Abstract:
This invention provides an attachment for inflatable watercraft such as inflatable rafts to render such watercraft more suitable for sports fishing. The attachment includes a swivelable seat mounted at a convenient height for fishing, oarlocks mounted at the optimum position for rowing while seated, and, in the preferred embodiment, means for deploying an anchor or drag to keep the watercraft in the desired location. The attachment is mounted on and supported by the gunwales of the inflatable watercraft, to distribute the weight of the attachment and its user over as wide an area as possible in order to enhance the stability of the watercraft in use.

Description:
This application claims benefit of Provisional Application 60/418,145 Filed Oct. 11, 2002. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to an attachment to an inflatable raft to make it more suitable for such recreational activities as sport fishing. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Watercraft used for sport fishing take many forms, depending on the type of sport fishing done, the nature of the water where the fishing is done, and the personal preferences of the angler. 
   Skiffs, canoes, rowboats and kayaks have been widely used for years for sport fishing. In recent years, fishing watercraft employing inflatable tubes, floats, pontoons or sponsons, and designed for use by a single angler, or occasionally by two anglers, have become popular for sport fishing. Such craft as the float tubes and pontoon boats made by Bucks Bags, Inc. of Boise, Id., are well-known and widely used for sport fishing. While these watercraft perform admirably, they are single-purpose craft, and are not generally useful for other water-based recreational activities. 
   There are other types of small watercraft designed for general recreational use, which can also be used for sport fishing. Of particular interest in this regard are small inflatable rafts such as the Caravelle and Fish Hunter rafts distributed by Sevylor U.S.A., Inc. of Los Angeles, Calif. and the Sea Eagle rafts, produced by Sea Eagle Products of Port Jefferson, N.Y. The rafts are relatively inexpensive, and can be used for such recreational applications as yacht tenders, transportation to camping facilities accessible only by water, and increasing the safety and enjoyment of swimming and bathing. While they can be used in their as-purchased form for fishing, they are much less comfortable and convenient than watercraft designed specifically for that sport. In particular, for such very popular types of fishing as fly casting or bait or plug casting in rivers, lakes and ponds, the seats are too low or non-existent, and the craft are awkward to row from a position used for fishing. Ideally, a watercraft for sport fishing should provide a swivelable seat positioned slightly above the sides of the craft, high enough above the floor of the watercraft to permit a comfortable seated position for the user, with oarlocks conveniently positioned for rowing. Provisions for deploying an anchor, or a drag would also be desirable. (A drag, generally consisting of a bundle of short segments of chain attached to a line, are used to slow down the drift of a boat, and keep the bow of a boat headed upstream or upwind as it drifts under the influence of current or wind.) The seat and oarlock positioning in such pontoon boats for fishing as the “Southfork”, manufactured by Bucks Bags, Inc. of Boise, Id., or the “PAC 800, manufactured by Outcast Sporting Gear, also of Boise, Id., are ideal for fishing. 
   An inexpensive attachment which can render such general-purpose recreational watercraft as inflatable rafts more suitable for sport fishing would be a very useful addition to the sporting equipment arena. 
   Hull et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,753) describe a seat attachment advantageous for fishing for use on an inflatable raft equipped with a mounting board for an outboard motor. The seat is attached to and supported in part by the mounting board. The attachment of Hull et al. is suitable only for inflatable rafts equipped with a motor mounting board. In addition, it requires the use of a rigid floor in the raft, since the seat attachment is supported, in part, by legs resting on the floor. 
   Lee (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,507,244 &amp; 5,325,806) describes a seat and accessory mounting attachment for inflatable rafts, canoes and kayaks comprising a relatively rigid frame resting on the floor of the inflatable craft to distribute the weight of the seat and occupant over the floor. The attachment of Lee does not distribute the weight of attachment and occupant over the full width of the inflatable craft, with resultant decreased lateral stability against tipping or rolling, particularly if it is desired that the seat be elevated above the gunwales or inflated sides of the craft. The attachment of Lee does not provide a swivelable seat or oarlock mounting means. 
   Rawson (U.S. Pat. No. 4,290,156) teaches a seat and oarlock attachment for an inflatable raft supported from the gunwales, with transverse cross-members supporting a seat. In the attachment of Rawson, the seat is suspended below the cross-members. It does not provide for a swivelable seat, nor can the seat be mounted above the gunwales, as is desirable. 
   Casey et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,694,835) teach a rigid frame which can support a swivelable seat, the frame being enclosed within an inflatable O-shaped tube similar to a tire inner-tube. The device taught by Casey et al. requires the inflatable tube to have an open bottom, which would have little use as a general purpose watercraft upon removal of the frame. 
