초록 ▼

A rack for transporting personal pontoon watercraft. The rack has an anchor member which inserts in a standard trailer hitch receptacle and a support structure to which the watercraft is attached. Pivoting embodiments also have a pivot hinge which provides for the support structure to pivot between

A rack for transporting personal pontoon watercraft. The rack has an anchor member which inserts in a standard trailer hitch receptacle and a support structure to which the watercraft is attached. Pivoting embodiments also have a pivot hinge which provides for the support structure to pivot between a down position for loading and an up position for transport, and a support brace which secures the rack in an up or transport position. The pivot hinge attaches the bottom end of the support structure to the rear end of the anchor member. The support structure includes one or more pairs of cradles into which the deck of the watercraft is slid which hold the watercraft in a vertical position for transport.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. Rack for insertion in a trailer hitch for use in transporting a personal pontoon watercraft, the watercraft having a pair of pontoons, a watercraft deck with a deck depth and a deck length and a pontoon connection structure for securing the pontoons respectively to opposing s

What is claimed is: 1. Rack for insertion in a trailer hitch for use in transporting a personal pontoon watercraft, the watercraft having a pair of pontoons, a watercraft deck with a deck depth and a deck length and a pontoon connection structure for securing the pontoons respectively to opposing sides of the watercraft deck, the trailer hitch having a trailer hitch receptacle, the rack comprising: a) anchor member having an anchor member insertion end and an anchor member rear end, the anchor member insertion end being dimensioned for insertion in the trailer hitch receptacle; b) support structure comprised of a support member and a cradle structure affixed to the support member, the support member having a support member bottom end, the support structure having a roughly horizontal load position and a roughly vertical transport position, the cradle structure having a forked left cradle comprising a left front cradle member with a left front cradle member length and a left front cradle interior surface and a left rear cradle with a left rear cradle member length and a left rear cradle interior surface, and a forked right cradle comprising a right front cradle member with a right front cradle member length and a right front cradle interior surface and a right rear cradle member with a right rear cradle member length and a right rear cradle interior surface, the left cradle having a left cradle spacing between the left front cradle interior surface and the left rear cradle interior surface and the right cradle having a right cradle spacing between the right front cradle interior surface and the right rear cradle interior surface, the left front cradle member length, the left rear cradle member length, the right front cradle member length, the right rear cradle member length, the left cradle spacing and the right cradle spacing providing for the insertion of the watercraft deck into the cradle structure with the support structure in the load position and with the watercraft in a roughly horizontal position and for the engagement of the watercraft deck between the left rear cradle interior surface and the left front cradle interior surface and between the right rear cradle interior surface and the right front cradle interior surface, and providing for the continuing engagement of the watercraft deck and maintaining the orientation of the watercraft deck and the orientation of the watercraft with respect to the support structure as the support structure is pivoted from the load position to the transport position, thereby providing for pivoting the watercraft from a roughly horizontal position to a roughly vertical position; and c) pivot hinge pivotally attaching the support member bottom end to the anchor member rear end for pivoting of the support structure between the load position and the transport position. 2. Rack as recited in claim 1 further comprising bracing means for securing the support structure in the transport position. 3. Rack as recited in claim 2 wherein the bracing means comprises a pair of support braces with opposing ends attachable to the support member and the anchor member respectively with the support structure in the transport position. 4. Rack as recited in claim 2 wherein the bracing means comprises a corner brace with top brace bracket and bottom brace bracket attachable to the support member and the anchor member respectively with the support structure in the transport position. 5. Rack as recited in claim 1 further comprising a support pedestal which is affixed to the support member, the support pedestal extending roughly vertically below the support member when the support structure is in the load position. 6. Rack as recited in claim 1 further comprising one or more retainer clips for securing the deck of a watercraft in the cradle structure. 7. Rack as recited in claim 1 wherein the anchor member further comprises secure means for securing the anchor member insertion end in the trailer hitch receptacle. 