Patent Application
20080022911
In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals describe similar components throughout the several views. The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, various embodiments discussed in the present document.
The pontoon boat assemblies discussed herein provide a pontoon boat having a deck that is independently suspended above the pontoons. Advantageously, the deck remains generally level in response to a roll, pitch, or g-force regardless of the position of one or both pontoons.
Through the use of the one or more struts 110, the one or more wheels 112, and the track support members 114, the upper deck 102 is able to move relative to the pontoons 106A, 106B (as shown in phantom). In this way, the pontoon boat assembly 100 is able to suppress roll experienced by subjects located on the upper deck 102 relative to the roll experienced by the pontoons 106A, 106B. For example, when a wave approaches and comes in contact with a longitudinal side of a first pontoon 106A, the upper deck 102 portions nearest the first pontoon 106A may rotate along the track support members 114 to a position near a top of the first pontoon 106A, while the upper deck 102 portions nearest a second pontoon 106B may rotate along the track support members 114 to a position relatively distant from a top of the second pontoon 106B. In this way, the upper deck 102 maintains a generally level orientation regardless of a position of the pontoons 106A, 106B.
Through the use of the one or more electronic gyros 208, the controller 224, and the one or more hydraulic or air pistons 210, for example, the upper deck 202 is able to move relative to the pontoons 206A, 206B, and is thereby able to suppress both roll and pitch of the pontoon boat assembly 200. For example, when a wave approaches and comes in contact with a longitudinal side of a first pontoon 206A, the electronic gyro 208 and controller 224 may together sense and generate an actuator force which is communicated to the one or more hydraulic or air pistons 210. In one such example, the one or more hydraulic or air pistons 210 adjacent the first pontoon 206A may move in one direction, while the one or more hydraulic or air pistons 210 adjacent the second pontoon 206B may move in the opposite direction. In brief, the one or more pistons 210 adjust in such a way that the upper deck 202 maintains a generally level orientation.
Closing Notes
The above Detailed Description includes references to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the Detailed Description. The drawings show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. These embodiments are also referred to herein as “examples.” In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patent documents, to include one or more than one, independent of any other instances or usages of “at least one” or “one or more.” In this document, the term “or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive or, such that “A or B” includes “A but not B,” “B but not A,” and “A and B,” unless otherwise indicated.
In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Also, in the following claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are open-ended, that is, a system, device, article, or process that includes elements in addition to those listed after such a term in a claim are still deemed to fall within the scope of that claim. Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects.
The above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described examples (or one or more features thereof) may be used in combination with each other. Other embodiments can be used, such as by one of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Also, in the above Detailed Description, various features may be grouped together to streamline the disclosure. This should not be interpreted as intending that an unclaimed disclosed feature is essential to any claim. Rather, inventive subject matter may lie in less than all features of a particular disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
The Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. § 1.72(b), to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
This non-provisional application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/820,926, filed Jul. 31, 2006, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60820926 | Jul 2006 | US |
