Patent Publication Number: US-2018037304-A1

Title: Universal Paddle Board Step and Receiver

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/370,981 of William C. Sinclair, filed Aug. 4, 2016, entitled UNIVERSAL PADDLE BOARD STEP AND RECEIVER the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, TABLE OR COMPUTER PROGRAM 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Prior Art 
     The following is a tabulation of the prior art revealed during a patent search that may be relevant: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Kind  
                   
                   
               
               
                 Patent/App. Number 
                 Code 
                 Issue/Publication Date 
                 Patentee 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 4,538,314 
                 N/A 
                 Sep. 3, 1985 
                 Baranowski 
               
               
                 4,572,330 
                 N/A 
                 Feb. 25, 1986 
                 Langevin 
               
               
                 4,768,618 
                 N/A 
                 Sep. 6, 1988 
                 Ritten 
               
               
                 5,113,782 
                 N/A 
                 May 19, 1992 
                 McCarty 
               
               
                 5,287,945 
                 N/A 
                 Feb. 22, 1994 
                 Thurlow 
               
               
                 5,515,806 
                 N/A 
                 May 14, 1996 
                 McCabe 
               
               
                 5,542,369 
                 N/A 
                 Aug. 6, 1996 
                 Ingram 
               
               
                 6,769,378 
                 B1 
                 Aug. 3, 2004 
                 Dang 
               
               
                 6,792,887 
                 B1 
                 Sep. 21, 2004 
                 Baker 
               
               
                 6,941,889 
                 B1 
                 Sep. 13, 2005 
                 McCrocklin et al. 
               
               
                 7,011,036 
                 B1 
                 Mar. 14, 2006 
                 Hill 
               
               
                 8,596,212 
                 B2 
                 Dec. 3, 2013 
                 Perkins 
               
               
                 8,932,095 
                 B1 
                 Jan. 13, 2015 
                 Hudson 
               
               
                 2001/0027740 
                 A1 
                 Oct. 11, 2001 
                 Arias 
               
               
                 2002/0083881 
                 A1 
                 Jul. 4, 2002 
                 Arias 
               
               
                 2007/0240626 
                 A1 
                 Oct. 18, 2007 
                 Baker 
               
               
                 2013/0023169 
                 A1 
                 Jan. 24, 2013 
                 Morelli etal. 
               
               
                 2013/0247812 
                 A1 
                 Sep. 26, 2013 
                 Perkins 
               
               
                 2014/0230709 
                 A1 
                 Aug. 21, 2014 
                 Reynolds, Jr. 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The present invention relates to a universal step device that enables a paddler to assist an animal onto a paddle board, stand-up paddle board (SUP) or other similar paddling device. This portable apparatus is capable of being removeably attached to nearly any model of paddle board. 
     In recent years, paddle boarding has become a very popular water sport and many paddlers enjoy the company of their animals while on the water. A paddle board is capable of supporting a fairly heavy animal but the threat of capsizing makes it both difficult and dangerous for a paddler to help a service animal or pet climb onto the board. 
     Water craft stairs and ladders are well known in the art; however, the majority of these devices are designed with the human anatomy in mind, requiring the user to grasp rails or rungs to climb aboard the vessel. These designs are not suited and are generally incompatible with the anatomy and climbing abilities of pawed quadrupedal animals such as dogs and cats. 
     While there are several inventions directed to aiding animals in boarding boats, these devices are large, heavy and cumbersome designs that require a significant support structure. The weight and size of these designs make them impractical for use on a paddle board. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention addresses the problems discussed above by offering a light weight, portable, and detachable step device that allows a paddler to assist an animal onto either side of a paddle board without compromising the stability of the craft. 
     The device is comprised of a paddle board step assembly and a paddle board receiver assembly. The receiver assembly is mounted and secured to the top face of the paddle board. The paddle board step assembly is pivotally mounted to this receiver assembly and secured with a fastener. A hinged step on the distal end of the step assembly rests below the water line, allowing an animal swimming beside the paddle board to step up as the paddler safely assists the dog onto the craft. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  provides a perspective view of the invention affixed to a paddle board. 
         FIG. 2  provides a perspective view of the paddle board receiver assembly. 
         FIG. 3  provides a perspective view of the paddle board step assembly. 
         FIG. 4A  is a top view of the receiver assembly platform and stabilizer. 
         FIG. 4B  is a side view of the receiver assembly platform and stabilizer. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded sectional view of the paddle board step assembly more clearly depicting the connector platform, riser and entry step. 
         FIG. 6A  is a top view of the receiver assembly platform and stabilizer with holes for anchoring the platform to the paddle board. 
         FIG. 6B  is a side view of the receiver assembly platform and stabilizer secured to the paddle board with anchors. 
         FIG. 7A  is a top view of the receiver assembly platform and stabilizer secured to the paddle board with hook and loop tape. 
         FIG. 7B  is a side view of the receiver assembly platform and stabilizer secured to the paddle board with hook and loop tape. 
     
