Abstract:
A boating accessory container for attachment to the gunwale of a small watercraft comprises a storage box for holding boating accessories such as fishing tackle and safety gear; first attachment means on the rear wall of the storage box for releasably securing the storage box to the gunwale of one of the sides of the watercraft; and second attachment means on the rear wall of the storage box for releasably securing the storage box to the inner surface of one of the sides of the watercraft. The second attachment means comprising one or more resilient attachment means intermediate the first attachment means and the bottom of the storage box, each of said resilient attachment means comprising a suction cup means facing away from the rear wall of the storage box.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a storage container for boating accessories, such as fishing equipment and safety gear, which is releasably securable to the gunwale of a small watercraft. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Small watercraft, including canoes and small motorized boats, are frequently used for fishing. However, such watercraft typically do not have built-in storage compartments to enable the safe and efficient storage of safety equipment such as fire extinguishers and first-aid kits or fishing equipment such as rods, lures, hooks, live bait and the like. 
     The prior art relating to this field shows that a number of storage containers have been built to address this and similar problems. 
     For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,035,800, issued Mar. 14, 2000 to Clifford relates to a dry storage box which is releasably attachable along the gunwale of a canoe or other small watercraft. The dry box disclosed by Clifford comprises a rectangular bin with a hinged lid which is provided with a pair of clamping arms to secure it to the gunwale. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,101,966, issued Aug. 15, 2000 to Cumisky, discloses a utility station having an aerodynamic shape which is supported by a bracket above the boat deck. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,271,624, issued Jun. 9, 1981 to Peluso, describes a portable tackle and bait holder which is secured above the gunwale of a boat and is provided with upstanding side walls which serve as windshields. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,009, issued Jun. 9, 1987 to Faunce, relates to a basket-like structure having arms which hook over the gunwale of a boat and which can be used for storage of fishing equipment. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a container for boating accessories such as fishing tackle and safety equipment which can be quickly and easily attached to, and removed from, the gunwale of a small watercraft. 
     The boating accessory container according to the present invention comprises a storage box having at least one storage compartment. The rear wall of the storage box is provided with first attachment means which are located near the top of the storage box and which releasably secure the storage box to the gunwale of the watercraft. 
     Also provided are second attachment means on the rear wall of the storage box for releasably securing the storage box to the inner surface of the side of the watercraft. The second attachment means comprises a resilient suction cup which provides a resilient connection between the rear wall of the storage box and the inner surface of the boat hull. This resilient connection provides additional support and dampens vibration and reduces noise. 
     In addition, the suction cup can preferably be adjusted inward and outward of the rear wall of the storage box so as to allow leveling of the storage box. 
     Accordingly, one aspect of the invention provides a boating accessory container for a small watercraft having a hull with a pair of longitudinal sides, each having an inner surface, an opposed outer surface and a gunwale extending along an upper edge thereof, the boating accessory container comprising: (a) a storage box having a top, a bottom, and comprising a plurality of walls enclosing one or more storage compartments, one of the plurality of walls comprising a rear wall extending between the top and the bottom of the storage box; (b) first attachment means on the rear wall of the storage box and proximate the top thereof for releasably securing the storage box to the gunwale of one of the sides of the watercraft; and (c) second attachment means on the rear wall of the storage box for releasably securing the storage box to the inner surface of one of the sides of the watercraft, the second attachment means comprising one or more resilient attachment means intermediate the first attachment means and the bottom of the storage box, each resilient attachment means comprising suction cup means attached to the a proximal end of the base and facing away from the rear wall of the storage box. 
     In a preferred aspect of the invention, the first attachment means comprises one or more J-shaped securing hooks attached to the rear wall of the storage box. Each of the hooks has a straight portion extending rearwardly and outwardly of the rear wall, and a hooked portion connected to the straight portion having a distal end which extends toward the rear wall. 
     Preferably, the straight portion of each of the J-shaped securing hooks extends into a hook-receiving aperture in the rear wall of the storage box, the hook-receiving aperture being provided with securing means which releasably grip the straight portion of the securing hook, such that when the securing means releases its grip, the securing hook is free to slide into and out of the hook-receiving aperture. Thus, the securing hooks can be adjusted inwardly and outwardly of the rear wall. 
     In yet another preferred aspect, each of the resilient attachment means further comprises a threaded extension rod having a proximal end secured to a distal end of the stem of the resilient attachment means and collinear therewith, and wherein the rear wall of the storage box is provided with one or more rod-receiving apertures. Each of the rod-receiving aperture has a threaded interior and is engaged with the threaded rod of one the attachment means, such that threading or unthreading the rod results in inward or outward displacement of the suction cup means relative to the rear wall of the storage box. This permits leveling of the storage box. 
