Abstract:
An apparatus that attaches to a small boat designed to stabilize a first end of the boat against the wind while a trolling motor stabilizes a second end is herein disclosed. The apparatus generally comprises a clamp that attaches it to the side of the hull and a moveable shaft that holds a large piece of plastic which is partially submerged under the water. The apparatus is positioned such that it is perpendicular to the direction in which the wind is blowing. As such, as wind pushes against the side of the boat, resistance will be offered by the device as the wind must push it against the water as well. It can be quickly raised and lowered as required by the needs of the boat occupants. These features provide in effect, an “anchor” which stabilizes the boat against the wind.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in a notarized Official Record of Invention on Aug. 24, 2009, that is on file at the offices of Montgomery Patent and Design, LLC, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to fishing boat accessories, and in particular, to a stabilizing rudder attachment for a small fishing boat. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Fishing is a sport enjoyed around the world. After the fishing rod and tackle box, the fishing boat is one of the most common pieces of equipment used while fishing. One (1) of the most common types of boats, especially for use in shallow waters, is the flat bottomed or “Jon” boat. Such boats are easily maneuverable and provide a large amount of floor space capable of accommodating multiple fishermen. 
     One (1) problem associated with these types of small boats is their tendency to be blown about by even slight winds. A common method of combating windy conditions is to constantly adjust the trolling motor such that it counteracts the unwanted movements of the boat. This effort not only takes away from the enjoyment of fishing, but repeated trolling motor activity tends to scare away the fish. Furthermore, such a process can be time consuming and inefficient. 
     Various attempts have been made to provide stabilizing attachments for boats. Examples of these attempts can be seen by reference to several U.S. patents. U.S. Pat. No. 4,862,818, issued in the name of Sullivan, describes a canoe stabilizing and guide mechanism which provides a bracketing means for mounting a canoe paddle outboard of the canoe. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,243, issued in the name of Shields, describes a transom rudder seat which provides a chair securable to a transom portion of a boat with a lower portion of the attachment comprising an anti-drift fin. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,902,157, issued in the name of Boris, describes a rudder attachment for a trolling motor. The rudder attachment includes forward and rearward portions which secure to the motor with a plurality of tie wrap fasteners. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives, each of these references suffer from one (1) or more of the aforementioned disadvantages. Many such devices are difficult to install. Also, many such devices are not readily deployable and retractable. Furthermore, many such devices are not readily adjustable based upon changing weather conditions or wind patterns. Accordingly, there exists a need for a personal watercraft stabilizer without the disadvantages as described above. The development of the present invention substantially departs from the conventional solutions and in doing so fulfills this need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing references, the inventor recognized the aforementioned inherent problems and observed that there is a need for a personal watercraft stabilizing device which is simple to attach, deploy, and adjust. Thus, the object of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned disadvantages and provide for this need. 
     To achieve the above objectives, it is an object of the present invention to provide stabilization to an existing small watercraft, particularly against movement caused by the wind. 
     Another object of the present invention is to reduce watercraft movement caused from being blown around by the wind and prevent unintentional reorientation of the watercraft during usage. The apparatus comprises a shaft, a rudder member, and an adjusting member which allows a user to manipulate the rudder member in an opposing direction to a wind force to assist in stabilizing the watercraft. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to enable depth and angle adjustment of the rudder member&#39;s position by the shaft and adjusting member. The rudder member comprises a rudder which is rigidly attached to the shaft with a pair of brackets and a plurality of fasteners. The shaft comprises a handle portion which enables the user to manipulate the orientation of the rudder within the adjusting member. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to secure the shaft to adjusting member with sleeve and collar portions of the adjusting member. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide discrete angular adjustment of the rudder relative to the watercraft. The adjustment member comprises a spring pin and a plurality of teeth. The spring pin engages the shaft and allows a user to selectively compress the spring pin, rotate the shaft to a desired tooth, and release the pin to lock the shaft and rudder into place. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to allow a user to secure the apparatus to a transom portion of the watercraft by a clamping mechanism integral to the adjusting member. 
     Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a method of utilizing the device that provides a unique means of acquiring an instance of the apparatus, installing the adjusting member of the apparatus along a desired position on the transom of an existing watercraft, clamping the adjusting member to the transom, securing the shaft to the adjusting member at a desired length with the sleeve and collar assembly, adjusting the shaft and attached rudder member via the spring pin angular adjustment assembly, readjusting the apparatus as desired, and utilizing the apparatus to stabilize the watercraft by mitigating the effects of random wind movements. 
     Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an environmental view of a personal watercraft stabilizer  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is another environmental view of the personal watercraft stabilizer  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a section view of a rudder member  30  taken along line A-A (see  FIG. 1 ), according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the personal watercraft stabilizer  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 10 
                 personal watercraft stabilizer 
               
               
                   
                 15 
                 watercraft 
               
               
                   
                 16 
                 transom portion 
               
               
                   