8. Rack as recited in claim 1 wherein the anchor member insertion end has hitch pin holes on opposing sides of the anchor member insertion end positioned to align with hitch pin receptacles in the trailer hitch when the insertion end is inserted in the hitch receptacle, for insertion of a hitch pin through the trailer hitch and the anchor member insertion end. 9. Rack as recited in claim 1 wherein the cradle structure comprises a left cross member, a right cross member, the left cross member and the right cross member being affixed to opposing sides of the support member and the left cross member and the right cross member having a cross member axis which is transverse to the support member and to the anchor member, the left cradle being affixed to the outside end of the left cross member and the right cradle being affixed to the outside end of the right cross member, the left cradle having a left cradle outside surface and the right cradle having a right cradle outside surface, the cradle structure having an outside surface separation between the left cradle outside surface and the right cradle outside surface which is less than the width of the deck of the watercraft. 10. Rack as recited in claim 9 wherein the left cross member and the right cross member respectively further comprise cradle adjustment means for adjusting the respective lengths of the left cross member and the right cross member. 11. Rack as recited in claim 1 wherein the rear end of the anchor member has an anchor member receptacle for insertion of an anchor member insertion end of a second rack and means for securing the second rack to the rack. 12. Rack as recited in claim 1 wherein the cradle structure further comprises cradle adjustment means for adjusting the width of the cradle structure to accommodate personal pontoon watercraft with varying deck widths. 13. Rack for insertion in a trailer hitch for use in transporting a personal pontoon watercraft, the watercraft having a pair of pontoons, a watercraft deck with a deck depth and a deck length and a pontoon connection structure for securing the pontoons respectively to opposing sides of the watercraft deck, the trailer hitch having a trailer hitch receptacle, the rack comprising: a) anchor member having an anchor member insertion end and an opposing anchor member rear end, the anchor member insertion end having a cross section dimensioned for insertion in the trailer hitch receptacle and having hitch pin holes for securing the anchor member in the trailer hitch receptacle; b) support structure having a roughly horizontal load position and a roughly vertical transport position, the support structure comprising a support member, a left cross member, a right cross member, a left cradle and a right cradle, the left cross member and the right cross member being affixed to opposing sides of the support member and the left cross member and the right cross member having a cross member axis which is transverse to the support member and to the anchor member, the left cradle being affixed to the outside end of the left cross member and the right cradle being affixed to the outside end of the right cross member, the left cradle having a left cradle outside surface and the right cradle having a right cradle outside surface, the support structure having an outside surface separation between the left cradle outside surface and the right cradle outside surface which is less than the width of the deck of the watercraft, the left cradle and the right cradle being forked, the left cradle comprising a left front cradle member with a left front cradle member length and a left front cradle interior surface and a left rear cradle with a left rear cradle member length and a left rear cradle interior surface, the right cradle comprising a right front cradle member with a right front cradle member length and a right front cradle interior surface and a right rear cradle member with a right rear cradle member length and a right rear cradle interior surface, the left cradle having a left cradle spacing between the left front cradle interior surface and the left rear cradle interior surface and the right cradle having a right cradle spacing between the right front cradle interior surface and the right rear cradle interior surface, the left front cradle member length, the left rear cradle member length, the right front cradle member length, the right rear cradle member length, the left cradle spacing and the right cradle spacing providing for the insertion of the watercraft deck in the support structure with the support structure in the load position and with the watercraft in a roughly horizontal position and for the engagement of the watercraft deck between the left rear cradle interior surface and the left front cradle interior surface and between the right rear cradle interior surface and the right front cradle interior surface, and providing for the continuing engagement of the watercraft deck and maintaining the orientation of the watercraft deck and the orientation of the watercraft with respect to the support structure as the support structure is pivoted from the load position to the transport position, thereby providing for pivoting the watercraft from a roughly horizontal position to a roughly vertical position; c) pivot hinge affixed to the support member bottom end and the anchor member rear end, the pivot hinge having a transverse axis of rotation, the support structure pivoting between the load position and the transport position; and d) bracing means for securing the rack in the transport position. 