Kayak with a gap that slides open and closed

Abstract

A two-section kayak is disclosed where a user can create a gap between a kayak front section and a kayak back section, and use this gap to enter and exit the water. Connecting poles are preferably used to create the gap and retain structural integrity of the kayak when the two sections are separated. A variety of foot stirrups and ladders are contemplated to allow a user to more easily reenter the kayak through the gap. One or more gap alcoves are contemplated to store a stirrup or ladder and to allow the user ready access to swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving accessories while in the gap. A viewing portal, and a hanging seat/platform are contemplated for attachment in the gap, to allow users a more varied kayaking experience. An optional third kayak section is contemplated to add storage space or turn a single kayak into a double kayak.

Claims

1. A kayak, comprising a kayak front section, a kayak back section and two connecting poles, where the two connecting poles extend from the kayak front section to the kayak back section, where the kayak front section can be separated from the kayak back section by being slid along the two connecting poles to create a gap of desired width between the kayak front section and the kayak back section, where the kayak front section has a front interior cavity containing a front quantity of air and the kayak back section has a back interior cavity containing a back quantity of air, where separation of the kayak back section and the kayak front section to create a gap causes no loss of air from either the kayak front section interior cavity or the kayak back section interior cavity, where a user seated in the kayak facing a gap opened between the kayak front section and the kayak back section will have one connecting pole to the left of the gap and one connecting pole to the right of the gap, where the user can enter and exit the water through the gap using his or her hands to place bodyweight on the connecting poles, additionally comprising one or more alcoves added to either or both the kayak front section and the kayak back section, where each of the one or more alcoves has an opening facing the gap, allowing the user of the invention to access items stored in the one or more alcoves when the gap is in an open position, where each of the one or more alcoves is sealed except for its open face.

2. A kayak, comprising a kayak front section, a kayak back section and one or more rigid connecting members, where the kayak front section can be separated from the kayak back section by being slid along the one or more connecting members to create a gap, and where a user of the invention can enter and exit the water through the gap, where the kayak front section has a front interior cavity containing a front quantity of air and the kayak back section has a back interior cavity containing a back quantity of air, where separation of the kayak back section and the kayak front section to create a gap causes no loss of air from either the kayak front section interior cavity or the kayak back section interior cavity, where the number of rigid connecting members is two or more, and where a user seated in the kayak facing a gap opened between the kayak front section and the kayak back section will have at least one rigid connecting member to the left of the gap and at least one rigid connecting member to the right of the gap, where at least one rigid connecting member to the left of the gap is a connecting pole with a circular cross section, and at least one rigid connecting member to the right of the gap is a connecting pole with a circular cross section.

3. The kayak of claim 2, additionally comprising a foot stirrup, where the foot stirrup is attached at one end to a rigid connecting member on one side of the gap, and at its other end to a rigid connecting member on the other side of the gap, where a user of the invention in the water between the kayak front section and the kayak back section may place a foot in the foot stirrup to more easily climb back into the kayak back section.

4. The kayak of claim 2, where a rope ladder with a top left connection point and a top right connection point is attached at its top left connection point to a rigid connecting member on one side of the gap, and its top right connection point is attached to a rigid connecting member on the other side of the gap, where a user of the invention in the water between the kayak front section and the kayak back section may use the rope ladder to more easily climb back into the kayak back section.

5. The kayak of claim 2, additionally comprising a submerged rigid seat/platform, where the submerged rigid seat/platform is suspended from one or more attaching points on the rigid connecting members on either side of the gap, where a user of the invention can sit, kneel or stand on the submerged rigid seat/platform, to rest or to paddle the kayak.

6. The kayak of claim 2, additionally comprising a viewing portal with a transparent base, where the viewing portal is attached between rigid connecting members on either side of the gap, where the transparent base of such viewing portal is submerged in the water, allowing a user of the invention seated in the kayak back section to observe an undersea world.

7. The kayak of claim 2, where the connecting poles with circular cross section slide in and out of two or more hidden connecting poles in either or both of the kayak front section and kayak back section, where the two or more hidden connecting poles have a hidden connecting pole diameter, and where the hidden connecting pole diameter is slightly larger than the connecting pole diameter, where latches on the two or more hidden connecting poles can be used to fix a desired gap width.

