SUSPENDED WATERCRAFT SEAT SYSTEM

Abstract

A seat system for watercraft, preferably inflatable watercraft, the seat system comprising a seat having a base and a backrest, a support system comprising straps removably attaching the seat to the inner sidewall of the watercraft, the seat system alleviating at least a portion of a user's weight from the watercraft floor.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to watercraft, and more specifically to a seat system for a kayak or canoe.

BACKGROUND

Water sports are popular recreational activities enjoyed by many. Kayaking and canoeing in particular are quite popular. While inflatable and hard-sided watercraft are both known and used, inflatable watercraft have become increasingly popular due to their ease of use, transportability and lower cost. Traditionally, the weight of the user is supported on the floor of the inflatable watercraft. As a result, the bottom of the watercraft tends to bow outward into the water and creates drag as well as interfering with the watercraft tracking. The suspended seat system of the present invention supports enough of the user's weight to alleviate the bowing out of the watercraft floor, thus reducing drag and improving tracking. Even for hard-sided watercraft, the suspended seat system will provide additional comfort for the user.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of some embodiments of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some embodiments of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

In some embodiments, a seat system for watercraft is provided including a seat structure having a bottom and a backrest, a support system having at least two straps, one supporting the seat bottom and one supporting the backrest, the straps include connecting mechanisms which are removably connected to a track on the inner side of each watercraft sidewall for alleviating at least a portion of a user's weight from the watercraft floor when the user is sitting in the seat structure.

The seat system may further include a plurality of connection points along the watercraft sidewall track for removable attachment of strap connecting mechanisms to allow for multiple positioning of the seat between the stern and aft sections of the watercraft.

In some embodiments, the straps of the support system pass through the seat material such that the seat is movable along the strap for adjustment by the user.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention, reference should be made to the ensuing detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a watercraft including a seat system of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the seat system shown in FIG.1; and

FIG. 3 is a cut-away side view of the seat system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, various embodiments are described. For purposes of explanation, specific configurations and details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will also be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details. Furthermore, well-known features may be omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the embodiment being described.

Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the several views, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a watercraft W having suspended seat system 10. Suspended seat system 10 includes seat structure 20, support system 30 and track 40. The watercraft is a conventional watercraft of standard construction such as a kayak or canoe. The watercraft may be either inflatable or hard-sided, but is preferably inflatable. The general configuration and manufacture of inflatable and hard-sided kayaks and canoes is known and thus specific configuration details of the watercraft are omitted in order to not obscure the embodiments being described.

Seat structure 20 includes seat base 22 and backrest 24 as shown in FIG. 2. Preferably, backrest 24 also includes side flaps 26 for added comfort and adjustability. Seat base 22 and backrest 24 may be a single piece or may be separate pieces connection together, preferably with a flexible hinge section between the pieces to allow the forming of a traditional seat with a bottom and a backrest. The specific construction of the seat is not the focus of the present invention and conventional seat construction for watercraft, particularly inflatable watercraft, can be used and will not be described in detail here. Conventional materials such as nylon, polyester, mesh and other watersport fabrics may be used. The seat structure 20 may include padding for comfort, as well as additional pockets and other storage trappings.

Support system 30 includes at least four points of support provided from side straps 32 and bottom straps 34. Preferably, support system 30 includes six points of support including two from side straps 32 and four from bottom straps 34. Most preferably, support system 30 includes eight points of support including two from side straps 32 and six from bottom straps 34. Additional points of support could be included by adding additional straps on either the seat base 22, backrest 24 or side flaps 26. Straps are preferably made of polypropylene, nylon or polyester but could be made of other durable yet flexible materials known in the industry. Straps may be permanently secured to seat structure 20 by stitching, but other means of securing such as rivets, welding, adhesive and the like are also contemplated. Straps 32, 34 may include free ends and secured ends such that straps are of shorter lengths of material which are secured to seat base and backrest, respectively, at secured ends and extend outward, terminating in free ends. Preferably, straps 32, 34 comprise a single length of material with only two free ends per strap such that straps extend across the width of seat base and backrest and a central portion of strap is secured to the respective seat base or backrest, leaving the free ends unconnected. Most preferably, straps 32, 34 comprise longer lengths of material which pass through channels created in seat or seat cover (as shown in FIG. 2) such that seat structure 20 is movable and adjustable over at least a portion of strap, with free ends extending outward.

