DECK APPARATUS

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates in general to pontoon-type boats or rafts, trailers and motor driven propulsion systems, and more particularly to a pontoon-type boat trailer propelled by a self-contained watercraft readily converted to a floating deck when the watercraft is removed.

BACKGROUND ART

Previously, rafts have had retractable wheels for transportation and expandable widths, such as taught by Stockmann in U. S. Patent 3,114,157, however, no pro¬ vision was made for any self-propulsion system. U. S. Patent 3,629,884 issued to Brown discloses a combina¬ tion trailer and pontoon boat housing a pick-up truck type passenger accommodating camper, however, the pro¬ pulsion system is provided by an outboard engine or other water propelling driven unit attached to the rear transom of the boat trailer.

A motor boat propelled pontoon boat is taught by Miklos in U.S. Patent 3,659,546 wherein a pontoon boat incapsulatingly receives a motor boat using its motive power to propel the pontoon craft v/hile the combination contains utility on the water, provisions for

transportation on the land is lacking. Further of necessity, a steering arrangement- is connectingly transferred from the prime mover to the pontoon craft on the deck allowing visual steering capabilities. Indicative of the state of the art to which this invention pertains and for background purposes, Bawden et al in U.S. Patent 3,935,832 utilizes a snowmobile modified with a telescopically extensible drive shaft to propel a single hulled watercraft.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

A watercraft best known by its trademarked desig¬ nation Jet-Ski, or a y similar type machine operated singly from a standing position using a jet of water for propulsion, usually requires land transportation to a recreational facility. Previously this transportation is provided by an over-the-road trailer towed by a motor vehicle and is launched into the water by backing the trailer on a downwardly sloping ramp. The utility of the trailer is not realized again until the procedure is reversed.

The watercraft is primarily used for aquatic rec¬ reational purposes and being a single passenger vessel, the entire party must remain on land at a dock or similar boating facility. It is, therefore, the primary object to provide a combination trailer and floatation platform that fills the need to provide accommodations for more than one watercraft operator at a convenient location oh water, as well as provide land transportation to the aquatic recreational area itself. This object is accomplished by deploying a trailer that is removable from a land vehicle and provides its own floatation in the form of pontoons. This arrangement allows the watercraft, while still captive within the trailer, to be the prime

mover propelling the platform along with passengers to a convenient location. The apparatus is guided or ste¬ ered by the watercraft using a directional flow of high pressure water in jet fashion. An important object allows the wheels of the trailer to be retracted upward from the frame decreasing the drag or restriction within the water during movement Another object is the application of an expandable outrigger arrangement inherent in the frame allowing the pontoons to be further separated converting the platform into a raft of convenient size for occupants.

Still another object allows the removal of the watercraft from the raft after the outriggers are expanded and the addition of resilient material stretch- ed between the pontoons forming a deck. This deck

-provides a convenient location for lounging or sunbath¬ ing while waiting in turn to operate the watercraft. These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the sub- sequent detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGURE 1 is a partial isometric view of the preferred embodiment.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the * preferred embodiment with the watercraft in place and the wheels extended for over-the-road use.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the preferred embodi- ment, as above.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIGURE 1.

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FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the preferred embodi¬ ment with the pontoons extended, the deck in place, the wheels retracted and the watercraft removed, as in the raft configuration.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along lines 6-6 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a partial plan view with the pontoons extended and the gate member opened.

BEST )DE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring now more specifically to the referenced characters of the drawings, the invention in the prefer¬ red embodiment utilizes a frame 10 of metallic composition having the structural integrity for the purpose, such as steel, aluminum.magnesium, or the like. The frame 10 may be any configuration that conveniently surrounds a jet propelled watercraft, such as a so- called Jet-Ski 16, however, the preferred embodiment employs the use of a pair of structural channels 12 along the longitudinal portion, each being planar and parallel slightly longer than the outline of the water¬ craft itself. A hollow front member 14 separates the channels 12 at the front forming a C-shaped assembly. The watercraft 16 is fabricated with a flange on the periphery directly above the waterline that interfaces with the internal face of the frame channel members 12. resting on the lower inside leg. A channel shaped front mount 18 integral with the hollow member 14 provides a recess to retain the flange on the bow of the watercraft. The entire frame on three sides then receives and retains the craft 16, as it is slid into the inside of the channel members 12 restricting movement thereof. The front mount 18 further contains hole 20 through both flanges and the craft 16 also contains a hole that is in line when the craft is slid into place. A-

fastener 22 is placed through the aligned holes locking the craft to the frame 10. This fastener 22 may be of any type suitable for the purpose, such as a retaining pin, spring loaded ball pin or a threaded fastener i.e. a screw and nut. A hollow gate member 24 encloses the frame 10 into a box section attaching the rear ends of the channels 14 together. This gate member 24 is hinged on one end allowing it to swing out of place for entry or exit of the watercraft 16 into the frame 10. A latch 26 of any suitable type is located on the end opposite the hinge and allows ^' integrity of the structure and also quick release of the gate itself. Further, the gate member 24 provides a safety barrier maintaining the watercraft 16 in the' cavity of the frame by impeding its rearward movement. A plurality of- hollow struts 28 reinforced with gussets extend from the frame at the four corners at right angles to the channels 12 and are in line with the gate 24 and the hollow front member 14. Means for securing the frame to a road vehicle incorporate an extension yoke 29 with an integral ball hitch 30. The yoke 29 interfaces structurally to the frame 10 at the intersection of the longitudinal members 12 and front hollow member 14 in A-fashion with the apex converging at the hitch 30. A slight offset may be necessary to correspond in height with a towing vehicle, also reinforcing gussets 32 may be required to add rigidity to the structure.

