WHEEL ASSEMBLY FOR TOWING BOATS

Abstract: An assembly for towing a boat (10) includes a pair of channel members (16, 18) mounted on the transom (14) of the boat and a towing socket (50) formed as part of an upstanding hitch (54) carried on a tow vehicle. A pair of leaf spring supports (20, 22) each carry wheels (44, 46) and stub axles (40, 42) and are pinned to the channel members by means of pi­ vot pins (24, 26) and other removable pins (36, 38) which hold the supports firmly in the channels when the removable pins are in place, which holds the wheels firmly in the lowered position for towing and which permit the supports and wheels to be rotated around the pivot pins to store the wheels when the removable pins are removed. Each of the stub axles includes a hollow extension (40, 42) which supports at its outboard end a rod or shaft (48) serving as a stabilizing bar and the stabi­ lizing bars are held in axial alignment by means of a stabilizing retaining tube (62) supporting the stabilizing bars at their inboard ends.

Description: This invention relates to an assembly for towing a boat behind a vehicle. Boats of small size and even boats of considerable size are frequently towed along roads and highways to and from a body of water and this towing typically requires a towing vehicle and a suitable hitch for attachment to a trailer which carries the boat. Frequently the trailer is designed to be backed into the water by the towing vehicle and the boat is floated free of the trailer. Such trailers are heavy, somewhat expensive and they tend to be deteriorated with repeated submerging. Trailers also tend to cause damage to the carried boat with repeated trailering because they usually support the boat along the hull where boats are least sturdy. A number of arrangements have been taught for making it possible to load, carry, and unload small boats from the top of a car, truck or camper. Such systems are practical if the boat is not too heavy, but they normally require structure for lifting the boat up and down and also a dolly for moving the boat to the water once it is removed from the carrying vehicle. Such a design is shown in US-A-3445018 to Reagan. Other special dolly and tow bar arrangements have been devised for moving a small boat for short distances by means of a towing vehicle but are not intended for high speed highway towing or for towing over rough terrain. Such structures are shown in US-A-4392665 and 4344635 to Miller et al and Welton, respectively. None of the foregoing really deals with the problem of transporting a boat at highway speeds without requiring the lifting devices and dolly of the boat carrying arrangements or the expense and damage problems connected with repeated trailering on the usual boat trailer. US-A-4300252 discloses a wheeled body member arranged to be attached to the bow of a boat and a stern wheel assembly. However, the stern wheel assembly does not provide any means of resilient support nor is there stabilization during transport. According to the present invention, there is provided an assembly for towing a boat behind a vehicle, the boat including connecting means at its prow for attachment to a towing hitch of a vehicle; a transom; a channel member attached to the transom and extending substantially to the top of the transom; a wheel assembly located within the channel member and having a first position in which the wheel assembly supports the boat and a second position in which the wheel assembly is non-supporting, and means for releasably retaining the wheel assembly in the first position, characterized in that:- there is a pair of spaced channel members attached to the transom with a pivot pin positionable near the top of each channel member; the wheel assembly comprises first and second elongated leaf spring supports carried in the channel members extending a substantial distance below the transom and curving toward the rear relative to forward motion of the boat, each support including a rolled sleeve at its top end providing resilient support for the boat during towing, a stub axle and a wheel supported on the axle carried at the lower end of the leaf spring support; there is a removable pin extending one through the flanges of each channel member near its lower end confining the support members in the first position, whereby the removable pins may be removed to permit the leaf spring supports to be pivoted around the pivot pins to the second position; and the wheels are stabilized by a stabilizing extension member co-axially supported on extensions of the axles permitting limited axial movement of the wheels while preventing shimmying movement of the wheels. Preferably, the leaf spring supports are rotatable about the pivot pins such that the wheels may be pivoted onto the boat. The pivot pins may be removable to allow the wheels and supports to be removed for storage when the wheel assembly is in the second position. The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a view of a boat from the rear ready for launching with the towing wheels and supports the invention attached; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a fragmentary portion of a boat with a modified form of the invention with the stabilizing bar attached for highway transportation; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the structure of Figure 2 as viewed from the opposite side of the wheel; Figure 4 is a partial side view of the front of a boat and towing hitch, according to the invention; Figure 5 is a partial side view of a boat with a towing wheel and support stowed in the boat while in the water; Figure 6 is a view from the rear, partly in section, of a part of the towing assembly including details of the stabilizing bars and stabilizing bar retainers used for highway travel; Figure 7 is a plan view of the principal parts used in a towing device according to the invention; Figure 8 is a partial side view of a boat equipped with a towing assembly incorporating the invention and showing the removable pin in the process of releasing the tension on the wheel spring before the boat is put in the water; Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 but with the removable pin completely removed after the boat is placed in the water; Figure 10 is a view showing the boat of Figures 7 and 8 with one wheel and leaf spring support partially pivoted around its pivot pin as the wheel is floated toward the surface; Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 9 but with the leaf spring support rotated approximately 180 degrees; and, Figure 12 is a view similar to Figures 9 and 10 but with the leaf spring support rotated approximately 270 degrees to place the wheel in storage within the boat, or easily removed and stored elsewhere. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to Figure 1, a boat (10) is shown as seen from the rear carrying an outboard motor (12). Attached to the transom (14) of the boat is a pair of vertically oriented metal channel members (16) and (18) and carried within said channel members is a pair of leaf spring supports (20) and (22). Supports (20) and (22) are formed with loops or sleeves (24) and (26) at their top ends and similar but larger sleeves (28) and (30) at their lower ends, respectively. Support (20) is carried on a removable pivot pin (32) which is inserted through the sleeve (24) and drilled holes in the upper end of this support member. Similarly, support member (22) is carried on a removable pivot pin (34) which is inserted through the flanges of channel member (18) and sleeve (26). Similar holes are drilled through the flanges of channel members (16) and (18) near the bottom of transom (14) and these holes receive removable pins (36) and (38), respectively, which, when in position as shown, secure the supports (20) and (22) in their respective channels. Sleeves (28) and (30) contain hollow stub axle members (40) and (42), respectively, supporting wheels (44) and (46), respectively. Sleeves (28) are sized and arranged to accommodate suitable bearings or, alternatively, such bearings may be incorporated in hub structures of wheels (44) and (46). Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the boat structure shown in Figure 1 but with a slight modification to the towing assembly. Transom (14) is as shown as are leaf spring support member (20), sleeve (28), stub axle (40) and wheel (44). A removable pin (36) is located and arranged essentially as described above, but the channel member itself is now shown as channel (16') and is shorter than that described with respect to Figure 1 and has the pivot pin (32') and sleeve (24') located at a significant distance down from the top of the channel. Stub axles (40) and (42) which support wheels (44) and (46) are made hollow at their extensions so that they may receive a stabilizing bar (48) which is inserted into the hollow interior of the stub axles for use in towing at any significant speed since this stabilizing bar acts as a vibration damper to prevent shimmying of the wheels (44) and (46) and causing them to maintain proper forward alignment. This stabilizing bar may be dispensed with for limited manoeuvring around a marina or launching ramp. Figure 3 is another view of the structure shown in Figure 2 but as seen from the outside of wheel (44). Figure 4 is a partial side view of the front of the boat showing a towing socket (50) which is built into the prow of the boat and which socket is adapted to mate with and cover a towing ball (52) mounted on an upstanding post (54) forming part of a conventional hitch structure. A key member (56) is provided for insertion into a passageway (58) in socket (50) to thereby confine ball (52) within socket (50). One of the advantages of the towing arrangement of the present invention is that the carrying wheels may be held in position for towing as shown in Figure 1 and then, after launching, the removable pins (36) and (38) may be removed and the support members (20) and (22) may be rotated around the pivot pins (32) and (34) to place the wheels (44) and (46) within the interior of the boat hull. They may then be stored there if desired or, alternatively, the pivot pins may be removed and the wheels and support members stowed elsewhere. Figure 5 shows a side view (partial) of the rear of boat (10) with the wheel (46) and support (22) rotated approximately 270 degrees such that the wheel (46) is stowed with the hull of boat (10). Further details of the parts of the boat towing assembly are shown in Figures 6 and 7. Figure 6 is a view from the rear of a portion of the assembly showing details of the stabilizing bars and retaining means. In this view, wheel (46) is shown