Abstract:
A device for lifting, supporting, transporting and unloading a kayak, comprising, engagement means for releasably and securely engaging the coaming of the kayak support means for stably supporting the engagement means and engaged kayak on an individual&#39;s shoulders and rotation means in engagement with the support means and the engagement means adapted to rotate the engagement means relative to the support means.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a device for lifting, supporting, transporting and unloading a kayak or canoe, and more particularly, relates to a device for lifting, supporting, transporting and unloading a kayak or canoe which may be temporarily attached to the kayak or canoe for assisting an individual in the lifting, supporting, transporting and unloading of the kayak or canoe on or from the individual&#39;s shoulders. 
     2. Background of the Invention 
     Moving a kayak over uneven ground from one location to another presents many difficulties. For example, prior to launching a kayak into the water, it is often necessary to move it a significant distance from a motor vehicle to the water for launching. Where only one person (referred to herein as an “individual”) is available to manipulate, lift and carry the kayak, that individual may, with some difficulty, effort and risk of injury to the individual, the kayak and the surrounding environment, lift the kayak on edge, by the coaming, and position it so that one side of the coaming rests on the individual&#39;s shoulder near the neck, placing the entire load a significant distance to one side of the spine, and thereafter transport the kayak. Such a method of carrying the load is inherently unstable, uncomfortable and poses a risk of spinal injury. This risk of injury is greatly increased during the lifting and twisting motion involved in raising the kayak to, and lowering from the shoulder position. 
     It is desirable to have a device which may be temporarily and readily attached to, and detached from a kayak or canoe, and which assists an individual in the lifting, supporting, transporting and unloading of the kayak or canoe. It is also desirable to have a device which reduces the risk of injury to the individual, the kayak, and the surrounding environment, when the kayak is being lifted, supported, transported and unloaded. It is also desirable to have a device which is light, corrosion resistant, reliable, inexpensive and easy to assemble and dismantle and which may be readily stowed in a small space (such as in the bulkhead of the kayak) prior to and subsequent to use. Additionally it is desirable to have a device which permits an individual to transport a loaded kayak (being supported by the individual by way of the device), without requiring that the individual utilize their hands during the transporting process, the individual&#39;s hands being free to carry other objects or to perform other functions as needed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a device which may be temporarily and readily attached to, and subsequently detached from a kayak or canoe, and which assists an individual in the lifting, supporting, transporting and unloading of the kayak or canoe. 
     Accordingly, another object of the present invention is to provide a device which reduces the risk of injury to the individual, the kayak, and the surrounding environment, when the kayak is being lifted, supported, transported and unloaded. 
     Accordingly, another object of the present invention is to provide a device which is light, corrosion resistant, reliable, inexpensive and easy to assemble and dismantle and which may be readily stowed in a small space prior to and subsequent to use. 
     Accordingly, another object of the present invention is to provide a device which permits an individual to transport a kayak (being supported by the individual by way of the device), without requiring that the individual utilize their hands during the transporting process, the individual&#39;s hands being free to carry other objects or to perform other functions as needed. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for lifting, supporting, transporting and unloading a kayak, comprising, engagement means for releasably and securely engaging the coaming of the kayak, support means for stably supporting the engagement means and engaged kayak on an individual&#39;s shoulders and rotation means in engagement with the support means, the engagement means adapted to rotate the engagement means relative to the support means. 
     Advantageously, the present invention provides a device which may be temporarily and readily attached to, and subsequently detached from a kayak or canoe, and which assists an individual in the lifting, supporting, transporting and unloading of the kayak or canoe. 
     A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides a device which reduces the risk of injury to the individual, the kayak, and the surrounding environment, when the kayak is being lifted, supported, transported and unloaded. 
     A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides a device which is light, corrosion resistant, reliable, inexpensive and easy to assemble and dismantle and which may be readily stowed in a small space prior to and subsequent to use. 
