Wheel for floating watercraft port
AssigneeInnovative Outdoor Solutions, Inc.
InventorRichard G. Johanneck
Life of this patent
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Abstract
One example provides a wheel for conveying a watercraft on a floating drive-on watercraft port. The wheel includes a rim including a center hub having a tapered bore configured to receive an axle, the bore tapered such that a center diameter at a center circumference of the bore is less than an end diameter at bore openings at opposing ends of the bore. A tire is disposed about an outer circumference of the rim for engaging a hull of a watercraft.
Claims20
A wheel for conveying a watercraft on a floating drive-on watercraft port, comprising:
- a rim including a center hub having a tapered bore configured to receive an axle, the bore tapered such that a center diameter at a center circumference of the bore is less than an end diameter at bore openings at opposing ends of the bore;
- and
- a tire disposed about an outer circumference of the rim for engaging a hull of a watercraft.
A wheel assembly for conveying a watercraft on a floating drive-on watercraft port, comprising:
- a wheel including:
- a rim including a center hub having a bore which tapers downwardly from bore opening at opposing ends toward a middle of the bore;
- and
- a tire disposed about an outer circumference of the rim for engaging a hull of a watercraft;
- and
- an axle extending through the bore, the wheel able to freely spin about the axle with a longitudinal axis of the axle defining an axis of rotation of the wheel, while rotating, the wheel able to tip back and forth along the axis of rotation.
A floating watercraft port comprising:
- a plurality of floating sections hinged together to define an upper surface, the upper surface including a hull depression formed therein;
- a plurality of roller pockets formed in the upper surface and extending symmetrically along opposite sides of a centerline of the hull depression;
- a plurality of wheel assemblies mounted within the roller pockets in a symmetrical pattern on each side of the centerline line of the hull depression, such that the wheel assemblies together form a transport track on each side of the centerline to transport and cradle a watercraft hull along the watercraft port, wherein each wheel assembly includes:
- a wheel including:
- a rim including a center hub having a bore which tapers downwardly from bore opening at opposing ends toward a middle of the bore;
- and
- a tire disposed about an outer circumference of the rim for engaging a hull of a watercraft;
- and
- an axle extending through the bore, the wheel able to freely spin about the axle with a longitudinal axis of the axle defining an axis of rotation of the wheel, while rotating, the wheel able to tip back and forth along the axis of rotation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.