Multi-purpose boat

• US 9,352,626 B1
• Filed: 03/23/2013
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bryan N. Bruening
• Original Assignee: Bryan N. Bruening
• Inventors: Bruening, Bryan N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Venne, Daniel V
• Application Number:
  US13/849,498
• Time in Patent Office: 1,165 Days
• Field of Search: 440/12.5, 440 1251- 1254
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60F 2301/04 pivotally
• CPC Class Codes: B60F 3/0069 Recreational amphibious vehicles toy vehicles A63H17/00 - A63H31/00

Abstract

A multi-purpose boat has both land and water propulsion. The land propulsion wheels are selectively retractable, to lower the boat into engagement with ice. At least one ice fishing portal is provided in the bottom of the boat hull, and a portal cover is coupled with the boat hull to selectively open or close the portal. In some embodiments, a plurality of motive power sources are provided, as are various low-speed rudder systems, and a variety of canopies or shelters for various sporting activities.

Claims

1. A multi-purpose boat operative upon hard surfaces and in water, comprising:

a boat hull defining a substantially water impervious barrier between an operatively occupied boat interior and said water when said boat traverses said water;

at least three retractable wheels operative in a first extended position to support said boat hull above and distal to said hard surfaces when said boat traverses said hard surfaces, and operative in a second retracted position to position said boat hull on to said hard surfaces;

at least one propeller operatively rotating and thereby propelling said boat hull through said water;

at least one drive motor for operatively propelling said boat hull through at least one of said at least three retractable wheels and said at least one propeller;

at least one ice fishing portal operative in a first open position to permit ice fishing access through said boat hull and operative in a second closed position to maintain said boat hull substantially water impervious, said at least one ice fishing portal coplanar with a bottom of said boat hull and thereby on an ice surface when said at least three retractable wheels are in said second retracted position above said ice surface.

2. The multi-purpose boat of claim 1, further comprising at least one seat adjacent to said at least one ice fishing portal upon which a person may operatively sit and fish through said at least one ice fishing portal when said at least three retractable wheels are in said second retracted position.

3. The multi-purpose boat of claim 1, further comprising a canopy selectively covering and sheltering said boat interior.

4. The multi-purpose boat of claim 1, wherein said at least one drive motor further comprises at least two independent motive power sources.

5. The multi-purpose boat of claim 1, further comprising a pair of opposed seats each having fold-down back rests and thereby convertible to a bed.

6. The multi-purpose boat of claim 1, wherein said at least one ice fishing portal further comprises:

a hole through said boat hull;

a hinge rigidly affixed to said boat hull;

a portal cover coupled to said hinge and thereby rotatable relative to said boat hole; and

a fastener operative to selectively secure said portal cover to said boat hull and thereby close said boat hull hole.

7. The multi-purpose boat of claim 6, wherein said portal cover further comprises side walls and a bottom, said bottom co-planar with said boat hull bottom when said portal cover is selectively secured to said boat hull.

8. A boat configured for a variety of purposes including boating, land travel and ice fishing, comprising:

a boat hull having a bottom and side walls;

at least three retractable wheels configured in a first extended position to support said boat hull bottom above and distal to ice when said boat traverses said ice, and configured in a second retracted position to position said boat hull bottom immediately adjacent to said ice;

at least one propeller operatively rotating and thereby propelling said boat hull through said water;

at least one drive motor configured to propel said boat hull, selectively and alternatively through at least one of said at least three retractable wheels and said at least one propeller;

at least one ice fishing portal configured in a first open position to permit ice fishing access through said boat hull and configured in a second closed position to maintain said boat hull substantially water impervious, said at least one ice fishing portal operatively immediately adjacent to said ice when said at least three retractable wheels are in said second retracted position; and

at least one seat adjacent to said at least one ice fishing portal upon which a person may operatively sit and fish through said at least one ice fishing portal when said at least three retractable wheels are in said second retracted position.

9. The boat of claim 8, further comprising a canopy selectively covering and sheltering said boat interior.

10. The boat of claim 8, wherein said at least one drive motor further comprises at least two independent motive power sources.

11. The boat of claim 8, further comprising a pair of opposed seats each having fold-down back rests and thereby convertible to a bed.

12. The boat of claim 8, wherein said at least one ice fishing portal further comprises:

a hole through said boat hull;

a hinge rigidly affixed to said boat hull;

a portal cover coupled to said hinge and thereby rotatable relative to said boat hole; and

a fastener configured to selectively secure said portal cover to said boat hull and thereby close said boat hull hole.

13. The boat of claim 12, wherein said portal cover further comprises side walls and a bottom, said bottom co-planar with said boat hull bottom when said portal cover is selectively secured to said boat hull.

14. An amphibious vehicle operative for a variety of purposes including boating, land travel and ice fishing, comprising:

a boat hull having a bottom and side walls and thereby defining a boat interior;

a canopy selectively covering and sheltering said boat interior;

retractable wheels operative in a first extended position to support said boat hull bottom above and distal to ice when said boat traverses said ice, and operative in a second retracted position to position said boat hull bottom immediately adjacent to said ice;

at least one propeller operatively rotating and thereby propelling said boat hull through said water;

at least one drive motor having at least two alternative and independent motive power sources for operatively propelling said boat hull, selectively and alternatively through at least one of said retractable wheels and said at least one propeller;

at least one ice fishing portal operative in a first open position to permit ice fishing access through said boat hull and operative in a second closed position to maintain said boat hull substantially water impervious, said at least one ice fishing portal operatively immediately adjacent to said ice when said retractable wheels are in said second retracted position; and

at least one seat adjacent to said at least one ice fishing portal upon which a person may operatively sit and fish through said at least one ice fishing portal when said retractable wheels are in said second retracted position.

15. The amphibious vehicle of claim 14, wherein said at least one ice fishing portal further comprises:

a hole through said boat hull;

a hinge rigidly affixed to said boat hull;

a portal cover coupled to said hinge and thereby rotatable relative to said boat hole; and

a fastener operative to selectively secure said portal cover to said boat hull and thereby close said boat hull hole.

16. The amphibious vehicle of claim 15, wherein said portal cover further comprises:

side walls;

a bottom co-planar with said boat hull when said portal cover is selectively secured to said boat hull;

a handle extending radially out from said side walls;

an elastomeric seal lining said boat hull hole and operative to engage with said side walls to form a substantially water-impervious seal therewith; and

a fastener securing said handle to said boat hull when said portal cover is selectively secured to said boat hull.