The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the drawings represent embodiments of the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explain the present invention. The exemplification set out herein illustrates embodiments of the invention, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, which are described below. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. The invention includes any alterations and further modifications in the illustrated devices and described methods and further applications of the principles of the invention, which would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
Referring now to
Now referring to
In the embodiment shown, frame 24 has a plurality of structural members, such as aluminum C-channels, including longitudinal members 34a-34d and lateral members 36a-36g. Structural members 34a and 34b run generally parallel to pontoons 14 along the port side of watercraft 10, and structural members 34c and 34d extend parallel to pontoons 14 along the starboard side of watercraft 10. Lateral structural members 36a-36g are spaced along longitudinal structural members 34a-34d from the bow of watercraft 10 to the stern, respectively.
Frame 24 also includes an internal rectangular frame section, generally indicated as 38, that forms the support for mounting and provides an opening in the frame for storage unit 32. Lateral structural members 36d and 36e form the forward and rearward ends, respectively, of rectangular frame section 38, and the sides are formed by a pair of shortened longitudinal side members 40a, 40b. Side members 40a, 40b are reinforced by shortened lateral structural members 42a, 42b, respectively. Lateral structural member 42a extends from longitudinal structural members 34a and 34b to side member 40a, and lateral structural member 42b extends from longitudinal structural members 34c and 34d to side member 40b. The structural members are welded, bolted or otherwise attached together with known fastening mechanisms in the configuration shown in
Now referring to
Upper mounting end 56 of under-deck storage unit 32 includes a generally rectangular opening, generally indicated as 70; a front block or enlarged portion 72; a rear block or enlarged portion 74; and four side blocks or enlarged portions 76a-76d, with two side blocks on each side of and straddling opening 70. Channels are located between each of the blocks to receive respective structural members of frame 24. A front channel 80 is located between front block 72 and side blocks 76a, 76c, and a rear channel, generally indicated as 82, is located between rear block 74 and side blocks 76b, 76d. In addition, a pair of intermediate channels, generally indicated as 84a and 84b, are located between blocks 76a, 76b and 76c, 76d, respectively. At the base of each channel 80, 82, 84a and 84b is a mounting surface 90a, 90b, 90c, and 90d, respectively, which can be placed against the respective structural members of frame 24 when under-deck storage unit 32 is mounted to the frame, as shown in
One method of manufacturing the under-deck storage unit of the subject invention is through a rotational-molding process so that the storage unit is made of a plastic/polymer material as a single unitary piece. Another advantage of manufacturing the storage unit with this method is that the enlarged portions 72, 74, and 76a-d may be hollow and provide buoyancy to the storage unit in the event that it is dropped into or becomes dislodged in the water.
To assemble the under-deck storage unit to the frame in accordance with the subject invention, frame 24 is cut and assembled using known methods of welding and/or fasteners, to provide rectangular frame section 38 therein. Rectangular frame section 38 is formed by facing the open side of C-channels structural members 36d, 36e, 40a, and 40b outward away from the central portion of rectangular frame section 38. As shown in
In operation, under-deck storage unit 32 can be used to store gear and other material in watercraft 10 by lifting or removing hatch 22 and placing the gear through opening 20 in deck 12 and into access opening 70. When watercraft 10 is in motion or if there is wave action, radiused portion 60 in front end 50 of under-deck store unit 32 aids breaking waves and to decrease splashing. For any water that may gain entry into under-deck storage unit 32, trough 26 and drain aperture 68 provide a drainage path. It should be appreciated that the slope in the bottom of trough 66 guides any water in the under-deck storage unit to drain aperture 68. A plug may be placed in drain aperture 68 to prevent water from entering storage unit 32 therethrough.
It should also be appreciated that in the embodiment disclosed, under-deck storage unit 32 as mounted to watercraft 10 is located at a level above waterline 29 to reduce drag caused therefrom and to help reduce splashing. It should also be appreciated that sealing members or adhesives may be used in the fit-up of under-deck storage unit 32 to watercraft 10 to help preclude any water that may splash around the top end of the storage unit from entering into the interior portion thereof.
While the invention has been taught with specific reference to these embodiments, one skilled in the art will recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the shape may be changed to other than rectangular, and the frame section for mounting the storage unit can be varied to complement the storage unit shape. Also, the storage unit may be located at any other desired position beneath the deck and between the pontoons. In addition, the storage unit of the present invention may be used on other types of watercraft in addition to pontoon boats. The described embodiments are to be considered, therefore, in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. As such, the scope of the invention is indicated by the following claims rather than by the description.