Boat stabilizing device that comprises foam sticks

Abstract

The present invention discloses a boat stabilizing device that comprises foam sticks. The device comprises a pair of stabilizers and a connecting tube. Each stabilizer comprises: one or more foam sticks, one or more casing tubes, tube caps, and a bracket. The casing tubes are sleeved outside the foam sticks. The tube caps are sleeved on the two ends of foam sticks and / or the casing tubes. The bracket connects the foam sticks, casing tubes and tube caps, and the bracket connects to the boat. This device obtains buoyancy by means of foam sticks, so it is durable and has a high safety factor. The wearing parts included in this device can be easily replaced. The device may be conveniently used on variety of applicable boats.

Description

FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of aquatic recreational sports articles and aquatic transportation articles, in particular to a boat stabilizing device that comprises foam sticks.BACKGROUND

[0002] The known stabilizers for small boat mainly come in two types: Inflatable stabilizers and solid stabilizers. Inflatable stabilizers use air-filled pontoons for buoyancy, and solid stabilizers utilize floatable hard material, such as high-density polyethylene. The inflatable stabilizers are susceptible to puncture. Some of the solid stabilizers may not be conveniently mounted on the boat or dismounted from the boat. Most of the known stabilizers have a common disadvantage: When the components of the stabilizers, especially the main body for obtaining buoyancy, are damaged by external forces such as puncturing and cutting, they may not be easily replaced or repaired.ADVANTAGES AND SUMMARY

[0003] To solve the above problems, the technical solution of the present invention provides a boat stabilizing device that comprises foam sticks. The device has a high safety factor. The wearing parts of this device are easily replaced. This device is convenient to operate, and be used on variety of applicable boats.

[0004] This boat stabilizing device obtains buoyancy by means of a plurality of foam sticks; thus, the stabilizers included in the boat stabilizing device will not lose buoyancy easily due to damage by external forces such as cutting and pricking when they are used in water, so this device has a high safety factor.

[0005] The wearing parts included in the boat stabilizing device, such as foam sticks, casing tubes and tube caps, can be disassembled and assembled easily, so that they can be replaced or repaired conveniently.

[0006] Each outrigger tube assembly of the stabilizer included in the boat stabilizing device is provided with an opening and a mounting part, which, working with the connecting tube included in the device, enables mounting the device to a variety of applicable boats conveniently and quickly.

[0007] According to the first aspect embodiment of the technical solution of this invention, provided is a boat stabilizing device that comprises foam sticks. The boat stabilizing device comprises a pair of outrigger-type stabilizers used at two sides of a boat, and a connecting tube. Each stabilizer comprises: one or more foam sticks (10), one or more casing tubes (12), tube caps (20f and 20r), and a bracket.

[0008] For each stabilizer, at least one foam stick (10) is provided, and the casing tube (12) is sleeved outside the foam stick; the tube caps (20f and 20r) are sleeved on the foam stick and / or two ends of the casing tube.

[0009] Each bracket comprises a longitudinal tube assembly and an outrigger tube assembly. The longitudinal tube assembly connects the foam sticks, the casing tubes and the tube caps; the outrigger tube assembly connects to the boat; and the longitudinal tube assembly and outrigger tube assembly are connected with each other.

[0010] In the above solution, one end of each of the tube caps is an open end with a diameter adapted to an end of each foam stick and / or casing tube, and the other end is a closed end.

[0011] In the above solution, the longitudinal tube assembly comprises a longitudinal tube (30L or 30R), and it may comprises a front cross tube (32Lf or 32Rf) and a rear cross tube (32Lr or 32Rr). The front cross tube and rear cross tube are connected with the tube caps.

[0012] In the above solution, the outrigger tube assembly comprises an outrigger tube (36L or 36R), and it may comprises a mounting part, such as a vertical mounting tube (40L or 40R), or a mounting plate (41). The outrigger assembly may be connected to the boat with the mounting part.

[0013] In the above solution, the boat stabilizing device further includes a connecting tube (50) for connecting the outrigger tubes (36L and 36R) on both sides.

[0014] In the above solution, the longitudinal tube assembly is arranged along a lengthwise direction of the foam stick, with two ends thereof being connected to the tube caps; the outrigger tube assembly comprises a outrigger tube which is arranged along a widthwise direction of the foam stick, and a mounting part connected to the boat body.

[0015] In the above solution, the tube cap (20f or 20r) is provided with a mounting bracket of tube cap (22f or 22r) having a through-hole in mounting bracket of tube cap (24). Both ends of the longitudinal assembly are arranged with through holes. Two ends of the longitudinal assembly are connected and fixed to the mounting brackets of tube caps with bolt sets.

[0016] In the above solution, the mounting part of the outrigger assembly is a vertical mounting tube (40L or 40R) arranged in a vertical direction.

[0017] In the above solution, the mounting part of the outrigger assembly is a mounting plate (41).

[0018] In the above solution, an end of the outrigger tube has an opening. Each of the two ends of the connecting tube is inserted into the end opening of an outrigger tube respectively.

[0019] In the above solution, the connecting tube is a tubular component, or the connecting tube is formed by multiple separate tubes combined together..BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0020] To explain embodiments of the present invention or technical solutions in the prior art more clearly, a brief introduction will be made to the accompanying drawings required in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Apparently, the accompanying drawings in the following description only illustrate some embodiments of the present invention. Those having ordinary skills in the art can obtain other drawings on the basis of the structures shown in those accompanying drawings without expending any creative labor.

[0021] FIG. 1 is an overall schematic view of the boat stabilizing device;

[0022] FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded view of the boat stabilizing device;

[0023] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an assembly and connection method of the tube cap and the cross tube of the bracket;

[0024] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of another assembly and connection method of the tube cap and the cross tube of the bracket;

[0025] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an assembly and connection method of the tube cap and the longitudinal tube of the bracket;

[0026] FIG. 6 is a schematic horizontal view of the tail end of the boat stabilizing device when the boat stabilizing device is assembled on a type of boat;

[0027] FIG. 7 is a schematic horizontal view of the tail end of the boat stabilizing device when the boat stabilizing device is assembled on another type of boat;

[0028] FIG. 8 is an alternative embodiment of the bracket of the boat stabilizing device;

[0029] FIG. 9 is an alternative embodiment of the connector of the outrigger tube;

[0030] FIG. 10 is an alternative embodiment of the connecting tube.REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0031] 10 - foam stick;

[0032] 12 - casing tube for foam stick;

[0033] 20f - casing tube for foam stick; 20r - front tube cap;

[0034] 24 - through-hole in mounting bracket of tube cap

[0035] 25 - bolt set; 25s - bolt; 25sb - bolt nut

[0036] 30L - longitudinal tube of left bracket; 30R - longitudinal tube of right bracket

[0037] 30H - through-hole at the end of longitudinal tube

[0038] 32Lf - front cross tube of left bracket; 32Lr - rear cross tube of left bracket

[0039] 32Rf - front cross tube of right bracket; 32Lr - rear cross tube of left bracket