     A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides a device which permits an individual to transport a kayak (being supported by the individual by way of the device), without requiring that the individual utilize their hands during the transporting process, the individual&#39;s hands being free to carry other objects or to perform other functions as needed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a view of an individual supporting a kayak utilizing a device of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a view of an individual lifting or unloading a kayak utilizing a device of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a view of the device of one embodiment of the present invention installed on a kayak and being supported by an individual; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged view, partially in ghost, of a portion of the device of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view, partially in ghost, of a portion of the device of the present invention attached to the gunwale/coaming of a kayak; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view, partially in ghost, of the device of one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a rear and side view, partially in ghost, of a portion of the device of one embodiment of the present invention attached to the gunwale/coaming of a kayak. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  6 , a kayak or canoe  1  (hereinafter both a kayak and canoe are referred to herein as a “kayak” or “kayaks” unless otherwise specifically indicated) is supported above an individual  3  by the device of the present invention (generally shown as  5  in  FIG. 6 ), the device  5  preferably having a pair of clamps (generally shown as  14  and  16  in  FIG. 3 ) which may be temporarily and securely engaged with the coaming/gunwale  38  on both sides of the kayak  1  as more fully described herein. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the clamps  14  and  16  has an outer clamp support  14 , having a preferably concave-shaped outer clamp element  37  adapted to engage with an outer surface of the coaming/gunwale  38  as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 ,  5 ,  6  and  7 , the concave-shaped outer clamp element  37 , being preferably welded or otherwise securely fastened to the outer clamp support  14 , which outer clamp support  14  has a non-threaded hole  15  preferably through and along the longitudinal axis thereof and positioned upon a preferably threaded load carrying rod  10  as more fully described herein, each of the clamps also having a preferably disk-shaped inner clamp element  16  having a non-threaded hole  17  therethrough and also positioned upon the load carrying rod  10  as more fully described herein. The non-threaded hole  15  through the longitudinal axis of the outer clamp support  14  allows the outer clamp support  14  (and concave-shaped outer clamp element  37 ) to move in both directions along (as illustrated by the arrows  68  in  FIG. 4 ), and rotate in relation to (as illustrated by the arrows  66  in  FIG. 4 ) the load carrying rod  10  when positioning and fastening the outer clamp to the outer surface of the coaming/gunwale  38  as more fully described herein, and allows the outer clamp support  14  (and concave-shaped outer clamp element  37 ) to rotate in relation to the load carrying rod  10  once the coaming/gunwale  38  has been fastened in the clamps  14  and  16  as more fully described herein. Similarly, the non-threaded hole  17  through the inner clamp element  16  allows the inner clamp element  16  to move along the load carrying rod  10  (as illustrated by the arrows  72  in  FIG. 4 ) when positioning and fastening the inner clamp element  16  to the inner surface of the coaming/gunwale  38  as more fully described herein, and to rotate in relation to the load carrying rod  10  (as illustrated by the arrows  70  in  FIG. 4 ) once the coaming/gunwale  38  has been fastened in the clamps  14  and  16  as more fully described herein. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, main upright posts  34  are provided, which are preferably made of square aluminum tubing which forms the main upright post  34  (it being understood that in alternative embodiments of the present invention, alternative materials of various configurations may be utilized in a manner known to a person skilled in the art). In one embodiment of the present invention, an aluminum reinforcing plug  10 B is provided, which has been welded or otherwise securely fastened to the interior of the square aluminum tubing which forms the main upright post  34  as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , which provides additional structural strength to the main upright post  34  at the point of attachment of the load carrying rods  10  as more fully described herein. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the load carrying rods  10  is securely threadingly engaged with, or alternatively welded or otherwise securely fastened to the main upright posts  34  as illustrated in  FIG. 4  (which illustrates the threaded load carrying rod  10 , inserted into a corresponding threaded hole  10 A through the walls of the square aluminum tubing which forms the main upright post  34 , and through the reinforcing plug  10 B). 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, two shoulder mounts  22  are provided which are preferably shaped to conform or substantially conform to the shape of an individual&#39;s shoulders, each of which shoulder mounts  22  is securely and preferably disengagably (as described hereinafter) attached to a corresponding main upright post  34  as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the shoulder mounts preferably having a layer of soft rubber foam  24  or other suitable material glued or otherwise securely attached to the inner surface thereof to allow the shoulder mounts  22  to rest comfortably and securely on the individual&#39;s shoulders. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, deep horizontal cuts or ridges  33  are provided in the exposed surface of the layer of soft rubber foam  24  padding to increase grip on the individual&#39;s shoulders during use, and to reduce slippage, particularly during the lifting and unloading of the kayak (in alternative embodiments of the present invention, various different surface formations may be provided on the exposed surface of the layer of soft rubber foam  24  to increase the grip on the individual&#39;s shoulders as would be known to a person skilled in the art). 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a setback bar  8  is preferably welded or otherwise securely attached to each of the main upright posts  34 , each of the setback bars  8  having preferably welded or otherwise securely attached thereto, a balance bar adjusting sleeve  4  into which balance bar adjusting sleeves  4  a balance bar  2  may be inserted, as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 , and  7 , the inner dimensions of the balance bar adjusting sleeves  4  being slightly larger than the outer dimensions of the balance bar  2  to allow the balance bar  2  to be securely and closely fitted within and in sliding engagement with the interior sleeve walls of the balance bar adjusting sleeves  4 . In one embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  7 , gussets  88  may be provided to strengthen the joint between the setback bar  8  and the main upright posts  34  and additional gussets  78  may be provided to strengthen the joint between the setback bar  8  and the balance bar adjusting sleeve  4 . 