BACKGROUND
The present application relates to a boat, and more particularly, to a modular pontoon boat.
Pontoon boats, which may include pontoons supporting a flat floor, are popular for recreational use. There may be significant costs associated with transport and storage of a boat. Further, there may be significant difficulties in transporting a boat from storage to the water. Such costs and difficulties may be especially troublesome for recreational users, who may be more cost sensitive and may not have vehicles and equipment necessary to transport boats.
Thus, a pontoon boat that is lower cost and easier to transport and store may be desirable.
SUMMARY
According to one or more embodiments, a modular pontoon boat includes two pontoons, each having a plurality of first engagement structures and a plurality of second engagement structures; a plurality of joists connectable with the first engagement structures to removably couple the two pontoons; a plurality of floor panels positionable on the joists; and a plurality of wall panels connectable to the floor panels, the plurality of wall panels being engageable with the second engagement structures to removably secure the wall panels to the pontoons.
According to one or more embodiments, the first engagement structures comprise leg pockets, and some of the wall panels comprise legs that are inserted into the leg pockets.
According to one or more embodiments, each of the floor panels comprises leg through-holes through which the legs of the wall panels pass.
According to one or more embodiments, at least one of the joists comprises leg pockets, and at least one of the wall panels comprises legs that are inserted therein.
According to one or more embodiments, the second engagement structures comprise slots in which ends of the joists are inserted.
According to one or more embodiments, each of the pontoons comprises a plurality of third engagement structures, and the floor panels engage with the third engagement structures.
According to one or more embodiments, the third engagement structures comprise a plurality of pins that are inserted into pin holes formed in the floor panels.
According to one or more embodiments, one of the floor panels comprises a motor cutout configured to accommodate a motor therethrough.
According to one or more embodiments, one of the wall panels comprises a motor cutout configured to accommodate a motor therethrough.
According to one or more embodiments, a ridge is formed on a top surface of the cutout that thicker than a remainder of the wall panel on which the cutout is formed, the cutout being configured to support the motor.
According to one or more embodiments, the wall panels comprise side panels that are disposed parallel with the pontoons.
According to one or more embodiments, each of the side panels comprises a first leg and a second leg, the first leg being disposed through a leg through-hole of one of the floor panels and second leg being disposed through a leg through-hole of another of the floor panels.
According to one or more embodiments, one of the floor panels comprises a quick connect structure that is configured to connect to a battery or a motor box.
According to one or more embodiments, the two pontoons are structurally identical.
According to one or more embodiments, each of the two pontoons comprises a mounting platform configured to support the floor panels.
According to one or more embodiments, the mounting platform comprises a leg aperture, and one of the wall panels comprises a leg that is inserted into the leg aperture.
According to one or more embodiments, the first engagement structures comprise slots extending from an inner side of the mounting platform, and the second engagement structures comprise leg pockets that extend from an outer side of the mounting platform.
According to one or more embodiments, each of the wall panels is removable from the floor panels, the joists, and the pontoons in an upward direction, each of the floor panels is removable from the pontoons in the upward direction, and each of the joists is removable from the pontoons in the upward direction.
According to one or more embodiments, a modular pontoon boat includes two pontoons that are structurally identical and arranged in parallel, each of the pontoons comprising a mounting platform having leg apertures formed therein, a plurality of joist slots on an inner side of the mounting platform, a plurality of leg pockets on an outer side of the mounting platform, and a plurality of floor pins disposed on or near the outer side of the mounting platform; a plurality of joists extending between the pontoons, the end of each of the joists being inserted into the joist slots, and at least one of the joists comprising leg pockets; a plurality of floor panels comprising pin through-holes through which the floor pins of the pontoons pass, and a plurality of leg through-holes; and a plurality of wall panels, each of the wall panels having legs that pass through the leg through-holes of the floor panels and are inserted into the leg apertures, the leg pockets of the pontoons, or the leg pockets of the joists.
