Patent Publication Number: US-6659032-B1

Title: Stabilizer for use on a canoe-like boat

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the general art of water vehicles, and to the particular field of accessories for water vehicles. 
     2. Discussion of the Related art 
     Many people enjoy spending their leisure time in pursuit of outdoor recreational activities. These activities include athletics, hunting, fishing, camping, hiking and boating. Many people who participate in these activities do so infrequently. This group of people may or may not have all of the equipment or expertise that they require in order to fully and safely enjoy themselves. Other enthusiasts are found with a full complement of equipment and materials needed to safely derive the greatest amount of pleasure from participation in their chosen activity. This latter group generally has taken training classes or has been coached in the activity&#39;s finer points. 
     Boating is a popular outdoor activity. By itself, boating can bring one into a close relationship with nature as a canoeist or kayaker glides nearly silently through a marsh or along a river. In combination with camping, hiking, hunting or fishing, the use of a boat can enhance outdoor experiences. The use of a boat requires that a person follow certain prescribed safety guidelines including the use of life jackets and the following of boat capacity limitations. 
     Paddling a canoe has its own set of usage guidelines as well as tho se that pertain to all types of boats. In particular, the style of some canoes makes them slightly unstable as compared to a rowboat or Jon boats or the like. This is especially true of canoes with narrow hulls such as those that might be used on a river rather than on a lake for example. 
     Therefore, it is not uncommon for even experienced canoeists to be involved in an accidental tipping of a canoe. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a stabilizer mechanism for use on a boat, and which will increase the safety of the boat, for both experienced and inexperienced boaters. 
     Many canoes or the like are carried over great distances and are assembled only when used and then disassembled after use. This assembly and disassembly may take place under difficult conditions, such as may occur in the woods or the like. The more parts that must be assembled or disassembled, the greater the likelihood that the parts can become lost or will not be properly assembled. If there are too many parts, the canoeist may simply omit part of the boat. If a safety system falls into this category, the safety system may be omitted, and the safety features associated therewith will be lost. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a safety mechanism for use on a boat which is easily assembled and disassembled. 
     Still further, if an added feature increases the cost of a boat, it may be omitted. As discussed above, if the added feature is a safety feature, there may be a temptation to omit the feature in an effort to save money. This may be especially tempting to an experienced canoeist. However, it is desirable to encourage all to take full advantage of any and all safety features that are available to a canoeist. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a stabilizer mechanism for use on a boat which is sturdy and reliable yet which is also inexpensive. 
     Since many canoeists travel on waters that can become rough at a moment&#39;s notice and without warning, it is especially desirable to have a safety feature that will prevent tipping of the boat. While an experienced canoeist may be able to right a boat under most conditions, an inexperienced canoeist may lose the boat and capsize. Again, while an experienced canoeist may be able to handle a capsized condition, an inexperienced canoeist may find himself or herself in trouble if the canoe capsizes. Even experienced canoeists may find themselves in trouble if a canoe capsizes under certain conditions. 
     Therefore, there is a specific need for a stabilizer mechanism for use on a boat which will prevent the boat from capsizing. 
     PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a main object of the present invention to provide a stabilizer mechanism for use on a boat. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a stabilizer mechanism for use on a boat which increases safety of the sport of boating. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a stabilizer mechanism for use on a boat which increases the safety of boating for both experienced and inexperienced boaters. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a stabilizer mechanism for use on a boat which inhibits capsizing of the boat. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a stabilizer mechanism for use on a boat which is easily attached to the boat, and which is also easily removed from the boat. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a stabilizer mechanism for use on a boat which is sturdy yet which is also inexpensive. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     These, and other, objects are achieved by a stabilizer for a canoe-like boat which comprises a canoe-like boat having a forward end, an aft end, a longitudinal axis extending between the forward end and the aft end of the boat, a first side connecting the forward end to the aft end, a second side connecting the forward end to the aft end, a transverse axis extending between the first side and the second side, a periphery defined by the first side of the boat and the second side of the boat and the forward end of the boat and the aft end of the boat, a top rail extending around the periphery of the boat, an outside location located outside the periphery of the boat, and an inside location located inside the periphery of the boat. A boat stabilizer system includes two stabilizer unit bodies that extend in the direction of the transverse axis of the boat when in use, a releasable joint mechanism connecting the stabilizer unit bodies together when in use, a releasable lock mechanism releasably locking each stabilizer unit body to the top rail of the boat when in use, and a float on each stabilizer unit body and located to be outside the periphery of the boat when in use. 
