EXPANDABLE PONTOON BOAT WITH EXPANDABLE FLOORING SYSTEM AND EXPANDABLE STRUCTURE

Abstract

An expandable pontoon boat includes an expandable flooring system with an expandable pontoon structure. The expandable pontoon structure includes at least two pontoon members and at least one expandable connection. The expandable connection is configured to expand and contract. Each connection includes a first and second connection member. The first connection member has a first distal end and a first proximal end rotatably connected to a base pontoon member at a first connection point. The second connection member has a second proximal end, a second distal end, and a second mid-point. The first distal end is rotatably connected at the second mid-point. The second connection member is connected between the base pontoon member and an extendable pontoon member. The second proximal end is slidably affixed to the base pontoon member and the second distal end is rotatably affixed to the extendable pontoon member at a second connection point.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to boats and more particularly pontoon boats. More specifically, the present disclosure related to an expandable pontoon boat with an expandable and an expandable structure.

BACKGROUND

Generally speaking, a pontoon is a flotation device with buoyancy sufficient to float itself as well as a heavy load. A pontoon boat is a flattish boat that relies on pontoons to float. Pontoons may be used on boats, rafts, barges, docks, airboats, hovercrafts, floatplanes or seaplanes. Pontoons may support a platform, creating a raft. A raft supporting a house-like structure is a houseboat style pontoon boat. A fixed platform can be used as a dock. Pontoons may be simply constructed from sealed cylinders such as pipes or barrels, or fabricated as boxes from metal or concrete. These pontoons, or tubes for short, contain a lot of reserve buoyancy and allow designers to create massive deck plans fitted with all sorts of accommodations, such as expansive lounge areas, stand-up bars, and sun pads. Pontoon boat drafts may be as shallow as eight inches, which reduces the risk of running aground and underwater damage. Pontoon boats for pleasure boating and fishing can be low cost for their capacity, and cheaper to insure than other boats, even when equipped with substantial engines. Pontoon boats are used as small vehicle ferries to cross rivers and lakes in many parts of the world. Pontoon ferries may be motorized, or powered by another boat, or pulled by cables.

The present disclosure may relate to a system for boat expansion, like expansion of a pontoon boat, or like devices. A pontoon boat, also referred to as a party boat, is ideal for large gatherings and parties on the water. As such, there is clearly a desire to provide larger space or flooring on such pontoon or party boats. However, pontoon boats are designed to be towed behind a vehicle for transportation. As such, the width of the pontoon boat is limited by highway regulations to be able to be towed and transported on roads without a permit. As such, boats such as pontoon boats may have an average width between 6 and 10 feet. As such, there is clearly a need or desire to provide a pontoon boat that is expandable beyond the average width of pontoon boats to provide a larger floor space or area on the boat.

Expandable boats, or expandable pontoon boat designs, in particular, are known to have been attempted in the past. However, all of these known designs for expandable pontoon boats have failed to address four major concerns, such as: 1) maximizing the deck space of the boat once expanded, while still having a package that can be transported on a typical highway; 2) allowing for maximum cargo carrying capability; 3) ensuring a rigid structure once expanded; and 4) ability to maintain a center console platform rather than a side console to maximize deck usage once expanded.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,820,255, 9,045,195 and 9,580,149 show a known expandable and contracting pontoon boat that is manufactured by Island Boats of Vero Beach, Florida. This expandable and contractible pontoon boat can be expanded only a little over 2 linear feet. This greatly limits the potential deck space that could be utilized with a different method of expansion. This limitation may be because of the way the floor slides under itself for retraction.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,458 discloses another design for an expandable pontoon boat. The deck in this design can expand no more than two times its original size due to the expansion method of the pontoons. This method can also potentially allow the boat to flex more than desired.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,156,526 discloses an expandable pontoon system. The design of this system is also limited to a maximum of two times the original platform growth due to the method in which the outer decks slide over the center deck. This design is also affixed solely around a three-pontoon system, which can potentially limit the cargo carrying capability.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,874,440 discloses an expandable multi-hull boat. The design of this boat is limited as to how wide it can expand and contract due to the method of having the expansion rails slide completely inside of each other. This limits how close the outer pontoons can be collapsed for transportation and also limits offering additional pontoons under the boat for additional load carrying capability.

