Kick boat
AssigneeOutdoor Engineering, Inc.
InventorsJohn B. Merrett, Randell B. Heath
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A kick boat employing a hinged frame design provides an infinitely adjustable foot rest and leg support, and infinitely adjustable mainframe positioning. No tools are required to assemble and disassemble the boat. The hinged frame is structured and arranged to collapse and partially rotate to form a back pack frame. Alternatively, the hinged frame may be fully rotated to a fully collapsed space minimizing storage position. A cargo bay restraining system is also provided.
Claims35
In a kick boat characterized by having a longitudinal axis, a pair of elongated pontoons oriented approximately parallel said longitudinal axis, and a support structure mounted to said pontoons through means structured and arranged to hold said pontoons in spaced parallel arrangement with a central platform of said support structure between said pontoons to provide support for a load, an improved such means comprising:
- a connection system for mounting said support structure to said pontoons, said system comprising:
- a plurality of saddle structures, each configured to distribute load across a substantial area of the upper surface of a pontoon, at least one such saddle structure being removably positioned atop each said pontoon;
- and
- linkage structure connecting each said saddle structure to said central platform, whereby the relative positions of said pontoons with respect to said platform are permitted to adjust in response to forces acting upon said pontoons.
In a kick boat characterized by having a longitudinal axis, a pair of elongated pontoons oriented approximately parallel said longitudinal axis, and a support structure mounted to said pontoons through means structured and arranged to hold said pontoons in spaced parallel arrangement with a central platform of said support structure between said pontoons to provide support for a load, said boat having forward and aft ends, an improved such means comprising:
- a mainframe having first and second side members approximately parallel said longitudinal axis, transverse support structure connecting said first and second side members and a seating area forward of said transverse support structure;
- and
- first and second foot rest assemblies, each having a foot support portion carried at the distal end of and approximately transverse a longitudinal support member;
- the longitudinal support members of each said foot rest assembly being connected to said mainframe through respective adjustable mounting mechanisms structured and arranged to provide an adjustable distance between said foot supports and said seating area.
In a kick boat characterized by having a longitudinal axis, a pair of elongated pontoons oriented approximately parallel said longitudinal axis, and a support structure mounted to said pontoons through means structured and arranged to hold said pontoons in spaced parallel arrangement with a central platform of said support structure between said pontoons to provide support for a load, said boat having forward and aft ends, an improved such means comprising flexible linkage structure connecting each said pontoon to said central platform, whereby the relative positions of said pontoons with respect to said platform are permitted to adjust in response to forces acting upon said pontoons.
In a kick boat characterized by having a longitudinal axis and forward and aft ends, first and second elongated pontoons oriented approximately parallel said longitudinal axis, and a support structure mounted to said pontoons through means structured and arranged to hold said pontoons in spaced parallel arrangement with a central platform of said support structure between said pontoons to provide support for a load, the improvement comprising:
- a connection system for mounting said support structure to said first and second pontoons, said system comprising:
- a plurality of saddle structures, each configured to distribute load across the upper surface of a said pontoon, at least one such saddle structure being positioned atop each of said first and second pontoons;
- linkage structure connecting each said saddle structure to said central platform, whereby the relative positions of said pontoons with respect to said platform are permitted to adjust in response to forces acting upon said pontoons;
- and
- a rigid bracing member having first and second ends, said bracing member oriented transverse said longitudinal axis, said first end being attached to a first said saddle structure atop said first pontoon and said second end being attached to a second said saddle structure atop said second pontoon, whereby said bracing member is exclusively compressively loaded under conditions wherein a downward load is placed on top of said support structure and is counterbalanced by the upward force of water against said pontoons, said forces acting through said flexible linkage structure, and said bracing member being exclusively tension loaded when said support structure experiences upward loads sufficient to exceed the downward force of the weight of said support structure plus any load resting on said support structure.
A kick boat, comprising:
- a pair of elongated pontoons oriented approximately parallel a longitudinal axis;
- a support structure having a central platform mounted to said pontoons through respective hinge mechanisms, each said mechanism:
- including a first member connected to said platform and a second member connected to a respective said pontoon;
- and
- being structured and arranged to permit pivoting of said second member with respect to said first member about an axis approximately parallel said longitudinal axis;
- and
- compressive strut structure positioned to link said hinge mechanisms, whereby to react to compressive forces induced by said pontoons floating on water.
A kick boat, comprising:
- a pair of elongated pontoons oriented approximately parallel a longitudinal axis and each having fore and aft ends;
- a support structure having a central platform located inboard with respect to said pontoons, said central platform having a forward edge;
- mounting means structured and arranged to connect said central platform to said pontoons and to hold said pontoons in spaced parallel arrangement with said central platform between said pontoons, whereby to provide support for a load, said mounting means comprising:
- a first pair of saddle structures mounted with one saddle structure on each of said pontoons at an aft location;
- a second pair of saddle structures mounted with one saddle structure on each of said pontoons at a fore location;
- first and second, approximately parallel rigid rails connecting the respective saddle structures of said first pair to the respective saddle structures of said second pair;
- and
- first and second linkage structures inboard from said first and second rigid rails, respectively, each said linkage structure being structured and arranged to permit pivoting movement of the saddle structures associated with a said rail around an axis approximately parallel and inboard said rail;
- and
- a strut member oriented transverse said longitudinal axis and located near the aft end of said central platform, said strut member connecting the aft said pair of saddle structures.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.