Container holding thwart

Abstract

A container holding thwart for transferring force between the gunwales of a canoe. The thwart is provided with a frame defining an opening which releasably retains a container. The opening may either be of a closed configuration to retain a beverage container, or the like, or may be of an open configuration to retain a refuse bag. The openings may be of any size, shape, number or configuration.

1 . a canoe thwart assembly comprising: 
 (a) a first arm coupled to a first gunwale;    (b) a second arm coupled to a second gunwale;    (c) means coupled to said first arm and said second arm for transferring tension from said first gunwale to said second gunwale; and    (d) means for retaining a container at least partially within said transferring means.    
   
   
       2 . The canoe thwart assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said transferring means is a frame defining an opening.  
   
   
       3 . The canoe thwart assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said transferring means is means for transferring tension from said first arm to said second arm around a substantially annular opening.  
   
   
       4 . The canoe thwart assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said retaining means comprises a flexible retainer.  
   
   
       5 . The canoe thwart assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said flexible retainer is coupled to said transferring means.  
   
   
       6 . The canoe thwart assembly of  claim 5 , wherein said transferring means is means for transferring tension from said first arm to said second arm around a substantially annular opening.  
   
   
       7 . The canoe thwart assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said retaining means is a collapsible retainer.  
   
   
       8 . The canoe thwart assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said collapsible retainer is coupled to said transferring means.  
   
   
       9 . The canoe thwart assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said transferring means is means for transferring tension from said first arm to said second arm around a substantially annular opening.  
   
   
       10 . The canoe thwart assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a container releasably engaged with said retaining means.  
   
   
       11 . The canoe thwart assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said container is a watertight container.  
   
   
       12 . The canoe thwart assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said retaining means is a retainer provided with an open area sufficient to allow a liquid to drain from said retainer.  
   
   
       13 . The canoe thwart assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said retaining means is a retainer provided with an open area sufficient to allow a liquid to drain from said retainer.  
   
   
       14 . A canoe thwart assembly comprising: 
 (a) a first arm coupled to a first gunwale;    (b) a second arm coupled to a second gunwale;    (c) means coupled to said first arm and said second arm for transferring tension from said first gunwale to said second gunwale;    (d) wherein said transferring means comprises a frame defining an opening; and    (e) means for retaining a container at least partially within said opening.    
   
   
       15 . The canoe thwart assembly of  claim 14 , wherein said transferring means is means for transferring tension from said first arm to said second arm around said opening.  
   
   
       16 . The canoe thwart assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said retaining means is a retainer provided with an open area sufficient to allow a liquid to drain from said retainer.  
   
   
       17 . The canoe thwart assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising supplemental means for transferring tension from said first arm to said second arm, and supplemental means for retaining a supplemental container at least partially within said supplemental transferring means.  
   
   
       18 . The canoe thwart assembly of  claim 17 , wherein said transferring means defines an opening at least fifty percent larger than a supplemental opening defined by said supplemental transferring means.  
   
   
       19 . (canceled)  
   
   
       20 . (canceled)  
   
   
       21 . A canoe thwart assembly comprising: 
 (a) a first arm located along an axis;    (b) a second arm located along said axis:    (c) means for transferring force from said first arm to said second arm: and    (d) wherein said transferring means defines a container retention space extending across said axis.    
   
   
       22 . The canoe thwart assembly of  claim 21 , further comprising a container provided within said container retention space.