The majority of these known designs are attempting to take an existing pontoon boat (existing referring to current width and length) and make it collapsible to a size that can be more easily transported on the highway or stored. On the other hand, the instant disclosure may be the opposite, as it may start with the maximum width of boat that can safely be towed behind a vehicle and allows that boat to expand to a larger usable deck space.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018/0099726 discloses an expandable flooring system for a pontoon boat that includes a center floor and at least one outer floor, where the outer floor is configured to hinge upwards about an edge of the center floor. The instant disclosure may be an improvement of this published patent application by incorporating such an expandable flooring system into a pontoon boat or pontoon houseboat with an expandable structure that will expand and collapse to be towable and road worthy.

The instant disclosure may be designed to address at least certain aspects of the problems or needs discussed above by providing an expandable pontoon boat with an expandable flooring system and an expandable structure.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure may solve the aforementioned limitations of the currently available pontoon boats, or the like, by providing the disclosed expandable pontoon boat with an expandable flooring system and expandable structure. The expandable pontoon boat with the expandable flooring system and the expandable structure may generally include the expandable flooring system with an expandable pontoon structure. The expandable pontoon structure may include at least two pontoon members and at least one expandable connection between each of the at least two pontoon members. The at least one expandable connection may be configured to expand and contract a distance between the pontoon members. Each of the at least one expandable connection may include a first connection member and a second connection member. The first connection member may have a first proximal end and a first distal end. The first distal end may be rotatably connected to a base pontoon member at a first connection point. The second connection member may have a second proximal end, a second distal end, and a second mid-point. The first distal end of the first connection member may be rotatably connected at the second mid-point of the second connection member. The second connection member may be connected between the base pontoon member and an extendable pontoon member. The second proximal end may be slidably affixed to the base pontoon member and the second distal end may be rotatably affixed to the extendable pontoon member at a second connection point.

One feature of the disclosed expandable pontoon boat may be that each of the at least one expandable connection may be configured to expand and contract the distance between the pontoon members while maintaining the pontoon members parallel to one another and at a fixed longitudinal orientation to one another.

In select embodiments of the disclosed expandable pontoon boat, the expandable pontoon structure may include two expandable connections between each of the at least two pontoon members.

In select embodiments of the disclosed expandable pontoon boat, the expandable pontoon structure may include three pontoon members. In select embodiments of the three pontoon member embodiments of the expandable pontoon boat, the expandable pontoon structure may include at least one first expandable connection between the base pontoon member and a first extendable pontoon member on a first side of the base pontoon member. In addition, at least one second expandable connection may be included between the base pontoon member and a second extendable pontoon member on a second side of the base pontoon member. In other select possibly preferred embodiments of the three pontoon member embodiments of the expandable pontoon boat, the expandable pontoon structure may include two of the first expandable connections between the base pontoon member and the first extendable pontoon member on the first side of the base pontoon member. In addition, two of the second expandable connections may be included between the base pontoon member and the second extendable pontoon member on the second side of the base pontoon member.

In select embodiments of the expandable pontoon boat, each of the at least one expandable connection may include the first connection member including a first upper connection member and a first lower connection member. The first upper connection member and the first lower connection member may be positioned at a first space apart. The first distal end may interconnect the first upper connection member and the first lower connection member and may rotatably connect them to the base pontoon member at the first connection point. Likewise, the second connection member may include a second upper connection member and a second lower connection member. The second upper connection member and the second lower connection member may be positioned at a second space apart. In select embodiments, the first connection member may be positioned at a vertical offset from the second connection member, where the first distal end of the first connection member is rotatably connected at the second mid-point of the second connection member, where the first upper connection member or the first lower connection member is positioned in between the second upper connection member and the second lower connection member at the second mid-point.

Another feature of the disclosed expandable pontoon boat may be that at least one of the expandable connections may include a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism may be configured for moving the second proximal end along the base pontoon member for expanding and contracting the distance between the pontoon members. In select embodiments of the expandable pontoon boat, the drive mechanism may include a track positioned along the base pontoon member. In addition, a motor may be affixed to the second proximal end of the second connection member. Wherein, the motor may be configured to move the second proximal end of the second connection member along the track positioned along the base pontoon member for expanding and contracting the distance between the pontoon members.

Another feature of the disclosed expandable pontoon boat may be that the expandable pontoon structure can include a positioning bracket along the extendable pontoon member. The positioning bracket may be configured to rotatably affix the second connection point position of the second distal end of the second connection member to the extendable pontoon member.

Another feature of the disclosed expandable pontoon boat may be that the expandable flooring system may be positioned on top of the expandable pontoon structure. The expandable flooring system may be configured to expand and contract with the expansion and contraction of the expandable pontoon structure. In select embodiments, the expandable flooring system may include a base flooring section and at least one expandable flooring section. Each of the at least one expandable flooring sections may be configured to telescope out from and in toward the base flooring section with the expansion and contraction of the expandable pontoon structure.