8. The kayak of claim 2, where one or more rigid connecting members to the left of the gap are telescoping poles, and one or rigid connecting members to the right of the gap are telescoping poles, where each such telescoping pole when fully extended has two or more telescoping pole sections visible in the gap.

9. The kayak of claim 2, additionally comprising one or more alcoves added to either or both the kayak front section and the kayak back section, where each of the one or more alcoves has an opening facing the gap, allowing the user of the invention to access items stored in the one or more alcoves when the gap is in an open position, where each of the one or more alcoves is sealed except for its open face.

10. The kayak of claim 9, where at least one of the one or more alcoves has two or more fixing points, used to attach and detach items of use.

11. The kayak of claim 10, where a foot stirrup is attached to two of the two or more fixing points, and where the foot stirrup is stored in the alcove, such that a user of the invention may deploy such foot stirrup conveniently when required.

12. The kayak of claim 10, where a rope ladder is attached to two of the two or more fixing points, and where the rope ladder is stored in the alcove, so that a user of the invention may deploy such rope ladder conveniently when required.

13. The kayak of claim 9, where an under-platform telescoping ladder is installed in an alcove, where the under-platform telescoping ladder is attached to a roof of the alcove in the same way it would be attached under a boating platform.

14. The kayak of claim 9, where an under-platform telescoping dive ladder is installed in an alcove, where the under-platform telescoping dive ladder is attached to the roof of the alcove in the same way it would be attached under a boating platform.

15. A kayak, comprising a kayak front section, a kayak back section and one or more rigid connecting members, where the kayak front section can be separated from the kayak back section by being slid along the one or more connecting members to create a gap, and where a user of the invention can enter and exit the water through the gap, where the kayak front section has a front interior cavity containing a front quantity of air and the kayak back section has a back interior cavity containing a back quantity of air, where separation of the kayak back section and the kayak front section to create a gap causes no loss of air from either the kayak front section interior cavity or the kayak back section interior cavity, where the number of rigid connecting members is two or more, and where a user seated in the kayak facing a gap opened between the kayak front section and the kayak back section will have at least one rigid connecting member to the left of the gap and at least one rigid connecting member to the right of the gap where at least one rigid connecting member to the left of the gap is a pole with rectangular cross section, and at least one rigid connecting member to the right of the gap is a pole with rectangular cross section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention, showing the kayak with gap closed.

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the same embodiment of the invention, showing the kayak with gap open.

(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective detail view showing one preferred embodiment of a latching mechanism for kayak connecting poles.

(4) FIG. 4 is perspective view showing one preferred embodiment of a gap alcove with alcove foot stirrup deployed in the gap.

(5) FIG. 5 is perspective view showing one preferred embodiment of an alcove rope ladder deployed in the gap.

(6) FIG. 6 is perspective view showing one preferred embodiment of an alcove telescoping ladder deployed in the gap.

(7) FIG. 7 is perspective view showing one preferred embodiment of an alcove telescoping dive ladder deployed in the gap.

(8) FIG. 8 is perspective view showing one preferred embodiment of a free hanging foot stirrup deployed in the gap.

(9) FIG. 9 is perspective view showing one preferred embodiment of a free hanging rope ladder deployed in the gap.

(10) FIG. 10 is perspective view showing one preferred embodiment of a free hanging platform/seat deployed in the gap.

(11) FIG. 11 is perspective view showing one preferred embodiment of a viewing portal deployed in the gap.

(12) FIG. 12 is front view of one preferred embodiment of a viewing portal deployed in the gap.

(13) FIG. 13 is perspective view showing one preferred embodiment of an additional section used to extend the length of the kayak.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(14) Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with references made to the drawings below. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Instead, emphasis is placed upon clearly illustrating the components of the present invention. Moreover, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts through the several views in the drawings. Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention are not limited in their application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The embodiments of the invention are capable of being practiced and carried out in various ways. In addition, the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

(15) A preferred embodiment of the invention has a kayak molded in two sections: a kayak front section 2 and a kayak back section 1. The two sections each have their own interior cavities containing separate volumes of air, and can be selectively slid apart to create a gap 3 between the two sections. With reference to FIGS. 1-3, a user seated in the kayak back section 1 can open the gap 3 by first opening the connecting pole latches 6 then pushing with the feet on the kayak front section 2 to open a gap of desired width. To fix a gap of desired width, the user then closes the connecting pole latches 6. To close the gap 3, the user repeats this in reverse, pulling with the feet on the kayak front section 2.

