Kayak-stability system

Abstract

A kayak stability system that stabilizes a kayak and supports a kayaker in water such that he or she can more conveniently enter or re-enter the kayak from the water. The device includes at least one sponson attached to the kayak and retractably moveable from a stored position along an exterior surface of a hull of the kayak to a deployed position over the water to provide added buoyancy to the kayak for stabilizing the kayak and a stability arm for supporting the kayaker in the water. At least one stabilizing arm is also pivotally attached to the kayak and retractably moveable from a stored position along a surface of the hull to a deployed position over the water in spaced relation to a corresponding sponson. A combination of the deployed sponson and stabilizing arm provides support to a kayaker to allow the kayaker to more conveniently enter or re-enter the kayak from the water.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates, generally, to a kayak and, more particularly, to a system for stabilizing the kayak and supporting a kayaker in water such that he or she can more conveniently enter or re-enter the kayak from the water.[0003]2. Description of Related Art[0004]It is known in canoeing and, in particular, kayaking for a kayak moving in a body of water to tip, flip, capsize, or otherwise overturn. This, in turn, causes a corresponding kayaker to be dumped from a cockpit of the kayak into the water either via a “wet exit”—wherein the kayaker intentionally extracts himself or herself from the cockpit while he or she is submerged under the surface of the water—or otherwise. This is especially true in dangerous kayaking conditions, such as when it is extremely windy and, thus, the waters are perilously wavy. When the kayak overturns, the cockpit can become flooded. Upon being dumped, the kayaker must then rescue ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]The present invention overcomes the problems in the related art in a system that stabilizes a kayak and supports a kayaker in water such that he or she can more conveniently enter or re-enter the kayak from the water. The system includes at least one sponson attached to the kayak and retractably moveable from a stored position along a surface of a hull of the kayak to a deployed position over the water to provide added buoyancy to the kayak for stabilizing the kayak and to assist re-entry to the kayak or canoe. At least one stabilizing arm is attached to the kayak and retractably moveable from a stored position along the interior / exterior surface of the hull to a deployed position over the water in spaced relation to a corresponding sponson. A combination of the deployed sponson and stabilizing arm provides support to an upper body of the kayaker to allow the kayaker to more conveniently enter or re-enter the kayak from the water.

[0011]An advantage of the kayak-stability system of the present invention is that it adequately assists beginner, relatively weak or unfit, and / or disabled or physically challenged kayakers, such as those who are paraplegics.

[0012]Another advantage of the kayak-stability system of the present invention is that it adequately assists such a kayaker to conveniently enter or re-enter the kayak from the water.

Problems solved by technology

This is especially true in dangerous kayaking conditions, such as when it is extremely windy and, thus, the waters are perilously wavy.

When the kayak overturns, the cockpit can become flooded.

However, it is generally more difficult for kayakers who are beginners, relatively weak or unfit, and / or disabled or physically challenged to support themselves above the water surface, return to the kayak, pump out water from the cockpit, and / or re-enter the cockpit from the water.

One problem with such a device is that the kayak must be used while the device is permanently deployed onto the water.

Of course, this deployment seriously inhibits, if not prohibits, the experience of kayaking by limiting operative speed and range of motion of the kayak.

Another problem with the device is that to remove it from the water, the device must be disassembled from the kayak and either stored distant the kayak or stowed within the hull, where valuable storage compartments may already be stored with personal items, first-aid devices, and / or other kayaking implements.

This disassembly, storage or stowage, retrieval, and assembly, especially if performed continually, can be rather inconvenient, labor-intensive, and time-consuming.

In view of the above, the devices of the related art do not adequately assist beginner, relatively weak or unfit, and / or disabled or physically challenged kayakers.

More specifically, the use of the devices of the related art does not adequately assist such a kayaker to conveniently enter or re-enter the cockpit from the water.

Also, the use of the devices of the related art seriously inhibits, if not prohibits, the kayaking experience.

Furthermore, the devices of the related art can be inconvenient, labor-intensive, and time-consuming to use.

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