     The stabilizer mechanism extends outside the periphery of the boat and thus tends to lower the center of gravity of the boat making that boat more stable. The floats on the distal ends of the mechanism also tend to keep the boat from capsizing by engaging the water before the boat capsizes. The mechanism is easily set up and attached to the boat at any desired location on the boat, and is also easily knocked down. Once disassembled, the mechanism can be easily and conveniently stored. The mechanism is formed of sturdy, yet inexpensive elements so it will be inexpensive to purchase and maintain and/or replace. Thus, the mechanism will be readily available to anyone who wishes to use such a mechanism. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a canoe-like boat that has the stabilizer of the present invention attached thereto. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the stabilizer embodying the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is an elevational view of one unit of the stabilizer embodying the present invention in place on a canoe-like boat. 
     FIG. 4 is a detailed view of Detail A of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 5 is a detailed view of Detail B of FIG.  2 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
     As shown in the figures the present invention is embodied in a stabilizer  10  for a canoe-like boat  12 . The stabilizer  10  prevents the canoe  12  from capsizing by lowering the center of gravity of the boat  12  in the manner of a tightrope walker carrying a balance beam and also engages the water during a tipping motion, once that motion begins, to prevent the boat  12  from capsizing. Stabilizer  10  is used on canoe-like boat  12  which has a forward end  14 , an aft end  16 , and a longitudinal axis  18  extending between the forward end  14  and the aft end  16  of the boat  12 . A first side  20  connects the forward end  14  to the aft end  16 , a second side  22  connects the forward end  14  to the aft end  16 , and a transverse axis  24  extends between the first side  20  and the second side  22 . A periphery  26  is defined by the first side  20  of the boat  12  and the second side  22  of the boat  12  and the forward end  14  of the boat  12  and the aft end  16  of the boat  12 . A top rail  28  extends around the periphery  26  of the boat  12 , and defines an outside location  30  located outside the periphery  26  of the boat  12  and an inside location  32  located inside the periphery  26  of the boat  12 . 
     A boat stabilizer system  40  includes a first stabilizer unit  42  and a second stabilizer unit  44 . As shown in FIGS. 2,  3  and  4 , the first stabilizer unit  42  has a body  45  with a distal end  46  and a proximal end  48 . The distal end  46  of the body  45  of the first stabilizer unit  42  is located outside the periphery  26  of the boat  12  when the first stabilizer unit  42  is in use and the proximal end  48  of the body  45  of the first stabilizer unit  42  is located inside the periphery  26  of the boat  12  when the first stabilizer unit  42  is in use. Second stabilizer unit  44  has a body  50  with a distal end  52  and a proximal end  54 . Distal end  52  of the body  50  of the second stabilizer unit  44  is located outside the periphery  26  of the boat  12  when the second stabilizer unit  44  is in use and proximal end  54  of the body  50  of the second unit  44  is located inside the periphery  26  of the boat  12  when the second stabilizer unit  44  is in use. As shown, the proximal end  48  of the body  45  of the first stabilizer unit  42  is located adjacent to the proximal end  54  of the body  50  of the second stabilizer unit  44  when the first and second stabilizer units  42 ,  44  are in use. 
     A first float  60  is fixedly mounted on distal end  46  of the body  45  of the first stabilizer unit  42  and a second float  62  is fixedly mounted on distal end  52  of the body  50  of the second stabilizer unit  44 . Floats  60  and  62  can be formed of styrofoam-like material or the like or any suitable material that is highly floatable. 
