Abstract:
Inflatable watercraft such as PWCs are disclosed. The watercraft function additionally as cargo holders mountable to roofs of vehicles and towable behind boats. Covers associated with the craft serve partially or completely to enclose cargo placed within the craft, protecting the cargo from wind, rain, and waves.

Description:
REFERENCE TO PROVISIONAL APPLICATION 
     This application is based on and hereby refers to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/149,140, filed Aug. 16, 1999, having the same title as appears above. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to inflatable watercraft and more particularly (although not exclusively) to inflatable devices adapted to be towed behind boats in one configuration and to function as roof-mounted cargo holders in another configuration. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Numerous inflatable watercraft exist. One category of such craft, sometimes called “personal watercraft” (PWC) or “towables,” includes devices designed to be towed by motorboats. These devices typically support one or more persons, carrying him, her, or them through the water in which the motorboats operate. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides inflatable watercraft which perform additional functions beyond those of conventional PWCs. When mounted to the roof of a car or truck, for example, an inflatable device consistent with the invention can function as well as a holder of cargo. Likewise, when towed behind a boat, devices of the present invention can support cargo rather than humans. 
     PWCs made in accordance with the invention each may include a cover made of extensible material. When affixed to a PWC, the cover serves partially or completely to enclose any cargo placed within the PWC and, to substantial extent, protect the cargo from the environment around the device. Because the cover material may be extensible, it can expand if necessary to accommodate bulky or large objects stored within the PWC. Alternatively—although not preferably—a device may be affixed to a vehicle roof with its bottom upright, effectively trapping cargo between the roof and the interior surface of the device without need for any cover. 
     Additionally potentially useful in connection with the invention is an elastic cord or rope, such as a bungee cord, which can attach the cover to the PWC. The elasticity of the cord permits expansion of the cover when appropriate, nonetheless conforming to the size of the cargo to maintain secure contact between the cover and PWC. This secure contact, in turn, helps protects the cargo within the inflatable device from damage due to wind, rain, or waves. Devices including aerodynamic windshields may further diminish the possibility of cargo damage and facilitate their use. 
     Mounting of devices of the invention to automobiles or other vehicles may occur in any suitable manner. In some embodiments of the inventive system, one or more straps may be used to attach the devices to brackets on vehicle roofs. Presently preferred systems include four such straps, tying the devices to vehicles sufficient to avoid inhibiting normal highway speed of the vehicles. If made of relatively soft, non-abrasive material such as (but not limited to) PVC, the inflatable crafts often may contact roofs of vehicles directly without damaging paint thereon. 
     Other components of the innovative craft may include an inflatable transom and a removable platform designed for placement on the interior bottom of the craft. Although cargo can be loaded more easily with the platform in place, its use is optional and not a mandatory part of the inventions described herein. The inflatable transom and many of the elements discussed in the preceding paragraphs likewise are optionally, rather than necessarily, included as part of the present invention. 
     It thus is an object of the present invention to provide increased functionality to inflatable devices such as PWCs. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide inflatable devices useful for hauling cargo, either as roof-mounted products or when towed behind boats. 
     If is a further object of the present invention to provide extensible covers for the inflatable devices and means both for attaching the devices to vehicle roofs and for affixing the covers to the devices. 
     It is an additional object of the present invention to provide cover-affixing means adapted to conform at least partially to the size of the cargo contained within a device so as to affix the cover securely to the device. 