[0040] 35 - through-hole of cross tube

[0041] 36L - left outrigger tube; 36R - right outrigger tube

[0042] 36L2 - left outrigger tube

[0043] 37 - through-hole of outrigger tube

[0044] 37s - fastening bolt

[0045] 38 - end opening of outrigger tube

[0046] 40L - left vertical mounting tube; 40R - right vertical mounting tube

[0047] 41 - mounting plate

[0048] 45 - through-hole of vertical tube

[0049] 45s - fastening bolt in through-hole of vertical tube

[0050] 50 - connecting tube

[0051] 50a - a part of combined connecting tube; 50b - a part of combined connecting tube

[0052] 53 - through-slot of connecting tube

[0053] 53s - knob bolt

[0054] 56 - mounting base plate

[0055] 57 - through-hole of connecting tube

[0056] 60L - outer vertical tube on the left side of the boat

[0057] 60R - outer vertical tube on the right side of the boat

[0058] 70 - bolt clamp

[0059] 80A - boat with outer vertical tubes

[0060] 80B - boat suitable for mounting the mounting base plate.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0061] The technical scheme and application method in the embodiments of the present invention will be described below clearly and completely with reference to the accompanying drawings. Apparently, the embodiments described herein are only some embodiments of the present invention rather than all possible embodiments of the present invention. Those having ordinary skills in the art can obtain other embodiments on the basis of the embodiments described herein without expending any creative labor; however, all such embodiments shall be deemed as falling in the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0062] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention provides a boat stabilizing device comprising a plurality of foam sticks. The device comprises a pair of outrigger-type stabilizers which are mounted and used on left and right sides of a boat respectively, and a connecting tube connecting the left and right stabilizers, and related mounting accessories. Each of the stabilizers used on the left and right sides of the boat includes the following components: one or more cylindrical foam sticks (10) for obtaining buoyancy, casing tubes (12) sleeved on respective foam sticks, tube caps (20f, 20r) sleeved on two ends of each foam stick and each casing tube, and a bracket that is used for mounting and fixing the foam sticks, the casing tubes and the tube caps, and can be connected to the boat. The plurality of cylindrical foam sticks (10) included in the boat stabilizing device may be non-perforated solid cylindrical light-weight foam sticks. The foam sticks may be light-weight EPE foam sticks made of a raw material containing polyethylene through foaming and extrusion molding processes, or may be non-absorbent light-weight EVA foam sticks made of a raw material containing ethylene and vinyl acetate through foaming and extrusion molding processes, or may be made of other suitable materials. According to the buoyancy requirement or other use requirements, the boat stabilizing device may include various foam sticks with appropriate length and cross-sectional diameter. For example, the length of each foam stick included in a boat stabilizing device applied for a single-person kayak may be between 30 cm and 150 cm, and the cross-sectional diameter of each foam stick may be between 8 cm and 15 cm. Each of the stabilizers used on the left and right sides of the boat may include one or more foam sticks. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the stabilizers on the left and right sides of the boat stabilizing device includes two foam sticks. Each foam stick is sleeved with a casing tube (12) that is arranged with the same length as or similar length to the foam stick and with a smooth surface for protecting the foam stick and reducing the friction resistance of a part of the stabilizer that contacts with water when the stabilizer travels in water. The inner diameter of the casing tube may be equal to or slightly greater than the diameter of the foam stick. The foam stick may be inserted into the casing tube when the foam stick cools down and shrinks, so that the casing tube can tightly wrap the foam stick and minimize the clearance between the inner wall of the casing tube and the foam stick, thereby the impact resistance of the foam stick and the casing tube is improved and possible water accumulation in the tube can be prevented or reduced. Preferably, the casing tube may be a plastic tube-shaped part made of various suitable materials through an extrusion molding process, such as a PC tube containing polycarbonate, a PET tube containing polyester resin, or a PVC tube containing polyvinyl chloride, etc. Alternatively, the casing tube may be any other suitable tube, such as a carbon fiber tube or a glass fiber tube. The above-mentioned casing tubes may be commonly manufactured or obtained in the trade.The two ends of each foam stick and associated casing tube are sleeved with tube caps (20f, 20r). The tube cap is a tubular sleeve with one end open and the other end closed, and the closed end may be a tapered tip. The tube cap is provided with a mounting bracket (22f or 22r) which is integrated with the main body of the tube cap, and the mounting bracket is provided with through-hole. The tube caps sleeved on the two ends of the foam stick and the casing tube may be two identical objects. The inner diameter of the tubular part at the open end of the tube cap is equal to or slightly greater than the outer diameter of the casing tube sleeved outside the foam stick. When the two tube caps are sleeved on the front and rear ends of a foam stick and the casing tube, the front and rear tube caps may be respectively mounted to the bracket of the stabilizer by means of bolt sets, so that a foam stick sleeved with the casing tube and the tube caps at the two ends are fixed together to the bracket of the stabilizer. Preferably, when the front and rear tube caps are sleeved on the two ends of the foam stick and the casing tube, a suitable sealant may be applied on the inner wall of the tube cap and on the casing tube where they contact with each other, so that the tube caps can be more firmly fixed at the two ends of the foam stick and the casing tube, and water infiltration into the casing tube can be prevented during use. Preferably, the tube caps may be manufactured through an injection molding process. The materials used for manufacturing the tube caps may include, but are not limited to, various suitable plastic materials or synthetic materials containing plastics.

[0063] The pair of stabilizers included in the boat stabilizing device includes a pair of outrigger-type brackets. The components, functions and use of the stabilizer bracket will be described below, by taking the left stabilizer bracket as an example. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the left bracket comprises an outrigger tube (36L) and a longitudinal tube (30L), and may include a front cross tube (32Lf) and a rear cross tube (32Lr) connected at two ends of the longitudinal tube. The outrigger tube and the longitudinal tube may be connected together by means of welding to form an integrated structure, or they may be two separate tubes with through-holes, which may be assembled and connected together by bolt sets. The front cross tube and the rear cross tube may be two separate tubes, and they may be connected to two ends of the longitudinal tube by welding or locking with bolt sets. Alternatively, the front cross tube and the rear cross tube may be directly formed by bending the two ends of the longitudinal tube. The front cross tube and the rear cross tube are provided with through-holes (35) respectively. Bolts are inserted through the through-holes (24) of the tube caps (20f, 20r) sleeved on the two ends of the foam stick and the casing tube and the through-holes (35) of the front cross tube and the rear cross tube, so that the front and rear tube caps can be respectively mounted and fixed to the front and rear cross tubes on the left side. Thus, one or more foam sticks sleeved with casing tubes are mounted and fixed to the left stabilizer bracket together with the tube caps at the two ends. In the case that the left stabilizer includes only one foam stick sleeved with a casing tube, the left bracket may not include the front cross tube and the rear cross tube. As shown in FIG. 5, the tube caps sleeved on the two ends of the foam stick and the casing tube may be directly mounted and fixed to the two ends of the longitudinal tube (30L). The end of the outrigger tube of the left bracket has an opening (38), which can be used together with the connecting tube to mount and fix the left stabilizer to an applicable boat. The left outrigger tube may be provided with a mounting component at the end; for example, a vertical mounting tube (40L) may be provided at the end of the left outrigger tube for mounting the left stabilizer to an applicable boat. The vertical mounting tube is provided with one or more through-holes (45) for inserting bolt sets there-through to lock to the parts on the boat. The outrigger tube is provided with a plurality of through-holes (37) for inserting bolt sets there-through, so as to lock the outrigger tube (36L) with the connecting tube (50).The right bracket includes the same components as the left bracket in symmetry, i.e., an outrigger tube (36R) and a longitudinal tube (30R), and may include a front cross tube (32Rf) and a rear cross tube (32Rr) connected at the two ends of the longitudinal tube. The right outrigger tube is provided with an opening (38) at the end, and may be provided with a mounting component at the end, such as a right vertical mounting tube (40R). With the same structural scheme and assembly method as the components of the above-mentioned left bracket, the foam stick, casing tube and tube caps included in the right stabilizer can be assembled and fixed to the right stabilizer bracket.

