Priority

[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional application 62/060,519, filed October 6, 2014, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

Field of the Disclosure

[0002] The present disclosure relates to modes of portage for small watercraft such as kayaks. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to wheeled transport of small watercraft.

Background

[0003] Paddle sports enthusiasts are regularly required to transport their boats over land. Small watercraft, such as kayaks and canoes, are often launched prior to each use and generally stored out of the water, sometimes a significant distance from the water's edge. While kayaks and canoes seek to be relatively lightweight, carrying even the lightest watercraft for a significant distance can be a burdensome endeavor. Dragging watercraft also can be burdensome and can risk hull damage.

[0004] Dollies of a variety of designs are available on the market to act as a wheeled support as the watercraft is transported to and from the water. Some watercraft have even integrated wheels into the hull. Applicants seek to provide a cart system that improves upon existing dolly devices and avoids the drag on in-water performance caused by integrated wheels. Summary

[0005] Embodiments of the present disclosure include a cart system for a watercraft having a skid plate configured to be fixedly mounted to a hull of the watercraft, and a wheeled cart removably attachable to the skid plate. The skid plate remains attached to the hull during use of the watercraft in the water. The wheeled cart is attached to the skid plate during launch of the watercraft and the wheeled cart is removed from the skid plate during use of the watercraft in the water.

[0006] Embodiments of the present disclosure also include a portable watercraft having a shell forming a hull. And a skid plate fixedly mounted to the hull of the shell. The watercraft also includes a wheeled cart removably attachable to the skid plate. The skid plate remains attached to the hull during use of the shell in the water. The wheeled cart is attached to the skid plate during launch of the shell and the wheeled cart is removed from the skid plate during use of the shell in the water.

[0007] Embodiments of the present disclosure also include methods of transporting a watercraft, the watercraft having a skid plate attached to a hull thereof the watercraft. The method may include attaching a wheeled cart directly to the skid plate, the wheeled cart comprising at least one wheel. The method may also include pulling the watercraft such that the at least one wheel supports a portion of the weight of the watercraft and rolls along the terrain. [0008] These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after a reading of the following description of the preferred embodiments, when considered in conjunction with the drawings. It should be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed.

Description of the Drawings

[0009] FIG. 1 is a side view of a watercraft suitable for transport with the cart system of the present disclosure.

[0010] FIG. 2 is a rear view of a watercraft with the cart system of the present disclosure fully installed.

[0011] FIG. 3 is a first exploded assembly view of the cart system from the front left.

[0012] FIG. 4 is a second exploded assembly view of the cart system from the front right.

[0013] FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a cart system of another embodiment attached to the watercraft.

[0014] FIG. 6 is an isometric view of an embodiment of a skid plate fixed to the watercraft. [0015] FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a wheeled cart according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 8 is a top view of the wheeled cart of FIG. 7. [0017] FIG. 9 is a rear view of the wheeled cart of FIG. 7.

Detailed Description

[0018] Exemplary embodiments of this disclosure are described below and illustrated in the accompanying figures, in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views. The embodiments described provide examples and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention. Other embodiments, and modifications and improvements of the described embodiments, will occur to those skilled in the art and all such other embodiments, modifications and improvements are within the scope of the present invention. Features from one embodiment or aspect may be combined with features from any other embodiment or aspect in any appropriate combination. For example, any individual or collective features of method aspects or embodiments may be applied to apparatus, product or component aspects or embodiments and vice versa.

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a watercraft 10, particularly a kayak, suitable for transport with the cart system of the present disclosure. The watercraft 10, is shown with a conventional skid plate 12, known in the art. The conventional skid plate 12 is fixedly mounted to the shell 14, particularly the hull 16, of the watercraft 10. The conventional skid plate 12 may be replaced when it wears out, but is generally understood to a relatively permanent part of the watercraft 10. The conventional skid plate 12 is generally positioned near the stern of the watercraft 10. The conventional skid plate 12 provides a reinforced area susceptible to be drug along the ground when the watercraft 10 is being pulled by a handle 18 positioned in the bow. No additional parts or assemblies are anticipated to be attached to the conventional skid plate 12.

