Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/280,838, filed Mar. 30, 1999.  
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to an apparatus that permits an outboard motor and gas tank to be transported securely and safely on the exterior of a vehicle, including motor vehicles, motorhomes and camping trailers.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Many people with small boats, particularly collapsible boats, transport their boats and the outboard motor within the vehicle. The user may merely load the outboard motor and gas tank into the trunk of the automobile or place them on the floor inside a camper. This can cause hazardous conditions when unpleasant smelling gasoline fumes accumulate. In addition, there is a risk of damage to the motor or spills from the gasoline tank during motion of the motor vehicle, particularly during sudden starts and stops if the motor and gasoline tank are not properly secured. A further hazard is that any water that may be left inside the drive housing of the motor may flow into the working parts of the motor, such as the carburetor or cylinder, which may require that the motor be disassembled prior to the next use.  
           [0004]    There have been a number of outboard motor carriers for motor vehicles proposed for carrying the outboard motor on the exterior of the motor vehicle. Examples of such carriers are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,381,069, 4,136,803, 5,509,592, 4,625,900 and Design patents 322,423 and 363,695. Most of these carriers are designed to be attached to a trailer hitch with the exception of U.S. Pat. No. 4,625,900, which is attachable to a spare tire carrier or bumper of a motor vehicle. All of the patents describe carriers having a rigid metal support arm attached to the trailer hitch at one end and having a flat plate, preferably covered with flat wooden sheets to serve like a transom of a boat for attaching the clamps of an outboard motor. The designs all enable the outboard motor to be transported safely and securely at the exterior of a motor vehicle. While all of these carriers provide for a secure means for transporting the outboard motor, none of the carriers deal with the problems associated with the transport of the gasoline tank within the automobile.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a carrier for attachment to a motor vehicle for transporting small outboard motors and their associated gasoline tanks. The carrier comprises a generally rectangular base for releasable attachment to a motor vehicle. The base has an outboard motor support for supporting an outboard motor in a position to maintain the propeller lower than the engine casing and a gasoline tank securing means for securely transporting the gasoline tank for the outboard motor.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings, wherein:  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an outboard motor carrier of the present invention, illustrated attached to a motor vehicle;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the outboard motor carrier of FIG. 1;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of the outboard motor carrier of the present invention; and  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the outboard motor carrier of FIG. 3, shown attached to a trailer.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0011]    A first embodiment of an outboard motor carrier of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, generally indicated by the numeral  10 . This embodiment of the outboard motor carrier  10  is designed for attachment to the rear of a motor vehicle  12 , and in particular to a trailer hitch assembly  14 , as will be described further below. The outboard motor carrier  10  is provided with a means for supporting an outboard motor  16  in a generally vertical position to maintain the drive casing  18  and its associated propeller  20  lower than the engine casing  22 . The outboard motor carrier is also provided with a means for supporting the gasoline tank  24  for the outboard motor  16 , also in a generally vertical and secure position.  
         [0012]    The details of the construction of the outboard motor carrier  10  of the first embodiment are illustrated in FIG. 2. The outboard motor carrier  10  has a support arm  26  extending upwardly from the trailer hitch  14  to which is attached a rectangular metal frame  28  holding the outboard motor attachment means and gasoline tank attachment means. The support arm  26  at the lower end is provided with a means for attaching to a tralier hitch assembly. This means for attaching to the trailer hitch assembly will vary depending upon the nature of the trailer hitch assembly, in particular, the class of the trailer hitch assembly. A class  1  trailer hitch assembly has the trailer ball platform directly connected to the motor vehicle. For these types of trailer hitches, a support arm would be provided with a bolt to enable the support arm to be bolted to the trailer hitch assembly, utilizing the hole provided in the platform for the trailer ball. Class  2  and class  3  trailer hitch assemblies utilize a square socket which accepts an extension arm of a trailer ball hitch platform. For these classes of trailer hitch assemblies, the support arm  26  at the lower end is provided with an attachment arm  30 , sized to be inserted into the trailer hitch assembly  14  and attached thereto. The lower end of the support arm  26  is also preferably provided with a trailer ball hitch platform  32  having a trailer ball  34  to enable a trailer to be towed by the motor vehicle  12  even when the support arm assembly  26  is being used. When utilized with class  1  trailer hitch assemblies where the support arm  26  is attached to the hole for the typical trailer ball, a means for preventing rotation of the outboard motor carrier  10  may be provided. This means may be provided as extension plates on the sides of the support arm  26  which would lie against the edges of the trailer ball hitch platform to prevent rotation of the support arm. This would be of particular importance if the outboard motor carrier  10  is also provided with a trailer ball hitch platform  32  and trailer ball  34  to enable the trailer to be towed. The support arm  26  may also utilize part of a typical bicycle carrier rack for attachment to trailer hitch assemblies. The upper end of such a support arm  26  curves over to provide a generally horizontal extension  36  with clamps  38  for holding one or more bicycles.  
