MARINE BOARDING LADDER

Abstract

A marine ladder includes a base and a stair assembly connected to the base. The stair assembly includes four telescoping assemblies, each having an outermost member and one or more telescoping members telescopingly extendable therefrom. A step is connected between the respective outermost members of the four telescoping assemblies. Further steps are connected between respective telescoping members of the four telescoping assemblies.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/540,955, filed on Aug. 3, 2017, and incorporates by reference the disclosure thereof in its entirety.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

It is known to provide a boat with a boarding ladder to facilitate boarding the boat from within a body of water, for example, a lake or river in which the boat is situated. Such a boarding ladder typically is exactly that—a ladder including a pair of elongated stringers or rails and a number of rungs fixedly connected therebetween.

A boarding ladder typically is connected to the deck of a pontoon boat or the transom of a v-hulled boat. The ladder may be pivotably connected to the boat between a deployed configuration in which one or more rungs are disposed below the water line to facilitate boarding, and a stowed configuration in which the ladder is completely out of the water to facilitate operation of the boat while it is underway.

Although such boarding ladders offer convenience, they are not without certain drawbacks. For example, such ladders often are lightweight and flimsy and do not inspire confidence in persons using them. Also, such ladders, when deployed, typically are oriented vertically. This orientation may make it difficult for certain persons to use the ladders, and it generally renders the ladders unusable by dogs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a pontoon boat with a telescopingly retractable ladder attached thereto, the ladder in an extended state;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the telescopingly retractable ladder of FIG. 1 in the extended state;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the telescopingly retractable ladder of FIG. 1 in the extended state;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the telescopingly retractable ladder of FIG. 1 in the extended state;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the telescopingly retractable ladder of FIG. 1 in a retracted state;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the telescopingly retractable ladder of FIG. 1 in the retracted state;

FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of the telescopingly retractable ladder of FIG. 1 in the retracted state; and

FIG. 8 is a side elevation cross-sectional detail view of the telescopingly retractable ladder of FIG. 1 in the extended state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings show an illustrative embodiment of a marine boarding ladder 10 according to the present disclosure. FIG. 1 shows the ladder 10 in a deployed configuration, attached to a deck D of a pontoon boat B in an illustrative manner. FIGS. 2-8 show the ladder 10 in greater detail in deployed and stowed configurations.

The ladder 10 includes a telescoping stair assembly 12 connected to a mounting base 14, first and second handrails 16A, 16B connected to the stair assembly and the mounting base, and first and second lateral supports 18A, 18B connected to the stair assembly, as will be discussed further below.

The telescoping stair assembly 12 includes first through fourth telescoping assemblies 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D (sometimes referred to herein individually or collectively as telescoping assemblies 20n). Each of the first through fourth telescoping assemblies 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D includes a corresponding generally tubular or annular outermost member 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D (sometimes referred to herein individually or collectively as the outermost members 22n) having a first end and second end. Each of the first through fourth telescoping assemblies 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D also includes a corresponding first telescoping member 24A, 24B, 24C, 24D (sometimes referred to herein individually or collectively as the first telescoping members 24n) having a first end and a second end. The first end of each of the first telescoping members 24A, 24B, 24C, 24D is telescopingly extendable from and retractable into an interior region of the corresponding outermost member 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D through the second end thereof. Each of the first telescoping members 24A, 24B, 24C, 24D may be a final telescoping member, that is, a telescoping member with no further telescoping member connected thereto.

As shown, each of the first through fourth telescoping assemblies 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D may also include a corresponding second telescoping 26A, 26B, 26C, 26D (sometimes referred to herein individually or collectively as the second telescoping members 26n) having a first end and a second end. The first end of each of the second telescoping members 26A, 26B, 26C, 26D is telescopingly extendable from and retractable into an interior region of the corresponding first telescoping member 24A, 24B, 24C, 24D through the second end thereof. In embodiments including the second telescoping members 26A, 26B, 26C, 26D, the second telescoping members may be final telescoping members.

Also, as shown, each of the first through fourth telescoping assemblies 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D may further include a corresponding third telescoping member 28A, 28B, 28C, 28D (sometimes referred to herein individually or collectively as the third telescoping members 28n) having a first end and a second end. The first end of each of the third telescoping members 28A, 28B, 28C, 28D is telescopingly extendable from and retractable into an interior region of the corresponding second telescoping member 26A, 26B, 26C, 26D through the second end thereof. In embodiments including the third telescoping members 28A, 28B, 28C, 28D, the third telescoping members may be final telescoping members.

Further, as shown, each of the first through fourth telescoping assemblies 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D may also include a corresponding fourth telescoping member 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D (sometimes referred to herein individually or collectively as the fourth telescoping members 30n) having a first end and a second end. The first end of each of the fourth telescoping members 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D is telescopingly extendable from and retractable into an interior region of the corresponding third telescoping member 28A, 28B, 28C, 28D through the second end thereof. In embodiments including the fourth telescoping members 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D, the fourth telescoping members may be final telescoping members. In the embodiment shown, the fourth telescoping members 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D, are final telescoping members.