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
         
           
               5  Paddle Board 
               10  Paddle Board Step Assembly 
               15  Connector Platform 
               20  Top Face of the Connector Platform 
               25  Bottom Face of the Connector Platform 
               30  Linkage Face of the Connector Platform 
               35  Riser 
               40  Linkage Face of the Riser 
               45  Tread Face of the Riser 
               50  Entry Step 
               55  Top Face of the Entry Step 
               60  Bottom Face of the Entry Step 
               65  Hinge 
               70  Connector Platform Pivot Point 
               75  Paddle Board Receiver Pivot Point 
               80  Pivot Point Fastener 
               85  Paddle Board Receiver Assembly 
               90  Receiver Assembly Platform 
               95  Top Face of the Receiver Assembly Platform 
               100  Bottom Face of the Receiver Assembly Platform 
               105  Stabilizer 
               110  Engagement Face of Stabilizer 
               115  Top Face of Stabilizer 
               120  Paddle Board Connection Points 
               125  Strapping 
               130  Drainage Holes 
               135  Non-Slip Material 
               140  Anchor Points 
               145  Anchor(s) 
               150  Frictional Anchoring Means 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is comprised of a paddle board step assembly  10  and a paddle board receiver assembly  85 . See  FIGS. 1 through 3 . Referring now to  FIGS. 2, 4A and 4B , the paddle board receiver assembly  85  is comprised of a receiver assembly platform  90  and stabilizer  105 . The receiver assembly platform  90  has a top face  95 , bottom face  100 , and an optional paddle board receiver pivot point  75 . The stabilizer  105  has an engagement face  110  and top face  115 . Because the stabilizer  105  and receiver assembly platform  90  may be manufactured separately or as one piece, the top face  115  of the stabilizer  105  either extends from or is mechanically affixed to the bottom face  100  of the receiver assembly platform  90  as shown in  FIG. 4B . 
     Both the bottom face  100  of the receiver assembly platform  90  and the engagement face  110  of the stabilizer  105  are placed on the paddle board  5  such that one or both surfaces are frictionally engaged with the board as shown in  FIG. 2 . The paddle board receiver assembly  85  may be mounted on any size or shape of paddle board through a mechanical or frictional means. For the purpose of this application, wire, cables, flexible chains, cords, and filaments will be generally referred to as “straps” or “strapping.” 
     In one embodiment, the paddle board receiver assembly  85  is affixed to the paddle board  5  using a durable, water-resistant cordage material such as fiberglass strapping  125 . Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , this strapping  125  is threaded through one or more paddle board connection points  120  and tightened around the circumference of the paddle board  5 . This type of strapping provides excellent frictional engagement and permits the paddle board receiver assembly  85  to be easily and quickly attached or detached from the desired boarding area of the paddle board  5  without damaging or modifying the paddle board.  FIGS. 6A and 6B  show another embodiment offering a more permanent connection means using one or more mechanical fasteners.  FIGS. 7A and 7B  illustrate yet another embodiment using a frictional fastening means such hook and loop tape. Other means may be used to secure the receiver assembly  85  to the paddle board  5  including but not limited to glue, bolts, tie downs, screws or locking mechanisms. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the paddle board step assembly  10  is comprised of a connector platform  15 , a riser  35  and an entry step  50  having a top face  55  and a bottom face  60 . The connector platform  15  further comprising a top face  20 , a bottom face  25 , a linkage face  30  and an optional connector platform pivot point  70 . The riser  35  further having a linkage face  40  and a tread face  45 . Because the entry step  50  and riser  35  may be manufactured separately or as one piece, the tread face  45  of the riser  35  either extends from or is mechanically affixed to the top face  55  of the entry step  50  as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     The riser  35 , entry step  50  and receiver assembly platform  90  form the stair that assists the animal onto the paddle board  5 . See  FIG. 1 . It should be noted that more than one step may be used by adding additional risers  35  and entry steps  50 . The linkage face  40  of the riser  35  may be hingedly connected to the linkage face  30  of the connector platform  15 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , allowing the step to flex slightly as the animal climbs aboard. This hinge attachment also enables the paddler to fold the step onto the paddle board  5  to decrease water resistance when not in use. In the preferred embodiment, a knuckle style hinge is used to connect the riser  35  to the connector platform  15  as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 and 5 . This style of hinge is fairly closed, thereby minimizing the chance of pinching the animal during the boarding process. Those skilled in the art may use alternate forms of hinges to connect these components. 
     Looking once again at  FIGS. 1 and 4A , the paddle board step assembly  10  may be pivotally connected to the paddle board receiver assembly  85 . In the preferred embodiment, the connector platform pivot point  70  on the connector platform  15  is placed in alignment with the paddle board receiver pivot point  75  on the receiver assembly platform  90  and secured with a pivot point fastener  80  in such a way that the paddler can rotate or pivot the step system as needed to accommodate the boarding animal. The paddle board receiver platform  90  geometry is such that it extends beyond the paddle board to support the connector platform  15 . It should be noted that the paddle board step assembly may alternatively be affixed to the paddle board receiver platform at two or more connection points using any one of a number of mechanical fastening means. 
     As noted above, the universal paddle board step and receiver should preferably be made of one or more materials that are substantially rigid, capable of withstanding repeated water exposure, and of sufficient strength to support the anticipated weight of the animal using the device. In addition, the paddle board step assembly  10  should be made to the appropriate scale to comfortably accommodate the size of the animal using this device. Fasteners and hinge hardware should preferably be made of corrosion proof or corrosion resistant materials of appropriate strength and durability. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the universal paddle board step and receiver may be made with additional features not discussed above. One such feature includes drainage holes  130  extending through the top face  55  and bottom face  60  of the entry step  50 , allowing water to flow through the holes thereby lessening the drag. In another embodiment the top face  55  of the entry step  50  is fitted with non-slip material  135  providing the animal with additional traction as it boards the step. 
     While the above description contains many specifics, these should be considered exemplifications of one or more embodiments rather than limitations on the scope of the invention. As previously discussed, many variations are possible and the scope of the invention should not be restricted by the examples illustrated herein.