   Andresen (U.S. Pat. No. 2,815,517) teaches an attachment comprising a seat equipped with extension arms upon which oarlocks are mounted. The attachment of Andresen is clamped to the gunwales of a watercraft such as a canoe, and is not adaptable for use with an inflatable raft. 
   While all of the above devices appear workable, these devices, and all other similar attachments known to the inventor of the present invention, suffer from drawbacks, and have not found widespread acceptance. Thus there is a need for a low-cost, simple, durable attachment for inflatable rafts to make such rafts more suitable for sport fishing. The attachment should be easy to attach to and detach from the raft, so the raft can be easily used for other recreation purposes for which it is suited. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an objective of the present invention to provide a low-cost seating and rowing attachment for an inflatable raft to render the raft more suitable for such recreational activities as sport fishing. 
   It is another objective of the present invention to provide such an attachment which can be quickly and easily mounted on an inflatable raft, and as quickly and easily dismounted from the inflatable raft, restoring the raft to its original configuration and utility. 
   It is a further objective of the present invention to provide such an attachment which can be mounted on an inflatable raft without the need for tools. 
   It is a further objective of the present invention to provide such an attachment that fastens sufficiently securely to the inflatable raft that the attachment will remain attached to the raft in the event the raft is inadvertently capsized. 
   It is a further objective of the present invention to provide such an attachment comprising a plurality of parts such that, when the attachment is dismounted from the inflatable raft, the constituent parts can readily be stowed in a confined space such as the trunk of an automobile. 
   It is a further objective of the present invention to provide such an attachment with a seat positioned at a desirable and comfortable position for sport fishing. 
   It is a further objective of the present invention to provide such an attachment comprising oarlocks at an desirable location for convenient rowing while sport fishing. 
   It is a further objective of the present invention to provide such an attachment comprising means to deploy an anchor or drag to stabilize the position and alignment of the raft with the attachment against wind or current. 
   To accomplish these objectives, the attachment of the present invention provides support members mounted on each of the side inflated members of the inflatable raft and alternatively also on the forward inflated member of the raft, and a lightweight frame detachably attached to the support members upon which a seat suitable for fishing, oarlocks suitably positioned for convenient rowing, and alternatively, a support member for deployment of an anchor or drag, are attached. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective sketch of a preferred embodiment of the seating and rowing attachment of the present invention mounted on a typical inflatable raft. 
       FIG. 2  is a similar perspective sketch of a preferred embodiment of the seating and rowing attachment of the present invention mounted on a typical inflatable raft, with the seat removed to more clearly illustrate the invention. 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded drawing of a preferred embodiment of the seating and rowing attachment of the present invention mounted on a typical inflatable raft. 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged drawing of the seat support frame of a preferred embodiment of the seating and rowing attachment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a detail drawing illustrating the interaction of the forward seat support frame member with the lateral support members of a preferred embodiment of the seating and rowing attachment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a detail drawing illustrating the interaction of the rear seat support frame member with the lateral support members of a preferred embodiment of the seating and rowing attachment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a side-view drawing of the locking bar of a preferred embodiment of the seating and rowing attachment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a detail drawing of the oarlock support of a preferred embodiment of the seating and rowing attachment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The seating and rowing attachment (hereinafter “the attachment”) of the present invention comprises gunwale mounting means which fit on the inflated tube structures comprising the gunwales of an inflatable raft and which interact with attachment means of an inflatable raft; seat support means detachably attached to the gunwale mounting means, to which a suitable seat for fishing can be detachably attached; locking means to hold seat support means in place; and oarlock support means removably or foldably attached to the gunwale mounting means. 
   The attachment of the present invention may be fabricated of any sufficiently strong and formable material, such as, for example steel, stainless steel, aluminum or wood. In the preferred embodiment, the attachment is fabricated of molded resin-filled fiberglass, except for the oarlock support means, which are of steel. Fabrication techniques for resin-filled fiberglass structures such as the attachment of the present invention are well known in the art. 
   The attachment of the present invention is intended for use with an inflatable raft  10  with forward  11  and rearward  12  ends. The raft will comprise attachment means  15  and  16  which may be used to secure the attachment to the raft. In the most preferred embodiment of the present invention, inflatable raft  10  is the Model K-85 distributed by Sevylor U.S.A., Inc. of Los Angeles, Calif. Attachment means  15  and  16  of this raft are half-rings, intended for use as simple oarlocks, attached to a base which is firmly bonded to the material of the lateral gunwales  13  of the raft. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 1–3 , in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, lateral gunwale mounting means comprise lateral gunwale mounting plates  20  and  21  mounted on lateral gunwales  13  of inflatable raft  10 . Lateral gunwale mounting plates  20  and  21  are curved about an axis parallel their long axis so as to closely fit the curvature of lateral gunwales  13 . Lateral gunwale mounting plates  20  and  21  have cut-away areas  22  and  23 , most advantageously seen in  FIG. 3 , to allow the mounting means to fit close to attachment means  15  and  16  of raft  10 . 