[0064] The connecting tube (50) included in the boat stabilizing device is a tubular part that is horizontally mounted above the two sides of the boat when in use. The two ends of the connecting tube are provided with two through-slots (53) and a plurality of through-holes (57) symmetrically. The connecting tube may be made with a variety of lengths and sizes to adapt to boats of different sizes. The connecting tube is provided with mounting accessories, such as a pair of mounting base plates (56) with screw holes and threaded holes (58) and a pair of knob bolts (53s). The user can mount and fix the connecting tube to the two sides of an applicable boat by means of the associated mounting accessories, and then mount and fix the outrigger tubes (36L, 36R) of left and right stabilizers on the connecting tube (50), so that the left and right stabilizers can be mounted to the boat.

[0065] Preferably, the stabilizer bracket and the connecting tube may be made of various suitable metal materials or synthetic metal materials, wherein all components of the stabilizer bracket may be connected together by welding or locking with bolt sets. Alternatively, the stabilizer bracket and the connecting tube may be made of other suitable materials, such as carbon fiber tubes, or glass fiber tubes, etc.

[0066] Preferably, the mounting base plate (56) may be made of a suitable metal material through a forging process, a stamping process or a die casting process, and a drilling process. Alternatively, it may be made of suitable plastic materials or other synthetic materials through an injection molding process.

[0067] As mentioned above, each foam stick and its casing tube are assembled to the bracket via the tube caps sleeved on their two ends. The inner diameter of the tubular part at the open end of the tube cap is equal to or slightly greater than the outer diameter of the casing tube sleeved outside the foam stick. When the front and rear tube caps are sleeved on the two ends of a foam stick and a casing tube and moved toward the middle of the foam stick till they can't be moved further, the two ends of the foam stick and the casing tube are deeply embedded in the two tube caps at the two ends, and the tube caps at the two ends tightly wrap the two ends of the foam stick and the casing tube. Thus, when the tube caps at the two ends are assembled and fixed to the bracket of the stabilizer, the foam stick and the casing tube are also fixed in position and can't be moved forward or backward or moved left or right. In that way, each foam stick sleeved with a casing tube and the tube caps at the two ends are assembled and fixed to the stabilizer bracket. The tube caps can be assembled and connected to the stabilizer bracket in the following ways.

[0068] FIGS. 3 and 4 show a first way of assembling and connecting the tube caps to the stabilizer bracket, i.e., the tube caps can be assembled to the front cross tube or the rear cross tube of the stabilizer bracket by locking with bolt sets. Here, the rear cross tube (32Lr) and the rear tube cap (20r) of the left bracket shown in the figures are taken as an example. When the rear cross tube of the bracket is clamped into the clearance between the main body of the tube cap and the mounting bracket (22r) of the tube cap, the through-hole (35) of the rear cross tube is aligned to the through-hole (24) of the mounting bracket of the tube cap. The rear cross tube and the tube cap can be assembled and fixed together by inserting a bolt through the through-hole of the rear cross tube and the through-hole of the mounting bracket of the tube cap at the same time and fastening the bolt with a nut. The fasteners used in FIG. 3 are a set of bolt and nut. After the bolt (25s) is inserted through the through-hole (24) of the mounting bracket of the tube cap and the through-hole (35) of the rear cross tube, it is screwed into the nut (25sb) below the rear cross tube to achieve locking. The fastener used in FIG. 4 is a threaded bolt (25s) without nut. Here, the through-hole (35) of the rear cross tube is a threaded hole with threads. After the bolt is inserted through the through-hole (24) of the mounting bracket of the tube cap, it is directly threaded into the threaded through-hole (35) of the rear cross tube to achieve locking.

[0069] FIG. 5 shows a second way of assembling and connecting the tube caps to the stabilizer bracket, i.e., when the stabilizer on a side includes only one foam stick with a casing tube, the stabilizer bracket may not include the front cross tube and the rear cross tube. The front and rear tube caps may be assembled to the front and rear ends of the longitudinal tube of the stabilizer bracket by locking with bolt sets. Taking the rear end of the longitudinal tube (30L) of the left bracket and the rear tube cap (20r) shown in the figure as an example, when the flattened and deformed end of the longitudinal tube is clamped into the clearance between the main body of the tube cap and the mounting bracket (22r) of the tube cap, the through-hole (30H) at the end of the longitudinal tube is aligned to the through-hole (24) of the mounting bracket of the tube cap; after the bolt (25s) is inserted through the through-hole (24) of the mounting bracket of the tube cap and the through-hole (30H) at the end of the longitudinal tube, it is threaded into the nut (25sb) below the longitudinal tube to achieve locking. In the case that the through-hole (30H) at the end of the longitudinal tube is a threaded hole with threads, the longitudinal tube may be locked with a threaded bolt without nut, i.e., after the threaded bolt (25s) is inserted through the through-hole (24) of the mounting bracket of the tube cap, it is directly threaded into the threaded through-hole (30H) at the end of the longitudinal tube to achieve locking.

[0070] The boat stabilizing device can be mounted and used on different types of boats.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 6, the boat stabilizing device may be mounted and used on a boat with outer vertical tubes on two sides, such as a boat comprising foam sticks as described in U.S. Patent Application No. 63 / 623853, or a skin-on-frame boat comprising foam sticks as described in U.S. Patent Application No. 63 / 623855. The two sides of the boat body (80A) shown in the figure are provided with outer vertical tubes (60L and 60R). These outer vertical tubes are respectively provided with one or more through-holes for inserting bolts there-through for locking. The upper end of the outer vertical tube may be further provided with a notch, which facilitate the usage of a bolt clamp for locking, after a vertical tube of a smaller size is inserted into the outer vertical tube. The inner diameter of the outer vertical tubes (60L, 60R) on the two sides of the boat body may be slightly greater than or equal to the outer diameter of the vertical mounting tubes (40L, 40R) for the stabilizers included in the stabilization system of the boat. Preferably, the user may mount the left and right boat stabilizers together with the connecting tube (50) to the boat body. Before mounting the assembled left and right stabilizers to the boat body, the user may insert the two ends of the connecting tube (50) into the openings at the ends of the outrigger tubes of the left and right stabilizer brackets respectively and lock them with bolt sets (37s) first. Based on the associated design and manufacturing, when the left and right stabilizer brackets are connected with the connecting tube (50), the center distance between the two vertical tubes (40L, 40R) of the left and right brackets is equal to the center distance between the two outer vertical tubes (60L, 60R) on the two sides of the boat body. The user may insert the vertical mounting tubes for the two brackets of the left and right stabilizers into the two outer vertical tubes of the boat body respectively, i.e., insert the left vertical mounting tube (40L) into the left outer vertical tube (60L) of the boat body, and insert the right vertical mounting tube (40R) into the right outer vertical tube (60R) of the boat body, and then use one or more bolt sets (45s) and insert the bolts through the through-holes of the outer vertical tubes and the through-holes (45) of the vertical mounting tubes for the stabilizers on the two sides respectively for locking. In addition, bolt clamps (70) may be applied at the top ends of the outer vertical tubes on the boat body to further fasten the outer vertical tubes and the vertical mounting tubes for the stabilizers on the boat body. In that way, the boat stabilizing device is mounted on a boat with outer vertical tubes on the two sides of the boat body.

[0072] Alternatively, instead of using the connecting tube included in the boat stabilizing device, the user may directly insert the vertical mounting tubes (40L, 40R) of the brackets of the left and right stabilizers into the outer vertical tubes (60L, 60R) on the left and right sides of the boat body, and then use one or more bolt sets (45s) and insert the bolts to pass through the through-holes of the outer vertical tubes and the through-holes (45) of the vertical mounting tubes for the stabilizers on the two sides for locking. In addition, bolt clamps (70) may be applied at the top ends of the outer vertical tubes on the boat body to further fasten the outer vertical tubes and the vertical mounting tubes for the stabilizers on the boat body. In that way, the boat stabilizing device is mounted on a boat with outer vertical tubes on the two sides of the boat body, without using the connecting tube included in the boat stabilizing device.

[0073] As shown in FIG. 7, the boat stabilizing device may be mounted and used on a boat that has two sides or edges suitable for mounting and fixing mounting base plates (56), such as a single-person kayak, a canoe, or any other suitable boat. These boats may be made of various plastic materials, metal materials, wooden materials, various synthetic materials, or other suitable materials. A pair of mounting base plates (56) included in the boat stabilizing device can be mounted at appropriate positions on upward sides of the boat on the two sides or edges, and the material at the appropriate positions is suitable for receiving and holding screws or bolts. The user may mount the boat stabilizing device to such a boat through the following steps: First, the two mounting base plates (56) are respectively mounted and fixed to upward sides of the boat on the two sides or edges with screws in a way that the two mounting base plates are in symmetrical and aligned positions. Then, two knob bolts (53s) are respectively inserted through the through-slots (53) at the two ends of the connecting tube (50) and threaded into the threaded holes (58) of the mounting base plates (56) mounted at the left and right edges of the boat and locked there, so that the connecting tube (50) is transversely mounted and fixed to the boat. The portions of the connecting tube with through-holes at the two ends are located outside the sides of the boat. Next, the left and right ends of the connecting tube are respectively inserted into the openings (38) of the outrigger tubes (36L, 36R) of the left and right brackets, and one or more bolt sets (37s) are respectively inserted through the through-holes (37) of the support rods on the two sides and the through-hole (57) of the connecting tube for locking, thereby the left and right boat stabilizers are mounted to the connecting tube. In that way, the boat stabilizing device is mounted to such a boat as described above.

[0074] For boats with T-shaped groove rails mounted on the two sides, the connecting tube can be directly mounted to the T-shaped groove tracks on the two sides of the boat by means of T-bolt set, and then the stabilizers on the two sides can be mounted to the connecting tube in the same way as that described above, thereby the boat stabilizing device is mounted to such a boat.

[0075] For boats that are not provided with outer vertical tubes and are not suitable for mounting the mounting base plates (56) by screw drilling, such as inflatable boats or other types of boats, the user may mount and fix the connecting tube to the boat body with straps first, and then mount the stabilizers on the left and right sides to the connecting tube in the same way as that described above, thereby the boat stabilizing device is mounted to such a boat.

[0076] Some components included in the boat stabilizing device may be used separately. That is to say, the user may choose to mount and use either of the left and right boat stabilizers included in the boat stabilizing device.ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0077] The embodiments described herein are only some preferred embodiments of the present invention rather than all possible embodiments of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should recognize that the above-mentioned embodiments are only intended to illustrate and explain the present invention, but are not intended to limit the present invention. Various modifications, alternations, equivalent substitutions or improvements to the above-mentioned embodiments will fall within the scope of the claims of the present invention, as long as they are within the true spirit of the present invention. Now, some alternative embodiments within the scope of the claims of the present invention are enumerated as follows:

[0078] 1. The foam sticks of the boat stabilizing device may have a cross section in a polygonal shape respectively, besides the above-mentioned preferred cylindrical shape; for example, the foam sticks may be with a square, rectangular, triangular, or hexagonal cross section respectively. Besides, the casing tubes sleeved on the foam sticks and the tube caps at the two ends may be in appropriate shapes corresponding to the foam sticks.

[0079] 2. The left and right stabilizers included in the boat stabilizing device may include a plurality of outrigger tubes respectively, rather than one outrigger tube as in the above embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, the left stabilizer bracket includes two outrigger tubes. The stabilizer brackets on the two sides may further include a plurality of longitudinal tubes respectively.

[0080] 3. The ends of the outrigger tubes of the left and right stabilizers included in the boat stabilizing device may be further provided with perforated plate connectors, such as the perforated mounting plates (41) on brackets shown in FIG. 9, besides tubular connecting components such as the vertical mounting tubes (40L, 40R).

[0081] 4. The connecting tube included in the boat stabilizing device may be formed by a plurality of tubes, rather than one tubular component (e.g., the connecting tube 50) as in the above embodiment. For example, the connecting tube shown in FIG. 10 may be formed by two tubes (50a and 50b). These separate tubes may be assembled together by means of various connecting fittings and the total length of the assembled connecting tube can be adjusted. The connecting fittings may include in-tube spring locks with beads, bolt sets, threaded connectors, clips, and clamps with quick release, etc.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0061]The technical scheme and application method in the embodiments of the present invention will be described below clearly and completely with reference to the accompanying drawings. Apparently, the embodiments described herein are only some embodiments of the present invention rather than all possible embodiments of the present invention. Those having ordinary skills in the art can obtain other embodiments on the basis of the embodiments described herein without expending any creative labor; however, all such embodiments shall be deemed as falling in the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0062]As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention provides a boat stabilizing device comprising a plurality of foam sticks. The device comprises a pair of outrigger-type stabilizers which are mounted and used on left and right sides of a boat respectively, and a connecting tube connecting the left and right stabilizers, and related mounting accessories. Each of the stabilizers us...

FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of aquatic recreational sports articles and aquatic transportation articles, in particular to a boat stabilizing device that comprises foam sticks.BACKGROUND

[0002] The known stabilizers for small boat mainly come in two types: Inflatable stabilizers and solid stabilizers. Inflatable stabilizers use air-filled pontoons for buoyancy, and solid stabilizers utilize floatable hard material, such as high-density polyethylene. The inflatable stabilizers are susceptible to puncture. Some of the solid stabilizers may not be conveniently mounted on the boat or dismounted from the boat. Most of the known stabilizers have a common disadvantage: When the components of the stabilizers, especially the main body for obtaining buoyancy, are damaged by external forces such as puncturing and cutting, they may not be easily replaced or repaired.ADVANTAGES AND SUMMARY

[0003] To solve the above problems, the technical solution of the present invention provides a boat stabilizing device that comprises foam sticks. The device has a high safety factor. The wearing parts of this device are easily replaced. This device is convenient to operate, and be used on variety of applicable boats.

