GB2176750A

GB2176750A - Canoe portage trolley

Info

Publication number: GB2176750A
Application number: GB08616500A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony William Roberts
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-04-10
Filing date: 1986-04-07
Publication date: 1987-01-07
Also published as: GB8509213D0; GB8616500D0

Abstract

A wheeled chassis, outlined in Fig. 1, which may be permanently fitted to a canoe and, can be swung in an arc from the rest position on top of the canoe to form a leading arm suspension unit adjacent to the hull, whereby, cushioned on its foam rubber suspension 4 it may be held in place by the weight of the canoe. With the trolley in the 'down' portage position, the front of the canoe can be raised, which decreases the angle of the leading arms to the ground and the canoe can then be wheeled to its destination. If required, the trolley can be retained in the up or down position by suitable lashings. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Canoe portage trolley This invention relates to a canoe portage trolley.

Canoes, whilst being graceful vessels on the water, can be cumbersome items to manouver on land, particularily when laden with kit or strong winds are blowing. In such circumstances, damage can easily be caused to the canoe and other items or persons.

Trolleys can be used for the portage of canoes on land, but whilst there are several types of these available, they are all currently independant units which have to be attached to the canoe by clamps or straps. Provision also has to be made for such trollies to be carried either within or about the canoe, or by some other means to the next point of use.

The problematical nature of trollies is compounded by the fact that there is no such thing as a 'standard' canoe or kayak. There are types of canoe for racing, touring, slalom, surf, rescue, sea, and white water use, to name but a few of the main divisions, and these may be further sub-devided by classes such as closed or open kayaks and canadian canoes. The word 'canoe' will henceforth be used in this application to describe all types of kayaks and canoes.

Accordingly, the present invention sets out to provide a means whereby a canoe portage trolley can be provided for the majority of the above types by the application of the basic system described herein and has the advantage that it may be permanently fitted to the canoe without effecting its performance in any way.

Depending on type, a standard touring canoe of the K1 class being used to illustrate and describe the system, a suitable metal bracket is fitted to the rear of the canoe and one end of the main frame of the trolley is attached to this by means of a further bearing plate.

The main frame is thus able to swivel through an arc from the top deck of the canoe, over the stern and then forward to rest against the hull. At the furthest end of the mainframe is located the axle which is fitted with suitable wheels and between these wheels, the axle is padded with foam rubber which acts as the suspension medium.

With the trolley fitted and in position on the top deck, the performance of the canoe is unaffected. When lowered to the 'down' portage position, the canoeist can then pick up the front of the canoe and walk, or run, with the canoe trailing behind him.

Whilst the main frame may be retained in either position by means of straps or elastic cords, the weight of the canoe itself will be sufficient to keep it in place on most reasonably smooth surfaces.

Although the original trolley was created with racing in mind and has been developed to its present state from a canoe portage trolley used on the Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race during the Easter of 1964, the basic design can be applied to most types of canoe and when fitted, can be used at all times when a canoe needs to be manouvered on land.

The specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows in perspective, the trolley fitted to a canoe and ready for use in the 'down' portage mode.

Figure 2 shows the side elevation of a canoe fitted with the trolley and illustrates the ark of travel of the mainframe from the rest position on the topdeck, over the stern and past a typical folding rudder unit, to the portage position adjacent to the hull.

Figure 3 shows the basic layout of the mainframe of the trolley in planview.

Figure 4 shows the layout of the rear fixing and bearing plates in plan and side view.

Refering to Fig. 3, the mainframe 1, is constructed from steel tubing onto which the wheels 2, are retained at 3 by either nuts or splitpins according to type. The foam suspension is shown at 4, and the small tubular struts at 5, may be fitted for the larger and heavier types of canoe, i.e. canadian canoes.

Fig. 4 shows the side and plan elevation of the main fixing plate 6, the position of the fixing screws being shown at 7. The screws at 8 clamp the top plate 9 in place with nuts once the mainframe has been inserted within the inverted 'U' fold.

Note. A. On some of the heavier canoes, notably canadian canoes, the mainframe may be fitted directly to the gunwale using 'U' brackets.

B. On lightweight racing canoes of the K1 and K2 type, the top and bottom fixing and bearing plates may be riveted together.

As the trolley may therefore be fitted permanently to the canoe, it is always ready and available for use. By swinging the mainframe from the topdeck to a position under the hull, an action taking a matter of seconds, the front of the canoe can be raised and is then ready for transportation on land.