   In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, seat support means comprise seat support frame  30  which comprises a unitary structure comprising forward  31  and rear  32  cross-members connected by longitudinal members  33 . Forward  31  and rear  32  cross-members of seat support means  30  are detachably attached to lateral gunwale mounting plates  20  and  21  by any of the detachable attachment means known to the art, such as bolts with wing-nuts or hook-and-loop fastening means such as Velcro®. In the most preferred embodiment, the attachment means comprise staple-like loops  24  and  25 , most advantageously seen in  FIGS. 3 ,  5  and  6 , which are molded as integral parts of lateral gunwale mounting plates  20  and  21 , and into which the ends  34  and  36  of cross-members  31  and  32 , respectively, are inserted. Further in this most preferred embodiment, the lateral ends of rear cross-member  32  are formed into right-angle rearwardly-directed segments  35 . 
   Seat  60  may be removably attached to seat support frame  30  by any fastening means known to the art, such as screws, bolts and nuts, clamps, etc. In the most preferred embodiment, the seat may be Model 5440 manufactured by Action Products Corp. of Odessa, Mo., or any similar swivelable seat. The seat will preferably have a seat back which folds down for compact storage. In this most preferred embodiment, the seat is removably attached to seat-mounting holes  39  by means of bolts with wing-nuts, to permit assembly of the attachment of the present invention without tools. 
   Locking means to hold seat support means in place may comprise cables securing seat support means to inflatable raft attachment means such as rings  15  and  16 , clamps equipped with thumb-screws to fasten the ends  34  and  36  to loops  24  and  25 , or any other locking means known to the art. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, locking means comprise central support bar  40  and forward and rear locking bars  51 . Central support bar  40  is detachably attached to seat support frame  30  by any of the detachable attachment means known to the art, such as bolts with wing-nuts or hook-and-loop fastening means such as Velcro®. In the most preferred embodiment, the attachment means comprise staple-like loops  37  and  38 , most advantageously seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , molded as integral parts of cross-members  31  and  32 , respectively. 
   In a preferred embodiment, locking bars  51  bear upon central support bar  40  and are bent downward at the ends to allow engagement in inflatable raft attachment means  15  and  16 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  5  and  6 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , each of the lateral ends of locking bars  51  have two thickened sections  52  and  53 , forming detent  54 . This detent will cooperate with the elastic resistance to bending of locking bar  51  to insure that locking bars  51  remain engaged in raft attachment means  15  and  16 . The rearward end  41  of central support bar  40  is also increased in thickness, to prevent it from sliding forward and disengaging from rear locking bar  51 . 
   This preferred embodiment of the present invention is advantageous in that the weight of seat, seat support means, and user are borne by the gunwale mounting means, and widely distributed to the gunwales of the inflatable raft, rather than being borne solely by the attachment means of the raft. An additional advantage of the preferred embodiment is that the locking bars will anchor the attachment firmly to the inflatable raft under conditions of rough water or a strenuous effort to land a vigorously fighting fish, or in the event the raft is inadvertently capsized. 
   In a preferred embodiment of the attachment of the present invention, central support bar  40  is extended forward to terminate a short distance forward of the forward end  11  of inflatable raft  10 . In this embodiment, central support bar  40  comprises forward gunwale support plate  42  which rests on the forward gunwale  14  and is formed into a curved shape which conforms closely to the curvature of gunwale  14 . In this preferred embodiment, central support bar  40  further comprises open clam cleat  43  and bull&#39;s-eye fairlead  44 , both of which are well known in the art and are readily available articles of commerce. These latter devices enable the user of an inflatable raft equipped with the attachment of the present invention to deploy an anchor to keep the craft stationary against wind or current, or a drag to keep the craft oriented with forward end upstream or upwind while the craft slowly drifts with the current or wind. 
   In the most preferred embodiment of the attachment of the present invention, the forward extension  45  of central support bar  40  is elevated above forward end  11  of inflatable raft  10  and extended beyond the forward end sufficiently that an anchor or drag can be completely withdrawn from the water when the anchor or drag is not in use, and suspended above the water by the central support bar. 
   Open clam cleat  43  allows easy adjustment of the anchor- or drag-line length, and also allows the user to quickly jettison the anchor or drag in an emergency. 