(16) FIG. 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the invention where the user can open connecting pole latches 7, allowing connecting poles 5 fixed in kayak front section to slide through the hidden connecting poles 8 fixed in the kayak back section. This is because the hidden connecting poles 8 have slightly larger diameter than the connecting poles 5, allowing a telescoping movement. There is much available prior art for latching telescoping poles open and closed, used for example with hiking poles, telescoping window cleaning poles, and certain kinds of telescoping fishing poles. Such prior art latching mechanisms commonly rely on levers, clamps, spring loaded buttons or twisting elements. FIG. 3. shows a simple lever latch.

(17) In FIG. 3, the hidden connecting poles 8 must be hollow to allow the connecting poles 5 to slide through them. It would be possible however to have no hidden connecting poles, rather the kayak back section could be molded to include recesses that function in the same way, i.e. to provide a space that the connecting poles can slide in and out of.

(18) A variation on fixing the connecting poles into the kayak front section, would be to also include hidden kayak connecting poles in the kayak front section 2, i.e. the connecting poles would slide in and out of both kayak sections.

(19) The connecting poles could also be fixed in the kayak back section 1, and slide through hidden connecting poles in the kayak front section.

(20) There could be more than one connecting pole on one or both sides of the gap, to add stability. It is specifically contemplated that four connecting poles could be used, with two connecting poles positioned on either side of the gap.

(21) With reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the connecting pole latch recesses 6 allow the user access to the connecting pole latches 7, either when seated in the kayak, or from the water. They could also be placed on the top of the edge, or on the inside top edge.

(22) The connecting pole latches 6 are perfectly placed to help secure the kayak gap closed when the user is paddling the kayak. Other prior art modular kayaks will typically place latches or ratchet straps at the joins along the top edges. To keep the two halves even more firmly together when the gap is not being used, tension latches or ratchet straps could also be placed on the floor of the kayak (on the join), or at other points along the joint.

(23) With existing modular kayaks, the structural integrity necessarily depends on their mechanisms for keeping the kayak securely closed. This is because failure could mean the kayak breaking into two pieces on open water, and the user perhaps drowning as a result. The current invention provides a superior design over existing modular kayaks. If the mechanism to keep the kayak closed in the current invention were to fail, then while it might be a little annoying, the kayak is still structurally sound, thanks to the connecting poles, and the user is not at risk.

(24) The connecting poles 5 shown in the figures are of circular cross section. However square, oval, rectangular and other cross sections are contemplated for rigid connecting members that could be made from many different materials, including carbon fiber, wood, plastic, aluminum, steel, etc. Rigid connecting members can be hollow or solid. The different options here have advantages and disadvantages in adding weight to the kayak, strength and functionality. With a strong enough rigid connecting member, e.g. one with tall rectangular cross section, it would be possible to have a single rigid connecting member on only one side of the gap, and no rigid connecting member at tall on the other side of the gap.

(25) FIG. 4 shows a gap storage alcove 4 in the kayak back section 1, revealed when the gap is opened. The alcove is simply a space, closed on all sides except for the side facing the gap, so that any water entering the alcove will not leak into the interior cavity of the kayak section. The alcove's depth can depend on intended use, for example storage of a telescoping ladder will require greater depth than storage of a foot stirrup.

(26) The alcove fixing points 9 can be used to secure and deploy an alcove foot stirrup 10 (see FIG. 4.) or an alcove rope ladder 11 (see FIG. 5.). They can also be used to attach and detach swimming, snorkeling and diving accessories, for example goggles, a facemask, a snorkel, a waterproof camera and a diving line, to give the user convenient access to these while in the water between the connecting poles.

(27) The alcove foot stirrup 10 clips to the fixing points 9 using climbing carabiners (see FIG. 4) or another suitable, water- and rust-resistant closure device at each end. The foot stirrup 10 is preferably made of nylon webbing or another waterproof, strong and yet flexible material. It can be stored in the gap storage alcove already attached to the alcove fixing points 9, and ready to simply pull out when the user requires. To renter the kayak, the user can place left and right hands either side of the gap, placing body weight on the kayak connecting poles 5, and with one foot in the foot stirrup 10, climb back into the kayak seat.

