Abstract:
A method for housing a battery used on a light-weight, motor powered watercraft includes the step of: providing a battery case having: a pod sized to house a marine battery, the pod having a cavity for the marine battery and an open top; a lid for at least water-resistant closure of the open top of the pod, the lid having a cavity and an open bottom, the lid is releasably attachable to the pod; and a floor releasably attached to the lid adjacent the open bottom, the floor adapted to hold controls for the light-weight, motor powered watercraft.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention is directed to a battery case for a light-weight, motor powered watercraft, such as a kayak or a canoe. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Light-weight watercraft include, for example, kayaks and canoes. Kayaks and canoes are, most often, self-propelled, for example, by paddles. Some light-weight watercraft may be motorized, see for example U.S. Pat. No. 9,290,251 incorporated herein by reference. Additionally, such watercraft may become overburdened and need flotation equipment to offset the burden, see for example U.S.2016/0159445, incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0003]    When the watercraft is motorized, a battery may be needed for the motor, e.g., the battery may store the energy used by the motor. The battery may be housed (or stored or contained or carried) in a case. There is a need for a battery case that may be used with the foregoing watercraft. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    A method for housing a battery used on a light-weight, motor powered watercraft includes the step of: providing a battery case having: a pod sized to house a marine battery, the pod having a cavity for the marine battery and an open top; a lid for at least water-resistant closure of the open top of the pod, the lid having a cavity and an open bottom, the lid is releasably attachable to the pod; and a floor releasably attached to the lid adjacent the open bottom, the floor adapted to hold controls for the light-weight, motor powered watercraft. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0005]    For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form that is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is an environmental view of an embodiment of an inventive battery case mounted on a light-weight, motor powered watercraft (e.g., kayak). 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the inventive battery case (shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a view (from the bow with the seat removed) of the inventive battery case (shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a view (from the aft) of the inventive battery case (shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a view (from the aft) of the inventive battery case (shown in  FIG. 1 ) opened (or partially disassembled). 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    Referring to the drawing, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in  FIG. 1 , an inventive battery case mounted to a light-weight, motor powered watercraft. The battery case is used to house (or store or contain or carry) a battery and electronic circuitry used to power and control the motor system of the watercraft. The case may protect the battery and circuitry from water damage. The case may provide a simple and quick way to remove the battery and circuitry from the watercraft when the watercraft is not in use. 
         [0012]    In general and referring to  FIG. 1 , watercraft  10  floats on water  12 . Watercraft  10  may be, for example, a kayak or canoe. The watercraft  10  has a bow  14  and aft (or stern)  16 . 
         [0013]    A motor system  18  may be located adjacent the stern  16 . The motor system may be any motor system. The motor system may include a propulsion system, a guidance system (e.g., maneuvering controls), and/or a actuator system (for raising/lowering the motor into and out of the water while attached to the watercraft). The motor system may be an electrically powered system. One such motor system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,290,251, incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0014]    A seat  20 , with a backrest  22 , is positioned on the watercraft  10 . The seat  20  may be located anywhere on the watercraft  10 . The seat  20  may be located between the bow  14  and stern  16 . The seat  20  may be generally located amid ship of the watercraft  10 . 
         [0015]    A battery case  30  may be positioned anywhere on the watercraft  10 . Placement of the battery case  30  may be dependent upon the balance of the watercraft  10  in water  12 . In one embodiment, the battery case  30  may be located aft of (or aft and adjacent to) the seat  20 . The case  30  may be positioned, so that the operator may have access to the battery and electronics housed in the case while the watercraft is afloat. The battery case  30  is releasably secured to the watercraft  10 , as will be discussed in greater detail below. The battery case  30  is discussed in greater detail below. 
         [0016]    Optionally, a flotation device (not shown) may be used to facilitate balancing the watercraft  10 . One such flotation device is disclosed in U.S.2016/0159445, incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0017]    The battery  24  may be any battery. The battery  24  may be a marine battery. The battery  24  may be a rechargeable (or secondary) battery. The rechargeable battery may include: a lead-acid battery or a lithium battery or a nickel-cadmium (Ni—Cd) battery or a fuel cell. 