According to one or more embodiments, a method includes transporting pontoons, joists, floor panels, and wall panels to a destination proximate to a body of water; subsequent to the transporting, aligning the pontoons relative to one another; inserting the joists into joist slots on the pontoons; mounting the floor panels on the pontoons and the joists, the floor panels being removable from the pontoons and the joists after mounting; and mounting the wall panels on the floor panels, the wall panels being removable from the floor panels.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike:
FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a pontoon boat according to one or more embodiments;
FIG. 2 is a top view of the pontoon boat of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a side view of the pontoon boat of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the pontoon boat of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a rear view of the pontoon boat of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of a pontoon boat according to one or more embodiments;
FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of a pontoon boat according to one or more embodiments;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a pontoon of a pontoon boat according to one or more embodiments;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a first joist of a pontoon boat according to one or more embodiments;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a second joist of a pontoon boat according to one or more embodiments;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a middle floor panel of a pontoon boat according to one or more embodiments;
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a front floor panel of a pontoon boat according to one or more embodiments;
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a rear floor panel of a pontoon boat according to one or more embodiments;
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a front/rear panel of a pontoon boat according to one or more embodiments;
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a side panel of a pontoon boat according to one or more embodiments;
FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a rear motor panel of a pontoon boat according to one or more embodiments; and
FIG. 17 is a flow diagram showing a process of assembling a pontoon boat according to one or more embodiments.
FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a panel according to one or more embodiments.
FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a corner piece according to one or more embodiments.
FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a pin according to one or more embodiments.
FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a pin according to one or more embodiments.
FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a pontoon with a wheel according to one or more embodiments.
FIG. 23 is a side view of an inflatable pontoon according to one or more embodiments.
FIG. 24 is a side view of a foldable pontoon according to one or more embodiments.
FIG. 25 is a side view of a foldable pontoon in a folded orientation according to one or more embodiments.
FIG. 26A is a perspective view of a slider according to one or more embodiments.
FIG. 26B is a perspective view of panels joined with a slider according to one or more embodiments.
FIG. 27 is a perspective view of a joist bag according to one or more embodiments.
FIG. 28 is a perspective view of a floor panel bag according to one or more embodiments.
FIG. 29 is a perspective view of a front/rear panel bag according to one or more embodiments.
FIG. 30 is a perspective view of a side panel bag according to one or more embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification and not limitation with reference to the Figures.
FIGS. 1-5 show a pontoon boat 100 according to one or more embodiments. The pontoon boat 100 is modularly formed of components that can be transported separately and assembled and disassembled on-site. That is, the pontoon boat 100 may be structured so as to allow for assembly of the separate components at or near a body of water on which the pontoon boat 100 is intended to be used, and can further be disassembled at or near the body of water after use.
The pontoon boat 100 includes two pontoons 110 that extend in the longitudinal direction and that are spaced apart in the lateral direction. While FIGS. 1-5 show two pontoons 110, a person of ordinary skill in that art would understand that the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the pontoon boat 100 may include three or more pontoons 110. As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of first joists 120 and a plurality of second joists 130 extend in the lateral direction between the pontoons 110. While FIGS. 1-5 show eight first joists 120 and two second joists 130, a person of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the present disclosure is not limited thereto. A deck formed by a front floor panel 150, a plurality of middle floor panels 140, and a rear floor panel 160 are disposed above the pontoons 110 and the first and second joists 120, 130. The front floor panel 150, the middle floor panels 140, and the rear floor panel 160 may be supported by the pontoons 110 and/or the first and second joists 120, 130. Railing formed by a plurality of front/rear panels 170, side panels 180, and a rear motor panel 190 are disposed above the front floor panel 150, the middle floor panels 140, and the rear floor panel 160. The rear motor panel 190 may include a motor cutout 195. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1-5, three front/rear panels 170 may be aligned laterally on the front floor panel 150, the rear motor panel 190 may be disposed on the rear floor panel 160 with two front/rear panels 170 on either lateral side thereof, and four side panels 180 may be disposed on the front floor panel 150, the middle floor panels 140, and the rear floor panel, aligned in the longitudinal direction. The front/rear panels 170, the side panels 180, and the rear motor panel 190, arranged in such a way, may form a continuous rectangular railing. In an embodiment, the plurality of front/rear panels 170, the side panels 180, and the rear motor panel 190 may be substantially uniform in height. As a non-limiting example, the front/rear panels 170, the side panels 180, and the rear motor panel 190 may have a height of 36 inches. However, in other embodiments, the plurality of front/rear panels 170, the side panels 180, and the rear motor panel 190 may have varying heights.
