Holder attachable to a boat

A holding device is attachable to a rail, cleat, etc., of a boat or other object such that the holding device holds a cooler or similar objects without using up passenger space. The holding device is a generally rectangular shaped basket member that has a top rail and a first series of straps extending between opposing sides of the rail and a second series of straps extending between opposing ends of the rail, the first straps and the second straps crossing generally normal to one another. One or more straps secure the basket member to an appropriate point on the boat. One or more bumpers buffer the device against the side of the boat. The basket member may have a netting therein to hold small objects safely.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a holder for ice chests and similar devices wherein the holder overhangs the side of a boat in order to save space on the boat.

2. Background of the Prior Art

Boating is a popular pastime enjoyed by many, especially considering the fact that most Americans live a short driving distance from a navigable body of water. When the weather is agreeable, just load up the boat with fishing gear or other toys, food, drinks, and then launch the boat for a fun filled day on the water. Most boats tend to be relatively small in size. Many factors dictate the need to keep boats relatively small including the costs of the boat, the high gas consumption of a boat, the need to be able to tow the boat to the launch site, and the need to store the boat, among others. While even a small boat can be quite fun and relaxing, certain tradeoffs must be made. With several people on board a relatively small boat, precious little real estate, both deck space and seating space, remains for other items such as bait holders, coolers, picnic baskets, etc, items which are considered essential for all but the shortest of boat rides. Placing such items onto the boat crowds the deck and makes it more difficult for the passengers to move around. While many boats have below deck storage areas, such storage areas are often difficult to access and require the passengers to crowd to one section of the boat, which can be quite uncomfortable, especially when the outside temperatures are very hot.

What is needed is a device that allows boat captains to be able to take coolers and other items aboard a boat without sacrificing the relatively scarce deck space and seating areas aboard the boat. Such a device must allow quick and easy access to the items being held by the device without imposing an undue burden upon the boat's passengers. Ideally such a device should be of relatively simple design and construction and be easy to install, operate, and maintain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The holder attachable to a boat of the present invention addresses the aforementioned needs in the art by providing a holder that is capable of holding typical coolers as well as various other items on board a boat without the need to take up any deck or seating real estate of the boat. The holder attachable to a boat allows for quick and easy access to the items being held therein without the need to herd the passengers to a particular section of the boat. The holder attachable to a boat is of relatively simple design and construction so as to be relatively inexpensive to manufacture making the device economically affordable to a large portion of the boat owning consumers. The holder attachable to a boat is relatively easy to install upon the boat, is easy to operate, and to maintain.

The holder attachable to a boat of the present invention is comprised of a generally rectangular-shaped basket member that has a generally rectangular-shaped top rail with a first end and an opposing second end joined by a first side and an opposing second side. A first series of generally U-shaped straps is attached to the first end and attached to the second end, while a second series of generally U-shaped straps is attached to the first side and attached to the second side. At least one securement strap has a third end and a fourth end removably attachable to the third end such that the securement strap encircles the top rail at the first side. A first bumper is attached to at least some of the second series of straps on an outer surface of the basket member below the first side of the top rail or to the top rail. The top rail may be made from a generally rigid material or a generally non-rigid material. The first straps and the second straps may each be made from a generally rigid material or from a generally non-rigid material. A second bumper may be attached to at least some of the second series of straps on an outer surface of the basket member below the first side of the top rail and below the bumper. The first bumper has a first diameter and the second bumper has a second diameter which second diameter is larger than the first diameter. A netting member may be attached to the basket member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, it is seen that the holder attachable to a boat of the present invention, generally denoted by reference numeral10, is comprised of a generally rectangular shaped basket member12that has a top rail14that has a first end16and a second end18joined by a first side20and a second side22with the corners24being generally rounded. A first series of generally U-shaped straps26extend between the first end16and the second end18and are attached at each of the respective ends16and18in any appropriate fashion such as the illustrated rivets28, stitching, adhesive, etc. Each of the first series of straps26has a generally rounded corner30. Similarly, a second series of generally U-shaped straps32extend between the first side20and the second side22and are attached at each of the respective sides20and22in similar fashion to the attachment of the first straps26to their respective ends16and18. Each of the first second of straps32has a generally rounded corner34. The top rail14, the first series of straps26and the second series of straps32are made from an appropriate either rigid (aluminum, hard plastic, etc.,) or not rigid material (leather, Nylon, etc.,) or a combination therefore, such as the top rail14being rigid while the first series of straps26and the second series of straps being made from a non-rigid material in order to allow the device10to be collapsible. If rigid materials are used, it is advantageous to have such materials have an outer layer of an appropriate soft or otherwise-non-abrasive material in or to help prevent scratching any items that may be placed into the device10or the item to which the present invention10is attached. The first series of straps26and the second series of straps32may be attached to one another at their respective crossover points, but need not be.

As seen, one or more attachment straps36encircle the top rail14on the first side20such that the ends38of the straps36are capable of being removably attachable (using buckles, cooperating hook and loop material (including the newer hook and dart material), etc.,) to each other in or to allow the basket member12to be attached to an appropriate location on a boat B such as to a side rail R as best illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, to cleats, etc. Although a single securement strap36can be used, for example, a relatively long strap36can be secured to the device10and to at least two spaced apart cleats, the use of multiple attachment straps36allows for a secure and stable attachment of the device10to the boat B without worries about weigh capacity. At least one bumper40, such as the illustrated foam noodle, a rubber bumper, etc., is provided which bumper40has a securement strap42attached thereto, such as passing through the open center44as illustrated, with the securement strap42also having ends46that are removably attachment to one another in any appropriate fashion and with the securement strap42encircling at least some of the second series of straps22below the top rail's first side20or to the top rail14itself. The bumpers40help buffer the device10and its contents against bumping against the side of the boat B. If more than one bumper40is used, then the lowermost bumper40may need to have a larger diameter relative to the diameter of the upper bumper in order to account for the curvature of the hull of the boat B. If desired, the uppermost bumper40may have a 90 degree edge thereon (not illustrated) in order to allow this bumper40to sit on the rub rail of the boat B. The attachment straps36and securement straps42may be made from the same materials used to make the first straps26and the second straps32.

The inner area of the basket member12may have a fine mesh netting48therein, either fixedly secured therein or removably secured in appropriate fashion in order to allow relatively small items, such as keys, sunglasses, etc., to be held within the device10. The netting48may be loose fit within the basket member12wherein the netting48is only attached to the top rail14and/or the various ends of the first straps26and the second straps32or may be form fit wherein the netting48is also attached to the straps26and32along their respective lengths.

In order to use the holder attachable to a boat of the present invention, the bumpers40are attached to the second series of straps22. The attachment straps36are used to secure the basket member12to a desired point on the boat B (of course the present invention can be attached to items other than boats B). The holder attachable to a boat10is now ready for use. A cooler C or similar object can be placed into the basket member12and held thereat without impacting the deck or seating areas of the boat B. The bumpers40help buffer the cooler's impact against the hull of the boat B even when the boat B is in motion. If used, the mesh48allows small objects to be held in addition or instead of the cooler C. When the boating day is complete, the device10is removed from the boat B by removing the attachment straps36from the point of attachment on the boat B.