Kayak back-band installation assembly and method for installing a back-band in a kayak

Abstract

An assembly and method for installing a back-band utilize 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.

I claim as my invention the following:  
     
         1 . A kayak back-band assembly, comprising: 
 (a) a back-band having an elongated member for supporting the back of a person situated in the kayak;    (b) at least one pawl member mounted to the back-band; and,    (c) at least one ratchet strap having a first end secured to said pawl member and a second end adapted to being secured to the kayak.    
     
     
         2 . A kayak back-band assembly as defined in  claim 1  further comprising two pawl members mounted on a back surface of the back-band, and two ratchet straps, each ratchet strap having a first end extending through a corresponding pawl member, and a second end adapted to being secured within the cockpit area of the kayak.  
     
     
         3 . A kayak back-band assembly as defined in  claim 1  wherein said kayak includes a seat mounted in the cockpit of the kayak, and said seat including a substantially horizontal member, two upright support members mounted to a hull of the kayak depending therefrom and suspending said seat within the cockpit, and each said upright support member having a slot through which a ratchet strap is adapted to extend and said ratchet strap having a knob mounted on said second end of each ratchet strap.  
     
     
         4 . A kayak back-band assembly as defined in  claim 1  further comprising a buckle and strap assembly interconnected to the back-band and adapted to being secured to the kayak for supporting said back band in the kayak.  
     
     
         5 . A kayak back-band assembly as defined in  claim 4  wherein said strap and buckle assembly includes a flexible material adapted to being threaded through said buckle and through apertures formed in the cockpit of the kayak.  
     
     
         6 . A kayak back-band assembly as defined in  claim 4  wherein said strap and buckle assembly includes a flexible strapping having a middle strap fixed to the back band and adapted to being threaded through two buckles, and two end straps with each end strap adapted to being threaded through a slot formed in the kayak and through each said buckle, and said buckle being adjustable along a length of respective end straps.  
     
     
         7 . A kayak back-band assembly, comprising: 
 (a) a back-band having an elongated member for supporting the back of a person situated in the kayak;    (b) at least one pawl member adapted to be mounted within the kayak; and    (c) at least one ratchet strap having a first end secured to said pawl member and having at least one member attached to a second end of the ratchet strap to interconnect the ratchet strap to the back-band.    
     
     
         8 . A kayak back-band assembly as defined in  claim 7  wherein said kayak has at least one thigh brace in the cockpit area of the kayak, and at least one said pawl member is adapted to be mounted to a thigh brace.  
     
     
         9 . A kayak back-band assembly as defined in  claim 7  wherein at least one said pawl member is located in front of a seating area within said kayak and wherein at least one said member attached to said second end of said ratchet strap is routed beneath said seat and through an upright support member mounted to a hull of the kayak depending therefrom and suspending said seat within the cockpit.  
     
     
         10 . A kayak back-band assembly as defined in  claim 7  wherein at least one said pawl member is attached to an upright support member mounted to a hull of the kayak depending therefrom and suspending a seat of the kayak within the cockpit.  
     
     
         9 .  
     
     
         11 . A method for installing a back-band in a kayak, comprising: 
 (a) mounting at least one pawl member on the back-band;    (b) securing a first end of a ratchet strap to a pawl member; and    (c) supporting a second end of said ratchet strap in the kayak.    
     
     
         12 . A method as defined in  claim 11  wherein the step of supporting the second end of the ratchet strap includes fixing a knob on said second end of the ratchet strap and installing said strap through a slot formed in a seat in the kayak. kayak.  
     
     
         13 . A method as defined in  claim 11  further comprising the step of interconnecting a strap and buckle assembly to the back-band and to a cockpit of the kayak.  
     
     
         14 . A method as defined in  claim 13  wherein said step of interconnecting a strap and buckle assembly includes forming at least one aperture in the kayak, threading at least one flexible strap through said aperture and through at least one buckle, and adjusting the tension of the flexible strap with the buckle.  
     
     
         15 . A method for installing a back-band in a kayak, comprising: 
 (a) mounting at least one pawl member to the kayak;    (b) securing a first end of a ratchet strap to a pawl member; and    (c) supporting a second end of said ratchet strap to the back-band.    
     
     
         16 . A method as defined in  claim 15  wherein said step of mounting at least one pawl member includes mounting at least one said pawl member to a thigh brace in the kayak.  
     
     
         17 . A method as defined in  claim 15  wherein the step of supporting said second end of a ratchet strap includes fixing a flexible strap to the second end of the ratchet strap and fixing the said flexible strap to the back-band.  
     
     
         18 . A method as defined in  claim 15  wherein said step of mounting at least one said pawl member includes mounting said pawl member in front of a seating area within said kayak and wherein said step of supporting said second end of said ratchet strap includes attaching a flexible strap to said second end and routing said flexible strap beneath said seat and through an upright support member mounted to a hull of the kayak depending therefrom and suspending said seat within the cockpit.  
     
     
         19 . A method as defined in  claim 15  wherein said step of mounting at least one said pawl member includes mounting said pawl member to an upright support member mounted to a hull of the kayak depending therefrom and suspending a seat of the kayak within the cockpit.