Abstract:
A watercraft transport system having a trailer hinged to a floatable body. The trailer comprises a frame, an axle and wheels and is hinged at the front to the front of the floatable body. The hinge has a limited degrees of freedom for roll, pitch and yaw motion to allow the floatable body to float in the water but still substantially retain its position so that a personal watercraft can be loaded and unloaded from the trailer. The floatable body of the personal watercraft transport system floats on the surface of the water and easily allow the user of the personal watercraft to maneuver in and out of the floatable body. As the personal watercraft transport system is removed from the water, channels on the underside of the floatable body drop into the frame for self-alignment. The floatable body is molded in its interior periphery to accommodate the hull of a personal watercraft, and its upper surface may be coated with skid-proof material. Locking mechanisms are provided to secure the floatable body to the trailer and to secure the personal watercraft to the floatable body.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to the field of watercrafts and more specifically relates to a storage and transport arrangement having a floatable body hinged to a trailer. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Personalized watercraft are manual and motorized floatable craft intended to carry one or more persons, typically less than five people, on the surface of a body of water. Viewing  FIG. 1 , various circumstances for docking and undocking a personalized watercraft from a transportation trailer, as well as mounting and dismounting a personalized watercraft, are shown. Typically, a trailer  112  upon which the watercraft  110  is secured is connected to a vehicle  114  at a hitch  116  to transport the watercraft  110 . The vehicle  114  is backed down a slanted ramp  118  into the water  120  and this already creates one of myriad of potentially difficult situations: depending upon the vehicle  114 , it may be difficult for the driver of the vehicle  114  to observe the trailer  112  and the personal watercraft  110  when backing up. The ramp  118  may have a shallow or a severe slope of different surfaces ranging from slippery wet muddy earth to gently sloped ridged concrete; in any event, the surface is wet and usually slippery. The wheels  122  of the vehicle  114  may lose traction, especially when the vehicle is backed into the water too far or too deep. Although the trailer  112  sinks into the water  120 , the rear  124  of the personal watercraft is buoyant and typically moves sideways on the surface of the water  120  requiring physical effort on the part of a the driver or a second person to keep the personal watercraft aligned. The trailer  112 , moreover has metal surfaces with hard sharp edges that can hurt the user and/or cause damage to the hull of the personal watercraft. In the meantime, a user who is anxious to get into the water  120 , must enter the water to load and unload the personal watercraft  110  and then crawl or jump onto the trailer with hard and sharp angles and surfaces to board the watercraft  110 . Additionally, because the trailer is wet metal, it is slippery in the water. 
     Returning the watercraft  110  to the trailer  112  has the same risks discussed above and then some: the personal watercraft  110  must be quickly secured onto the trailer  112  using a hand winch  126  or it will slide backwards and sideways (yaw) in the water  120 ; if no other person is available, the user must dismount the personal watercraft  110  and maneuver around the slippery hard and sharp edged metal of the trailer  112 . The user may be exhausted from spending a hot sunny day on the water; or bad weather may increase the dangers. The risk of injury and lack of convenience is great. 
     There is thus a need for a different watercraft transport system that solves many of the problems stated above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     These needs and others are solved by a personal watercraft transportation assembly, comprising: a trailer having a frame, an axle, and wheels; a floatable body molded on the top side to accommodate the hull of a personal watercraft; and a hinge connecting the trailer to a front end of the floatable body so that when the trailer is at least partially submerged in water, the floatable body floats on the surface of the water. The hinge allows a range of motion for pitch to allow the floatable body to float as the trailer sinks into the water, and provides a smaller range of range of motion for roll and yaw. The frame may be a substantially rigid tube in a generally Y-shape having one extending tube with a forward direction and separating into separated extensions towards a rear direction of the frame. The extending tube preferably has an attachment mechanism to attach to a vehicle in the forward direction and further has an elevationally angled section substantially proximate to the separated extensions, the hinge being attached to the elevationally angled section. The substantially rigid tube may have one or more structural cross members between the separated extensions. The underside of the floatable body further comprises a generally Y-shaped channel to receive the generally Y-shaped rigid tube of the frame; and may have at least one roller along a longitudinal axis of the floatable body to facilitate movement of a personal watercraft into and out of the floatable body. It is contemplated that there is a releasable locking mechanism to secure a rear portion of the floatable body to a rear portion of the trailer. 