                 17 
                 water 
               
               
                   
                 20 
                 shaft 
               
               
                   
                 25 
                 handle 
               
               
                   
                 30 
                 rudder member 
               
               
                   
                 31 
                 rudder 
               
               
                   
                 32 
                 bracket 
               
               
                   
                 33 
                 bracket aperture 
               
               
                   
                 34 
                 fastener 
               
               
                   
                 40 
                 adjusting member 
               
               
                   
                 41 
                 sleeve 
               
               
                   
                 42a 
                 upper collar 
               
               
                   
                 42b 
                 lower collar 
               
               
                   
                 43a 
                 fastening means 
               
               
                   
                 43b 
                 fastening aperture 
               
               
                   
                 44 
                 first pivoting member 
               
               
                   
                 45 
                 second pivoting member 
               
               
                   
                 46 
                 teeth 
               
               
                   
                 47a 
                 pivot point 
               
               
                   
                 47b 
                 pivot axle 
               
               
                   
                 48 
                 first arm 
               
               
                   
                 49 
                 second arm 
               
               
                   
                 50 
                 brace 
               
               
                   
                 51 
                 extension member 
               
               
                   
                 52 
                 spring pin 
               
               
                   
                 53 
                 square pin 
               
               
                   
                 54 
                 clamping fastener 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 4 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes a personal watercraft stabilizer (herein described as the “apparatus”)  10 , which provides a means for stabilizing an existing small watercraft  15  such as, but not limited to: a flat bottom boat, a Jon boat, or the like from the wind. The apparatus  10  reduces watercraft  15  movement caused from being blown around by the wind, thereby reducing reorienting said watercraft  15  during usage. The apparatus  10  takes a form similar to a common trolling motor and may be suited at the bow or stern of the watercraft  15  as desired by the user of said watercraft  15 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an environmental view of the apparatus  10  and  FIG. 2 , another environmental view of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The apparatus  10  is approximately four (4) feet in length and is removably attachable and adjustable to a transom portion  16  on the watercraft  15 . The apparatus  10  comprises a shaft  20 , a rudder member  30 , and an adjusting member  40 . During use, the shaft  20  is positioned in a vertical orientation (see  FIG. 1 ) so that the rudder member  30  is partially submerged in a desired body of water  17 . As the wind applies a force to the watercraft  15 , a user manipulates the rudder member  30  to apply a force to the water  17  in an opposing direction to assist in stabilizing said watercraft  15 . After use, the shaft  20  is positioned in a desired angled orientation (see  FIG. 2 ) so that the rudder member  30  is completely out of the body of water  17 . The depth of the rudder member  30  is adjusted and angled via the adjusting member  40  (see  FIG. 4 ), thereby enabling the user to easily manipulate the position of said rudder member  30 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a section view of the rudder member  20  taken along line A-A (see  FIG. 1 ), according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The rudder member  30  comprises a rudder  31 , a pair of brackets  32 , and a plurality of fasteners  34 . The rudder  31  is generally rectangular and fabricated from a durable plastic, yet other materials may be utilized without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . The rudder  31  is approximately a half (½) an inch in width, fourteen (14) inches in length, and twenty (20) inches in height. The rudder  31  is attached to a lower front surface of the shaft  20  (also see  FIG. 4 ) via a bracket  32  mounted to each opposing longitudinal surface of the rudder  31 . Each bracket  32  is fabricated from materials such as, but not limited to: aluminum, stainless steel, plastic, or the like and is attached to the rudder  31  and to the shaft  20  via a plurality of fasteners  34  such as, but not limited to: screws, rivets, or the like. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , an exploded view of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The shaft  20  is generally “L”-shaped comprising a rectangular cross-section and is fabricated from aluminum or other similar materials which comprise dimensions approximately measuring one-and-a-half (1½) inches square by fifty-two (52) inches in length. The shaft  20  enables the user to manipulate the orientation of the rudder member  30  via a handle portion  25 . The handle portion  25  is integrally molded in a perpendicular orientation to an upper surface of the shaft  20  and comprises an ergonomic body to enable the user to comfortably maneuver the apparatus  10 . 
