Apparatus for storing and transporting boat propellers

Abstract

An apparatus for carrying and storing watercraft propellers comprises a soft-shell enclosure having a rigid bottom member. The apparatus further comprises means for securing the propeller to the bottom member to help secure the propeller within the apparatus. An embodiment of the apparatus may shaped in the form of a cube or other parallelepiped with an opening symmetrically bisecting the enclosure along the top and the sides, with a single panel defining the bottom of the enclosure. Alternatively, the apparatus may have a cylindrical shape. An embodiment of the invention may further comprise carrying means such as a continuous loop strap which is attached to and supports the bottom and sides of the enclosure.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/701,233 for this invention was filed on Jul. 20, 2005 for which the inventor claims domestic priority.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the storage and transportation of propellers for watercraft. In particular, embodiments of an apparatus are disclosed which facilitate the transportation of propellers, protect the propeller from damage, and prevent injury to the person transporting the propeller.

It is common for boating and jet ski enthusiasts to have at least one spare propeller for their craft. A propeller may be damaged, in which case the spare may be required. In addition, because the pitch of the propeller affects the engine RPM, a boat owner may have different propellers for different operating conditions, such as for high altitude service. However, carrying and/or storing propellers can be problematic. Propellers are typically heavy and have sharp edges. If the spare propeller is allowed to simply sit in a storage compartment of the boat, the edges may be damaged by shifting equipment, or the bare edges may injure someone. Carrying propellers can be difficult as well because of the heaviness and lack of convenient handholds. Dropping a propeller can result in damage to the propeller and harm to the person carrying it, or persons in the vicinity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The apparatus disclosed herein provides a solution to the need identified above. An embodiment of the invention comprises a soft-shell enclosure which may shaped in the form of a cube or other parallelepiped with an opening symmetrically bisecting the enclosure along the top and the sides, with a single panel defining the bottom of the enclosure. The enclosure thereby functions in a clam-shell manner, with opposing halves of the enclosure capable of being widely spread apart for insertion of the propeller. The invention further comprises a rigid bottom member which overlies the single panel on the bottom, and which provides support for the propeller. The rigid bottom member may comprise means for securing the propeller to the rigid bottom member. The opening has opening and closing means, such as a zipper. The invention further comprises carrying means such as a continuous loop strap which is attached to and supports the bottom and sides of the enclosure, and which extends above each side of the enclosure in matching loops.

Alternatively, the apparatus may comprise a cylindrical soft shell enclosure with a single panel defining the bottom of the enclosure. The cylindrical soft shell comprises an opening at the top which may be closed with zippers, buttons, cinch cord, or hook and loop fasteners. This embodiment further comprises a rigid bottom member which overlies the single panel on the bottom, and which provides support for the propeller. The rigid bottom member may comprise means for securing the propeller to the rigid bottom member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a front view of an embodiment of the disclosed device.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a top view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows an inside view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6A shows an embodiment of the rigid bottom member of an embodiment of the device which employs a threaded stud as a means of securing a propeller to the rigid bottom member.

FIG. 6A shows an embodiment of the rigid bottom member of an embodiment of the device which employs straps as a means of securing a propeller to the rigid bottom member.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the disclosed device with the rigid bottom member removed, along with a propeller.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of the disclosed device with a propeller disposed therein.

FIG. 9 shows another view of an embodiment of the disclosed device with a propeller disposed therein.

FIG. 10 shows a front view of an embodiment of the disclosed device showing usage of the exterior utility pockets.

FIG. 11 shows an alternative embodiment of the device wherein the soft-shell enclosure is in a cylindrical shape, which utilizes grommets and a draw cord for closing the opening of the device.

FIG. 12 shows an alternative embodiment of the device wherein the soft-shell enclosure is in a cylindrical shape, which utilizes a zipper for closing the opening of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring now specifically to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows an embodiment 10 of the invention. This embodiment 10 comprises a soft-shell enclosure 12 which may shaped in the form of a cube or other parallelepiped. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 11-12, the soft shell enclosure 12′ may be configured in a cylindrical shape. The enclosure 12 (or 12′) may be manufactured from soft-sided material with sufficient strength, such as ballistic nylon, canvas, CORDURA, or KEVLAR. The enclosure 12 may also have a nylon lining 14 in the interior of the enclosure as shown in FIG. 5. Foam material may be sandwiched between the outer layer of the enclosure 12 and the lining 14. This foam material may have a thickness of 0.25 inch.

Embodiment 10 may further comprise an opening 16 which may symmetrically bisect the enclosure 2 along the top 18 and the sides 20. A single panel 22 defines the bottom of the enclosure 12 for this embodiment 10. The enclosure 12 may thereby function in a clam-shell manner, with opposing halves of the enclosure capable of being widely spread apart for insertion of the propeller as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

As shown in FIGS. 11-12, an embodiment 10′ of the apparatus has a cylindrical enclosure 12′ comprising an opening 16′ which is sufficiently large to allow one or more propellers to be inserted through the opening into the apparatus.

