Abstract:
A canoe platform interconnects a pair of spaced apart canoes arranged parallel with each other so that the platform can support human activity while the canoes support the platform above the water. The platform is made of a pair of panels adjoining each other and spanning the gunwales of the canoes and the space between them. Each of the panels is foldable in half longitudinally so that the panels can be stored within canoes for transport. The panels are unfolded flat and are arranged to span the canoes aft of the front seats of the canoes and forward of the rear seats of the canoes.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/349,393, filed on Jan. 18, 2002, which provisional application is incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Platforms interconnecting and bridging a space between a pair of canoes. 
     Background 
     Many suggestions exist for dual hull boats, pontoon boats, and for platforms inter-connecting a pair of boats or canoes. All of these tend to be sufficiently cumbersome and expensive so that they are not readily assembled and disassembled and thereby made portable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention aims at a simple, inexpensive and portable platform that inter-connects and bridges a space between a pair of canoes so that the platform is as conveniently portable as the canoes themselves. The invention also aims at quick and convenient assembly and disassembly of such a canoe platform, and includes a variety of features, conveniences, and accessories enabling such a canoe platform to be used in a variety of ways. 
    
    
     DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a partially schematic perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the inventive canoe platform as mounted on a pair of canoes. 
     FIG. 2 is a partially schematic plan view of a canoe platform of the type shown in FIG. 1, formed with knee room for rear seat paddlers, formed with carrying handles, and showing possible bow and stern covers for one of the canoes. 
     FIG. 3 is a partially schematic plan view of a canoe platform of the type shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 formed with a different carrying handle enabling the entire platform to be lifted and removed from the canoes. 
     FIG. 4 is a partially schematic plan view of a canoe platform of the type shown in the previous drawings equipped with a pair of beds, a pair of seats, and a table, to illustrate some of the accessories that are possible with the inventive canoe platform. 
     FIG. 5 is a partially schematic elevational view of a railing arranged on a top surface of a canoe platform to retain chairs, tables, and other accessories within the boundaries of the canoe platform. 
     FIG. 6 is a partially schematic plan view of the platform and railing of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7 is a partially schematic cross-sectional view showing a pair of canoes supported on a roof rack of a vehicle with folded sections of the canoe platform of the previous drawings stowed within the canoes for transport. 
     FIG. 8 is a partially schematic elevational view of a canoe platform mounting a camping tent. 
     FIG. 9 is a partially schematic elevational view of a canoe platform mounting a canopy covering a table and chairs. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Platform  10 , as shown in FIG. 1, interconnects and spans a distance between a pair of canoes  11  and  12 . To make platform  10  portable and easy to assemble and disassemble, it is preferably formed of a pair of panels  15  and  16 , each of which is preferably about 4 feet by 8 feet. This allows each panel  15  and  16  to be formed of a single sheet of 4×8 plywood or similar material. Panels  15  and  16  are preferably laid side by side along a junction line  17  to form a continuous deck approximately 8 feet square, when assembled onto a pair of canoes as illustrated. Panels  15  and  16  can be clamped or removably locked together along junction line  17 , but this is normally not necessary. 
     Panels  15  and  16  can overhang the outboard gunwales  13  and  14  of canoes  11  and  12 , or they can be trimmed to a curvature fitting those gunwales. Each panel  15  and  16  is preferably split and hinged along respective broken lines  18  and  19  so that each of the panels  15  and  16  can be folded in half into an approximate 2 foot by 8 foot dimension. This further facilitates the portability and transport of panels  15  and  16 , since each panel, when folded along fold line  18  or  19  becomes stowable within one of the canoes  11  or  12 . One such possibility is illustrated in FIG. 7 showing folded panels  15  and  16  arranged within canoes  11  and  12  on a roof rack  30  of a vehicle  31 . 
     Fasteners or clamps  20  preferably secure each of the panels  15  and  16  to canoes  11  and  12  in regions where the panels overlie the canoe gunwales. A variety of fasteners and clamps can be used for this, including screw clamps, cam clamps, bolts and nuts, hook and loop fabric fasteners, magnetic retainers, and other holding devices. It is even possible to drill holes in panels  15  and  16  to align with corresponding holes formed in the canoe gunwales, and simply drop nails through the aligned holes to secure the panels to the canoes. Whatever fastening or clamping arrangement is selected, the objects are to keep platform  10  inexpensively positioned on the canoes and insure that platform  10  interconnects canoes  11  and  12 . 
