Patent Application
20240229396
None
The disclosure relates to convertible dock accessory systems structures and devices used as a utility platform, bench seating, water ladder, and watercraft launch assistance, for single or multiple users, that when combined with a universal mounting post assembly frame, can be mounted or installed on vehicles, boats, boat docks, or water-side structures in, around, or in close proximity to ponds, lakes, creeks, streams, rivers, natural or man-made pools, oceans, or sea-side applications for recreational, industrial and/or commercial uses at or near the water level in a static, fixed, or mobile position. The dock accessories can also be folded, pivoted, tilted, or raised up or away from the water level for storage.
Recreational equipment and accessories for water related activities are typically engineered for their narrow purpose of use. Existing benches, ladders and watercraft launches are either fixed at the water level or folded up into a storage position do not provide on deck utility platform(s) for seating or other uses. They also waste deck space and offer limited utility because they either do not fold up or do not provide seating in up positions. Additionally, existing structures do not provide structural armrests, handrails, or frame components that serve as support for deck storage and utility platform(s).
Typical deck ladders are designed specifically for ingress and egress between a body of water and deck surface. Water submersed seating is designed to achieve the singular effect of comfortable seating while wading in water. Deck side furnishing is designed for deck side use. Very little multi-purpose convertible equipment exists having multiple functionalities. What remains lacking are devices and equipment that have a cross-over quality, capable of engaging in both above deck and below water activities.
Due to safety concerns, products that encourage extensive use of space along a deck ledge adjacent to a body of water are avoided. Use of this space involves a great deal of protective measures provided by protective equipment or by regulatory means. Devices that encourage activity along a deck ledge involve certain risk and liability. Preference is to limit liability by encouraging and limiting water related risk to normal scope of use within the water environment. As such, this combined use environment has historically been overlooked.
Products that bridge above deck and below water activity and create new convertible cross-over experiences must consider both safety and comfort for the user in these two opposite types of environments. It is not enough to utilize existing devices for either above deck or underwater application. Not only do the alternative environments involve different engineering concerns, but an intermediate environment exists along the location where the dual application device is situated. Therefore, an ideal experience must involve consideration of the above deck, below water and intermediate environments.
A convertible waterside accessory system is disclosed as having an above water coupling surface disposed proximate a body of water, and at least two mounting post assemblies removably attached to the above water coupling surface. Each mounting post assembly has a vertical mounting post with an upper end, a lower end, a middle section, and a plurality of pivot apertures aligned for accepting a means for attaching an interchangeable accessory. Also, a horizontal leg having a forward end and a rear end with the forward end being attached to the middle section of the vertical mounting post. The horizontal leg extends rearward and is configured for removable attachment to the above water coupling surface. A post handrail is connected between the upper end of the vertical mounting post and the rear end of the horizontal leg. At least one interchangeable accessory is pivotably mounted between at least two mounting posts and is configured for rotation about at least one of a plurality of pivot axes extending between aligned pivot apertures.
Also disclosed in a convertible dock bench accessory, having an interchangeable water level bench pivotably mounted between two mounting post assemblies, the water level bench being configured to pivot about at least one of a plurality of pivot axes extending between aligned pivot apertures in the two mounting post assemblies, thereby converting the dock bench to a dry diving platform supported by a pair of integrated armrests positioned on the sides of the water level bench.
Also disclosed is a convertible dock ladder accessory having an interchangeable dock ladder pivotably mounted between two mounting post assemblies, the dock ladder being configured to pivot about at least one of a plurality of pivot axes extending between aligned pivot apertures in the two mounting post assemblies thereby converting the dock ladder to dry tiered seating, tiered shelving, or tiered tabletops.
Also disclosed is a convertible watercraft support structure accessory, having an interchangeable water level watercraft support structure pivotably mounted between two mounting post assemblies, the watercraft support structure configured to pivot about at least one of a plurality of pivot axes extending between aligned pivot apertures in the two mounting post assemblies thereby converting it to dry watercraft storage.
