System of brackets and rails for attaching wheels, towing, and accessory devices to small pontoon watercraft

Abstract

A system of brackets and rails for attaching wheels, towing devices, and other accessories to small pontoon watercraft in various locations and combinations to increase the transportability and utility of the watercraft. Among the advantages are the ability to tow the watercraft by hand or bicycle, and to allow other devices such as a human powered pedal drive, trolling motor, bike rack, cargo rack, and other accessories to be attached easily and without the use of tools.

Claims

1. A system of brackets and rails for attaching devices to a small pontoon watercraft having an interconnecting boat frame structure with multiple transverse and longitudinally oriented frame members spanning spaced apart pontoons, the system comprising in combination: at least one pair of cross brackets and means for coupling at least one each to a boat frame main tube on opposite sides of said pontoon watercraft, wherein a hollow internal opening of said cross brackets are oriented in a horizontal plane orthogonally aligned to said boat frame main tube, at least one outrigger rail, having a first and second end, spanning through said cross brackets with means for coupling thereto, whereby said outrigger rail provides a non-twisting connection member for mounting a variety of other devices to said pontoon watercraft, at least two T-brackets or swing brackets and means for coupling one each to a said first and said second end of said outrigger rail in a selected orientation, at least two boat wheel assemblies and means for coupling to said T-brackets or said swing brackets, whereby said pontoon watercraft is able to be wheeled over land.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a bicycle, a bike rack means, whereby said pontoon watercraft is able to carry said bicycle over water.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a bicycle, a bike rack means, and a bicycle towing means, whereby said pontoon watercraft is able to be towed over land by said bicycle.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a bicycle, a bike rack means, a bicycle towing means, and an accessory attachment means, whereby a variety of other devices and accessories are able to be connected to said pontoon watercraft.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 is an upper right rear perspective view of a pontoon watercraft.

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of six slip-on brackets.

(3) FIG. 3 is perspective view of one embodiment of three weld-on brackets.

(4) FIG. 4 is an end view of a boat wheel assembly.

(5) FIG. 5 is an upper right rear perspective view of a pontoon watercraft with wheels attached to the gear rack.

(6) FIG. 6 is a right side view of a pontoon watercraft with wheels being towed by a pedestrian.

(7) FIG. 7 is an upper right rear perspective view of a pontoon watercraft with wheels attached to the gear rack in an upright stowed position.

(8) FIG. 8 is an upper right rear perspective view of a pontoon watercraft with wheels attached to the gear rack in a sideways stowed position.

(9) FIG. 9 is an upper right rear perspective view of a pontoon watercraft with wheels attached to the gear rack with swing brackets.

(10) FIG. 10 is an upper right rear perspective view of a pontoon watercraft with wheels attached to the boat seat frame.

(11) FIG. 11 is an upper right rear perspective view of a pontoon watercraft with wheels attached to the outrigger rail.

(12) FIG. 12 is an upper right rear perspective view of a pontoon watercraft showing a cross rail attached to the foot rests.

(13) FIG. 13 is a right side view of a pontoon watercraft connected to the seatpost of a bicycle for towing.

(14) FIG. 14 is a right side view of a pontoon watercraft connected to the rear axle of a bicycle for towing.

(15) FIG. 15 is an upper right rear perspective view of a pontoon watercraft with wheels, a bike rack, and a cross rail.

(16) FIG. 16 is an upper right front perspective view of a pontoon watercraft with wheels, a bicycle mounted on the bike rack, and a cross rail.

(17) FIG. 17 is an upper left front perspective view of a pontoon watercraft with an accessory bracket mounted to a cross rail.

(18) FIG. 18 is an upper left front perspective view of a pontoon watercraft with a trolling motor mounted to an accessory bracket.

(19) FIG. 19 is an upper left front perspective view of a pontoon watercraft with a human powered pedal drive mounted to an accessory bracket.

(20) TABLE-US-00001 REFERENCE NUMERALS 30 Pontoon Watercraft 31 Foot Rest Tubes 32 Pontoon 33 Pontoon Frame 34 Boat Frame Main Tube 35 Gear Rack 36 Gear Rack Main Tube 37 Gear Rack Cross Bar 38 Boat Seat Frame 39 Boat Seat 40 U-Bracket 41 Hole 42 Hand Knob Threaded Rod 43 T-Bracket 44 Cross Bracket 45 Seatpost Bracket 46 Swing Bracket 47 Accessory Bracket 48 Trolling Motor Mounting Pad 49 Tow Bar Slot 50 Accessory Mounting Slot 51 Square Receiver Tube 52 Round Receiver Tube 53 Channel Bracket 54 Boat Wheel Assembly 55 Wheel Post 56 Boat Wheel 57 Nut 58 Bolt 59 Stabilizing Rail 60 Pin 61 Pedestrian 62 Outrigger Rail 63 Cross Rail 64 Seatpost Tow Bar 65 Bicycle 66 Bicycle Seat 67 Seatpost 68 Bicycle Wheel 69 Rear Axle Tow Bar 70 Rear Bicycle Axle 71 Bike Rack 72 Bike Rack Main Tube Legs 73 Bike Rack Arm 74 Bike Rack Mounting Rail 75 Trolling Motor 76 Lift Tube 77 Human Powered Pedal Drive

