to the adjacent portions of said arms adapted to cradle said bow therein.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein the end of said lifting arm portion adjacent said juncture defines a pair of opposite side sockets extending longitudinally of said lifting arm portion and open at their ends adjacent the divergent ends of said arms, the ends of said arms remote from said divergent ends thereof being removably received in said sockets, said second means comprising a rigid brace extending between said arms intermediate said first means and said juncture and adapted to overlie and be removably secured to said how.

10. In combination with a boat, an assembly to assist in portaging said boat, said assembly including a pair of generally parallel arm means spaced apart at at least one pair of corresponding ends extending along and adapted to embracingly receive one end portion of a boat therebetween, said one pair of ends including first means adapted to engage adjacent opposite side portions of said boat to prevent downward movement of said one pair of ends relative to said boat, second means carried by said arm means and spaced toward the other pair of corresponding ends thereof from said one pair of ends and operatively connected with an adjacent terminal end portion of said one end of said boat to prevent downward movement of said adjacent terminal end portion relative to said second means, said assembly further including a single elongated lifting arm extending outwardly from said other air of corresponding ends of said arm means in a direction away from said one pair of ends thereof beyond said terminal end portion of said boat, said lifting arm including a free end portion adapted to be manually engaged and lifted by a person and including downwardly facing load distributing pad means positionable on the shoulder of said person for carrying said one end portion of said boat while portaging the same, said free end portion being disposed at an elevation spaced above the center of gravity of said boat when the latter is horizontally disposed, whereby rotation of said boat about its longitudinal axis will be resisted by gravity.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,109,520 9/1914 Flower. 2,375,754 5/1945 Ballingher. 2,451,236 10/ 1948 Oeth. 2,761,576 9/1956 Sanborn.

FOREIGN PATENTS 930,414 8/1947 France.

EDWARD A. SROKA, Primary Examiner.

R. D. GUIOD, Assistant Examiner,

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