IP Library › Granted Patent US 12679511
Granted Patent B2
US 12679511 · App. 18/770,790 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Water sports equipment storage rack

Inventors: James A. Schultz (Lake Zurich, IL); Gregory G. Mackall (Lake Zurich, IL)
Assignee: Geremarie Corporation
B63B32/83A47B81/005
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12679511
App. No.
18/770,790
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A water sports equipment storage rack includes a seat configured to receive a first portion of a water sport device, an engagement member configured to linearly move in outward and inward directions between extended and retracted positions and to rotatably move about a pivot axis between an open position where the engagement member is spaced from the water sport device and a closed position where the engagement member abuts the water sport device thereby securing the water sport device within the water sports equipment storage rack, and a drive mechanism configured to linearly move the engagement member in the outward direction during a first portion of the linear movement of the engagement member and configured to rotatably move the engagement member from the closed position to the open position during a second portion of the linear movement of the engagement member.

Claims (39)

1 . A water sports equipment storage rack, comprising:

a seat configured to receive a first portion of a water sport device;

an engagement member that is configured to linearly move in an outward direction away from the seat and in an inward direction toward the seat between an extended position and a retracted position and to rotatably move about a pivot axis between an open position where the engagement member is spaced from a second portion of the water sport device and a closed position where the engagement member abuts the second portion of the water sport device thereby securing the water sport device within the water sports equipment storage rack, wherein the pivot axis is offset from the outward and inward directions; and

a drive mechanism configured to linearly move the engagement member in the outward direction during a first portion of the linear movement of the engagement member and configured to rotatably move the engagement member from the closed position to the open position during a second portion of the linear movement of the engagement member.

2 . The water sports equipment storage rack of claim 1 , wherein the engagement member includes a distal end that is closer to the seat when the engagement member is in the closed position than when the engagement member is in the open position.

3 . The water sports equipment storage rack of claim 1 , wherein the engagement member includes a recess configured to receive the second portion of the water sport device when the engagement member is in the closed position.

4 . A water sports equipment storage rack, comprising:

a seat configured to receive a first portion of a water sport device;

an engagement member that is configured to linearly move in an outward direction away from the seat and in an inward direction toward the seat between an extended position and a retracted position and to rotatably move about a pivot axis between an open position where the engagement member is spaced from a second portion of the water sport device and a closed position where the engagement member abuts the second portion of the water sport device thereby securing the water sport device within the water sports equipment storage rack;

a drive mechanism configured to linearly move the engagement member in the outward direction during a first portion of the linear movement of the engagement member and configured to rotatably move the engagement member from the closed position to the open position during a second portion of the linear movement of the engagement member; and

a biasing member configured to bias the engagement member from open position toward the closed position.

5 . The water sports equipment storage rack of claim 4 , wherein the biasing member includes a gas spring.

6 . The water sports equipment storage rack of claim 1 , wherein the drive mechanism includes a first rod configured to move the engagement member between the extended and retracted positions.

7 . The water sports equipment storage rack of claim 6 , wherein the drive mechanism includes a second rod configured to move the engagement member from the closed position to the open position.

8 . The water sports equipment storage rack of claim 7 , wherein a maximum travel length of the first rod is greater than a maximum travel length of the second rod.

9 . The water sports equipment storage rack of claim 1 , wherein the seat is position between a pair of space prongs that cooperate with the seat to form a U-shaped receiver configured to receive the water sport device.

10 . The water sports equipment storage rack of claim 9 , where in the receiver is one of a pair of receivers.

11 . The water sports equipment storage rack of claim 1 , wherein the engagement member moves along a linear axis as the engagement member moves between the extended and retracted position, and wherein the seat is laterally offset from the linear axis.

12 . The water sports equipment storage rack of claim 1 , wherein the drive mechanism includes a linear actuator.

13 . The water sports equipment storage rack of claim 1 , wherein the water sport device includes a wakeboard.

14 . A water sports equipment storage rack, comprising:

a support that includes an opening configured to receive a water sport device and a seat opposite the opening and configured to receive a first portion of a water sport device;

an engagement member that is configured to linearly move in an outward direction away from the seat and in an inward direction toward the seat along a linear axis between an extended position and a retracted position and to rotatably move about a pivot axis that is substantial perpendicular to the linear axis between an open position and a closed position where the engagement member abuts a second portion of the water sport device thereby securing the water sport device within the water sports equipment storage rack; and

a drive mechanism configured to move the engagement member between the extended and retracted positions;

wherein the engagement member includes a distal end that is closer to the seat when the engagement member is in the closed position than when the engagement member is in the open position.

15 . The water sports equipment storage rack of claim 14 , wherein the engagement member includes a distal end that is closer to the seat when the engagement member is in the closed position than when the engagement member is in the open position.

16 . The water sports equipment storage rack of claim 14 , wherein the support includes a pair of space prongs that cooperate with the seat to form a U-shape where the water sport device is received between the prongs.

17 . The water sports equipment storage rack of claim 16 , wherein the support is one of a pair of supports.

18 . The water sports equipment storage rack of claim 14 , wherein the engagement member includes a recess configured to receive the second portion of the water sport device when the engagement member is in the closed position.

19 . The water sports equipment storage rack of claim 14 , further comprising:

a biasing member configured to bias the engagement member from the open position toward the closed position.

20 . The water sports equipment storage rack of claim 14 , wherein the engagement member moves along a linear axis as the engagement member moves between the extended and retracted position, and wherein the seat is laterally offset from the linear axis.

21 . The water sports equipment storage rack of claim 14 ,

wherein the drive mechanism configured to linearly move the engagement member in the outward direction during a first portion of the linear movement of the engagement member and is configured to rotatably move the engagement member from the closed position to the open position during a second portion of the linear movement of the engagement member.

22 . The water sports equipment storage rack of claim 21 , wherein the drive mechanism includes a first rod configured to move the engagement member between the extended and retracted positions.

23 . The water sports equipment storage rack of claim 22 , wherein the drive mechanism includes a second rod configured to move the engagement member from the closed position to the open position.

24 . The water sports equipment storage rack of claim 23 , wherein a maximum travel length of the first rod is greater than a maximum travel length of the second rod.

25 . The water sports equipment storage rack of claim 14 , wherein the water sport device includes a wakeboard.

26 . The water sports equipment storage rack of claim 1 , wherein the pivot axis is substantially orthogonal to the outward and inward directions.