[0020] Turning now to FIGS. 2-4, the present disclosure describes an inexpensive and simple cart system 100 that will permit a paddle sports enthusiast to easily and quickly removably-mount or removably-attach a wheeled cart 102 to a watercraft 10, such as a kayak. Portions of the cart system 100 that remain on the watercraft 10, such as a skid plate 106, are lightweight and are configured to avoid creating significant drag on the watercraft 10 once the watercraft is in the water. The cart system 100 of the present disclosure provides a quick attachment that does not require any attachment features being wrapped around the circumference of the watercraft 10 or otherwise located above the watercraft 10, including engagement with the gunnels. Therefore use of the cart system 100 does not require reaching around the watercraft 10 from the top. Further, removable portions of the cart system 100, such as the wheeled cart 102, do not require passing through the hull 16 of the watercraft 10. [0021] The cart system 100 may include a skid plate 106 that is mounted to the stern of a watercraft 10, preferably in a manner that is flush with the keel of the watercraft as viewed from the stern, rear of the watercraft 10. Flush mounting the skid plate 106 will minimize drag in the water. The skid plate 106 may be mounted on or incorporated with the hull 16 of the watercraft 10 by nuts and bolts, other fasteners, or other adhesives. Rubber washers, seals, gaskets or adhesive may also be used to form a water-tight seal between the skid plate 106 and the hull 16 of the watercraft 10. The skid plate 106 functions as a buffer or protective member on the bottom of the hull as is commonly known in the art of conventional skid plates when the wheeled cart 102 is not attached. The skid plate 106 of the present disclosure is intended to remain attached to the watercraft 10 as the watercraft is being used in the water. Therefore, the skid plate 106 may be considered relatively permanently, or fixedly attached to the watercraft 10. The skid plate 106 of the cart system 100 may be understood to have a rear profile substantially similar to the conventional skid plate 12(FIG. 1 ). The skid plate 106 of the cart system 100 may be understood to replace the conventional skid plate 12 (FIG. 1 ) and therefore have a similar mounting configuration. In some embodiments, the skid plate 106 may be incorporated with the hull 16 as an integrated unitary construction.

[0022] The cart system 100 may also include a wheeled cart 102. The wheeled cart 102 may include one or more wheels 108 attached to a chassis 1 10 by one or more axles 1 12. In one example, the axles 1 12 are simply bolts passing through the wheels 108 and secured with nuts and washers. The wheels 108 may be replaceable such that wheels 108 may be selected and exchanged based on the terrain covered by the wheeled cart 102, such as mud, sand, asphalt, rocks, etc. In some embodiments, the wheeled cart 102 may omit the chassis 1 10 and provide for the removable attachment of the wheels 108 and axle 1 12 directly to the skid plate 106. For example, the axle 1 12 may pass through some or all of the skid plate 106 itself.

[0023] The chassis 1 10 may include an axle supporting portion 1 14 configured to mount the axles 1 12, and a connector portion 1 16 configured to engage the skid plate 106 to removably attach the wheeled cart 102 to the skid plate 106. The connector portion 1 16 may allow the wheeled cart 102 to attach to the watercraft 10 directly, and solely, via the skid plate 106.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the wheeled cart 102 is removably attached to the skid plate 106 by an engagement system 1 18. The engagement system 1 18 shall provide a quick attachment allowing the wheeled cart 102 to be easily removed from the watercraft 10 when the watercraft is in-use in the water, and easily attached when the watercraft 10 is to be moved across land without the use of any additional tools. The illustrated engagement system 1 18 includes one or more engagement slots 120 into which one or more engagement posts 122 are slidably received. In the illustrated embodiment, the engagement slots 120 are provided on the sides 124 of the skid plate 106 and the engagement posts 122 are provided on the connector portion 1 16 of the chassis 1 10. The engagement slots 120 may be generally L-shaped with a first branch 126 opening to the bottom of the skid plate 106 and a second branch 128 extending rearwardly from the first branch 126. The skid plate 106 and the wheeled cart 102 may be combined as shown by the arrow A in FIG. 3. The rearward extension of the second branch 128 may prevent the wheeled cart 102 from becoming dislodged as the watercraft 10 is pulled in a forward direction. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the engagement slots may alternatively be formed as part of the connector portion 1 16 of the chassis 1 10, in which case the engagement posts may extend from the skid plate 106.