     While the invention has been briefly summarized, a full understanding and appreciation of the invention is set forth below in the detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawing wherein the same element is given the same reference numeral throughout. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is side view of a prior art trailer and a personal watercraft in a loading and an unloading position. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a personal watercraft transport system in accordance with features described herein. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the trailer component of a personal watercraft transport system in accordance with embodiments described herein. 
         FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of the assembled trailer of the personal watercraft transport system when viewed from under the trailer;  FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of the assembled trailer when viewed from above. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the disassembled floatable body of the personal watercraft transport system in accordance with embodiments described herein. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the underside of the floatable body illustrating channels into which the frame is inserted according to an embodiment described herein 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  are rear perspective views of the assembled water transport system in accordance with embodiments described herein. 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  are angled perspective views of the assembled personal watercraft transport system in accordance with embodiment described herein. 
         FIG. 9A  is a side view of the assembled personal watercraft transport system having a personal watercraft;  FIG. 9A  is a side view of an interpretation of a person boarding a personal watercraft showing the floatation body and the trailer;  FIGS. 9B and 9C  are side views of an interpretation of a person loading the personal watercraft into the assembled personal watercraft transport system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , an embodiment of a personal watercraft transport system  210  is shown. The personal watercraft transport system  210  comprises a trailer  212  and a floatable body  214  as the flotation component. The floatable body  214  is removably attached to the trailer at a hinge  216  located at the front of the each of trailer  212  and the flotable body  214 . The body  214  floats up and away from the trailer  212  when the personal watercraft transport system  210  is in the water. Features of the floatable body  214  and the trailer  212  are shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 3-5 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the frame  314  of the trailer  212 .  FIGS. 4A and 4B  provide other perspectives of the assembled frame  314 . The frame  314  is made from lightweight and rigid material, such as aluminum or light metal or rigid plastic or composite material that has a density greater than water so that when the trailer  212  is in water the trailer  212  sinks. At the front of the frame  314 , there is a square, cylindrical, or rounded tube  310  to engage and mount onto a ball and hitch or other removable attachment to a vehicle. Electrical connections (not shown) are provided for safety so that the turn signals, backup, and brake lights (not shown) on the trailer  212  can be installed and function as is known in the art. Water-sealed electrical connections  820  can also be installed into the rear of the floatable body  214 , as best seen in  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 3  further illustrates the tube  310  extending linearly along the horizontal from the vehicle with an uplifting spacer  312  extending elevationally away from ground level at a slight angle to join with the frame  314  of the trailer  212  to elevate the trailer  212  from the same elevation as the hitch (not shown). The elevationally angled spacer  312  alleviates stress on the tube  310  when the personal watercraft transport system is in water for loading and unloading the personal watercraft. At the elevationally angled spacer  312 , the frame  314  comprises two arcuate sections  316 A and  316 B that separate from each other extending into two lengthwise sections  318 A and  318 B extending to the rear of the frame  314 . In between the lengthwise sections  318 A and  318 B, there may be one or more bowed cross members  320  and  322  to maintain the distance of the lengthwise sections  318 A and  318 B from each other and to provide some flexible structural support. Note that in  FIG. 3  the lengthwise sections  318 A and  318 B are parallel; shown in  FIG. 6  the lengthwise sections may also be arcuate. 
