MULTI-ADJUSTABLE WATERCRAFT CHOCK

A multi-adjustable watercraft chock includes a base having opposite ends attachable on a surface, a pair of arms pivotally connected at inner ends to the base at opposite locations proximate the opposite ends of the base, contact bodies disposed at outer ends of the arms, couplers connecting the contact bodies with respective outer ends of the arms so as to define a pair of pivotal axes spaced apart from, and orthogonally oriented relative to, one another such that one contact body is pivotal in orthogonal directions relative to the respective outer end of one arm, and angular adjustment mechanisms coupling the arms to proximate the outer ends of the base so as to enable the arms to be continuously angularly adjusted to selectively extend from the base in oppositely flared configuration and arm outer ends and therewith bodies to thereby raise or lower relative to the base.

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Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to stowing watercraft, and, more particularly, is concerned with a multi-adjustable watercraft chock for accommodating different configurations of the hulls of various watercraft.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Certain watercraft, namely tenders and jet skis, are oftentimes mounted on decks or platforms of large boats, such as cabin cruisers, yachts and the like, to enable anchoring the large boat at a distance from shore and going ashore in the watercraft. In order to secure the watercraft on the boat deck or platform, chocks (also referred to as cradles) have been developed to effectively stow the watercraft on the deck or platform.

One commercially-available chock by UMT International of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. is referred to as an Adjustable/Universal (AU) Chock. A pair of these chocks are installed as a set on the boat deck or platform. Each of these chocks has a base that stationarily attaches to the boat deck or platform and a pair of arms pivotally mounted at inner ends proximate the opposite ends of the base so as to enable the arms to angularly adjust and the outer ends thereof to thereby vertically raise or lower relative to the base. The arms extend from the base in an oppositely flared configuration. Each of support arms has a contact body pivotally mountable at different spaced apart locations along its outer end. Each chock also has an intermediately-located contact pad on the base between and spaced from the arms.

The intermediate contact pad and outer contact bodies of each of these chocks is intended to permit positional adjustment to accommodate different configurations of the hulls of various watercraft so that the same set of chocks can be used for accommodating different watercraft applications on the same boat. However, the respective arms and outer contact bodies on the arms do not appear to enable a sufficient range of adjustments to accommodate various configurations of watercraft hulls varying from one another in both the transverse (side-to-side) and fore-and-aft directions.

Accordingly, notwithstanding the presence of the aforementioned prior art chock, there still remains a need in the art for an innovation that will overcome deficiencies and problems that remain unsolved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an innovation overcomes the deficiencies of the known art and the problems that remain unsolved by providing a multi-adjustable watercraft chock having components capable of a multiplicity of continuous or infinite adjustments that conform the chock to any shape or size of watercraft hull.

In one aspect of the present invention, a multi-adjustable watercraft chock includes:

    • an elongated base having opposite ends and being attachable on a surface at the opposite ends of the elongated base;
    • a pair of support arms each having opposite inner and outer ends, the support arms being pivotally connected at the inner ends to the elongated base at locations between and spaced from the opposite ends of the elongated base so as to enable the support arms to be angularly adjusted and extend outward from the elongated base in an oppositely flared configuration and the outer ends of the support arms to thereby vertically raise and lower relative to the elongated base;
    • a pair of contact bodies each being disposed at the outer end of one of the support arms; and
    • a pair of couplers each interconnecting one of the contact bodies with a respective one of the outer ends of the support arms so as to define a pair of pivotal axes being spaced apart from, and orthogonally oriented relative to, one another such that the one contact body is pivotal in orthogonal directions relative to the respective one of the outer ends of the support arms.

In another aspect of the present invention, each of the couplers includes:

    • a first pair of ears; and
    • a second pair of ears being rigidly connected to the first pair of ears such that the first pair of ears extend parallel to one another, the second pair of ears extend parallel to one another, and the first pair of ears are orthogonally oriented, and extend in an opposite direction, relative to the second pair of ears.

