The present disclosure relates to an attachment device, in particular, to an attachment device for interconnecting a canopy to a modular floating platform, such as an inflatable modular floating platform, by employing a plurality of elongate mounting plates.
Modular floating platforms, such as those available from Bote, LLC (Miramar Beach, Florida) under the trade name “BOTE,” are often used for recreation on open water. However, such modular floating platforms are uncovered, making such modular floating platforms susceptible to direct sunlight. As such, use of such modular floating platforms may be less enjoyable for those sensitive to the sun.
Therefore, there is a need for an attachment device for interconnecting a canopy (e.g., a foldable pop-up canopy) to a modular floating platform such that the canopy provides desirable shade and comfort when the modular floating platform is deployed outdoors.
In one example, an attachment device is provided. The attachment device is configured to interconnect an associated canopy to an associated modular floating platform. The attachment device includes an elongate first mounting plate. The first mounting plate extends from a proximal end to a distal end thereof. The first mounting plate defines a distal opening. The distal opening is adjacent the distal end of the first mounting plate. The distal opening is configured to receive a first fastener for attaching the first mounting plate to the associated modular floating platform. The first mounting plate further defines an attachment opening. The attachment opening is adjacent the proximal end of the first mounting plate. The attachment opening is configured to receive a second fastener for attaching a leg of the associated canopy to the first mounting plate. The attachment device further includes an elongate second mounting plate. The second mounting plate extends from a proximal end to a distal end thereof. The proximal end of the second mounting plate is configured to be attached to the first mounting plate such that the second mounting plate extends substantially perpendicular to the first mounting plate.
In some examples, the first mounting plate may further define a plurality of proximal openings. The proximal openings may be adjacent the proximal end of the first mounting plate. The proximal end of the second mounting plate may be configured to be attached to the first mounting plate by a plurality of third fasteners. The third fasteners may pass through respective ones of the proximal openings of the first mounting plate.
The second mounting plate may, in some examples, define a notched portion. The notched portion of the second mounting plate may be defined along an outer edge at the proximal end of the second mounting plate. The notched portion may be configured to be aligned with the attachment opening of the first mounting plate when the first and second mounting plates are attached to one another. The second fastener may be at least partially received within the notched portion when the first and second mounting plates are attached to one another.
The attachment device may include a bracket. The bracket may be attached to an upper surface of the first mounting plate. The bracket may be configured to further operatively attach the associated canopy to the first mounting plate. In some examples, the bracket may be a C-shaped bracket. The attachment device may include a carabiner. The carabiner may be between the bracket and the associated canopy. The first mounting plate may further define a plurality of bracket openings. The bracket openings may be configured to receive respective ones of a plurality of fourth fasteners for attaching the bracket to the upper surface of the first mounting plate.
The attachment device may include a strap. The strap may be attached to at least one of the first mounting plate and the second mounting plate. The strap may be configured to further operatively connect the associated modular floating platform to the attachment device.
In examples, each of the first and second mounting plates may be made of marine-grade high-density polyethylene, metal, and/or the like, including combinations thereof.
The first fastener may, in certain examples, be is a wing screw.
The first mounting plate may have a length of about 17″. The length of the first mounting plate may be measured in a first direction along the first mounting plate from the proximal end to the distal end thereof. The first mounting plate may have a width of about 6″. The width of the first mounting plate may be measured in a second direction across the first mounting plate perpendicular to the first direction.
The second mounting plate may have a length of about 7″. The length of second mounting plate may be measured in a first direction along the second mounting plate from the proximal end to the distal end thereof. The second mounting plate may have a width of about 6″. The width of the second mounting plate may be measured in a second direction across the second mounting plate perpendicular to the first direction.
In another example, a system is provided. The system includes a modular floating platform, a canopy including a plurality of legs, and an attachment device as described herein. The modular floating platform is attached to the first mounting plate by a first fastener passing through the distal opening of the first mounting plate, and one of the plurality of legs of the canopy is attached the first mounting plate by a second fastener passing through the attachment opening of the first mounting plate, such that the attachment device interconnects the modular floating platform and the canopy. In some examples, the canopy may be a 10′×10′ foldable pop-up canopy.
In a further example, a system is provided. The system includes a modular floating platform, a canopy including a first leg, a second leg, a third leg, and a fourth leg, and a first attachment device, a second attachment device, a third attachment device, and a fourth attachment device. The first, second, third, and fourth legs of the canopy are spaced apart from one another about the modular floating platform. The first, second, third, and fourth attachment devices are spaced apart from one another about the modular floating platform. Each of the first, second, third, and fourth attachment devices includes an elongate first mounting plate extending from a proximal end to a distal end thereof. The first mounting plate of each of the first, second, third, and fourth attachment devices defines a distal opening adjacent the distal end thereof and configured to receive a first fastener for attaching the first mounting plate to the modular floating platform. The first mounting plate of each of the first, second, third, and fourth attachment devices further defines an attachment opening adjacent the proximal end thereof and configured to receive a second fastener for attaching a leg of the canopy to the first mounting plate. Each of the first, second, third, and fourth attachment devices further includes an elongate second mounting plate extending from a proximal end to a distal end thereof. The proximal end of the second mounting plate of each of the first, second, third, and fourth attachment devices is configured to be attached to the corresponding first mounting plate such that the second mounting plate extends substantially perpendicular to the first mounting plate. The modular floating platform is attached to each of the first, second, third, and fourth attachment devices, the first leg of the canopy is attached to the first attachment device, the second leg of the canopy is attached to the second attachment device, the third leg of the canopy is attached to the third attachment device, and the fourth leg of the canopy is attached to the fourth attachment device, such that each of the first, second, third, and fourth attachment devices interconnects the modular floating platform and the canopy. In some examples, the canopy may be a 10′×10′ foldable pop-up canopy.
In another example, an attachment device is provided. The attachment device is configured to interconnect an associated canopy to an associated modular floating platform. The attachment device includes an elongate first mounting plate. The first mounting plate extends from a proximal end to a distal end thereof. The first mounting plate defines a plurality of proximal openings. The proximal openings are adjacent the proximal end of the first mounting plate. The first mounting plate further defines a distal opening. The distal opening is adjacent the distal end of the first mounting plate. The distal opening is configured to receive a first fastener for attaching the first mounting plate to the associated modular floating platform. The first mounting plate further defines an attachment opening. The attachment opening is adjacent the proximal end of the first mounting plate. The attachment opening is configured to receive a second fastener for attaching a leg of the associated canopy to the first mounting plate. The attachment device further includes an elongate second mounting plate. The second mounting plate extends from a proximal end to a distal end thereof. The proximal end of the second mounting plate is configured to be attached to the first mounting plate by a plurality of third fasteners passing through respective ones of the proximal openings of the first mounting plate such that the second mounting plate extends substantially perpendicular to the first mounting plate. The attachment device further includes a bracket. The bracket is attached to an upper surface of the first mounting plate. The attachment device further includes a carabiner. The carabiner is between the bracket and the associated canopy. The carabiner is configured to further operatively attach the associated canopy to the first mounting plate via the bracket. The first mounting plate may further define a plurality of bracket openings. The attachment device further includes a strap. The strap is attached to a strap attached to at least one of the first mounting plate and the second mounting plate. The strap is configured to further operatively connect the associated modular floating platform to the attachment device.
The second mounting plate may, in some examples, define a notched portion. The notched portion of the second mounting plate may be defined along an outer edge at the proximal end of the second mounting plate. The notched portion may be configured to be aligned with the attachment opening of the first mounting plate when the first and second mounting plates are attached to one another. The second fastener may be at least partially received within the notched portion when the first and second mounting plates are attached to one another. The first mounting plate may, in some examples, define a notched portion. The notched portion of the first mounting plate may be defined along an outer edge at the proximal end of the first mounting plate.
The following description of the illustrative examples may be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. It is understood that potential examples of the disclosed systems and methods are not limited to those depicted.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative examples described in the detailed description and drawings are not meant to be limiting and are for explanatory purposes. Other examples may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented herein. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein and shown in the drawings, may be arranged, substituted, combined, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, each of which are explicitly contemplated and form a part of this disclosure.
Referring first to
With specific reference to
The first mounting plate 110 may define a distal opening 112. The distal opening 112 may be positioned adjacent the distal end 110b of the first mounting plate 110. In some examples, the distal opening 112 may be positioned centrally along a width of the first mounting plate 110, although other examples are not so limited. The distal opening 112 may generally be configured to receive a fastener 130 for attaching the first mounting plate 110 to the modular floating platform 300 (refer to
The first mounting plate 110 may also define an attachment opening 114. The attachment opening 114 may be positioned adjacent the proximal end 110a of the first mounting plate 110. In some examples, the attachment opening 114 may be positioned centrally along a width of the first mounting plate 110 and may be axially aligned with the distal opening 112 along a central axis extending between the proximal end 110a and the distal end 110b of the first mounting plate 110 (i.e., along a length of the first mounting plate 110), although other examples are not so limited. The attachment opening 114 may generally be configured to receive a fastener 140 for attaching the first mounting plate 110 to the canopy 200, such as by attaching the first mounting plate 110 to a leg 202 of the canopy 200 (refer to
The first mounting plate 110 may also define one or proximal openings 116, such as a plurality of proximal openings 116. The proximal opening(s) 116 may be positioned adjacent the proximal end 110a of the first mounting plate 110. In some examples, a pair of proximal openings 116 may be provided, with the proximal openings 116 spaced apart from one another along opposing sides of the attachment opening 114, although other examples are not so limited. In some examples, the proximal opening(s) 116 may be axially aligned with the attachment opening 114 along an axis extending side-to-side across the first mounting plate 110 (i.e., along a width of the first mounting plate 110), although other examples are not so limited. Each proximal opening 116 may generally be configured to receive a fastener 150 for attaching the first mounting plate 110 to the second mounting plate 120, such as for attaching a proximal end 120a of the second mounting plate 120 (refer to
The first mounting plate 110 may also define one or bracket openings 118, such as a plurality of bracket openings 118. The bracket opening(s) 118 may generally be spaced apart from the attachment opening 114, such as closer to the distal end 110b of the first mounting plate 110 than the attachment opening 114. In some examples, a pair of bracket openings 118 may be provided, with the bracket openings 118 spaced apart from one another along opposing sides of the attachment opening 114, although other examples are not so limited. Each bracket opening 118 may generally be configured to receive a fastener 160 for attaching a bracket 170 to an upper surface 110f of the first mounting plate 110 (refer to
The first mounting plate 110 may generally be of any size, shape, and/or material as desired to suit a particular application. By way of non-limiting example, the first mounting plate 110 may be made of marine-grade high-density polyethylene (HDPE), metal, and/or the like, including combinations thereof. By way of further non-limiting example, the first mounting plate 110 may have a length L110 of about 17″ as measured in a first direction from the proximal end 110a to the distal end 110b of the first mounting plate 110 (i.e., direction 6 along the first mounting plate 110) and/or a width Win of about 6″ as measured in a direction perpendicular to the first direction (i.e., direction 2 across the first mounting plate 110). Such dimensions may be particularly suited for interconnecting a 10′×10′ canopy (e.g., a foldable pop-up canopy) to a 10′×10′ modular floating platform (e.g., an inflatable modular floating platform).
In examples, the first mounting plate 110 may be defined by a distal portion 110c, a main body portion 110d, and a proximal portion 110e with the main body portion 110d positioned between the distal portion 110c and the proximal portion 110e, although other examples are not so limited. In examples, the distal portion 110c of the first mounting plate 110 may be generally semicircular, although other examples are not so limited. The distal portion 110c of the first mounting plate 110 may define the distal opening 112, and the proximal portion 110e of the first mounting plate 110 may define the attachment opening 114 and/or the proximal opening(s) 116. In the example illustrated in
In examples, the first mounting plate 110 may further define an aperture 117 immediately adjacent an outer edge 119 at the proximal end 110a of the first mounting plate 110 (i.e., within the proximal portion 110e of the first mounting plate 110). The aperture 117 may generally be defined between the outer edge 119 at the proximal end 110a of the first mounting plate 110 and the attachment opening 114.
Turning now to
As discussed above, the proximal end 110b of the second mounting plate 110 may generally be configured to be attached to the first mounting plate 110 (e.g., by fasteners 150). The second mounting plate 120 may generally extend substantially perpendicular to the first mounting plate 110 (refer to
The second mounting plate 120 may generally be of any size, shape, and/or material as desired to suit a particular application. By way of non-limiting example, the second mounting plate 120 may be made of marine-grade high-density polyethylene (HDPE), metal, and/or the like, including combinations thereof. By way of further non-limiting example, the second mounting plate 120 may have a length L120 of about 7″ as measured in a first direction from the proximal end 120a to the distal end 120b of the second mounting plate 120 (i.e., direction 6 along the second mounting plate 120).
In examples, the second mounting plate 120 may be defined by a distal portion 120c and a proximal portion 120d, although other examples are not so limited. In examples, the proximal portion 120d of the second mounting plate 120 may have a width W122 as measured in a direction perpendicular to the first direction (i.e., direction 2 across the second mounting plate 120) that is greater than a width W124 of the distal portion 120c of the second mounting plate 120 as measured in a direction perpendicular to the first direction (i.e., direction 2 across the second mounting plate 120). By way of specific non-limiting example, the proximal portion 120d of the second mounting plate 120 may have a width W122 of about 6″ as measured in a direction perpendicular to the first direction (i.e., direction 2 across the second mounting plate 120).
In examples, the second mounting plate 120 may further define a notched portion 217 along an outer edge 219 at the proximal end 120a of the second mounting plate 120 (i.e., within the proximal portion 120d of the second mounting plate 120). The notched portion 217 of the second mounting plate 120 may generally be configured to be aligned with the attachment opening 114 of the first mounting plate 110 when the first and second mounting plates are attached to one another such that the second fastener 140 is at least partially received within the notched portion 217.
With reference to
With continued reference to
The canopy 200 may be interconnected to the modular floating platform 300, such as by attaching the modular floating platform 300 to the first mounting plate 110 by a first fastener 130 passing through the distal opening 112 of the first mounting plate 110 attaching one of the plurality of legs 202 of the canopy 200 to the first mounting plate 110 by a second fastener 140 passing through the attachment opening 114 of the first mounting plate 110. As also described herein, the canopy 200 may be further operatively connected to the first mounting plate 100 by operative connecting the canopy 200 to the bracket 170 attached to the upper surface 110f of the first mounting plate 110, such as by connecting a rope 204 of the canopy 200 directly to the bracket 170, or, alternatively, connecting a rope 204 of the canopy 200 to a carabiner 180 attached to the bracket 170. Further yet, as described herein, the modular floating platform 300b may be operatively connected to first mounting plate 110 and/or the second mounting plate 120 using a strap 190 attached to the first mounting plate 110 and/or the second mounting plate 120.
Turning now to
As may be appreciated, any number of attachment devices may be provided as desired to suit a particular application. For example, as illustrated in
It should be noted that the drawings and descriptions of the examples are for exemplary purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the disclosure. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the present disclosure contemplates various examples. Additionally, it should be understood that the concepts described above with the above-described examples may be employed alone or in combination with any of the other examples described above. It should further be appreciated that the various alternative examples described above with respect to one illustrated example can apply to all examples as described herein, unless otherwise indicated.
Unless explicitly stated otherwise, each numerical value and range should be interpreted as being approximate as if the word “about,” “approximately,” or “substantially” preceded the value or range. The terms “about” and “approximately” can be understood as describing a range that is within 15 percent of a specified value unless otherwise stated.
Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” “may,” “e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain examples include, while other examples do not include, certain features, elements, and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements, and/or steps are in any way required for one or more examples or that one or more examples necessarily include these features, elements and/or steps. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like are synonymous and are used inclusively, in an open-ended fashion, and do not exclude additional elements, features, acts, operations, and so forth.
While certain examples have been described, these examples have been presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, nothing in the foregoing description is intended to imply that any particular feature, characteristic, step, module, or block is necessary or indispensable. Indeed, the novel methods and articles described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form of the methods and articles described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions disclosed herein. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of certain of the inventions disclosed herein.
It will be understood that reference herein to “a” or “one” to describe a feature such as a component or step does not foreclose additional features or multiples of the feature. For instance, reference to a device having or defining “one” of a feature does not preclude the device from having or defining more than one of the feature, as long as the device has or defines at least one of the feature. Similarly, reference herein to “one of” a plurality of features does not foreclose the invention from including two or more, up to all, of the features. For instance, reference to a device having or defining “one of a X and Y” does not foreclose the device from having both X and Y.