Kayak wheel set configuratable for ground transport and for stowage while on water and method of using

Abstract

A kayak wheel set that installs on a kayak and is configurable to provide rear wheels for transport. The kayak wheel set includes ( 1 ) a base with two prongs that insert into and protrude through two kayak drain holes, ( 2 ) a shaft assembly that couples to the protruding prongs, and ( 3 ) two wheel assemblies that couple to the shaft assembly in a first configuration or a second configuration. In the first configuration the two wheel assemblies are coupled with the shaft assembly with wheels extending below a lower hull surface of the kayak for use in ground transport of the kayak. When in the second configuration the two wheel assemblies are coupled with the shaft assembly with the wheels positioned on or above an upper hull surface of the kayak for stowage while the kayak is in use on water.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A kayak wheel set that when installed on a kayak is configurable to provide rear wheels for transport of the kayak, the kayak wheel set comprising:
 a base that includes at least two prongs configured for insertion through at least two drain holes of the kayak, the at least two prongs when inserted into the at least two drain holes defining at least two protruding portions that protrude beyond the drain holes;   a shaft assembly configured to be coupled with the at least two protruding portions of the at least two prongs, the shaft assembly including at least a first end and a second end, the shaft assembly further configured to be coupled with the kayak via the coupling with the at least two protruding portions; and   at least two wheel assemblies that are configured to be coupled with the shaft assembly in at least one of a first configuration or a second configuration, wherein:
 in the first configuration the at least two wheel assemblies are coupled with the shaft assembly with a first wheel assembly coupled with the first end and a second wheel assembly is coupled with the second end, wherein the wheels of the at least two wheel assemblies extend below a lower hull surface of the kayak; and 
 in the second configuration the at least two wheel assemblies are coupled with two posts on the shaft assembly with the wheels of the at least two wheel assemblies positioned on or above an upper hull surface of the kayak. 
   
     
     
         2 . The kayak wheel set of  claim 1 , wherein
 the base is configured to be coupled with the kayak at least in part via the insertion of the at least two prongs into the at least two drain holes without alteration of the hull of the kayak; and   the shaft assembly is configured to be coupled with the at least two protruding portions of the at least two prongs without alteration of the hull of the kayak.   
     
     
         3 . The kayak wheel set of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two wheel assemblies are configured to be coupled with the shaft assembly in at least one of the first configuration or the second configuration without alteration of the hull of the kayak. 
     
     
         4 . The kayak wheel set of  claim 1 , wherein the base includes a base portion from which the at least two prongs extend and wherein when the at least two prongs are inserted into the at least two drain holes at least a portion of the base portion contacts a hull of the kayak. 
     
     
         5 . The kayak wheel set of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft assembly comprises:
 a shaft holder configured to be coupled with the at least two protruding portions of the at least two prongs, the shaft holder defining at least a tubular cavity for receiving a shaft;   a shaft configured for insertion into and through the tubular cavity of the shaft holder, the shaft defining at least the first end and the second end of the shaft assembly.   
     
     
         6 . The kayak wheel set of  claim 5 , further comprising one or more fasteners configured for securing the shaft to the shaft holder, wherein the one or more fasteners are configured to be fastened or secured to the shaft and to the shaft holder via one or more human hands. 
     
     
         7 . The kayak wheel set of  claim 5 , wherein the shaft holder includes at least two prong receivers, the at least two prong receivers defining at least two cavities for receiving the at least two prongs; and
 wherein the shaft holder includes at least two fasteners that are configured for fastening the at least two prong receivers with the at least two prongs; and   wherein the at least two fasteners are configured to be fastened via one or more human hands.   
     
     
         8 . The kayak wheel set of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two wheel assemblies includes at least the first wheel assembly with at least one wheel and the second wheel assembly with at least another wheel. 
     
     
         9 . The kayak wheel set of  claim 1 , wherein the first wheel assembly includes a first shaft receiver defining a first tubular cavity for receiving at least the first end of the shaft assembly and the second wheel assembly including at least a second shaft receiver defining a second tubular cavity for receiving at least the second end of the shaft assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The kayak wheel set of  claim 9 , further comprising at least two fasteners, including at least a first fastener configured for fastening the first shaft receiver to the first end of the shaft assembly and at least a second fastener for fastening the second shaft receiver to the second end of the shaft assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The kayak wheel set of  claim 10 , wherein the at least two fasteners are configured to be fastened with second shaft receiver at least in part with one or more human hands. 
     
