Pontoon boats are used for a number of purposes. First, like any boat, they are designed for transport across a body of water. Unlike some other boats, however, pontoon boats are particularly versatile. In addition to mere transport, they can be used for tubing, swimming, and other water activities. They can also be used for relaxing pastimes such as fishing, reading, or sunbathing. Pontoon boats can be used to host a small party or dinner. Pontoon boats are also useful for sight-seeing. Pontoon boats further have the advantage of being easy to board and providing significant storage.
Traditional pontoon boat design requires customers to choose the seating, helm, and other deck modules to be used, and in what configuration they will be installed, at the time of purchase. Deck modules are typically permanently or semi-permanently secured to the deck of the boat using power tools and fasteners that are difficult to remove. This mounting method is not designed to be reconfigured and, if modules are removed, would leave objectionable holes in the floor covering and deck of the boat.
During the course of ownership, or even between boat outings, a boat owner's needs may change as to how they wish to use the cockpit space on the boat, i.e., the deck area inside the perimeter of the boat. Boat decks are typically custom outfitted with the customer's choice of trim packages and amenities. The customer is also able to customize the furniture elements to be installed. For example, the customer could order a pair of captain's chairs or a two-person bench seat.
In addition, some chairs on a boat deck can be removable, foldable, adjustable, or the like. However, once the boat is custom manufactured, the furniture and module elements are not designed to be easily rearranged or removed. The customer must therefore decide, prior to purchase, on a single preferred configuration of seats, loungers, couches, and the like.
Unfortunately, the chosen configuration may not be suitable for each activity in which the boater wishes to engage. For example, a party may be best served by seating facing one another for easy conversation. Yet if that same boat owner were to take a group out sight-seeing, the “party” configuration may require guests to turn in their chair for best viewing outside the boat.
Likewise, a swimming and sunbathing configuration, which may include reclining lounge chairs, a sun deck or sun shade, and/or a changing station, may be different from a fishing configuration, which might include swivel and/or raised high-back stools along the perimeter of the boat facing the water. In a fishing configuration, a boat might also include cooler modules for bait and fresh-caught fish.
To get the maximum out of an investment in a pontoon boat, it is considered beneficial to be able to switch out and re-arrange modules to suit the use at hand and the changing preferences of the owner.
The invention comprises a method, apparatus, and system for a modular mounting of pontoon boat components, including but not limited to, seats, loungers, helm, bars, tables, fishing pedestals, sun pads storage bins, privacy curtains, and lighting elements. The invention allows a boater to easily reconfigure a boat as the person's needs or preferences change, without leaving unwanted holes in the boat deck.
The present invention allows for flexible placement and orientation of typical pontoon boat components arranged in a grid pattern. The invention further allows easy removal and installation of components, preferably incorporating tool-free mounting mechanisms.
Although the invention should not be considered confined to pontoon boats, but rather to any boat with a deck construction, a pontoon boat 100 is shown in
The boat 100 shown in the drawings of the present application has a 3×7 grid 106 of 2′7″ segments 108. This layout may be appropriate for a boat 100 having an 8′6″ beam and an overall length of ˜22′ including bow and stern platforms. The deck 104 of this particular boat 100 may therefore be fitted with up to 21 individual modules 112 in any of the 21 available segments 108. Of course the scope of the invention includes variations in the number or size of grid segments 108 depending on the size of deck 104 or the preference of the customer.
As noted, each receptacle 110 is designed to receive a module 112. Turning now to
Helm 112a includes such requirements as a captain's chair, instrument panel, and controllers. These could be made modular to permit easy disconnection and reconnection of needed elements for helm 112a.
Turning to
Modules 112 can be attached to each other or located adjacent to each other to provide loungers, couches, or beds. Each module 112 can be oriented and rotated by 90 degrees for forward-facing, rear-facing, outside-facing seating, and inside-facing seating. As previously noted, other types of modules are contemplated. These could include fishing pedestals, storage bins, privacy curtains, and lighting elements, among others. Again, the options provided herein are illustrative, not limiting.
Referring to
The option for multiple receptacles within each segment 108 permits the insertion of modules 112 that reach over a first segment 108 into one or more other segments 108 either partially or fully.
Turning to
In the multi-receptacle arrangement shown herein, each segment 108 is 31″ square, the spacing of receptacles is 7¼″ from the perimeter and 15½″ from one another. This permits modules to straddle two or more segments 108.
Ease of installation, removal and re-installation of modules 112 is another consideration. For the purpose of the present description, “tool” will refer to traditional tools such as screwdrivers, whether powered or manual. In the ideal “tool-free” installation, the user can install entirely by hand. Another method of installation considered “tool-free” comprises the use of “objects” for replacing tools as defined, using a readily available object such as a coin or bottle opener. In a “tool-less” method, which would also fall within the scope of the invention, a minimum number of standard tools are required for installation.
The number of receptacles 110 per segment 108 does not limit the invention; any number that achieves the benefits of the invention is suitable. Further, there are numerous options for removably connecting an object to an immovable base, all of which should be understood to meet the needs of the invention.
In one embodiment of the invention, floor receptacles 110 are provided in bores of deck 104, secured with mounting structures 120 and 122, and intended to be semi-permanent. Receptacle 110, being essentially a void, permits water to drain from deck 104 through the space created by the support structure typically found between deck 104 and pontoons 102. For a different type of deck boat, not shown, water might drain from deck 104 into the bilge of a boat hull.
Note also that a deck covering 114 is contemplated to cover deck 104, except for at receptacles 110. Receptacles 110 accept different types of inserts, generally designated 130. In a first embodiment, these include, but are not limited to, a hold down 132, a pedestal 134, and a plug 136. In a second embodiment, inserts 130 include, but are not limited to, a hold down 142 and plug 144.
As seen in
Deck 104, deck covering 114, flange 120, and inserts 130 are generally flush with the plane of deck 104 or deck covering 114. Flange 120 may have a threaded interior diameter 128 into which one of a variety of inserts 130 may be screwed or otherwise secured. Options for inserts 130 shown in
Regardless of the type of insert 130, in cases where extra security against accidental rotation is needed, the present invention comprises a locking pin 138 and at least one locking retention aperture 140, such as shown in
In the second embodiment, there may be multiple receptacles 110 in each segment 108 which, though are generally constructed in the same manner as seen in
As seen in
Due to the flush nature of plug 136, some kind of removal feature is contemplated. These may include depressions or openings 156 such as those shown in plugs 136, as seen in
A method of the present invention is contemplated in which the manufacture, shipping, and storage of modules is streamlined. Because modules 112 and inserts 130 are identical to one another and to correspondingly identical receptacles 110. The number of parts overall is reduced. Further, it is anticipated that customers will return for different modules, newer modules, and replacement modules. The present invention benefits manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, customers, and other participants in the supply chain.
Within the scope of the invention are numerous other attachment types, including, among others, single and multiple receptacles, threaded and non-threaded module mounting structures, and quarter-turn type mounting structures. Understandably, any tool-free or tool-less modular attachments and attachment types are possible and also considered well within the scope of the invention.
For example, modular attachments need not match the shape or dimensions of a single insert. In addition, the invention can be modified in a number of known ways to secure modular boat modules within a receptacle or receptacles. All of these should likewise be considered within the scope of the invention.