supported by stub axle (42) which also serves as a stabilizer bar retainer. A stabilizing retaining tube (62) retains the inner ends of stabilizer bars (48) and (48') which is loosely fitted within the extension of stub axle (42) which also serves as a stabilizer bar retainer. A stabilizing retaining tube (62) retains the inner ends of stabilizer bars (48) and (48') and is held in position by means of a removable retaining pin (64) carried in a transverse bore (65). A removable key (66) prevents pin (64) from backing out of the retaining tube (62). In Figure 7 are shown the separate channel members (16) and (18) which are to be attached to the boat transom (14) and each of these members includes removable pins (36) and (38) and the pivot pins (32) and (34), respectively. Also shown are wheels (44) and (46) with their respective leaf spring supports (20) and (22). On leaf spring supports (20) and (22) are shown the rolled sleeves (24) and (26). The hitch structure is shown including the L-shaped upstanding post member (54) which is attached to a towing vehicle and which supports the ball (52) and carries the key member (56) which secures ball (52) in the socket member (50) which is attached to the prow of the boat. Figures 8 through 12 show a series of a steps for placing the boat (10) in a condition to operate in the water. In Figure 8 is shown the lower portion of the rear of boat (10) prior to launching including a side view of the channel member (18) showing the removable pin (38) which is a cam locking pin which confines the leaf spring support (22) and holding wheel (46) in its towing position. With the removable cam locking pins (36) and (38) in position, the leaf spring supports (20) and (22) are held firmly against the channel members which serve to stabilize the leaf spring supports (20) and (22) when the boat is being towed. This minimizes twisting of the supports so that the wheels are kept in alignment during towing. Thus, the leaf spring supports are permitted to flex in the vertical plane, permitting the wheels (44) and (46) to move up and down, but very little turning movement is permitted such as would result from twisting of the leaf spring supports. Pins (36) and (38) are relatively stiff when in locked position for towing and are not conveniently operated in the water. They need to be rotated to a flat side to release the force against the leaf spring supports (20) and (22) before launching the boat. In Figure 9 the same parts are shown and the removable pin (38) has been removed from the ports in channel member (18) in which it is normally placed and where it secures the support (22). In Figure 10 the support (22) has begun to be rotated around the pivot pin (34) and it will be seen that the wheel (46) and support (22) are no longer confined against the transom of the boat (10). In Figure 11 the same parts are shown with the wheel (46) rotated approximately 180 degrees from its original position and with support (22) similarly rotated such that wheel (46) is shown extending almost vertically above the boat (10). In Figure 12 the leaf spring support (22) and wheel (46) have been further rotated a total of approximately 270 degrees such that the wheel (46) is now stowed within the hull of boat (10). From the foregoing it will be recognized that the present invention provides a boat towing assembly which is quite light and relatively inexpensive, which supports the boat at its points of greatest structural strength, that is, the transom and the prow, and which is quite convenient to convert from a highway towing situation to operation in the water and vice versa. Since the wheels and their support members weigh only about 11.25kg each, they can easily be handled by a youth or a woman. The embodiment shown in Figures 1, 5 and 8 through 12 locates the pivot pin at the top end of the channel members such that the wheels and supports may be rotated to stow these parts within the hull if desired. This arrangement would conveniently permit the boat to be stored by suspending it from a garage ceiling with the wheels folded into the boat. The embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 3, in which the pivot pin is located lower in the channel members, may be used where the first described arrangement is not a structural practicality or where there is interference on the boat preventing use of this storage arrangement. With the structure of Figures 2 and 3 its operation is essentially the same, in which the removable pins (36) (38) can be removed to permit the support members (20) and (22) and the wheels (44) and (46) to be rotated such that they stand essentially vertically over the rear of the boat somewhat as is shown in Figure 10 but cannot be rotated farther. With either arrangement it may be preferred to remove the pivot pins (32) and (34) and simply store the wheels and supports elsewhere. Other modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. As suggested above, bearings for the wheels may be located within the hubs of the wheels or within the sleeves (28) (30). The axle extension (48) may be of small diameter and placed within a hollow axle such as that shown at (40) in Figure 2 or Figure 3 or this axle may be of larger diameter and may telescope over the stub axle members (40) and (42). The arrangement shown is, however, smaller and lighter.

