Roller assembly for floating watercraft port
AssigneeInnovative Outdoor Solutions, Inc.
InventorRichard G. Johanneck
Life of this patent
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Abstract
One example provides a roller assembly for conveying a watercraft on a floating drive-on watercraft port. The roller assembly includes an axle, a center roller disposed on the axle, and a pair of shoulder rollers disposed on the axle, one shoulder roller disposed on each side of the center roller, the center roller and each shoulder roller free to spin independently from one another about the axle. Each shoulder roller includes an outer sidewall facing away from the center roller, and an inner sidewall facing the roller, a diameter of the shoulder roller at the outer sidewall being greater than a diameter of the shoulder roller at the inner sidewall such that an outer circumferential surface of the shoulder roller is downwardly angled from the outer sidewall toward the center roller.
Claims20
A roller assembly for conveying a watercraft on a floating drive-on watercraft port, comprising:
- an axle;
- a center roller disposed on the axle;
- and
- a pair of shoulder rollers disposed on the axle, one shoulder roller disposed on each side of the center roller, the center roller and each shoulder roller free to spin independently from one another about the axle, each shoulder roller having:
- an outer sidewall facing away from the center roller;
- and
- an inner sidewall facing the roller, a diameter of the shoulder roller at the outer sidewall being greater than a diameter of the shoulder roller at the outer sidewall such that an outer circumferential surface of the shoulder roller is downwardly angled from the outer sidewall toward the center roller.
A floating watercraft port comprising:
- at least one floating dock section including:
- a first end;
- an opposing second end;
- and
- an upper surface including a hull depression formed therein extending symmetrically about a longitudinal axis of the dock section between the first and second ends, and
- a wheel assembly disposed at the upper surface at the second end of the dock section for conveying a watercraft onto the dock section along the longitudinal axis, the wheel assembly comprising:
- an axle defining an axis of rotation orthogonal to the longitudinal axis;
- a center roller disposed on the axle and centered on the longitudinal axis;
- and
- a pair of shoulder rollers disposed on the axle, one shoulder roller disposed on each side of the center roller, the center roller and each shoulder roller free to spin independently from one another about the axle, each shoulder roller having:
- an outer sidewall facing away from the center roller;
- and
- an inner sidewall facing the roller, a diameter of the shoulder roller at the outer sidewall being greater than a diameter of the shoulder roller at the inner sidewall such that an outer circumferential surface of the shoulder roller is downwardly angled from the outer sidewall toward the center roller.
A wheel assembly for conveying a watercraft on a floating drive-on watercraft port, comprising:
- an axle;
- a cylindrical center roller having a first diameter disposed on the axle;
- and
- a pair of shoulder rollers disposed on the axle at opposing ends of the center roller, each shoulder roller comprising:
- an inner sidewall with a diameter equal to the first diameter disposed adjacent to the center roller;
- and
- an outer sidewall opposite the center roller with a second diameter greater than the first diameter such that an outer circumferential surface of the shoulder roller angles downwardly from the outer sidewall to the inner sidewall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.