[0004] This boat stabilizing device obtains buoyancy by means of a plurality of foam sticks; thus, the stabilizers included in the boat stabilizing device will not lose buoyancy easily due to damage by external forces such as cutting and pricking when they are used in water, so this device has a high safety factor.

[0005] The wearing parts included in the boat stabilizing device, such as foam sticks, casing tubes and tube caps, can be disassembled and assembled easily, so that they can be replaced or repaired conveniently.

[0006] Each outrigger tube assembly of the stabilizer included in the boat stabilizing device is provided with an opening and a mounting part, which, working with the connecting tube included in the device, enables mounting the device to a variety of applicable boats conveniently and quickly.

[0007] According to the first aspect embodiment of the technical solution of this invention, provided is a boat stabilizing device that comprises foam sticks. The boat stabilizing device comprises a pair of outrigger-type stabilizers used at two sides of a boat, and a connecting tube. Each stabilizer comprises: one or more foam sticks (10), one or more casing tubes (12), tube caps (20f and 20r), and a bracket.

[0008] For each stabilizer, at least one foam stick (10) is provided, and the casing tube (12) is sleeved outside the foam stick; the tube caps (20f and 20r) are sleeved on the foam stick and / or two ends of the casing tube.

[0009] Each bracket comprises a longitudinal tube assembly and an outrigger tube assembly. The longitudinal tube assembly connects the foam sticks, the casing tubes and the tube caps; the outrigger tube assembly connects to the boat; and the longitudinal tube assembly and outrigger tube assembly are connected with each other.

[0010] In the above solution, one end of each of the tube caps is an open end with a diameter adapted to an end of each foam stick and / or casing tube, and the other end is a closed end.

[0011] In the above solution, the longitudinal tube assembly comprises a longitudinal tube (30L or 30R), and it may comprises a front cross tube (32Lf or 32Rf) and a rear cross tube (32Lr or 32Rr). The front cross tube and rear cross tube are connected with the tube caps.

[0012] In the above solution, the outrigger tube assembly comprises an outrigger tube (36L or 36R), and it may comprises a mounting part, such as a vertical mounting tube (40L or 40R), or a mounting plate (41). The outrigger assembly may be connected to the boat with the mounting part.

[0013] In the above solution, the boat stabilizing device further includes a connecting tube (50) for connecting the outrigger tubes (36L and 36R) on both sides.

[0014] In the above solution, the longitudinal tube assembly is arranged along a lengthwise direction of the foam stick, with two ends thereof being connected to the tube caps; the outrigger tube assembly comprises a outrigger tube which is arranged along a widthwise direction of the foam stick, and a mounting part connected to the boat body.

[0015] In the above solution, the tube cap (20f or 20r) is provided with a mounting bracket of tube cap (22f or 22r) having a through-hole in mounting bracket of tube cap (24). Both ends of the longitudinal assembly are arranged with through holes. Two ends of the longitudinal assembly are connected and fixed to the mounting brackets of tube caps with bolt sets.

[0016] In the above solution, the mounting part of the outrigger assembly is a vertical mounting tube (40L or 40R) arranged in a vertical direction.

[0017] In the above solution, the mounting part of the outrigger assembly is a mounting plate (41).

[0018] In the above solution, an end of the outrigger tube has an opening. Each of the two ends of the connecting tube is inserted into the end opening of an outrigger tube respectively.

[0019] In the above solution, the connecting tube is a tubular component, or the connecting tube is formed by multiple separate tubes combined together..BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0020] To explain embodiments of the present invention or technical solutions in the prior art more clearly, a brief introduction will be made to the accompanying drawings required in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Apparently, the accompanying drawings in the following description only illustrate some embodiments of the present invention. Those having ordinary skills in the art can obtain other drawings on the basis of the structures shown in those accompanying drawings without expending any creative labor.

[0021] FIG. 1 is an overall schematic view of the boat stabilizing device;

[0022] FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded view of the boat stabilizing device;

[0023] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an assembly and connection method of the tube cap and the cross tube of the bracket;

[0024] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of another assembly and connection method of the tube cap and the cross tube of the bracket;

[0025] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an assembly and connection method of the tube cap and the longitudinal tube of the bracket;

[0026] FIG. 6 is a schematic horizontal view of the tail end of the boat stabilizing device when the boat stabilizing device is assembled on a type of boat;

[0027] FIG. 7 is a schematic horizontal view of the tail end of the boat stabilizing device when the boat stabilizing device is assembled on another type of boat;

[0028] FIG. 8 is an alternative embodiment of the bracket of the boat stabilizing device;

[0029] FIG. 9 is an alternative embodiment of the connector of the outrigger tube;

[0030] FIG. 10 is an alternative embodiment of the connecting tube.REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0031] 10 - foam stick;

[0032] 12 - casing tube for foam stick;

[0033] 20f - casing tube for foam stick; 20r - front tube cap;

[0034] 24 - through-hole in mounting bracket of tube cap

[0035] 25 - bolt set; 25s - bolt; 25sb - bolt nut

[0036] 30L - longitudinal tube of left bracket; 30R - longitudinal tube of right bracket

[0037] 30H - through-hole at the end of longitudinal tube

[0038] 32Lf - front cross tube of left bracket; 32Lr - rear cross tube of left bracket

[0039] 32Rf - front cross tube of right bracket; 32Lr - rear cross tube of left bracket

[0040] 35 - through-hole of cross tube

[0041] 36L - left outrigger tube; 36R - right outrigger tube

[0042] 36L2 - left outrigger tube

[0043] 37 - through-hole of outrigger tube

[0044] 37s - fastening bolt

[0045] 38 - end opening of outrigger tube

[0046] 40L - left vertical mounting tube; 40R - right vertical mounting tube

[0047] 41 - mounting plate

[0048] 45 - through-hole of vertical tube

[0049] 45s - fastening bolt in through-hole of vertical tube

[0050] 50 - connecting tube

[0051] 50a - a part of combined connecting tube; 50b - a part of combined connecting tube

