Abstract:
A removable apparatus being configured for mounting to a hitch behind a vehicle which enables an individual to load and unload a canoe atop a vehicle. The apparatus includes a base which is adapted to rotate 360-degrees perpendicular of horizontal of the vehicle and includes a tube which is adapted to lock upright or pivot downwardly 30-degrees away from vertical of the vehicle. The apparatus includes a mechanism to position a receiving device configured to mate to a device mounted to the canoe.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims benefit from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/176,476, entitled “Individual Canoe Loader” filed on Feb. 20, 2015, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention is in the technical field of sporting goods. More particularly the field of canoe loading devices, more particularly portable canoe loading devices, more particularly individual portable canoe loading devices. 
         [0005]    Conventional canoe loading devices to assist in loading a canoe to the roof of a vehicle for transport exist as a series of pulley&#39;s and cables attached to an overhead support such as a garage ceiling, or a semi-rigid pipe with a roller atop mounted to a trailer hitch tongue. Using these devices typically requires an assistant, which is not always available, are cumbersome to use and a garage ceiling is not portable. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention is a canoe loading device that is uncomplicated, portable and safe, but more importantly, enables a single individual of average build and strength, to load and unload a canoe to a vehicles roof for transport. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a drawing rendering the entire device. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a complete frontal view of the base, the main tube, the cradle and shows the cutting and sight line for  FIG. 5-5 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a complete right side view of the base, the main tube, the cradle and shows the cutting and sight line for  FIG. 4-4 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 4-4  is a sectional view of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 5-5  is a sectional view of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the canoe mount. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the canoe mount. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a end view of the canoe mount. 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a top view of the canoe mount and shows the cutting and sight line for  FIG. 10-10 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 10-10  is a sectional view of  FIG. 9 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  is a view of the hitch mount components and shows the cutting and sight line for  FIG. 12-12 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 12-12  is a sectional view of  FIG. 11 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 13  is a side view showing canoe mount on canoe. 
           [0020]      FIG. 14  is a frontal view showing canoe mount on canoe. 
           [0021]      FIG. 15  is a view rendering showing the first phase of the process. 
           [0022]      FIG. 16  is a view rendering showing the second phase of the process. 
           [0023]      FIG. 17  is a view rendering showing the rotation and third phase of the process. 
           [0024]      FIG. 15 a    is a partial view showing the cradle angular stop as in  FIG. 15 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 16 a    is a partial view showing the cradle angular stop as in  FIG. 16 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 17 a    is a partial view showing the cradle placement as in  FIG. 17 . 
       
    
    
       [0027]      
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 REFERENCE NUMBERS IN THE DRAWINGS 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 1 
                 Angle pinch clamp 
                 7 
                 Cradle 
               
               
                 2 
                 Canoe mount 
                 8 
                 Guide pin 
               
               
                 3 
                 Mount holes 
                 9 
                 Cradle pivot pin 
               
               
                 4 
                 Guide hole 
                 10 
                 Cradle lug 
               
               
                 5 
                 Lobe knob with threaded shaft 
                 11 
                 Cradle lug hole 
               
               
                 6 
                 Cradle back plate 
                 12 
                 Tube insert 
               
               
                 13 
                 Tube hole 
                 30 
                 Tube insert 
               
               
                 14 
                 Plunger tube 
                 31 
                 Tube hole 
               
               
                 15 
                 Pin 
                 32 
                 Base rotational lock pin 
               
               
                 16 
                 Spring 
                 33 
                 Rotational lock pin hole 
               
               
                 17 
                 Plunger 
                 34 
                 Sleeve hole 
               
               
                 18 
                 Hole for pin 
                 35 
                 Sleeve 
               
               
                 19 
                 12° angle 
                 36 
                 Hitch mount 
               
               
                 20 
                 18° angle 
                 37 
                 Bevel 
               
               
                 21 
                 Tube 
                 38 
                 Hitch mount lock hole 
               
               
                 22 
                 Base 
                 39 
                 Hitch mount bolt 
               
               
                 23 
                 Tube lock pin 
                 40 
                 Threaded hole 
               
               
                 24 
                 Tube locking pin hole 
                 45 
                 Canoe 
               
               
                 25 
                 Tube insert 
                 46 
                 Canoe gunwale 
               
               
                 26 
                 Tube hole 
                 50 
                 Hitch tongue 
               
               
                 27 
                 30° angular stop 
                 55 
                 Vehicle 
               
