Portable watercraft docking apparatus

Abstract

A portable docking apparatus for watercraft having two side rails positioned on four feet, the side rails adapted to rotate axially between front and rear feet, the rotation of the side rails being limited by rotation stops, the apparatus further having a gusset for each side rail, the gusset being attached to the bottom of the side rails, the gusset having a first end and a second end, one of said first end and said second end penetrating into to the center of the lower end of the front foot.

1 . A portable docking apparatus for watercraft, the apparatus comprising:
 a. a first foot having a base and an upper end opposite the base;   b. a second foot having a base and an upper end opposite the base;   c. a third foot having a base and an upper end opposite the base;   d. a first side rail, said first side rail having a first end attached to the upper end of the first foot and a second end opposite the first end, the first side rail second end being attached to the upper end of the second foot, the first side rail axially rotating relative to said first foot and said second foot;   e. a second side rail, said second side rail being attached to the third foot and separated from the first side rail by a desired first longitudinal span, the first and second side rails collectively forming a seat to nestingly receive the underside of a watercraft;   f. a first cross member having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end attached to said first foot, the second end attached to said third foot, said first foot being separated from said third foot by a desired first lateral span; and   g. a first rotation stop, said first rotation stop limiting the angle of rotation of the first side rail relative to said first foot and said second foot.   
     
     
         2 . The docking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one of said first side rail and said second side rail is elongated. 
     
     
         3 . The docking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first side rail has a generally flat upper surface. 
     
     
         4 . The docking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first side rail is oriented generally parallel to the second side rail. 
     
     
         5 . The docking apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a fourth foot having a base and an upper end opposite the base. 
     
     
         6 . The docking apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the second side rail has a first end attached to the upper end of the third foot and a second end opposite the first end, the second side rail second end being attached to the upper end of the fourth foot, the second side rail axially rotating relative to said third foot and said fourth foot. 
     
     
         7 . The docking apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a second rotation stop, said first rotation stop limiting the angle of rotation of the second side rail relative to the third foot and the fourth foot. 
     
     
         8 . The docking apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the second rotational stop limits the second side rail angle of rotation to approximately 40 degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The docking apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the second rotational stop constrains the second side rail angle of rotation relative to the third foot. 
     
     
         10 . The docking apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the second rotational stop constrains the second side rail angle of rotation relative to begin approximately 50 degrees from the third foot, and end approximately perpendicular to the third foot. 
     
     
         11 . The docking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein one of said first foot upper end and said second foot upper end comprises a horizontal cylindrical construct, and said first side rail rotatingly engages the horizontal cylindrical construct. 
     
     
         12 . The docking apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first rotational stop comprises a rod and a slot, the slot being positioned in the first foot upper end, the rod being positioned in the first side rail and extending into the slot. 
     
     
         13 . The docking apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a first rail support, said first rail support positioned between the first side rail and said first foot upper end, the first side rail and said first rail support collectively rotating in an axial manner relative to said first foot upper end. 
     
     
         14 . A portable docking apparatus for watercraft, the apparatus comprising:
 a. a first foot having a base and an upper end opposite the base;   b. a second foot having a base and an upper end opposite the base;   c. a third foot having a base and an upper end opposite the base;   d. a first side rail, said first side rail having a first end attached to the upper end of the first foot and a second end opposite the first end, the first side rail second end being attached to the upper end of the second foot, the first side rail axially rotating relative to said first foot and said second foot;   e. a second side rail, said second side rail being attached to the third foot and separated from the first side rail by a desired first longitudinal span, the first and second side rails collectively forming a seat to nestingly receive the underside of a watercraft;   f. a first cross member having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end attached to said first foot, the second end attached to said third foot, said first foot being separated from said third foot by a desired first lateral span; and   g. a first gusset, said first gusset having a first end and a second end opposite the first end with a curved section there between, the first end being secured to the approximate lateral center of the first foot proximate the base, the second end being secured to the approximate lateral center of the second foot proximate the base, and the curved section being secured to the first side rail, the first gusset thereby imparting a bias to the first side rail to constrain and limit the rotation of the first side rail relative to the first and second feet.   
     
     
         15 . The docking apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the curved section of the first gusset is approximately one third the distance between the first end and the second end. 
     
     
         16 . The docking apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the first foot comprises a first bore in proximity to the first foot base, the first foot first bore being sized and shaped to snugly receive the first gusset first end, the first gusset first end being positioned in the first foot first bore. 
     
     
         17 . The docking apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the second foot comprises a first bore in proximity to the second foot base, the second foot first bore being sized and shaped to snugly receive the first gusset second end, first gusset second end being positioned in the second foot first bore. 
     
     
         18 . The docking apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a fourth foot and a second gusset, said fourth foot having a base and an upper end opposite the base, the second side rail first end being attached to the upper end of the third foot and the second side rail second end being attached to the upper end of the fourth foot, the second side rail axially rotating relative to said third foot and said fourth foot, said second gusset having a first end and a second end opposite the first end with a curved section there between, the second gusset first end being secured to the third foot proximate the base, the second gusset second end being secured to the fourth foot proximate the base, and the curved section being secured to the second side rail, the second gusset thereby imparting a bias to the second side rail to constrain and limit the rotation of the second side rail relative to the third and fourth feet. 
     
     
         19 . The docking apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the third foot comprises a first bore in proximity to the third foot base, the third foot first bore being sized and shaped to snugly receive the second gusset first end, the second gusset first end being positioned in the third foot first bore. 
     
     
         20 . The docking apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the fourth foot comprises a first bore in proximity to the fourth foot base, the fourth foot first bore being sized and shaped to snugly receive the second gusset second end, the second gusset second end being positioned in the fourth foot first bore.