The invention further comprises a rigid bottom member 24 which overlies the single panel 22 on the inside of the enclosure 12. This rigid bottom member 24 provides support for the propeller 26. The rigid bottom member 24 may comprise a lightweight yet strong material such as acrylonitrate-butadiene-styrene (i.e., ABS plastic). It has been found that material having a thickness of ¼″ or greater provides sufficient strength for most size propellers. As indicated on FIG. 7, the rigid bottom member 24 may further comprise a textured top surface 28, such as indoor-outdoor carpet, to make the inside of the enclosure 12 more appealing.

In addition to the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the rigid bottom member 24 may further comprise means for securing the propeller 26 to the bottom member. Various means may be employed for this purpose. For example, the rigid bottom member 24 may comprise a vertical threaded stud member 25 which may be inserted through the splined bushing in the hub 27 that attaches the propeller to the propeller shaft. A retaining nut or other fastener may then be attached to the threaded stud member 25, such that the retaining nut makes up against the propeller hub 27 to retain the propeller 26 in place. Another means for securing the propeller 25 to the rigid bottom member 24 is shown in FIG. 6B. As shown in FIG. 6B, the rigid bottom member 24 may comprise adjustable straps 27 which are secured at one end to the rigid bottom member and which have connectors 29 at the other end for securing to a mating strap 27.

The opening 16 of embodiment 10 has opening and closing means, such as a zipper 30. As shown in FIG. 3, dual zippers 30 may be used to facilitate opening the enclosure 12 The invention further comprises carrying means such as a continuous loop strap 32 which is attached to and supports the single panel 22 defining the bottom and sides 20 of the enclosure 12 as shown in FIGS. 1 through 4. The continuous loop strap 32 which extends above each side of the enclosure and terminates in matching loops 34, which provide a convenient handle for carrying the apparatus. As shown in FIG. 2, the continuous loop strap 32 may be double stitched to the exterior of the enclosure 12 to provide additional security and carrying capacity. A handle piece 36 may also be utilized to provide additional support for grasping the apparatus.

In the embodiment 10′ having a cylindrical shell, opening 16′ may be closed with various closing means. For example, draw cord 37 may be disposed within an upper seam of the shell bordering the opening 16′, where the draw cord is accessible through grommets 39. Alternatively, zipper 41 may be employed to close top panel 43.

The device may further comprise exterior utility pockets 38 which may be used to carry an assortment of different objects. An example for usage of the exterior utility pockets is shown in FIG. 10. The device may further comprise interior utility pockets 40 as shown in FIG. 5. These pockets may be utilized for carrying additional hardware such as shear pins or cotter pins or for carrying the tools necessary for changing out the propeller 26.

While the above is a description of various embodiments of the present invention, further modifications may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus the scope of the invention should not be limited according to these factors, but according to the claims to be filed in the forthcoming utility application.

Claims

1. An apparatus for storing and transporting a boat propeller comprising:

a soft-shell enclosure having sides and a single panel defining the bottom of the enclosure, the enclosure having an opening;

a rigid bottom member which overlies the single panel on the bottom; and

means for securing the propeller to the rigid bottom member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for securing the propeller to the rigid bottom member comprises a threaded stud attached to the rigid bottom member.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for securing the propeller to the rigid bottom member comprises a first strap and a second strap, the first strap and second strap each having a first end and a second end, the first ends respectively attached to the rigid bottom member and the first strap and second strap comprising means at their respective second ends for connecting the first strap to the second strap.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the opening of the enclosure comprises closing means.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus comprises carrying means.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the closing means comprises a zipper.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the closing means comprises a draw cord used in combination with grommets.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the carrying means comprises a continuous loop strap which is attached to and supports the bottom and sides of the enclosure, and which extends above each side of the enclosure in matching loops.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the soft-shell enclosure is in a cylindrical shape.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the soft-shell enclosure is in the shape of a parallelepiped

11. An apparatus for storing and transporting boat propellers comprising:

a soft-shell enclosure shaped in the form of a parallelepiped having a top, sides, and a single panel defining the bottom of the enclosure, the enclosure having an opening which symmetrically bisects the enclosure along the top and the sides;

a rigid bottom member which overlies the single panel on the bottom; and

means for securing the propeller to the rigid bottom member.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the means for securing the propeller to the rigid bottom member comprises a threaded stud attached to the rigid bottom member.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the means for securing the propeller to the rigid bottom member comprises a first strap and a second strap each having a first end and a second end, the first ends respectively attached to the rigid bottom member and the first strap and second strap comprising means at their respective second ends for connecting the first strap to the second strap.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the opening of the enclosure comprises closing means.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the apparatus comprises carrying means.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the closing means comprises a zipper.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the carrying means comprises a continuous loop strap which is attached to and supports the bottom and sides of the enclosure, and which extends above each side of the enclosure in matching loops.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the rigid bottom member comprises a textured top surface.