Cargo transport device for towing behind watercraft
OwnerShawn Whitneyinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hitching device permits towing a cargo transport device behind a kayak. The cargo transport device comprises a watertight container and a connection member extending along a longitudinal axis between the container and the watercraft. The connection member includes a swivel such that the container and watercraft on opposite sides of the swivel are freely rotatable about the longitudinal axis relative to one another. This free pivoting allows relative rotation between the container and watercraft such that each can react to outside forces, for example those exerted by waves, independently. As a result, rolling of the container does not tend to induce rolling of the watercraft and so the ride quality of the watercraft is not significantly reduced by the hitching device.
Claims20
A hitching device for towing a cargo transport device behind a kayak, the hitching device comprising:
- a connection member extending in a longitudinal direction between a first end and a second end;
- the first end being arranged for connection to the cargo transport device;
- the second end being arranged for connection to the kayak such that the longitudinal direction is arranged to extend between the kayak and the cargo transport device;
- the connection member comprising a swivel disposed between the first and second ends of the connection member;
- the swivel being arranged to allow relative rolling motion between the first and second ends of the connection member about an axis extending in said longitudinal direction of the connection member such that the container is arranged to be rotatably connected to the kayak about the longitudinal axis
- the swivel comprising a ball secured to one of the ends of the connection member and a socket secured to the other one of the ends of the connection member in which the socket is arranged to receive the ball in mating connection therein;
- the ball and the socket being oriented such that:
- the first and second ends of the connection member are fully rotatable relative to one another for full rotations about said axis extending in the longitudinal direction;
- and
- the ball is pivotal relative to the socket away from the longitudinal axis in any direction.
A hitching device for towing a cargo transport device behind a kayak, the hitching device comprising:
- a connection member extending in a longitudinal direction between a first end and a second end;
- the first end being arranged for connection to the cargo transport device;
- the second end being arranged for connection to the kayak;
- the connection member comprising a swivel disposed between the first and second ends of the connection member;
- the swivel being arranged to allow relative rolling motion between the first and second ends of the connection member about an axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the connection member such that the container is arranged to be rotatably connected to the kayak about the longitudinal axis;
- and
- the connection member is being arranged to be operable between a first mode in which the first and second ends of the connection member are coupled to one another at a fixed spacing in the longitudinal direction such that the kayak and the cargo transport device are arranged to be supported at a fixed spacing relative to one another and a second mode in which the first and second ends are coupled to one another by a flexible tether such that the kayak and the cargo transport device are arranged to be freely displaced relative to one another.
A hitching device for towing a cargo transport device behind a kayak, the hitching device comprising:
- a connection member extending in a longitudinal direction between a first end and a second end;
- the first end being arranged for connection to the cargo transport device;
- the second end being arranged for connection to the kayak;
- the connection member comprising a swivel disposed between the first and second ends of the connection member;
- the swivel being arranged to allow relative rolling motion between the first and second ends of the connection member about an axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the connection member such that the container is arranged to be rotatably connected to the kayak about the longitudinal axis;
- and
- the connection member comprising a connector disposed between the first and second ends of the connection member, the connector being movable between a first position in which the first and second ends of the connection member are coupled to one another at a fixed spacing in the longitudinal direction such that the kayak and the cargo transport device are arranged to be supported at a substantially fixed spacing relative to one another and a second position in which the first and second ends are arranged to be freely displaced relative to one another;
- and
- the connection member further comprising an actuator arranged to control displacement of the connector between the first and second positions, the actuator being arranged for connection between the connector and an operator seat of the kayak such that the connector is arranged to be displaced between the first and second positions by an operator in the operator seat of the kayak.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.