Abstract:
A kayak carrier with a pair of spaced horizontal supports having open-topped hull supports defining essentially continuous curved surfaces that permit the edge of a kayak to be inserted easily and to naturally rotate into a locking position. In the preferred form the kayak carrier has two spaced horizontal rack members with aligned hull supports, the rack members being adapted to be removably mounted in the side-rail sockets of a standard utility trailer.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention is in the field of trailer type carriers for small boats such as canoes and kayaks. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   People who kayak usually need a convenient way to secure one or more kayaks to a transport vehicle to get the kayaks to water. One well-known way is with a roof-mounted rack, usually temporarily attached to the vehicle roof, capable of carrying one to three kayaks. Kayak roof racks generally seem to be designed to mount kayaks right side up or at a sideways angle. 
   While canoe roof racks are also known, they typically hold the canoes upside down, probably since canoes&#39; large open hulls are more difficult to cover and therefore more likely to collect water and cause turbulence while driving, but are easily secured when flipped over onto their parallel upper edges. The more slender, flexible nature of kayak hulls with their sloped upper surfaces and upturned bow and stern ends do not naturally lend themselves to an inverted mount. 
   A problem with vehicle roof racks is the difficulty in loading and unloading relatively heavy kayaks and canoes at rooftop height, especially for smaller people. Canoes tend to be heavier than kayaks, and another popular way to carry canoes is accordingly with a low trailer-mounted rack. As with roof-type canoe racks, the canoes generally seem to be carried upside down. These trailer racks are typically meant to carry multiple canoes, are often used by commercial canoe liveries and the like, and tend to be large, cumbersome metal structures permanently mounted or integrally built into a wheeled trailer structure. One common type of trailered canoe carrier uses T-shaped racks, with the canoes placed upside-down on the crossbars of paired “T” racks and tied or strapped or clamped in place. An example of this type of rack is U.S. Pat. No. 3,610,431 to Rodden, in which the inverted canoes are held in place at their edges and keels by sliding arms and clamping members. Trailer type racks are believed to be more common for canoes than for kayaks, partly due to the differences in hulls described above, although the inventors have known kayakers to use homemade, purpose-built trailers with canoe type crossbar racks on which kayaks ride right side up on padded hull supports, held in place by straps. Kayakers have also been known to fasten rooftop kayak carriers onto canoe type trailer racks in makeshift fashion to carry the kayaks sideways, but this tends to be awkward and less stable. 
   A disadvantage of using canoe-type rack trailers for kayaks is the need to secure the upright kayak hulls on the crossbar supports with straps, which the Rodden &#39;431 patent describes as a characteristically unstable way to secure even the tiedown-friendly hulls of inverted canoes, subject to shifting and damage. Yet Rodden&#39;s clamping-member modified canoe crossbars would not in our opinion be suitable or desirable for carrying the relatively delicate hulls of kayaks. 
   While roof-type kayak racks are generally out of the way when not in use, whether left on the roof of the car or removed for storage, trailers for canoes and kayaks require a lot of storage space. Since canoe and kayak trailers in our experience are dedicated-use trailers, this means that they tend to sit around unused most of the time, taking up space. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is a trailer-mounted kayak carrier in which a pair of fore-and-aft spaced racks are adapted to be mounted crosswise on a standard utility trailer to support fore and aft ends of one or more kayaks. The racks have aligned hull supports shaped to support a kayak hull at an acute angle. The hull supports have an essentially continuous hull-engaging surface contour, with an offset trough opening to a longer, shallowly curved keel-engaging entry ramp, and terminated on the other side by a shorter, steeper, more tightly curved edge-engaging locking surface that turns back in toward the trough to overlie a portion of the kayak. The shape is similar to half of a “heart” symbol turned sideways, and results in the kayak hull smoothly camming itself into a position in the hull support in which the hull is rotationally locked in the insertion direction at an acute angle. The continuous, curved nature of the hull support surface cradles a large percentage of the kayak hull for better support and a better grip on the hull. 
   The kayak racks are preferably removably mounted on the trailer. In a preferred form the kayak racks are adapted with posts on their ends to be inserted in drop-in fashion into the existing siderail supports commonly found on utility trailers with removable siderails. The racks can also be adapted to be removably secured to permanent trailer siderails, if desired. 
   In a further preferred form the hull supports are formed as cutouts in essentially flat, panel-shaped racks, opening on the upper edges of the racks. The flat racks are easy to store when removed from the utility trailer. 
   In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the racks are joined by a longitudinal frame structure, the frame being sized to drop into and be secured to the trailer bed, with or without siderails. The drop-in frame assembly further can define a boxlike storage volume, either fixed or capable of receiving a removable storage container. This framed rack embodiment can also be used to store kayaks when the rack is removed from the trailer. 
   These and other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description along with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a trailer mounted kayak rack system according to the invention, with several kayaks shown mounted on the racks in phantom. 
       FIG. 1A  is an exploded view of the forward and aft kayak racks of  FIG. 1  replacing trailer siderails in their mounting points on the trailer. 
       FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the trailer of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of one of the kayak rack hull supports, with a kayak shown mounted therein in both its initially inserted orientation (phantom lines) and its rotationally locked position (solid lines). 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a modular rack embodiment in which an upper rack is stackable on a lower rack, and further shows the upper rack exploded into its constituent parts prior to assembly. 
       FIG. 4A  is similar to  FIG. 4 , but shows the racks assembled and stacked. 
       FIG. 5  shows an alternate embodiment of a kayak rack according to the invention, in which the forward and rear racks are joined into a drop-in assembly with a boxlike frame. 
       FIGS. 5A–5C  show three alternate versions of the rack of  FIG. 5 , in which storage boxes are removably mounted between the forward and rear racks. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring first to  FIG. 1 , a common type of utility trailer  12  is shown modified with a removable set of kayak racks  14  according to the invention. Trailer  12  has a cargo bed  12   a , a frame  12   b , and is attached at its forward end to a vehicle  10  in known manner. Sockets  12   c  formed along the sides of frame  12   b  normally support removable siderails of known type (not shown), the siderails having been removed and replaced in  FIG. 1  with kayak racks  14  supported in sockets  12   c . A lower level  14   a  of racks  14  is shown supporting three kayaks  16  (illustrated in phantom lines) in three hull supports  18 , while an upper level  14   b  of racks  14  is shown with hull supports  18  empty. 
   Each kayak rack  14  includes one or more horizontal support members  20 , in the illustrated embodiment panels made from wood or preferably plastic; upright supports  22 , in the illustrated embodiment also made from wood or preferably plastic, for securing the horizontal support members  20  on or above the cargo bed of trailer  12 ; and one or more hull supports  18  formed in each horizontal support member  20 . In the illustrated embodiment each hull support  18  is formed as a cutout portion of the solid panel members  20 . 
   As best shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , hull supports  18  have a continuous hull-supporting surface  19  with a preferred contour that can be described as a half-a-heart shape, as if a stylized heart symbol were cut vertically down the middle and turned sideways. In the illustrated embodiment surface  19  has a shallow, acutely angled or curved entry ramp portion  19   a  descending over a relatively long distance into an off-center trough  19   b , and then reversely curving more sharply up and back toward the trough at  19   c  to terminate at a point  19   d  overlying at least some of the inserted kayak hull and preferably overlying a portion of trough  19   b . The resulting surface contour of the continuous cutouts  18  allows most kayak hull styles to be inserted approximately sideways or edge-first into the cutout and then smoothly rotated down into a position in which the kayak hull is rotationally locked in the direction of its sideways insertion into the hull support. The hull shape of kayak  16  illustrated schematically in  FIG. 3  is intended to be a generic shape representing most common styles such as hard chine, fish form, and Swede form. 
   It will be understood that although the hull-supporting surface contour  19  is conveniently described as half-a-heart, the contour may vary somewhat. For example, entry ramp portion  19   a  can be a shallow concave curve as shown, or may be essentially flat ( 19   a ′), or may start with a shallow convex curvature changing to a concave curvature as it approaches the trough ( 19   a ″), or may be a steeper concave curve on its way down into the trough. The surface contour might be alternately described as having a fishhook shape, or a shepherd&#39;s staff, or a j-shape, set at an acute angle with a portion of the short part of the curve or hook turning back toward the trough to overlie a top portion of the kayak hull held at an acute angle in the horizontal support. 
   In general, while the surface contour  19  of hull supports  18  is shown as a continuous cutout in a panel-shaped horizontal support member  20 , it will be understood that the surface contour need only be sufficiently continuous to present a smooth sliding surface for the rotational movement of the kayak hull into the hull support. For example, a succession of rollers defining a correspondingly shaped path would be sufficient, even though there might be a small gap between each roller to allow free rolling. For the same reason, while the hull supports are described as having curved surfaces, small flats or interruptions that do not detract from the overall curvature, or that average out to an overall curved shape and still provide a smooth rotational movement of the kayak hull into its locked position are possible. 
   While the illustrated racks  14  are shown made from wood or plastic in a preferred panel construction, it will be further understood that alternate materials and constructions could be used. For example, horizontal support members  20  could be made from plastic or metal tubing, with hull supports  18  formed by molding or bending the tubing into the surface contour  19 . 
   Illustrated horizontal support panels  20  are shown with flat upper edges  20   c  between hull support cutouts  18 . If spaced properly, flat edges  20   c  allow racks  14  to be optionally used to support inverted canoes, the sidewall edges of the canoes resting on flats  20   c.    
   While hull support cutouts  18  are preferably open-topped as illustrated, it is possible to form closed hull supports in horizontal supports  20 . This could be achieved by cutting or forming hull supports  18  in horizontal supports  20  below the upper edges of panels  20 . Kayaks would have to be first inserted longitudinally into both the fore and aft closed-top hull supports, rather than edgewise as shown in  FIG. 3 , before being rotated into their locked positions. 