Another feature of the disclosed expandable pontoon boat may be the inclusion of an expandable structure on top of the expandable flooring system. The expandable structure may include walls configured to expand with a large footprint created with the expandable flooring system. In select embodiments, the expandable structure may be, but is clearly not limited to, a houseboat structure.

Another feature of the disclosed expandable pontoon boat may be that it can be configured to expand and collapse to be towable and road worthy.

Another feature of the disclosed expandable pontoon boat may be that it can be designed or configured with the ability to expand from standard width pontoon up to 3 times the width.

Another feature of the disclosed expandable pontoon boat may be that it can be designed or configured with the ability to contract to haul on trailer on local roads.

Another feature of the disclosed expandable pontoon boat may be that it can be designed or configured with the ability to expand up to 24 feet wide.

Another feature of the disclosed expandable pontoon boat may be that it can be designed or configured with the ability to contract and be pulled by a trailer and is of legal width to travel the roads and highways in the USA without a permit.

Another feature of the disclosed expandable pontoon boat may be that it can be designed or configured with the ability to be of legal height to be less than a 13.2 feet bridge law height requirements.

Another feature of the disclosed expandable pontoon boat may be that it can be designed or configured with the ability to have an expandable structure with slide-outs that is configured to be stable from weight being spread throughout the expandable flooring system.

Another feature of the disclosed expandable pontoon boat may be that it can be designed or configured with the ability to have slide-outs equipped with rollers that ride on a slide-outs track to create an easy expansion.

Another feature of the disclosed expandable pontoon boat may be that it can be designed or configured with the ability to have a desired length configured to meet any DOT or DMV restrictions.

Another feature of the disclosed expandable pontoon boat may be that it can be designed or configured with the ability to support a covered deck on a rooftop of the expandable structure.

Another feature of the disclosed expandable pontoon boat may be that it can be designed or configured with the ability to provide the expandable structure, where the expandable structure is a house boat, a microhome, or a camper, where the expandable structure incorporates the slide-outs for expanding and contracting with the expandable flooring system.

In another aspect, the instant disclosure embraces the expandable pontoon boat in any of the embodiments and/or combination of embodiments shown and/or described herein.

In another aspect, the instant disclosure embraces the disclosed expandable connection for the disclosed expandable pontoon structure in any embodiment and/or combination of embodiments shown and/or described herein.

The foregoing illustrative summary, as well as other exemplary objectives and/or advantages of the disclosure, and the manner in which the same are accomplished, are further explained within the following detailed description and its accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will be better understood by reading the Detailed Description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in which like reference numerals denote similar structure and refer to like elements throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top, front-right perspective view of the disclosed expandable pontoon boat with an expandable flooring system and an expandable structure according to select embodiments of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a top, back-left perspective view of the expandable pontoon boat with an expandable flooring system and an expandable structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a right side view of the expandable pontoon boat with an expandable flooring system and an expandable structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a left side view of the expandable pontoon boat with an expandable flooring system and an expandable structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the expandable pontoon boat with an expandable flooring system and an expandable structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a back view of the expandable pontoon boat with an expandable flooring system and an expandable structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the expandable pontoon boat with an expandable flooring system and an expandable structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a bottom, front-left perspective view of the expandable pontoon boat with an expandable flooring system and an expandable structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a front-right perspective view of the expandable pontoon structure according to select embodiments of the instant disclosure for the disclosed expandable pontoon boat with an expandable flooring system and an expandable structure according to select embodiments of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a back, top-right perspective view of the expandable connections according to select embodiments of the instant disclosure for the disclosed expandable pontoon boat with an expandable flooring system and an expandable structure according to select embodiments of the instant disclosure;

FIG. 11A is a top, front-left perspective view of the expandable pontoon structure according to select embodiments of the instant disclosure for the disclosed expandable pontoon boat with an expandable flooring system and an expandable structure according to select embodiments of the instant disclosure in an expanded position;

FIG. 11B is a top, front-left perspective view of the expandable pontoon structure of FIG. 11A in an intermediate position;

FIG. 11C is a top, front-left perspective view of the expandable pontoon structure of FIG. 11A in a contracted position.

