Personal marine winterizing system

• US 6,769,943 B1
• Filed: 07/14/2003
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James T. Abell
• Original Assignee: James T. Abell
• Inventors: Abell, James T.
• Primary Examiner(s): AVILA, STEPHEN P
• Application Number:
  US10/618,305
• Time in Patent Office: 386 Days
• Field of Search: 440/88.N
• US Class Current: 440/88.00N
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 15/00 Storing of vessels on land otherwise than by dry-docking
• CPC Class Codes: B63J 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

A wheeled, open reservoir having a hood like splash guard extending upward from the rear wall and opening forward. Swivel front wheels allow placement relative to a boat outdrive. A high pressure pump is mounted forward of the front wall and protected from the solution by the splash guard and is part of a circulation system having a pickup hose, a strainer, and a faucet type valve, to deliver high pressure fluid, controlled by the valve, to an applications supply hose which is connected to an “ear muff” connection with the cooling water opening of an outdrive of an inboard/outboard marine engine and drive or an outboard motor and drive, or, alternatively, connected to a trigger sprayer valve controlling winterizing fluid to a connecting line for an inboard marine engine or boat water system. There may be a re-circulation line to the system reservoir.

Claims

1. A personal marine winterizing system, comprising:

a portable reservoir having;

a front end wall having a handle thereon;

opposing side walls;

a rear end wall;

a bottom wall; and

said front end wall and said side walls forming an upper lip;

a rearward opening, hood-like splash guard mounted on said reservoir extending upward from said rear end wall and rear portions of said portable reservoir; and

an antifreeze solution circulating system mounted on said rear end wall and extending rearward from said end wall and said splash guard, said circulating system having a high pressure pump having an inlet and an outlet, a solution pickup extending through said end wall to said bottom wall so as to allow suction of said solution into said high pressure pump, and a high pressure fluid application supply hose fluidly connected with the outlet of said high pressure pump for supplying high pressure fluid to one of a marine engine and a boat fresh or marine water system;

wherein said rear wall includes a generally horizontal support wall extending rearward from said rear end wall and located so as to provide physical support for said circulating system.

2. The winterizing system of claim 1, wherein said reservoir is generally rectangular in shape, and has rear wheels mounted thereon on opposing sides of said reservoir and extending below said bottom wall for supporting said reservoir for movement of said system to a location for winterizing a boat.

3. The winterizing system of claim 2, wherein said reservoir has swivel wheels mounted thereon on opposing sides of said reservoir and extending below said bottom wall for supporting said reservoir for swivelable movement, allowing ease in location of said winterizing system relative to a boat stern or other portion.

4. The winterizing system of claim 1, wherein said circulating system includes a high pressure control valve fluidly connected with the outlet of said high pressure pump, said valve being connected with said fluid supply hose for controlling fluid flow between said pump and said fluid supply hose.

5. The winterizing system of claim 4, said horizontal support wall having a vertical valve support wall extending upward therefrom for supporting said high pressure control valve relative to said high pressure hose and said reservoir end wall.

6. The winterizing system of claim 5, said high pressure control valve being a faucet-like valve having a threaded or snap connect outlet, said supply hose being connected with said supply hose by a mating threaded connection or snap connect/disconnect fitting.

7. The winterizing system of claim 5, said circulating system having a strainer fluidly connected between said solution pickup and said high pressure pump inlet.

8. The winterizing system of claim 7, wherein said strainer is mounted to said circulating system support wall.

9. The winterizing system of claim 8, wherein said strainer is fluidly connected with said solution pickup by a through-wall fitting and a supply line.

10. The winterizing system of claim 9, wherein said solution pickup is a suction supply hose connected with said through-wall fitting by an elbow fitting.

11. The winterizing system of claim 8, further comprising a connecting hose connected between said strainer and said pump inlet by an inlet hose and a high pressure outlet hose connected between said pump outlet and said high pressure control valve.

12. The winterizing system of claim 1, further comprising an “

ear muff”

type connection connected with said fluid supply hose for fluid connection with a cooling water opening in the out drive of an inboard/outboard boat propulsion system for flushing said outdrive and the connected marine engine with flushing solution such as antifreeze solution.

13. The winterizing system of claim 1, further comprising an “

ear muff”

type connection connected with said fluid application supply hose for fluid connection with a cooling water opening in the drive portion of an outboard boat engine.

14. The winterizing system of claim 1, further comprising a control valve connected with said fluid application supply hose for fluid connection with a supply connector for connection with a marine engine cooling system or a boat fresh or marine water system.

15. The winterizing system of claim 14, wherein said control valve is a garden-type trigger spray valve.

16. The winterizing system of claim 14, further comprising a fluid return hose for connection with a marine engine or a boat fresh or marine boat water system for returning flushing fluid supplied by said high pressure application supply hose from said marine engine or boat water system to said reservoir, thus saving winterizing fluid for recirculation into said circulation system.