     
         12 . The kayak wheel set of  claim 1 , wherein the first wheel assembly includes a first shaft receiver defining a first tubular cavity for receiving a first end of a shaft of the shaft assembly, the second wheel assembly includes a second shaft receiver defining a second tubular cavity for receiving a second end of the shaft, and wherein the insertion of the first end of the shaft into the first tubular cavity and the insertion of the second end of the shaft into the second tubular cavity places the at least two wheel assemblies into the first configuration. 
     
     
         13 . The kayak wheel set of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft assembly further includes at least a first post for receiving the first wheel assembly and a second post for receiving the second wheel assembly and wherein the receiving the first wheel assembly and the second wheel assembly by, respectively, the first post and the second post at least partly places the at least two wheel assemblies into the second configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The kayak wheel set of  claim 1 , wherein shaft assembly is configured remain coupled with the base via the base prongs both (1) when the at least two wheel assemblies are in the first configuration, and (2) when the at least two wheel assemblies are in the second configuration. 
     
     
         15 . A method of installing a kayak wheel set to a kayak, the kayak wheel set being configurable to provide rear wheels to the kayak that are useable for transport of the kayak, the method comprises:
 coupling a base with the kayak, the coupling of the base includes at least inserting at least two prongs of the base through at least two drain holes of the kayak, wherein the inserted prongs define at least two protruding portions protruding beyond the drain holes;   coupling a shaft assembly with the at least two protruding portions of the at least two prongs, the coupled shaft assembly including at least a first end and a second end, wherein the coupling of the shaft assembly couples the shaft assembly to the kayak at least in part via the coupling with the at least two protruding portions; and   coupling at least two wheel assemblies to the shaft assembly, including at least coupling at least a first wheel assembly with the first end of the shaft assembly and including at least coupling a second wheel assembly with the second end of the shaft assembly, wherein the coupling of the at least two wheel assemblies with the ends of the shaft assembly configures at least two wheels of the wheel assemblies in a first configuration for movement of the kayak.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the coupling the base with the kayak, the coupling of the shaft assembly with the base, or the coupling of the at least two wheel assemblies with the shaft assembly are performed without alteration to a hull of the kayak. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein each of the coupling the base with the kayak, the coupling of the shaft assembly with the base, or the coupling of the at least two wheel assemblies with the shaft assembly are performed at least in part with one or more hand-tightened fasteners. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 placing the at least two wheel assemblies in a second configuration in which the wheel assemblies are coupled with at least two posts of the shaft assembly, the shaft assembly remaining coupled with the kayak via the base, and wherein the coupling of the at least two wheel assemblies to the at least two posts of the shaft assembly positions the at least to wheels at least one of on or above an upper hull surface of the kayak.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the coupling a shaft assembly with the at least two protruding portions of the at least two prongs, the coupled shaft assembly including at least a first end and a second end, wherein the coupling of the shaft assembly couples the shaft assembly to the kayak at least in part via the coupling with the at least two protruding portions comprises:
 coupling a shaft holder with the at least two protruding portions of the at least two prongs, the shaft holder defining at least a tubular cavity for receiving a shaft; and   inserting a shaft into and through the tubular cavity of the shaft holder, the shaft defining at least the first end and the second end of the shaft assembly.   
     
     
         20 . A kayak wheel set that when installed on a kayak is configurable to provide rear wheels for transport of the kayak, the kayak wheel set comprising:
 a base that includes at least two prongs configured for insertion through at least two drain holes of the kayak, the at least two prongs when inserted into the at least two drain holes defining at least two protruding portions that protrude beyond the drain holes;   a shaft holder configured to be coupled with the at least two protruding portions of the at least two prongs, the shaft holder defining at least a tubular cavity for receiving a shaft;   a shaft configured for insertion into and through the tubular cavity of the shaft holder, the shaft defining at least a first end and a second end; and   at least two wheel assemblies that are configured to be coupled with at least one of the shaft or the shaft holder in at least one of a first configuration or a second configuration, wherein:
 in the first configuration the at least two wheel assemblies are coupled with the shaft with a first wheel assembly coupled with the first end and a second wheel assembly is coupled with the second end, wherein the wheels of the at least two wheel assemblies extend below a lower hull surface of the kayak; and 
 in the second configuration the at least two wheel assemblies are coupled with two posts on the shaft holder with the wheels of the at least two wheel assemblies positioned on or above an upper hull surface of the kayak.