In another aspect of the present invention, the first pair of ears of each coupler are spaced apart from one another so as to define a first open channel therebetween and a first one of the orthogonally oriented pivotal axes extending between the first pair of ears and across the first open channel with a first one of the contact bodies supported in the first open channel to undergo pivotal movement about the first one of the pivotal axes relative to each coupler. The ears of the first pair thereof have respective first apertures defined therethrough and aligned with one another. An upper axle is fitted through and extends between the respective first apertures and across the first open channel and through the first one of the contact bodies so as to support the first one contact body to undergo pivotal movement about the first one of the pivotal axes relative to each coupler.

In another aspect of the present invention, the second pair of ears of each coupler are spaced apart from one another so as to define a second open channel therebetween and a second one of the orthogonally oriented pivotal axes extending between the second pair of ears and across the second open channel with the outer end of one of the support arms disposed in the second open channel of the second pair of ears for supporting each coupler to undergo pivotal movement about the second one of the pivotal axes relative to the outer end of the one support arm. The ears of the second pair thereof have respective second apertures defined therethrough and aligned with one another. A lower axle is fitted through and extends between the respective second apertures and across the second open channel and through the outer end of the one support arm so as to support each coupler to undergo pivotal movement about the second one of the pivotal axes relative to the outer end of the one support arm.

In another aspect of the present invention, a multi-adjustable watercraft chock includes:

    • an elongated base having opposite ends and being attachable on a surface at the opposite ends of the elongated base;
    • a pair of support arms each having opposite inner and outer ends, the support arms being pivotally connected at the inner ends to the elongated base at opposite locations between and spaced from the opposite ends of the elongated base;
    • a pair of contact bodies each being mounted at the outer end of one of the support arms; and
    • a pair of angular adjustment mechanisms each coupling one of the support arms to proximate the opposite ends of the elongated base so as to enable the support arms to be continuously angularly adjusted to selectively extend from the elongated base in an oppositely flared configuration and the outer ends of the support arms and therewith the contact bodies to thereby vertically raise and lower relative to the elongated base.

In another aspect of the present invention, each of the pair of angular adjustment mechanisms includes:

    • a tread on a side of the support arm proximate the inner end of the support arm pivotally connected to the elongated base;
    • a gear rack movably mounted proximate said opposite end of the elongated base and drivingly coupled to the tread; and
    • an adjustment screw threadably mounted along and proximate the opposite end of the elongated base and engaged with the gear rack such that upon turning the adjustment screw in a first angular direction the gear rack translates and drives the tread such that the outer end of the support arm is raised away from the respective opposite end of the elongated base and in an opposite second angular direction the gear rack oppositely translates and drives the tread such that the outer end of the support arm is lowered toward the respective opposite end of the elongated base.

In another aspect of the present invention, a multi-adjustable watercraft chock includes:

    • an elongated base having opposite ends and being attachable on a surface at the opposite ends of the elongated base;
    • a pair of support arms each having opposite inner and outer ends, the support arms being pivotally connected at the inner ends to the elongated base at opposite locations between and spaced from the opposite ends of the elongated base;
    • a pair of contact bodies each being disposed at the outer end of one of the support arms;
    • a pair of couplers each interconnecting one of the contact bodies with a respective one of the outer ends of the support arms so as to define a pair of pivotal axes being spaced apart from, and orthogonally oriented relative to, one another such that the each one contact body is pivotal in orthogonal directions relative to the respective one of the outer ends of the support arms; and
    • a pair of angular adjustment mechanisms each coupling one of the support arms proximate the opposite ends of the elongated base so as to enable the support arms to be continuously angularly adjusted to selectively extend from the elongated base in oppositely flared configuration and the outer ends of the support arms and therewith the contact bodies to thereby vertically raise or lower relative to the elongated base.