Free ends of straps 32, 34 include connecting mechanisms 36. Connecting mechanisms are preferably hooks for attachment to track 40. Connecting mechanism 36 for strap 32 may be the same as or different from the connecting mechanism for strap 34. Connecting mechanisms are preferably made of ABS plastic, acetel, injection molded nylon, aluminum, steel or other materials known and used in the industry which are strong and durable. Optionally, connecting mechanism may include a locking clip or a carabiner clip.

Track 40 receives connecting mechanisms 36 and supports seat structure 20 via straps 32, 34. Track 40 includes connecting rail 42, base rail 44 which preferably extend along a portion of the length of watercraft W on the inside wall both on the starboard and port sides. Base rail 44 is secured to the inside wall of watercraft W, preferably by stitching onto the cover of an inflatable watercraft, although other methods of permanent attachment which are known in the industry may be used. For hard-sided watercraft, base rail 44 may be secured by riveting, welding, us of adhesives and the like. Connecting rail 42 is secured to base rail 44. For inflatable watercraft, connecting rail 42 is preferably stitched to base rail 44. For hard-sided watercraft, connecting rail 42 may be secured to base rail 44 by stitching, riveting, welding, use of adhesives and the like.

Connecting rail 42 comprises a plurality of connection points 46 that are preferably evenly spaced along the length of connecting rail 42 for receiving connecting mechanisms 36. Preferably, connection points 46 comprise loops of the rail material which are created by stitching separate sections approximately every one inch along connecting rail 42 to allow the connecting mechanism 36 to be securely retained therein and to allow for multiple adjustment of seat location between the stern and aft portions of the watercraft. Connection points 46 may be spaced closer or farther apart from each other than one inch, depending on the size of the connecting mechanisms 36 that are used. The key is to size connection points 46 to accommodate the connecting mechanisms 36 snugly for a secure, yet removable, fit. While only a single connecting rail 42 on each side is preferred, and all connecting mechanisms 36 from all straps 32, 34 are secured thereto, it is possible to have two separate connecting rails on each side, one located above the other, such that connecting mechanisms from strap 32 and connecting mechanisms from strap 34 secure to different rails. Both connecting rail 42 and base rail 44 are preferably made of flexible and durable material such a polypropylene, nylon, polyester and the like.

In a preferred embodiment, the sides of an inflatable watercraft will deflect slightly outward when the seat system is in use such that seat system 10 will take a portion of the weight load from the watercraft floor. The seat does not need to be fully suspended once a user is seated and their body weight is applied, but may rest gently on the watercraft floor. Seat system 10 supports enough user weight between the floor and sides to alleviate the bowing normally present in inflatable watercraft where the user sits on the watercraft floor, thus reducing drag and improving tracking. For hard-sided watercraft, seat system 10 provides increased comfort for the user.

Other variations are within the spirit of the present invention. Thus, while the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and have been described above in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The term “connected” is to be construed as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joined together, even if there is something intervening. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate embodiments of the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.

Claims

1. A seat system for watercraft, comprising: A seat structure;A support system attached to the seat structure;A track located on the inner side walls of a watercraft, the support system removably attachable to the track by a plurality of connecting mechanisms at a corresponding plurality of connection points.

2. The seat system of claim 1, wherein the seat structure comprises a base and a backrest and the support system comprises at least a first strap attached to the base and a second strap attached to backrest, the first and second straps each having at least one free end attached to separate connecting mechanisms and the first and second straps being removably connected to the track at a plurality of connection points by a corresponding plurality of said connecting mechanisms.

3. The seat system of claim 2, wherein said connecting mechanisms are hooks.

4. The seat system of claim 2 wherein said first strap passes through the base and said second strap passes through the backrest to allow movement of the seat structure along at least a portion of the first and second straps, each of the first and second straps having two free ends and each free end attached to a connecting mechanism.

5. The seat system of claim 4 further comprising a third strap that passes through the seat base, said third strap having two free ends each attached to a connecting mechanism, each of the connecting mechanisms removably attachable to a connection point on the track.

6. The seat system of claim 5, wherein said connection points are loops of webbing strap.

7. A seat system for inflatable watercraft, comprising: A seat structure having a base and a backrest;A first and a second strap each passing through the seat base and a third strap passing through the seat backrest, each of the straps having two free ends and each free end attached to a connecting mechanism;A plurality of connection points located along the inner sidewall of the inflatable watercraft, each of the plurality of connection points shaped and sized to receive and snugly retain a connecting mechanism.