     The adjusting member  40  is slidably inserted onto the shaft  20  at a desired height which corresponds to the desired position of the rudder member  30 . The adjusting member  40  enables an attachment means to the transom portion  16 , thereby securing the apparatus  10  to the watercraft  15  (see herein below). The body of the adjusting member  40  is comprised of a sleeve  41  which comprises a rectangular cross-section slightly larger than that of the shaft  20  which enables insertion of said sleeve  41  onto said shaft  20 . The sleeve  41  is fastened to the shaft  20  via an upper collar  42   a  and a lower collar  42   b  which further comprise a fastening aperture  43   b  on a side surface of each collar  42   a ,  42   b . The sleeve  41  and collars  42   a ,  42   b  are preferably comprised of materials such as, but not limited to: aluminum, stainless steel, plastic, or the like. The fastening apertures  43   b  enable a fastening means  43   a  to abut against the shaft  20  in a threadably engaging means into said fastening apertures  43   b  to attach the sleeve  41  onto said shaft  20 . Each fastening means  43   a , comprises an “L”-shaped body fabricated from materials such as, but not limited to: steel, plastic, or the like comprising a threaded shaft to enable the user to manually thread said fastening means  43   a  into each fastening apertures  43   b.    
     A front surface of the sleeve  41  comprises an integrally molded extension member  51  which provides a securing means to a conventional spring pin  52  and provides a pivoting means to a first pivoting member  44  and a second pivoting member  45 . The spring pin  52  is inserted downwardly through an opening in the extension member  51  and provides the adjusting means to the apparatus  10 . The spring pin  52  is comprised of a tubular shaft encompassed by a conventional compression spring and further comprising a square pin  53  on a lower intermediate surface positioned in a perpendicular orientation to said spring pin  52 . In use, an upper portion of the spring pin  52  is depressed to compress the compression spring and release the square pin  53  from a plurality of teeth  46  on the first pivoting member  44  and the second pivoting member  45 , thereby enabling the apparatus  10  to be rotated in a desired position. 
     Each pivoting member  44 ,  45  comprises an arcuate distal portion further comprising a plurality of teeth  46  on a perimeter edge which enable the square pin  53  to be positioned between a desired pair of teeth  46  on each said pivoting member  44 ,  45  to position the apparatus  10  in a desired angle. Each pivoting member  44 ,  45  also comprises a pivot point  47   a  which is the position where a pivot axle  47   b  attaches each of said pivoting members  44 ,  45  to the extension member  51 , thereby enabling the adjusting member  40  to rotate. A pivot axle  47   b  is positioned on each side of the extension  51  and each said pivot axle  47   b  extends outwardly from the extension member  51  and receives a pivot point  47   a  via a friction fitting means. 
     The pivoting members  44 ,  45  are attached to each other via a brace  50 . The brace  50  is preferably integrally molded to the upper perimeter edges of each pivoting member  44 ,  45 , yet other attachment means may be utilized without limiting the scope of the apparatus  10 . The brace  50  also spaces the pivoting members  44 ,  45  in a separate and parallel orientation. 
     The first pivoting member  44  and the second pivoting member  45  extend into a first arm  48  and a second arm  49 , respectively, to attach the adjusting member  40  to the transom  16 . Each arm  48 ,  49  is “L”-shaped to enable the pivoting member  44 ,  45  to clasp onto the transom  16 . Each lower portion of the arms  48 ,  49  comprise a conventional digit-operated clamping fastener  54  which threadably engage to an inner portion of the transom  16 . The clamping fastener  54  comprises expected features such as a swivel pad which engages the transom  16  and a sliding pin handle which is utilized to adjust the clamping fastener  54 . In use, each pivoting member  44 ,  45  is positioned upon the transom  16  with the arms  48 ,  49  positioned at a rear surface of said transom  16  and the teeth  46  positioned away from the watercraft  15 . Each clamping fastener  54  is then rotated to engage the rear portion of the transom  16 , thereby attaching the adjusting member  40  to the watercraft  15 . 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the apparatus  10 , it would be installed as indicated in  FIG. 1 . 
     The method of installing and utilizing the apparatus  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring the apparatus  10 ; locating the transom  16  on a watercraft  15 ; positioning the adjusting member  40  onto the transom  16  with the arms  48 ,  49  of each pivoting member  44 ,  45  positioned at a rear surface of said transom  16  and the teeth  46  positioned away from the watercraft  15 ; threadably engaging the clamping fasteners  54  onto each arm  48 ,  49  and clamping each arm  48 ,  49  onto a rear portion of the transom  16 ; positioning the rudder member  30  at a desired position via depressing the spring pin  52  to release the square pin  53  from the teeth  46  on each pivoting member  44 ,  45  and rotating the shaft  20  via grasping the handle  25 ; releasing the spring pin  52  to set the square pin  53  between a desired set of teeth  46  at a desired position; adjusting the height of the shaft  20  via unfastening each fastening means  43   a  from each collar  42   a ,  42   b  to enable said shaft  20  to freely move within the sleeve  41 , thereby positioning the rudder member  30  to a partially submerged position in the water  17 ; refastening each fastening means  43   a  to each collar  42   a ,  42   b  to secure said sleeve  41  to the shaft  20 ; and, utilizing the apparatus  10  to provide a stabilized watercraft  15  against random wind movements and reducing the aggravation of constant adjustments of said watercraft  15 . 
     The method of angling the apparatus  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: depressing the spring pin  52  to release the square pin  53  from the teeth  46  on each pivoting member  44 ,  45  and rotating the shaft  20  downwardly via grasping the handle  25 ; and, releasing the spring pin  52  to set the square pin  53  between a desired set of teeth  46 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.