Abstract:
A floatation device adapted to convert between a boat-like system and floats for an all-terrain vehicle (hereinafter referred to as ATV). Two pontoons are slidably attached to each other using tubular telescopic motion therebetween so as to allow widening the distance between said pontoons when so desired. Yet an extendable towing tongue is provided, having hitch attaching means there-attached wherein the tongue could be tucked within the pontoon frame when the floatation device is used as a boat-like system. A wheel attachment is adaptable to the cross members in order to pull the device as a trailer.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a floatation device adapted to convert between a boat-like system and floats for an all-terrain vehicle (hereinafter referred to as ATV). Two pontoons are slidably attached to each other using tubular telescopic motion therebetween so as to allow widening the distance between said pontoons when so desired. Yet an extendable towing tongue is provided, having hitch attaching means there-attached wherein the tongue could be tucked within the pontoon frame when the floatation device is used as a boat-like system. A wheel attachment is adaptable to the cross members in order to pull the device as a trailer.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     More and more, ATVs are becoming a common part of the sportsman&#39;s outfit. These serve a variety of useful functions that will likely increase their popularity in the near future. However, ATVs are limited when faced with a large body of water; they simply do not float.  
         [0003]     Prior art has introduced many versions of amphibious vehicle, some quite cleaver! Unfortunately, these amphibious vehicles are usually heavier, larger and inadaptable to tighter, smaller environments.  
         [0004]     The applicant of the present invention sought to make available to those desiring the best of both vehicles, a floatation device adapted to be towed behind and ATV or the like. By doing so, the floatation device of the present invention can serve as a cargo trailer, a fishing pontoon boat floats—on, which an ATV may be adapted to attach thereto—. Furthermore, once a sportsman is at his/her destination, the ATV can be utilized as an ATV, not interdependent with the floatation device thereby allowing the desired freedom sought by such sportsmen.  
         [0005]     While attempts have been made to provide sportsmen with ATV floats—which while being useful, is non-obtrusive, adaptable to virtually all ATVs, can serve as a pontoon boat, a cargo trailer, ATV floats, and can even help stabilize an ATV in soft terrain situations—none of the prior art combines all these benefits in one system.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     It is thus the object of the present invention to provide sportsmen with a combination; pontoon boat, cargo trailer, ATV floats, and an ATV stabilizer.  
         [0007]     In one aspect of the invention, the molded resin pontoon design may be fabricated of any equally suitable material.  
         [0008]     In another aspect of the invention, the attachment means of the floatation device to an ATV may vary from that depicted in the present disclosure.  
         [0009]     Accordingly, the system of the present invention provides sportsmen with a combination; pontoon boat, cargo trailer, ATV floats, and an ATV stabilizer that is unobtrusive and provides the desired freedom of all feature uses.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     These and other advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon referring to the drawings in which:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view from the front of the all-terrain vehicle floats of the present invention in the ATV float arrangement.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view from the rear of the all-terrain vehicle floats of the present invention in a trailer arrangement.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the all-terrain vehicle floats of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIGS. 4 &amp; 5  are both cross-sectional views taken from  FIG. 3  of a pontoon of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a partial right side elevation view of the all-terrain vehicle floats of the present invention as shown in a trailer arrangement.  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a right side elevation view of the frame portion of the all-terrain vehicle floats of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is a top plan view of the all-terrain vehicle floats of the present invention in a trailer arrangement.  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the all-terrain vehicle floats of the present invention in a float arrangement.  
         [0019]      FIG. 10  is a side elevation view of the all-terrain vehicle floats of the present invention as adapted to an ATV in a float arrangement.  
         [0020]      FIG. 11  is a front perspective view from above of the all-terrain vehicle floats of the present invention as adapted to pontoon boat arrangement.  
     
    
       [0021]     While the invention will be described in conjunction with illustrated embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to such embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0022]     In the following description, similar features in the drawings have been given similar reference numerals.  
         [0023]     Turning to the drawings, in particular,  FIG. 1 , illustrating a front perspective view of the ATV floats as adapted to an ATV in a float arrangement wherein, a pair of pontoons  2  attached to a common frame work, which said framework and pontoons  2  are also attached to an ATV  6  by means of tensile straps  4  wrapped over a structural member at the front and rear of an ATV  6 .  