It is to be noted that the drawings presented are intended solely for the purpose of illustration and that they are, therefore, neither desired nor intended to limit the disclosure to any or all of the exact details of construction shown, except insofar as they may be deemed essential to the claimed disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1-11, in describing the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. The present disclosure, however, is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish similar functions. Embodiments of the claims may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed to be limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The examples set forth herein are non-limiting examples and are merely examples among other possible examples.

Referring to FIGS. 1-11, the present disclosure may solve the aforementioned limitations of the currently available pontoon boats, or the like, by providing the disclosed expandable pontoon boat 10 with expandable flooring system 12 with expandable pontoon structure 14, and expandable structure 104. Expandable pontoon boat 10 with expandable flooring system 12 with expandable pontoon structure 14 may generally include expandable flooring system 12 with expandable pontoon structure 14. Expandable pontoon structure 14 may include at least two pontoon members 16 and at least one expandable connection 18 between each of the at least two pontoon members 16. The at least one expandable connection 18 may be configured to expand and contract distance 20 between pontoon members 16.

As best shown in FIG. 7, each of the at least one expandable connection 18 may include first connection member 22 and second connection member 34. First connection member 22 may have first proximal end 24 and first distal end 26. First distal end 26 may be rotatably connected to base pontoon member 28 at first connection point 30. Second connection member 34 may have second proximal end 36, second distal end 38, and second mid-point 40. Second mid-point 40 may be at the middle of second connection member 34 or approximate thereto. First distal end 26 of first connection member 22 may be rotatably connected at second mid-point 40 of second connection member 34. Second connection member 34 may be connected between base pontoon member 28 and extendable pontoon member 44. Second proximal end 36 may be slidably affixed to base pontoon member 28 and second distal end 38 may be rotatably affixed to extendable pontoon member 44 at second connection point 48.

As best shown in FIGS. 11A-11C, one feature of the disclosed expandable pontoon boat 10 may be that each of the at least one expandable connection 18 may be configured to expand and contract distance 20 between pontoon members 16 while maintaining pontoon members 16 parallel 52 to one another and at fixed longitudinal orientation 54 to one another. In other words, expandable connections 18 between each of the pontoon members 16 may be designed and configured to keep each of the pontoon members parallel 52 to one another and in the same relative position to one another (fixed longitudinal orientation 54) while expanding distance 20 between each pontoon member 16.

Expandable pontoon structure 14 of expandable pontoon boat 10 may include any number of expandable connections 18 between each pontoon member 16. As best shown in FIGS. 7-11, in select possibly preferred embodiments of the disclosed expandable pontoon boat 10, the expandable pontoon structure 14 may include two expandable connections 18 between each of the at least two pontoon members 16. However, the disclosure is not so limited, and any number of expandable connections 18 may be included between each of the at least two pontoon members 16.

Expandable pontoon structure 14 of expandable pontoon boat 10 may include two or more pontoon members 16. In addition, each of the at least two pontoon members 16 may be any size, shape or configuration of pontoon members, including any desired length 118 for expandable pontoon boat 10. As best shown in FIGS. 6-11, in select possibly preferred embodiments of the disclosed expandable pontoon boat 10, expandable pontoon structure 14 may include three pontoon members 16. In select embodiments of the three pontoon member embodiments of the expandable pontoon boat 10, expandable pontoon structure 14 may include at least one first expandable connection 60 between base pontoon member 28 and first extendable pontoon member 62 on first side 64 of base pontoon member 28. In addition, at least one second expandable connection 66 may be included between base pontoon member 28 and second extendable pontoon member 68 on second side 70 of base pontoon member 28. As shown in FIGS. 6-11, in other select possibly preferred embodiments of the three pontoon member embodiments of the expandable pontoon boat 10, expandable pontoon structure 14 may include two of the first expandable connections 60 between base pontoon member 28 and first extendable pontoon member 62 on first side 64 of base pontoon member 28. In addition, two of the second expandable connections 66 may be included between base pontoon member 28 and second extendable pontoon member 68 on second side 70 of base pontoon member 28.

Expandable connections 18 may be included with expandable pontoon structure 14. Each expandable connection 18 may include various size and shapes of first connection member 22 and second connection member 34. As best shown in FIGS. 5-6, and 8-11, in select embodiments of the expandable pontoon boat 10, each of the at least one expandable connection 18 may include first connection member 22 including first upper connection member 76 and first lower connection member 78. First upper connection member 76 and first lower connection member 78 may be positioned at first space apart 80. First distal end 26 may interconnect first upper connection member 76 and first lower connection member 78 and may rotatably connect them to base pontoon member 28 at first connection point 30. Likewise, second connection member 34 may include second upper connection member 82 and second lower connection member 84. Second upper connection member 82 and second lower connection member 84 may be positioned at second space apart 86. In select embodiments, as shown in the drawings, first connection member 22 may be positioned at vertical offset 88 from second connection member 34, where first distal end 26 of first connection member 22 is rotatably connected at second mid-point 40 of second connection member 34, where first upper connection member 76 or first lower connection member 78 is positioned in between second upper connection member 82 and second lower connection member 84 at second mid-point 40.