     In yet another preferred aspect, the boating accessory container according to the present invention includes a top storage compartment accessible through the top wall of the storage box and a front storage compartment accessible through the front wall of the storage box. Both the top storage compartment and the front storage compartment are accessible through lids which are hinged to open by about 90 degrees to provide additional work surfaces. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred boating accessory container according to the present invention mounted on the gunwale of a small watercraft; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along line II—II of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the boating accessory container of FIG. 1 taken from the top and from the rear thereof, with the top and front lids open; and 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the boating accessory container of FIG. 1, taken from the top and the front thereof, showing the top lid closed and the front lid open. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The drawings illustrate a preferred boating accessory container  10  according to the present invention. FIG. 1 illustrates the preferred container  10  secured to a small boat  12  of the type which is typically used for recreational fishing. Boat  12  has a hull  14  including a pair of longitudinally-extending sides  16  and  18 . The port side  16  of boat  12  has an inner surface  20 , an opposed outer surface  22  and a gunwale  24  extending along the upper edge thereof. Similarly, the starboard side  18  of boat  12  has an inner surface  26  (not visible in drawings), an opposed outer surface  28  and a gunwale  30  extending along an upper edge thereof. As shown in FIG. 2, the gunwale  24  is provided with a lip  25  extending outwardly of the outer surface  22 . Gunwale  30  is also provided with such a lip. 
     The boat  12  also includes three seats  32 ,  34  and  36  extending across the hull  14  in spaced relation to one another, with a pair of brackets  38  extending at an angle between the top of each seat and the inner surfaces of the hull. Provided on the gunwale on each side of the boat is an oar holder bracket. Only oar holder bracket  40  is visible on the gunwale  30  of starboard side  18  in FIG.  1 . However, it should be appreciated that an identical oar holder bracket  40  is located on the gunwale  24  of the port side  16 , which is hidden by the container  10  shown in FIG.  1 . 
     Boat  12  also includes a stern  42  at the rear thereof to which a motor (not shown) may be mounted, and a bow  44  at the front at which the port and starboard sides  16  and  18  converge. 
     As shown in the drawings, the preferred boating accessory container  10  comprises a storage box  46  having a top  48  and a bottom  50 . Storage box  46  comprises a plurality of walls enclosing one or more storage compartments, namely a rear wall  52 , a closed bottom wall  54  located at the bottom of the box and connected to the rear wall, a pair of opposed side walls  56  and  58  connected to the bottom wall  54  and the rear wall  52 , a front wall  60  connected to the bottom wall  54  and the side walls  56  and  58 , and a top wall  61  at the top of the box connected to the rear wall  52 , side walls  56  and  58  and the front wall  60 . 
     The boating accessory container further comprises first attachment means on the rear wall  52  of the storage box  46  and proximate the top  48  thereof for releasably securing the storage box  46  to the gunwale  24 . Preferably, the first attachment means comprises one or more J-shaped securing hooks. In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the storage box  46  is secured to the gunwale  24  by a pair of such hooks  62 . Each hook  62  has a straight portion  64  extending rearwardly and outwardly from the rear-wall  52 , and a hooked portion  66  connected to the straight portion  64 . The hooked portion  66  has a distal end  68  which extends back toward the rear wall  52 . As shown in FIG. 2, each of the hooks  62  is adapted to hook around the lip  25  of gunwale  24 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 3, the J-shaped securing hooks  62  are spaced from one another on the rear wall  52  and are equally spaced from the top and bottom of the box  46  so that box  46  will be level when it is mounted to the boat  12 . 
     As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rear wall  52  of the storage box  46  has an inwardly-extending ledge  70  proximate the top  48  of box  46  extending longitudinally along the entire rear wall. As shown in FIG. 3, the straight portions  64  of hooks  62  are either level with or located slightly above (that is, closer to the top  48 ) the bottom surface  72  of ledge  70 . This ensures that, when the boating accessory container  10  is mounted to the gunwale  24  of boat  12 , the ledge  70  rests on the gunwale, thereby providing the container  10  with greater stability. In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the ledge  70  is interrupted by upwardly-extending indentations  74  into which the straight portions  64  of hooks  62  extend. 
     The rear surface  52  of the storage box  46  is also provided with an indentation  75  which is sized and located to receive the oar holder bracket  40  located on the gunwale  24 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 2, the straight portion  64  of each hook  62  extends through the rear wall  52  of storage box  46  and into the interior thereof. The hooks  62  extend through apertures  76  which are preferably reinforced with metal inserts  78 . A securing means in the form of a tightening knob  80  is provided around the straight portion  64  of hook  62  which can be loosened and tightened by turning. Thus, the hooks  62  can be moved in and out relative to the rear wall  52 , to thereby allow the storage box  46  to be snugly secured against the gunwale  24 . 