(28) FIG. 5 shows a rope ladder 11 deployed similarly to the foot stirrup 10 in FIG. 4.

(29) FIGS. 6 and 7 show respectively an alcove telescoping ladder 12 and an alcove telescoping dive ladder 13 deployed in the gap. Such ladders are commonly available and described as under platform boating ladders, because they attach with various mechanisms under a swimming or diving platform on a boat. For this invention, the roof of the gap storage alcove serves as the underside of a platform, i.e. any existing telescoping ladder capable of being fixed under a platform can also be fixed to the roof of the gap storage alcove, i.e. it can be stored in and deployed from the gap storage alcove.

(30) The gap storage alcove 4 could be placed either in the kayak back section 1 or the front kayak front section 2, or both sections could have such alcoves. In all cases, such alcove opening faces the gap, to allow a user ready access from the gap, and when seated in the kayak.

(31) FIG. 8 shows a free hanging foot stirrup 14 deployed in the gap. It is free hanging because it can be stored freely anywhere the user wants when not in use (for example in a storage hatch commonly found in a sit-on-top kayak) and then hung at any point in the gap the user finds most convenient. The free hanging foot stirrup is preferably made of nylon webbing or another waterproof, strong and yet flexible material that wraps at each end around the kayak connecting poles, then secures preferably with Velcro or a buckle, used also to adjust the total length of the foot stirrup, and hence the distance it hangs below the gap.

(32) FIG. 9 shows a free hanging rope ladder 15 similarly deployed in the gap.

(33) FIG. 10 shows a free hanging seat/platform/step similarly deployed in the gap. The hanging base of this would be made rigid, preferably with plastic or wood, to allow the user to sit, kneel or stand, depending on the depth the user sets it to hang below the connecting poles.

(34) FIGS. 11 and 12 show one preferred embodiment of a viewing portal 17 deployed in the gap. This is simply a plastic box, with transparent plastic or inserted plexiglass base. The buoyancy of the box when deployed keeps it firmly in place under the connecting poles.

(35) FIG. 13 shows how the kayak could be extended with an optional third section to have two gaps for two users in the same kayak. This would effectively convert a single kayak into a double kayak, requiring only a center section 18 rather than the purchase (and need to store) a double kayak.

(36) In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a kayak, where the kayak comprises a kayak front section, a kayak back section and two connecting poles, where the two connecting poles extend from the kayak front section to the kayak back section, where the kayak front section can be separated from the kayak back section by being slid along the two connecting poles to create a gap of desired width between the kayak front section and the kayak back section, where the kayak front section has a front interior cavity containing a front quantity of air and the kayak back section has a back interior cavity containing a back quantity of air, where separation of the kayak back section and the kayak front section to create a gap causes no loss of air from either the kayak front section interior cavity or the kayak back section interior cavity, where a user seated in the kayak facing a gap opened between the kayak front section and the kayak back section will have one connecting pole to the left of the gap and one connecting pole to the right of the gap, where the user can enter and exit the water through the gap using his or her hands to place bodyweight on the connecting poles.

(37) In another preferred embodiment, the kayak can have more than two rigid connecting memberswhich can be circular, oval, square or rectangular in cross sectionwith at least one rigid connecting member on either side of the kayak such that ladders and other accessories can be attached across both sides of the kayak to provide more stability. These accessories can be foot stirrups, rope ladders, rigid seat/platforms, viewing portals, and even additional kayak sections to turn a single kayak into a double kayak. It is contemplated that some accessories can be stored and hung from the alcove, or attached directly to the rigid connecting members.

(38) All of the material in this patent document is subject to copyright protection under the copyright laws of the United States and other countries. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in official governmental records but, otherwise, all other copyright rights whatsoever are reserved.

REFERENCE NUMERALS USED

(39) 1. Kayak back section 2. Kayak front section 3. Gap 4. Gap storage alcove 5. Connecting pole 6. Connecting pole latch recess 7. Connecting pole latch 8. Hidden connecting pole 9. Alcove fixing point 10. Alcove foot stirrup 11. Alcove rope ladder 12. Alcove telescoping ladder 13. Alcove telescoping dive ladder 14. Free hanging foot stirrup 15. Free hanging rope ladder 16. Free hanging platform/seat 17. Viewing portal 18. Kayak third section