[0052] 53 - through-slot of connecting tube

[0053] 53s - knob bolt

[0054] 56 - mounting base plate

[0055] 57 - through-hole of connecting tube

[0056] 60L - outer vertical tube on the left side of the boat

[0057] 60R - outer vertical tube on the right side of the boat

[0058] 70 - bolt clamp

[0059] 80A - boat with outer vertical tubes

[0060] 80B - boat suitable for mounting the mounting base plate.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0061] The technical scheme and application method in the embodiments of the present invention will be described below clearly and completely with reference to the accompanying drawings. Apparently, the embodiments described herein are only some embodiments of the present invention rather than all possible embodiments of the present invention. Those having ordinary skills in the art can obtain other embodiments on the basis of the embodiments described herein without expending any creative labor; however, all such embodiments shall be deemed as falling in the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0062] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention provides a boat stabilizing device comprising a plurality of foam sticks. The device comprises a pair of outrigger-type stabilizers which are mounted and used on left and right sides of a boat respectively, and a connecting tube connecting the left and right stabilizers, and related mounting accessories. Each of the stabilizers used on the left and right sides of the boat includes the following components: one or more cylindrical foam sticks (10) for obtaining buoyancy, casing tubes (12) sleeved on respective foam sticks, tube caps (20f, 20r) sleeved on two ends of each foam stick and each casing tube, and a bracket that is used for mounting and fixing the foam sticks, the casing tubes and the tube caps, and can be connected to the boat. The plurality of cylindrical foam sticks (10) included in the boat stabilizing device may be non-perforated solid cylindrical light-weight foam sticks. The foam sticks may be light-weight EPE foam sticks made of a raw material containing polyethylene through foaming and extrusion molding processes, or may be non-absorbent light-weight EVA foam sticks made of a raw material containing ethylene and vinyl acetate through foaming and extrusion molding processes, or may be made of other suitable materials. According to the buoyancy requirement or other use requirements, the boat stabilizing device may include various foam sticks with appropriate length and cross-sectional diameter. For example, the length of each foam stick included in a boat stabilizing device applied for a single-person kayak may be between 30 cm and 150 cm, and the cross-sectional diameter of each foam stick may be between 8 cm and 15 cm. Each of the stabilizers used on the left and right sides of the boat may include one or more foam sticks. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the stabilizers on the left and right sides of the boat stabilizing device includes two foam sticks. Each foam stick is sleeved with a casing tube (12) that is arranged with the same length as or similar length to the foam stick and with a smooth surface for protecting the foam stick and reducing the friction resistance of a part of the stabilizer that contacts with water when the stabilizer travels in water. The inner diameter of the casing tube may be equal to or slightly greater than the diameter of the foam stick. The foam stick may be inserted into the casing tube when the foam stick cools down and shrinks, so that the casing tube can tightly wrap the foam stick and minimize the clearance between the inner wall of the casing tube and the foam stick, thereby the impact resistance of the foam stick and the casing tube is improved and possible water accumulation in the tube can be prevented or reduced. Preferably, the casing tube may be a plastic tube-shaped part made of various suitable materials through an extrusion molding process, such as a PC tube containing polycarbonate, a PET tube containing polyester resin, or a PVC tube containing polyvinyl chloride, etc. Alternatively, the casing tube may be any other suitable tube, such as a carbon fiber tube or a glass fiber tube. The above-mentioned casing tubes may be commonly manufactured or obtained in the trade.The two ends of each foam stick and associated casing tube are sleeved with tube caps (20f, 20r). The tube cap is a tubular sleeve with one end open and the other end closed, and the closed end may be a tapered tip. The tube cap is provided with a mounting bracket (22f or 22r) which is integrated with the main body of the tube cap, and the mounting bracket is provided with through-hole. The tube caps sleeved on the two ends of the foam stick and the casing tube may be two identical objects. The inner diameter of the tubular part at the open end of the tube cap is equal to or slightly greater than the outer diameter of the casing tube sleeved outside the foam stick. When the two tube caps are sleeved on the front and rear ends of a foam stick and the casing tube, the front and rear tube caps may be respectively mounted to the bracket of the stabilizer by means of bolt sets, so that a foam stick sleeved with the casing tube and the tube caps at the two ends are fixed together to the bracket of the stabilizer. Preferably, when the front and rear tube caps are sleeved on the two ends of the foam stick and the casing tube, a suitable sealant may be applied on the inner wall of the tube cap and on the casing tube where they contact with each other, so that the tube caps can be more firmly fixed at the two ends of the foam stick and the casing tube, and water infiltration into the casing tube can be prevented during use. Preferably, the tube caps may be manufactured through an injection molding process. The materials used for manufacturing the tube caps may include, but are not limited to, various suitable plastic materials or synthetic materials containing plastics.

[0063] The pair of stabilizers included in the boat stabilizing device includes a pair of outrigger-type brackets. The components, functions and use of the stabilizer bracket will be described below, by taking the left stabilizer bracket as an example. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the left bracket comprises an outrigger tube (36L) and a longitudinal tube (30L), and may include a front cross tube (32Lf) and a rear cross tube (32Lr) connected at two ends of the longitudinal tube. The outrigger tube and the longitudinal tube may be connected together by means of welding to form an integrated structure, or they may be two separate tubes with through-holes, which may be assembled and connected together by bolt sets. The front cross tube and the rear cross tube may be two separate tubes, and they may be connected to two ends of the longitudinal tube by welding or locking with bolt sets. Alternatively, the front cross tube and the rear cross tube may be directly formed by bending the two ends of the longitudinal tube. The front cross tube and the rear cross tube are provided with through-holes (35) respectively. Bolts are inserted through the through-holes (24) of the tube caps (20f, 20r) sleeved on the two ends of the foam stick and the casing tube and the through-holes (35) of the front cross tube and the rear cross tube, so that the front and rear tube caps can be respectively mounted and fixed to the front and rear cross tubes on the left side. Thus, one or more foam sticks sleeved with casing tubes are mounted and fixed to the left stabilizer bracket together with the tube caps at the two ends. In the case that the left stabilizer includes only one foam stick sleeved with a casing tube, the left bracket may not include the front cross tube and the rear cross tube. As shown in FIG. 5, the tube caps sleeved on the two ends of the foam stick and the casing tube may be directly mounted and fixed to the two ends of the longitudinal tube (30L). The end of the outrigger tube of the left bracket has an opening (38), which can be used together with the connecting tube to mount and fix the left stabilizer to an applicable boat. The left outrigger tube may be provided with a mounting component at the end; for example, a vertical mounting tube (40L) may be provided at the end of the left outrigger tube for mounting the left stabilizer to an applicable boat. The vertical mounting tube is provided with one or more through-holes (45) for inserting bolt sets there-through to lock to the parts on the boat. The outrigger tube is provided with a plurality of through-holes (37) for inserting bolt sets there-through, so as to lock the outrigger tube (36L) with the connecting tube (50).The right bracket includes the same components as the left bracket in symmetry, i.e., an outrigger tube (36R) and a longitudinal tube (30R), and may include a front cross tube (32Rf) and a rear cross tube (32Rr) connected at the two ends of the longitudinal tube. The right outrigger tube is provided with an opening (38) at the end, and may be provided with a mounting component at the end, such as a right vertical mounting tube (40R). With the same structural scheme and assembly method as the components of the above-mentioned left bracket, the foam stick, casing tube and tube caps included in the right stabilizer can be assembled and fixed to the right stabilizer bracket.

[0064] The connecting tube (50) included in the boat stabilizing device is a tubular part that is horizontally mounted above the two sides of the boat when in use. The two ends of the connecting tube are provided with two through-slots (53) and a plurality of through-holes (57) symmetrically. The connecting tube may be made with a variety of lengths and sizes to adapt to boats of different sizes. The connecting tube is provided with mounting accessories, such as a pair of mounting base plates (56) with screw holes and threaded holes (58) and a pair of knob bolts (53s). The user can mount and fix the connecting tube to the two sides of an applicable boat by means of the associated mounting accessories, and then mount and fix the outrigger tubes (36L, 36R) of left and right stabilizers on the connecting tube (50), so that the left and right stabilizers can be mounted to the boat.

[0065] Preferably, the stabilizer bracket and the connecting tube may be made of various suitable metal materials or synthetic metal materials, wherein all components of the stabilizer bracket may be connected together by welding or locking with bolt sets. Alternatively, the stabilizer bracket and the connecting tube may be made of other suitable materials, such as carbon fiber tubes, or glass fiber tubes, etc.