FIG. 6 shows a pontoon boat 200 according to one or more embodiments. The pontoon boat 200 shown in FIG. 6 may be formed of the same or similar components as the pontoon boat 100 shown in FIGS. 1-5, except that the front/rear panels 170, the side panels 180, and the rear motor panel 190 are replaced with front/rear panels 270, side panels 280, and a rear motor panel 290 that are shorter in height than the front/rear panels 170, the side panels 180, and the rear motor panel 190. As a non-limiting example, the front/rear panels 270, the side panels 280, and the rear motor panel 290 may have a height of 30 inches. As shown in FIG. 6, a motor cutout of the rear motor panel 290 may be shorter than that of the rear motor panel 190, but the height of the rear motor panel 290 below the motor cutout may be the same as the rear motor panel 190.
FIG. 7 shows a pontoon boat 300 according to one or more embodiments. The pontoon boat 300 shown in FIG. 7 may be formed of the same or similar components as the pontoon boat 100 shown in FIGS. 1-5, except that the front/rear panels 170, the side panels 180, and the rear motor panel 190 are replaced with front/rear panels 370 and side panels 380 that are shorter in height than the front/rear panels 170, the side panels 180, and the rear motor panel 190. As a non-limiting example, the front/rear panels 370 and the side panels 380 may have a height of 15 inches. As shown in FIG. 7, the rear motor panel 190 shown in FIGS. 1-5 may be replaced by a front/rear panel 370, as the shorter height of the front/rear panel 370 may render the motor cutout unnecessary.
FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a pontoon 110 as shown in FIGS. 1-5. The pontoon 110 includes a main body 111 having an end cap 117 on a rear end thereof and a nose cone 118 on a front end thereof to create a water-tight sealed structure. According to one or more embodiments, the main body 111 is a hollow structure. According to one or more embodiments, the main body 111 is formed of hollow plastic, such as via molding, 3-D printing or another suitable manufacturing process. In other embodiments, the main body 111 is formed of carbon fiber, metal, or wood. The main body 111 may be filled with foam or inflatable material for added strength.
The pontoon 110 further includes a mounting platform 112 extending upwards from the main body 111. A plurality of joist slots 115 extend laterally inwards from a first, inner lateral side of the mounting platform 112. For example, FIG. 8 shows eleven joist slots 115 extending from the mounting platform 112. However, the present disclosure is not limited to eleven joist slots 115, and the pontoon 110 may have less or more than eleven joist slots 115. Each of the joist slots 115 may be sized to correspond to a thickness of a joist receivable therein, such as one of the first and second joists 120, 130 for example.
In an embodiment, the pontoon 110 further includes side leg pockets 113 extending outwardly from a second, outer lateral side of the mounting platform 112. The leg pockets 113 are sized and shaped to accept legs 183 (see FIG. 15) of side panels 180. The pontoon 110 may include two leg pockets 113 for each side panel 180. For example, as the pontoon boat 100 shown in FIGS. 1-5 have four side panels 180 on each lateral side, each pontoon 110 includes eight leg pockets 113, each of which accepts a leg 183 of one of the side panels 180. However, embodiments including different numbers of leg pockets and legs, such as three leg pockets and legs per panel or four leg pockets and legs per panel for example, are also within the scope of the disclosure. It should be appreciated that the total number of leg pockets and legs may be dependent on the size, shape, and material of the panels. Furthermore, leg apertures 114 may be formed on a top surface of the mounting platform 112 that are sized and shaped to accept legs 173 (see FIG. 14) of the front/rear panels 170. The pontoon 110 may include two leg apertures 114, each accepting one leg 173 of the front/side panels 170. A plurality of floor pins 116 extend upwards from an upper surface of the main body 111 proximate to the outer side of the mounting platform 112. The floor pins 116 are sized and shaped to be inserted into pin holes 144, 154, 164 (see FIGS. 11-13) formed in the middle floor panel 140, the front floor panel 150, and the rear floor panel 160. According to one or more embodiments, the floor pins 116 may be positioned between the leg pockets 113 and proximate to laterally outer corners of the mounting platform 112.
According to one or more embodiments, the pontoon 110 may be reversible such that the same pontoon 110 can be used on both lateral sides. In such a case, the end cap 117 and the nose cone 118 may be identical structures. Further, as having a first or second joist 120, 130 in in the rear-most joist slots 115 would overlap the motor cutout 166 (see FIG. 13) of the rear floor panel 160, the rear-most joist slots 115 may be left empty during assembly.
According to one or more embodiments, the joist slots 115 may be an example of a first engagement structure. According to one or more embodiments, the leg pockets 113 and/or the leg apertures 114 may be examples of a second engagement structure. According to one or more embodiments, the floor pins 116 may be an example of a third engagement structure.
FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the first joist 120 shown in FIGS. 1-5. The first joist 120 includes a main body 121 having a plurality of cutouts 122 formed therein. While FIG. 9 shows eight cutouts 122 that are hexagonal in shape, the number, size, and shape of the cutouts are not limited thereto. The cutouts 122 may reduce the weight of the first joist 120 while shaped and sized to maintain sufficient support for the middle floor panel 140, the front floor panel 150, and the rear floor panel 160. According to one or more embodiments, the first joist 120 is formed of plastic via molding or 3-D printing. According to one or more embodiments, the first joist 120 is formed of carbon fiber, metal, or wood.
FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the second joist 130 shown in FIGS. 1-5. The second joist 130 includes a main body 131 having a plurality of cutouts 132 that are hexagonal. While FIG. 10 shows two cutouts 132 that are hexagonal, the number, size, and shape of the cutouts are not limited thereto. The cutouts 132 may reduce the weight of the second joist 130 while shaped and sized to maintain sufficient support for the front floor panel 150 and the rear floor panel 160. The second joist 130 further includes a plurality of leg pockets 133 extending from a side surface of the main body 131. The leg pockets 133 are sized and shaped to accept legs 173 (see FIG. 14) of the front/rear panels 170. The second joist 130 may include four leg pockets 133, with the two inner leg pockets 133 accepting both legs 173 of one front/rear panel 170, and each of the two outer leg pockets 133 accepting one a leg 173 of front/rear panels 170, with the other leg 173 of the front/rear panels 170 being inserted into the leg apertures 114 of the pontoons (see FIG. 8). According to one or more embodiments, the second joist 130 is formed of plastic via molding or 3-D printing. According to one or more embodiments, the second joist 130 is formed of carbon fiber, metal, or wood.
As a non-limiting example, referring to FIGS. 4 and 8, counting from the front to the rear in the longitudinal direction of the pontoon boat 100, the pontoon boat 100 may have the first joist 120 disposed in the first, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth joist slots 115 of the pontoons 110, and may have the second joist 130 disposed in the second and tenth joist slots 115 of the pontoons 110, with the leg pockets 133 of the second joist 130 in the second joist slots 115 facing the rear, and the leg pockets 133 of the second joist 130 in the tenth joist slots 115 facing the front. As noted above, the rear-most eleventh joist slots 115 may be left empty so as to not block the motor cutout 166 (see FIG. 13) of the rear floor panel 160.
FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of the middle floor panel 140 shown in FIGS. 1-5. The middle floor panel 140 includes a main body 141 with a plurality of leg through-holes 143 and a plurality of pin through-holes 144 formed therein, as well as a recessed floor segment 142. For example, the middle floor panel 140 may have two leg through-holes 143 and two pin through-holes 144 on each lateral side thereof, for a total of four leg through-holes 143 and four pin through-holes 144. The floor pins 116 of the pontoons 110 (see FIG. 8) extend through the pin through-holes 144 of the middle floor panel 140 to secure the middle floor panel 140 on the pontoon 110. The legs 183 of the side panels 180 (see FIG. 15) extend through the leg through-holes 143 of the middle floor panel 140 and into the leg pockets 113 of the pontoon 110 to secure the side panels 180 and the middle floor panel 140 to the pontoon 110. According to one or more embodiments, the middle floor panel 140 is formed of plastic via molding or 3-D printing. According to one or more embodiments, the middle floor panel 140 is formed of carbon fiber, metal, or wood.
FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the front floor panel 150 shown in FIGS. 1-5. The front floor panel 150 includes a main body 151 with a plurality of leg through-holes 153 and a plurality of pin through-holes 154 formed therein, as well as a recessed floor segment 152. For example, the front floor panel 150 may have eight leg through-holes 153 and four pin through-holes 154. The floor pins 116 of the pontoons 110 (see FIG. 8) extend through the pin through-holes 154 of the front floor panel 150 to secure the front floor panel 150 on the pontoon 110. One leg 183 of the side panel 180 (see FIG. 15) extends through each of the laterally outermost leg through-holes 153 of the front floor panel 150 and into the leg pocket 113 of the pontoon 110, and the legs 173 of the front/rear panels 170 (see FIG. 14) extend through the laterally inner leg through-holes 153 of the front floor panel 150 to secure the front/rear panels 170, the side panels 180. and the front floor panel 150 to the pontoon 110. According to one or more embodiments, the front floor panel 150 is formed of plastic via molding or 3-D printing. According to one or more embodiments, the front floor panel 150 is formed of carbon fiber, metal, or wood.
FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of the rear floor panel 160 shown in FIGS. 1-5. The rear floor panel 160 includes a main body 161 with a plurality of leg through-holes 163 and a plurality of pin through-holes 164 formed therein, as well as a recessed floor segment 162. For example, the rear floor panel 160 may have eight leg through-holes 163 and four pin through-holes 164. The floor pins 116 of the pontoons 110 (see FIG. 8) extend through the pin through-holes 164 of the rear floor panel 160 to secure the rear floor panel 160 on the pontoon 110. One leg 183 of the side panel 180 (see FIG. 15) extends through each of the laterally outermost leg through-holes 163 of the rear floor panel 160 and into the leg pocket 113 of the pontoon 110, and the legs 173 of the front/rear panels 170 (see FIG. 14) and the legs 193 of the rear motor panel 190 extend through the laterally inner through-holes 163 of the rear floor panel 160 to secure the front/rear panels 170, the side panels 180. and the front floor panel 150 to the pontoon 110. The rear floor panel 160 further includes quick connect structures 165 extending from an upper surface thereof. The quick connect structures 165 may be configured to connect, for example, to a battery and/or a motor box. The rear floor panel 160 further includes a motor cutout 166 formed between the quick connect structure 165 that is configured to have a motor pass therethrough. According to one or more embodiments, the rear floor panel 160 is formed of plastic via molding or 3-D printing. According to one or more embodiments, the rear floor panel 160 is formed of carbon fiber, metal, or wood.
As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the front, middle, and rear floor panels 150, 140, 160 together form a deck having a recessed floor formed of the recessed floor segments 152, 142, 162 of the front floor panel 150, the front, middle, and rear floor panels 150, 140, 160.
FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of the front/rear panel 170 shown in FIGS. 1-5. The front/rear panel 170 includes a frame 171 and a recessed wall 172 within the frame 171. A plurality of legs 173 extend downward past the lower surface of the frame 171. The legs 173 of the front/rear panel 170 correspond in shape and orientation to the laterally inner leg through-holes 153, 163 of the front and rear floor panels 150, 160 as well as to the leg apertures 114 of the pontoons 110 and the leg pockets 133 of the second joists 130. According to one or more embodiments, the front/rear panel 170 is formed of plastic via molding or 3-D printing. According to one or more embodiments, the front/rear panel 170 is formed of carbon fiber, metal, or wood.
FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of the side panel 180 shown in FIGS. 1-5. The side panel 180 includes a frame 181 and a recessed wall 182 within the frame 181. A plurality of legs 183 extend downward from the lower surface of the frame 181. The legs 183 of the side panel 180 correspond in shape and orientation to the laterally outermost leg through-holes 153, 163 of the front and rear floor panels 150, 160 and the leg through-holes 143 of the middle floor panels 140 as well as to the leg pockets 113 of the pontoons 110. According to one or more embodiments, the side panel 180 is formed of plastic via molding or 3-D printing. According to one or more embodiments, the side panel 180 is formed of carbon fiber, metal, or wood.
FIG. 16 shows a perspective view of the rear motor panel 190 shown in FIGS. 1-5. The rear motor panel 190 includes a main body 191 with a motor cutout 195. For example, the motor cutout 195 may be a rectangular cutout such that the main body 191 is U-shaped. A ridge 196 may be formed on an upper surface of the cutout 195. A dimension of the ridge 196 in the longitudinal direction of the pontoon boat 190 may be greater than a thickness of the cutout 195. The cutout 195 is configured to allow a motor to pass through, while the ridge 196 is configured to support the motor. A plurality of legs 193 extend downward past the lower surface of the frame 191. The legs 193 of the rear motor panel 190 correspond in shape and orientation to the laterally inner leg through-holes 163 of the rear floor panel 160 as well as to the leg pockets 133 of the second joists 130. According to one or more embodiments, the rear motor panel 190 is formed of plastic via molding or 3-D printing. According to one or more embodiments, the rear motor panel 190 is formed of carbon fiber, metal, or wood.
According to one or more embodiments, the front/rear panels 170, the side panels 180, and the rear motor panels 190 are wall panels.
According to one or more embodiments, a pontoon boat 100, 200, 300 may be assembled from pontoons 110, first joists 120, second joists 130, middle floor panels 140, a front floor panel 150, a rear floor panel 160, front/rear panels 170, side panels 180, and a rear motor panel 190. That is, the pontoon boat 100, 200, 300 according to one or more embodiments is modular and the separate pieces may be transported to a destination body of water and assembled on-site. As a non-limiting example, the pontoon boat 100, 200 may be formed of two pontoons 110, eight first joists 120, two second joists 130, three middle floor panels 140, one front floor panel 150, one rear floor panel 160, five front/rear panels 170, 270, eight side panels 180, 280 and one rear motor panel 190, 290 for a total of thirty-one pieces. As a non-limiting example, the pontoon boat 300 may be formed of two pontoons 110, eight first joists 120, two second joists 130, three middle floor panels 140, one front floor panel 150, one rear floor panel 160, six front/rear panels 370, and eight side panels 380 for a total of thirty-one pieces. As a non-limiting example, only nine different structures need to be manufactured for the pontoon boat 100, 200 and only eight different structures need to be manufactured for the pontoon boat 300.
As a non-limiting example, the pontoon boat 100, 200, 300 may additionally include a bimini, a canopy, or a marine top mounted to the railing formed by the front/rear panels 170, 270, 370, the side panels 180, 280, 380, and the rear motor panel 190, 290.