         [0013]    The rectangular frame  28  of the outboard motor carrier  10  is constructed of a tubular metal material to provide for the required strength for supporting the outboard motor  16  and gasoline tank  24 . The rectangular frame  28  of the embodiment of the outboard motor carrier  10  illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is constructed of square tubular metal welded together to provide for the rectangular frame  28 . The outboard motor carrier  10  could also be constructed of round tubular metal in place of the square tubular metal however the square tubular metal has been found to be most suitable. The tubular metal frame is preferably rectangular in shape with one end being provided with a plate  40  preferably of wood to mimic the transom of a boat to allow the outboard motor  16  to be attached thereto.  
         [0014]    The outboard motor  16  is attached to the plate  40  in a typical manner, utilizing the clamps which clamp the outboard motor  16  to a transom of a boat. In order to secure the outboard motor  16  to the plate  40  of the outboard motor carrier  10  a lock may be inserted through the holes provided in the handles of the clamps of the outboard motor  16  in the usual manner. This lock prevents the handles of the clamps from turning and thus releasing the motor from the plate  40 . By locking the handles in this manner, the handles would not be able to be turned by a person which would provide security for the motor attached to the outboard motor carrier  10 . In addition, during motion of the motor vehicle, the vibration could cause the handles to turn and the clamps to loosen, if the handles are not locked in a secure position. To provide for further security, the motor may also be provided with a secondary security attachment to the carrier, such as a wire releasably attached to the motor and to the outboard motor carrier.  
         [0015]    A second end of the rectangular frame  28  is provided with a suitable carrier  42  for carrying the gasoline tank  24 . The rectangular frame  28  has a top bar  44  and a bottom bar  46  joined together by sidebars  48 . To strengthen the frame  28  diagonal bars  50  are provided extending from the inside corners between the top bar  44  and side bars  48  to the bottom bar  46 . A crossbar  52  is located joining the two diagonal bars  50 , crossbar  52  being spaced from the top bar  44  a height sufficient to enable the lower edge of the wooden plate  40  to be attached to the crossbar  52 . The rectangular frame  28  is constructed by cutting the tubular metal pieces to the proper length and configuration and welding the frame together.  
         [0016]    The rectangular metal frame  28  of the outboard motor carrier  10  of the embodiment illustrated FIGS. 1 and 2 is adapted to be attached to the support arm  26 . The top bar  44  is provided with a first attachment means  54  centrally located on the top bar  44 . Similarly the bottom bar  46  is provided with a second attachment means  56  centrally located on the bottom bar  46 . The attachment means  54  and  56  are preferably U-shaped bar stock with the bases  58  and  60  attached to the top bar  44  or bottom bar  46  respectively and the arms  62  and  64  extending outwardly from the top bar  44  and bottom bar  46  respectively. The attachment of the attachment means  54  and  56  may be effected by bolting the means  54  and  56  to the rectangular frame  28  or they may be permanently attached by welding the bases to the frame  28 . The arms  62  and  64  of the attachment means  54  and  56  are spaced apart a distance equal to the width of the support arm  26  to which the outboard motor carrier  10  is to be attached. The arms  62  and  64  of the attachment means  54  and  56  and the support arm  26  are provided with holes  66  which overlie one another when the outboard motor carrier  10  is attached to the support arm  26 . Suitable bolts  68  are provided to pass through the holes  66  in the attachment means  54  and  56  and the support arm  26  and nuts  70  are attached to the ends of the bolts  68  to secure the outboard motor carrier  10  to the support arm  26 . Alternatively, the support arm may be permanently attached to the outboard motor carrier  10  such as by welding.  
         [0017]    The plate  40  for attaching the outboard motor  16  to the outboard motor carrier  10  is preferably located at an upper corner of the rectangular frame  28  and attached to the rectangular frame by a suitable means such as bolts  72 . The gasoline tank securing means comprises a cage, which is attached to the rectangle frame  28  of the outboard motor carrier  10 . While the embodiment of the outboard motor carrier  10  illustrated in the figures, has a plate  40  for attaching the outboard motor  16  on the upper right corner and the gasoline tank securing means on the lower left corner, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the positions of these two may be reversed. This may be easily accomplished either by providing holes at both of the upper corners for the bolts  72  for attaching the plate  40  to the outboard motor carrier  10  and holes for the attachment of the cage of the gasoline tank securing means at both of the lower corners. Alternatively, the orientation of the plate  40  and gasoline tank securing means may be varied merely by reversing the orientation of the rectangular frame  28  prior to attachment of the attachment means  54  and  56  to the rectangular frame in those cases where the attachment means  54  and  56  are attached by bolts.  
