CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

There are no related applications incorporated herein by reference.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to skid plates for kayaks and/or boats.

2. Description of the Related Art

Prior art skid plates for kayaks and/or boats are usually either screwed into the hull or are permanently glued thereon. Drilling and screwing skid plates within a hull can result in cracking of the hull and/or eventual loosening of the skid plate and allowing water to leak therethrough. Furthermore, permanent skid plates require one for each kayak or boat thereby increasing the costs for owning multiple kayaks and/or boats.

Accordingly, the present invention overcomes the disadvantages associated with the prior art, by providing a skid plate that can be removably attached to the hull of a kayak or boat and be used upon many different types of kayaks or boats.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of skid plates for kayaks and/or boats or like in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved skid plate for kayaks and/or boats. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide an improved skid plate for kayaks and/or boats that can be removably attached to the hull of a kayak or boat via adjustable straps wrapping around the body and hull of the kayak or boat, which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention 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.

Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the improved skid plate adjacent a kayak according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the improved skid plate attached to a kayak according to the first embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of the improved skid plate according to the first embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the improved skid plate according to the first embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the improved skid plate adjacent a kayak according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the improved skid plate attached to a kayak according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 shows a bottom view of the improved skid plate according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 shows a side view of the improved skid plate according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 5.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments of the present disclosure described below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may appreciate and understand the principles and practices of the present disclosure.

The following embodiments and the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form part of this disclosure, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the invention are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention can be employed and the subject invention is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, a first embodiment of the present invention discloses the improved skid plate 100 for kayaks 500 and/or boats that can be removably attached to the hull 510 of a kayak or boat via adjustable straps 150 wrapping around the body 520 and hull 510 of the kayak or boat. The kayak 500 or boat includes a body 520 having a top surface 530 and a hull 510 including a bottom surface 540, a front portion 550 having an external surface thereon, a back portion 560 having an external surface thereon, and a curved cross-section, wherein the hull extends along a length thereof. The improved skid plate 100 comprises a main body 105 comprising a main portion 110 including a top surface 115 adapted to contact the bottom surface 540 of the hull 510 of the kayak 500, a bottom surface 118 adapted to contact a ground surface, a first elongated side surface 120, a second elongated side surface 122 spaced from the first elongated side surface and extends in a substantially parallel direction to the first elongated side surface, a back end surface 130 extending between the first and second elongated side surfaces, a front end portion 132 spaced from the back end surface and extending between the first and second elongated side surfaces, an interior volume formed in between the top surface, the bottom surface, the first and second elongated side surfaces, the back end surface, and the front end portion, and at least one elongated channel 200 formed within the bottom surface 118 and extends into the interior volume, wherein the at least one elongated channel 200 further extends between and in a substantially perpendicular direction to the first and second elongated side surfaces, and wherein the main portion has a curved cross-section extending between the first and second elongated side surfaces that is adapted to substantially conform to the cross-section of the hull of the kayak extending between side surfaces thereof; and a front portion 180 comprising a top surface 182 adapted to contact the external surface of the front portion 550 of the hull 510 of the kayak 500, a bottom surface 184 adapted to contact a ground surface, a first elongated side surface 120, a second elongated side surface 122, wherein the second elongated side surface is spaced from the first elongated side surface, a back end portion 190 extending between the first and second elongated side surfaces and is connected to the front end portion of the main portion, a front end surface 189, which may be curved, is spaced from the back end portion and extends between the first and second elongated side surfaces, an interior volume formed in between the top surface, the bottom surface, the first and second elongated side surfaces, the back end portion, and the front end surface, wherein the front portion 180 has a curved cross-section extending between the first and second elongated side surfaces of the front portion that is adapted to substantially conform to the cross-section of the front portion 550 of the hull 510 of the kayak 500 extending between side surfaces thereof, and wherein the front portion has a second curved cross-section extending between the back end portion and the front end surface of the front portion that is adapted to substantially conform to the cross-section of the front portion of the hull of the kayak extending between the bottom surface and a top surface thereof.

The skid plate 100 is adapted to be placed against the hull of the kayak and be securely and removably connected thereto via at least one attachment strap 150 being placed along and within the at least one elongated channel 150 and extended around the body of the kayak, such that the at least one attachment strap does not touch the ground surface while the kayak is being moved there along. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the at least one attachment strap 150 is placed within the at least one elongated channel 200 and is adapted to extend around the body 520 of the kayak 500, such that the strap does not touch a ground surface while said kayak is being moved there along.

In the first embodiment, there are two elongated channels 200 spaced from one another, wherein each of the two elongated channels extend between and are in a substantially perpendicular direction to the first and second elongated side surfaces. In the first embodiment there are two attachment straps 150, wherein each attachment strap is placed within a respective one of the two elongated channels and are both adapted to extended around the body of the kayak in a spaced relation to one another and thereby more securely hold the skid plate to the hull of the kayak. The attachment straps 150 can be formed as being adjustable in length via any of a variety of known strap adjustment mechanisms, including buckles, hook and loop fasteners, ratchet members, loops, clips, etc.

