Multi-adjustable watercraft chock

Abstract

A multi-adjustable watercraft chock includes a base having opposite ends attachable on a surface, a pair of arms pivotally connected at inner ends to the base at opposite locations proximate the opposite ends of the base, contact bodies disposed at outer ends of the arms, couplers connecting the contact bodies with respective outer ends of the arms so as to define a pair of pivotal axes spaced apart from, and orthogonally oriented relative to, one another such that one contact body is pivotal in orthogonal directions relative to the respective outer end of one arm, and angular adjustment mechanisms coupling the arms to proximate the outer ends of the base so as to enable the arms to be continuously angularly adjusted to selectively extend from the base in oppositely flared configuration and arm outer ends and therewith bodies to thereby raise or lower relative to the base.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multi-adjustable watercraft chock, comprising:
 an elongated base having opposite ends and being attachable on a surface at said opposite ends of said elongated base;   a pair of support arms each having opposite inner and outer ends, said support arms being pivotally connected at said inner ends to said elongated base at locations between and spaced from said opposite ends of said elongated base so as to enable said support arms to be angularly adjusted and extend outward from said elongated base in an oppositely flared configuration and said outer ends of said support arms to thereby vertically raise and lower relative to said elongated base;   a pair of contact bodies each being disposed at said outer end of one of said support arms; and   a pair of couplers each interconnecting one of said contact bodies with a respective one of said outer ends of said support arms so as to define a pair of pivotal axes being spaced apart from, and orthogonally oriented relative to, one another such that said each one contact body is pivotal in orthogonal directions relative to said respective one of said outer ends of said support arms.   
     
     
         2 . The chock of  claim 1  wherein each of said couplers comprises:
 a first pair of ears; and 
 a second pair of ears being rigidly connected to said first pair of ears such that said first pair of ears extend parallel to one another, said second pair of ears extend parallel to one another, and said first pair of ears are orthogonally oriented, and extend in an opposite direction, relative to said second pair of ears. 
 
     
     
         3 . The chock of  claim 2  wherein said first pair of ears of said each coupler are spaced apart from one another so as to define a first open channel therebetween and a first one of said orthogonally oriented pivotal axes extending between said first pair of ears and across said first open channel with a first one of said contact bodies supported in said first open channel to undergo pivotal movement about said first one of said pivotal axes relative to each said coupler. 
     
     
         4 . The chock of  claim 3  wherein said ears of said first pair thereof have respective first apertures defined therethrough and aligned with one another; and further comprises an upper axle fitted through and extending between said respective first apertures and across said first open channel and through said first one of said contact bodies so as to support said first one contact body to undergo pivotal movement about said first one of said pivotal axes relative to each said coupler. 
     
     
         5 . The chock of  claim 2  wherein said second pair of ears of each coupler are spaced apart from one another so as to define a second open channel therebetween and a second one of said orthogonally oriented pivotal axes extending between said second pair of ears and across said second open channel with said outer end of one of said support arms disposed in said second open channel of said second pair of ears for supporting said each coupler to undergo pivotal movement about said second one of said pivotal axes relative to said outer end of said one support arm. 
     
     
         6 . The chock of  claim 5  wherein said ears of said second pair thereof have respective second apertures defined therethrough and aligned with one another; and further comprises a lower axle fitted through and extending between said respective second apertures and across said second open channel and through said outer end of said one support arm so as to support said each coupler to undergo pivotal movement about said second one of said pivotal axes relative to said outer end of said one support arm. 
     
     
         7 . The chock of  claim 1  wherein each of said support arms comprises:
 an inner arm portion defining said inner end of said support arm pivotally connected to said elongated base and a passageway extending from said inner end to an outer open end of said inner arm portion; and 
 an outer arm portion extending through said outer open end, and within said passageway, of said inner arm portion and being extendable out of and retractable into said passageway to provide said support arm with a selected length, said outer arm portion defining said outer end of said support arm supporting a respective one of said couplers to undergo pivotal movement about said second one of said pivotal axes. 
 
     
     
         8 . The chock of  claim 7  wherein each of said support arms further comprises:
 a plurality of first apertures spaced apart from one another and defined in a transverse relationship to and through one of said inner and outer arm portions; 
 at least one second aperture defined in a transverse relationship to and through the other of said inner and outer arms portions and alignable with one of said first apertures; and 
 a connector extendable through said one of said first apertures and said at least one second aperture to attach said inner and outer arm portions to one another so as to provide said support arm with the selected length. 
 
     
     
         9 . The chock of  claim 1  further comprising a contact pad on said elongated base between and spaced from said opposite ends of said elongated base, said contact pad extends in opposite directions toward said opposite ends of said elongated base and has dual wing-shaped configuration. 
     
     
         10 . A multi-adjustable watercraft chock, comprising:
 an elongated base having opposite ends and being attachable on a surface at said opposite ends of said elongated base;   a pair of support arms each having opposite outer and inner ends, said support arms being pivotally connected at said inner ends to said elongated base at opposite locations between and spaced from said opposite ends of said elongated base;   a pair of contact bodies each being mounted at said outer end of one of said support arms; and   a pair of angular adjustment mechanisms each coupling one of said support arms to proximate said outer ends of said elongated base so as to enable said support arms to be continuously angularly adjusted to selectively extend from said elongated base in an oppositely flared configuration and said outer ends of said support arms and therewith said contact bodies to thereby vertically raise and lower relative to said elongated base.   
     