         [0018]    The cage of the gasoline securing means is preferably provided by a plurality of tubular metal members bent into U-shapes and joined to one another to form the cage. Thus, as shown in the figures two U-shaped main members  74  having a base  76  and arms  78  and  80  are joined by one or more cross members  82  also having a base  84  and arms  86 . The bases  76  of the main members  74  and base  84  of the cross member  82  are of a dimension to allow a typical gasoline tank  24  to be held within the cage of the gasoline tank securing means. The arms  78  of the main members  74  are attached to the rectangular frame  28  with the base  76  and other arm  80  extending away from the rectangular frame  28 . The cross member  82  provides for lateral support of the gasoline tank  24  contained within the cage of the gasoline tank securing means. The arms  86  of the cross member  82  and the arms  78  and  80  of the main members  74  are provided with holes  88 . The holes on the arms  78  of the main member  74  are utilized for securing the gasoline securing means to the rectangular frame  28 . The holes  88  on the arms  86  of the cross member  82  and on the shorter arms  80  of the main members are utilized for securely tying the gasoline tank  24  to the gasoline tank securing means by using bungee cords or other suitable rope. Alternatively, or in addition to this, a belt or strap may be used to strap the gasoline tank  24  to the cage. This prevents the gasoline tank  24  from moving when the motor vehicle  12  is in motion.  
         [0019]    A second embodiment of an outboard motor carrier of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 generally indicated by the numeral  100 . This embodiment of the outboard motor carrier  100  is designed to attach to a rooftop carrier  102 , which is typically found on pop-up campers. Alternatively the outboard motor carrier  100  may also be utilized in association with a rooftop carrier  102  utilized on a motor vehicle. The outboard motor carrier  100  has a rectangular frame  104  of a suitable tubular material constructed similar to the first embodiment. The rectangular frame  104  is attached to the cross supports  106  of the rooftop carrier  102  by passing U bolts  108  around the cross supports  106  of the rooftop carrier  102 , through holes  110  provided in the rectangular frame  104  and then securing the bolts  108  with suitable nuts  112 . The outboard motor carrier  100  is provided with an outboard motor securing means at one end of the rectangular frame  104  and a gasoline tank securing means at the second end of the rectangular frame  104 . The outboard motor securing means has a wooden plate  114  attached to a tubular frame  116  which is in turn secured to the rectangular frame  104  of the outboard motor carrier  100 . The outboard motor  16  is attached and secured to the plate  114  in a manner similar to the first embodiment. The tubular frame  116  of the outboard motor securing means is angled upwardly from the horizontal to maintain the drive casing  18  of the outboard motor  16  below the engine casing  22  to prevent any water which may be in the drive casing  18  of the motor  16  from being able to flow into the engine casing  22 . The tubular frame  116  of the outboard motor securing means is also provided with braces  118  between the elevated end of the tubular frame  116  and the rectangular frame  104  to prevent flexing of the outboard motor securing means when the outboard motor  16  is attached and the vehicle is in motion. The outboard motor securing means is also provided with a drive shaft housing support located on a bridging member  120  which bridges the two sides on the rectangular frame  104  to provide for further support of the rectangular frame  104 . The drive shaft housing support has a U-shaped member  122 , which surrounds the drive shaft housing and is secured to a plate  124 , attached to the bridging member  120 .  
         [0020]    The gasoline tank securing means is provided as a rectangular frame  126  of a size to accommodate the gasoline tank  24 . The rectangular frame  126  is provided with holes  128  along its periphery for attachment of suitable rope or bungee cords whereby the gasoline tank  24  may be secured to the gasoline tank securing means. In addition, a belt or strap as in the first embodiment may be used.  
         [0021]    The outboard motor carrier of the present invention provides for secure carrying and transport of not only an outboard motor but also the gasoline tank associated with the outboard motor. By carrying both the outboard motor and the gasoline tank on exterior of the vehicle the potential for harmful fumes in the interior of the motor vehicle is eliminated. In addition the outboard motor and gasoline tank no longer take up interior space and thus increase the carrying capacity of the motor vehicle. A further benefit of the outboard motor carrier of the present invention is that the outboard motor and the gasoline tank are securely transported minimizing the potential for damage to the outboard motor or the gasoline tank while the car is in motion as there is reduced likelihood of the outboard motor or the gasoline tank shifting during sudden starts or stops of the motor vehicle. The outboard motor carrier of the present invention is simple to manufacture and easy to use as it is easily attached to a trailer hitch assembly of the motor vehicle for the first embodiment or the rooftop carrier for the second embodiment. When the carrier is not in use it is easily removed from the motor vehicle and may be utilized for storing the outboard motor and gasoline tank by leaving them attached to the carrier.  
         [0022]    Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Technology Category: f