Expandable pontoon structure 14 may include any means and or mechanism for operating the expansion and contraction of distance 20 between each pontoon member 16. This may include any mechanically automated means or mechanism for operating the expansion and contraction of distance 20 between each pontoon member 16, or it may include any manually operated means or mechanism (like hand cranks) for operating the expansion and contraction of distance 20 between each pontoon member 16. As best shown in FIG. 10, another feature of the disclosed expandable pontoon boat 10 may be that at least one of the expandable connections 18 may include drive mechanism 90. Drive mechanism 90 may be configured for moving second proximal end 36 of second connection member 34 along base pontoon member 28 for expanding and contracting distance 20 between pontoon members 16. In select embodiments of the expandable pontoon boat 10, drive mechanism 90 may include track 92 positioned along (or inside of slots) base pontoon member 28. In addition, motor 94 may be affixed to second proximal end 36 of second connection member 34. Wherein, motor 94 may be configured to move second proximal end 36 of second connection member 34 along track 92 positioned along base pontoon member 28 for expanding and contracting distance 20 between pontoon members 16.

As best shown in FIGS. 7-11, another feature of the disclosed expandable pontoon boat 10 may be that expandable pontoon structure 14 can include positioning bracket 96 along each extendable pontoon member 44. Positioning bracket 96 may be configured to rotatably affix the position of second connection point 48 of second distal end 38 of second connection member 34 to extendable pontoon member 44. As shown in the Figures, positioning bracket 96 may include a plurality of slots configured for rotatably affixing the position of second connection point 48 in various locations along extendable pontoon member 44.

As best shown in FIGS. 1-8, another feature of the disclosed expandable pontoon boat 10 may be that expandable flooring system 12 may be positioned on top of expandable pontoon structure 14. Expandable flooring system 12 may be configured to expand and contract with the expansion and contraction of expandable pontoon structure 14. In select embodiments, expandable flooring system 12 may include base flooring section 98 and at least one expandable flooring section 100. Each of the at least one expandable flooring sections 100 may be configured to expand from base flooring section 98 by any means or mechanisms. In select possibly preferred embodiments, each of the at least one expandable flooring sections 100 may be configured to expand from base flooring section 98 by telescoping out from and in toward base flooring section 98 with the expansion and contraction of expandable pontoon structure 14.

As best shown in FIGS. 1-6, another feature of the disclosed expandable pontoon boat 10 may be the inclusion of expandable structure 104 on top of expandable flooring system 12. Expandable structure 104 may include walls 106 configured to expand with large footprint 108 created with expandable flooring system 12. In select embodiments, expandable structure 104 may be, but is clearly not limited to, houseboat structure 110, as shown in the Figures.

Another feature of the disclosed expandable pontoon boat 10 may be that it can be configured to expand and collapse to be towable and road worthy. As an example, as best shown in FIG. 11C, when expandable pontoon structure is contracted into a fully contracted position, expandable pontoon boat 10 may be narrow enough to be towable and road worthy.

Another feature of the disclosed expandable pontoon boat 10 may be that it can be designed or configured with the ability to expand from standard width pontoon (like in FIG. 11C) up to 3 times the width (like in FIGS. 1-10 and 11A).

Another feature of the disclosed expandable pontoon boat 10 may be that it can be designed or configured with the ability to contract to haul on trailer on local roads.

Another feature of the disclosed expandable pontoon boat 10 may be that it can be designed or configured with the ability to expand up to 24 feet wide.

Another feature of the disclosed expandable pontoon boat 10 may be that it can be designed or configured with the ability to contract and be pulled by a trailer and is of legal width to travel the roads and highways in the USA without a permit (like in FIG. 11C).

Another feature of the disclosed expandable pontoon boat 10 may be that it can be designed or configured with the ability to be of legal height to be less than a 13.2 feet bridge law height requirements.

Another feature of the disclosed expandable pontoon boat 10 may be that it can be designed or configured with the ability to have expandable structure 104 with slide-outs 112 that can be configured to be stable from weight being spread throughout the expandable flooring system 12.

Another feature of the disclosed expandable pontoon boat 10 may be that it can be designed or configured with the ability to have slide-outs 112 equipped with rollers that ride on a slide-out track to create an easy expansion.

Another feature of the disclosed expandable pontoon boat 10 may be that it can be designed or configured with the ability to have a desired length 118 configured to meet any DOT or DMV restrictions.

Another feature of the disclosed expandable pontoon boat 10 may be that it can be designed or configured with the ability to support covered deck 120 on rooftop 122 of expandable structure 104.

Another feature of the disclosed expandable pontoon boat 10 may be that it can be designed or configured with the ability to provide the expandable structure 104, where the expandable structure 104 may be houseboat structure 110, microhome 124, camper 126, or the like, where expandable structure 104 may incorporate slide-outs 112 (or the like) for expanding and contracting with the expandable flooring system 12.

In another aspect, the instant disclosure embraces the expandable pontoon boat 10 in any of the embodiments and/or combination of embodiments shown and/or described herein.

In another aspect, the instant disclosure embraces the disclosed expandable connection 18 for the disclosed expandable pontoon structure 14 in any embodiment and/or combination of embodiments shown and/or described herein.

In sum, the disclosed expandable pontoon boat 1—may be designed to incorporate two features into one, an expandable flooring system 12 with an expandable pontoon structure 14, and expandable structure 104. The expandable pontoon boat 10 may have a wide footprint 108 when expanded. Expandable structure 104 may be built to fit or can be camper like with slide-outs 112. This can be set up on water or land. The expandable flooring system 12 may have slide-out track system to allow the slide-outs to roll out on the slide-out tracks to support the walls 106 of the structure. The width may be collapsed to a standard width to allow transport on roads legally without permits. The expandable pontoon boat 10 may expand to more than double the standard width.

The disclosed expandable pontoon boat 10 may be an amphibious microhome that has the ability to expand up to 26 feet wide and contract back to a width that is legal to haul on the roads legally without permits. The disclosed expandable pontoon boat 10 may have a fixed center floor platform (base flooring section 98) that allows a permanent structure to occupy the center platform. With the center platform built permanently, the sides or walls 106 of the structure can be slid out from the permanent structure to more than double the living quarters (similar to the slide-outs of a camper). In select embodiments, the slide-outs 112 may roll out on a slide-out track system to distribute the weight of the structure. When the slide-outs 112 are completely extended, the rubber seals will seal out the outdoor elements (wind, rain, temperature). The length 118 of the structure can be as long as the platform of the expandable pontoon structure 14. The weight of the slide-outs 112 will rest on the rollers that roll on the slide-out track system that may be supported by floor support beams. With the width of the pontoon flooring system and the construction of a permanent structure in center, an upper level can be constructed as well.

Basically, the disclosed expandable pontoon boat 10 may be designed to create a pontoon boat or house boat that is a combination of: a camper with slide-outs (expandable houseboat structure 110); and expandable flooring system 12 with expandable pontoon structure 14.

In the specification and/or figures, typical embodiments of the disclosure have been disclosed. The present disclosure is not limited to such exemplary embodiments. The use of the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The figures are schematic representations and so are not necessarily drawn to scale. Unless otherwise noted, specific terms have been used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation.

The foregoing description and drawings comprise illustrative embodiments. Having thus described exemplary embodiments, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only, and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope of the present disclosure. Merely listing or numbering the steps of a method in a certain order does not constitute any limitation on the order of the steps of that method. Many modifications and other embodiments will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Although specific terms may be employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated herein but is limited only by the following claims.

Claims

1. An expandable pontoon boat comprising: an expandable flooring system with an expandable pontoon structure comprising: at least two pontoon members;at least one expandable connection between each of the at least two pontoon members, the at least one expandable connection is configured to expand and contract a distance between the pontoon members, each of the at least one expandable connection including: a first connection member with a first proximal end and a first distal end;the first distal end is rotatably connected to a base pontoon member at a first connection point;a second connection member with a second proximal end, a second distal end, and a second mid-point;the first distal end of the first connection member is rotatably connected at the second mid-point of the second connection member; andthe second connection member is connected between the base pontoon member and an extendable pontoon member,where the second proximal end is slidably affixed to the base pontoon member and the second distal end is rotatably affixed to the extendable pontoon member at a second connection point.

2. The expandable pontoon boat of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one expandable connection is configured to expand and contract the distance between each of the at least two pontoon members while maintaining each of the at least two pontoon members parallel to one another and at a fixed longitudinal orientation to one another.

3. The expandable pontoon boat of claim 1, wherein the expandable pontoon structure includes two expandable connections between each of the at least two pontoon members.

4. The expandable pontoon boat of claim 1, wherein the expandable pontoon structure includes three pontoon members.

5. The expandable pontoon boat of claim 4, wherein the expandable pontoon structure including: at least one first expandable connection between the base pontoon member and a first extendable pontoon member on a first side of the base pontoon member; andat least one second expandable connection between the base pontoon member and a second extendable pontoon member on a second side of the base pontoon member.

6. The expandable pontoon boat of claim 5, wherein the expandable pontoon structure including: two of the first expandable connections between the base pontoon member and the first extendable pontoon member on the first side of the base pontoon member; andtwo of the second expandable connections between the base pontoon member and the second extendable pontoon member on the second side of the base pontoon member.

7. The expandable pontoon boat of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one expandable connection including: the first connection member including a first upper connection member and a first lower connection member positioned at a first space apart, where the first distal end interconnects the first upper connection member and the first lower connection member and rotatably connects them to the base pontoon member at the first connection point;the second connection member including a second upper connection member and a second lower connection member positioned at a second space apart; andthe first connection member is positioned at a vertical offset from the second connection member, where the first distal end of the first connection member is rotatably connected at the second mid-point of the second connection member, where the first upper connection member or the first lower connection member is positioned in between the second upper connection member and the second lower connection member at the second mid-point.

8. The expandable pontoon boat of claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one expandable connection includes a drive mechanism configured for moving the second proximal end along the base pontoon member for expanding and contracting the distance between each of the at least two pontoon members.

9. The expandable pontoon boat of claim 8, wherein the drive mechanism including: a track positioned along the base pontoon member;a motor affixed to the second proximal end of the second connection member; andwherein, the motor is configured to move the second proximal end of the second connection member along the track positioned along the base pontoon member for expanding and contracting the distance between each of the at least two pontoon members.

10. The expandable pontoon boat of claim 1, wherein the expandable pontoon structure including a positioning bracket positioned along the extendable pontoon member, the positioning bracket is configured to rotatably affix the position of the second connection point of the second distal end of the second connection member to the extendable pontoon member.

11. The expandable pontoon boat of claim 1, wherein the expandable flooring system is positioned on top of the expandable pontoon structure, where the expandable flooring system is configured to expand and contract with the expansion and contraction of the expandable pontoon structure.

12. The expandable pontoon boat of claim 11, where the expandable flooring system including a base flooring section and at least one expandable flooring section, where each of the at least one expandable flooring section are configured to telescope out from and in toward the base flooring section with the expansion and contraction of the expandable pontoon structure.

13. The expandable pontoon boat of claim 11 further including an expandable structure on top of the expandable flooring system, the expandable structure includes walls configured to expand with a large footprint created with the expandable flooring system.

14. The expandable pontoon boat of claim 13, wherein the expandable structure being a houseboat structure.

15. The expandable pontoon boat of claim 1 being configured to expand and collapse to be towable and road worthy.

16. The expandable pontoon boat of claim 1 being designed or configured with abilities to: expand from a standard width pontoon up to 3 times the standard width pontoon;contract to haul on a trailer on local roads;expand up to 24 feet wide;be pulled by the trailer and is of a legal width to travel roads and highways without a permit;be of legal height to be less than a 13.2 feet bridge law height requirements;have an expandable structure with slide-outs that are configured to be stable from weight being spread throughout the expandable flooring system;have the slide-outs equipped with rollers that ride on a slide-out track to create an easy expansion;have a desired length configured to meet any DOT or DMV restrictions;support a covered deck on a rooftop of the expandable structure;provide the expandable structure, where the expandable structure is a house boat, a microhome, or a camper, where the expandable structure incorporates the slide-outs for expanding and contracting with the expandable flooring system; orcombinations thereof.