[0066] Preferably, the mounting base plate (56) may be made of a suitable metal material through a forging process, a stamping process or a die casting process, and a drilling process. Alternatively, it may be made of suitable plastic materials or other synthetic materials through an injection molding process.

[0067] As mentioned above, each foam stick and its casing tube are assembled to the bracket via the tube caps sleeved on their two ends. The inner diameter of the tubular part at the open end of the tube cap is equal to or slightly greater than the outer diameter of the casing tube sleeved outside the foam stick. When the front and rear tube caps are sleeved on the two ends of a foam stick and a casing tube and moved toward the middle of the foam stick till they can't be moved further, the two ends of the foam stick and the casing tube are deeply embedded in the two tube caps at the two ends, and the tube caps at the two ends tightly wrap the two ends of the foam stick and the casing tube. Thus, when the tube caps at the two ends are assembled and fixed to the bracket of the stabilizer, the foam stick and the casing tube are also fixed in position and can't be moved forward or backward or moved left or right. In that way, each foam stick sleeved with a casing tube and the tube caps at the two ends are assembled and fixed to the stabilizer bracket. The tube caps can be assembled and connected to the stabilizer bracket in the following ways.

[0068] FIGS. 3 and 4 show a first way of assembling and connecting the tube caps to the stabilizer bracket, i.e., the tube caps can be assembled to the front cross tube or the rear cross tube of the stabilizer bracket by locking with bolt sets. Here, the rear cross tube (32Lr) and the rear tube cap (20r) of the left bracket shown in the figures are taken as an example. When the rear cross tube of the bracket is clamped into the clearance between the main body of the tube cap and the mounting bracket (22r) of the tube cap, the through-hole (35) of the rear cross tube is aligned to the through-hole (24) of the mounting bracket of the tube cap. The rear cross tube and the tube cap can be assembled and fixed together by inserting a bolt through the through-hole of the rear cross tube and the through-hole of the mounting bracket of the tube cap at the same time and fastening the bolt with a nut. The fasteners used in FIG. 3 are a set of bolt and nut. After the bolt (25s) is inserted through the through-hole (24) of the mounting bracket of the tube cap and the through-hole (35) of the rear cross tube, it is screwed into the nut (25sb) below the rear cross tube to achieve locking. The fastener used in FIG. 4 is a threaded bolt (25s) without nut. Here, the through-hole (35) of the rear cross tube is a threaded hole with threads. After the bolt is inserted through the through-hole (24) of the mounting bracket of the tube cap, it is directly threaded into the threaded through-hole (35) of the rear cross tube to achieve locking.

[0069] FIG. 5 shows a second way of assembling and connecting the tube caps to the stabilizer bracket, i.e., when the stabilizer on a side includes only one foam stick with a casing tube, the stabilizer bracket may not include the front cross tube and the rear cross tube. The front and rear tube caps may be assembled to the front and rear ends of the longitudinal tube of the stabilizer bracket by locking with bolt sets. Taking the rear end of the longitudinal tube (30L) of the left bracket and the rear tube cap (20r) shown in the figure as an example, when the flattened and deformed end of the longitudinal tube is clamped into the clearance between the main body of the tube cap and the mounting bracket (22r) of the tube cap, the through-hole (30H) at the end of the longitudinal tube is aligned to the through-hole (24) of the mounting bracket of the tube cap; after the bolt (25s) is inserted through the through-hole (24) of the mounting bracket of the tube cap and the through-hole (30H) at the end of the longitudinal tube, it is threaded into the nut (25sb) below the longitudinal tube to achieve locking. In the case that the through-hole (30H) at the end of the longitudinal tube is a threaded hole with threads, the longitudinal tube may be locked with a threaded bolt without nut, i.e., after the threaded bolt (25s) is inserted through the through-hole (24) of the mounting bracket of the tube cap, it is directly threaded into the threaded through-hole (30H) at the end of the longitudinal tube to achieve locking.

[0070] The boat stabilizing device can be mounted and used on different types of boats.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 6, the boat stabilizing device may be mounted and used on a boat with outer vertical tubes on two sides, such as a boat comprising foam sticks as described in U.S. Patent Application No. 63 / 623853, or a skin-on-frame boat comprising foam sticks as described in U.S. Patent Application No. 63 / 623855. The two sides of the boat body (80A) shown in the figure are provided with outer vertical tubes (60L and 60R). These outer vertical tubes are respectively provided with one or more through-holes for inserting bolts there-through for locking. The upper end of the outer vertical tube may be further provided with a notch, which facilitate the usage of a bolt clamp for locking, after a vertical tube of a smaller size is inserted into the outer vertical tube. The inner diameter of the outer vertical tubes (60L, 60R) on the two sides of the boat body may be slightly greater than or equal to the outer diameter of the vertical mounting tubes (40L, 40R) for the stabilizers included in the stabilization system of the boat. Preferably, the user may mount the left and right boat stabilizers together with the connecting tube (50) to the boat body. Before mounting the assembled left and right stabilizers to the boat body, the user may insert the two ends of the connecting tube (50) into the openings at the ends of the outrigger tubes of the left and right stabilizer brackets respectively and lock them with bolt sets (37s) first. Based on the associated design and manufacturing, when the left and right stabilizer brackets are connected with the connecting tube (50), the center distance between the two vertical tubes (40L, 40R) of the left and right brackets is equal to the center distance between the two outer vertical tubes (60L, 60R) on the two sides of the boat body. The user may insert the vertical mounting tubes for the two brackets of the left and right stabilizers into the two outer vertical tubes of the boat body respectively, i.e., insert the left vertical mounting tube (40L) into the left outer vertical tube (60L) of the boat body, and insert the right vertical mounting tube (40R) into the right outer vertical tube (60R) of the boat body, and then use one or more bolt sets (45s) and insert the bolts through the through-holes of the outer vertical tubes and the through-holes (45) of the vertical mounting tubes for the stabilizers on the two sides respectively for locking. In addition, bolt clamps (70) may be applied at the top ends of the outer vertical tubes on the boat body to further fasten the outer vertical tubes and the vertical mounting tubes for the stabilizers on the boat body. In that way, the boat stabilizing device is mounted on a boat with outer vertical tubes on the two sides of the boat body.

[0072] Alternatively, instead of using the connecting tube included in the boat stabilizing device, the user may directly insert the vertical mounting tubes (40L, 40R) of the brackets of the left and right stabilizers into the outer vertical tubes (60L, 60R) on the left and right sides of the boat body, and then use one or more bolt sets (45s) and insert the bolts to pass through the through-holes of the outer vertical tubes and the through-holes (45) of the vertical mounting tubes for the stabilizers on the two sides for locking. In addition, bolt clamps (70) may be applied at the top ends of the outer vertical tubes on the boat body to further fasten the outer vertical tubes and the vertical mounting tubes for the stabilizers on the boat body. In that way, the boat stabilizing device is mounted on a boat with outer vertical tubes on the two sides of the boat body, without using the connecting tube included in the boat stabilizing device.