     The hinging of panels  15  and  16  along fold lines  18  and  19  can also be done in a variety of ways. Piano hinges, strap hinges, and fabric hinges are among those possibilities, and FIG. 7 illustrates a conventional or piano hinge  21  arranged to allow panel  15  to fold, and a strap or fabric hinge  22  arranged to allow panel  16  to fold. 
     A top surface of panels  15  and  16  is preferably covered with a fabric or outdoor carpet material that is water resistant and comfortable for bare feet. This also covers the plywood, provides a satisfying color, and trims platform  10  neatly. Many different fabrics, carpets, plastics, felts, and fibrous materials can accomplish this, the preferred criteria being lightweight, water resistance, durability, attractiveness, and inexpensiveness. Such a top covering material can also serve as a hinge element along fold lines  18  and  19  where the top covering material can allow panels  15  and  16  to be folded in half while the halves remain connected. 
     A few additional features are illustrated for the platform  10  illustrated in FIG.  2 . Rear or stern most panel  15  has curved cutouts affording knee room to paddlers occupying rear seats  24  of canoes  11  or  12 . Front seats  25  are preferably forward of foremost panel  16 . 
     FIG. 2 also illustrates a bow cover  27  and a stern cover  28  that covers over the portions of canoe  11  not covered by platforms  15  and  16 . This keeps rainwater out of canoe  11  when it is not in use. Launching and moving the canoes and platform requires removing protective covers  27  and  28  to accommodate paddlers in stern seat  24  or bow seat  25 . 
     Another feature illustrated for platform  10  of FIG. 2 is four carrying handles  32 - 35  arranged on the ends of panels  15  and  16 . This facilitates picking up and folding each of the platforms  15  and  16  when unclamped from canoes  11  and  12 . Handles  32 - 35  can have many shapes and be made of different materials, the criteria being effectiveness, comfort, convenience and economy. 
     Handles  36  and  37 , as shown in FIG. 3, span panels  15  and  16  to allow lifting of the entire panel  10  off from a pair of canoes or onto a pair of canoes. This requires that handles  36  and  37  be clamped or fastened to panels  15  and  16  and be removable from panels  15  and  16  to allow their separation and folding for transport. Again, many handle configurations are possible, different materials can be used, and a variety of clamps or removable connectors can arrange for the mounting and dismounting of handles  36  and  37 . 
     Platform  10  of FIG. 4 is shown supporting a pair of single beds or bunks  41  preferably at a height that allows beds  41  to serve as seats next to a table  40 . A pair of additional seats  42  can extend between beds  41  as illustrated to provide four seats around table  42 . Beds or lounging platforms can be arranged in a variety of ways on platform  10  and need not be associated with a table. In turn many arrangements of tables and chairs are possible within the approximately 8 foot square platform afforded by deck  10 . 
     Ordinary chairs, tables, and other accessories can be arranged on platform  10 , and many of these benefit from a railing  45  such as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, to keep such objects from sliding overboard. Such a railing is preferably made to assemble and disassemble conveniently. 
     Another convenient accessory for canoe platform  10  is a camping tent  50  as shown in FIG.  8 . Many variations of lightweight fabric tents use crossed arch supports that fit neatly within the preferred dimensions of canoe platform  10 . Any arrangement that leaves the tent reasonably accessible from either the canoes or the platform itself can be arranged on platform  10  to shelter canoe campers. 
     A canopy  55  is another shelter possibility that can be arranged on canoe platform  10 , as schematically shown in FIG.  9 . Canopy  55  can provide sun shade and rain protection for table  56  and chairs  57 , or any other accessories arrangeable on platform  10 . 
     The illustrations cover only a few of the many uses of canoe platform  10 . Its inexpensiveness and portability allow it to be deployed for many other purposes such as fishing, swimming, regattas, social gatherings, hunting, and many other water related activities within the extensive ingenuity of humans.