     Along each lengthwise section  318 A and  318 B are two mounting brackets  328  extending inwardly from its respective parallel section. The mounting brackets  328  are spaced from each other along the length of each parallel section  318 A at a distance to accommodate corresponding mounting fixtures  344  on the underside and along the length of two bunks  340 A and  340 B for attachment of the bunks  340 A,  340 B onto each respective parallel section  318 A and  318 B. A fastening device  330  is used to securely fasten the bunks onto the parallel sections. One fastening device may be a hollow rigid cylinder  330  mounted onto the frame that may be welded or otherwise securely mounted near the most inward edge of each mounting bracket  328  with height alignment holes machined through an outer diameter of the frame cylinder  330 . On the underside of the bunks  340 A and  340 B are corresponding and mating bunk outer cylinders  344 , which may be adjusted in height using, e.g., a cotter pin, and moving the bunk cylinder  344  to different heights on the outside of the frame cylinder  330 . The fastening method  330  preferably is one that will not break nor be easily displaced. The bunks  340 A and  340 B are provided with a gripping non-scratch surface  342  and are slightly tipped downwardly towards the interior of the frame  212  to accommodate the shape of the hull of the watercraft. During transport of the watercraft, the watercraft contacts with the bunks  340 A,  340 B which support the weight of the watercraft, rather than the floatable body  214  of the watercraft system. An axle  360  extends below and along the width of the frame  212  between the cross members  320 ,  322  to connect with wheels and mounted tires  370  by any of several mechanisms shown  362 ,  364  or any other mechanism know to those of skill in the art. Preferably, axle  360  is a torsion bar suspension system. 
     The floatable body  214  of the personal watercraft transport system  210  is shown in  FIG. 5 . The floatable body  214  is a manufactured from low density foam-filled polyethylene or other material preferably using a rotationally molded process. The floatable body  214  floats on the surface of the water and so must be made from a foam-like material having a density lower than water such that even with the watercraft  110  mounted, the floatable body  214  and watercraft  110  float together. The material from which the floatable body  214  is made must be durable but still must not be so rigid and/or sharp to damage the hull of the personal watercraft. The floatable body  214  is attached to the frame  212  by means of a hinge  216  located towards the front of the floatable body  214  and the frame  212  and removably attached to the rear by means of a releasable latch or L-shaped rotatable bar (not shown) that may be integral with or mounted to securing mechanisms  540 , as described below. 
     A hinge  216  connects the floatable body  214  to the trailer  212 , thereby eliminating a hand winch by which to attach a personal watercraft onto a typical trailer, so that when the trailer  212  is on the slope and under the water on the surface of the ramp, the floatable body floats above the trailer  212  while still being attached to it by the hinge  216 . This arrangement stabilizes the floatable body making it easier for loading and unloading the personal watercraft onto and out of the floatable body  214 . This flotation capability of the floatable body  214  remediates any difficulties associated with the slope of the loading ramp because regardless of how steep the slope is, the floatable body  214  and the personal watercraft still float and are still visible to the driver of the vehicle to which the transport system  110  is attached. Note that because the tube  310  may be a meter or more longer than a typical trailer hitch, there is greater flexibility when backing up into the water for loading and unloading the personal watercraft. 
     The floatable body  214  includes rollers  512  and  514  within the interior along the longitudinal axis of the body and connected between the two interior walls of the floatable body  214 . The rollers  512  are located front of the center of the floatable body  214 , and rollers  514  are located near the rear of the floatable body  214 . Rollers  512 ,  514  are preferably made from a durable and hard material such as polyurethane and may even have some scales or made from a rough or other frictional surface along the outer circumference to grab the bottom of the watercraft  110  and facilitate movement of the watercraft  110  out of and into the interior of the floatable body  214  when unloading and loading. The rollers  512 ,  514  are preferably tapered downwards to the center along the longitudinal axis to form right cylindrical truncated cones to facilitate alignment of the watercraft upon entry into the floatable body  214 . 
