Patent US3986723A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3986723A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Removable boat wheel system
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1975-12-29
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Granted: 1976-10-19
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Expires: 1995-12-29
Abstract
Abstract Removable boat wheel system for coupling a plurality of rotatable wheel assemblies to a boat for facilitating the overland transportation thereof. Each of the wheel assemblies includes a strut having spaced first and second ends, with the first end movably coupled to either the port or starboard side of the hull of the boat. A wheel is rotatably coupled to the second end of the strut. The wheel assembly also includes a support arm having spaced first and second ends, with the first end coupled to the boat forward of the first end of the strut. The second end of the support arm is movably coupled to the strut adjacent the second end thereof in such a manner that the location of the strut may be reversed between a first and second position for facilitating the overland transportation of the boat. The first position corresponds to the wheel and the strut depending generally downward below a bottom section of the boat for transporting the boat in a cockpit-up orientation. The second position corresponds to the wheel and the strut depending in a direction opposite the first position for transporting the boat in a cockpit-down orientation. The wheel assemblies are located slightly forward of a rear transom section of the boat and slightly to the rear of the center of mass of the boat, whereby the mass of the stern section of the boat partially counterbalances the mass of the bow section of the boat.
Inventors
- 👤 Wayne W. Brockelsby
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 01:43
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63C; B63C13/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
A removable boat wheel system for coupling a plurality of rotatable wheel assemblies to a boat, each of said wheel assemblies comprising in combination: a strut having spaced first and second ends, said first end movably coupled to one of the port or starboard sides of the hull of said boat; a wheel rotatably coupled to said second end of said strut; a support arm having spaced first and second ends, said first end coupled to said boat forward of said first end of said strut; and reversing means for coupling said second end of said support arm to said strut adjacent said second end thereof for enabling said strut and said wheel attached thereto to rigidly assume a first or a second position for facilitating the overland transportation of said boat, said first position corresponding to said wheel and said strut depending generally downwardly below a bottom section of said boat for providing sufficient ground clearance when transporting said boat in a cockpit-up orientation, and said second position corresponding to said wheel and said strut depending in a direction opposite said first position for providing sufficient ground clearance when transporting said boat in a cockpit-down orientation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
A removable boat wheel system for coupling a plurality of rotatable wheel assemblies to a boat, each of said wheel assemblies comprising in combination: a strut having spaced first and second ends, said first end movably coupled to one of the port or starboard sides of the hull of said boat; a wheel rotatably coupled to said second end of said strut; a support arm having spaced first and second ends, said first end coupled to said boat forward of said first end of said strut; and reversing means for coupling said second end of said support arm to said strut adjacent said second end thereof for enabling said strut and said wheel attached thereto to rigidly assume a first or a second position for facilitating the overland transportation of said boat, said first position corresponding to said wheel and said strut depending generally downwardly below a bottom section of said boat for providing sufficient ground clearance when transporting said boat in a cockpit-up orientation, and said second position corresponding to said wheel and said strut depending in a direction opposite said first position for providing sufficient ground clearance when transporting said boat in a cockpit-down orientation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The removable boat wheel system as described in claim 1 including first pivot means coupled between said first end of said strut and one of said port or starboard sides of said hull of said boat for providing a movable coupling therebetween.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The removable boat wheel system as described in claim 2 wherein said first pivot means allows the rotation of said strut about said first end thereof in a plane generally parallel with a longitudinal axis of said boat.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
The removable boat wheel system as described in claim 2 wherein said first pivot means comprises in combination: a first sleeve for being coupled to one of said port or said starboard sides of said hull of said boat; and a first pivot shaft having one end for rotatably communicating within said first sleeve and another end thereof for coupling with said first end of said strut.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The removable boat wheel system as described in claim 4 wherein said first sleeve is mounted generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said boat.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The removable boat wheel system as described in claim 4 wherein said first pivot means further includes restraining means for restraining the longitudinal motion of said first pivot shaft within said first sleeve without restraining the rotational communication therebetween.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The removable boat wheel system as described in claim 6 wherein said restraining means comprises a removable hitch pin for communicating through bores in said first sleeve and coupling within an annular groove of said first pivot shaft therein.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
The removable boat wheel system as described in claim 2 wherein said reversing means comprises: a second pivot shaft coupled to said strut generally adjacent said second end thereof; and rotation means interposed between said second pivot shaft and said second end of said support arm for enabling rotational motion therebetween.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The removable boat wheel system as described in claim 8 wherein said second pivot shaft is generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said boat.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