     The stabilizing system  40  of the present invention is releasably attached to the boat  12  so it can be easily assembled and set up and easily disassembled. To this end, a first lock unit  70  is on body  45  of the first stabilizer unit  42  near proximal end  48  of the body  45  of the first stabilizer unit  42 , and a second lock unit  72  is on the body  50  of the second stabilizer unit  44  near proximal end  54  of the body  50  of the second stabilizer unit  44 . The lock units  70 ,  72  can be either of two forms, with one form being shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 and a second form being shown in FIG.  3 . Each lock unit of the first lock unit  70  and the second lock unit  72  includes a sleeve  76  on the body  45 ,  50  of the stabilizer unit  42 ,  44  associated therewith, a fastener  78  attaching the sleeve  76  to the body  45 ,  50  of the stabilizer unit  42 ,  44  associated therewith, a mounting element  80  attached to the sleeve  76 , and a clamp element  82  attached to the mounting element  80 . The clamp element  82  has a distal end  84  and a proximal end  86 . The distal end  84  of the clamp element  82  engages the top rail  28  of the boat  12  when the stabilizer unit  42 ,  44  associated therewith is in use. The clamp element  82  is movably attached to the mounting element  80  to move between a clamping position shown in FIG.  4  and FIG. 3 in solid lines engaging the top rail  28  and a released position spaced from the top rail  28 . 
     An over-center type lock is shown in FIG. 4 and a clamp-type lock is shown in FIG.  3 . The over-center type lock is known in the art and thus will not be discussed, and the clamp-type lock includes a threaded bore  90  defined in the sleeve  76  as well as a threaded fastener  92  mounted on a clamp plate  94 . Threaded movement of fastener  92  draws the clamp plate  94  toward the top rail  28  of the boat  12  to fix the stabilizer unit  42 ,  44  to the boat  12 , while retrograde movement of the threaded fastener  92  will release the clamp plate  94  from the top rail  28  of the boat  12 . 
     The stabilizer units  42 ,  44  are easily assembled and disassembled and once assembled are very secure. A connecting joint  100  effects this assembly and disassembly. Connecting joint  100  is shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 and includes a blind-ended bore  102  defined in body  45  of the first stabilizer unit  42 . Bore  102  extends from proximal end  48  of the body  45  of first stabilizer unit  42  toward the distal end  46  of the body  45  of the first stabilizer unit  42 . A locking hole  104  is defined through the body  45  of the first stabilizer unit  42  adjacent to blind-ended bore  102 . A projection  106  is on proximal end  54  of the body  50  of second stabilizer unit  44  and extends outwardly from the proximal end  54  of the body  50  of the second stabilizer unit  44 . Projection  106  is sized to be releasably accommodated in blind-ended bore  102  defined in the body  45  of the first stabilizer unit  42 . A spring-biased locking tube  110  is located on projection  106  of the connecting joint  100 . The spring-biased tube  110  is indicated in FIGS. 2 and 5 as located to be accommodated in locking hole  104  defined through the body  45  of the first stabilizer unit  42  when the projection  106  on the second stabilizer unit  44  is received in the blind-ended bore  102  of the first stabilizer unit  42 . The spring-biased tube  110  being larger than the locking hole  104  and being biased to be seated in the locking hole  104  when the projection  106  of the connecting joint  100  is received in the blind-ended bore  102  of the connecting joint  100 . 
     As shown in FIG. 1, when the stabilizer system  40  embodying the present invention is in use, the stabilizer system  40  extends across the boat  12  in the direction of the transverse axis  24  of the boat  12 , the lock unit  70  of the first stabilizer unit  42  releasably engages the top rail  28  of the boat  12 , the lock unit  72  of the second stabilizer unit  44  releasably engages the top rail  28  of the boat  12 , the projection  106  of the connecting joint  100  is received in the blind-ended bore  102  of the connecting joint  100 , the float  60  on the first stabilizer unit  42  is located outside the periphery  26  of the boat  12 , and the float  62  on the second stabilizer unit  44  is located outside the periphery  26  of the boat  12 . The user, sits inside the boat  12  and the stabilizer system  40  of the present invention prevents the boat  12  from capsizing as discussed above. 
     It is understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.