Bracket for holding accessories on a boat

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to holders and, more particularly, to a holder which for supporting a variety of accessories on a boat railing or boat side. The accessory holder of the invention includes a bracket for supporting a fishing rod, a table, depth meter, etc.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Boating is an activity which typically requires a significant portion of the day. While on a boat, there is often limited space for various items brought for a day's excursion. Fishing is often an activity accompanying boating. Accordingly, there are a number of fishing rod holders which exist to hold the rod while a person waits for a fish to bite. Prior fishing rod holders typically adapt to boat railing.

[0005] It is desirable to provide a multi-purpose holder for holding various accessories. It is also desirable to have a holder which permits a person to quickly change out holding such various accessories. Prior art does not teach or suggest a bracket for holding accessories which has the above desirable features as well as those apparent in the described invention herein. Other advantages of the present invention over the prior art also will be rendered evident.

[0006] It is an object to enhance boating experience.

[0007] It is a further object to enhance a boat's functionality.

[0008] It is an object to provide a bracket for holding an accessory on a boat.

[0009] It is still another object to provide a bracket which holds multiple accessories on a boat.

[0010] It is still a further object to provide a bracket which enables quick exchange of accessories on a boat.

[0011] Accordingly, the invention is directed to a bracket for holding accessories on a boat. The invention includes a pair of mounting plates which are laterally spaced apart from one another and interconnected by a plurality of threaded screws and wing nuts, wherein the mounting plates have a set of aligned open through surfaces through which the screws extend and are retained by the nuts. Connected between the plates to the screw are a set of interconnecting plates which form a slot therebetween to removably receive a support plate which is configured to attach to an accessory. Each screw preferably has a plastic sleeve about a portion thereof which serves as a spacer between one of the mounting plates and the remaining interconnecting plates and wherein each spacer is approximately the width of a rail of a boat. The sleeves provide some axial compression to permit tightening of the connected components to lock the mounting plate and support plate to the rail.

[0012] In a simplified embodiment, there is provided a bracket for holding accessories on a boat, which includes a mounting plate having a first side and a second side, a slotted exterior surface extending through the first side and defined by raised portions on either side thereof. Each of the raised portions has an open through surface therethrough. A plurality of connectors each has a head and a threaded end, wherein each one of the connectors extends through one of the open through surfaces such that the head seats adjacent the second side and the threaded end extends through the raised portion and connects to a side of the boat thus defining a slotted area between the boat side and the slotted surface. A support plate has a first end configured to be removably received and retained in the slotted area in a manner which provides a second end of the support plate to operably connect an accessory.

[0031] Referring now to the drawings, a bracket for holding accessories on a boat is generally referred to by the numeral 10. The bracket 10 includes a pair of mounting plates 12 and 14 which are laterally spaced apart from one another and interconnected by a plurality of threaded screws 16 and wing nuts 18.

[0032] The mounting plates 12 and 14 have a set of aligned open through surfaces 20 and 22, respectively, through which the screws 16 extend and are retained by the wing nuts 18. As seen in the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 6A and 6B, for example, connected between the mounting plates 12 and 14 to the screws 18 are a set of interconnecting plates 24 which form a slotted area 28 therebetween to removably receive support plate 30, 32, 34, or 36, as seen in FIGS. 12–15, which can be of a thickness approximate that of interconnecting plates 24. Interconnecting plates 24 and 26 include open through surfaces 25 and 27, respectively, which align with open through surfaces 20 and 22, respectively, to receive the screw therethrough. FIG. 1 depicts the use of support plate 30 whereas FIG. 2 depicts the use of support plate 36, for example, both of which are configured to attach to an accessory such as a fishing rod holder or a table. Modifications of this aspect of the invention are believed to be within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

[0033] Each screw 16 preferably has a sleeve 38, which can be of a suitable plastic, for example, which extends about a portion thereof and which serves as a spacer between one of mounting plate 14 and the interconnecting plates 26 and each sleeve 38 is approximately equal to the width of a rail R of a boat B as seen in FIG. 2, for example. The sleeves 38 are plastic preferably to permit slight compression and assure a tight fit connection to the rail R as seen in FIGS. 4 and 6A and 6B. Further, thin washers 40 are provided about the screws 16 between interconnecting plates 24 and 26 which also act spacers to provide additional slight clearance in the slotted area 28 for the insertion and removal of the support plates 30, 32, 34, or 36. In this embodiment, it is contemplated that all the plates 12, 14, 24, 26 and 30 can be machined from material having common stock thickness.

[0034] FIGS. 8 and 9 show an alternative embodiment, wherein the plates 24 described above can be integrally formed as part of plate 12, such that a new mounting plate 12′ is formed with raised sides 24′ with a slotted surface 28′ formed therein as seen in FIGS. 10A–B. The raised sides 24′ can be of a size such that when disposed against interconnecting plate 26′ there is provided slight clearance for the insertion and removal of the support plates 30, 32, 34, or 36 as similarly described above. Thus, the need for the washers 40 are not needed in this embodiment, however, different thickness stock material is utilized. Further, plate 14′ can be modified to include threaded openings 15′ to provide for threading of the screws 16′ directly thereto. Sleeve 38′ can be similarly formed as described above for sleeve 38.

[0035] FIG. 11 shows yet another embodiment wherein the plates 24 and 26 have been integrally formed into plate 26″ with raised portions 24″. Here, sleeve 38″ is disposed between plate 14″ and plate 26″ and can be similarly formed to that of plate 12′. Plate 12″ can be similarly formed to that of plate 12 described hereinabove.

[0036] Another embodiment is shown in FIG. 7 wherein a direct mount to the boat hull H is depicted. Here, the use of plates 12, 24 and 26 and screws can be employed to hold one of the plates enable support of the support plates 30, 32, 34, or 36. Alternatively, plates 12′ and plate 26′ can be employed. It is readily conceived that other variations of these components or modifications thereof can be employed and should be covered by the claims appended hereto. The present invention provides a unique bracket for mounting to boats and boat railings, such as railing on pontoon boats.

[0037] The above described embodiments are set forth by way of example and are not for the purpose of limiting the present invention. It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that obvious modifications, derivations and variations can be made to the embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the claims appended hereto should be read in their full scope including any such modifications, derivations and variations.