     The boating accessory container  10  further comprises second attachment means on the rear wall  52  of storage box  46  for releasably securing the storage box  46  to the inner surface  20  of the port side  16  of boat  12 . In the preferred boating accessory container  10 , the second attachment means comprises one or more resilient attachment means  82  having a suction cup  84  facing away from the rear wall  52  of the storage box  46  and being attached to the inner surface  20  of the boat  12 . In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the resilient attachment means  82  further comprises a stem  86  having a proximal end attached to and integrally formed with the suction cup  84  and a distal end secured to a threaded extension rod  88 . Preferably, the suction cup  84  and stem  86  are integrally formed from a resilient polymeric material and the threaded extension rod is formed of metal. 
     The rear wall  52  of storage box  46  is provided with one or more rod-receiving apertures. In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, these apertures are in the form of elongate slots  90 ,  92  and  94 , of which only the central slot  92  is provided with a resilient attachment means  82 . The provision of slots permits upward and downward movement of the resilient attachment means  82 , thereby permitting the attachment means  82  to avoid obstructions on the inner surface  20  of the hull  14 . As shown in FIG. 2, a wing nut  96  may preferably be used to secure the attachment means  82  at a particular position in the slotted aperture  92 . 
     Furthermore, provided over the stem  86  of the resilient attachment means  82  is a metal sleeve  98  having a threaded interior which engages the threads on the extension rod  88 . Rod  88  can be threaded into the metal sleeve  98  by turning handle  100 , causing the suction cup  84  to move outwardly from the rear wall  52  of storage box  46 . This has the effect of tilting the storage box  46  relative to the hull  14 , thereby permitting it to be leveled. The handle  100  on threaded rod  88  is located inside the storage box and can be accessed through one of the compartment doors, described below. 
     As mentioned above, the boating accessory container  10  according to the invention is preferably used for storage of fishing equipment and boating safety equipment. Fishing tackle, such as lures, hooks, etc., is preferably stored in a top storage compartment  102  which is divided into a number of subcompartments. Top storage compartment  102  is accessible through a top lid  106  having a pair of hinges  108 ,  110  by which it is joined to the top wall of the storage box  46 . Preferably, the top lid  106  is provided with a latch  112  and may optionally be provided with a lock (not shown). 
     Boating safety equipment, such as a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher, is preferably stored in front storage compartment  114  which is accessible through a hinged front lid  116  provided on the front wall  60  of storage box  46 . Preferably, the front lid  116  is provided with a latch  118 , and may optionally be provided with a lock (not shown). 
     As shown in the drawings, both the top lid  106  and the front lid  116  can be opened to provide additional work surfaces. Accordingly, the lids  106  and  116  are flat, and the hinges limit the maximum extent to which they can be opened such that, when fully opened, they extend outwardly of the front wall  60  of the storage box  46  in the manner shown in FIG. 1, and are substantially horizontal when fully opened. 
     Furthermore, both the top lid  106  and front lid  116  may preferably be provided with waterproof closures to prevent damage to the contents of the compartments. In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the perimeter of the top storage compartment  102  is provided with an upstanding male rib  122 , and the top lid  106  is provided about its perimeter with a female rib  124  into which the rib  122  can be received. The perimeter of the opening into front compartment  114  is preferably provided with a resilient gasket  115  to prevent entry of water. 
     The top wall of storage box  46  is preferably also provided with a horizontal work surface  124 , a storage well  132  for additional storage space, a pair of cup holders  134  and  136 , and a minnow well  126  closed by a lid  128 . The minnow well  126  is preferably provided with a stopper  130  which allows the well to be drained. The top wall is also provided with a pair of drainage trenches  135  which permit run-off of liquids from the cup holders  134 . 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the front compartment may preferably be divided into two sub-compartments, an upper sub-compartment  148  and a lower sub-compartment  150  separated by a dividing wall  152 . Preferably, the edge of dividing wall  152  rests on a ledge  154  and can be lifted as shown in FIG. 4 to permit access to the lower sub-compartment  150 . 
     As shown in the drawings, the side walls  56  and  58  are each provided with an inwardly-extending ledge, to thereby make the lower part of the storage box narrower than the upper portion. This allows the storage box  46  to fit between two seats of the boat  12  as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     Also provided proximate the rear wall  52  of the storage box  46  are a pair of rod holders  138  and  140 . The upper portion of rod holder  138  is provided with an aperture  142  through which the end of a fishing rod (not shown) can extend. The lower portion of rod holder  138  comprises a stop  144  against which the end of the fishing rod abuts. The rear wall  146  of rod holder  138  is preferably sloped so as to avoid the structural brackets  38  on the seats  32  and  34 . 
     Although the invention has been described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it is not intended to be limited thereto. Rather, the invention includes within its scope all embodiments which may fall within the scope of the following claims.