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a screw  9  inserted in a threaded hole  9 A in each of the balance bar adjusting sleeves  4 , may be tightened to temporarily and securely position the balance bar adjusting sleeve  4  relative to the balance bar  2 , and may be loosened to allow the movement of the balance bar adjusting sleeve  4  relative to the balance bar  2  as illustrated by the arrows  74  and  76  in  FIG. 4 . In this way, the relative distance between the balance bar adjusting sleeves  4  (and correspondingly, the relative distance between the shoulder mounts  22 ) may be adjusted so that the relative distance between the shoulder mounts  22  may be adjusted to suit the individual&#39;s comfort, and, once adjusted, the screws  9  on each of the balance bar adjusting sleeves  4  may be tightened to temporarily lock into position the balance bar adjusting sleeves  4  and correspondingly, the relative position of the shoulder mounts  22 . It is understood that the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the utilization of screws  9  within threaded holes  9 A to permit or restrict the movement of the balance bar  2  relative to the balance bar adjusting sleeves  4 . In alternative embodiments of the present invention, alternative devices and mechanisms may be utilized to achieve this function as would be known to a person skilled in the art. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, an adjustable head strap  28  is provided, as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  6 , the head strap  28  being preferably made of woven nylon or other material known to a person skilled in the art, and preferably being buckled  29 , looped around or loosely attached to the main upright posts  34  as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the head strap  28  preferably having a Velcro® hook and loop fastener system  30  sewn or otherwise affixed in two suitable locations to allow for a rapid and secure but temporary engagement of an end of the head strap  28  to one another surface of the head strap  28  in a manner known to a person skilled in the art, to thereby permit a shortening or lengthening of the head strap  28  to suit the individual&#39;s physical characteristics and preferences. It is understood that alternative materials may be utilized for fabricating the head strap  28 , that alternative means for fastening the head strap to the main upright posts  34  may be utilized, and that alternative means may be used for shortening or lengthening the head strap  28  as would be known to a person skilled in the art. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the head strap  28  is adjusted so that it is gently engaged with the back of the individual&#39;s head when the kayak is in the loaded position as hereinafter described. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, to allow the device of the present invention to be quickly disassembled for storage, the shoulder mounts  22  may be removed from the device when not in use. In one such embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the shoulder mounts  22  preferably have welded or otherwise securely attached thereto, an insertion bar  23  the outer dimensions of the insertion bar  23  being slightly smaller than the internal dimensions of the square tubing which forms the main upright post  34  to allow the insertion bar  23  to readily slide inside the square tubing which forms the main upright post  34 . In this embodiment of the present invention, a permanent magnet  25  has been securely and preferably permanently positioned within the main upright post  34  as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , and a preferably a screw  27  made of steel or other magnetically attractive material has been securely inserted into a corresponding threaded hole in the end of the insertion bar  23  as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the permanent magnet positioned so that when the insertion bar  23  is fully inserted into the square tubing which forms the main upright post  34 , the screw  27  comes into contact with and magnetically engages with the permanent magnet  25 , the permanent magnet  25  being strong enough to prevent the shoulder mounts  22  from accidentally disengaging from the device  5 . 
     In operation, prior to mounting the device  5  of the present invention, the center of gravity of the kayak  1  is determined, so that when the device  5  is installed on the kayak  1  as described herein, the device  5  is positioned so that the center of gravity of the kayak  1  is between and preferably substantially midway between the balance bar  2  and the axis defined by the longitudinal axis  31  of the load carrying rods  10 . In one embodiment of the present invention, once the device  5  is properly positioned as described above, to install the device  5  onto the kayak  1 , the wingnuts  12  and  18  (which wingnuts  12  and  18  are in threaded engagement with the threaded load carrying rod  10 ) are loosened and the clamps  13  opened sufficiently to permit the positioning of the coaming/gunwale  38  between the outer clamp element  37  and the inner clamp element  16 . Once the coaming/gunwale  38  is properly positioned and aligned within the loosened clamps  13 , the wingnuts  12  and  18  are tightened relative to one another to secure the outer clamp element  37  and the inner clamp element  16  to the outer and inner surfaces of the coaming/gunwale  38  respectively. Once both of the clamps  13  have been securely fastened to the coaming/gunwale  38 , to raise the kayak into position, the individual lifts one end of the kayak off of the ground  7  (while the other end remains in contact with the ground  7 ), and thereafter rotates the kayak so that it is inverted, and thereafter positions the shoulder supports of the device of his/her shoulders. The kayak is then rotated (the rotation being shown by arrow  19 A in  FIG. 2 ) about the axis defined by the longitudinal axis  31  of the load carrying rods  10  (the outer clamp elements  37 , outer clamp supports  14 , inner clamp elements  16  and wingnuts  12  and  18  rotating with the clamped coaming/gunwale  38  about their respective load carrying rods  10 ) until the inverted kayak is in a horizontal or substantially horizontal orientation as shown in  FIG. 1  with the head strap  28  positioned securely behind the individual&#39;s head. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is understood that the outer clamp elements  37 , outer clamp supports  14 , inner clamp elements  16  and wingnuts  12  and  18  provide sufficient rotational resistance to significantly reduce the fore and aft pivoting motion of the kayak once being supported and/or transported by the individual, on the one hand, and nevertheless permit some rotational movement of the kayak so that the kayak can be rotated during the lifting and unloading process described herein. 
     When the kayak and device of the present invention has been positioned on the individual&#39;s shoulders as described herein, to thereafter rotate the kayak about a substantially vertical axis, the individual may, by rotating his/her shoulders about a substantially vertical axis, thereby rotate the shoulder mounts  22  and the kayak  1  about the substantially vertical axis, the head strap  28  being used as necessary to assist the individual in controlling the kayak during this rotation. 
     When the kayak and device of the present invention has been positioned on the individual&#39;s shoulders as described herein, to control or resist some of the kayak and device&#39;s forward rotation about the threaded load carrying rods  10  and user&#39;s shoulders respectively (and to supplement the previously described rotational resistance provided by the outer clamp elements  37 , outer clamp supports  14 , inner clamp elements  16  and wingnuts  12  and  18 ) for example, when the individual carrying the kayak with the device  5  stops quickly, or when unloading the kayak as hereinafter described, as the head strap begins to rotate forward (in response to the rotation of the kayak and the device of the present invention attached thereto) and is pressed harder against the back of the individual&#39;s head, the individual may, by using his/her neck muscles, wholly or partially resist this pressure and thereby wholly or partially resist the forward rotation of the kayak and device. 
     When unloading the kayak onto the ground, the kayak may be rotated forward (the rotation being shown by arrow  19 B in  FIG. 2 ) about the axis defined by the longitudinal axis  31  of the load carrying rods  10  (the outer clamp elements  37 , outer clamp supports  14 , inner clamp elements  16  and wingnuts  12  and  18  rotating with the clamped coaming/gunwale  38  about their respective load carrying rods  10 ), as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , and when the front of the kayak comes into contact with the ground, the individual may thereafter lift the kayak and device off of his/her shoulders, move to the rear of the kayak and thereafter lower it toward the ground, rotating the kayak to an upright position before laying the kayak on the ground. The device of the present invention may thereafter be removed from the kayak by loosening the clamps  13  (by loosening the wing nuts  12  and  18  on each of the clamps  13 ), and thereafter lifting the device away from the kayak. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the shoulder mounts  22  may be removed from the lower end of the main upright posts by gently pulling on the shoulder mounts with sufficient force to overcome the magnetic engagement of the screw to the magnet. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, to increase the simplicity and speed of the installation of the device  5  onto, and removal of the device from the kayak  1 , once the device  5  has been correctly installed on the kayak  1  as described above, thereafter, when removing the device  5  from the kayak  1 , only the outer wingnuts  12  are loosened (the inner wingnuts  18  remaining stationary) until the outer clamp elements  37  are no longer in engagement with the coaming/gunwale  38 , allowing the device  5  to be removed from the kayak  1 . On the re-installation of the device  5  onto the same kayak  1 , the inner clamp elements  16  and wingnuts  18  are already in the correct position for that kayak  1  (being pre-positioned from a previous installation, and thereafter remaining stationary during the previous removal), requiring the individual to merely correctly position the device  5  on the kayak  1 , and thereafter tighten the outer wingnuts  12  until each of the outer clamp elements  37  are fully engaged with the coaming/gunwale  38  as previously described. 
     While the present embodiment of the invention has been described with reference to some components having been manufactured from aluminum tubing, aluminum square stock and other aluminum components, it is understood that in one embodiment of the present invention, these components may be manufactured from a wide range of different materials, such as plastic, fibreglass and other materials known to a person skilled in the art, with appropriate modifications as required to perform the functions described herein. Additionally, where necessary to modify the design of the present invention to accommodate the use of alternative materials, it is understood that additional strengthening elements, such as gussets may be utilized to provide the necessary strength to achieve the desired result as would be known to a person skilled in the art. 
     The present invention has been described herein with regard to preferred embodiments. However, it will be obvious to persons skilled in the art that a number of variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as described herein.