The improved skid plate 100 may also include a first slot 210 located between a first end of the at least one elongated channel 200 and the first elongated side surface 120 and adapted to releasably retain a portion of an attachment strap hook therein, and a second slot 212 located between a second end of the at least one elongated channel 200 and the second elongated side surface 122 and adapted to releasably retain a portion of an attachment strap hook therein. Furthermore, the front surface of the front portion 550 of the main body may be curved and adapted to avoid engaging a ground surface when the kayak is being move there along. The improved skid plate 100 may also include elongated ridges 190 adjacent a substantial length of the first and second elongated side surfaces that are adapted to reduce water turbulence when the skid plate is in use upon a kayak.

In the first embodiment, the distance between the bottom surface and the top surface of said main portion is ¾ of an inch, and the at least one elongated channel is formed within the bottom surface and extends within the interior volume of the main portion for a distance of between ¼ and ½ of an inch. Furthermore, the distance between the first and second elongated side surfaces of the main portion is approximately 8 inches, and the at least one elongated channel extends between and in a perpendicular direction to the first and second elongated side surfaces for a distance of between 4 and 6 inches.

In the first embodiment, the bottom surface 184 of the front portion 180 of the main body of the skid plate may further comprise at least one depression 187 therein adapted to releasably retain a light fixture therein, and the skid plate may further comprises at least one light fixture 188 adapted to be releasably retained within said at least one depression. Furthermore, holes, for example, having a radius of ¾ of an inch, can be incorporated through the main body for releasably attaching hooks for further attachment means an items, including lanyards and bungee cords,

The main body of the improved skid plate may be formed from a material chosen from a group of materials including wood, plastic, fiberglass, ceramic, aluminum, stainless steel, and copper.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-8, the preferred embodiment of the present invention discloses the improved skid plate 100 for kayaks 500 and/or boats that can be removably attached to the hull 510 of a kayak or boat via adjustable straps 150 wrapping around the body 520 and hull 510 of the kayak or boat. The kayak 500 or boat includes a body 520 having a top surface 530 and a hull 510 including a bottom surface 540, a front portion 550 having an external surface thereon, a back portion 560 having an external surface thereon, and a curved cross-section, wherein the hull extends along a length thereof. The improved skid plate 100 comprises a main body 105 comprising a main portion 110 including a top surface 115 adapted to contact the bottom surface 540 of the hull 510 of the kayak 500, a bottom surface 118 adapted to contact a ground surface, a first elongated side surface 120, a second elongated side surface 122 spaced from the first elongated side surface and extends in a substantially parallel direction to the first elongated side surface, a back end surface 130 extending between the first and second elongated side surfaces, a front end portion 132 spaced from the back end surface and extending between the first and second elongated side surfaces, an interior volume formed in between the top surface, the bottom surface, the first and second elongated side surfaces, the back end surface, and the front end portion, and at least one elongated channel 200 formed within the interior volume and extends between and in a substantially perpendicular direction to the first and second elongated side surfaces, wherein the main portion 110 is essentially elongated and flat and defines a main plane; and a front portion comprising a top surface adapted to contact the external surface of the front portion 550 of the hull 510 of the kayak 500, a bottom surface adapted to contact a ground surface, a first elongated side surface 120, a second elongated side surface 122, wherein the second elongated side surface is spaced from the first elongated side surface, a back end portion 190 extending between the first and second elongated side surfaces and is connected to the front end portion of the main portion, a front end surface 189, which may be curved, is spaced from the back end portion and extends between the first and second elongated side surfaces, an interior volume formed in between the top surface, the bottom surface, the first and second elongated side surfaces, the back end portion, and the front end surface, and wherein the front portion extends from the main portion at an angle adapted to be congruent with an angle formed by a front portion of the hull of the kayak.

The skid plate 100 is adapted to be placed against the hull of the kayak and be securely and removably connected thereto via at least one attachment strap 150 being placed along and within the at least one elongated channel 150 and extended around the body of the kayak, such that the at least one attachment strap does not touch the ground surface while the kayak is being moved there along. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the at least one attachment strap 150 is placed within the at least one elongated channel 200 and is adapted to extend around the body 520 of the kayak 500.

In the preferred embodiment, there are two elongated channels 200 spaced from one another, wherein each of the two elongated channels extend between and are in a substantially perpendicular direction to the first and second elongated side surfaces. In the preferred embodiment there are two attachment straps 150, wherein each attachment strap is placed within a respective one of the two elongated channels and are both adapted to extended around the body of the kayak in a spaced relation to one another and thereby more securely hold the skid plate to the hull of the kayak. The attachment straps 150 can be formed as being adjustable in length via any of a variety of known strap adjustment mechanisms, including buckles, hook and loop fasteners, ratchet members, loops, clips, etc.

In the preferred embodiment, the distance between the bottom surface and the top surface of said main portion may be ¾ of an inch; the distance between the first and second elongated side surfaces of the main portion may be approximately 8 inches; the width of the at least one elongated channel may be 1.125 inches wide; and the attachment straps may be 1 inch wide.

In the preferred embodiment, the main body of the improved skid plate may also be formed from a material chosen from a group of materials including wood, plastic, fiberglass, ceramic, aluminum, stainless steel, and copper.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement, which is calculated to achieve the same purpose, may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.