This invention relates to support mechanisms and, more particularly, to seat-support mechanisms adapted for use with fishing boat seats. It is known in the art to provide fishing boat seats, which are movable between a deployed position (i.e., a generally elevated position) for use while fishing from the boat and a stowed position (i.e., a generally lowered position) for use while operating the boat. A deployed seat position, which is generally elevated from the boat's deck, is desirable because it provides the fisherman with an optimal view of his surroundings and more unobstructed space for operating fishing gear. A stowed position, in which the seat is generally adjacent the boat's deck, is desirable during operation of the boat, because it provides a lower center of gravity and greater stability while the boat is moving.
However, many prior art fishing boat seats, which are movable between such deployed and stowed positions, occupy an unnecessarily large amount of space on the boat's deck, leaving less room for fishing gear, etc. Moreover, in many cases, the support mechanisms for such movable boat seats are cumbersome and difficult to adjust between deployed and stowed positions, which is particularly undesirable in an environment where balance is already a challenge.
Thus, there is a need for an improved boat seat support mechanism. It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a boat seat support mechanism, which is structurally stable yet easy to adjust between deployed and stowed positions, without the need to manipulate complicated controls. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a boat seat support mechanism, which provides generally vertical (i.e., “over-the-center”) movement of the seat between its deployed and stowed positions, so as to take up less space on the boat deck.
In general, a support mechanism for a seat comprises a base member, first and second support arms, first and second synchronizing arms, and a load-supporting platform. The base member is adapted for supporting the support mechanism from a support surface, such as a boat deck. The load supporting platform is adapted for supporting a seat.
The first support arm has a distal end pivotally connected to a pivot bracket and a proximal end operatively connected to the base member. The first support arm is connected to these components in a manner to permit pivoting movement of the first support arm relative to the support surface between a stowed position and a deployed position. The distal end of the first support arm is generally adjacent the support surface when the first support arm is in its stowed position and is spaced from the support surface when the first support arm is in its deployed position. The first synchronizing arm is generally adjacent to the first support arm. The first synchronizing arm has a distal end pivotally connected to the pivot bracket and a proximal end operatively connected to the base member in a manner to permit pivoting movement of the first synchronizing arm relative to the support surface. The first synchronizing arm and first support arm are operatively connected to the pivot bracket and base member in a manner so that the first synchronizing arm and first support arm maintain a substantially parallel relationship with one another throughout the entire range of movement of the first support arm between its stowed and deployed positions.
The second support arm has a distal end pivotally connected to the pivot bracket and a proximal end operatively connected to the load-supporting platform. The second support arm is connected to these components in a manner to permit pivoting movement of the second support arm relative to the load-supporting platform between a stowed position and a deployed position. The second synchronizing arm is generally adjacent to the second support arm. The second synchronizing arm has a distal end pivotally connected to the pivot bracket and a proximal end operatively connected to the load-supporting platform in a manner to permit pivoting movement of the second synchronizing arm relative to the load-supporting platform. The second synchronizing arm and second support arm are operatively connected to the pivot bracket and load-supporting platform in a manner so that the second synchronizing arm and second support arm maintain a substantially parallel relationship with one another throughout the entire range of movement of the second support arm between its stowed and deployed positions.
The first and second support arms and first and second synchronizing arms are operatively connected with one another in a manner so that the load-supporting platform moves substantially along a fixed vertical axis as the first and second support arms move between their respective stowed and deployed positions.
In another aspect of the invention, a seat support mechanism comprises a base member, first and second support arms, first and second synchronizing arms, and a load-supporting platform, all substantially as described above. In this aspect of the invention, the first and second support arms and first and second synchronizing arms are operatively connected with one another in a manner so that a first plane passing through the load-supporting platform and a second plane passing through the base member maintain a substantially parallel relationship with one another throughout the entire range of movement of the first and second support arms between their respective stowed and deployed positions.
In still another aspect of the invention, a boat seat support mechanism comprises a base member, first and second support arms, first and second synchronizing arms, and a load-supporting platform, all substantially as described above. In this aspect of the invention, a distal end of the first support arm includes a first geared portion, and a distal end of the second support arm has a second geared portion. The first and second support arms are connected to the pivot bracket in a manner so that the first and second geared portions are in meshed engagement with one another throughout the entire range of movement of the first and second support arms between their respective stowed and deployed positions. Thus, movement of one of the first and second support arms between its stowed and deployed positions requires corresponding movement of the other of the first and second support arms between its stowed and deployed positions.
Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present invention, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Reference characters used in these drawings correspond with reference characters used throughout the Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments, which follows. These drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate the preferred embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
A boat seat support mechanism of the present invention is represented generally by the reference numeral 20 in
The base member 22 is adapted for supporting the support mechanism 20 from the support surface 36. As shown in
The seat 34 is secured to the load supporting platform 32 with mechanical fasteners (not shown) or in another appropriate manner, as is known the art. As shown in
The lower support arm 24 has a distal end 40 pivotally connected to an intermediate pivot bracket 50 and a proximal end 42 operatively connected to the base member 22. Preferably, these components are connected with one another via mechanical fasteners 43. The lower support arm 24 is shown in detail in
The upper support arm 26 has a distal end 44 pivotally connected to the pivot bracket 50 and a proximal end 46 operatively connected to the load-supporting platform 32. Preferably, these components are connected with one another via mechanical fasteners 45. The upper support arm 26 is shown in detail in
The support mechanism 20 comprises at least one lower synchronizing arm 28, but preferably a pair of such lower synchronizing arms 28, generally adjacent to the lower support arm 28. Preferably, these components are connected with one another via mechanical fasteners 29. One such synchronizing arm 28 is shown in detail in
The support mechanism 20 also comprises at least one upper synchronizing arm 30, but preferably a pair of such upper synchronizing arms 30, which are generally adjacent to the upper support arm 26. Preferably, these components are connected with one another via mechanical fasteners 31. The upper synchronizing arms 30 are essentially identical to the lower synchronizing arms 28, as shown in detail in
As best shown in
These upper and lower four-bar mechanisms function to maintain the load-supporting platform 32 and seat 34 in a fixed, nearly horizontal orientation (at slight angle α relative to horizontal, as discussed above) throughout the entire range of movement of the lower and upper support arms 24 and 26 between their respective stowed and deployed positions. Illustrated another way, due to the function of the upper and lower four-bar mechanisms, a first plane P1 passing through the load-supporting platform 32 and a second plane P2 passing through the base member 22 maintain a substantially parallel relationship with one another throughout the entire range of movement of the support mechanism 20 between its stowed and deployed positions (see
Overall, the support mechanism 20 is relatively compact. When in its stowed position, as shown in
As noted above, the support mechanism 20 also occupies very little vertical space, when the device is in its stowed position (
The base member 22 preferably includes a first stop member 70, which is adapted to engage against the lower support arm 24 (just above its proximal end 42) when the lower support arm 24 is in its deployed position, and thereby restrict movement of the lower support arm 24 beyond its deployed position. Preferably, the pivot bracket 50 also includes a second stop member 72, which is adapted to engage against the lower support arm 24 (just below its distal end 40) when the lower support arm 24 is in its deployed position, also restricting movement of the lower support arm 24 beyond its deployed position. Preferably, the lower support arm 24 includes recesses 80 and 82 (see
Similarly, load-supporting platform 32 preferably includes a third stop member 74, which is adapted to engage against the upper support arm 26 (just below its proximal end 46) when the upper support arm 26 is in its deployed position, and thereby restrict movement of the upper support arm 26 beyond its deployed position. Preferably, the pivot bracket 50 also includes a fourth stop member 76, which is adapted to engage against the upper support arm 26 (just above its distal end 44) when the upper support arm 26 is in its deployed position, also restricting movement of the upper support arm 26 beyond its deployed position. Preferably, the upper support arm 26 includes recesses 84 and 86 (see
Thus, in operation, a user may move the support mechanism 20 from its stowed position to its deployed position by lifting the seat 34 upwardly. In so doing, the lower and upper support arms 24 and 26 will move upwardly from their generally horizontal stowed positions (shown in
In one preferred embodiment of the invention shown in
Although the present invention has been shown and described in reference to a support mechanism for a boat seat, it should be understood that the support mechanism of the present invention could be used to support other items, such as tables, shelves, other support surfaces, ladders, other support structures, etc., which are stowable or collapsible.
As various modifications could be made in the constructions and methods herein described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.