         [0024]     Turning to  FIG. 2 , which illustrates a rear perspective view of the ATV floatation device in a trailer arrangement wherein cross tubes  10  of a fixed length protrude a pair of watertight tunnel  11  each traversing a pontoon  2  when said pontoons  2  are in a collapsed position. Wheel frame members  20  are fixedly and releasably secured to said cross tubes  10  wherein a pair of wheels  25  are rotationally attached to an axle member  26  of the wheel frame member  20  so as to raise the ATV floatation device above the ground surface thus allowing towing of the whole assembly. Seat mounts  30  are fixedly attached to the central region of the framework and adapted to each receive therein, a seat  41  having a downwardly protruding stem. Additionally, angled fishing rod holders  35  are also fixedly attached to the central region of the framework near the seat mounts  30 . Lastly, a motor mount  45  is provided at the rear portion of the framework so as to allow the mounting of a small outboard motor.  
         [0025]     Turning now to  FIG. 3 , a right side elevation view of a pontoon of the ATV floatation device of the present invention illustrating the arrangement of a pair of watertight tunnels  11  traversing the hollow body of each pontoon  2 . The pontoon&#39;s  2  side portion is slightly recessed to accommodate bolt-on flange plates  16 , which provide the attachment means for said watertight tunnels  11 . Two eyebolts  13 , also slightly recessed within the pontoon&#39;s  2  side portion, are provided to allow attaching means of a tensile strap thereto.  
         [0026]     Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , both cross-sectional views taken from  FIG. 3  of a pontoon  2  of the present invention wherein it can be seen that the pontoons  2  are hollow and have a flattened recessed portion at both sides to better fit flanged tubular inserts thus forming a tunnel  11  through said pontoon  2 . An inner flanged tube  18  has a total length, including both end flanges, equal to that of the inner dimension between said flattened recessed side portions. Two outer equally flanged plates  16  have a central opening generally equal to the opening within the inner flanged tubes  18 . The pontoons  2  are bored to have an opening in alignment with both the inner flanged tube  18  and the outer flanged plates  16 . Additionally, the pontoons  2 , the inner flanged tube  18  and the outer flanged plates  16  have a plurality of perforations around the central openings of same to accept an equal number of fasteners therethrough in order to tightly assemble the pontoons  2 , the inner flanged tube  18  and the outer flanged plates  16  together so as to form a watertight seal between the pontoon&#39;s  2  inner body volume and ambient air.  
         [0027]     Again from  FIGS. 4 &amp; 5 , it can be seen how a cross member  10  traverses the tunnel formed by the above assembly. Said cross member  10 , has an outside diameter only slightly lesser than that of the tunnel&#39;s inner diameter so as to enable longitudinal motion between the cross member  10  and the tunnel.  
         [0028]     In  FIG. 4 , the illustration depicts the arrangement of the above in a state where the pontoons  2  would be in a collapsed position such as when in a trailer arrangement. The cross member  10  protrudes outwardly thus enabling sufficient material to releasably attach a later mentioned wheel frame member. A bore  17  is provided through and near each end of the cross member  10  so as to allow fastening the wheel frame member to said cross member  10 . Longitudinal motion between the cross member  10  and the tunnel  11  is thereby disabled when a cotter pin  15  is inserted through both a bore  14  in the cross member  10  and the outer flange plate  16  proximal to the center of the floatation device.  
         [0029]     In  FIG. 5 , similar to  FIG. 4  but the pontoon  2  is displaced along cross member  10  thereby separating both pontoons  2  so as to widen the stance as a whole. Two sets of perforations  14  are bored through the cross member  10  to allow the insertion of the cotter pin  15  therethrough and through the outer flange plate  16  proximal to the center of the floatation device. Therefore, the extremities of the cross members  10  are concealed within the tunnel  11  and a seal between the pontoon&#39;s  2  inner body volume and ambient air is maintained.  
         [0030]     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a partial right side elevation view of the ATV floatation device of the present invention in a trailer arrangement wherein, a wheel frame member  20  is depicted having a rear seat  50 , a front seat  51 , a curved strut  52 , a support strut  53 , and an axle flange  54 . The assembly comprises two sets of a curved strut  52 , a support strut  53 , and an axle flange  54  both of which are fixedly and perpendicularly attached to each end portion of both the rear seat  50 , and the front seat  51 . A wheel axle traverses the axle flange  54  and a wheel  25 . The assembly thereby mounts quickly to the cross members  10  by first placing the front seat  51  over the front cross member then placing the rear seat  50  under the rear cross member. The wheel  25  center, being behind the rear cross member  10  thereby exerts upward force behind the rear cross member thus the front seat  51  exerting a downward force onto the front cross member. Cotter pins again retain this positioning securedly yet releasably.  
