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US 4,049,166 AGranted
Clamp apparatus
AssigneeNone recorded
InventorWilliam K. Medlin
Life of this patent
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AssigneeNone recorded
InventorWilliam K. Medlin
Estimating the term…
A clamp for securing a boat with integral oarlock receptacles in an inverted position on the roof of a motor vehicle. The clamp apparatus includes a bolt member that is positioned in an oarlock receptacle, a clamp assembly that can be releasably secured to the motor vehicle's rain gutter or other latching part and extensible and contractible coupling means which extends between and is connected to the bolt member and the clamp assembly. The coupling means can be contracted to draw the bolt member toward the clamp assembly thereby to secure the boat to the roof.
Apparatus for securing an inverted boat with integral oarlock, or similar receptacles on the roof of a motor vehicle, said apparatus comprising a bolt for positioning in and extending downwardly from one of said receptacles, said bolt having an enlarged head at one end for supporting said bolt in said receptacle and an eyelet opening at the other end, a clamp assembly for detachably fastening to said motor vehicle, and extensible and contractible coupling means extending between and connected to said bolt and said clamp assembly, said clamp assembly including a member having an upright portion connected to said coupling means and a transverse portion for engaging said motor vehicle, said extensible and contractible coupling means including fastening means releasably connected to said bolt through said eyelet opening and a turnbuckle device operable when contracted to draw said bolt and said clamp assembly toward one another thereby to secure said boat on said roof.
Apparatus for securing a boat with integral oarlock receptacles in an inverted position on the roof of a motor vehicle, said apparatus comprising a bolt for positioning in and extending downwardly from one of said oarlock receptacles, said bolt having an enlarged head at one end for supporting said bolt in said receptacle and an eyelet opening at the other end, a clamp assembly for detachably fastening to said motor vehicle, and extensible and contractible coupling means extending between and connected to said bolt and said clamp assembly, said clamp assembly including a plate member having an upright portion connected to said coupling means and a transverse portion for engaging said motor vehicle, said extensible and contractible coupling means including a snap ring for releasably connecting to said bolt through said eyelet opening and a turnbuckle device operable when contracted to draw said bolt and said clamp assembly toward one another, thereby to secure said boat on said roof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
Drawings are temporarily unavailable. Open the PDF at USPTO
No related US applications are recorded in the indexed filing history.
For carrying boats: on the vehicle roof
Vehicles adapted for load transportation or to transport, to carry, or to
Term ended 20 Sep 1994 (estimated)
USPTO file history isn’t available for this patent, so only indexed dates are shown.
The present invention relates generally to anchoring apparatus and more specifically to clamp apparatus for securing an inverted boat to the roof of a motor vehicle. Motor vehicles can be provided with roof carriers for the purpose of carrying large objects that cannot adequately fit inside the vehicle. These carriers have been widely used for transporting small water vessels such as fishing boats. When secured in the ordinary manner, the bow and stern of the boat are tied to the front and rear of the motor vehicle, respectively. However, it is still possible that a strong crosswind or air turbulence created by a passing truck can force the boat sideways off the roof of the motor vehicle. The present invention solves this problem by providing clamp apparatus that connects the sides of the boat to the motor vehicle.
One form of the present invention comprises clamp apparatus that includes a bolt member having an enlarged head at one end and an eyelet opening at the other end for positioning in one of the oarlock receptacles or other rig-pieces of the boat, a clamp assembly for releasably attaching to the motor vehicle, and extensible and contractible coupling means comprising a turnbuckle device and a snap ring for extending between and connecting the bolt member to the clamp assembly. The snap ring is attached to the bolt through its eyelet opening after the bolt has been positioned in the oarlock or other suitable receptacle. The clamp assembly consists of a bent plate member which engages the rain gutter. A brace member on the clamp assembly is tightened against the interior of the rain gutter thereby to fasten the clamp assembly to the rain gutter. The turnbuckle device is operable to draw the bolt member toward the clamp assembly thereby securing the boat on the roof. In a modified form of the invention, the clamp assembly is adapted to engage the door frame, or other suitable structure of the vehicle.
It is thus the object of the present invention to provide an improved clamp apparatus for securing an inverted boat to the roof of a motor vehicle.
Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description when taken in connection with the appended claims and the attached drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is a partial front view showing an inverted boat secured to the roof of a motor vehicle by the clamp apparatus of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an elevational view showing the clamp apparatus of the present invention;
Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.
Referring to the drawing, the invention will be described in greater detail. The clamp apparatus 10 of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 securing an inverted boat 12 to a carrier support 14 positioned on the roof of a motor vehicle 16. More specifically, the clamp apparatus 10 is shown connecting the side of the boat 12 to a rain gutter 18 of the motor vehicle 16.
The clamp apparatus 10 (FIG. 2) comprises first attachment means such as the bolt 20 which is positioned in an oarlock receptacle 22 that is formed through an outrigger 24 which is secured along the boat gunwale 26. The bolt 20 has an enlarged head 28 at one end and an eyelet opening 30 at the other end. The bolt 20 is positioned in the oarlock receptacle 22 to extend downwardly therethrough so that the eyelet opening 30 is positioned below the outrigger 24.