    
    
     Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art with reference to the remaining text and drawings of this application. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary PWC consistent with the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the PWC of FIG. 1 devoid of cargo but with a (transparent) cover affixed thereto. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the PWC of FIG. 1 showing the cover of FIG. 2 in an expanded condition, as though partially enclosing bulky cargo within the PWC. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the PWC of FIG. 1 illustrating a typical cargo load partially enclosed by the cover of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the PWC of FIG. 1 detailing the cover of FIG. 2 as expanded by bulky cargo contained in the PWC yet nonetheless attached securely to the PWC. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the PWC of FIG. 1 depicted with brackets connecting it to a vehicle for use as a land-based cargo holder. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary watercraft  10  which may form part of the present invention. Watercraft  10  typically includes one or more chambers  14  having valves suitable for inflation (and deflation) when desired. If inflated, chambers  14  can provide buoyancy for craft  10  in water. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, chambers  14  may be formed in a generally U-shaped manner. Also included in watercraft  10  is a base or bottom  16  connecting the chambers  14 , positioned between and sealed (typically but not necessarily using radio-frequency welding) to portions  18  and  22  of chambers  14  analogous to the “arms” of the “U.” Although chambers  14  and bottom  16  usually are made of PVC whose gauge is sufficient to support substantial weight (such as that of a human) when in water, other materials may be used instead without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     Also detailed in FIG. 1 are optional components of watercraft  10  including transom  26  and windshield  30 . Transom  26 , which may be made of inflatable material similar to chambers  14  or bottom  16 , can be sealed to both at the rear  34  of watercraft  10 . Unlike some transoms, transom  26  is not solely designed to allow mounting of an outboard motor. Instead, transom  26 , if present, primarily functions as a boundary or barrier effectively enclosing the interior surface of bottom  16  to create a space  38  adaptable for holding both humans and cargo as desired. 
     Sealed, tied, or otherwise attached to chambers  14  may be a U-shaped windshield  30 . It too often is formed of the same material as any or all of chambers  14 , bottom  16 , and transom  26  and also may be inflatable either concurrently with or separately from chambers  14 . Windshield  30 , as its name indicates, assists in shielding items in space  38  from wind. It additionally increases the effective height of space  38 . 
     Yet another optional component of watercraft  10  shown in FIG. 1 is bar  42 . Bar  42 , illustrated as protruding from the lower front portion  46  of watercraft  10 , may receive an end of a tow rope and thus serve to connect craft  10  to a motorboat or other towing vehicle. Those skilled in the art will recognize that bar  42  need not be configured as appears in FIG. 1 (and, indeed, need not necessarily be a “bar”) but rather may be designed or configured differently. Finally, both chambers  14  and windshield  30  may include grommets  46 , fittings, or other means through or around which one or more cords may be passed. 
     FIG. 2 depicts such cords  50  threaded through grommets  46  of both chambers  14  and windshield  30 . Detailed in FIG. 2 additionally is cover  54 , which spans at least part of space  38  between “arms”  58  and  62  of windshield  30  and, depending on its size and configuration, may be connected to either or both of windshield  30  and chambers  14 . Cover  54  may, but need not necessarily, be transparent, accounting for the manner it is illustrated in FIG.  2 . It also need not extend to transom  26  and thus need not completely enclose space  38 , particularly when large objects are intended to be placed in the area of space  38  adjacent the transom  26 . Nevertheless, cover  54  may, if desired, so extend to transom  26  and be connected thereto so as completely to enclose space  38 . 
     FIGS. 3-5 show various cargo-holding features of watercraft  10 . Notwithstanding the absence of cargo in. FIG. 3, the drawing illustrates the fact that both cover  54  (preferably but not necessarily made of nylon) and cords  50  may have elasticity and can expand to accommodate loads protruding in space  38  above the height of windshield  30 . FIG. 5 shows an exemplary, cargo load CL protruding in this manner, with cover  54  and cords  50  having extended to permit snug enclosure of load CL within space  38 . Detailed in FIG. 4 is an alternate cargo load CL which does not extend within space  38  above the height of windshield  30 , in which case cover  54  need not necessarily expand for purposes of accommodation. In either circumstance, however, cover  54  is taut, minimizing the possibility of wind-related damage thereto (or to the cargo load CL within space  38 ). 
     FIG. 6 shows watercraft  10  functioning as a land-based cargo holder. In this circumstance, craft  10  will include means for attachment to the roof R of a vehicle such as van V Exemplary of such means are brackets  66 , which may receive straps  70  for connection to vehicle V. Numerous other attachment mechanisms are, of course, known to those skilled in the art and may be used instead of either or both of brackets  66  and straps  70 . Likewise, although the foregoing has been provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing embodiments of the present invention, further modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.