14. Rack as recited in claim 13 further comprising a support pedestal which is affixed to the support member, the support pedestal extending roughly vertically below the support member when the support structure is in the load position. 15. Rack as recited in claim 13 further comprising one or more retainer clips for securing the deck of a watercraft in the cradle structure. 16. Rack as recited in claim 13 wherein the bracing means comprises a pair of support braces with opposing ends attachable to the support member and the anchor member respectively with the support structure in the transport position. 17. Rack as recited in claim 13 wherein the bracing means comprises a corner brace with top brace bracket and bottom brace bracket attachable to the support member and the anchor member respectively with the support structure in the transport position. 18. Rack as recited in claim 13 wherein the rear end of the anchor member has an anchor member receptacle for insertion of an anchor member insertion end of a second rack and means for securing the second rack to the rack. 19. Rack as recited in claim 13 wherein the support structure further comprises cradle adjustment means for adjusting the width of the cradle structure to accommodate personal pontoon watercraft with varying deck widths. 20. Rack as recited in claim 13 wherein the left cross member and the right cross member respectively further comprise cradle adjustment means for adjusting the respective lengths of the left cross member and the right cross member. 21. Rack for use in transporting a personal pontoon watercraft, the watercraft having a pair of pontoons, a watercraft deck and a pontoon connection structure for securing the pontoons respectively to opposing sides of the deck, the trailer hitch having a trailer hitch receptacle, the rack comprising: a) anchor means for securing the rack to a trailer hitch receptacle; b) one or more support means, each support means having a load position and a transport position, each support means having one or more cradle means, each cradle means providing for receiving and engaging the watercraft deck with the watercraft in a horizontal position when the support means is in the load position and providing for the continuing engagement of the watercraft deck and maintaining the orientation of the watercraft deck and the orientation of the watercraft with respect to the support means as the support means is pivoted from the load position to the transport position, thereby providing for pivoting the watercraft from a roughly horizontal position to a roughly vertical position, each cradle means comprising a left cross member, a right cross member, a left cradle and a right cradle, the left cross member and the right cross member being affixed to opposing sides of the support member and the left cross member and the right cross member having a cross member axis which is transverse to the support member and to the anchor member, the left cradle being affixed to the outside end of the left cross member and the right cradle being affixed to the outside end of the right cross member, the left cradle having a left cradle outside surface and the right cradle having a right cradle outside surface, the cradle means having an outside surface separation between the left cradle outside surface and the right cradle outside surface which is less than the width of the deck of the watercraft; and c) one or more pivot means for connecting each support means respectively to the anchor means and for pivoting of each support means respectively between its load position and the transport position. 22. Rack as recited in claim 21 further comprising bracing means for securing the support means in the transport position. 23. Rack as recited in claim 21 further comprising a support pedestal which is affixed to each support means, the support pedestal extending roughly vertically below the support means when the support means is in the load position. 24. Rack as recited in claim 21 further comprising retainer means for securing the deck of the watercraft in a respective cradle structure. 25. Rack as recited in claim 21 wherein the anchor means includes secure means for securing the anchor means to the trailer hitch. 26. Rack as recited in claim 21 further comprising piggybacking means for attaching and securing a second rack to the rack. 27. Rack as recited in claim 21 wherein each cradle means further comprises cradle adjustment means for adjusting the width of the cradle means to accommodate personal pontoon watercraft with varying deck widths. 28. Rack as recited in claim 21 wherein each left cross member and the right cross member respectively further comprise cradle adjustment means for adjusting the respective lengths of the left cross member and the right cross member. 