The invention will be described with reference to the figures which are integral, but non-limiting, part of the specification provided for clarity of the invention. Throughout the various figures, similar elements can be numbered consistently.
Unless otherwise stated, the words “about” and “substantially” as used herein are to be construed as meaning the normal measuring and/or fabrication limitations related to the value or condition which the word “about” or “substantially” modifies. Unless expressly stated otherwise, the term “embodiment” is used herein to mean an embodiment of the present invention. Unless expressly stated otherwise, the term ‘up position’ is generally considered a dry position and the term ‘down position’ is generally considered a wet position. The term ‘pin’ or ‘pins’ is considered one of many means for attaching used in mechanically connecting components in every embodiment. Other means for attaching can be ‘pin and bushing’, wherein the bushing extends between all contact surfaces of the pin and the accessory thereby providing vibration damping, spring-buttons or paddle spring clips on the accessory and/or the mounting post assemblies, as well as any marine mechanical connector suitable for water-side use. Other vibration damping devices such as washers, grommets, spacers, and corrosion-resistant dry-running sleeve bearings may be used in the means for attaching. The means for attaching can also include a rod positioned along one of the pivot axes and extending full length between two or more mounting post assemblies, thereby configured to pivotably mount accessories of different width between the two or more mounting post assemblies, as well as accepting multiple accessories on a single rod. The rod position can be secured with lynch pins or similar retaining devices.
A convertible waterside accessory system is disclosed as having an above water coupling surface on a vehicle, watercraft, boat dock, and other water-side structures. The coupling surface is disposed proximate a body of water, such as a pond, lake, creek, stream, river, natural or man-made pool, and ocean. At least two mounting post assemblies are removably attached to the above water coupling surface. Multiple mounting post assemblies can be ganged together or separately mounted to the coupling surface to house multiple interchangeable accessories. Each mounting post assembly can have a vertical mounting post with an upper end, lower end, middle section, and a plurality of pivot apertures aligned for docking an interchangeable accessory. A horizontal leg has a forward end and a rear end, the forward end being attached to the middle section of the vertical mounting post. The horizontal leg extends rearward and is configured for removable attachment to the above water coupling surface. A post handrail is connected between the upper end of the vertical mounting post and the rear end of the horizontal leg, in an ‘L’-shaped pattern. At least one interchangeable accessory is pivotably mounted between each of at least two mounting posts and configured for rotation about at least one of a plurality of pivot axes extending between aligned pivot apertures in the vertical mounting posts. Pivoting motion converts each of the accessories safely from above deck use to below water use, as well as intermediate environment use such as in stowage.
Another embodiment is a utility platform or bench seating for single or multiple users that when combined with a universal mounting frame can be mounted or installed on vehicles, boats, boat docks, or water-side structures in, around, or in close proximity to ponds, lakes, creeks, streams, rivers, natural or man-made pools, oceans, or sea-side applications for recreational, industrial and/or commercial uses at or near the water level in a static, fixed, or mobile position that can also be folded, pivoted, tilted, or raised up or away from the water level for storage and use as a utility platform or seating for single or multiple users.
Another embodiment is a water ladder that when combined with a universal mounting frame can be mounted or installed on vehicles, boats, boat docks, or water-side structures in, around, or in close proximity to ponds, lakes, creeks, streams, rivers, natural or man-made pools, oceans, or sea-side applications for recreational, industrial and/or commercial uses at or near the water level in a static, fixed, or mobile position that can also be folded, pivoted, tilted, or raised up or away from the water level for storage and use as a utility platform(s) or stadium style seating for single or multiple users.