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(21) One embodiment of a system of brackets and rails for attaching wheels, towing, and accessory devices to small pontoon watercraft is illustrated as follows.

(22) FIG. 1 illustrates an upper right rear perspective view of a pontoon watercraft 30, having two spaced apart pontoon frames 33 removably coupled to two spaced apart pontoons 32, with interconnecting transverse and longitudinally oriented frame members comprising a boat seat frame 38 supporting boat seat 39, removably coupled to boat frame main tubes 34, and a gear rack 35 having a gear rack cross bar 37 and gear rack main tube 36, inserted and removably coupled to the aft end of boat frame main tubes 34, and foot rest tubes 31 inserted and removably coupled to the fore end of boat frame main tubes 34.

(23) FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of six slip-on brackets: a U-bracket 40 having a slot cut through the two legs orthogonal to the U-shaped opening, a hole 41 through one of the legs, and a hand knob threaded rod 42 inserted into a threaded hole from the outside at the apex of the bend centered in the back of the bracket; a T-bracket 43 having a thru-slot and an intersecting slot terminating at the thru-slot with holes centered perpendicular to each slot; a cross bracket 44 having two non-intersecting orthogonally oriented thru-slots with holes centered perpendicularly through each thru-slot; a seatpost bracket 45 having a ring with two tangent parallel ears projecting from the edges of the ring, with a space in between the ears, and a hole centered through the ears; a swing bracket 46 of substantially a U-shape, with a terminating slot in the middle of the closed end of the bracket and concentric holes along the edges of the open end; an accessory bracket 47 providing a trolling motor mounting pad 48, a tow bar slot 49, and an accessory mounting slot 50.

(24) FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of three weld-on brackets: a square receiver tube 51, a round receiver tube 52, and a channel bracket 53, each with holes for securing attachments.

(25) FIG. 4 illustrates an end view of a boat wheel assembly 54, having wheel post 55 connected to boat wheel 56 by bolt 58 and nut 57.

(26) FIG. 5 illustrates an upper right rear perspective view of a pontoon watercraft 30 with boat wheel assemblies 54 connected to T-brackets 43 with pins 60 and attached to stabilizing rails 59 coupled to gear rack 35 by the gear rack main tube 36 and a gear rack cross bar 37 with U-brackets 40 and hand knob threaded rods 42.

(27) FIG. 6 illustrates a right side view of a pontoon watercraft 30 with boat wheel assemblies 54 in tow by a pedestrian 61.

(28) FIG. 7 illustrates an upper right rear perspective view of boat wheel assemblies 54 inserted in T-brackets 43 from the top and attached to stabilizing rails 59 with pins 60 to gear rack 35.

(29) FIG. 8 illustrates an upper right rear perspective view of boat wheel assemblies 54 inserted in T-brackets 43 from the side, resting on or above pontoons 32, and attached to stabilizing rails 59 with pins 60 to gear rack 35.

(30) FIG. 9 illustrates an upper right rear perspective view of boat wheel assemblies 54 coupled to swing brackets 46 attached to stabilizing rails 59 to gear rack 35.

(31) FIG. 10 illustrates an upper right rear perspective view of boat wheel assemblies 54 coupled to cross brackets 44 attached to boat seat frame 38.

(32) FIG. 11 illustrates an upper right rear perspective view of outrigger rail 62 coupled to boat frame main tubes 34 by cross brackets 44, with boat wheel assemblies 54 attached to the ends of outrigger rail 62 on the outside of pontoons 32 by T-brackets 43 held in place by pins 60.

(33) FIG. 12 illustrates an upper right rear perspective view of cross rail 63 coupled to foot rest tubes 31 with cross brackets 44, secured in place by pins 60, having another cross bracket 44 centered between foot rest tubes 31, also secured in place with pin 60.