29. Rack for insertion in a trailer hitch for transporting one or more personal pontoon watercraft, each of the watercraft having a pair of pontoons, a watercraft deck with a deck depth and a deck length and a pontoon connection structure for securing the pontoons respectively to opposing sides of the watercraft deck, the trailer hitch having a trailer hitch receptacle, the rack comprising: a) anchor member having an anchor member insertion end and an anchor member rear end, the anchor member insertion end being dimensioned for insertion in the trailer hitch receptacle; b) support structure comprised of a support member and one or more cradle structures affixed to the support member for receiving and engaging the deck of one or more respective watercraft, the support member having a support member bottom end, the support structure having a roughly horizontal load position and a roughly vertical transport position, and each cradle structure having a forked left cradle comprising a left front cradle member with a left front cradle member length and a left front cradle interior surface and a left rear cradle with a left rear cradle member length and a left rear cradle interior surface, and a forked right cradle comprising a right front cradle member with a right front cradle member length and a right front cradle interior surface and a right rear cradle member with a right rear cradle member length and a right rear cradle interior surface, the left cradle having a left cradle spacing between the left front cradle interior surface and the left rear cradle interior surface and the right cradle having a right cradle spacing between the right front cradle interior surface and the right rear cradle interior surface, the left front cradle member length, the left rear cradle member length, the right front cradle member length, the right rear cradle member length, the left cradle spacing and the right cradle spacing providing for the insertion of the watercraft deck into the cradle structure with the support structure in the load position and with the watercraft in a roughly horizontal position and for the engagement of the watercraft deck between the left rear cradle interior surface and the left front cradle interior surface and between the right rear cradle interior surface and the right front cradle interior surface, and providing for the continuing engagement of the watercraft deck and maintaining the orientation of the watercraft deck and the orientation of the watercraft with respect to the support structure as the support structure is pivoted from the load position to the transport position, thereby providing for pivoting the watercraft from a roughly horizontal position to a roughly vertical position; and c) pivot hinge pivotally attaching the support member bottom end to the anchor member rear end, the support structure pivoting between the load position and the transport position. 30. Rack as recited in claim 29 further comprising bracing means for securing the support structure in the transport position. 31. Rack as recited in claim 29 further comprising a support pedestal which is affixed to the support member, the support pedestal extending roughly vertically below the support member when the support structure is in the load position. 32. Rack as recited in claim 29 further comprising one or more retainer clips for securing the deck of a watercraft in one or more of the cradle structures. 33. Rack as recited in claim 29 wherein the anchor member further comprises secure means for securing the anchor member insertion end in the trailer hitch receptacle. 34. Rack as recited in claim 29 wherein the anchor member insertion end has hitch pin holes on opposing sides of the anchor member insertion end positioned to align with hitch pin receptacles in the trailer hitch when the insertion end is inserted in the hitch receptacle, for insertion of a hitch pin through the trailer hitch and the anchor member insertion end. 35. Rack as recited in claim 29 wherein the bracing means comprises a pair of support braces with opposing ends attachable to the support member and the anchor member respectively with the support structure in the transport position. 36. Rack as recited in claim 29 wherein the bracing means comprises a corner brace with top brace bracket and bottom brace bracket attachable to the support member and the anchor member respectively with the support structure in the transport position. 37. Rack as recited in claim 29 wherein the rear end of the anchor member has an anchor member receptacle for insertion of an anchor member insertion end of a second rack and means for securing the second rack to the rack. 38. Rack as recited in claim 29 wherein each cradle structure comprises a left cross member, a right cross member, one or more pairs of cradles, the left cross member and the right cross member being affixed to opposing sides of the support member and the left cross member and the right cross member having a cross member axis which is transverse to the support member and to the anchor member, each left cradle being connected to the outside end of the left cross member and each right cradle being affixed to the outside end of the right cross member, the left cradle having a left cradle outside surface and the right cradle having a right cradle outside surface, the cradle structure having an outside surface separation between the left cradle outside surface and the right cradle outside surface for each pair of cradles which is less than the width of the deck of the watercraft. 