Patent CA-2048336-A1 (CA)
Inventor: HILLMAN W GARY
IPC: B62B1/10
Filed: 1991-08-01
Abstract: ABSTRACT Until the invention of the Hillman, "CANOE CADDY", single person transport and portage of a canoe or other small boat, camp gear, or sundry items, was either prohibitively difficult or nearly if not totally impossible for the average person, as until the invention of the Hillman "CANOE CADDY", other attempts of the art left much to be desired, such as ease of assembly and disassembly, dismantled weight and bulk for back-packing toward immediate future and/or upstream portage application, non-complicated use, simplicity of design and resultantly low-cost production and resultant economic viability for the potential purchaser, while also being sufficiently strong, durable, weather resistant, and fully functional as a wheeled, boat cradling and supporting tool that bears the majority of its own weight and that of its cargo, has a towing attachment accessory, and is additionally functional as a weather canopy frame when certain of its parts are installed over a canoe or other small boat, as a canopy support frame over which a canvas canopy or plastic sheet can be placed to provide weather protection for valuables, an occupant, or both valuables and occupants, whether when fishing, hunting, birding, or in storage.   Additionally, until the invention of the Hillman "CANOE CADDY", canoeing was out of reach for all of insufficient physical health and physique to conveniently handle and literally shoulder a canoe and related gear to and from areas of use and during a difficult portage, and equally as out of reach to those who could not at leastshare the burden of such sport, whether for leisurely or more serious purpose. A tool intended mostly for the off-road transport and/or portaging of a canoe orwhatever other small water craft and/or related gear or sundry camp items, of necessity must be of light-weight, non-rusting, and non-weather vulnerable, but of sturdy and weather resistant construction, of personally accommodating and convenient-to-handle bulk, simple in design and operation, reasonably affordable, and preferably of no less than at least occasionally additional benefit for other use and purpose than that originally intended so as not to be cluttering one's storage facility those months of the year when not used for canoeing.   The Hillman "CANOE CADDY" incorporates none of the negative features associated with such devices as referred to herewith in parts A/ & B/ of the particulars section of this submission, while providing numerous additional benefits totally unavailable to other attempts of the art.   The Hillman "CANOE CADDY" invention involves the simplest of skillful design andconstruction, consisting of only a light-weight, counter-stressed, welded aluminum extrusion frame with attached wheels and load retention support straps, and convenient, combination tow-tongue and handle.  Though of simple, light-weight construction, the Hillman "CANOE CADDY" is of more than adequate design, function, and structural and weather-resistant integrity to readily support any canoe or whatever other small water craft or sundry items, while requiring no tools for assembly or disassembly, and remaining of total ease and simplicity of use. Moreover, the Hillman "CANOE CADDY" is of such design and engineering integrity as to permit manufacture and distribution costs well within the reach of all prospective users, and thus, is a financially viable product for service club purchase and distribution to recreation, vacation, scouting, disability , olympians young peoples, and other groups and associations.