In other embodiments, each of the first through fourth telescoping assemblies 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D may include one or more additional corresponding telescoping members extendable from the second ends of the fourth telescoping members 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D (and subsequent telescoping members) in a similar manner.

Each of the foregoing telescoping members (for example, the first telescoping members 24A, 24B, 24C, 24D) except the final telescoping members typically would be generally tubular or annular to permit any subsequent telescoping members (for example, the second telescoping members 26A, 26B, 26C, 26D) to be receivable therein, as discussed above. The final telescoping members (for example, the fourth telescoping members 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D) may be, but need not be, generally tubular or annular.

Any of the members 22n, 24n, 26n, 28n, 30n and any subsequent members (not shown) receiving another of the members 24n, 26n, 28n, 30n and any subsequent members (not shown) may be referred to herein as a receiving member. Any of the members 24n, 26n, 28n, 30n and any subsequent members (not shown) received by another of the members 22n, 24n, 26n, 28n, 30n and any subsequent members (not shown) may be referred to herein as a received member.

Any or all of the receiving members (for example, any or all of the outermost members 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D, or any or all of the first telescoping members 24A, 24B, 24C, 24D) may define or otherwise include a corresponding stop 32 configured to limit the extension travel of the corresponding received member (for example, the corresponding one(s) of the first telescoping members 24A, 24B, 24C, 24D or the second telescoping members 26A, 26B, 26C, 26D) received therein. The final telescoping members (for example, the fourth telescoping members 30n in the embodiment shown) may, but need not, include or define a stop 32. Any or all of the stops 32 may be defined by crimping the corresponding receiving member as shown, so that a corresponding portion of the wall defining the receiving member extends inwardly into the interior region of the receiving member. Alternatively, any or all of the stops 32 could be embodied as an interfering structure extending inwardly into the interior region of the receiving member from an inner surface thereof. Any such stop 32 may be located at any desired point of the respective member 22n, 24n, 26n, 28n, 30n between the first end and the second end thereof. In an embodiment, any such stop 32 may be located between the midpoint and the second end of the respective member 22n, 24n, 26n, 28n, 30n. For example, as shown, any such stop 32 may be located between the midpoint and the second end of the respective member 22n, 24n, 26n, 28n, 30n, nearer to the midpoint than to the second end thereof.

Also, any or all of the received members may define or otherwise include a corresponding boss 34 configured to interfere with the stop 32 of the corresponding receiving member. Any or all of the bosses 34 may be defined as an outwardly flared portion of the received member, as shown, or embodied as a structure connected to and extending outwardly from the surface of the wall defining the received member.

The outermost member 22C of the third telescoping assembly 20C is fixedly connected to the outermost member 20A of the first telescoping assembly 20A, for example, by first and second standoffs 36, 38, so that the third telescoping assembly 20C and its constituent members 22C, 24C, 26C, 28C, 30C are spaced from and parallel to connected to the first telescoping assembly 20A and its constituent members 22A, 24A, 26A, 28A, 30A. Similarly, the outermost member 22D of the fourth telescoping assembly 20D is fixedly connected to the outermost member 20B of the second telescoping assembly 20B, for example, by third and fourth standoffs 40, 42 so that the fourth telescoping assembly 20D and its constituent members 22D, 24D, 26D, 28D, 30D are spaced from and parallel to connected to the second telescoping assembly 20B and its constituent members 22B, 24B, 26B, 28B, 30B.

As shown in FIG. 3, a cable 44 may be attached to the fourth telescoping member 30n (or other final telescoping member) of any of the telescoping assemblies 20n and routed through the interior region thereof, the interior region of the outermost member 22n of the telescoping assembly 20n, the interior regions of any intervening telescoping members (the first, second, and third telescoping members 24n, 26n, 28n in the embodiment shown), and outwardly from the outermost member 22n through an aperture 47 defined thereby. As shown, the cable 44 is associated with the third telescoping assembly 20C in the foregoing manner. In other embodiments, the cable 44 could be associated with any or all other ones of the telescoping members 20n in the foregoing manner. A cable clamp or other structure (not shown) may be provided to selectively secure the free end or other portion of each such cable 44.

A first step 22E is connected to the respective outermost members 22n of the first through fourth telescoping assemblies 20n proximate the mounting base 14, as will be discussed further below. The first step 22E may be directly connected to the outermost members 22n, or it may be connected thereto through one or more intervening structures, for example, a first support rod (not shown) extending between the first and second telescoping assemblies 20A, 20B and a second support rod (not shown) extending between the third and fourth telescoping assemblies 20C, 20D.

A second step 22E′ is connected to the respective outermost members 22n of the first through fourth telescoping assemblies 20n proximate the second ends thereof. The second step 22E′ may be directly connected to the outermost members 22n in a manner similar to that in which the first step 22E is connected to the outermost members or otherwise.