Running gear is rotatably secured to the frame 10 consisting of a pair of wheels 34 having tires and hubs, spindles 36 and handles 38 to elevate the assembly for water operation. The wheels 34 may be of any size suitable for the application having pneumatic charac¬ teristics for over-the-road type transportation and include hubs with load receiving bearings for rotation thereof. The spindles 36 are contiguous with the bearings in the hubs and are attached to a structural JΪ EXtϊ*

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member allowing vertical rotation. The structural mem¬ ber is integral with the handle 38 and rigidly affixed in pivot fashion with an over-the-center lever arm being formed allowing the running gear to be raised vertically in relation to the frame and pontoons. This relocation reduces the drag coefficient upon the device when the trailer is used as a boat in the water. Retaining means are included to maintain the position of the handle 38 in either the over-the-road or boat configura- tion. A pair of pontoons 40 are slidably fixed to the frame 10 on opposed sides and are coterminus forming a flat structure or platform. These pontoons 40 provide the floatation means for the entire structure and may utilize any suitable solid material, such as fiberglass covered polyurethane, polypropylene or styrene foam, or the like. The pontoons may also be constructed of a hollow air filled rubber or metallic float or any sub-= stance having the characteristics of floatation on the waters surface. The pontoons 40 are attached slidably to the frame 10 with outriggers 42 in the form of structural members, preferably metallic, that have the same shape as the hollow gate member 24 and the hollow front member 14, except smaller. The smaller size and same shape allow the outriggers 42 to rest inside and slidably retract or expand within the corresponding members. The outriggers 42 are in pairs and are attached to the pontoons 40 on one end and align with the above members on the other. When retracted, the ends meet inside the corresponding members 14 and 24 providing a minimum overall width of the apparatus. The struts 28 are in line with the members 14 and 24 and being the same material in form and function simply extend the ends beyond the wheels.-

When the pontoons are retracted in the over-the- road configuration as best shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, the ends of the outriggers 42 touch each other at the

horizontal centerline of the apparatus. When expanded the outriggers 42 slide away from each other an equal distance while still being maintained inside the members 14 and 24 and corresponding struts 28. This allows the pontoons to be relocated increasing the space between the frame 10 and the pontoons 40 providing a platform surface of a suitable size for human occupation. A pair of holes 44 are located in the outriggers 42 with a corresponding hole and pin 46 at the terminating end of each strut 28. The pins 46 are positioned through the holes in the retracted position and also in the expanded position in the second set of holes maintaining integ¬ rity of the width of the platform. The pins 46 may be the ball lock type, quick release style or a simple threaded screw and wing nut.

When the apparatus is extended, as best shown in FIGURE 5, a resilient deck 48 is stretched between the pontoons 40 forming a flat surface. The deck 40 may be of any resilient substance, such as cloth, canvas, woven thermoplastic, webbing, or the like. In the retracted position the deck 40 is rolled and stored on a pontoon 40 with one edge permanently affixed onto the top surface. The other end is removably attached to the remaining pontoon with tensioning means providing a taut connection therebetween and hence a flat surface for occupancy when the propelling watercraft is removed. This tension may be provided by any means suitable for the purpose, such as springs, over-center latches, or rope 49 threaded through grommets 50 into retaining means 52, as depicted in FIGURE 5. A pair of reinforced openings 53 allow the wheels 34 to extend above the deck in their retracted position.

As a second embodiment the deck 48 may consist of a plurality of rigid sectional planks constructed of a material that is water resistant. The planks are conventionally fastened and placed between the pontoons

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40 to form a flat deck.

In operation the watercraft 16 is mounted within the frame 10, as illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2, 3, and 4 and transported over-the-road to the site of a body of water with a motor vehicle such as an automobile or light duty truck as the prime mover. The hitch 30 is attached to a corresponding ball on the vehicle and the running gear is positioned downwardly forming a trailer. The apparatus is backed into the water and disconnected from the vehicle becoming a boat as the pontoons 40 provide floatation means. The wheels 34 are retracted with handle 38 and passengers are positioned on the device with the watercraft 16 providing the propelling force and steering means. Upon reaching the destina- tion the watercraft 16 is removed from the frame 10 by releasing the pin 22, shown in FIGURE 2, from the bow of the craft and swinging the gate member 24 away from the frame 10 upon removal of the latch 26, as illus¬ trated in FIGURE 7. The watercraft 16 is then slid from the moorings between the channels 12 and is then used for recreational purposes. The gate member 24 is then closed and latched and the pins 46 are removed from the holes 44 allowing the pontoons 40 to be extended. The pins 46 are then replaced in the second set of matching holes 44 and the deck 48 is unrolled and tensioned with the rope 49 threaded through grommets 50 to the retaining means 52. This configuration is depicted in FIGURES 5, 6, and 7 and provides a raft for the occupants while waiting their turn to utilize the watercraft, or the like. The reverse procedure is followed upon return.

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While the invention has been described in complete detail and pictorially shown in the accompanying draw¬ ings, it is not to be limited to such details, since many changes and modifications may be made to the Watercraft Towing and Floatation Deck Apparatus without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Hence, it is described to cover any and all modifications and forms which may come within the language and scope of the claims.

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