Ships – Boats – boat component – or attachment – Canoe or kayak
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-11
2001-10-23
Swinehart, Ed (Department: 3617)
Ships
Boats, boat component, or attachment
Canoe or kayak
C114S363000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305311
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to kayaks, and specifically to back-bands used with kayaks. More specifically, the invention pertains to those assemblies and methods used to install a back-band in a cockpit of a kayak.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Kayaking continues to increase in popularity as a recreational outdoor sport and activity. A kayak is a single hulled water vessel that is propelled in the water by paddles controlled by a user. This invention is for use with a single-manned kayak
11
as shown in FIG.
1
. This particular model kayak has a semi-enclosed cockpit
12
within which a kayaker may sit.
A seat
13
is mounted in the cockpit
12
for supporting the kayaker. The seat
13
is attached to the hull by seat towers
14
. As shown in
FIG. 1
, two seat towers
14
are integrally molded to the seat
13
and the inside surface of the cockpit
12
. The seat towers
14
depend substantially vertically from the top of the cockpit
12
to the seat
13
, suspending the seat within the cockpit
12
. Accessory parts are manufactured to adapt the seat
13
and cockpit area for the comfort of the kayaker. One such part is a back-band that is attached to the seat towers, or other areas of the cockpit. The back-band is secured in the cockpit so the back-band is suspended rearward of the seat to support the kayakers' back while sitting in the kayak.
Generally, back-bands include an elongated padded member. Straps are attached to the back-band and to different parts of the kayak within the cockpit area. One such back-band
15
is manufactured by Bomber Gear, Inc., shown in
FIG. 2
, and includes a foam piece covered by a skin. A nylon strap
16
, sewn to the skin, has two looped ends
18
. As illustrated in
FIG. 3
, each end of the strap
16
is inserted through an aperture machined through a flange on respective seats tower
14
. As shown in
FIG. 2
, a section of “pvc” pipe
19
is fitted in each looped end
18
of the strap
16
, and secured in the looped end
18
by a flexible wire
20
. The pipe section
19
prevents the strap
16
from slipping through the aperture on the seat tower
14
. The back strap is tightened or loosened by a buckle
17
through which the strap is threaded.
These prior art back-bands suffer from certain inefficiencies. The straps are made of a nylon-webbed material typically used for such a buckle and strap assemblies. The straps are awkward to handle during installation of the back-band. In addition, the back-bands require assembly of parts as described which unnecessarily complicate installation of existing back-bands.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, an object of the present invention is to provide a back-band is to provide an installation assembly for a back-band for use in a kayak, that is easier to install, costs less to manufacture, and is more efficient in use.
These and other objectives are met by using a ratchet installation assembly. The assembly utilizes ratchet straps and pawl members interconnected with the back band and cockpit area of a kayak. The pawl member may be mounted to either the back-band or kayak. The ratchet strap has a first end insertable in the pawl members, and inclined teeth engage the pawl member. A second end of the ratchet strap is secured to either the kayak or back-band. In addition, a band and buckle assembly may interconnect with the back-band and kayak to support and align the back-band in the kayak cockpit.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5970903 (1999-10-01), McDonough et al.
Holland & Knight LLP
Immersion Research, Inc.
Swinehart Ed
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