Aquatic storage trailer and carrier

[0001] The disclosure relates to aquatic cargo devices and more particularly pertains to a new aquatic cargo device for providing storage and transport of items by a personal watercraft and land transport of both the aquatic trailer and personal watercraft.

[0002] An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a container having a lid portion hingedly coupled to a hull portion. The hull portion and the lid portion form an interior space configured for item storage. A tow arm has a U-shaped portion having free ends coupled to the container. An extension portion of the tow arm is configured for coupling to a watercraft to tow the container on a water surface using the watercraft. A carrier is provided having a watercraft cradle configured for supporting the watercraft. The carrier also has a pair of cradle arms selectively couplable to the container to support the container on the carrier during transport.

[0003] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

[0004] The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

[0013] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 7 thereof, a new aquatic cargo device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

[0014] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7, the aquatic storage trailer and carrier 10 generally comprises a container 12 having a lid portion 14 hingedly coupled to a hull portion 16. The hull portion 16 has a curved bottom surface 18 configured to displace water 20 whereby the container 12 will float on the water 20. The hull portion 16 and the lid portion 14 form an interior space 22 configured for item storage. The container 12 also has a plurality of interior walls 24 dividing the interior space 22 into a plurality of interior compartments 26. The interior compartments 26 may include specialized compartments such as a pair of support leg storage compartments 28, an insulated cooler compartment 30, a grill storage compartment 32. Each interior compartment 26 may have a lid 34 and a handle 36.

[0015] A tow arm 40 has a U-shaped portion 42 and an extension portion 44 extending from the U-shaped portion 42. The U-shaped portion 42 has free ends 46 removably coupled to the container 12 towing mounts 48 positioned on the hull portion 16. The extension portion 44 of the tow arm 40 is configured for coupling to a personal watercraft 50. Thus, the container 12 is towed on a water surface 52 by the watercraft 50.

[0016] A carrier 54 having a hitch attachment 56 is provided for transport on land. The carrier 54 has a watercraft cradle 58 configured for supporting the watercraft 50. A pair of side mounts 38 is coupled to the hull portion 16 of the container 12. A pair of cradle arms 60 is selectively couplable to the side mounts 38 to support the container 12 on the carrier 54. A distal end 62 of each the cradle arm 60 relative to the carrier 54 is pivotally coupled to the side mounts 38. The pair of cradle arms 60 is also pivotably coupled to the carrier 54.

[0017] A winch post 64 is coupled to the carrier 54. The winch post 64 is positioned proximate a front 66 of the carrier 54. A container winch 68 is coupled to the carrier 54 on the winch post 64. The container winch 68 has a line 70 coupled to the container 12 for pivoting the container 12 and the cradle arms 60 from a loading position 72 into a storage position 74 over the watercraft 50 on the watercraft cradle 58. The cradle arms 60 may also include an offset portion 122 so that the distal ends 62 are more closely spaced than a width of the carrier 54 for enhanced stability while the carrier 54 is loaded and moving. The container winch 68 is positioned on the winch post 64 proximate a top 76 of the winch post 64. A watercraft winch 78 is also coupled to the winch post 64. The watercraft winch 78 is positioned between a bottom 80 of the winch post 64 and the container winch 68. The watercraft winch 78 includes a cable 82 configured for coupling to the watercraft 50 to hold the watercraft 50 on the watercraft cradle 58.

[0018] A pair of arm stops 84 is coupled to the carrier 54. The arm stops 84 are positioned to abut the cradle arms 60 when the cradle arms 60 are fully pivoted into the storage position 74. A pair of biasing members 86 is coupled to the cradle arms 60 and the carrier 54 such that the cradle arms 60 are urged into the loading position 74. Thus, loosening the container winch 68 will permit movement of the cradle arms 60 into the loading position 72 from the storage position 74. A cross arm 88 is rigidly coupled to and extends between the cradle arms 60 so that the cradle arms 60 pivot in unison. Opposing ends 90 of the cross arm 88 are adjustably securable to the cradle arms 60. Threaded connectors 94 or an equivalent structure may be used to engage the cradle arms 60 such that the cross arm 88 are rigidly secured to the cradle arms 60 at a selectable position 96 along a length of the cradle arms 60.

[0019] A pad 92 may be coupled to a medial portion 98 of the cross arm 88. The pad 92 is positionable by adjusting the position of the cross arm 88 to abut the bottom surface 18 of the hull portion 16 of the container 12 when the container 12 is coupled to the cradle arms 60 and the cradle arms 60 are pivoted into the storage position 74. The pad 92 may include a tubular middle portion 100 and a pair of flared outer portions 102 to facilitate holding the watercraft 50 stably on the carrier 54.

[0020] A latch assembly 104 is coupled to the container 12 whereby the lid portion 14 is selectively securable to the hull portion 16 of the container 12 to hold the container 12 in a closed position 106. A pair of support legs 108 may be provided. Each support leg 108 is removably couplable to an associated one of the side mounts 38 to hold the container 12 in an elevated stationary position when not being transported on the carrier 54 or towed by the watercraft 50. A rack 110 is coupled to an upper surface 112 of the lid portion 14 of the container 12. An umbrella mount 114 may be coupled to the container 12 proximate a front 116 of the container 12. A pair of spaced grill mounts 118 may also be coupled to the container 12 proximate a rear 120 of the container 12 to facilitate attachment of a grill to the container 12. Thus, the container 12 provides a multitude of desirable uses associated with outdoor recreation.

[0021] In use, the watercraft 50 and container 12 are transported on the carrier 54. The container 12 is attached to the watercraft 50 using the tow arm 40 to transport various items held in the interior compartments 26. The container 12 may be detached from the watercraft 50 and supported by support legs 108 while holding an umbrella and grill using the umbrella mount 114 and grill mounts 118. After use, the container 12 is reloaded onto the carrier by attaching the cradle arms 60 to the side mounts 38 and the line 70 to the container 12. The container winch 68 is manipulated to pivot the container 12 and cradle arms 60 into the storage position 74.

[0022] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0023] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure.