GB2550914A

GB2550914A - System for transporting lightweight watercraft

Info

Publication number: GB2550914A
Application number: GB1609452.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mindel Andy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-05-28
Filing date: 2016-05-28
Publication date: 2017-12-06
Also published as: GB201609452D0

Abstract

A system for transporting lightweight watercraft 10, such as a stand-up paddleboard, a kayak, a surfboard, comprises first means for engaging one end (11 fig 1) of the watercraft; second means for engaging the other end 12 of the watercraft; and third means for connecting the first and second means. The third means may comprise a tightenable strap 19 with first and second connectors. The strap and connection means may connect the first and second means under the hull of the watercraft. The first means may comprise a flexible sheet 13 with clips (16, 17 fig 1) which engage to form a bag. The first means may comprise a towing means 18. The second means may comprise a flexible sheet (22 fig 4) with clips (24 fig 4) which engage to form a bag. There may be an axle (25 fig 4) and wheels (27 fig 4) secured to the second means. The system allows for a watercraft to be towed by hand or bicycle.

Description

System for Transporting Lightweight Watercraft

The present invention relates to a system for transporting lightweight watercraft. Such watercraft could be stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, surfboards and similar watercraft.

Lightweight watercraft are often stored away from the stretch of water where they are used. In many instances, the craft are too heavy or otherwise unmanageable to carry to the water's edge. Accordingly, craft can be mounted on trolleys which can be pushed or towed manually or by bicycle or powered vehicle such as a car. Known trolleys have one or more drawbacks. Some are heavy, some are complex, some are bulky, and some present one or more other problems.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved transport system for watercraft.

The present invention provides a system for transporting lightweight watercraft, the system being defined by claim 1 of the set of claims following this description of the invention. Preferred and/or optional features of the system are defined by other claims of the set of claims.

An embodiment of the system of the invention is now described by way of non-limitative example and with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view from above of a system of the invention in use for transporting a stand-up paddleboard;

Figure 2 is a perspective view from underneath of the system and paddleboard of Fig.l;

Figure 3 is a perspective view from underneath of the system shown in Fig. 2 but without the paddleboard and showing features of the front end of the system;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing, in an "exploded" view, features of the rear end of the system.

Reference is now made to Figure 1 in which a stand-up paddleboard (the "board") is indicated by reference 10. The board 10 tapers at each end and is mounted for transport on a system comprising first means for engaging the front end 11 of the board and second means for engaging the rear end 12 of the board. The second means comprises a pair of wheels supporting the rear end 12 of the board. The first means comprises a flexible sheet 13 of generally rectangular form which is partially wrapped around the front end 11 of the board 10 and held in position by straps 14,15 which are maintained in tension by suitable tightenable clips or buckles 16,17. The flexible sheet 13 may be of any suitable textile, and when strapped to the board 10 as shown forms a bag-like member which engages the front end of the board 10. At the front end of the sheet 13 is provided a loop 18 of fabric which is useful for towing the board 10 when supported by the system. The towing may be effected in any suitable manner. For example, the loop 18 may be looped around the saddle or seat or saddle post of a bicycle to permit towing by the bicycle. Reference is now made to Fig. 2 which shows the flexible sheet 13 underneath the front end 11 of the board 10. The flexible sheet 13 forms with the straps 14, 15 a generally wedge-shaped bag which envelopes the front end 11 of the board 10. The flexible sheet 13 is maintained in position at the front end of the board 10 by a tightenable strap 19 which is attached at its front end 20 to the flexible sheet at the centre of its underside. The rear end of the strap 19 is attached to the second means towards the rear end of the board 10 and maintained in tension by adjustments of a suitable clip or buckle 21. Fig. 3 shows the flexible sheet 13 and its various straps and clips when unassembled or before assembly to a board 10.

Reference is now made to Fig. 4 which shows, inter alia, a flexible sheet 22 of suitable textile. The sheet 22 is of generally rectangular shape and of such dimensions that it can be partially wrapped around the rear end region of the board 10. When thus wrapped, the sheet 22 engages against the lower face of the board 10 and partially envelopes and engages the upper face of the rear end of the board as shown in Fig. 1. A strap 23 is attached to the sheet 22 and clips and/or buckles 24 tighten the strap 23 so that the resulting "bag" or enclosure engages the rear end 12 of the board 10. The system is provided with an axle 25 having end bearings 26 on which are rotatably mounted wheels 27. The wheels are retained on their bearings by suitable clips 28. The axle is of such a width that the wheels 27 are clear of the edges of the board 10. The axle is retained by axle supports or bushes 29 which are in turn retained by internally-threaded dowels or collars 30. The collars are retained by bolts or screws 31 which engage a support plate or pad 32 and the collars 30 and fasten them to the upper side of the sheet 22. A pad 33 of suitable material is located above the support plate or pad 32 to protect the lower face of the board 10 from the bolts or screws 31.

Some light watercraft are provided with one or more fins which protrude downwardly from the underside of the hull to enhance stability when the craft is in use on the water. Such fins are well known. Watercraft having such fin(s) are mounted on the system of the invention with the underside of the craft facing upwards so that the fins are on the upper face of the board 10 and do not contact the ground under the system. The board 10 may be disposed on the system with fins towards the front or rear end of the system, the latter being preferred for convenience. In the latter instance, the fins would be located adjacent to the location of the rear strap 23.

An advantage of the system of the invention is that when it is not in use, the clips and straps can be undone from their engaged dispositions (as depicted in Figs. 1 and 2) and the resulting separated parts of the system, with the possible exception of the wheels and axle, are then compact and small enough to be packed in a bag or rucksack for portability and/or storage until required for transporting a lightweight watercraft. The wheels and axle are light in weight and may be carried separately if they cannot be accommodated in a pack with the other parts of the system. The usual problems of lack of portability and/or space for storage are thus largely obviated.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A system for transporting lightweight watercraft, such as a stand-up paddleboard, a kayak, a surfboard or like watercraft, the system comprising: (a) first means for engaging one end of the watercraft; (b) second means for engaging the other end of the watercraft; and (c) third means for connecting the first means and the second means to maintain them in engagement with their respective ends of the watercraft.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the third means comprises a tightenable strap which has first connection means to connect one end to the first means and second connection means to connect the other end to the second means.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the strap and its connection means are formed and/or adapted to connect the first means and the second means underneath the hull of the watercraft.

4. The system of any preceding claim wherein the first means comprises a bag-like member having sides and a bottom and having a shape generally corresponding at least in part to the shape of the front end of the watercraft.

5. The system of claim 5 wherein the first means comprises a flexible sheet having one or more clips and/or buckles which engage with each other to form the flexible sheet into the baglike member.

6. The system of claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the first means comprises towing means at a location generally corresponding with the front end of the watercraft.

7. The system of any preceding claim wherein the second means comprises a second bag-like member having sides and a bottom and having a shape generally corresponding at least In part with the shape of the rear end of the watercraft.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the second means comprises a flexible sheet having one or more clips and/or buckles which engage with each other to form the flexible sheet into the bag-like member.

9. The system of any preceding claim comprising an axle for supporting the rear end region of the watercraft, one or more wheels rotatably mounted on the axle, and securing means for securing the axle to the second means.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the axle is disposed across the width of the watercraft and is longer than the width of the watercraft, and a wheel is rotatably mounted on each end region of the axle.

11. The system of any preceding claim comprising a watercraft secured thereto and retained by engagement with the first means and the second means.