17. An expandable pontoon boat comprising: an expandable flooring system with an expandable pontoon structure comprising: at least two pontoon members;at least one expandable connection between each of the at least two pontoon members, the at least one expandable connection is configured to expand and contract a distance between each of the at least two pontoon members, each of the at least one expandable connection including: a first connection member with a first proximal end and a first distal end;the first distal end is rotatably connected to a base pontoon member at a first connection point;a second connection member with a second proximal end, a second distal end, and a second mid-point;the first distal end of the first connection member is rotatably connected at the second mid-point of the second connection member;the second connection member is connected between the base pontoon member and an extendable pontoon member, where the second proximal end is slidably affixed to the base pontoon member and the second distal end is rotatably affixed to the extendable pontoon member at a second connection point;wherein each of the at least one expandable connection is configured to expand and contract the distance between each of the at least two pontoon members while maintaining each of the at least two pontoon members parallel to one another and at a fixed longitudinal orientation to one another;each of the at least one expandable connection including: the first connection member including a first upper connection member and a first lower connection member positioned at a first space apart, where the first distal end interconnects the first upper connection member and the first lower connection member and rotatably connects them to the base pontoon member at the first connection point;the second connection member including a second upper connection member and a second lower connection member positioned at a second space apart;the first connection member is positioned at a vertical offset from the second connection member, where the first distal end of the first connection member is rotatably connected at the second mid-point of the second connection member, where the first upper connection member or the first lower connection member is positioned in between the second upper connection member and the second lower connection member at the second mid-point;wherein at least one of the at least one expandable connection includes a drive mechanism configured for moving the second proximal end along the base pontoon member for expanding and contracting the distance between each of the at least two pontoon members, wherein the drive mechanism including:a track positioned along the base pontoon member;a motor affixed to the second proximal end of the second connection member;wherein, the motor is configured to move the second proximal end of the second connection member along the track positioned along the base pontoon member for expanding and contracting the distance between each of the at least two pontoon members;wherein the expandable pontoon structure including: two first expandable connections between the base pontoon member and a first extendable pontoon member on the first side of the base pontoon member;two second expandable connections between the base pontoon member and a second extendable pontoon member on the second side of the base pontoon member;wherein the expandable pontoon structure including a positioning bracket along the extendable pontoon member, the positioning bracket is configured to rotatably affix the second connection point position of the second distal end of the second connection member to the extendable pontoon member;wherein the expandable flooring system is positioned on top of the expandable pontoon structure, where the expandable flooring system is configured to expand and contract with the expansion and contraction of the expandable pontoon structure, where the expandable flooring system including a base flooring section and at least one expandable flooring section, where each of the at least one expandable flooring sections is configured to telescope out from and in toward the base flooring section with the expansion and contraction of the expandable pontoon structure;an expandable structure on top of the expandable flooring system, the expandable structure including walls configured to expand with a large footprint created with the expandable flooring system;wherein the expandable structure being a houseboat structure; andwherein, the expandable pontoon boat is configured to expand and collapse to be towable and road worthy.

18. The expandable pontoon boat of claim 17 being designed or configured with abilities to: expand from a standard width pontoon up to 3 times the standard width pontoon;contract to haul on a trailer on local roads;expand up to 24 feet wide;be pulled by the trailer and is of a legal width to travel the roads and highways without a permit;be of legal height to be less than a 13.2 feet bridge law height requirements;have the expandable structure with slide-outs that are configured to be stable from weight being spread throughout the expandable flooring system;have the slide-outs equipped with rollers that ride on a slide-outs track to create an easy expansion;have a desired length configured to meet any DOT or DMV restrictions;support a covered deck on a rooftop of the expandable structure;provide the expandable structure, where the expandable structure is a house boat, a microhome, or a camper, where the expandable structure incorporates the slide-outs for expanding and contracting with the expandable flooring system; orcombinations thereof.

19. An expandable connection for an expandable pontoon structure comprising: a first connection member with a first proximal end and a first distal end;the first distal end is rotatably connected to a base pontoon member at a first connection point;a second connection member with a second proximal end, a second distal end, and a second mid-point;the first distal end of the first connection member is rotatably connected at the second mid-point of the second connection member;the second connection member is connected between the base pontoon member and an extendable pontoon member, where the second proximal end is slidably affixed to the base pontoon member and the second distal end is rotatably affixed to the extendable pontoon member at a second connection point; andwherein, when the expandable connection is between two pontoon members, the expandable connection is configured to expand and contract a distance between the two pontoon members.

20. The expandable connection of claim 19, wherein: the first connection member including a first upper connection member and a first lower connection member positioned at a first space apart, where the first distal end interconnects the first upper connection member and the first lower connection member and rotatably connects them to the base pontoon member at the first connection point;the second connection member including a second upper connection member and a second lower connection member positioned at a second space apart; andthe first connection member is positioned at a vertical offset from the second connection member, where the first distal end of the first connection member is rotatably connected at the second mid-point of the second connection member, where the first upper connection member or the first lower connection member is positioned in between the second upper connection member and the second lower connection member at the second mid-point.