These and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the attached drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to limit the invention, in which:

FIG. 1 presents an isometric assembly view of an exemplary embodiment of a multi-adjustable watercraft chock, in accordance with aspects of the present invention, shown adjusted to a position for supporting a watercraft below the bow thereof as seen in FIGS. 6-8;

FIG. 2 presents an isometric exploded view of the multi-adjustable watercraft chock originally introduced in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 presents an isometric assembly view of the multi-adjustable watercraft chock originally introduced in FIG. 1, showing the chock adjusted to a position for supporting a watercraft below the stern thereof as seen in FIGS. 6, 7 and 9;

FIG. 4 presents an isometric view of the multi-adjustable watercraft chock originally introduced in FIG. 3, showing the chock undergoing adjustment of extension portions of the support arms of the chock;

FIG. 5 presents an isometric view of the multi-adjustable watercraft chock originally introduced in FIG. 3, showing the multiple adjustments that the chock may undergo;

FIG. 6 presents an isometric view of a set of multi-adjustable watercraft chocks formed by a pair thereof attached on a deck or platform of a boat or trailer and a watercraft in the form of a jet ski disposed above the set of chocks before being stowed on the set of chocks;

FIG. 7 presents an isometric view of the jet ski after being stowed on the set of chocks;

FIG. 8 presents an enlarged cross-sectional view of a front one of the set of chocks and an enlarged fragmentary portion of the bow of the jet ski stowed on the front chock of the set thereof, as seen along section line 8-8 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 presents an enlarged cross-sectional view of a rear one of the set of chocks and an enlarged fragmentary portion of the stern of the jet ski stowed on the rear chock of the set thereof, as seen along section line 9-9 in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 10 presents an enlarged cross-sectional view of a support block on an upper end of one of the support arms on the front chock of the set thereof being engaged with the bow of the jet ski stowed on the front chock of the set thereof, as seen along section line 10-10 in FIG. 6.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIG. 1. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, there is illustrated an exemplary embodiment of a multi-adjustable watercraft chock, generally designated 100, in accordance with aspects of the present invention. The multi-adjustable watercraft chock 100 basically includes an elongated base 102, a pair of support arms 104, a pair of contact bodies 106, a pair of couplers 108 and a pair of continuously angular adjustment mechanisms 110. The elongated base 102 of the watercraft chock 100 has a main body 112 and a pair of tabs 114 rigidly attached to and extending in opposite directions from the main body 112 at opposite ends 116 of the base 102. The tabs 114 have respective openings 118 formed therethrough which enable attaching the base 102 in any suitable manner on a surface 120, such as a boat deck, dock platform, a trailer deck or the like. By way of example but not limitation, the elongated base 102 may be provided in the form of a rigid metal fixture, such as made of either aluminum or stainless steel structure, being U-shaped in cross-section, with a welded top surface.

The chock 100 may also include a resilient contact pad 122, such as made of a rubber or other yieldable material, supported on the top surface of the base 102 between and spaced from the opposite ends 116 thereof. The resilient contact pad 122 extends in opposite directions toward the opposite ends 116 of the elongated base 102 and may have a dual wing-shaped configuration for accommodating different shapes of the watercraft hull 200 at the bow and stern ends 202, 204 thereof, as shown in FIGS. 6-9. The left one of the chocks 100 in the set thereof in FIGS. 6-8 is shown in the setup depicted in FIG. 1 to support the bow end 202 of the watercraft hull 200. The right one of the chocks 100 in the set thereof in FIGS. 6, 7 and 9 is shown in the setup depicted in FIG. 3 to support the stern end 204 of the watercraft hull 200.