     FIG. 1A  shows the manner in which the illustrated racks  14  are assembled and inserted into trailer  12  in place of siderails (not shown, but well known). Horizontal panels  20  are formed with tenons  20   a  in their ends, the tenons mating with mortise openings  20   b  in rack uprights  22 . While a friction fit may be sufficient in some circumstances, it is preferred to further secure panels  20  to uprights  22  with mechanical fasteners such as bolts  21  located above and below the tenon-and-mortise connection. Each rack may be further stabilized against sway with a tension rod (not shown) connected between uprights  22 . The lower ends  22   b  of uprights  22  are inserted into trailer siderail supports  12   c  after the siderails are removed, either before or after the panels  20  are connected to uprights  22 . Uprights  22  preferably have a snug fit in siderail supports  12   c , and are preferably further secured in place, for example using removable bolts  13  often used to secure siderails in sockets  12   c.    
   It will be understood that while the drop-in socket type siderail supports  12   c  are common, and that the illustrated embodiment is a most preferred embodiment adapted for such sockets, other types of removable connection can be used to removably secure racks  14  to a trailer.  FIGS. 5 and 5A , for example, show a tie-down version of the invention in which forward and rear racks  14  are joined by longitudinal frame members  222  to form a self-supporting box-like rack assembly  214 . Tie-down anchors such as  222   a  are located on the sides of frame members  222 , and suitable tie-down means such as cables, chains, or straps  222   b  are connected to anchors  222   a  and to suitable points on the trailer bed or frame. If the spacing of frame members  222  is less than the spacing of existing side-rails on the trailer, rack assembly  214  could also be secured to the trailer between the side-rails, and could even be secured to the side-rails themselves. Longitudinal frame members  222  could also be provided with lower posts or tenons to mate with trailer side-rail sockets  12   c  as shown. 
     FIG. 3  illustrates the manner in which a kayak is loaded onto racks  14 , and more particularly into hull supports  18 . A kayak  16  is initially oriented approximately sideways (phantom lines), and a first side edge  16   a  on a forward part of the kayak is guided into the entry ramp portion  19   a  of a hull opening on the rear rack. The continuous surface  19  of hull support  18  allows the leading edge of the kayak hull to first slide longitudinally forward into the matching hull support on forward rack  14 , and then to smoothly slide down into trough portions  19   b . The curvature of surface  19  into and beyond trough  19   b  causes the kayak hull to rotate, such that kayak edge  16   a  is guided into engagement with the inverted radius of hull support portion  19   c  (solid lines). This locks the kayak rotationally in the racks, and to some extent longitudinally as well. To best secure the kayaks longitudinally in the racks, however, it is preferred to further use conventional straps such as adjustable straps  15  shown in  FIG. 2 , a strap being associated with each hull support and connectable to anchor points such as eyebolts  15   a . It is also possible to anchor straps to points on the trailer and lace the straps through or over the kayaks in racks  14 . 
   In a preferred form, the forward rack&#39;s hull supports  18  are provided with an anti-slip material at least on portion  19   c  of the hull support contour. Examples of suitable material include but are not limited to rubberized tape materials, grit-surfaced materials, and friction-enhancing materials such as carpet, synthetic turf, and the like. The anti-slip material may be given directional properties, for example allowing the kayak hull to rotate smoothly into its rotationally locked position in hull support  18  but frictionally resisting longitudinal motion in hull support  18 , or vice versa. The anti-slip material should be selected to grip the kayak hull without scratching it. 
     FIGS. 4 and 4A  illustrate an optional modular rack embodiment  114  in which upper racks  114   b  can be removably stacked on lower racks  114   a , depending on the number of kayaks to be transported. In the illustrated example, upper racks  114   b  are provided with pegs or posts  123   b  protruding from the lower ends of upright members  122 , pegs  123   b  designed to mate with corresponding holes or sockets  123   a  in the upper ends of the uprights  122  on lower racks  114   a . It will be understood that other mechanical connections between the upper and lower racks could be used, including but not limited to spline members, splints, clamps, interlocking joints and sleeves, and the like. 
   Referring again to  FIGS. 5 and 5A , the drop-in rack assembly  214  is shown with the additional option of one or more fixed or removable storage bins or boxes  200  fitted below horizontal rack panels  20  between longitudinal frame members  222 . Storage box  200  can be open or covered, made for example from the same wood or plastic material as racks  14 . If removably mounted in rack assembly  214 , box  200  can be sized to be dropped into and lifted out of assembly  214  ( FIG. 5A ), or to slide longitudinally underneath from either the forward or rear end of trailer  12  ( FIG. 5B ).  FIG. 5C  shows another possible box arrangement in which separate box compartments  300   a  and  300   b  are individually slidable out of rack  214  in fore and aft directions. Box compartments  300   a  and  300   b  can be open-topped or covered with a cover  300   c  built into rack assembly  214 . 
   It will accordingly be understood that the disclosed embodiments are representative of presently preferred forms of the invention, but are intended to be illustrative rather than definitive of the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the following claims.