Boat accessory rack

Abstract

A boat accessory rack has a frame typically including at least two members, one of which is movable. An actuation device such as a manually operated actuator, a hydraulically operated actuator or a pneumatically operated actuator applies an actuation force to the movable member thereby moving the movable member from an unclosed position into a closed position in which the wakeboard is secured. A releasable locking mechanism such as a ratcheting mechanism, an interlocking ring mechanism, a ball bearing system or an over-centering system maintains the movable member in the closed position until a user desires to remove the wakeboard from the rack. Also, a cam mechanism transfers the actuation force to the movable member in some embodiments. In other embodiments, the accessory is secured between a rotating wedge mechanism and a second member.

1 . An accessory rack for securing an accessory to a boat, the accessory rack comprising: 
 (a) a frame member which is mountable on a portion of a boat,    (b) a movable member rotatably mounted substantially adjacent the frame member and having a cam follower, wherein an accessory is placeable substantially between the movable member and the frame member for securement,    (c) a rotatable cam mechanism, wherein the cam follower slidably engages the rotatable cam mechanism such that the movable member moves from an unclosed position into a closed position in which the accessory is secured between the movable member and the frame member with a clamping force when the rotatable cam mechanism is rotated, and    (d) an actuation device for applying an actuation force to the cam mechanism for rotating the cam mechanism.    
   
   
       2 . The accessory rack of  claim 1  wherein the actuation device comprises a manually operated actuator.  
   
   
       3 . The accessory rack of  claim 1  wherein the actuation device comprises one of a pneumatic actuator or a hydraulic actuator.  
   
   
       4 . The accessory rack of  claim 1  wherein the actuation device comprises an electromechanical actuator.  
   
   
       5 . The accessory rack of  claim 1  further comprising a releasable locking mechanism for maintaining the movable member in the closed position until a user desires to remove the accessory from the accessory rack.  
   
   
       6 . The accessory rack of  claim 5  wherein the releasable locking mechanism comprises a ratcheting mechanism which allows the movable member to move from the unclosed position to the closed position if the actuation force is applied to the cam mechanism that is greater than a threshold force and the ratcheting mechanism limiting the movable member from moving from the closed position to the unclosed position until the user releases the ratcheting mechanism.  
   
   
       7 . The accessory rack of  claim 5  wherein the releasable locking mechanism is an interlocking ring mechanism for limiting the movement of the movable member until an actuation force is applied to the cam mechanism that is greater than a threshold force, the interlocking ring mechanism comprising an interlocking ring having a plurality of ring teeth disposed in a substantially circular arrangement on a surface of the interlocking ring for engaging at least one cam mechanism tooth.  
   
   
       8 . The accessory rack of  claim 5  wherein the releasable locking mechanism is a ball bearing system for limiting the movement of the movable member until an actuation force is applied to the cam mechanism that is greater than a threshold force, the ball bearing system comprising a bearing receiver defining a plurality of apertures disposed in a substantially circular arrangement on a surface of the bearing receiver for engaging at least one cam mechanism ball bearing.  
   
   
       9 . The accessory rack of  claim 5  wherein the releasable locking mechanism is an over-centering system for allowing the movable member to move from the unclosed position to the closed position if the actuation force is applied to the cam mechanism that is greater than a first threshold force and for allowing the movable member to move from the closed position to the unclosed position only if a deactuation force substantially opposite the actuation force and greater than a second threshold force is applied to the cam mechanism or if the user releases the over-centering system.  
   
   
       10 . An accessory rack for securing an accessory to a boat, the accessory rack comprising: 
 (a) a frame which is mountable on a portion of a boat, the frame having a first frame member and a second frame member,    (b) a first rotatable wedge mechanism rotatably mounted on the first frame member, wherein an accessory is placeable substantially adjacent the movable member and the second frame member for securement, and    (c) an actuation device for providing an actuation force to rotate the first rotatable wedge mechanism about an axis from an unclosed position into a closed position such that the accessory is secured by the rotatable wedge mechanism against the second frame member.    
   
   
       11 . The accessory rack of  claim 10  wherein the second frame member comprises a second rotatable wedge mechanism.  
   
   
       12 . The accessory rack of  claim 10  wherein the actuation device comprises an electromechanical actuator.  
   
   
       13 . The accessory rack of  claim 10  wherein the actuation device comprises a manually operated actuator.  
   
   
       14 . The accessory rack of  claim 10  wherein the actuation device comprises a hydraulic actuator.  
   
   
       15 . The accessory rack of  claim 10  wherein the actuation device comprises a pneumatic actuator.  
   
   
       16 . The accessory rack of  claim 10  further comprising a releasable locking mechanism for maintaining the cam mechanism in the closed position until a user desires to remove the accessory from the accessory rack.  
   
   
       17 . The accessory rack of  claim 10  wherein the first rotatable wedge mechanism comprises a rotatable cam member.  
   
   
       18 . The accessory rack of  claim 10  wherein the first rotatable wedge mechanism comprises a fork mechanism including at least two elongate fingers projecting from a rotatable base whereby the accessory is receivable substantially between the two projecting fingers, and further wherein the fingers provide a force against the accessory when the fork mechanism is rotated to secure the accessory against the second frame member.  
   
   
       19 . An accessory rack for securing an accessory to a boat, the accessory rack comprising a frame with a first movable member mounted thereto, wherein an accessory is placeable substantially adjacent the first movable member for securement within the rack, and an automated actuation device for actuating the movable member and thereby biasing the movable member from an unclosed position into a closed position such that the accessory is secured within the rack.  
   
   
       20 . The accessory rack of  claim 19  wherein the automated actuation device comprises one of a pneumatic actuator, a hydraulic actuator, or an electromechanical actuator.