Each of the support arms 104 of the watercraft chock 100 is pivotally connected at its inner end 124 to the elongated base 102 at a location proximate one of the opposite ends 116 of the elongated base 102, via an axle 126 fitted through alignable apertures 128, 130 formed transversely through the inner end 124 of the support arm 104 and the opposite sidewalls of the elongated base 102 at a location proximate one of the outer ends 132 of the resilient contact pad 122. Further, each of the support arms 104 includes inner and outer arm portions 134, 136, which may be made from tubing being rectangular in cross-section. The inner arm portion 134 defines the inner end 124 of the support arm 104 pivotally connected to the elongated base 102 and also defines a passageway 138 extending from the inner end 124 to an outer open end 140 of the inner arm portion 134. The outer arm portion 136 extends through the outer open end 140 of the inner arm portion 134 and within the passageway 138 thereof. As best shown in FIG. 5, the outer arm portion 136 in telescopic fashion is extendable from, or out of, and retractable into the passageway 138 to provide the support arm 104 with a desired or selected length. Also, the outer arm portion 136 has plurality of apertures 142 spaced apart from one another and defined in a transverse relationship to and through the outer arm portion. The inner arm portion 134 has an aperture 144 defined in a transverse relationship to and through the inner arm portion being alignable with one of the plurality of apertures 142. Also, a connector 146 is provided being extendable through the aperture 144 of the inner arm portion 134 and the one aperture 142 of the outer arm portion 136 to thereby attach the inner and outer arm portions 134, 136 to one another so as to provide the respective support arm 104 with the desired, selected length.

Each of the contact bodies 106 is disposed at an outer end 148 of one of the support arms 104 defined by the outer arm portion 136 thereof. Each contact body 106 may take the form of a rectangular-shaped pad with a top or outer layer of a resilient or yieldable material, such as rubber, that will substantially adjust itself to fit the shape of the hull of the watercraft. Each of the couplers 108 interconnects one of the contact bodies 106 with a respective one of the outer ends 148 of the support arms 104 so as to define a pair of first (upper or outer) and second (lower or inner) pivotal axes 150, 152, as seen in FIG. 5. The pivotal axes 150, 152 defined by each coupler 108 are spaced apart from, and orthogonally oriented relative to, one another such that the one contact body 106 is pivotal in orthogonal directions relative to the respective one outer end of the support arm 104.

More particularly, each of the couplers 108 has a first pair of ears 154 and a second pair of ears 156 being rigidly connected to the first pair of ears 154 such that the first pair of ears 154 extend parallel to one another, the second pair of ears 156 extend parallel to one another, and the first pair of ears 154 are orthogonally oriented, and extend in an opposite direction, relative to the second pair of ears 156. The first pair of ears 154 of each coupler 108 are spaced apart from one another so as to define a first open channel 158 therebetween and a first one 150 of the orthogonally oriented pivotal axes 150, 152 extending between the first pair of ears 154 and across the first open channel 158 with a first one of the contact bodies 106 supported in the first open channel 158 to undergo pivotal movement about first pivotal axis 150. The ears 154 of the first pair thereof have respective first apertures 160 defined therethrough and aligned with one another. Also, an upper axle 162 is fitted through and extends between the respective first apertures 160 and across the first open channel 158 and through the first one of the contact bodies 106 so as to support the first one contact body 106 to undergo pivotal movement about the first one 150 of the pivotal axes 150, 152. The second pair of ears 156 of each coupler 108 are spaced apart from one another so as to define a second open channel 164 therebetween and a second one 152 of the orthogonally oriented pivotal axes 150, 152 extending between the second pair of ears 156 and across the second open channel 164 with the outer end 148 of a respective one support arm 104 disposed in the second open channel 164 for supporting a respective one of the couplers 108 to undergo pivotal movement about the second one 152 of the pivotal axes 150, 152. The ears 156 of the second pair thereof have respective second apertures 166 defined therethrough and aligned with one another. Also, a lower axle 168 is fitted through and extends between the respective second apertures 166 of the second pair of ears 156 of each respective one of the couplers 108 and across the second open channel 164 and through the outer end 148 of the each respective one of the support arms 104 so as to support each coupler 108 to undergo pivotal movement about the second one 152 of the pivotal axes 150, 152. The pivotal axes 150, 152 defined by each coupler 108 being spaced apart from, and orthogonally oriented relative to, one another to permit the one contact body 106 to pivot concurrently in orthogonal directions relative to the respective one outer end of the support arm 104 enables the contact body 106 to make substantially flush contact with various hull configurations, as shown in FIGS. 8-10.