Claims: An assembly for towing a boat behind a vehicle, the boat (10) including connecting means (50) at its prow for attachment to a towing hitch of a vehicle; a transom; a channel member (16,18) attached to the transom and extending substantially to the top of the transom; a wheel assembly (20,22;44,46) located within the channel member (16,18) and having a first position in which the wheel assembly supports the boat (10) and a second position in which the wheel assembly is non-supporting, and means (36,38) for releasably retaining the wheel assembly in the first position, characterized in that:- there is a pair of spaced channel members (16,18) attached to the transom with a pivot pin (32,34) positionable near the top of each channel member (16,18); the wheel assembly (20,22;44,46) comprises first and second elongated leaf spring supports (20,22) carried in the channel members (16,18) extending a substantial distance below the transom and curving toward the rear relative to forward motion of the boat (10), each support including a rolled sleeve (24,26) at its top end providing resilient support for the boat during towing, a stub axle (40,42) and a wheel (44,46) supported on the axle (40,42) carried at the lower end of the leaf spring support (20,22); there is a removable pin (36,38) extending one through the flanges of each channel member (16,18) near its lower end confining the support members in the first position, whereby the removable pins (36,38) may be removed to permit the leaf spring supports (20,22) to be pivoted around the pivot pins (32,34) to the second position; and, the wheels (44,46) are stabilized by a stabilizing extension member (48) co-axially supported on extensions of the axles (40,42) permitting limited axial movement of the wheels (44,46) while preventing shimmying movement of the wheels (44,46). An assembly for towing a boat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the leaf spring supports (20,22) are rotatable about the pivot pins (32,34) such that the wheels (44,46) may be pivoted into the boat (10). An assembly for towing a boat as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the pivot pins (32,34) are removable whereby, when the wheel assembly is in the second position, the pivot pins may be removed for storage of the wheels and supports. An assembly for towing a boat as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the channel members (16,18) each include a second pair of oppositely spaced holes near the upper ends thereof such that the removable pins (36,38) may be removed to permit the leaf spring supports (20,22) to be pivoted around the pivot pins (32,34), and replaced in the second pair of holes thus supporting the wheels (44,46) above the transom of the boat (10). An assembly for towing a boat as claimed in claim 4, wherein after removing the removable pins (36,38) and the supports (20,22) have been pivoted to the second position, the pivot pins (32,34) may be removed for storage of the wheels (44,46) and the supports (20,22). An assembly for towing a boat as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stabilizing extension member (48) comprises a pair of stabilizing bars supported and retained at their inner ends by means of a stabilizing retaining tube (62), said tube including a transverse bore therethrough and a removable retaining pin (65) for preventing significant axial movement of the retaining tube (62).

Inventors: GRISWOLD, WAYNE
Applicants: GRISWOLD, WAYNE
Application year: 1987
Main classification: B63C13
IPC codes: B63C13