Outrigger Deployment Mechanism

Abstract

An outrigger deployment mechanism is provided. The outrigger deployment mechanism may include, one or more outrigger adjustment plates; one or more outriggers; one or more outrigger arms operably coupling the one or more outriggers to the one or more outrigger adjustment plates; one or more locking mechanisms operably engaged with at least one of the one or more outrigger adjustment plates and at least one of a corresponding one or more outrigger arms, wherein the one or more locking mechanisms are configured to lock the outriggers in various positions; and one or more adjustment mechanisms operably engaged with one or more of the one or more locking mechanisms and the one or more outrigger arms, wherein the one or more adjustment mechanisms are configured to position the outriggers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An outrigger deployment mechanism, comprising:
 a. one or more outrigger adjustment plates;   b. one or more outriggers;   c. one or more outrigger arms operably coupling the one or more outriggers to the one or more outrigger adjustment plates;   d. one or more locking mechanisms operably engaged with at least one of the one or more outrigger adjustment plates and at least one of a corresponding one or more outrigger arms, wherein the one or more locking mechanisms are configured to lock the one or more outriggers in various positions; and   e. one or more adjustment mechanisms operably engaged with one or more of the one or more outrigger arms, wherein the one or more adjustment mechanisms are configured to position the one or more outriggers.   
     
     
         2 . The outrigger deployment mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more locking mechanisms comprises one or more spring-loaded locking pins. 
     
     
         3 . The outrigger deployment mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more outrigger adjustment plates comprise one or more receptacles for receiving an end portion of the one or more spring-loaded locking pins. 
     
     
         4 . The outrigger deployment mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more outrigger arms are shaped. 
     
     
         5 . The outrigger deployment mechanism of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more outrigger arms are shaped such that a distal end coupled to the one or more outriggers comprises a curved portion. 
     
     
         6 . The outrigger deployment mechanism of  claim 1 , further comprising an inside arm pivot configured to pivotably connect the one or more outrigger arms to the one or more outrigger adjustment plates; and an outside arm pivot configured to pivotably connect the one or more outrigger arm to the one or more outriggers. 
     
     
         7 . The outrigger deployment mechanism of  claim 6 , wherein the inside arm pivot and the outside arm pivot are configured to allow the one or more outriggers to maintain a substantially parallel position in relationship to a main hull of a watercraft through movement of the one or more outriggers to various deployed positions. 
     
     
         8 . The outrigger deployment mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the outrigger arms comprise at least a front outrigger arm and a rear outrigger arm. 
     
     
         9 . The outrigger deployment mechanism of  claim 8 , wherein the front outrigger arm comprises a front inside arm pivot configured to pivotably connect the front outrigger arm to one of the one or more outrigger adjustment plates and a front outside arm pivot configured to pivotably connect the front outrigger arm to a front portion of one of the one or more outriggers, and wherein the rear outrigger arm comprises a rear inside arm pivot configured to pivotably connect the rear outrigger arm to one of the one or more outrigger adjustment plates and a rear outside arm pivot configured to pivotably connect the rear outrigger arm to rear portion of one of the one or more outriggers. 
     
     
         10 . The outrigger deployment mechanism of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more locking mechanisms are operably engaged with the front outrigger arm. 
     
     
         11 . The outrigger deployment mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more adjustment mechanisms comprises one or more handles. 
     
     
         12 . The outrigger deployment mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more locking mechanisms is manually engaged and/or disengaged directly by an operator. 
     
     
         13 . The outrigger deployment mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more adjustment mechanisms are operably engaged with one or more of the one or more locking mechanisms and the one or more outrigger arms. 
     
     
         14 . The outrigger deployment mechanism of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more locking mechanisms is engaged and/or disengaged by an operator via the one or more adjustment mechanisms. 
     
     
         15 . A method of adjusting outriggers via an outrigger deployment mechanism, the method comprising:
 a. disengaging an outrigger locking mechanism, wherein the outrigger locking mechanism is operably engaged with one or more outrigger adjustment plates and one or more outrigger arms, and wherein the one or more outrigger arms operably couple the one or more outriggers to the one or more outrigger adjustment plates;   b. adjusting an adjustment mechanism operably coupled to the one or more outrigger arms until the one or more outriggers are in a desired position; and   c. engaging the outrigger locking mechanism to secure the one or more outriggers in a desired position.