Yet another embodiment is a water level watercraft launch assist that when combined with a universal mounting frame can be mounted or installed on vehicles, boats, boat docks, or water-side structures in, around, or in close proximity to ponds, lakes, creeks, streams, rivers, natural or man-made pools, oceans, or sea-side applications for recreational, industrial and/or commercial uses at or near the water level in a static, fixed, or mobile position that can also be folded, pivoted, tilted, or raised up or away from the water level for storage and use as a utility platform or seating for single or multiple users.
Users can use the bench, ladder and watercraft launch at lake level and/or on the dock deck for recreation or other purposes. The multiple-use/position bench, ladder and watercraft launch conserves deck space. Accessing the bench, ladder and watercraft launch is made safer and easier due to built-in structure that serves as armrests or handrails at water level and utility platform support in the up position. The universal mounting frames provide additional safety handrail for descending from the deck down onto bench, ladder and watercraft launch.
Disclosed herein are structures that can be mounted or installed on vehicles, boats, boat docks, or water-side structures in, around, or in close proximity to ponds, lakes, creeks, streams, rivers, natural or man-made pools, oceans, or sea-side applications for recreational, industrial and/or commercial uses at or near the water level including: a water level bench when combined with a mounting frame can be pivoted around a strategically located axis to change uses to become a dry diving platform, or dry bench, or shelf or other use, supported by the armrests of the water level bench; a secondary below water footrest/bench when combined with the water level bench, can be pivoted around a strategically located axis to change uses to a high level bench, or a tabletop, or shelf, or dry stow or other uses, supported and locked into the water bench; a water level ladder when combined with a mounting frame can be pivoted around a strategically located axis to change uses to become a dry tiered seating or tiered shelving or tiered tabletops or other uses stored and supported by the handrails locking into the mounting frame; a water level watercraft support when combined with a mounting frame can be pivoted around a strategically located axis to become a dry diving platform, or dry bench, or shelf or other use, supported by adjustable legs on the watercraft support.
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A lower bench assembly 200 is shown generally attached and supported vertically between the two bench armrests 110 along the pivot axis 122 with the lower bench pivot axis pins 212 and rotated to the down-position until the lower bench down-position stop surface 216 bears against the bench seat slat lower bench stop surface 130 and the lower bench seat slat top surface 220 is facing upward and locked into position with a lower bench up-position stop pin 214.
The bench assembly 100 with the lower bench assembly 200 attached can be rotated to the up-position until the bench armrests 116 bear against the mounting post down-position rotation stops 318 and the lower bench seat slat bottom surface 222 is facing upward. The lower bench up-position stop pin 214 can be removed and the lower bench assembly 200 rotated down for stow.
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The ladder assembly 400 can be rotated to the up-position until the ladder up-position handrail stop surface 422 bears against the mounting posts up-position rotation stops 318 and the step seat slat bottom surface 430 is facing upward. The rotation stops 316, 318 can have an irregular shaped profile such that rotating or moving the mounted position of each stop provides pivot angle 134 adjustment for the interchangeable accessory, thereby providing increased comfort and functionality.
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A watercraft support rotating handrail 532 can be attached and supported vertically along the watercraft support handrail pivot axis 521 through the watercraft support handrail pivot apertures 520.
The watercraft support assembly 500 can be rotated to the up-position until the watercraft support adjustable leg up-position support 522 bears against the deck 610 and the step seat slat bottom surface 530 is facing upward.
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A strap, chain or cord 614 can be attached to a bench assembly 100 and or a ladder assembly 400 and or a watercraft support assembly 500 on one end and attached to a ratcheting mechanism 614 on opposite end to pull and rotate assemblies from the down position to the up position.
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The above water coupling surface 610, as shown, is a deck of a pontoon boat positioned in the body of water 1220. A jib hoist assembly 1230 can be used to tie-off to a dock and/or lift a watercraft, such as a jet ski, for securement or dry storage. The jib hoist assembly 1230 can be operated from a winching device, such as a geared crank drive 620.
The invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments without limit thereto. One of skill in the art would realize additional embodiments which are described and set forth in the claims appended hereto.
