Watercraft stabilizer
A watercraft stabilizer assembly includes a frame comprising a plurality of frame members connected together and a plurality of floats received on the frame. At least one clamp secures the frame to a watercraft. The clamp comprises clamp members that are securable together such that the frame and a portion of the watercraft are held together between the clamp members.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/719,935, filed Sep. 23, 2005.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to watercraft and, more particularly, to a stabilizer assembly for canoes that is lightweight, strong, and easy to assemble.
Various types of watercraft such as canoes, kayaks, and the like, are inherently unstable and prone to tipping during use.
There are several types of devices available to help stabilize the watercraft. A sponson, for example, typically includes inflatable sections that are strapped to a hull of the watercraft to provide buoyant stabilization. Disadvantageously, the inflatable sections are prone to puncture during use of the watercraft, and often do not provide a desired amount of stabilization.
Other stabilizer devices include heavy frames that attach to sides of the watercraft and extend into the water. The frame supports floats that stabilize the watercraft and move across the water surface as the watercraft moves. Disadvantageously, these types of devices include many different frame pieces to assemble, are heavy, and are difficult to attach to the watercraft. Further, the relatively heavy weight offsets the stabilization benefits of the float, and the frame is susceptible to bending during assembly or during use.
Accordingly, a lightweight and strong stabilizer assembly that is easy to assemble is needed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn example watercraft stabilizer assembly includes a frame comprising a plurality of frame members connected together and a plurality of floats received on the frame. In one example, the frame includes two frame members and in another example the frame includes four frame members. At least one clamp secures the frame to a watercraft, such as a canoe. The clamp comprises clamp members that are securable together such that the frame and a portion of the watercraft are held together between the clamp members.
In another aspect, the watercraft stabilizer assembly includes a two-point support that secures the frame to the watercraft. In one example, the two point support includes a U-shaped member that supports the frame at a first point and a saddle member that supports the frame at a second point.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe various features and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the currently preferred embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows.
In this example, the stabilizer assembly 12 includes a frame 14 having a first frame member 16a and a second frame member 16b that are secured together to form the frame 14. Floats 18 are received onto and supported by the frame 14. In the illustrated example, the frame 14 of the stabilizer assembly 12 is secured at four illustrated locations to the edges 20 of the watercraft 10 using clamps 22.
Referring to
Referring to
In one example, the reduction in the cross-section of the ends 40 is achieved using a crimping process. In another example, the reduction in cross-section is achieved using a swaging process. Given this description, one of ordinary skill in the art will be able to recognize other methods of achieving a reduced cross-section for fitting the frame members 16a and 16b together.
The ends 40 are received into the corresponding ends 42 of the second frame member 16b and form a joint 41 there between that secures the frame members 16a and 16b together. In the illustrated example, the floats 18 fit tightly between the frame members 16a and 16b, which provides the benefit of reduced float 18 movement during use of the stabilizer assembly 12.
In one example, reducing the cross-sections of the ends 40 permits an interfere fit with the inner diameter of the corresponding ends 42 of the second frame member 16b to provide a tight fit. This provides the benefit of tightly securing the first frame member 16a and the second frame member 16b together during use of the stabilizer assembly 12 and further provides a simplified assembly method.
Referring to
The tightening of the nuts 62 secures the frame 14 between the inside lip 64 and the U-shaped member 52. As the nuts 62 are tightened, the support edge 61 of the saddle member 57 presses against the underside of the inside lip 64 to pivot the saddle member 57 upwards (relative to
In another example, the frame 14 is made of a ¾″ metal conduit. In one example, the metal is a relatively lightweight and strong metal, such as aluminum, titanium, magnesium or other lightweight metal. The thickness of metal conduit is relatively thin to minimize the weight of the frame 14. The combination of the relatively small diameter of the conduit, the relatively thin thickness, and relatively strong and lightweight material provides the benefit of a lightweight and strong stabilizer assembly 12.
In one example, the stabilizer assembly 12 can support a weight of an average adult without bending significantly. Further, assembling the frame 14 from only two frame members 16a and 16b minimizes the number of frame parts needed to assemble the stabilizer assembly 12, which is a drawback of prior stabilizer systems. Thus, a user of the stabilizer assembly 12 can easily assemble the frame 14 and secure it to a watercraft 10 and likewise disassemble the stabilizer assembly 12 when not in use.
