Cleat-Mounted Accessory Bracket for Stable Hull-Free Boat Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current boating accessories often require drilling into the boat hull for mounting, which damages the hull and can lead to corrosion, or use unstable rounded brackets on tubular railings, and existing storage solutions for watersports equipment are limited to vertical tow pylons, not accommodating most watercraft designs.
Innovation Solution
A cleat-mountable support system comprising a first and second bracket portion, coupled via bolts or pins, that can be securely attached to cleats on a boat, allowing for the mounting of accessories like equipment racks, which can be rotated for easy access and adapted for various cleat orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If accessory supports are screwed or bolted to the boat hull, then the mounting stability is improved, but the hull is damaged and corrosion is accelerated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cleat-mounted bracket as an intermediary device between the accessory and the boat hull. The bracket attaches to the existing cleat (which is already securely fastened to the hull) rather than requiring new holes in the hull, thus providing stable mounting without direct penetration or damage to the hull structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the existing cleat structure on the boat hull, which was originally installed for mooring purposes, to serve a dual function by mounting accessories to it. This self-service approach leverages the already-present secure attachment points without requiring additional hull modifications.
2Ease of operation
If rounded brackets are used on tubular railings, then the installation ease is improved, but the mounting stability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket design features an asymmetric configuration with a specific opening angle and geometry that is optimized for gripping the cleat structure. The bracket is not a simple rounded loop but has asymmetric contours that engage with the cleat's geometry, providing both ease of installation and enhanced stability through mechanical interlocking.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket incorporates localized features such as specific curvature radii, opening angles, and thickness variations at critical contact points with the cleat. These local quality adjustments optimize the grip and distribution of forces, ensuring stable mounting while maintaining ease of installation.
3Productivity
If equipment racks are designed for vertical tow pylons, then the storage efficiency is improved, but the adaptability to different watercraft is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket is designed with universal applicability to work with standard cleats found on various types of watercraft, not just specific models. The geometry and dimensions are standardized to accommodate different boat types, making the accessory mounting system universally applicable across the watercraft industry while maintaining effective storage capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from vertical pylon-mounted storage to horizontal or angled cleat-mounted storage, utilizing a different spatial dimension and orientation. This dimensional change allows equipment racks to be effectively mounted on cleats rather than requiring vertical tow pylons, thereby adapting to watercraft that lack such structures while preserving storage efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed to an apparatus and a method for coupling an apparatus to a cleat.A cleat-mounted support apparatus in accordance with the present invention may comprise: (a) a first bracket portion; (b) a second bracket portion; and (c) bracket coupling means.A cleat-mountable apparatus in accordance with the present invention may comprise: (a) a cleat-mountable support; (b) an accessory.A method for coupling a cleat-mounted apparatus to a cleat in accordance with the present invention may comprise one or more of the steps: (a) disposing a first bracket portion about a cleat member; (b) disposing a second bracket portion about the cleat member; and (c) operatively coupling the first and second bracket portions.