[0025] In another embodiment (not shown), the engagement system 1 18 may include engagement slots formed in the bottom of the skid plate 106. Such engagement slots formed on the bottom (as opposed to the side as shown in FIG. 4) of the skid plate may accept engagement posts 122 extending vertically from the chassis 1 10. The posts 122 may have a terminal portion that is larger in diameter than a stem portion. The engagement slots may be configured with a large diameter opening into a channel that accepts the terminal portion of the post 122 and a small diameter opening portion along which the stem may slide. This configuration, as known in the art, would prevent the skid plate 106 from being lifted from the wheeled cart 102 when the engagement posts are seated within small diameter portion of the engagement slots.

[0026] Turning to FIGS. 5-9, a cart system 200 according to another embodiment is shown. The cart system 200 has many features similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2-4 as will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. [0027] FIG. 6 shows a skid plate 206 attached to the hull 16 of the watercraft 10. Again, the skid plate 206 generally follows the contour of the hull 16 to minimize the drag when the watercraft 10 is moving through the water. The skid plate 206 may be mounted as discussed above with respect to the skid plate 106 (FIG. 2) or as known in the art with respect to the conventional skid plate 12 (FIG. 1 ).

[0028] The skid plate 206, as shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 5-9, includes one or more engagement slots 220 for use in connecting the skid plate 206 to the remainder of the cart system. In the illustrated embodiment, the engagement slots 220 are provided on the sides 224 of the skid plate 206. The engagement slots 220 may be generally L- shaped with a first branch 226 opening to the bottom of the skid plate 206 and a second branch 228 extending rearwardly from the first branch 226. The skid plate 206 may also include a recess 230 exposed along the rear of the skid plate 206 for engaging a draw latch at discussed below.

[0029] The cart system may also include a wheeled cart 202 as shown in FIGS. 7-9. The wheeled cart 202 may include one or more wheels 208 attached to a chassis 210 by one or more axles 212. In this embodiment, a single the axle 212 supports both of the wheels 208 (FIG. 9).

[0030] The chassis 210 may include an axle supporting portion 214 (FIG. 9) configured to mount the axle 212, and a connector portion 216 (FIG. 8) configured to engage the skid plate 206 to removably attach the wheeled cart 202 to the skid plate 206. The connector portion 216 may allow the wheeled cart 202 to attach to the watercraft 10 directly, and solely, via the skid plate 206. The connector portion 216 provides a quick attachment allowing the wheeled cart 202 to be easily removed from the watercraft 10 when the watercraft is in-use in the water, and easily attached when the watercraft 10 is to be moved across land. The connector portion 216 may include one or more engagement posts 222 to be slidably received in the engagement slots 220 (FIG. 6) of the skid plate 206.

[0031] The wheeled cart 202 may further comprise a draw latch 232 to secure the wheeled cart 202 to the skid plate 206. The draw latch 232 may include a latch body 234 pivotably attached to the chassis 210 at one end thereof at a first pivot 236. The other end of the latch body 234 may be pivotably attached to a lever 238 at a second pivot point 240. The lever 238 has a first end configured to engage the recess 230 of the skid plate 206 and create a third pivot point 242 (FIG. 5). The draw latch 232 is closed by engaging the recess 230 with the first end of the lever 236 and rotating the lever 236 about the second pivot point 240 and about the third pivot point 242 in a counter clockwise direction, with respect to FIG. 7, to a closed position, often creating an over-center arrangement of the pivot points, 236, 240, 242.

[0032] In another embodiment (not shown), the skid plate 106, 206 may be omitted, and a modified hull may be provided such that the modified hull is configured with one or more of the engagement slots 120, 220, engagement posts 122, 222, or recess 230 for attaching a wheeled cart or other removable accessory directly to the modified hull. [0033] The cart system 100, 200 of the present disclosure may also provide one or more novel methods of transporting a watercraft 10 having a skid plate 106, 206, such methods may include attaching a wheeled cart directly to the skid plate, the wheeled cart comprising at least one wheel and a chassis. The method may also include pulling the watercraft such that the at least one wheel supports a portion of the weight of the watercraft and rolls along the terrain.

[0034] Although the above disclosure has been presented in the context of exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be utilized without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.