(34) FIG. 13 illustrates a right side view of pontoon watercraft 30 connected to bicycle 65 by seatpost tow bar 64 rotationally attached on one end to cross bracket 44 and on the other end to seatpost bracket 45 coupled to seatpost 67 below bicycle seat 66.

(35) FIG. 14 illustrates a right side view of pontoon watercraft 30 connected to bicycle 65 by rear axle tow bar 69 rotationally attached on one end to cross bracket 44 and on the other end to rear bicycle axle 70.

(36) FIG. 15 illustrates an upper right rear perspective view showing bike rack 71 with adjustably positionable bike rack arms 73, with bike rack main tube legs 72 inserted into cross brackets 44, attached to bike rack mounting rail 74 held to stabilizing rails 59 with T-brackets 43 on gear rack 35, showing seatpost tow bar 64 stowed on board.

(37) FIG. 16 illustrates an upper right front perspective view of pontoon watercraft 30 with bicycle 65 attached to bike rack 71 above pontoons 32.

(38) FIG. 17 illustrates an upper left front perspective view showing accessory bracket 47 attached to cross rail 63.

(39) FIG. 18 illustrates an upper left front perspective view showing trolling motor 75 attached to the trolling motor mounting pad 48 of accessory bracket 47.

(40) FIG. 19 illustrates an upper left front perspective view showing human powered pedal drive 77 coupled to lift tube 76 inserted into accessory mounting slot 50 of accessory bracket 47.

(41) OperationAttachment of Wheels to Gear Rack for Pedestrian TowingFIGS. 5 & 6

(42) To attach a single or multiple system of brackets and rails to a small pontoon watercraft having an interconnecting boat frame structure with multiple transverse and longitudinally oriented frame members between spaced apart pontoons, to increase the transportability and utility of the watercraft: slide a pair of U-brackets 40, one each over a pair of parallel spaced apart transverse frame members, such as a gear rack main tube 36 and a gear rack cross bar 37 in significant alignment with each other from fore to aft, then slide a stabilizing rail 59 through the two U-brackets 40 and tighten together by compression with hand knob threaded rod 42 to hold securely in place. Then couple a T-bracket 43 on the end of each stabilizing rail 59 in a selected orientation as desired and secure each in place with pin 60. Next, slide a wheel assembly into each T-bracket and pin in place with pin 60. Pedestrian 61 can now lift the front end of pontoon watercraft 30 and tow by hand in either direction as desired.

(43) OperationAlternative Wheel Orientations with T-BracketsFIGS. 4, 7 & 8

(44) A variety of wheel orientations can be achieved from selectively rotating the T-brackets 43 on the end of the stabilizing rail 59 to orient boat wheel assemblies 54 in either an up, side or down position as desired either for towing the watercraft on land or stowing the wheels in position for water travel or storage. The wheel posts 55 can also be selectively positioned into the T-brackets 43 in terms of rotational orientation, depth they are recessed into the T-brackets 43, or by what direction they are inserted from, to obtain an even greater variety of orientations for towing or stowage.

(45) OperationWheels that Swing Up and DownFIGS. 4 & 9

(46) An alternative to using T-brackets 43 on the end of stabilizing rails 59 is to attach swing brackets 46 to the end of stabilizing rails 59 and pin with pins 60. Couple the ends of wheel posts 55 opposite of the boat wheels 56 with a pin 60, or with bolt 58 and nut 57, in the middle hole of swing bracket 46 allowing each boat wheel assembly 54 to rotate up or down in the open end of the swing bracket 46, then insert a pin 60 in one of the concentrically arranged holes on the edge of the swing bracket 46 so it goes through the hole in the wheel post and secures it in a selectively oriented position.

(47) OperationAttaching Wheels to Boat Seat FrameFIGS. 1 & 10

(48) Wheels may be easily placed on the boat seat frame 38 by removing the pins (not shown) connecting the boat seat frame 38 to the boat frame main tubes 34 and separating from each other. Slide two cross brackets 44, one each onto the end of one of the fore or aft boat seat frame 38 and position each over the existing pin holes and recouple the boat frame main tubes 34 with the boat seat frame 38 using pins 60. Then selectively position the boat wheel assemblies 54 in the cross brackets and secure with pins 60.