     
         11 . The chock of  claim 10  wherein each of said pair of angular adjustment mechanisms comprises:
 a tread on a side of said support arm proximate said inner end of said support arm pivotally connected to said elongated base; 
 a gear rack movably mounted proximate one of said opposite ends of said elongated base and drivingly coupled to said tread; and 
 an adjustment screw threadably mounted along and proximate said opposite end of said elongated base and engaged with said gear rack such that upon turning said adjustment screw in a first angular direction said gear rack translates and drives said tread such that said outer end of said support arm is raised away from said respective opposite end of said elongated base and in an opposite second angular direction said gear rack oppositely translates and drives said tread such that said outer end of said support arm is lowered toward said respective opposite end of said elongated base. 
 
     
     
         12 . The chock of  claim 11  wherein each of said support arms comprises:
 an inner arm portion defining said inner end of said support arm pivotally connected to said elongated base and having said treads of said gear rack thereon, said inner arm portion also having a passageway extending from said inner end to an outer open end of said inner arm portion; and 
 an outer arm portion extending through said outer open end, and within said passageway, of said inner arm portion and being extendable out of and retractable into said passageway to provide said support arm with a selected length. 
 
     
     
         13 . The chock of  claim 12  wherein each of said support arms further comprises:
 a plurality of first apertures spaced apart from one another and defined in a transverse relationship to and through one of said inner and outer arm portions; 
 at least one second aperture defined in a transverse relationship to and through the other of said inner and outer arms portions and alignable with one of said first apertures; and 
 a connector extendable through said one of said first apertures and said at least one second aperture to attach said inner and outer arm portions to one another so as to provide said support arm with the selected length. 
 
     
     
         14 . A multi-adjustable watercraft chock, comprising:
 an elongated base having opposite ends and being attachable on a surface at said opposite ends of said elongated base;   a pair of support arms each having opposite inner and outer ends, said support arms being pivotally connected at said inner ends to said elongated base at opposite locations between and spaced from said opposite ends of said elongated base;   a pair of contact bodies each being disposed at said outer end of one of said support arms;   a pair of couplers each interconnecting one of said contact bodies with a respective one of said outer ends of said support arms so as to define a pair of pivotal axes being spaced apart from, and orthogonally oriented relative to, one another such that said each one contact body is pivotal in orthogonal directions relative to said respective one of said outer ends of said support arms; and   a pair of angular adjustment mechanisms each coupling one of said support arms to proximate said opposite ends of said elongated base so as to enable said support arms to be continuously angularly adjusted to selectively extend from said elongated base in oppositely flared configuration and said outer ends of said support arms and therewith said contact bodies to thereby vertically raise and lower relative to said elongated base.   
     
     
         15 . The chock of  claim 14  wherein each of said couplers comprises:
 a first pair of ears; and 
 a second pair of ears being rigidly connected to said first pair of ears such that said first pair of ears extend parallel to one another, said second pair of ears extend parallel to one another, and said first pair of ears are orthogonally oriented, and extend in an opposite direction, relative to said second pair of ears. 
 
     
     
         16 . The chock of  claim 15  wherein said first pair of ears of said each coupler are spaced apart from one another so as to define a first open channel therebetween and a first one of said orthogonally oriented pivotal axes extending between said first pair of ears and across said first open channel with a first one of said contact bodies supported in said first open channel to undergo pivotal movement about said first one of said pivotal axes relative to each said coupler. 
     
     
         17 . The chock of  claim 16  wherein said ears of said first pair thereof have respective first apertures defined therethrough and aligned with one another; and further comprises an upper axle fitted through and extending between said respective first apertures and across said first open channel and through said first one of said contact bodies so as to support said first one contact body to undergo pivotal movement about said first one of said pivotal axes relative to each said coupler. 
     
     
         18 . The chock of  claim 15  wherein said second pair of ears of said each coupler are spaced apart from one another so as to define a second open channel therebetween and a second one of said orthogonally oriented pivotal axes extending between said second pair of ears and across said second open channel with said outer end of one of said support arms disposed in said second open channel of said second pair of ears for supporting said each coupler to undergo pivotal movement about said second one of said pivotal axes relative to said outer end of said one support arm. 
     
     
         19 . The chock of  claim 18  wherein said ears of said second pair thereof have respective second apertures defined therethrough and aligned with one another; and further comprises a lower axle fitted through and extending between said respective second apertures and across said second open channel and through said outer end of said one support arm so as to support said each coupler to undergo pivotal movement about said second one of said pivotal axes relative to said outer end of said one support arm. 
     
     
         20 . The chock of  claim 14  wherein each of said pair of angular adjustment mechanisms comprises:
 a tread on a side of said support arm proximate said inner end of said support arm pivotally connected to said elongated base; 
 a gear rack movably mounted proximate one of said opposite ends of said elongated base and drivingly coupled to said tread; and 
 an adjustment screw threadably mounted proximate said opposite end of said elongated base and engaged with said gear rack such that upon turning said adjustment screw in a first angular direction said gear rack translates and drives said tread such that said outer end of said support arm is raised away from said respective outer end of said elongated base and in an opposite second angular direction said gear rack oppositely translates and drives said tread such that said outer end of said support arm is lowered toward said respective opposite end of said elongated base.