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US 2015/0307168 A1Published application
Kayak stabilizer
OwnerWayne PLIMMERinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A stabilizing ballast system for a kayak. A movable ballast weight is configured to be deployed below the kayak for maximal stability, and raised above the bottom of the hull in order to navigate in shallow water or when beaching the kayak. The ballast weight system is user-configurable over a wide range of weights.
Claims20
A watercraft stabilizing system for use in combination with a watercraft, comprising:
- a first strut and a second strut;
- wherein the first strut is reversibly secured to a position on one side of the watercraft by a first articulating joint;
- wherein the second strut is reversibly secured to the watercraft at a position substantially opposite the first strut, by a second articulating joint;
- at least one ballast weight;
- wherein the at least one ballast weight is suspended from the first and second struts;
- a deployment member;
- wherein the deployment member is attached to at least one of the first strut, the second strut or the ballast weight;
- wherein the deployment member is configured to move the at least one ballast weight between a first position and a second position;
- and
- wherein the watercraft comprises a hull, and wherein in the first position the ballast weight is positioned substantially below the bottom of the hull, and wherein in the second position the ballast weight is positioned substantially above the bottom of the hull.
7 more elements
A method of stabilizing a watercraft, the method comprising:
- providing a stabilizing system, the stabilizing system comprising:
- a first strut and a second strut;
- wherein the first strut is reversibly secured to a position on one side of the watercraft by a first articulating joint;
- wherein the second strut is reversibly secured to the watercraft at a position substantially opposite the first strut, by a second articulating joint;
- at least one ballast weight;
- wherein the at least one ballast weight is suspended from the first and second struts;
- a deployment member;
- wherein the deployment member is attached to at least one of the first strut, the second strut or the ballast weight;
- wherein the deployment member is configured to move the at least one ballast weight between a first position and a second position;
- wherein the watercraft comprises a hull, and wherein in the first position the ballast weight is positioned substantially below the bottom of the hull, and wherein in the second position the ballast weight is positioned substantially above the bottom of the hull;
- installing the stabilizing system on a watercraft;
- and
- moving the at least one ballast weight between the first position and second position in order to modify the stability of the watercraft.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.