As best seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, each of the angular adjustment mechanisms 110 of the chock 100 couple one of the support arms 104 to proximate one of the opposite ends 116 of the elongated base 102 so as to enable the support arms 104 to be continuously angularly adjusted to selectively extend from the elongated base 102 in an oppositely flared configuration and the outer ends 148 of the support arms 104 and therewith the contact bodies 106 to thereby vertically raise or lower relative to the elongated base 102. Each of the angular adjustment mechanisms 110 includes a tread 170 about the inner end 124 of each of the support arms 104, a track 172, such as made of Teflon® or similar slick material, affixed in a depression 174 proximate each of the opposite ends 116 of the elongated base 102, a gear rack 176 that rides on top of each of the tracks 172 and has a tread 178 that drivingly couples to the tread 170 of a respective one of the support arms 104, and an adjustment screw 180 that is mounted by a lug 182, being located proximate the respective one of the opposite ends 116 of the elongated base 102, to rotate, but remain stationary, relative to the lug 182. Each adjustment screw 180 is threadably coupled at 184 to a respective one of the gear racks 176 such that each gear rack 176 drivingly couples to the adjacent one of the treads 170 on the respective inner ends 124 of the support arms 104. Upon turning the adjustment screws 180 in a first angular direction the respective gear racks 176 translate along the tracks 172 toward one another and also toward the center of the elongated base 102 and are engaged with the treads 170 of the respective support arms 104 such that the outer ends 148 of the support arms are lowered toward the opposite ends 116 of the elongated base 102, as seen in FIG. 9. Upon turning the adjustment screws 180 in an opposite second angular direction the respective gear racks 176 translate along the tracks 172 away from one another and also away from the center of the base 102 and are engaged with the treads 170 of the respective support arms 104 such that the outer ends 148 of the support arms are raised away from the respective opposite ends 116 of the elongated base 102, as seen in FIG. 8.

The above-described embodiments are merely exemplary illustrations of implementations set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations, combinations, modifications or equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all the embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A multi-adjustable watercraft chock, comprising:

an elongated base having opposite ends and being attachable on a surface at said opposite ends of said elongated base;
a pair of support arms each having opposite inner and outer ends, said support arms being pivotally connected at said inner ends to said elongated base at locations between and spaced from said opposite ends of said elongated base so as to enable said support arms to be angularly adjusted and extend outward from said elongated base in an oppositely flared configuration and said outer ends of said support arms to thereby vertically raise and lower relative to said elongated base;
a pair of contact bodies each being disposed at said outer end of one of said support arms; and
a pair of couplers each interconnecting one of said contact bodies with a respective one of said outer ends of said support arms so as to define a pair of pivotal axes being spaced apart from, and orthogonally oriented relative to, one another such that said each one contact body is pivotal in orthogonal directions relative to said respective one of said outer ends of said support arms.

2. The chock of claim 1 wherein each of said couplers comprises:

a first pair of ears; and
a second pair of ears being rigidly connected to said first pair of ears such that said first pair of ears extend parallel to one another, said second pair of ears extend parallel to one another, and said first pair of ears are orthogonally oriented, and extend in an opposite direction, relative to said second pair of ears.

3. The chock of claim 2 wherein said first pair of ears of said each coupler are spaced apart from one another so as to define a first open channel therebetween and a first one of said orthogonally oriented pivotal axes extending between said first pair of ears and across said first open channel with a first one of said contact bodies supported in said first open channel to undergo pivotal movement about said first one of said pivotal axes relative to each said coupler.

4. The chock of claim 3 wherein said ears of said first pair thereof have respective first apertures defined therethrough and aligned with one another; and further comprises an upper axle fitted through and extending between said respective first apertures and across said first open channel and through said first one of said contact bodies so as to support said first one contact body to undergo pivotal movement about said first one of said pivotal axes relative to each said coupler.