39. Rack as recited in claim 38 wherein each left cross member and each right cross member respectively further comprise cradle adjustment means for adjusting the respective lengths of the left cross member and the right cross member. 40. Rack as recited in claim 29 wherein the cradle structures each further comprises cradle adjustment means for adjusting the width of each of the cradle structures to accommodate personal pontoon watercraft with varying deck widths. 41. Rack for insertion in a trailer hitch for transporting two or more personal pontoon watercraft, each of the watercraft having a pair of pontoons, a watercraft deck and a pontoon connection structure for securing the pontoons respectively to opposing sides of the watercraft deck, the trailer hitch having a trailer hitch receptacle, the rack comprising: a) anchor member having a longitudinal segment with an anchor member insertion end dimensioned for insertion in the trailer hitch receptacle, the anchor member having an anchor member rear end and having a lateral segment with a left lateral stub member extending laterally to the left and a right lateral stub member extending laterally to the right from the anchor member rear end, each of the lateral stub members having an outside end; b) a pair of support structures, a left support structure and a right support structure, each support structure comprised of a support member and a cradle structure affixed to the support member, the support member having a bottom end, the support structure having a roughly horizontal load position and a roughly vertical transport position, the cradle structure having a left cradle and right cradle, the left cradle and the right cradle providing for the insertion of the watercraft deck into the cradle structure with the support structure in the load position and with the watercraft in a roughly horizontal position and for the engagement of the watercraft deck and providing for continuing engagement of the watercraft deck in a roughly vertical position with the support structure in the transport position; and c) two pivot hinges, each pivot hinge pivotally attaching the bottom end of a respective support member to the outside end of a respective lateral stub member, each pivot hinge having a longitudinal axis of rotation, the respective support structures pivoting laterally between a load position and a transport position. 42. Rack as recited in claim 41 further comprising bracing means for securing each support structure in the transport position. 43. Rack as recited in claim 42 wherein the bracing means comprises one or more pairs of support braces. 44. Rack as recited in claim 42 wherein the bracing means comprises one or more corner braces. 45. Rack as recited in claim 41 further comprising two support pedestals, one support pedestal respectively being affixed to each support member, the support pedestal extending roughly vertically below the support member when the support structure is in the load position. 46. Rack as recited in claim 41 further comprising one or more retainer clips for securing the deck of a watercraft in each cradle structure. 47. Rack as recited in claim 41 wherein the anchor member further comprises secure means for securing the anchor member insertion end in the trailer hitch receptacle. 48. Rack as recited in claim 41 wherein the anchor member insertion end has hitch pin holes on opposing sides of the anchor member insertion end positioned to align with hitch pin receptacles in the trailer hitch when the insertion end is inserted in the hitch receptacle, for insertion of a hitch pin through the trailer hitch and the anchor member insertion end. 49. Rack as recited in claim 41 wherein the rear end of the anchor member has an anchor member receptacle for insertion of an anchor member insertion end of a second rack and means for securing the second rack to the rack. 50. Rack as recited in claim 41 wherein each cradle structure comprises a left cross member and a right cross member, the left cross member and the right cross member being affixed to opposing sides of the support member and the left cross member and the right cross member having a cross member axis which is transverse to the support member and to the anchor member, the left cradle being affixed to the outside end of the left cross member and the right cradle being affixed to the outside end of the right cross member, the left cradle having a left cradle outside surface and the right cradle having a right cradle outside surface, the cradle structure having an outside surface separation between the left cradle outside surface and the right cradle outside surface which is less than the width of the deck of the watercraft. 51. Rack as recited in claim 50 wherein the left cross member and the right cross member of each cradle structure respectively further comprise cradle adjustment means for adjusting the respective lengths of the left cross member and the right cross member. 52. Rack as recited in claim 42 wherein each cradle structure further comprises cradle adjustment means for adjusting the width of the cradle structure to accommodate personal pontoon watercraft with varying deck widths.