Portable bailer

Abstract

A portable bailer is used to remove liquid such as water from a watercraft, such as an open-topped powerboat or rowboat. The bailer features an electrically actuated liquid pump contained within a one-piece protective external molded housing also containing a suitable battery such as a suitable rechargeable battery in close proximity to the liquid pump and operative to provide power to the liquid pump upon actuation. The liquid pump and battery are located intermediate an elongated input section and an elongated output section of respective indeterminate lengths. A portion in close proximity to the distal end of the output section is formed into an inverted J-like configuration operative to direct the pumped liquid outwardly over the gunnel of the watercraft.

1 . A portable bailer for removing liquid such as water from a watercraft having a bottom, said bailer comprising;
 A one-piece protective molded housing surrounding a liquid pump in close proximity to a battery,   Said housing having an input section of indeterminate length and an output section of indeterminate length having respective liquid passageways therethrough in liquid communication with the liquid pump,   Said output section having a portion in close proximity to a distal end thereof formed into a substantially inverted J-like configuration,   Said housing having an access door for the battery,   Said housing having a handle mounted thereupon, and   Said bailer having an electrical switch mounted on the molded housing operative to actuate the liquid pump so as to pump liquid from the watercraft,   
   
   
       2 . The bailer of  claim 1  wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery. 
   
   
       3 . The bailer of  claim 2  including a pair of spaced-apart electrical charging contacts operative to enable electrical charging of the battery. 
   
   
       4 . The bailer of  claim 1  wherein the housing is a molded plastic housing. 
   
   
       5 . The bailer of  claim 4  wherein the molded plastic housing is a rigid molded plastic housing. 
   
   
       6 . The bailer of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said inlet and outlet sections is releasably secured to a section of the housing enclosing the liquid pump and battery. 
   
   
       7 . The bailer of  claim 1  wherein a distal end of the inlet section is provided with a radially extending opening therethrough enabling the bailer to pump liquid upon engagement of the distal end with the bottom of the watercraft. 
   
   
       8 . The bailer of  claims 1  or  6  where at least one of said inlet and outlet sections is made from a molded plastic material that is the same as or more flexible than the molded plastic housing surrounding the liquid pump and battery. 
   
   
       9 . The bailer of  claims 1  or  6  where at least one of said outlet and inlet sections has a substantially tubular configuration. 
   
   
       10 . The bailer of  claims 1  or  6  wherein the molded plastic housing includes at least one light-emitting diode operative to indicate a charging state of the battery. 
   
   
       11 . The bailer of  claims 1  or  6  wherein the distal end of the inlet section has a plug releasably secured thereto having at least one radially extending opening therethrough operative to enable liquid to flow into the inlet section upon engagement of the distal end with the bottom of the watercraft. 
   
   
       12 . The bailer of  claims 1  or  6  including a filter releasably secured to the distal end of the inlet section and operative to prevent debris from damaging the liquid pump. 
   
   
       13 . The bailer of  claim 11  including a filter held in position by the plug to prevent debris from damaging the liquid pump. 
   
   
       14 . The bailer of  claim 12  wherein the filter is disposed between the inlet section and the molded housing surrounding the liquid pump and battery. 
   
   
       15 . The bailer of  claims 1  or  6  wherein the handle is integrally secured to the molded housing. 
   
   
       16 . The bailer of  claims 1  or  6  wherein the switch is mounted on the handle. 
   
   
       17 . The bailer of  claims 1  or  6  wherein at least a portion of the outer surface of the inlet and outlet sections is grooved to provide a bellows-like configuration operative to enhance flexibility.