5. The chock of claim 2 wherein said second pair of ears of each coupler are spaced apart from one another so as to define a second open channel therebetween and a second one of said orthogonally oriented pivotal axes extending between said second pair of ears and across said second open channel with said outer end of one of said support arms disposed in said second open channel of said second pair of ears for supporting said each coupler to undergo pivotal movement about said second one of said pivotal axes relative to said outer end of said one support arm.

6. The chock of claim 5 wherein said ears of said second pair thereof have respective second apertures defined therethrough and aligned with one another; and further comprises a lower axle fitted through and extending between said respective second apertures and across said second open channel and through said outer end of said one support arm so as to support said each coupler to undergo pivotal movement about said second one of said pivotal axes relative to said outer end of said one support arm.

7. The chock of claim 1 wherein each of said support arms comprises:

an inner arm portion defining said inner end of said support arm pivotally connected to said elongated base and a passageway extending from said inner end to an outer open end of said inner arm portion; and
an outer arm portion extending through said outer open end, and within said passageway, of said inner arm portion and being extendable out of and retractable into said passageway to provide said support arm with a selected length, said outer arm portion defining said outer end of said support arm supporting a respective one of said couplers to undergo pivotal movement about said second one of said pivotal axes.

8. The chock of claim 7 wherein each of said support arms further comprises:

a plurality of first apertures spaced apart from one another and defined in a transverse relationship to and through one of said inner and outer arm portions;
at least one second aperture defined in a transverse relationship to and through the other of said inner and outer arms portions and alignable with one of said first apertures; and
a connector extendable through said one of said first apertures and said at least one second aperture to attach said inner and outer arm portions to one another so as to provide said support arm with the selected length.

9. The chock of claim 1 further comprising a contact pad on said elongated base between and spaced from said opposite ends of said elongated base, said contact pad extends in opposite directions toward said opposite ends of said elongated base and has dual wing-shaped configuration.

10. A multi-adjustable watercraft chock, comprising:

an elongated base having opposite ends and being attachable on a surface at said opposite ends of said elongated base;
a pair of support arms each having opposite outer and inner ends, said support arms being pivotally connected at said inner ends to said elongated base at opposite locations between and spaced from said opposite ends of said elongated base;
a pair of contact bodies each being mounted at said outer end of one of said support arms; and
a pair of angular adjustment mechanisms each coupling one of said support arms to proximate said outer ends of said elongated base so as to enable said support arms to be continuously angularly adjusted to selectively extend from said elongated base in an oppositely flared configuration and said outer ends of said support arms and therewith said contact bodies to thereby vertically raise and lower relative to said elongated base.

11. The chock of claim 10 wherein each of said pair of angular adjustment mechanisms comprises:

a tread on a side of said support arm proximate said inner end of said support arm pivotally connected to said elongated base;
a gear rack movably mounted proximate one of said opposite ends of said elongated base and drivingly coupled to said tread; and
an adjustment screw threadably mounted along and proximate said opposite end of said elongated base and engaged with said gear rack such that upon turning said adjustment screw in a first angular direction said gear rack translates and drives said tread such that said outer end of said support arm is raised away from said respective opposite end of said elongated base and in an opposite second angular direction said gear rack oppositely translates and drives said tread such that said outer end of said support arm is lowered toward said respective opposite end of said elongated base.

12. The chock of claim 11 wherein each of said support arms comprises:

an inner arm portion defining said inner end of said support arm pivotally connected to said elongated base and having said treads of said gear rack thereon, said inner arm portion also having a passageway extending from said inner end to an outer open end of said inner arm portion; and
an outer arm portion extending through said outer open end, and within said passageway, of said inner arm portion and being extendable out of and retractable into said passageway to provide said support arm with a selected length.

13. The chock of claim 12 wherein each of said support arms further comprises:

a plurality of first apertures spaced apart from one another and defined in a transverse relationship to and through one of said inner and outer arm portions;
at least one second aperture defined in a transverse relationship to and through the other of said inner and outer arms portions and alignable with one of said first apertures; and
a connector extendable through said one of said first apertures and said at least one second aperture to attach said inner and outer arm portions to one another so as to provide said support arm with the selected length.

