US 12,006,009 B2 · Adaptable landing gear assembly

Abstract

An adaptable landing gear assembly for small watercraft such as kayaks and canoes is described supporting transport of such watercraft from a point on land to a body of water. The assembly includes a cross member to secure the assembly to the watercraft, a pair of positioning brackets, and a pair of wheeled leg assemblies that can rotate between a vertical position to transport watercraft on land and a horizontal position to enable unfettered use of watercraft while floating on water. A position holding pin engages with retaining slots in said position brackets to enable fixed positions of the wheeled leg assemblies with respect to the cross member. A convenient release lever enables operator to release the position holding pin and rotate leg assembly from a first position to a second position.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A retractable wheel assembly adapted to support and transport a watercraft, said assembly comprising:

a cross member;
a first bracket attached to the cross member;
a first leg member pivotably attached to the first bracket in a transverse orientation to the cross member, and having distal and proximal ends;
a wheel mounted to the distal end of the first leg member;
and
a first position holding unit configured to secure the first leg member in a plurality of angular positions relative to the cross member,
wherein:
the first position holding unit comprises:
a first retaining slot in the first bracket;
and
a holding pin attached to the first leg member;
the first leg member is secured in a first angular position relative to the cross member when the holding pin is received in the first retaining slot;
the first position holding unit includes a second retaining slot in the first bracket;
and
the first leg member is secured in a second angular position relative to the cross member when the holding pin is received in the second retaining slot.

12 more elements

A retractable wheel assembly adapted to support and transport a watercraft, said assembly comprising:

a cross member;
a first bracket attached to a first end of the cross member;
a second bracket attached to a second end of the cross member;
a first leg member pivotably attached to the first bracket in a transverse orientation to the cross member, and having distal and proximal ends;
a second leg member pivotably attached to the second bracket in a transverse orientation to the cross member, and having distal and proximal ends;
a wheel mounted to the distal end of the first leg member;
a wheel mounted to the distal end of the second leg member;
a first position holding unit configured to secure the first leg member in a plurality of angular positions relative to the cross member;
and
a second position holding unit configured to secure the second leg member in a plurality of angular positions relative to the cross member,
wherein:
the first position holding unit comprises:
a first retaining slot in the first bracket;
and
a first holding pin attached to the first leg member;
the second position holding unit comprises:
a first retaining slot in the second bracket;
and
a second holding pin attached to the second leg member;
the first leg member is secured in a first angular position relative to the cross member when the first holding pin is received in the first retaining slot of the first bracket;
and
the second leg member is secured in a first angular position relative to the cross member when the second holding pin is received in the first retaining slot of the second bracket.

19 more elements

An assembly comprising:

a watercraft comprising a hull and a gunwale extending along a top of the hull;
and
a retractable wheel assembly comprising:
a cross member connected to the gunwale;
a first bracket attached to a first end of the cross member;
a first leg member pivotably attached to the first bracket in a transverse orientation to the cross member, and having distal and proximal ends;
a wheel mounted to the distal end of the first leg member;
and
a first position holding unit configured to secure the first leg member in a plurality of angular positions relative to the cross member and the gunwale,
wherein:
a second bracket attached to a second end of the cross member;
a second leg member pivotably attached to the second bracket in a transverse orientation to the cross member, and having distal and proximal ends;
a wheel mounted to the distal end of the second leg member;
a second position holding unit configured to secure the second leg member in a plurality of angular positions relative to the cross member and the gunwale;
the first position holding unit comprises:
a first retaining slot in the first bracket;
and
a first holding pin attached to the first leg member;
the second position holding unit comprises:
a first retaining slot in the second bracket;
and
a second holding pin attached to the second leg member;
the first leg member is secured in a first angular position relative to the cross member and the gunwale when the first holding pin is received in the first retaining slot of the first bracket;
and
the second leg member is secured in a first angular position relative to the cross member and the gunwale when the second holding pin is received in the first retaining slot of the second bracket.

22 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Adaptable landing gear assembly

Life of this patent

Adaptable landing gear assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23