FIG. 17 is a flow diagram showing a process of assembling a pontoon boat 100 according to one or more embodiments. In step S1, the pontoons 110, first and second joists 120, 130, front, middle, and rear floor panels 150, 140, 160, front/rear panels 170, 270, 370, side panels 180, 280, 380 and rear motor panel 190, 290 are transported as separate pieces to a destination with water in which the pontoon boat 100, 200, 300 is intended to be used. Once the destination is reached, in step S2, two pontoons 110 are aligned in a parallel manner with the joist slots 115 facing each other on the water or ground near the water. In step S3, the first and second joists 120, 130 are inserted into the joist slots 115 of the pontoons 110. In step S4, the front, middle, and rear floor panels 150, 140, 160 are mounted on the pontoons 110 and the first and second joists 120, 130, inserting the floor pins 116 of the pontoons 110 into pin holes 154, 144, 164 (see FIGS. 11-13) formed in the front floor panel 150, the middle floor panel 140, and the rear floor panel 160. In step S5, the front/rear panels 170, the side panels 180, and the rear motor panel 190 are mounted on the front, middle, and rear floor panels 150, 140, 160, inserting the legs 173, 183, 193 of the front/rear panels 170, the side panels 180, and the rear motor panel 190 into leg pockets 153, 143, 163 of the front, middle, and rear floor panels 150, 140, 160, the leg pockets 133 of the second joists, and the let pockets 113 and the leg apertures 114 of the pontoon 110. The pontoon 100 is thereby transported to the destination and assembled on-site.
FIG. 18 shows a perspective view of a panel 410 according to one or more embodiments, FIG. 19 shows a perspective view of a corner piece 420 according to one or more embodiments, and FIGS. 20-21 show pins 430, 440 according to one or more embodiments. The panel 410 may be used for the front/rear panels 170 and/or the side panels 180. Multiple panels 410 may be disposed adjacent to each other. The panel 410 may include a top ridge 411 configured to engage a slider 415 (see FIG. 26) that locks adjacent panels 410 together. The panel 410 may further include holes 413. Pins, such as the pin 430 shown in FIG. 20 or the pin 440 shown in FIG. 21, may be inserted into the holes 413 to further secure the panel 410 to other components of the pontoon boat 100. The corner piece 420 may include a first U-shaped bracket 421 and a second U-shaped bracket 423 that meet at an orthogonal angle. The pontoon boat 100 includes four corners where a front/rear panel 170 and a side panel 180 are disposed adjacently to each other at orthogonal angles. At these corners, the first U-shaped bracket 421 is disposed on one of the front/rear panel 170 and the side panel 180, and the second U-shaped bracket 423 is disposed on the other of the front/rear panel 170 and the side panel 180 to secure the front/rear panel 170 and the side panel 180 together at the corners. The pin 430 may be straight and include a head portion 431, a shaft portion 433, and a threaded portion 435. The pin 440 may include a first straight portion 441, a second straight portion 443 extending orthogonally from the first straight portion 441, and a third straight portion 445 extending orthogonally from the second straight portion 443. The pin 440 may further include a pin hinge 444 that allows the third straight portion 445 to rotate with respect to the second straight portion 443. For example, the third straight portion 445 may be rotated to be co-linear with the second straight portion 443 when inserting into the hole 413 of the panel 410, then rotated to be perpendicular to the second straight portion 443 for insertion into holes (not shown) that may be formed in the front, middle, and/or rear floor panels 150, 140, 160.
FIG. 22 shows a pontoon 110 according to one or more embodiments. The pontoon 110 is similar to that shown in FIG. 8, but further includes a wheel 451 that is rotatably attached to the main body 111 via a shaft 453. While FIG. 22 shows the wheel 451 and the shaft 453 near one longitudinal end of the main body 111, according to one or more embodiments, the wheel 451 and the shaft 453 may be disposed on both longitudinal ends of the main body 111 and/or an intermediate portion of the main body 111. The wheel 451 may allow the pontoon boat 100 to be moved on the ground.
FIG. 23 shows a pontoon 110 according to one or more embodiments. The pontoon 110 is similar to that shown in FIG. 8 but includes an inflatable main body 460. The inflatable main body 460 may be formed of an airtight, durable, and collapsible material that may be inflated for use and deflated for transport.
FIGS. 24-25 show a pontoon 110 according to one or more embodiments. The pontoon 110 is similar to that shown in FIG. 8 but the main body 111 and the mounting platform 112 are split longitudinal in two and joined with a hinge 470. The hinge 470 may be at a top portion of the mounting platform 112. The two pieces that make up the pontoon 110 may be rotated from a use portion shown in FIG. 8 to an intermediate position shown in FIG. 24 and then to a folded position shown in FIG. 25. With the pontoon 110 folded as shown in FIG. 24, the pontoon 110 may be easier to transport.
FIG. 26A shows a slider 415 and FIG. 26B shows panels 410 joined with a slider 415 according to one or more embodiments. The slider 415 may have a C-shaped cross-section. The slider 415 may engage with the top ridges 411 of adjacent panels 410 to lock adjacent panels 410 together.
FIG. 27 shows a joist bag 510 according to one or more embodiments. The joist bag 510 may be sized to hold first joists 120 and/or second joists 130 of the pontoon boat 100. The joist bag 510 may include an upper portion 511 and a lower portion 512, with a zipper 513 disposed therebetween. Unzipping the zipper 513 may allow the upper portion 511 to be moved at least partially away from the lower portion 512 so that the first joists 120 and/or the second joists 130 may be inserted into or removed from the lower portion 511. The joist bag 510 may further include a handle 515 for carrying the joist bag 510 as well as wheels 519 so that the joist bag 510 can be wheeled on the ground.
FIG. 28 shows a floor panel bag 520 according to one or more embodiments. The floor panel bag 520 may be sized to hold a front floor panel 150, middle floor panels 140, and/or a rear floor panel 160 of the pontoon boat 100. The floor panel bag 520 may include an upper portion 521 and a lower portion 522, with a zipper 523 disposed therebetween. Unzipping the zipper 523 may allow the upper portion 521 to be moved at least partially away from the lower portion 522 so that the front floor panel 150, the middle floor panels 140, and/or the rear floor panel 160 may be inserted into or removed from the lower portion 521. The floor panel bag 520 may further include a plurality of handles 525, 526, 527 for carrying the floor panel bag 520 as well as wheels 529 so that the floor panel bag 520 can be wheeled on the ground.
FIG. 29 shows a front/rear panel bag 530 according to one or more embodiments. The front/rear panel bag 530 may be sized to hold front/rear panels 170 and/or a rear motor panel 190 of the pontoon boat 100. The front/rear panel bag 530 may include an upper portion 531 and a lower portion 532, with a zipper 533 disposed therebetween. Unzipping the zipper 533 may allow the upper portion 531 to be moved at least partially away from the lower portion 532 so that the front/rear panels 170 and/or the rear motor panel 190 may be inserted into or removed from the lower portion 531. The front/rear panel bag 530 may further include a handle 537 for carrying the front/rear panel bag 530 as well as wheels 539 so that the front/rear panel bag 530 can be wheeled on the ground.
FIG. 30 shows a side panel bag 540 according to one or more embodiments. The side panel bag 540 may be sized to hold side panels 180 of the pontoon boat 100. The side panel bag 540 may include an upper portion 541 and a lower portion 542, with a zipper 543 disposed therebetween. Unzipping the zipper 543 may allow the upper portion 541 to be moved at least partially away from the lower portion 542 so that the side panels 180 may be inserted into or removed from the lower portion 541. The side panel bag 540 may further include a handle 547 for carrying the side panel bag 540 as well as wheels 549 so that the side panel bag 540 can be wheeled on the ground.
The term “about” is intended to include the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity based upon the equipment available at the time of filing the application. For example, “about” can include a range of ±8% or 5%, or 2% of a given value.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, element components, and/or groups thereof.
While the present disclosure has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this present disclosure, but that the present disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope hereof.
Patent Application
20250196969