         [0018]    An embodiment of battery case  30  is shown in  FIGS. 2-5 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , the battery case  30  generally includes a pod  32 , a lid  34 , and a floor  40  releasably affixed to the lid. The battery case  30  may optionally include a partition  42 . The lid  34 , when secured to pod  32 , forms a water-resistant (e.g., not water-tight but capable of preventing significant amounts of water from entering the case (for example, preventing egress of splash or spray)) or water-tight seal (e.g., a gasket or an o-ring may be used to facilitate the water-tight seal). The case is not intended to operate while submerged. 
         [0019]    Pod  32  is generally a five sided container with an open top (an upper edge defines the perimeter of the open top) and defining a cavity. Four walls (or sides) define the verticals side of the pod with a fifth side forming the bottom of the pod. Pod  32  is generally sized to house the battery. The pod may be sized so that the battery posts are below the upper edge of the pod (note  FIG. 5 ). Additionally, the pod  32  may be sized so that the battery and any cables fit in the space between the battery posts and the open top (i.e., fit below the lid/floor discussed below). Pod  32  may include a plurality of handles  33 . In one embodiment, pod  32  has at least one pair of handles  33 . In another embodiment, the pod  32  may have at least two pairs of handles  33 . The handles may be used to place the case  30  in the watercraft  10  or remove the case  30  from the watercraft  10 . Optionally, pod  32  may include a partition  42 . Partition  42  is generally a plate used to increase or decrease the internal size of the pod (i.e., the cavity of the pod) to accommodate batteries of varying size. A plurality of grooves  44 , located on the internal surface of the pod  32  may be used to hold the partition in place. The pod  32  may be sized to fit within the tank-well of a kayak. 
         [0020]    Lid  34  is releasably affixed to (or removable from) pod  32 . Lid  34  covers (and seals) the open top of the pod  32 , so that water is prevented from contacting the battery  24 . Lid  34  is generally a five sided container with an open bottom and a lower edge defining the open bottom. Four walls (or sides) define the verticals side of the lid with a fifth side forming the top of the lid and defining a cavity. The lower edge of the lid may be formed with a ledge (which rests on the upper edge of the pod), and a lip that depends from the ledge and overlaps the upper edge of the pod. A channel  36  is located on a exterior surface of the lid  34 . The channel  36  may be used to place a securing strap  38  (see  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) for securing the case to the watercraft. The channel may be located on an upper exterior surface of the lid  34 . Lid  34  has a least one channel  36  and may include two or more channels. Lid  34  may also include handles  35 . Handles  35  mate with handles  33  of the pod. Lid  34  may include a plurality of holes. These holes allow passage of items from outside to the inside of the case  30 . For example, one hole  37 A may be for a switch (e.g., actuator switch) to raise/lower the motor system  18 , another hole  37 B may be for a charge indicator light and/or a battery charging port; another hole  37 C may be for a connector (e.g., power and control) to the motor system  18 , another hole  37 D may be for a connector to the actuator (used to raise/lower the motor system), another hole  37 E may be for a kill switch, and one hole may be a vent (preferably water-tight). All connectors attached to the case may be quick connect/release-type connectors and safe for use in wet environments. 
         [0021]    Floor  40  is releasably secured (or fastened) to the open bottom of the lid. Floor  40  may rest on the ledge formed adjacent the bottom edge of the lid. Floor  40  may be used secure the electronic circuitry (not shown) used to control the motor system  18  (and/or other electronic devices, for example, fish finder, navigation system, communications system, etc. The electronic circuitry rests on an upper surface of the floor  40  (e.g., in the cavity defined between the top of the lid and the floor). The electronic circuitry is operatively associated with the motor system and the watercraft operator via the holes  37  described above. Floor  40  may include holes  39  for connecting the battery to the circuitry via cables  46  (see  FIG. 5 ). Floor  40  may also include vent holes  47 . 
         [0022]    In operation, the battery is placed in the pod and the cables are connected between the battery and the electronics. The lid (with the floor fastened thereto) is placed on the pod (the pod is in contact with both the lid and floor at the ledge). Case  30  may be set on the watercraft  10  using handles  33 / 35 . Case  30  may then be secured to the watercraft  10  via one or more straps  38  that are anchored to watercraft  10  via, for example, braces  50 . The straps  38  may cross the case  30  front-to-back and/or side-to-side. Straps  38  may include a buckle  52 . Buckle  52  may be a quick release buckle. The connections between the case and the operator controls and the motor system, may be made before or after securing the pod to the watercraft. After use, the case may be removed from watercraft  10  by reversing the setting steps. 
         [0023]    The present invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit and the essential attributes thereof, and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicated the scope of the invention.