(49) OperationInstalling Outrigger Wheels on Boat Frame Main TubesFIGS. 1 & 11

(50) Wheels may be alternatively attached to the boat frame main tubes 34 and set outside of pontoons 32 for a very wide and stable placement of the wheels, by: first removing the pins (not shown) that hold gear rack main tubes 36 to boat frame main tubes 34 and separate gear rack 35 from the watercraft; second, slide two cross brackets 44 onto the ends of the boat frame main tubes 34 and align the holes of the cross brackets 44 with the existing holes in the boat frame main tube; third, insert gear rack main tubes 36 back into boat frame main tubes 34 until holes are aligned and pin with pins 60, connecting all three of the gear rack main tube 36 inside the boat frame main tube 34 and cross bracket 44 together; fourth, slide outrigger rail 62 through the two cross brackets 44 and pin with pins 60; fifth, couple selectively oriented T-brackets 43 (or, alternatively, adapted swing bracket with side fittings) with pins 60 on each end of the outrigger rail 62; sixth, insert boat wheel assemblies 54 into T-brackets 43 for movement over land with wheels.

(51) OperationAttaching to A Bicycle for TowingFIGS. 1, 12, 13 & 14

(52) A small pontoon watercraft with wheels previously attached in suitable configuration can be easily fitted for towing with a bicycle by: first, sliding three cross brackets 44 onto cross rail 63 in the same orientation, and pin one on each end and one in the middle using pins 60 in the provided holes; second, remove the pins (not shown) and separate foot rest tubes 31 from boat frame main tubes 34; third, insert the foot rest tubes 31 through the two cross brackets 44 previously attached to the ends of cross rail 63, and secure in place with pins 60; fourth, return the foot rest tubes 31 with the attached cross rail 63 into the boat frame main tubes and reinstall the original pins (not shown); fifth, insert one end of seatpost tow bar 64 into the opening in the center cross bracket 44 previously installed on cross rail 63 and secure with pin 60 so it is able to rotate freely in cross bracket 44; sixth, remove bicycle seat 66 with attached seatpost 67 of bicycle 65, and slide seatpost bracket 45 over seatpost 67 and reinstall on bicycle 65; seventh, connect seatpost tow bar 64 to seatpost bracket 45 with pin 60.

(53) Similarly, a rear axle tow bar 69 can be connected to a bracket (not shown) coupled at the rear bicycle axle 70, instead of a seatpost tow bar 64 and seatpost bracket 45.

(54) OperationAttaching A Bike Rack to Make AmphibiousFIGS. 15 & 16

(55) In addition to the previously added wheels and bicycle towing accessories, a bike rack 71 can be installed simply by adding a bike rack mounting rail 74 spanning between the two previously installed spaced apart T-brackets 43, having two cross brackets 44 mounted to the bike rack mounting rail 74, oriented with their openings vertically aligned, to accept bike rack main tube legs 72, and pin in place with pins 60. Bike 65 will then sit on the independently positionable bike rack arms 73 of bike rack 71.

(56) Similarly, cross brackets 44 can be added directly to the outrigger rail 62 for mounting the bike rack 71, to the outrigger rail instead of the bracket and rails mounted needed to mount to the gear rack 35.

(57) OperationAttaching Other AccessoriesFIGS. 17, 18 & 19

(58) In addition to many of the combinations already described, an accessory bracket 47 can be installed on cross rail 63, in place of the middle cross bracket 44 previously installed, and a variety of accessories can be mounted, such as a trolling motor 75 or a human powered pedal drive 77, just to name a few.

(59) OperationWelded BracketsFIG. 3

(60) Slightly alternative embodiments can be achieved by adapting the previously listed slip-on brackets to be welded to watercraft frame members, instead of pinned or bolted, as well as using simple square receiver tube 51, round receiver tube 52 and channel bracket 53 welded directly to a frame member or in combination with slip-on brackets or welded to rails.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS AND SCOPE

(61) Thus the reader will see that at least one embodiment of the system of brackets and rails for attaching wheels, towing, and accessory devices will increase the transportability and utility of small pontoon watercraft by making it towable by pedestrian and bicycle, converting it to amphibious operation, and allowing a variety of new capabilities, such as a front mounted trolling motor and a human powered pedal drive, among others.

(62) While the above description contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope, but rather as an exemplification of one or more embodiments thereof. Many other variations of size, material, shape, and configurations are possible. For example, a variety of suitable structural materials could be employed, such as steel, aluminum, plastic, wood, composites, carbon fiber, or some combination thereof; and parts could be produced as one component, such as a cast or injection molded plastic part, or cast aluminum part, or could be formed by multiple components together by welding, gluing, bolting together, or some other form of bonding. Brackets can be made to slip-on or be welded on, and can be produced to fit virtually any size of tube. And brackets and attachments can be coupled in place with a variety of pins, spring clips, bolts, compression fittings, or other clamping devices. And the locations for placement of brackets and their orientation are numerous.

(63) Thus the scope of the embodiments should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.