Abstract:
An outrigger and hull provides outriggers mounted with hinges to plates that enable pivotal or rotatable movement of each outrigger between storage and operating positions. Locking members secure the outriggers from substantial movement when in the operating position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Priority of my U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/013,044, filed 12 Dec. 2007, incorporated herein by reference, is hereby claimed. 

   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not applicable 
   REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” 
   Not applicable 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to an improved outrigger system for a boat. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved boat outrigger arrangement that enables a pair of outrigger pontoons to be moved from an operating position wherein they engage a surrounding water surface to a disengaged position wherein they fold inwardly and wherein locking pins secure the outriggers in the outer position by removably connecting a hinge plate portion of an outrigger to a gunwale mount. 
   2. General Background of the Invention 
   Outriggers have been used to help stabilize a marine vessel during use. Examples of such outriggers are seen in the following possibly relevant patents. 
   The following U.S. Patents are incorporated herein by reference: 
   
     
       
             
             
             
           
         
             
               TABLE 
             
             
                 
             
             
               U.S. Pat. No. 
               TITLE 
               ISSUE DATE 
             
             
                 
             
           
           
             
               6,55,234 
               Boat Attachment 
               Aug. 07, 1900 
             
             
               1,054,851 
               Life Boat 
               Mar. 04, 1913 
             
             
               1,371,139 
               Boat Stabilizing Device 
               Mar. 08, 1921 
             
             
               3,792,676 
               Ballast Attachment for Boats 
               Feb. 19, 1974 
             
             
               3,952,680 
               Roll Stabilizer for Vessels at Rest 
               Apr. 27, 1976 
             
             
               5,988,090 
               Stabilization Pontoon System for Small 
               Nov. 23, 1999 
             
             
                 
               Watercraft 
             
             
               6,305,306 
               Watercraft Stabilizer System 
               Oct. 23, 2001 
             
             
               2002/0083881 
               Adjustable Platform Structures for 
               Jul. 04, 2002 
             
             
                 
