Collapsible boat transport system
OwnerJames C. Brignolioinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A collapsible boat includes a center pontoon and two side pontoons which can be moved toward or away from one another and toward or away from the center pontoon. The center pontoon is fixed in position and is accommodated by a cradle fixed in position on a trailer. The trailer includes two movable cradles which accommodate the movable side pontoons of the collapsible boat so that the trailer can be widened or narrowed when the boat is widened or narrowed.
Claims11
In combination:
- a collapsible boat having alternative first and second configurations, said collapsible boat being wider in said first configuration than in said second configuration, said collapsible boat having a boat deck and including a center pontoon, a first side pontoon and a second side pontoon, said center pontoon, said first side pontoon and said second side pontoon being located below said boat deck with said first side pontoon and said second side pontoon disposed on opposed sides of said center pontoon, said first side pontoon and said second side pontoon being selectively movable toward or away from one another and toward or away from said center pontoon, said first and second side pontoons being further from each other and from said center pontoon when said collapsible boat is in said first configuration than when said collapsible boat is in said second configuration;
- a transport vehicle for receiving said collapsible boat and for supporting and transporting said collapsible boat on land when said collapsible boat is not afloat, said collapsible boat being complete separable from said transport vehicle whereby said collapsible boat may be placed afloat completely separate from said transport vehicle, said transport vehicle including movable first and second pontoon supports for respectively removably receiving, accommodating and supporting said first side pontoon and said second side pontoon when said transport vehicle supports said collapsible boat and additionally including a third pontoon support for removably receiving, accommodating and supporting said center pontoon when said transport vehicle supports said collapsible boat;
- and
- mover means for selectively causing movement of said first side pontoon and said second side pontoon toward or away from each other and toward and away from said central pontoon and for substantially simultaneously selectively changing the configuration of said boat to either said first configuration or said second configuration.
A collapsible boat having alternative first and second configurations, said collapsible boat being wider in said first configuration than in said second configuration, said collapsible boat having a boat deck and including a center pontoon, a first side pontoon and a second side pontoon, said center pontoon, said first side pontoon and said second side pontoon being located below said boat deck with said first side pontoon and said second side pontoon disposed on opposed sides of said center pontoon, said first side pontoon and said second side pontoon being selectively movable toward or away from one another and toward or away from said center pontoon, said first and second side pontoons being further apart from each other and from said center pontoon when said collapsible boat is in said first configuration than when said collapsible boat is in said second configuration, said collapsible boat including a boat deck support disposed below said boat deck, said boat deck support including a central support portion and side support portions, said side support portions moving toward said central support portion when said collapsible boat moves from said first configuration to said second configuration, said center pontoon being fixedly connected to said central support portion and said first side pontoon and said second side pontoon being connected to and movable with said side support portions.
A transport trailer for receiving, supporting and transporting a collapsible boat having alternative first and second configurations, said collapsible boat being wider in said first configuration than in said second configuration, said collapsible boat having a boat deck and including a center pontoon, a first side pontoon and a second side pontoon, said center pontoon, said first side pontoon and said second side pontoon being located below said boat deck with said first side pontoon and said second side pontoon disposed on opposed sides of said center pontoon, said first side pontoon and said second side pontoon being selectively movable toward or away from one another and toward or away from said center pontoon, said first and second pontoons being further apart from each other and from said center pontoon when said collapsible boat is in said first configuration than when said collapsible boat is in said second configuration, said transport vehicle including movable first and second pontoon supports for respectively removably receiving, accommodating and supporting said first side pontoon and said second side pontoon when said transport vehicle supports said collapsible boat and additionally including a third pontoon support for removably receiving, accommodating and supporting said center pontoon when said transport vehicle supports said collapsible boat, said transport vehicle including a transport vehicle frame, said third pontoon support being fixedly connected to said transport vehicle frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.