The removable boat wheel system as described in claim 8 further including storage means for enabling said strut and said wheel attached thereto to rigidly assume a third position corresponding to said strut depending generally parallel with said longitudinal axis of said boat and generally forward of said first pivot means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The removable boat wheel system as described in claim 10 wherein said storage means comprises: a hook coupled to said strut for detachably engaging a gunwale section of said boat; and means for storing said support arm generally parallel with said gunwale section of said boat.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
The removable boat wheel system as described in claim 8 further including support arm restraining means interposed between said first end of said support arm and said hull of said boat for restraining the motion therebetween when said strut is in said first position or said second position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
The removable boat wheel assembly as described in claim 8 wherein said rotatable wheel assemblies are coupled to said boat in pairs, with at least one rotatable wheel assembly on said port side and at least another rotatable wheel assembly on said starboard side of said hull.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The removable boat wheel assembly as described in claim 13 wherein said paired rotatable wheel assemblies are spaced on said hull of said boat along a line perpendicular to said longitudinal axis thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
51 words
The removable boat wheel assembly as described in claim 14 wherein one pair of said rotatable wheel assemblies is slightly forward of a rear transom section thereof, whereby the weight of said stern of said boat, and any motor attached thereto, partially counterbalances the weight of the bow of the boat.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
218 words
A removable boat wheel system for coupling a plurality of rotatable wheel assemblies to a boat, each of said wheel assemblies comprising in combination: a strut having spaced first and second ends; a wheel rotatably coupled to said second end of said strut; first pivot means for coupling said first end of said strut to said boat adjacent one of the port or starboard sides of a hull of said boat at a point slightly forward of a rear transom section thereof; a support arm having spaced first and second ends, said first end removably coupled to said boat forward of said first end of said strut; and reversing means for movably coupling said second end of said support arm to said strut adjacent said second end thereof for enabling said strut and said wheel attached thereto to rigidly assume a first or second position for facilitating the overland transportation of said boat, said first position corresponding to said wheel and said strut depending generally downward below a bottom section of said boat for providing sufficient ground clearance when transporting said boat in a cockpit-up position, and said second position corresponding to said wheel and said strut depending in a direction opposite said first position for providing sufficient ground clearance when transporting said boat in a cockpit-down orientation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
218 words
A removable boat wheel system for coupling a plurality of rotatable wheel assemblies to a boat, each of said wheel assemblies comprising in combination: a strut having spaced first and second ends; a wheel rotatably coupled to said second end of said strut; first pivot means for coupling said first end of said strut to said boat adjacent one of the port or starboard sides of a hull of said boat at a point slightly forward of a rear transom section thereof; a support arm having spaced first and second ends, said first end removably coupled to said boat forward of said first end of said strut; and reversing means for movably coupling said second end of said support arm to said strut adjacent said second end thereof for enabling said strut and said wheel attached thereto to rigidly assume a first or second position for facilitating the overland transportation of said boat, said first position corresponding to said wheel and said strut depending generally downward below a bottom section of said boat for providing sufficient ground clearance when transporting said boat in a cockpit-up position, and said second position corresponding to said wheel and said strut depending in a direction opposite said first position for providing sufficient ground clearance when transporting said boat in a cockpit-down orientation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
65 words
The removable boat wheel system as described in claim 16 wherein said reversing means comprises: a reversing pivot shaft coupled to said strut adjacent to said second end thereof, said reversing pivot shaft being generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said boat; and rotation means interposed between said reversing pivot shaft and said second end of said support arm for enabling rotational motion therebetween.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
The removable boat wheel system as described in claim 17 wherein said rotatable wheel assemblies are coupled to said boat in pairs, with one of said rotatable wheel assemblies on said port side and another of said rotatable wheel assemblies on said starboard side of said hull.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
68 words
The removable boat wheel system as described in claim 18 wherein said paired wheels of said paired rotatable wheel assemblies are spaced external to said hull along a perpendicular to a longitudinal axis thereof, said perpendicular being located slightly astern of a center mass of said boat, whereby the mass of said stern section of said boat partially counterbalances the mass of a bow section of said boat.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
80 words
The removable boat wheel assembly as described in claim 18 wherein said first pivot means comprises in combination: a first sleeve for being coupled to said boat adjacent one of said port or said starboard sides of said hull, said first sleeve oriented generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said boat; and a first pivot shaft having one end for rotatably communicating within said first sleeve and another end thereof for coupling with said first end of said strut.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-10-19 | 1980-04-19 | 1980-10-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-10-19 | 1984-04-19 | 1984-10-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-10-19 | 1988-04-19 | 1988-10-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |