CONVERTIBLE SEAT FOR WATERCRAFT
Embodiments of the present disclosure include convertible seats for watercraft, and more particularly to seat systems configured to provide both standard and elevated (also known as casting or sighting) seat options for recreational watercraft, such as kayaks and the like. In various embodiments, a recreational watercraft such as a kayak may include both a standard seat in the cockpit, and an elevated seat comprising a molded-in seat platform formed in the hull and/or deck of the watercraft. In various embodiments, the standard seat may be configured to be stowed at least partially under the elevated seat when the standard seat is not in use. In other embodiments, an adjustable seating system for a watercraft is provided that includes a seat having a seating portion and a back support portion, wherein the back support portion is hingeably coupled to the seating portion and adapted to fold substantially flat over the seating portion, wherein the back support portion comprises a front surface and a back surface, and wherein the back surface is contoured to provide an elevated seating surface when folded over the seating portion. In some embodiments, the seating portion may be adapted to removably couple to the watercraft via one or more elastic retention members and one or more adjustment straps that permit movement of the seating portion in a fore/aft direction.
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The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/366,511, filed Jul. 21, 2010, entitled “CONVERTIBLE SEAT FOR WATERCRAFT,” the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present disclosure relates to convertible seats for watercraft, and more particularly to seat systems configured to provide both standard and elevated seating options for recreational watercraft, such as kayaks and the like.
BACKGROUNDSeats for kayaks typically are provided with a substantially horizontal seat support portion and a substantially vertical portion for back support. The seats may be adjustable to allow for incline adjustments for the back support portion as well as incline adjustments to the seat support portion to accommodate paddlers of various heights. Height adjustability of the seat itself, however, typically is not provided.
The limited options that do exist for kayak seat height adjustments generally involve placing blocks or other rigid support structures beneath the entire seat structure. On-the-fly height adjustments, while afloat, for example, may be complicated and may require the paddler to carry the blocks or other rigid support structures at all times.
Embodiments will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration embodiments that may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of embodiments is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Various operations may be described as multiple discrete operations in turn, in a manner that may be helpful in understanding embodiments; however, the order of description should not be construed to imply that these operations are order dependent.
The description may use perspective-based descriptions such as up/down, back/front, and top/bottom. Such descriptions are merely used to facilitate the discussion and are not intended to restrict the application of disclosed embodiments.
The terms “coupled” and “connected,” along with their derivatives, may be used. It should be understood that these terms are not intended as synonyms for each other. Rather, in particular embodiments, “connected” may be used to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact with each other. “Coupled” may mean that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact. However, “coupled” may also mean that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other, but yet still cooperate or interact with each other.
For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form “NB” or in the form “A and/or B” means (A), (B), or (A and B). For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form “at least one of A, B, and C” means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B and C). For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form “(A)B” means (B) or (AB) that is, A is an optional element.
The description may use the terms “embodiment” or “embodiments,” which may each refer to one or more of the same or different embodiments. Furthermore, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like, as used with respect to embodiments, are synonymous.
Embodiments of the present disclosure include convertible seats for watercraft, and more particularly to seat systems configured to provide both standard and elevated (also known as casting or sighting) seat options for recreational watercraft, such as sit-in kayaks, sit-on-top kayaks, and the like. For example, in various embodiments, a recreational watercraft such as a sit-in kayak may include both a standard seat in the cockpit, and an elevated seat comprising a molded-in seat platform formed in the hull and/or deck of the watercraft. In some embodiments, the standard seat may be configured to be stowed at least partially under the elevated seat when the standard seat is not in use.
In various embodiments, the standard seat may include a seat support portion and a back support portion, and the back support portion may be configured to be folded down onto the seat support portion when not in use. In some embodiments, the standard seat may be at least partially stowed when the back support portion is in the folded position, and in other embodiments, the back support portion may be configured to function as an elevated seat configuration when in the folded position. In these embodiments, the back side of the back support portion may be configured with a thickness and a contour to provide a surface suitable for use as an elevated seat when in the folded position. In still other embodiments, the folded back support portion may provide a surface on which to place a second seat that may provide an elevated seating surface. Such a second seat may be a camp-style seat or a molded seat in various embodiments.
In various embodiments, a separate, elevated seat also may be provided that may be integrally molded into the kayak hull and/or deck. As with the standard seat, in some embodiments, the elevated seat may be provided with a back support portion, and the back support portion may be integral to the molded seat, or it may be configured to be folded down onto the seat support portion when not in use. In some embodiments, the back support portion also may be configured to function as an elevated seat configuration when in the folded position, and a user may choose to sit on the seat support portion when the back support portion is in the raised position, or on the lowered back support portion if an even higher seating position is desired. In still other embodiments, a second seat may be placed over the molded seat to provide an elevated seating surface. In particular embodiments, the molded seat may include a fixed, integrally molded backrest, and the second seat may be configured to sit on top of the fixed, integrally molded backrest. In some embodiments, a user may rest his or her feet on the molded seat when seated on the second seat.
In still other embodiments, a standard seat for use in either a sit-on-top kayak or a sit-in kayak may be provided with adjustable elements such as slide rails and/or straps and tensioning elements that may allow the seat to be adjusted in a fore-and-aft direction, and that may allow the seat to be easily removed from the kayak and easily reinstalled. In various embodiments, this adjustable seat also may be provided with a back support portion, and the back support portion may be configured to be folded down onto the seat support portion when not in use. In some embodiments, the back support portion also may be configured to function as an elevated seat configuration when in the folded position, and a user may choose to sit on the seat support portion when the back support portion is in the raised position, or on the lowered back support portion if a higher seating position is desired. In some embodiments, the lowered back support may provide a surface on which a second seat may be placed that may provide an elevated seating surface. In particular embodiments, the second seat may be a molded seat or a camp-style seat.
Further embodiments may include seats that may be integrally molded into the hull and/or deck of a sit-on-top kayak. As with the standard seat described above, in some embodiments, the elevated seat may be provided with a back support portion, and the back support portion may be configured to be folded down onto the seat support portion when not in use. In some embodiments, the back support portion also may be configured to function as an elevated seat configuration when in the folded position, and a user may choose to sit on the seat support portion when the back support portion is in the raised position, or on the lowered back support portion if a higher seating position is desired. In still other embodiments, a second seat may be placed over the molded seat or the folded back support portion to provide an elevated seating surface. In particular embodiments, the molded seat may include a fixed, integrally molded backrest, and the second seat may be configured to sit on top of the fixed, integrally molded backrest. In some embodiments, a user may rest his or her feet on the molded seat when seated on the second seat.
As shown in
In various embodiments, an elevated seat 118, also known as a casting or sighting seat, also may be provided that may be integrally molded into the kayak hull and/or deck as illustrated in
As illustrated in
In various embodiments, additional support under elevated seat 118 may be desired to accommodate paddlers of various weights. As is best seen in
In various embodiments, standard seat 108 and elevated seat 118 may be situated to avoid overloading the stern end of kayak 100. To that end, standard seat 108 and elevated seat 118 may be located closer to the kayak's center of buoyancy. In some embodiments, whether the paddler should want to stand in kayak 100 while kayak 100 is afloat may be a consideration as to the location of standard 108 and elevated seats 118. In general, it may be desirable to configure kayak 100 such that the standing paddler would be at the kayak's center of buoyancy.
As shown in
In some embodiments, standard seat 108 may be integrally molded into the kayak hull and/or deck as described below in greater detail for elevated seat 118. In these embodiments, standard seat 108 may not be adjustable fore and aft, however standard seat may be height adjustable by virtue of its foldable back support portion 112 as described above, which may enable standard seat to function as both a standard seat and an elevated seat.
In other embodiments, for instance, for use in a sit-on-top kayak, a molded seat may be equipped such that it may be used as either a standard seat and/or an elevated seat. For example, as illustrated in
In some embodiments, the seatback support portion 224 of standard seat 208 may be configured to be folded down onto the seat support portion to provide an elevated seat configuration, or to provide padding or impact protection for a user, as illustrated in
Additionally, in various embodiments, standard seat 208 may be molded into the deck of kayak 200 as illustrated, or it may be formed of any suitable material including, for example, fabric, foam, metal, fiberglass, molded plastic, or a combination thereof. Although the standard seat 208 depicted in
In some embodiments, an adjustable seat may be provided that may be easily adjusted by a user for on-the-fly (e.g., seated) fore/aft adjustments of the seat.
The close-up view of adjustable seat 308 shown in
As shown in
In some embodiments, a rear portion of adjustable seat 308 may include seatback adjustment straps 322 for adjusting the angle between seat support portion 310 and back support portion 312. Additionally, tensioning members 326 may couple to one or more attachment elements 330, such as hooks, clips, slides, loops, rings, etc. One or more rear kayak attachment elements 332, such a s hooks, clips, slides, loops, rings, etc., may be provided for coupling the tensioning members (and therefore adjustable seat 308) to kayak 300.
As shown in
Further embodiments are illustrated in
As shown in
Although certain embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a wide variety of alternate and/or equivalent embodiments or implementations calculated to achieve the same purposes may be substituted for the embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope. Those with skill in the art will readily appreciate that embodiments may be implemented in a very wide variety of ways. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that embodiments be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.
Claims
1. An adjustable seating system for a watercraft, comprising:
- a first seat comprising a first seating portion and a first back support portion, wherein the first back support portion is hingeably coupled to the first seating portion and adapted to fold substantially flat over the first seating portion in a storage position, and wherein the first seating portion has a first seating height;
- a second seat positioned sternward of the first seat and having a second seating portion and a second seating height, wherein the second seating height is higher than the first seating height.
2. The adjustable seating system of claim 1, wherein the first seat is configured to stow at least partially under the second seat when the first back support portion is in the storage position.
3. The adjustable seating system of claim 1, wherein the first seating portion is slidably coupled to the watercraft so as to permit movement of the first seat in a fore/aft direction.
4. The adjustable seating system of claim 3, wherein the first seating portion is adapted to removably couple to the watercraft via a pair of slide bars or via one or more front adjustment straps and one or more rear tensioning members.
5. The adjustable seating system of claim 1, wherein the first back support portion is tilt-adjustable.
6. The adjustable seating system of claim 1, wherein the first seat further comprises a leg support element.
7. The adjustable seating system of claim 1, wherein the first back support portion has a thickness dimension and provides an elevated seating surface relative to the first seating portion when in the storage position.
8. The adjustable seating system of claim 1, wherein the first back support portion has a thickness dimension and provides an elevated surface adapted to receive a second seat, and wherein the second seat provides an elevated seating surface relative to the first seating portion.
9. The adjustable seating system of claim 1, wherein the second seating portion is integrally molded into a deck surface of the watercraft.
10. The adjustable seating system of claim 1, wherein the second seat further comprises a second back support portion hingeably coupled to the second seating portion and adapted to fold substantially flat over the second seating portion.
11. The adjustable seating system of claim 9, wherein the second back support portion has a thickness dimension and provides an elevated seating surface relative to the second seating portion when the second back support portion is folded over the second seating portion.
12. An adjustable seating system for a watercraft comprising a seat having a seating portion and a back support portion, wherein the back support portion is hingeably coupled to the seating portion and adapted to fold substantially flat over the seating portion, wherein the back support portion comprises a front surface and a back surface, and wherein the back surface is contoured to provide an elevated seating surface when folded over the seating portion.
13. The adjustable seating system of claim 11, wherein the seating portion is slidably coupled to the watercraft so as to permit movement of the seating portion in a fore/aft direction.
14. The adjustable seating system of claim 12, wherein the seating portion is adapted to removably couple to the watercraft via a pair of slide bars or via one or more front adjustment straps and one or more rear tensioning members.
15. The adjustable seating system of claim 11, wherein the seating portion is integrally molded into a deck surface of the watercraft.
16. An adjustable seating system for a watercraft comprising a seat having a seating portion and a back support portion;
- wherein the seating portion is adapted to removably couple to the watercraft via one or more elastic retention members and one or more adjustment straps that permit movement of the seating portion in a fore/aft direction;
- wherein the one or more adjustments straps are configured to move the seating portion in a fore direction when tightened; and
- wherein the one or more elastic retention members are configured to move the seating portion in an aft direction when the one or more adjustments straps are loosened.
17. The adjustable seating system of claim 15, wherein the one or more elastic retention members are configured to removably couple a rear portion of the seating system to the watercraft.
18. The adjustable seating system of claim 16, wherein the one or more adjustment straps are configured to removably couple a front portion of the seating system to the watercraft.
19. The adjustable seating system of claim 16, wherein the seating system is configured to be adjustable while in use.
20. The adjustable seating system of claim 16, wherein the back support portion is hingeably coupled to the seating portion and adapted to fold substantially flat over the seating portion, wherein the back support portion comprises a front surface and a back surface, and wherein the back surface is contoured to provide an elevated seating surface when folded over the seating portion.
21. An adjustable seating system for a watercraft, comprising:
- a first seat comprising an integrally-molded first seating portion and an integrally-molded first back support portion, wherein the first seating portion has a first seating height;
- a second seat positioned sternward of the first seat and comprising an integrally-molded second seating portion and an integrally-molded second back support portion and having a second seating height, wherein the second seating height is higher than the first seating height.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 24, 2011
Publication Date: Jan 26, 2012
Applicant: CONFLUENCE HOLDINGS CORP. (Easley, SC)
Inventor: Robert McDonough (Easley, SC)
Application Number: 13/168,097
International Classification: B63B 17/00 (20060101);