   Oarlock support means of the attachment of the present invention may be any type of support which positions oarlocks so as to permit convenient and effective rowing, and which allow the oarlock support means to be removed, folded or collapsed when the attachment is dismounted from the inflatable raft, in order to reduce the size of the dismounted and disassembled attachment. As shown in  FIG. 8 , a preferred embodiment of oarlock support means comprises vertical oarlock support  71 , lateral oarlock support brace  72  and longitudinal oarlock support brace  73 , all of which are attached at their lower ends to lateral gunwale mounting plates  20  and  21  by means of clevis-and-pin hinges  74 ,  75  and  76 , respectively. Vertical oarlock support  71  may be fabricated of tubing of diameter selected to form a loose sliding fit for the oarlocks, or incorporate a cylindrical recess of diameter selected to form a loose sliding fit for the oarlocks. Oarlock support means may be fabricated from any sufficiently strong material, such as steel or aluminum. 
   In the most preferred embodiment, vertical oarlock support  71  and lateral oarlock support brace  72  are fabricated of steel tubing, and are welded together to form a single unit. Hinges  74  and  75  permit this assembly of vertical oarlock support  71  and lateral oarlock support brace  72  to fold flat when the attachment of the present invention is disassembled. In this most preferred embodiment, longitudinal support brace  72  is flattened and bent vertical at its upper end, and detachably attached to vertical oarlock support  71  by means of a bolt and wing-nut  77 . 
   Oarlocks may be any of the commercially available oarlocks, such as the Seadog Round Rowlock, Catalog ID 23832 or the Attwood Clamp-on Oarlock, Catalog ID 23830, both obtainable from The Binnacle, Halifax, Nova Scotia, or the Perko #298113 Round Oarlocks, obtainable from Performance Yacht Systems, Annapolis, Md. 
   The operation of the most preferred embodiment of the present invention is as follows: Inflatable raft  10  is inflated fully. Lateral gunwale mounting plates  20  and  21  are placed on the lateral gunwales  13  and adjusted to fit closely to attachment means  15  and  16 . Seat support frame  30  is then placed on gunwale mounting plates and adjusted so that ends  34  and  35  of forward  31  and rear  32  cross-members engage loops  24  and  25 , respectively, on lateral gunwale mounting plates  20  and  21 . Seat  60  may be fastened to seat support frame  30  either before or after seat support frame  30  is connected to lateral gunwale mounting plates  20  and  21 . 
   Central support bar  40  is then slid into staple-like loops  37  and  38  and adjusted so that forward gunwale support plate  42  rests on the forward gunwale  14 . Locking bars  51  are then placed over central support bar  40  and bent downward at the ends to engage inflatable raft attachment means  15  and  16 , sliding the locking bars to-and-fro laterally if necessary to complete engagement. 
   The unit comprising vertical oarlock support  71  and lateral oarlock support brace  72  is then folded upward to a vertical position, and the upper end of longitudinal support brace  72  is attached this unit with bolt and wing-nut  77 . Oarlocks are then inserted into vertical oarlock support  71 , suitable oars are deployed in the oarlocks, and an anchor- or drag-line is threaded through bulls-eye fairlead  44  and engaged in open clam cleat  43 . 
   The watercraft comprising the inflatable raft equipped with the seating and rowing attachment of the present invention may then be launched into a body of water and placed in use. 
   Disassembly for stowing reverses the above sequence. The disassembled attachment comprises 7 parts: seat  60 , two locking bars  51 , central support bar  40 , seat support frame  30 , and two lateral gunwale mounting plates  20  and  21 . The disassembled attachment and the deflated inflatable raft can easily be accommodated in the trunk of most automobiles. 
   While the foregoing describes preferred modes of practicing the invention, other embodiments are possible. 
   In one such alternate embodiment, seat support means such as seat support frame  30  could be attached directly to inflatable raft attachment means  15  and  16  by clamps or screw-operated assemblies. 
   In another alternate embodiment, seat support frame  30  could be attached to staple-like loops  24  and  25  by clamping means well-known in the art, or by affixing pins or screws to the portions of lateral ends  34  and  36  of cross-members  31  and  32  extending beyond the loops. 
   In another alternate embodiment, the lateral ends  34  of forward cross-member  31 , and the ends  36  of the rearwardly-directed segments  35  of rear cross-member  32  may be increased in thickness, so as to provide a latching action when inserted into loops  24  and  25 . 
   In still another alternate embodiment, the oarlock support means could be detachably attached to lateral gunwale mounting plates  20  and  21  by screw means or other detachable attachment means known to the art. A hinged attachment between longitudinal oarlock support brace  73  and vertical oarlock support  71  would allow the oarlock support means of this embodiment to be folded into a compact form after detachment from lateral gunwale mounting plates  20  and  21 . 
   Other embodiments will be apparent to one skilled in the art, which will change various details of the present invention without limiting its scope. Furthermore, the foregoing description of various embodiments of the invention and the best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation of the invention, which are defined by the claims attached hereto.