[0073] As shown in FIG. 7, the boat stabilizing device may be mounted and used on a boat that has two sides or edges suitable for mounting and fixing mounting base plates (56), such as a single-person kayak, a canoe, or any other suitable boat. These boats may be made of various plastic materials, metal materials, wooden materials, various synthetic materials, or other suitable materials. A pair of mounting base plates (56) included in the boat stabilizing device can be mounted at appropriate positions on upward sides of the boat on the two sides or edges, and the material at the appropriate positions is suitable for receiving and holding screws or bolts. The user may mount the boat stabilizing device to such a boat through the following steps: First, the two mounting base plates (56) are respectively mounted and fixed to upward sides of the boat on the two sides or edges with screws in a way that the two mounting base plates are in symmetrical and aligned positions. Then, two knob bolts (53s) are respectively inserted through the through-slots (53) at the two ends of the connecting tube (50) and threaded into the threaded holes (58) of the mounting base plates (56) mounted at the left and right edges of the boat and locked there, so that the connecting tube (50) is transversely mounted and fixed to the boat. The portions of the connecting tube with through-holes at the two ends are located outside the sides of the boat. Next, the left and right ends of the connecting tube are respectively inserted into the openings (38) of the outrigger tubes (36L, 36R) of the left and right brackets, and one or more bolt sets (37s) are respectively inserted through the through-holes (37) of the support rods on the two sides and the through-hole (57) of the connecting tube for locking, thereby the left and right boat stabilizers are mounted to the connecting tube. In that way, the boat stabilizing device is mounted to such a boat as described above.

[0074] For boats with T-shaped groove rails mounted on the two sides, the connecting tube can be directly mounted to the T-shaped groove tracks on the two sides of the boat by means of T-bolt set, and then the stabilizers on the two sides can be mounted to the connecting tube in the same way as that described above, thereby the boat stabilizing device is mounted to such a boat.

[0075] For boats that are not provided with outer vertical tubes and are not suitable for mounting the mounting base plates (56) by screw drilling, such as inflatable boats or other types of boats, the user may mount and fix the connecting tube to the boat body with straps first, and then mount the stabilizers on the left and right sides to the connecting tube in the same way as that described above, thereby the boat stabilizing device is mounted to such a boat.

[0076] Some components included in the boat stabilizing device may be used separately. That is to say, the user may choose to mount and use either of the left and right boat stabilizers included in the boat stabilizing device.ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0077] The embodiments described herein are only some preferred embodiments of the present invention rather than all possible embodiments of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should recognize that the above-mentioned embodiments are only intended to illustrate and explain the present invention, but are not intended to limit the present invention. Various modifications, alternations, equivalent substitutions or improvements to the above-mentioned embodiments will fall within the scope of the claims of the present invention, as long as they are within the true spirit of the present invention. Now, some alternative embodiments within the scope of the claims of the present invention are enumerated as follows:

[0078] 1. The foam sticks of the boat stabilizing device may have a cross section in a polygonal shape respectively, besides the above-mentioned preferred cylindrical shape; for example, the foam sticks may be with a square, rectangular, triangular, or hexagonal cross section respectively. Besides, the casing tubes sleeved on the foam sticks and the tube caps at the two ends may be in appropriate shapes corresponding to the foam sticks.

[0079] 2. The left and right stabilizers included in the boat stabilizing device may include a plurality of outrigger tubes respectively, rather than one outrigger tube as in the above embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, the left stabilizer bracket includes two outrigger tubes. The stabilizer brackets on the two sides may further include a plurality of longitudinal tubes respectively.

[0080] 3. The ends of the outrigger tubes of the left and right stabilizers included in the boat stabilizing device may be further provided with perforated plate connectors, such as the perforated mounting plates (41) on brackets shown in FIG. 9, besides tubular connecting components such as the vertical mounting tubes (40L, 40R).

[0081] 4. The connecting tube included in the boat stabilizing device may be formed by a plurality of tubes, rather than one tubular component (e.g., the connecting tube 50) as in the above embodiment. For example, the connecting tube shown in FIG. 10 may be formed by two tubes (50a and 50b). These separate tubes may be assembled together by means of various connecting fittings and the total length of the assembled connecting tube can be adjusted. The connecting fittings may include in-tube spring locks with beads, bolt sets, threaded connectors, clips, and clamps with quick release, etc.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0061]The technical scheme and application method in the embodiments of the present invention will be described below clearly and completely with reference to the accompanying drawings. Apparently, the embodiments described herein are only some embodiments of the present invention rather than all possible embodiments of the present invention. Those having ordinary skills in the art can obtain other embodiments on the basis of the embodiments described herein without expending any creative labor; however, all such embodiments shall be deemed as falling in the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0062]As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention provides a boat stabilizing device comprising a plurality of foam sticks. The device comprises a pair of outrigger-type stabilizers which are mounted and used on left and right sides of a boat respectively, and a connecting tube connecting the left and right stabilizers, and related mounting accessories. Each of the stabilizers us...

Claims

1. A boat stabilizing device that comprises foam sticks, featured that the boat stabilizing device comprises: foam sticks, casing tubes, tube caps, and brackets;at least one foam stick is provided, and a casing tube is sleeved outside each of the foam sticks;the tube caps are sleeved on the two ends of the foam stick and / or the casing tube;the bracket connects the foam stick, the casing tube and the tube caps, and the bracket is connected to the boat.

2. The boat stabilizing device that comprises foam sticks according to claim 1, featured that one end of each of the tube caps is an open end with an inner diameter adapted to the end of each foam stick and / or end of each casing tube, and the other end of each of the tube caps is a closed end.

3. The boat stabilizing device that comprises foam sticks according to claim 1, featured that each bracket comprises a longitudinal tube assembly and an outrigger tube assembly;the longitudinal tube assembly is arranged along a lengthwise direction of the foam sticks, with two ends thereof being connected to the tube caps;the outrigger tube assembly comprises a outrigger tube and a mounting part;the outrigger tube is arranged along a widthwise direction of the foam sticks;and the mounting part is connected to the boat.

4. The boat stabilizing device that comprises foam sticks according to claim 3, featured that the boat stabilizing device further comprises a connecting tube for connecting the outrigger tubes at left and right sides of the boat.

5. The boat stabilizing device that comprises foam sticks according to claim 3, featured that the tube cap is provided with a mounting bracket of tube cap, and a through-hole is arranged in the mounting bracket of tube cap ;both ends of the longitudinal assembly are arranged with through holes, two ends of the longitudinal assembly are connected to the mounting brackets of tube caps .

6. The boat stabilizing device that comprises foam sticks according to claim 3, featured that the longitudinal assembly comprises a longitudinal tube, and a front cross tube and a rear cross tubes at both ends of the longitudinal tube;and the front cross tube and the rear cross tube are connected to the tube caps.

7. The boat stabilizing device that comprises foam sticks according to claim 3, featured that the mounting part is a vertical mounting tube arranged in a vertical direction.

8. The boat stabilizing device that comprises foam sticks according to claim 3, featured that the mounting part is a mounting plate.

9. The boat stabilizing device that comprises foam sticks according to claim 4, featured that an end portion of the outrigger tube has an end opening of outrigger tube;and each of the two ends of the connecting tube is inserted into the end opening of an outrigger tube respectively.

10. The boat stabilizing device that comprises foam sticks according to claim 4, featured that the connecting tube is a tubular component, or the connecting tube is formed by multiple separate tubes combined together.

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