         [0031]     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , illustrating a sectional view taken from  FIG. 8  of the framework to which all components rely on. The tongue generally comprises an inner tube  38  and an outer tube  39  slidably engaged to each other, the inner tube  38  adapted with a hitch adapter  37 . A cotter pin  44  provides a locking member to disable said sliding motion.  
         [0032]     A motor mount  45  having an extension member  46  is fixedly attached to the top-rear portion of the outer tube  39 . Seat mounts  30  and fishing rod holders  35  are also fixedly attached to the top central portion of the outer tube  39 .  
         [0033]     Cross members  10  are secured to the framework by frictionally engaging within a pair of bar retainers  40  wherein the framework rests atop the cross member  10 , and the bar retainers  40  fixedly attached to the lower surface of the outer tube  39  and spaced equally to the space between the cross members  10  thereby preventing the framework and cross members  10  from separating.  
         [0034]     Turning to  FIG. 8 , a top plan view of the ATV floatation device of the present invention in a trailer arrangement wherein the arrangement can be better seen illustrating the pontoons  2  closer together, and the cross members  10  extending outwardly from said pontoons  2  thus providing attaching means of the wheel frame members  20 . It can also be seen that the framework having seat mounts  30 , fishing rod holders  35  and a motor mount  45  fit comfortably in a narrow space between the pontoons  2 . The tongue is shown recessed into the outer tube  39  and held in place with a cotter pin  44 . In a trailer arrangement, one would simply remove said cotter pin  44 , pull out the inner tube  38  until a secondary bore in the inner tube  38  aligns with the bore of the outer tube  39 , and re-insert the cotter pin  44  through the tube assembly. Pontoon access ports  23  are provided in each pontoon  2 . these ports  23  serve two major functions; one, to give access to the inside of the pontoons  2  for assembly of the through-tunnels, and two, as a storage compartment wherein a ringed bag is inserted at the opening, which is then covered with a lid.  
         [0035]     Referring now to  FIG. 9  illustrating a top plan view of the ATV floatation device of the present invention in a float arrangement wherein when the pontoons  2  are separated as shown, one can simply drive the ATV between the pontoons  2  and over the cross members  10  until the cross members  10  are generally centrally placed under the ATV. Now the pontoons are ready to be lifted and strapped to the ATV using the eyebolts  13  provided at each inner end of the pontoons  2 . As the cross members  10  connect with the ATV&#39;s belly area, and the tensile straps are tightened, the floats are then secured firmly with the ATV.  
         [0036]     Turning now to  FIG. 10 , one can see that once the pontoons are mounted as described in  FIG. 9  using the tensile straps  4 , the ATV wheels  26  protrude downwardly below the pontoons  2 . This allows the user to ride the ATV on both the ground and water bodies. Furthermore, on water, the treads  27  of the ATV wheels  26  serve as a propulsion system for the floating ATV. Accordingly, one can also mount a small outboard motor to the ATV&#39;s rear cargo rack for added propulsion.  
         [0037]     Finally, in referring to  FIG. 11 , a front perspective view from above of the all-terrain vehicle float device of the present invention in a pontoon boat arrangement wherein, the pontoons  2 , slidably engaged with cross members  10  are spaced apart to the extent of the cross members  10  and fixed in place with a cotter pin  44  at each extremity of both cross members  10 . Said cross members  10  are frictionally engaged with bar retainers  40  further depicted in  FIG. 7 , thus preventing the separation of the framework and the cross members  10 . A tensile strap  4 , secured to the front inner eyebolts on the pontoons  2  is wrapped around the first seat stem  30  so as to ensure the cross members  10  do not disengage front the bar retainers  40 .  
         [0038]     Therefore, the pontoon structure fitted with seats  41  in the seat stems  30 , and a small outboard motor  43  onto the motor mount  45 , along with other features of the present invention, can provide a very useful, and versatile watercraft for the user.