               
                 28 
                 Tube pivot pin 
                 60 
                 Surface 
               
               
                 29 
                 Pivot hole in base 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]    Referring now to the invention in more detail, in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 11 , and  FIG. 12-12 , there is shown the hitch mount  36 . This hitch mount  36  is securely fastened to the existing trailer hitch tongue  50  with hitch mount bolt  39  threaded into hole  40 . A bevel  37  facilitates in mounting the base  22 . 
         [0029]    Referring to the invention of  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4-4 ,  FIG. 5-5 ,  FIG. 15 ,  FIG. 16 , and  FIG. 17 , there is shown the base  22 . 
         [0030]    Referring to the invention of  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4-4 ,  FIG. 5-5  there is shown the base  22  includes sleeve  35 . Also the base  22  includes base pivot hole  29 , rotational locking hole  33 , sleeve hole  34  and tube locking pin hole  24  and the base  22  vertical angular stop  27 . 
         [0031]    Referring to the invention of  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4-4 ,  FIG. 5-5 ,  FIG. 15 ,  FIG. 16  and  FIG. 17 , there is shown the tube  21 . 
         [0032]    Referring to the invention of  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 5-5 ,  FIG. 15   a,    FIG. 16   a,  it is shown the top of tube  21  has a twelve-degree angle  19  and eighteen-degree angle  20 . 
         [0033]    Referring to the invention of  FIG. 5-5 , it is shown the bottom of tube  21  has a 12-degree angle  19 . It is shown tube  21  has three thru holes, the tube hole  13 , tube hole  26 , and tube hole  31  and three tube insert  12 , tube insert  25 , and tube insert  30 . 
         [0034]    Referring to the invention of  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 5-5 ,  FIG. 15 ,  FIG. 16 ,  FIG. 17 ,  FIG. 15   a,    FIG. 16   a,  and  FIG. 17 a    it is shown that the plunger tube  14  is attached to the top end of tube  21 . 
         [0035]    Referring to the invention of  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 5-5  it is shown that pin  15  is inserted into pin hole  18  of the plunger tube  14 . 
         [0036]    Referring to the invention of  FIG. 5-5  it is shown the spring  16  is inserted into the plunger tube  14 . 
         [0037]    Referring to the invention of  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 5-5 ,  FIG. 15   a,    FIG. 16   a,    FIG. 17 a    it is shown the plunger  17  is inserted into plunger tube  14 . 
         [0038]    Referring to the invention of  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4-4 ,  FIG. 5-5 ,  FIG. 15 ,  FIG. 16 ,  FIG. 17 ,  FIG. 15   a,    FIG. 16   a,    FIG. 17 a    it is shown the round guide pin  8  and the cradle back plate  6  are attached to the cradle  7 . 
         [0039]    Referring to the invention of  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4-4 ,  FIG. 5-5 ,  FIG. 15 ,  FIG. 16 ,  FIG. 17  it is shown that the cradle lugs  10  are attached to the cradle  7 . 
         [0040]    Referring to the invention of  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4-4  it is shown that the cradle lug  10  has a cradle lug hole  11 . 
         [0041]    Referring to the invention of  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4-4 ,  FIG. 5-5 ,  FIG. 15 ,  FIG. 16 ,  FIG. 17  it is shown that tube pivot pin  28  joins the tube  21  with the base  22 . It is shown that tube lock pin  23  locks the tube  21  vertical in the base  22 . It is shown that cradle pivot pin  9  joins the cradle  7  to the tube  21 . 
         [0042]    Referring to the invention of  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 9 ,  FIG. 10-10 ,  FIG. 13 ,  FIG. 14 ,  FIG. 15 ,  FIG. 16 ,  FIG. 17  it is shown that the canoe mount  2 , has a number of equally spaced mount holes  3  used for attachment. Also shown is that the canoe mount  2  has a larger guide hole  4 . 
         [0043]    Referring to the invention of  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 13 , and  FIG. 14  it is shown that the mounting lobe knobs with shaft  5 , and angle pinch clamps  1  are incorporated with the canoe mount  2 . 