In the above examples, the frame 14 includes only two frame members 16a and 16b, however, in another example shown in
In another example shown in
Referring to
In this example, the quick release mechanism 84 includes a button 86 located at least partially within a recess 88 of the frame member 16d. The recess 88 includes a notch 90 that defines a range of travel 92 of the button 86. A resilient member 94, such as a spring, is located between the button 86 and a wall 96 of the frame member 16d. The resilient member 94 biases the button upwards in the figure through an opening 98 in the frame member 16d. The button can be manually moved against the biasing force of the resilient member 94 such that the button 86 retracts into the recess 88. The retraction allows the frame member 16d to be inserted into the frame member 16e.
In this example, the frame member 16e includes an opening 100 that corresponds to the button 86. When the button 86 is aligned with the opening 100, the resilient member 94 moves the button 86 through the opening 100 to lock the frame members 16d and 16e together. To disassemble the frame members 16d and 16e, the button 86 is actuated against the biasing force of the resilient member 94 into the recess 88 such that the frame member 16d can be slidably removed from the frame member 16e. Given this description, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize alternative arrangements and quick release mechanisms to meet their particular needs.
Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.
Claims
1. A watercraft stabilizer assembly comprising:
- a frame comprising a plurality of frame members connected together;
- a plurality of floats received on the frame; and
- at least one clamp for securing the frame to a watercraft, the clamp comprising clamp members that are securable together such that the frame and a portion of the watercraft are held together between the clamp members.
2. The watercraft stabilizer assembly recited in claim 1, wherein the clamp members comprise a U-shaped member and a saddle member having a pivot surface.
3. The watercraft stabilizer assembly recited in claim 2, wherein the U-shaped member includes threaded portions that receive corresponding fasteners to secure the saddle member and the U-shaped member together.
4. The watercraft stabilizer assembly as recited in claim 3, further comprising resilient lip between the fasteners and the saddle member.
5. The watercraft stabilizer assembly recited in claim 2, wherein the saddle member includes a curved surface in contact with the frame.
6. The watercraft stabilizer assembly recited in claim 1, wherein the frame is made from a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, aluminum alloy, titanium, titanium alloy, magnesium, magnesium alloy, and combinations thereof.
7. The watercraft stabilizer assembly recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of frame members consists of two frame members.
8. The watercraft stabilizer assembly recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of frame members consists of four frame members.
9. The watercraft stabilizer assembly recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of frame members comprises a crimped end for connection to another of the plurality of frame members.
10. The watercraft stabilizer assembly recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of frame members comprises a swaged end for connection to another of the plurality of frame members.
11. The watercraft stabilizer assembly recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of frame members comprises a first portion having a first cross-sectional area and a second portion having a second cross sectional area that is smaller than the first cross-sectional area.
12. The watercraft stabilizer assembly recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of frame members comprises joints, wherein at least one of the joints is within one of the plurality of floats.
13. The watercraft stabilizer assembly recited in claim 1, further comprising a resilient locking mechanism that secures at least two of the plurality of frame members together.
14. A watercraft stabilizer assembly comprising:
- a frame comprising a plurality of frame members connected together;
- a plurality of floats received on the frame; and
- a two-point support that secures the frame to a watercraft.
15. The watercraft stabilizer assembly recited in claim 14, wherein the two-point support contacts the frame at a first point and at a second point that is spaced apart from said first point.
16. The watercraft stabilizer assembly recited in claim 14, wherein the two-point support includes a first member that supports the frame at a first point and a separate and distinct second member that supports the frame at a second point.
17. The watercraft stabilizer assembly recited in claim 14, wherein the first member provides support in a first direction and the second member provides support in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction.
18. A method of securing a stabilizer assembly to a watercraft, comprising:
- clamping a frame of the stabilizer assembly to a portion of the watercraft between clamp members such the clamp members support the frame at two points.
19. The method recited in claim 18, including supporting the frame in a first direction using a first one of the clamp members and supporting the frame in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction using a second one of the clamp members.
20. The method recited in claim 18, including contacting the frame at a first point using a first one of the clamp members and contacting the frame at a second point using a second one of the clamp members.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 22, 2006
Publication Date: Mar 29, 2007
Inventor: James Page (Big Rapids, MI)
Application Number: 11/525,358
International Classification: B63B 43/14 (20060101);