US3671056A

US3671056A - Boat transport device

Info

Publication number: US3671056A
Application number: US64701A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kenneth C Windemuth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-08-18
Filing date: 1970-08-18
Publication date: 1972-06-20
Anticipated expiration: 1989-06-20

Abstract

Many times boats have to be transported over land in order to reach a body of water. Such boats can be readily transported by attaching a single wheeled device, preferably to the center seat board of the boat, inverting the boat, and by use of handles on the stern board of the boat guiding and propelling the boat to the body of water. The single wheeled device is firmly attached to the boat in a way that there will be no play between the transport device and boat as the boat is being transported. Further, the single wheeled device may also carry a seat board reinforcing member.

Description

United States Patent Windemuth 51 June 20, 197 2 [54] BOAT TRANSPORT DEVICE FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Inventor: Kenneth Windemulh, Mount Savage, 141,679 6/1951 Australia ..9 1 T 22 Filed: Aug. 18, 1970 y Examiner-Benjamin Hersh Assistant Examiner-John A. Pekar [21] App]. No.: 64,701 Attorney-JOSCph P. Nigon [52] U.S. Cl. ..280/47.32, 280/414 A [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl ..B62b 1/18 [58] Field of Search... ...2s0/47.32, 47.13 B, 79.1, 414 A; Many boats have be transported Over e Order 9/1 T reach a body of water. Such boats can be readily transported by attaching a single wheeled device, preferably to the center [56} Reierencts Cited seat board of the boat, inverting the boat, and by use of handles on the stern board of the boat guiding and propelling the UNITED STATES PATENTS I boat to the body of water. The single wheeled device is firmly 2,361,592 10/1944 Bjork "280/4732 X attached to the boat in a way that there will be no play 3,375,079 3/l968 O'Day..... '....280/47.32 between the transport device and boat as the boat is being 3,284,821 1 H1966 zol'efic 280/4732 X transported. Further, the single wheeled device may also carry 2.395,7 l 7 2/1946 Bjork ..'..9/1 T a eat board reinforcing member, 3,013,807 12/1961 Wimerhoff.... ...280/79.l 3,068,024 12/1962 Berliner ..280/414 A 2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEnJlmzo m2 RH OT TU NM EE VD mm W C H E N N E K Q I W M 6,60%) ATTORNE non TRANSPORT DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a single wheeled boat transport device. This invention further relates to a means of portaging a boat over terrain to a body of water for subsequent use.

Many bodies of water, and particularly many which are very good in regard to sport fishing, are located distances off main highways and service trails. This requires the portaging of the boat to be used for distances of up to several miles. Such portaging may be by carrying a boat, but this is not readily feasible when the boat is large or the distance long. Further, if a person is by himself such a means is virtually impossible. Those in the art have proposed many solutions to this problem. Some of these have been wheeled devices which are removeably attached to a boat, while others are an integral part of a boat. The solutions tendered thus far, however, are relatively complex. These generally comprise multiwheeled devices. The present invention provides a simple single wheeled device which transports the boat with relative ease.

. Further this simple single wheeled device is easily stored in the boat while the boat is in use obviating any problems of securing a larger more complex device on shore while the boat is in use on the lake, river or so on.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a simple single wheeled device useful for portaging boats over land.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a simple device for portaging boats which is easily attached and unattached, is of light weight, and which is readily storable.

It a further an object of this invention to provide a simple single wheeled boat portaging device which can be 'firmly fastened to a seat board of the boat so that when the boat is portaged over land, there will be no play between the boat and single wheeled portaging device.

It is additively an object by use this invention to set outa simple means whereby use of the device of this invention a boat can be easily and rapidly portaged to a body of water.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention. consists of a single wheeled boat portaging and by means of handles on the stern board propelled over land.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS I balanced, steered, and propelled usin'g handles commonly FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the single 1 of the dowel carried by the base plate and which passes through the seat board to obviate any play between the portaging attachment device and boat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention comprises a simple, but yet very efiicient means for portaging a boat for comparatively long distances over land. By the use of a single wheeled device firmly attached to a seat board of a boat, the boat can be inverted, balanced, propelled and directed over land. The boat is found on the stem panel of a boat or by gripping theboat itself. This device further when not in use can be readily stored within the boat. I

A more detailed description will now be set out with reference to the several views in the drawings, In FIG. 1, 10 is a boat having hull sidewalls ll terminating in rolled edge 12. Seat board 13 is an integral part of the boat 10. Carried on seat board 13 is the base plate portion 14 of the transport attachment device. This base plate is attached to the seat board by means of straps l5. These straps are preferably firmly attached to the base plate as by welding when the straps are metal, or by means of rivets, screws or'similar means..Under the seat the strap ends are releaseably connected so as to firmly hold the base plate to the seat board. The base plate also carries one, and preferably two, dowels 16 which penetrate into holes in the seat board and serve to further stabilize the transport device on the boat. By the use of the straps and dowels there is a rigid mounting efiected with no relative motion between the boat and transport device. Any relative motion would tend to mar and wear the seat. Further mounted on the base plate 14 is fork 17 which carries wheel 19. Attachment of the fork 17 to the base plate is preferably by welding at 18. Wheel 19 is carried on the fork, the axle 25 of which is secured to the fork by the conventional techniques used to fasten front wheels to bicycles. This may consist of either open slots or holes in the fork ends with bolts to secure the axle in these holes or slots. When holes are used the axle shaft passes throughthe holes and wheel, and for removal of the wheel from the fork the axle must be completely removed. When open slots are used the axle which passes through the wheel hub need not be removed for dismounting the wheel from thefork; as for instance in storage all that is necessary is that the end bolts be loosened and the wheel and axle removed. The wheel 19 may be of the spoked bicycle type as illustrated, or of some other light weight, strong and durable design. A spoked bicycle wheel is preferred due to its simplicity, strength and availability. The, tire portion of the wheel may be of a hard rubber or pneumatic type. FIG. 2 illustratesthe same transport device but having different attachment means to the boat. In this embodiment rigid bars 20 are firmly attached to the .base plate I4as by welding, the use of rivets, screws orso on. Connected at essentially right angles to bars 20, and at extreme ends of 20 are bars 21. This connection is a rigid connection using for example welding, rivets or screws. Bars 21 are bent at an angle so that they essentially contact the rolled edge 12 of the boat. At the ends ofbars 21 are clamp sections 22 which in conjunction with bars 21 are forced in a gripping or pinching contact with the rolled boat edge 12 by tightening means. 23, which in a preferred instance is a screw and wing nut arrangement. Other similar tightening means may be used.

FIG. 3 illustrates particularly the attachment means of the device of FIG. 1 to the underside of the seat board. In essence the attachment means of FIG. 1 is for boats where there is open space beneath the seat through which the straps 15 can be passed. The FIG. 2 attachment means straps can also be used where there is an open space beneath the seat, but it is efficiently used where there is no such open space beneath the seat through which straps can be passed. The attachment means of FIG. 3 illustrates a strap 15 encircling the base plate 14 and seat 13. The strap securing means 24 here in a preferred embodiment is a draw bolt arrangement which takes up any slack in the straps. This allows for adjustment of the device and permits its use on various size boats. Spring tensioned or quick release devices may be used, but the draw bolt arrangement is preferred for its simplicity and durability.

FIG. 4 illustrates the penetration of the dowel pins, carried by the base plate portion 14, into the seat board 13. These dowels serve to stabilize the base plate and prevent any relative motion between the seat board and base plate.

In a further embodiment there may be a reinforcing board or .plate between the seat board and base plate. Further there may be a rubber or other piece to prevent any marring or scuffing of the seat board. If a reinforcing board is used, the base plate may be of a thinner composition. Generally the base plate is steel, aluminum or aluminum alloy, although magnesium alloys, wood, plastic or some other material may be used. The fork section is generally of a steel as also the bar sections 21 of FIG. 2. The straps of FIG. 1 are also preferably steel, although leather or some similar material may be used. The wheel is of a size of from 12 to 26 inches in diameter depending on the size boat and other 'factors. The boat itself may very operably be of a size of from 8 to 16 feet, and have a weight of up to the range of about 150 pounds. Most boats of these characteristics are constructed of aluminum or fiber glass, with some still constructed of wood. Canoes may also be device using the deice of this invention and are included in the term boat as used herein.

For transporting the boat after attachment of the device of this invention, the boat is inverted and steered, propelled and balanced on the wheel. The person transporting the boat grips the rear stern panel of the boat, or handles on this stern panel and provides the steering, balancing, and propelling forces. When the boat is at rest, it is supported by the wheel and the broad stern portion of the boat which then contacts the ground. By use of the single wheel the boat is easily manuervered over a trail to a lake or river.

This description and the views in the drawings set out the preferred forms of the invention, and the invention is not restricted thereto. Changes in materials and relative sizes and arrangements of components are contemplated as being within the scope of this invention as defined by the following appended claims.

I claim:

1. A boat transporting device comprising in combination a base plate having a wheel rigidly attached thereto by means of a forked section, strap means attached to said base plate for attaching said base plate to a seat board of said boat and at least one dowel pin attached to said base plate, positioned to pass into the seat board of said boat to assure there is no relative motion between the said base plate and said boat during transport.

2. A boat transporting device comprising in combination a base plate having a wheel rigidly attached thereto by means of a forked section, clamp members attached to said base plate for attaching said base plate to the rolled edge of said boat at a position adjacent to a seat board of said boat, and at least. one dowel pin attached to said base plate positioned to pass into the seat board of said boat to assure there is no relative motion between said base plate and said boat during transport.

Claims

2. A boat transporting device comprising in combination a base plate having a wheel rigidly attached thereto by means of a forked section, clamp members attached to said base plate for attaching said base plate to the rolled edge of said boat at a position adjacent to a seat board of said boat, and at least one dowel pin attachEd to said base plate positioned to pass into the seat board of said boat to assure there is no relative motion between said base plate and said boat during transport.