1. A canoe portage trolley comprising a wheeled chassis that may be fitted permanently to the canoe, being of the 'leading arm' suspension type, employing foam rubber as the suspension medium, which is held in the 'down' portage position by the weight of the craft concerned.

2. A canoe portage trolley as claimed in Claim 1 which is simple in operation, may be lowered from the rest to operational position

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Canoe portage trolley This invention relates to a canoe portage trolley. Canoes, whilst being graceful vessels on the water, can be cumbersome items to manouver on land, particularily when laden with kit or strong winds are blowing. In such circumstances, damage can easily be caused to the canoe and other items or persons. Trolleys can be used for the portage of canoes on land, but whilst there are several types of these available, they are all currently independant units which have to be attached to the canoe by clamps or straps. Provision also has to be made for such trollies to be carried either within or about the canoe, or by some other means to the next point of use. The problematical nature of trollies is compounded by the fact that there is no such thing as a 'standard' canoe or kayak. There are types of canoe for racing, touring, slalom, surf, rescue, sea, and white water use, to name but a few of the main divisions, and these may be further sub-devided by classes such as closed or open kayaks and canadian canoes. The word 'canoe' will henceforth be used in this application to describe all types of kayaks and canoes. Accordingly, the present invention sets out to provide a means whereby a canoe portage trolley can be provided for the majority of the above types by the application of the basic system described herein and has the advantage that it may be permanently fitted to the canoe without effecting its performance in any way. Depending on type, a standard touring canoe of the K1 class being used to illustrate and describe the system, a suitable metal bracket is fitted to the rear of the canoe and one end of the main frame of the trolley is attached to this by means of a further bearing plate. The main frame is thus able to swivel through an arc from the top deck of the canoe, over the stern and then forward to rest against the hull. At the furthest end of the mainframe is located the axle which is fitted with suitable wheels and between these wheels, the axle is padded with foam rubber which acts as the suspension medium. With the trolley fitted and in position on the top deck, the performance of the canoe is unaffected. When lowered to the 'down' portage position, the canoeist can then pick up the front of the canoe and walk, or run, with the canoe trailing behind him. Whilst the main frame may be retained in either position by means of straps or elastic cords, the weight of the canoe itself will be sufficient to keep it in place on most reasonably smooth surfaces. Although the original trolley was created with racing in mind and has been developed to its present state from a canoe portage trolley used on the Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race during the Easter of 1964, the basic design can be applied to most types of canoe and when fitted, can be used at all times when a canoe needs to be manouvered on land. The specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows in perspective, the trolley fitted to a canoe and ready for use in the 'down' portage mode. Figure 2 shows the side elevation of a canoe fitted with the trolley and illustrates the ark of travel of the mainframe from the rest position on the topdeck, over the stern and past a typical folding rudder unit, to the portage position adjacent to the hull. Figure 3 shows the basic layout of the mainframe of the trolley in planview. Figure 4 shows the layout of the rear fixing and bearing plates in plan and side view. Refering to Fig. 3, the mainframe 1, is constructed from steel tubing onto which the wheels 2, are retained at 3 by either nuts or splitpins according to type. The foam suspension is shown at 4, and the small tubular struts at 5, may be fitted for the larger and heavier types of canoe, i.e. canadian canoes. Fig. 4 shows the side and plan elevation of the main fixing plate 6, the position of the fixing screws being shown at 7. The screws at 8 clamp the top plate 9 in place with nuts once the mainframe has been inserted within the inverted 'U' fold. Note. A. On some of the heavier canoes, notably canadian canoes, the mainframe may be fitted directly to the gunwale using 'U' brackets. B. On lightweight racing canoes of the K1 and K2 type, the top and bottom fixing and bearing plates may be riveted together. As the trolley may therefore be fitted permanently to the canoe, it is always ready and available for use. By swinging the mainframe from the topdeck to a position under the hull, an action taking a matter of seconds, the front of the canoe can be raised and is then ready for transportation on land. CLAIMS

2. A canoe portage trolley as claimed in Claim 1 which is simple in operation, may be lowered from the rest to operational position in seconds and enables all types of person to easily manouver their canoes on land, therefore assisting in the prevention of transportation damage.

3. A canoe portage trolley as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2 which being of lightweight construction, adds little to the overall weight of the canoe to which it is fitted, yet does not hinder the water performance of the craft in any way.

4. A canoe portage trolley, as in any proceeding claim, whereby the basic system described above can be applied to the majority of canoes of all types and construction.

5. A canoe portage trolley as claimed in Claims 1,2,3 and 4, which has been developed to its present state from a canoe portage trolley used on the Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race during the Easter of 1964.

6. A canoe portage trolley substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.