     As can be seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the floatable body  214  has one or more voids  562 ,  564  that eliminate some of the bulk and weight of the floatable body  214  and allow for drainage of the water. Cutouts  566  are also provided for the wheels. An inner surface  520  of the floatable body  214  is contoured or angled at a downward slope from the upper surface  530  towards the interior to facilitate alignment of the watercraft  110  into the floatable body  214 . The upper surface  530  of the floatable body  214  is preferably laminated or coated with a material that provides a slip-proof surface for standing when entering or departing from the watercraft  110  and loading and unloading the trailer in the water. The person does not have to get into the water to load and unload the trailer in the water and enter or depart from the watercraft  110 . The use of the personal watercraft transport system can best be seen in  FIGS. 9A-9C . 
     Securing mechanisms  540 A and  540 B extending through the upper surface  530  of the floatable body  214  not only secures the personal watercraft to the floatable body  214  but also secures the floatable body  214  to the frame  212 . One embodiment is a circular twist lock  540 A and  540 B having an arced rod, strap or loops  542  extending across its diameter by which to attach bungee cords or other ropes, straps, etc to strap down the watercraft onto the floatable body  214 . An embodiment of a strap-hold down is shown in  FIG. 9A . Attached to the underside of the securing mechanisms may be a L-shaped metal or rigid rod having about a ninety-degree extension as a bottom locking member or so such that when the a circular latch attached to the L-shaped rod within securing mechanism  540 A,  540 B is rotated in one direction the bottom locking member the extends away from the cross member  322  of the frame  212  towards the rear of the frame and then when the circular twist lock  540 A,  540 B is rotated 180 degrees or so, the bottom locking member rotates around the cross member  322  to secure the floatable body  214  to the frame  212 . 
     A stop  546  can be provided at the front of the floatable body  214  for alignment of the watercraft  110  into the floatable body  214  and can be used to secure the watercraft onto the front of the transport system. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4A  and  4 B, hinge  216  is the mechanism by which the floatable body  214  can float above the frame  212  and still be attached to it. Hinge  216  wraps around three sides of the spacer  312 ; note the angle of the spacer  312  with respect to the shaft  310  allows the floatable body  214  to float above the frame  212  in water without putting stress onto the shaft  310 . Hinge  216  has a 4-way movement: not only does it move in a vertical pitch direction up and down that allows that floatable body  214  to float above the frame  212  as described, but hinge also has a roll pivot surface and pin, shown more clearly in  FIGS. 3 and 4A  that allows the floatable body  214  to rock and roll in the water. One skilled in the art will understand that the hinge  216  will be experiencing multiple stresses and must be manufactured accordingly from a durable material. As can be seen in  FIG. 5  a pin  572  with a locking bolt or other fastener  574  extends through a receiving hole in the front of the floatable body  214  and then through corresponding holes in the hinge, shown in  FIG. 3 , to secure the floatable body  214  to the frame  212 . 
     Best seen in  FIG. 6 , the underside of the floatable body preferably has channels  620  that are tapered in an upward and inward directions from the underside to accommodate the arcuate and parallel frame sections  316 A,  316 B,  318 A and  318 B so that the floatable body  214  of the personal watercraft transport system is guided onto the trailer and will drop down onto the frame sections as the personal watercraft transport system is removed from the water. 
       FIGS. 7A ,  7 B and  8 A,  8 B are line drawings of several embodiments of the assembled personal watercraft transport system.  FIGS. 7A and 7B  show the floatable body  214  separated from the trailer  212 .  FIGS. 8A and 8B  provide illustrations of the assembled personal watercraft transport system fitted onto the trailer  212 . The interior of the floatable body  214  can be molded or otherwise sculpted to mate with the outer surface of the hull of various watercraft. When used for jet-skis, the body is molded in a general shape to accommodate different shapes and sizes of different brands of personal jet-skis. The preferred embodiment is contemplated for personal watercraft, such as jet skis, canoes, kayaks, and small V-bottomed fishing boats. 
     The concepts of the present invention can be further extended to a variety of other applications that are clearly within the scope of this invention. Having thus described the present invention with respect to preferred embodiments as implemented, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications and enhancements are possible to the present invention without departing from the basic concepts as described in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, what is intended to be protected by way of letters patent should be limited only by the scope of the following claims.