14. A multi-adjustable watercraft chock, comprising:

an elongated base having opposite ends and being attachable on a surface at said opposite ends of said elongated base;
a pair of support arms each having opposite inner and outer ends, said support arms being pivotally connected at said inner ends to said elongated base at opposite locations between and spaced from said opposite ends of said elongated base;
a pair of contact bodies each being disposed at said outer end of one of said support arms;
a pair of couplers each interconnecting one of said contact bodies with a respective one of said outer ends of said support arms so as to define a pair of pivotal axes being spaced apart from, and orthogonally oriented relative to, one another such that said each one contact body is pivotal in orthogonal directions relative to said respective one of said outer ends of said support arms; and
a pair of angular adjustment mechanisms each coupling one of said support arms to proximate said opposite ends of said elongated base so as to enable said support arms to be continuously angularly adjusted to selectively extend from said elongated base in oppositely flared configuration and said outer ends of said support arms and therewith said contact bodies to thereby vertically raise and lower relative to said elongated base.

15. The chock of claim 14 wherein each of said couplers comprises:

a first pair of ears; and
a second pair of ears being rigidly connected to said first pair of ears such that said first pair of ears extend parallel to one another, said second pair of ears extend parallel to one another, and said first pair of ears are orthogonally oriented, and extend in an opposite direction, relative to said second pair of ears.

16. The chock of claim 15 wherein said first pair of ears of said each coupler are spaced apart from one another so as to define a first open channel therebetween and a first one of said orthogonally oriented pivotal axes extending between said first pair of ears and across said first open channel with a first one of said contact bodies supported in said first open channel to undergo pivotal movement about said first one of said pivotal axes relative to each said coupler.

17. The chock of claim 16 wherein said ears of said first pair thereof have respective first apertures defined therethrough and aligned with one another; and further comprises an upper axle fitted through and extending between said respective first apertures and across said first open channel and through said first one of said contact bodies so as to support said first one contact body to undergo pivotal movement about said first one of said pivotal axes relative to each said coupler.

18. The chock of claim 15 wherein said second pair of ears of said each coupler are spaced apart from one another so as to define a second open channel therebetween and a second one of said orthogonally oriented pivotal axes extending between said second pair of ears and across said second open channel with said outer end of one of said support arms disposed in said second open channel of said second pair of ears for supporting said each coupler to undergo pivotal movement about said second one of said pivotal axes relative to said outer end of said one support arm.

19. The chock of claim 18 wherein said ears of said second pair thereof have respective second apertures defined therethrough and aligned with one another; and further comprises a lower axle fitted through and extending between said respective second apertures and across said second open channel and through said outer end of said one support arm so as to support said each coupler to undergo pivotal movement about said second one of said pivotal axes relative to said outer end of said one support arm.

20. The chock of claim 14 wherein each of said pair of angular adjustment mechanisms comprises:

a tread on a side of said support arm proximate said inner end of said support arm pivotally connected to said elongated base;
a gear rack movably mounted proximate one of said opposite ends of said elongated base and drivingly coupled to said tread; and
an adjustment screw threadably mounted proximate said opposite end of said elongated base and engaged with said gear rack such that upon turning said adjustment screw in a first angular direction said gear rack translates and drives said tread such that said outer end of said support arm is raised away from said respective outer end of said elongated base and in an opposite second angular direction said gear rack oppositely translates and drives said tread such that said outer end of said support arm is lowered toward said respective opposite end of said elongated base.
Patent History
Publication number: 20180118307
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 1, 2016
Publication Date: May 3, 2018
Applicant: Custom Marine Technology, LLC (Margate, FL)
Inventors: Rafal M. Pulcyn (Margate, FL), Rafal M. Rosolowski (North Lauderdale, FL), John Francis Rossi (Hollywood, FL)
Application Number: 15/340,103
Classifications
International Classification: B63B 23/66 (20060101);