               Boats 
             
             
               JP62244790 
               Ship Roll Reducing Device 
               Oct. 26, 1987 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   Outriggers that are fixed suffer in that the extra width or beam restricts access into narrowed areas when underway. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides an improved outrigger arrangement that enables a user to operate his or her boat when underway or on plane with the outriggers folded to an inner position. In the folded, inner position the outriggers do not engage the surrounding water. In the extended outer position the outriggers and their pontoons outboard of the boat are placed in the surrounding water for increased stability. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a fragmentary sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing the pontoon and outrigger in an outer position; 
       FIG. 4  is a fragmentary sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing the outrigger as it is being moved from an outer, operating position to an inner, folded storage position; 
       FIG. 5  is a fragmentary sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention showing the outrigger and its pontoon in an inner, folded storage position; 
       FIG. 6  is a partial sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 7  is a partial exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1-7  show the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, designated generally by the numeral  10  in  FIGS. 1-2 . Vessel  10  provides a hull  11  that has a bow  12  and stern  13 . 
   The hull  11  also provides a pair of spaced apart gunwales  14 ,  15 . 
   A pair of outriggers  16 ,  17  are provided, each outrigger supporting a pontoon  19 ,  20 . Port outrigger  16  provides a port pontoon  19 . Starboard outrigger  17  provides starboard pontoon  20 . The outriggers  16 ,  17  and associated pontoons  19 ,  20  are moved between an operating position shown in  FIG. 2  and a folded or storage position shown in  FIG. 5 . In the operating position, each of the pontoons  19 ,  20  engages the water surface area  18  to provide stability for the craft. 
   The pontoons  19 ,  20  and outriggers  16 ,  17  can be moved to the position of  FIG. 2  for example, when the boat is underway or at anchor. For example, when the pilot of the boat is fishing, stability is of utmost importance. The outriggers  16 ,  17  and pontoons  19 ,  20  can be used for other activity wherein stability is important, such as for example, when using the hull  11  as a hunting platform. 
   In  FIGS. 3-7 , outriggers  16 ,  17  and pontoons  19 ,  20  are shown in more detail.  FIG. 7  provides an exploded view. The outrigger and pontoon arrangement shown in  FIG. 7  is the same for either outrigger  16  and its pontoon  19  or outrigger  17  and its pontoon  20 . 
   The parts of  FIG. 7  will be described in more detail with reference to a single outrigger  16  or  17  and a single pontoon  19  or  20 . Outrigger  16 ,  17  provides a gunwale mount  21  that can be in the form of a pair of plates  22 ,  23  that are attached to form an obtuse angle as shown in  FIG. 7 . Gunwale mount  21  can be bolted to the gunwale  14  or  15  of hull  11 . A backing plate  51  can be used if the hull  11  is relatively thin walled at gunwale  14  or  15  such as for example in the case of an aluminum skiff or boat (see  FIGS. 4 and 5 ). 
   Fasteners such as bolted connections can be used to attach gunwale mount  21  and backing plate  51  to hull  11  at a position next to gunwale  14  or  15 . In  FIG. 7 , plate  23  provides a plurality of hinge eyes  24 . Plate  23  is also provided with one or more openings  25  that are receptive of locking pins  30 . Hinge plate  26  can be removably attached to gunwale mount  21  using hinge pin  29 . 
   Hinge plate  26  provides a plurality of hinge eyes  27  and openings  28 . Locking pins  30  rigidify an assembly of gunwale mount  21  and hinge plate  26  by placing each locking pin  30  through the aligned openings  28 ,  25  of the hinge plate  26  and gunwale mount  21 . This operating position arrangement can be seen in  FIG. 3 . 
   Angle section  31  is comprised of plates  32 ,  33  that are attached generally perpendicularly. Each of the plates  32 ,  33  provides a plurality of openings  34 . A pair of angle braces  35  can be attached to angle section  31  by aligning the openings  36  of the angle brace  35  with the openings  34  of the angle section  31  and securing them together using fasteners such as bolted connections. The openings  34  of angle section  31  are also aligned with the openings  52  of hinge plate  26  so that at least some of the bolted connections that secure angle brace  35  to angle section  31  also secures the assembly of angle section  31  and angle brace  35  to hinge plate  26  as shown in  FIGS. 3-5 . When locking pins  30  are removed, pontoons  19 ,  20  can be rotated from the operating position of  FIG. 3  to the storage position of  FIG. 5  as indicated by arrow  37  in  FIG. 4 . As seen in  FIG. 3 , when the outrigger is in the operating position, hinge plate  26  overlaps plate  23 . As further seen in  FIG. 5 , when the outrigger is in the storage position, hinge plate  26  is spaced away from plate  23 . 
   Each pontoon  19 ,  20  is assembled to a outrigger  16 ,  17  by providing a pontoon channel  38  that attaches to a pontoon support  44  which is bolted to an assembly of angle section  31  and a pair of angle braces  35  (see  FIGS. 3-5 ). In  FIG. 7 , pontoon channel  38  includes web  39  and a pair of spaced apart flanges  40 ,  41 . Slots  42  on channel  38  are receptive of straps  50  which secure each pontoon  19  or  20  to its outrigger  16  or  17 . Openings  45  in plate  46  of pontoon support  44  enable a bolted connection to be formed between the assembly of angle section  31  and angle braces  35  to pontoon support  44 . The pontoon support  44  includes plate  46  and flanges  47 ,  48 . Slots  49  in flange  47  are also receptive of straps  50  (see  FIG. 6 ). 
   The pin  29  is removable for enabling the entire assembly of an outrigger  16  or  17  and its pontoon  19  or  20  to be removed from vessel  10 . By removing the pin  29 , each outrigger  16  or  17  can be separated from its gunwale mount  21 . 
   The following is a list of parts and materials suitable for use in the present invention. 
   PARTS LIST 
   Part Number Description
           10  vessel     11  hull     12  bow     13  stern     14  gunwale     15  gunwale     16  port outrigger     17  starboard outrigger     18  water surface area     19  port pontoon     20  starboard pontoon     21  gunwale mount     22  plate     23  plate     24  hinge eye     25  opening     26  hinge plate     27  hinge eye     28  opening     29  hinge pin     30  locking pin     31  angle section     32  plate     33  plate     34  opening     35  angle brace     36  opening     37  arrow     38  pontoon channel     39  web     40  flange     41  flange     42  slot     44  pontoon support     45  opening     46  plate     47  flange     48  flange     49  slot     50  strap     51  backing plate     52  openings       

   The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.