         [0044]    In further detail, still referring to the invention in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4-4 ,  FIG. 5-5 ,  FIG. 15 ,  FIG. 16 ,  FIG. 17  it is shown that with the hitch mount  36  is secured to the bitch tongue  50  with hitch mount bolt  39  with hitch mount lock hole  38  parallel to rear of vehicle. The base  22  is then lowered over the hitch mount  36 . It is shown that the base can be locked from rotation by placing base rotational lock pin  32  through sleeve rotation lock hole  33 , sleeve hole  34  and through hitch mount lock hole  38  in hitch mount  36 . It is shown that when tube  21  is joined with the base  22  through tube hole  26  and tube insert  30  with tube pivot pin  28 . This permits the tube  21 , to pivot forward until it hits 30-degree angular stop  27 . It shows that placing the tube in the vertical position, it can then be locked in place through tube locking pin hole  24  and tube insert  25  with tube lock pin  23 . 
         [0045]    Still referring to the invention in further detail in  FIG. 5-5  it is shown that the spring  16  is inserted into the plunger tube  14  resting against pin  15 . It is shown that plunger  17  is inserted into the plunger tube  14  and rests atop spring  16 . 
         [0046]    Referring to the invention in further detail in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4-4 ,  FIG. 5-5 ,  FIG. 15 ,  FIG. 16 ,  FIG. 17 ,  FIG. 15   a,    FIG. 16   a,    FIG. 17 a    it is shown that the cradle  7  is mounted to the top of tube  21  slightly compressing the plunger  17  and is held in place with cradle pivot pin  9  through cradle lug hole  11  and tube hole  13 . This allows the cradle  7  to pivot from the twelve degree stop  19  from vertical center to the eighteen degree stop  20  from vertical center. At rest the spring  16  pushes the plunger  17  against the cradle  7 , holding cradle  7  tight against twelve-degree angle stop  19 . It also shows the cradle back plate  6  which rises at a 90-degree right angle from the cradle  7 . It shows this cradle back plate  6  aligns the canoe mount  2  with the cradle  7  and holds the canoe mount  2  ridged. 
         [0047]    In further detail referring to the invention in  FIG. 9 ,  FIG. 10-10 ,  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14  it shows the canoe mount  2  fastened in the center across either the bow or stern of a canoe  45 . 
         [0048]    It shows that it is draw tight by placing the angular pinch clamps  1  over the canoe gunwale  46  and the lobe knob with threaded shafts  5  are threaded on and tightened. This places the guide hole  4  in the center. 
         [0049]    Referring to the invention of  FIG. 15 ,  FIG. 16 ,  FIG. 17 , it is shown that the vehicle  55  has on its existing trailer hitch tongue  50 , the base  22 , tube  21  and cradle  7 . It shows the canoe mount  2  securely attached to the canoe  45 . 
         [0050]    In further detail of  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 15 ,  FIG. 15   a,    FIG. 16 ,  FIG. 16   a,    FIG. 17 ,  FIG. 17 a    it shows that with the base  22  on the vehicle  55  and the tube  21  in the 30 degree position, the plunger  17  holding the cradle  7  against the 12 degree stop  19  and pin  32  in place to lock rotation. The individual then lifts the canoe  45  on the one end with the canoe mount  2  and places the guide hole  4  over the guide pin  8  then lowering it until it rests into the cradle  7  and is supported by the cradle back plate  6 . The individual then pushes the tube  21  into the vertical position, locking it in place with tube lock pin  23 . It shows the cradle  7  pivoting back towards the eighteen degree stop  20 , compressing the plunger  16 . Base rotation lock pin  32  is then removed allowing the base to rotate. The individual then simply lifts the opposite end off the surface  60  and walks it around the vehicle  55  and sets it down atop vehicle  55 . Base rotational lock pin  32  is inserted locking base  22  rotation. The canoe  45  would then be safely strapped to the vehicle. Reverse procedure to unload. 
         [0051]    The construction details of the invention as shown in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 4-4 ,  FIG. 5-5 ,  FIG. 9 ,  FIG. 10-10 ,  FIG. 11 ,  FIG. 12-12  is shown as the canoe mount  2  as wood and approx. 30 inches in length. The rest of the entire unit as steel due to the needed rigidity. The base  22  being 26 inches in length with the tube  21  at 28 inches, but is sized depending on vehicle height. The sleeve  34  is tack welded into the base. The plunger tube  14  is welded in place to the tube  21 . The three tube inserts  12 ,  30  and  35  are tack welded into position. The cradle lugs  10  and the guide pin  8  are welded in position to the cradle  7 . 
         [0052]    The primary advantage of the present invention, without limitation, is it offers the opportunity for a single individual of average size and build to safely load or unload a full sized canoe. It is completely portable, rigid, and simple to use. Further, it will work on cars, trucks or vans and can be stored easily within a trunk of a vehicle. 
         [0053]    While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed.