BOAT-IN-A-BOX

Abstract

In one example, a boat includes a deck, a pair of pontoons configured to be attached beneath the deck and configured to support the deck, and a railing configured to be attached on top of the deck. The boat is configured to be arranged within a standard sized shipping container during storage or transport of the boat. In this manner, the boat may be collapsed for storage or transport, and expanded for use in operation of the boat. Thus, the boat may be readily assembled by a purchaser, operator, or other user.

Description

BACKGROUND

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.

Assembled boats, such as pontoon boats, fishing boats, sailing boats, speed boats, or other boats may generally require a relatively large amount of space to ship or transport. Shipping or transportation costs of an assembled or nearly assembled boat may be relatively high due to the space requirements. In some cases, a boat may be shipped or transported in an unassembled state in order to reduce space requirements and thus costs of shipping or transporting the boat. However, the purchaser, operator, or other user of the boat may then be required to assemble the boat after shipping or transportation. In some cases, boat assembly can require a relatively large amount of time and/or specialized skills or tools.

SUMMARY

This disclosure describes a boat that may be disassembled for ease of shipping or transportation, and that may be assembled by a user with relative ease. The boat of this disclosure may be arranged within a standardized shipping, freight, ISO, or other container and may additionally be readily assembled by a purchaser, operator, or other user.

In one example, a railing for a boat deck includes a plurality of railing sections, each of the railing sections comprising an outer frame, an inner frame configured to be nested within the outer frame, and an inner panel configured to be coupled to the inner frame by a tongue and groove mechanism. The railing sections are configured to be decoupled from each other for storage or transport of the railing and coupled to each other for use in operation of a boat to which the railing is to be attached.

In another example, a boat includes a deck, a pair of pontoons configured to be attached beneath the deck and configured to support the deck, and a railing configured to be attached on top of the deck. The boat is configured to be arranged within a standard sized shipping container during storage or transport of the boat.

The details of one or more examples are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter that is regarded as forming the various examples of the present disclosure, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a boat of the present disclosure, according to one or more examples.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a helm and two seats of a boat of the present disclosure, according to one or more examples.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of two additional seats of a boat of the present disclosure, according to one or more examples.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a railing of the present disclosure, according to one or more examples.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a railing section of the present disclosure, according to one or more examples.

FIG. 6 is an end perspective view of an inner panel coupled to an inner frame of a railing section of the present disclosure, according to one or more examples.

FIG. 7 is a side view of an inner panel coupled to an inner frame of a railing section of the present disclosure, according to one or more examples.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a coupling bracket for a railing of the present disclosure, according to one or more examples.

FIG. 9 is another perspective view of a coupling bracket for a railing of the present disclosure, according to one or more examples.

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of a storage area of a boat of the present disclosure, according to one or more examples.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates to novel and advantageous boats configured to be easily shipped, assembled, and/or disassembled. Particularly, the present disclosure relates to novel and advantageous boats having various features and components that are configured to be easily collapsed, folded, or otherwise configured to be arranged in a relatively small space, such that the boat may be contained within, for example, a shipping, freight, International Organization for Standardization (ISO) container, or other container for transport, and additionally configured to be easily expanded, unfolded, coupled, installed, assembled, or otherwise arranged for in-water use. In this way, a boat of the present disclosure may allow for reduced shipping costs by requiring a relatively small amount of shipping space, without requiring a relatively complex assembly by a purchaser, operator, or other user.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example boat 100 according to techniques of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1, boat 100 may generally include deck 102, supported by one or more pontoons 104. Boat 100 also includes railing 106 arranged on deck 102. In some examples, boat 100 may further include helm 108, one or more seats 110, one or more tables 112, and canopy 114, as shown in the example of FIG. 1.

Pontoons 104 may generally be configured to float in water and to support deck 102. That is, in normal operation, pontoons 104 may generally float in water, e.g., such that a portion of pontoons 104 is beneath the surface of the water and the other portion of pontoons 104 is above the surface of the water. Although two pontoons 104 are shown in FIG. 1, in some examples, boat 100 may have more than two pontoons 104, e.g., three pontoons. When a third pontoon is provided, the third pontoon may be positioned between pontoons 104 of FIG. 1, e.g., in the middle of and parallel to pontoons 104 and secured to deck 102. In other examples, boat 100 may have any suitable number of pontoons 104. In some examples, pontoons 104 may be standard flexible or rigid pontoons composed of standard materials. For example, pontoons 104 may be composed of a plastic or poly material such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), nylon, aluminum, fiberglass, steel, and/or suitable rigid or flexible materials. Pontoons 104 may be configured to be filled with air, foam, or other suitable material(s) in order to add buoyancy and float.

Moreover, pontoons 104 may be inflatable in some examples, and thus may be configured to deflate during transport, for example. In some examples, pontoons 104 may be collapsible. For example, pontoons 104 may have a plurality of sections configured to telescope outward for use and collapse inward for storage, shipping, or transport. Pontoons 104 may have any suitable length configured to support boat 100. In some examples, pontoons 104 may have a length suitable for arranging the pontoons within a standard shipping, freight, ISO, or other container, such as but not limited to, a standard 40-foot high cube container.

In some examples, pontoons 104 may have a length of between approximately 10 feet and approximately 40 feet. Particularly, in some examples, pontoons 104 may have a length of between approximately 10 feet and approximately 20 feet. In other examples, pontoons 104 may have a length of between approximately 30 feet and approximately 40 feet. In other examples, pontoons 104 may have any suitable length. It may be appreciated that while boat 100 shown and described with respect to FIG. 1 may be a traditional pontoon boat, the various features described herein may be similarly utilized with other boat types as well. For example, the various features described herein may be used with a sail boat, deck boat, fishing boat, speedboat, or other type of boat or water sport equipment.

Deck 102 may be arranged on pontoons 104 and may be configured to support helm 108, railing 106, and other equipment, e.g., as shown in FIG. 1 and other equipment not shown in FIG. 1. Deck 102 may be composed of steel, plastic, aluminum, treated wood, or any other suitable materials. In some examples, deck 102 may have a solid deck component extending the full width and length of the deck. In other examples, deck 102 may include a plurality of smaller deck components that are configured to be attached or detached to or from each other. For example, the deck components may interlock, snap, or otherwise couple together. Deck 102 or separate deck components thereof may have any suitable length and width, and in some examples may have a length and/or width configured for arranging boat 100 within a standard shipping, freight, ISO, or other container. In some examples, deck 102 (or its separate components, when attached together to form deck 102) may have a length of between approximately 7.5 and approximately 50 feet, and a width of between approximately 5 and approximately 25 feet. In other examples, deck 102 (or its separate components, when attached together to form deck 102) may have any other suitable length and width. In general, when deck 102 is formed from a plurality of deck components, the deck components may be separated during storage or transport of boat 100 and coupled together for assembly of boat 100.

Helm 108, seats 110, and/or tables 112 may be arranged on deck 102. Helm 108 may be arranged on the bow half of deck 102. Helm 108 may have a dashboard in some examples. Helm 108 may be configured to be removable from deck 102 for storage or transport, and attached to the top of deck 102 for assembly of boat 100, e.g., for use in operation of boat 100. The dashboard of helm 108 may generally have one or more gauges, controls, or other navigational or operational components. In some examples, the dashboard may have a holder or mount for removably or fixedly receiving an operator's smartphone, tablet computer, Global Positioning System (GPS) device, or other device to assist with navigation and/or operation of boat 100. Additionally, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in some examples, the helm dashboard may have a steering wheel 116 arranged on the port side of deck 102. In other examples, the steering wheel 116 may be arranged on the starboard side of the deck or may be centrally or nearly centrally located. Helm 108 may be composed of fiberglass, plastic, aluminum, and/or any other suitable materials.

In some examples, helm 108, or a portion thereof, may be configured to telescope or fold. For example, in some examples, a base portion of helm 108 may have a plurality of sections configured to nest within one another so as to collapse the helm. When expanded in an operational position, the base portion of helm 108 may have one or more angled sides in some examples, such that the plurality of base sections may be nestably arranged. In some examples, the nestable sections may have similar heights, such that helm 108 may collapse to the approximate height of the sections.

For example, helm 108 may have two sections configured to be nestably arranged, such that each of the two sections may have a height of approximately half the height of the helm, and such that the helm may collapse to a height of approximately half its operational height. Similarly, in some examples, helm 108 may have three sections configured to be nestably arranged, such that each of the three sections may have a height of approximately one third the height of the helm, and such that the helm may collapse to a height of approximately one third its operational height. In other examples, helm 108 may have any other suitable number of nestable sections having any suitable heights. In still further examples, helm 108 may be configured to collapse or fold by different means. Additionally or alternatively, helm 108 may be configured to decouple from deck 102. In some examples, helm 108 may be arranged in a collapsed or folded configuration for shipping or transport of boat 100. Helm 108 may be configured to be expanded, unfolded, or otherwise assembled by a purchaser, operator, or other user of boat 100 with relative ease.

As shown in FIG. 1, two seats 110a may be in front of helm 108, facing the bow, and four seats 110b, 110c and a table 112 may be arranged behind the helm. In other examples, boat 100 may have any suitable number of seats 110 and tables 112 arranged in any suitable configuration. The seat(s) 110 and table(s) 112 may be composed of fiberglass, plastic, aluminum, and/or any other suitable material(s).

Each of seats 110, or a portion thereof, may be configured to telescope or fold in some examples. For example, in some examples, one or more seats 110 may have a base portion supporting a seat cushion. The seat cushions may be readily removable in some examples. The base portion of seat 110 may have a plurality of sections configured to nest within one another so as to collapse the seat. In some examples, a pair of seats may share a base portion and/or seat cushion, as shown in the example of FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of helm 108 and seats 110 of boat 100 of the present disclosure, according to one or more examples. When expanded in an operational position, the base portion of seat 110 may have one or more angled sides in some examples, such that the plurality of base sections may be nestably arranged. In some examples, the nestable sections may have similar heights, such that seat 110 may collapse to the approximate height of the sections.

For example, seat 110 may have two sections configured to be nestably arranged, such that each of the two sections may have a height of approximately half the height of the seat, and such that the seat may collapse to a height of approximately half its operational height. Similarly, in some examples, seat 110 may have three sections configured to be nestably arranged, such that each of the three sections may have a height of approximately one third the height of the seat, and such that the seat may collapse to a height of approximately one third its operational height. In other examples, seat 110 may have any other suitable number of nestable sections having any suitable heights. In still further examples, one or more seats 110 may be configured to collapse or fold by different means. Additionally or alternatively, one or more seats 110 may be configured to decouple from deck 102. In some examples, seats 110 may be arranged in a collapsed or folded configuration for shipping or transport of boat 100. Seats 110 may be configured to be expanded, unfolded, or otherwise assembled by a purchaser, operator, or other user of boat 100 with relative ease.

Table 112 may generally have a tabletop portion and a base portion in some examples. The tabletop portion may be configured to decouple from the base portion. The base portion may be a pole or post configured to support the tabletop portion in some examples. In some examples, the base portion of table 112 may be configured to fold or telescope. For example, the base portion of table 112 may have a plurality of sections sized and configured to nest within one another so as to collapse the table. Where the base portion is a pole or post, the nestable sections may be a series of rings having decreasing diameters such that each ring may nest within a next largest ring. In some examples, the nestable sections may have similar heights, such that where there are two sections, for example, each section may have a height of approximately half the height of the assembled table 112.

In other examples, the base portion of table 112 may have any other suitable number of nestable sections having any suitable heights. In some examples, the base portion of table 112 may be configured to collapse into an opening in boat deck 102, such that the base portion may be contained within or below boat deck 102 when collapsed. In still further examples, the base portion of table 112 may be configured to collapse or fold by different means. Additionally or alternatively, the base portion of table 112 may be configured to decouple from deck 102. Moreover, in some examples, one or more seats 110 may be configured to convert into table 112. For example, one or more seats 110a in front of helm 108, such as those shown in FIG. 3, may have a seat platform or back platform configured to pivot, decouple, or otherwise be rearranged into a tabletop configuration alone or in conjunction with a portion of helm 108.

One or more seats 110 may have backrest 118. In some examples, one or more backrests 118 may be readily removable. In some examples, the backrest 118 for one or more seats 110 may be configured to be alternatively arranged or connected to the seat base portion such that a user may face the bow or the stern. That is, as shown in FIG. 2 for example, one or more seats 110 may have at least two backrest support areas 120, each configured to receive backrest 118 for the seat. In this way, one or more seats 110b behind helm 108 may be configured such that seated passengers may face the helm or table 112 based on placement of the backrest(s) 118. Similarly, one or more seats 110c on the stern side of table 112 may be configured such that seated passengers may face the table or the stern based on placement of the backrest(s) 118.

Referring again to FIG. 1, canopy 114 may be arranged over at least a portion of deck 102 and may generally be configured to provide a sun shade to at least a portion of the deck. In some examples, canopy 114 may have a triangular shape. In other examples, canopy 114 may have any other suitable shape. Canopy 114 may be constructed of canvas or any other suitable flexible or rigid materials. Canopy 114 may be supported by any suitable number of poles 122. For example, where canopy 114 has a triangular shape, the canopy may be supported by three poles 122, as shown in FIG. 1. Each pole 122 may couple to deck 102, helm 108, railing 106, and/or any other suitable location on boat 100. For example, each pole 122 may have threading configured to screw into a correspondingly threaded opening on deck 102 in some examples.

In other examples, each pole 122 may be configured to be secured to deck 102, helm 108, railing 106, and/or any other suitable location on boat 100 via a clamp, bracket, lock, nut, bolt, screw, pin, or other mechanism. One or more poles 122a may couple to boat 100 at or near helm 108 in some examples, as shown in FIG. 3. Additionally, one or more poles 122b may couple to boat 100 at or near the stern. Each of one or more poles 122 may have any suitable length configured to arrange canopy 114 at a desired height above deck 102. In some examples, the length of one or more poles 122 may be adjustable by a user. In some examples, one or more poles 122 may have a light. For example, a pole 122b nearest the stern may have a stern light in some examples.

In some examples, canopy 114 may be configured to be assembled or installed by a user with relative ease. For example, canopy 114 may be decoupled from poles 122. Canopy 114 may be rolled or folded in some examples. One or more poles 122 may be configured to telescope in some examples. That is, each pole 122 may have multiple sections configured to collapse in on one another. Additionally or alternatively, one or more poles 122 may be decoupled from boat 100 or may be configured to hinge down onto deck 102, for example. In some examples, canopy 114 and/or one or more poles 122 may be stored along a side of boat 100, such as via one or more brackets arranged along an interior side of railing 106, for example. In other examples, canopy 114 and/or one or more poles 122 may be stored in any other suitable storage location on boat 100. In this way, canopy 114 may be arranged in a disassembled state for shipping or transport of boat 100, and may be assembled with relative ease by a purchase, operator, or other user of boat 100.

Railing 106 may generally be arranged around a perimeter, or at least a partial perimeter, of deck 102. Railing 106 may be configured to provide a handrail and/or safeguard for operators, passengers, or users of boat 100. Railing 106 may be composed of canvas, aluminum, steel, plastic, and/or any other suitable materials. In some examples, railing 106 may be composed of a rigid aluminum frame coupled to one or more flexible canvas panels. In some examples, railing 106 may be configured to be easily assembled and/or disassembled by a purchaser, operator, or other user. FIGS. 4-7 illustrate close up views of railing 106 according to one or more examples.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the length of railing 106 may be divided into multiple sections 124 in some examples. Each of the one or more railing sections 124 may have any suitable length. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, in some examples, railing 106 may be divided into two or three sections 124 along each of four sides of deck 102. In other examples, railing 106 may have one continuous section. In still other examples, railing 106 may have any other suitable number of sections 124 along one or more sides of deck 102. In some examples, one or more of the railing sections 124 may include a gate configured to slide, pivot, lift, or otherwise provide an opening in the railing such that users of boat 100 may enter or exit deck 102.

FIG. 5 is a side view of an example railing section 124 of the present disclosure, according to one or more examples. As shown, railing section 124 may have an outer frame 140, an inner frame 142, and an inner panel 144. Inner frame 142 and outer frame 140 portions may be generally rigid and may each be constructed of aluminum, steel, plastic, or any other suitable material(s). Inner panel 144 may be composed of one or more flexible or rigid materials, such as canvas, plastic, aluminum, or any other suitable material(s). In some examples, each section 124 of railing 106 may be separately configured to be assembled and/or disassembled by a purchaser, operator, or other user of boat 100.

Inner panel 144 may be configured to couple to inner frame 142 and/or outer frame 140. Where inner panel 144 is constructed of a flexible material, such as a canvas material, the inner panel may be generally stretched across inner frame 142 and/or outer frame 140. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, inner panel 144 may have one or more attachment clips 146 configured to couple to inner frame 142. Each attachment clip 146 may be constructed of plastic or any other suitable material(s). Each attachment clip 146 may be sewn, glued, or otherwise coupled to inner panel 144. In one example, the attachment clip 146 may generally have a cross-sectional shape similar to the letter “J.”

Inner panel 144 may have an attachment clip 146 arranged on or near each perimeter edge of the panel in some examples. For example, where inner panel 144 has a square or rectangular shape, the inner panel may have four attachment clips 146 with one on or near a perimeter of each side edge. In other examples, inner panel 144 may have an attachment clip 146 arranged on or near some, but not all, of the perimeter edges of the panel. The attachment clips 146 may be configured to couple to inner frame 142 so as to pull inner panel 144 taut. The attachment clips 146 may couple to inner frame 142 by any suitable means. In some examples, as shown in FIG. 6 for example, each attachment clip 146 may have a slot 148 configured to receive a corresponding ledge 150 of inner frame 142 in a tongue and groove configuration.

Inner frame 142 may have a square, rectangular, or other suitable shape. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, inner frame 142 may have four sides forming a rectangular shape. Each side of inner frame 142 may be constructed of a solid or hollow bar or tube material in some examples. The bar or tube material may have any suitable cross sectional shape, such as a generally square or rectangular cross sectional shape. As shown in FIG. 6, the cross sectional shape of the inner frame material may have an indented portion 152 in some examples. Indented portion 152 may be arranged along a side of the cross sectional shape.

In some examples, the arrangement of indented portion 152 may additionally form a ledge 150 on the cross section, adjacent to the indented portion. Ledge 150 and/or indented portion 152 may be configured to couple inner frame 142 to inner panel 144. For example, in some examples, ledge 150 may be configured to be arranged within the a slot 148 of an attachment clip 146 in a tongue and groove configuration. In some examples, inner frame 142 and inner panel 144 may couple together as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,753, entitled “Boat Cover Fastening System,” and issued Jan. 13, 1998 and/or U.S. Pat. No. 5,970,904, entitled “Boat Cover Fastening System,” and issued Oct. 26, 1999, the content of each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. For example, the attachment clip 146 may be similar to the flexible spring clips described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,753 and/or U.S. Pat. No. 5,970,904. Similarly, indented portion 152 and ledge 150 of inner frame 142 may be similar to the securement channel and extension described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,753 and/or U.S. Pat. No. 5,970,904.

Each side of inner frame 142 may be configured to receive an attachment clip 146 of inner panel 144 in some examples. In other examples, some, but not all, sides of inner frame 142 may have a ledge 150 and/or indented portion 152 configured to receive an attachment clip 146 of inner panel 144. For example, inner frame 142 may have two sides configured to receive an attachment clip 146. In this way, it may be appreciated that a purchaser, operator, or other user of boat 100 may couple inner panel 144 to inner frame 142 with relative ease. In some examples, one or more tools may be used to help couple the attachment clips 146 to inner frame 142.

As additionally shown in FIG. 6, inner frame 142 may have one or more holes 156 configured to receive a screw, bolt, nail, or pin for coupling to outer frame 140. In some examples, outer frame 140 may have one or more holes configured to align with the one or more holes 156 of inner frame 142, for example, such that a screw, bolt, nail, or pin may be arranged through the aligned holes. In other examples, inner frame 142 and outer frame 140 may couple together by friction fit, bayonet fit, and/or any other suitable attachment means.

Outer frame 140 may have a square, rectangular, or other suitable shape. Outer frame 140 may generally be configured to be arranged around an outer edge of inner frame 142. In this way, outer frame 140 may have a similar shape to that of inner frame 142. As shown in FIG. 5, however, outer frame 140 may have an upper edge 158 configured to extend beyond inner frame 142 so as to provide a hand rail to boat passengers or add a different aesthetic look, for example. As shown in FIG. 1, this upper edge 158 may additionally provide an aesthetic feature on some railing sections 124, extending beyond the length of the section in some examples. As with inner frame 142, each side of outer frame 140 may be constructed of a solid or hollow bar or tube material in some examples. The bar or tube material may have any suitable cross sectional shape, such as a square or rectangular cross sectional shape. As described above, outer frame 140 may define one or more holes configured to receive a fastener, such as a screw, bolt, nail, or pin, for coupling to inner frame 142. Moreover, outer frame 140 and/or inner frame 142 may define one or more holes configured to receive a fastener for coupling to outer frame 140 and/or inner frame 142 to deck 102.

It may be appreciated that railing 106 may be relatively easily assembled and/or disassembled by a purchaser, operator, or other user of boat 100. That is, a user may couple the inner panels 144 to the inner frames 142, the inner frame to the outer frames 140, and/or the railing section(s) 124 to deck 102. In some examples, a user may complete each step in generally any suitable order, for example. In other examples, the user may receive the railing sections 124 already assembled with inner panel 144, inner frame 142, and outer frame 140 coupled together, and the user may couple railing 106 to deck 102. In other examples, outer frame 140 for each railing section 124 may already be coupled to deck 102, and the user may couple the inner panels 144 and inner frames 142 to the outer frames 140. In still other examples, the inner panel of each railing section 124 may already be coupled to inner frame 142, and the user may couple the inner frames to the outer frames 140. Moreover, a user may disassemble railing 106 with relative ease for purposes of storing boat 100 or for repairing or replacing one or more railing sections 124, for example. It may further be appreciated that railing 106 may be easily stowed or shipped in some examples. For example, during shipping or transport of the disassembled boat, the inner panels 144 may be folded, rolled, or stacked, and inner frame 142 and outer frame 140 may be laid flat or stacked, for example, on top of deck 102 or beneath the deck.

Railing 106 may removably or fixedly couple to deck 102 using any suitable coupling mechanism. In some examples, railing 106 may couple to deck 102 such that water may pass between at least a portion of the railing and the deck. As shown in FIG. 4 for example, a space 126 may be arranged between a lower edge of railing 106 and a surface of deck 102. This may allow water on deck 102 to easily flow off, beneath railing 106 through space 126. Moreover, in some examples, railing 106 may be configured to be coupled to deck 102 such that a purchaser, operator, or other user of boat 100 may relatively easily install railing 106 on the deck.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are conceptual diagrams illustrating a coupling bracket 128 that may operably couple railing 106 to deck 102 in some examples. Coupling bracket 128 may have a railing portion 130 arranged between two deck portions 132. Railing portion 130 may be configured to couple to railing 106, and the deck portions 132 may be configured to couple to deck 102. In some examples, coupling bracket 128, including railing portion 130 and two deck portions 132, may be constructed of a solid formed or molded component. For example, coupling bracket 128 may be a single steel, aluminum, plastic, or other material component. In other examples, coupling bracket 128 may have multiple components.

Coupling bracket 128 may be configured to be arranged on an upper surface of deck 102 with deck portions 132 adjacent to the deck surface. Each deck portion 132 may have one or more holes 134 configured to receive a screw, bolt, nail, or pin for coupling to the deck surface. In some examples, each deck portion 132 may have two holes 134, while in other examples, each deck portion 132 may have any other suitable number of holes 134. In still further examples, the two deck portions 132 may be configured to couple to deck 102 by any other suitable coupling means, such as by adhesives or epoxies, or by one or more clamps for example. Each deck portion 132 may have a generally rectangular shape in some examples. In other examples, each deck portion 132 may have any other suitable shape.

Railing portion 130 may be configured to couple to a lower surface of railing 106, such as to a lower surface of outer frame 140 for example. Railing portion 130 may have one or more holes 136 configured to receive a screw, bolt, nail, or pin for coupling to railing 106 surface. In some examples, railing portion 130 may have one hole 136, while in other examples, the railing portion may have any other suitable number of holes. In still further examples, railing portion 130 may be configured to couple to railing 106 by any other suitable coupling means, such as by one or more clamps for example. In some examples, as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, railing portion 130 may be generally elevated from the two deck portions 132. In this way, coupling bracket 128 may be configured to elevate railing 106 above deck 102 so as to allow water to pass between the railing and the deck surface. That is, coupling bracket 128 may define space 126 as shown in FIG. 4.

Further, in some examples, as shown in FIG. 9, railing portion 130 may have a recessed area 138 sized and shaped to receive railing 106. That is, for example, where the lower surface of railing 106 such as a lower surface of outer frame 140 has a rectangular shape, railing portion 130 may have a rectangular shaped recessed area 138 configured to fit the rectangular shaped railing surface. This may allow for a more secure coupling to railing 106 and/or ease of assembly, such that the railing may be relatively easily positioned over coupling bracket 128 before a screw, bolt, nail, pin, or other coupling device is secured. One or more brackets 128 may be used to couple each railing section 124 to deck 102. In some examples, the number of brackets 128 used for each railing section 124 may depend on the length of the railing section.

In other examples, railing 106 may couple to deck 102 using any other suitable means. For example, in some examples, railing 106 may couple to deck 102 using one or more hinges, such that the railing may fold down onto the deck during shipping or transport of boat 100. In other examples, railing 106 may be fixedly coupled to deck 102 during shipping or transport, and the railing may be configured to telescope, unfold, or otherwise extend upward. Other coupling means that may allow for ease of shipping and/or assembly are contemplated as well.

In some examples, boat 100 may have one or more storage compartments. For example, one or more seats 110 may be configured with storage beneath the seat cushion. Moreover, helm 108 may be configured such that there may be storage space within it when the helm is assembled. For example, helm 108 may have one or more top or side panels configured to open to allow access to a storage area within or beneath the helm. In some examples, for example, a portion of the upper surface helm 108, such as a bow side portion may be configured to hinge or slide open to as to provide access to a storage compartment within the base portion of the helm. Additionally or alternatively, a storage space may be arranged along railing 106. For example, one or more railing sections 124 may be arranged parallel with another railing section so as to provide a storage space as shown in FIG. 1. The storage space is additionally shown in FIG. 10. This storage space may be used to store any suitable object; in one example, it may be configured to store at least canopy 114 and canopy poles 122 when not in use.

As described above, a boat of the present disclosure may generally be configured to be stored, shipped, or transported in a standard shipping, freight, ISO, or other container. In this regard, various components of boat 100 may be configured to be collapsed, folded, removed, or otherwise arranged for storage, shipping, or transport of boat 100. As described above, the seat(s), table(s), helm, canopy, and railing may each be configured to be collapsed, folded, decoupled, or otherwise disassembled for shipping or transport.

Moreover, the one or more pontoons may be configured to deflate, collapse, or otherwise disassemble, and/or the deck may be configured to disassemble into multiple sections in some examples. In some examples, each of the one or more disassembled components may be configured to be stacked, folded, or otherwise arranged on the deck for shipping or transport. In other examples, the disassembled components may be configured to be arranged beneath the deck. For example, the seat(s), helm, table(s), railing, and canopy may be configured to be arranged beneath the deck and between the pontoons. In this way, the total shipping height of boat 100 may be that of the pontoons and deck in some examples. In still other examples, the disassembled components may be arranged in a different location or configuration for shipping or transport of boat 100. In some examples, multiple boats may be stacked or otherwise arranged together in a shipping, freight, ISO, or other container.

Moreover, a boat of the present disclosure may generally be configured to be readily assembled for use by a purchaser, operator, or other user. As described above, each of the disassembled components, including the seat(s), table(s), helm, canopy, railing, deck, and/or pontoons may be configured to be assembled with relative ease. Moreover, in some examples, each of the one or more components described above may further be configured to be readily disassembled by a user. For example, the railing, one or more seats, one or more tables, helm, canopy, deck, and/or pontoons may be disassembled by a user for purposes of storing boat 100, for example.

Additionally, the one or more components may be readily disassembled by a user for purposes of repairing and/or replacing one or more components. For example, a user may wish to remove and replace the inner panels of some or all of the railing sections with inner panels of a different material, color, or pattern. Similarly, a user may wish to remove and replace the canopy with a canopy of a different material, color, or pattern. Moreover, a user may have the ability to remove a component, such as a seat, table, helm, railing, deck component, and/or other component in order to repair or replace a component that may be worn or damaged.

In some examples, a boat of the present disclosure may be configured to operate in conjunction with a program, application, or other user interface accessible via a desktop computer, laptop computer, tablet computer, smartphone, smart watch, or other device. The user interface may provide a real time display of navigational and/or operational gauges, such as speed, fuel, temperature, depth, and/or other navigational or operational gauges. Moreover, in some examples, the user interface may provide for at least limited operational control of boat 100. The user interface may be connected to boat 100 over a wired or wireless network, such as a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi network, for example. In some examples, the helm may be configured such that a device providing the user interface, such as a tablet computer or smartphone, may be fixedly or removably positioned or mounted on or near the helm. In this way, the user interface may digitally provide navigational and/or operational information directly to an operator of boat 100. In one example, a user interface of navigational and/or operational gauges may be that of, or similar to that of, the EntelNet™ telematics system provided by Faria Beede Instruments, Inc. of Uncasville, Conn.

It may be appreciated that use of such a user interface may allow a boat of the present disclosure to have relatively limited on-board wiring, gauges and/or other operational or navigational equipment. In this way, the helm, for example, may more easily collapse, fold, or otherwise disassemble. Moreover, this may generally allow for a user to more easily assemble boat 100, because there may be relatively limited wiring and/or gauges to install or connect.

As used herein, the terms “substantially” or “generally” refer to the complete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, an object that is “substantially” or “generally” enclosed would mean that the object is either completely enclosed or nearly completely enclosed. The exact allowable degree of deviation from absolute completeness may in some cases depend on the specific context. However, generally speaking, the nearness of completion will be so as to have generally the same overall result as if absolute and total completion were obtained. The use of “substantially” or “generally” is equally applicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the complete or near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, an element, combination, example, or composition that is “substantially free of” or “generally free of” an element may still actually contain such element as long as there is generally no significant effect thereof.

In the foregoing description various examples of the present disclosure have been presented for the purpose of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The various examples were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principals of the disclosure and their practical application, and to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the various examples with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the present disclosure as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.

Claims

1. A railing for a boat deck, the railing comprising: a plurality of railing sections, each of the railing sections comprising: an outer frame;an inner frame configured to be nested within the outer frame; andan inner panel configured to be coupled to the inner frame by a tongue and groove mechanism,wherein the railing sections are configured to be decoupled from each other for storage or transport of the railing and coupled to each other for use in operation of a boat to which the railing is to be attached.

2. The railing of claim 1, wherein the inner frame is constructed from a bar or tube having a generally square or rectangular cross sectional shape and including an indented portion forming a ledge, and wherein the inner panel includes an attachment clip defining a slot configured to attach to the ledge of the inner frame.

3. The railing of claim 1, wherein the outer frame defines one or more holes configured to receive a fastener for coupling the inner frame to the outer frame.

4. The railing of claim 1, wherein at least one of the outer frame or the inner frame defines one or more holes configured to receive a fastener for coupling the outer frame or the inner frame to the boat deck.

5. A boat comprising: a deck;a pair of pontoons configured to be attached beneath the deck and configured to support the deck; anda railing configured to be attached on top of the deck,wherein the boat is configured to be arranged within a standard sized shipping container during storage or transport of the boat.

6. The boat of claim 5, wherein the railing comprises a plurality of railing sections, each of the railing sections comprising: an outer frame;an inner frame arranged within the outer frame; andan inner panel coupled to the inner frame by a tongue and groove mechanism,wherein the railing sections are configured to be decoupled from each other for storage or transport of the boat and coupled to each other for use in operation of the boat.

7. The boat of claim 6, wherein the inner frame is constructed from a bar or tube having a generally square or rectangular cross sectional shape and including an indented portion forming a ledge, and wherein the inner panel includes an attachment clip defining a slot configured to attach to the ledge of the inner frame.

8. The boat of claim 6, wherein the outer frame defines one or more holes configured to receive a fastener for coupling the inner frame to the outer frame.

9. The boat of claim 6, wherein at least one of the outer frame or the inner frame defines one or more holes configured to receive a fastener for coupling the outer frame or the inner frame to the boat deck.

10. The boat of claim 5, wherein the pontoons are inflatable.

11. The boat of claim 5, wherein the pontoons are rigid and collapsible.

12. The boat of claim 11, wherein the pontoons are configured to telescope outward for use in operation of the boat and to collapse inward for storage or transport of the boat.

13. The boat of claim 5, wherein the pontoons have a length between 10 feet and 40 feet.

14. The boat of claim 5, wherein the deck comprises a plurality of individual deck components configured to be attached or detached to or from each other.

15. The boat of claim 5, further comprising a helm configured to be attached on top of the deck, the helm comprising a dashboard including one or more gauges, controls, navigational components, or operational components.

16. The boat of claim 15, wherein the helm is collapsible through folding or telescoping for storage or transport of the boat and is expandable for use in operation of the boat.

17. The boat of claim 16, wherein the helm includes a base portion having a plurality of sections configured to nest within one another to collapse the helm.

18. The boat of claim 15, wherein the helm includes a first section and second section, wherein the first section and the second section are configured such that the first section can be nested inside of the second section.

19. The boat of claim 5, further comprising one or more seats configured to be attached on top of the deck, each of the seats being configured to collapse through telescoping or folding for storage or transport of the boat and to expand for use in operation of the boat.

20. The boat of claim 19, wherein at least one of the one or more seats defines two or more backrest support areas, each of the backrest support areas configured to receive a backrest for the at least one of the one or more seats.

21. The boat of claim 5, further comprising a table including a base portion and a tabletop portion, wherein the base portion is configured to be decoupled from the tabletop portion for storage or transport of the boat and to be coupled to the tabletop portion and the deck for use in operation of the boat.

22. The boat of claim 21, wherein the deck defines an opening for a collapsed version of the base portion of the table, and the base portion of the table is configured to collapse into the opening for storage or transport of the boat and to be removed from the opening for use in operation of the boat.

23. The boat of claim 5, further comprising a canopy and poles to support the canopy, wherein the poles are configured to be collapsed during storage or transport of the boat and to expand for use in operation of the boat, and wherein the poles are configured to be attached to the deck for use in operation of the boat and removed from the deck for storage or transport of the boat.

24. The boat of claim 5, further comprising: a helm configured to be attached on top of the deck, wherein the helm is collapsible through folding or telescoping for storage or transport of the boat and is expandable for use in operation of the boat;one or more seats configured to be attached on top of the deck, each of the seats being configured to collapse through telescoping or folding for storage or transport of the boat and to expand for use in operation of the boat; anda canopy and poles to support the canopy, wherein the poles are configured to be collapsed during storage or transport of the boat and to expand for use in operation of the boat, and wherein the poles are configured to be attached to the deck for use in operation of the boat and removed from the deck for storage or transport of the boat,wherein the deck comprises a plurality of individual deck components configured to be attached or detached to or from each other.