A third step 24E may be similarly connected to the respective first telescoping members 24n of the first through fourth telescoping assemblies 20n; a fourth step 26E may be similarly connected to the respective second telescoping members 26n of the first through fourth telescoping assemblies 20n; a fifth step 28E may be similarly connected to the respective third telescoping members 28n of the first through fourth telescoping assemblies 20n; and a sixth step 30E may be similarly connected to the respective fourth telescoping members 30n of the first through fourth telescoping assemblies 20n.

The first and second telescoping assemblies 20A, 20B cooperate to define a first plane, and the third and fourth telescoping assemblies 20C, 20D cooperate to define a second plane generally parallel to the first plane. Each of the steps 22E, 22E′, 24E, 26E, 28E, 30E defines a corresponding stepping surface, and each of the stepping surfaces defines a corresponding plane. The steps 22E, 22E′, 24E, 26E, 28E, 30E are connected to the corresponding telescoping assemblies 20n so that the planes defined by the steps are parallel to each other. In an embodiment, the steps 22E, 22E′, 24E, 26E, 28E, 30E are connected to the corresponding telescoping assemblies 20n so that the first and second planes defined by the telescoping assemblies 20n are inclined at an angle α of about 50 degrees with respect to planes defined by the steps. In other embodiments, the angle α may vary from about 10 degrees to about 60 degrees.

As suggested above, the stair assembly 12 is connected to a mounting base 14 configured for connection to a boat, for example, to a deck of a pontoon boat, or to a swim platform connected to a boat. As shown, the mounting base 14 includes a first elongated base member 14A connected to and extending from the first telescoping assembly 20A, and a second elongated base member 14B connected to and extending from the first telescoping assembly 20B, for example, proximate the first step 22E. Each of the first and second base members 14A, 14B extends from the corresponding telescoping assembly 20A, 20B generally parallel to the planes defined by the steps 22E, 24E, 26E, 28E, 30E. The first and second base members 14A, 14B may be parallel to each other.

The mounting base 14 may include a first mounting bracket 14C connected to the first base member 14A near the free end thereof, and a second mounting bracket 14D connected to the second base member 14B near the free end thereof. The mounting base 14 may also include a third mounting bracket 14E having a first end connected to the first base member 14A near the end thereof connected to the first telescoping assembly 20A, and a second end connected to the second base member 14B near the end thereof connected to the second telescoping assembly 20B. Alternatively, the third mounting brackets could be embodied as a third mounting bracket connected to the first base member 14A near the end thereof connected to the first telescoping assembly 20A and a separate fourth mounting bracket connected to the second base member 14B near the end thereof connected to the second telescoping assembly 20B. Each of the foregoing mounting brackets may define one or more apertures therethrough configured to receive a mechanical fastener for securing the mounting brackets and, thereby, the ladder 10, to the deck or other portion of a boat or swim platform.

In an embodiment, the mounting base 14 could be pivotably mounted to the deck D or otherwise to the boat B.

The first hand rail 16A is shown as a tubular or cylindrical member connected at a first end to the outermost member 22C of the third telescoping assembly 20C, and near a second end to the first base member 14A via an intervening first strut 16C. Similarly, the second hand rail 16B is shown as being connected at a first end to the outermost member 22D of the fourth telescoping assembly 20D, and near a second end to the second base member 14B via an intervening second strut 16D.

The first lateral support 18A is shown as an elongated member having a first end connected to the outermost member 22A of the first telescoping assembly 20A and a free end configured for abutment with a portion of the boat B, for example, an end of pontoon of a pontoon boat. As such, the free end of the first lateral support 18A may be provided with an end cap 19 made of or faced with a material selected to preclude or inhibit damage to the portion of the boat B while in abutment therewith. The first lateral support 18A may be embodied, as shown, as a telescoping assembly, for example, an assembly having an outer tube and an inner tube extendable from and retractable into the outer tube. The inner and outer tubes may define corresponding apertures configured for alignment with each other with the inner and outer tubes set a various overall lengths. A pin may be extended through corresponding ones of the apertures to pin the inner tube to the outer tube at a desired overall length. The second lateral support 18B may be configured in a similar manner and connected to the outermost member 22B of the second telescoping assembly 20B in a similar manner. The first and second lateral supports 18A, 18B may be oriented so that they lie in a plane parallel to the planes defined by the steps 22E, 22E′, 24E, 26E, 28E, 30E. The first and second lateral supports 18A, 18B also may be oriented so that they are generally perpendicular to the portion of the boat they abut when in abutment therewith.

In use, the ladder 10 may connected to the deck D of the pontoon boat B. For example, the mounting brackets 14C, 14D, 14E may be placed in abutment with the deck D and the ladder may be secured thereto using fasteners inserted through the apertures defined by the brackets and driven into the deck. The lengths of the first and second lateral supports 18A, 18B, if adjustable, may be adjusted so that the free ends of the first and second lateral supports or end caps thereon may abut or nearly abut an adjacent portion of the boat B when the ladder 10 is unloaded, that is, when it is not supporting a user. The adjacent portion of the boat B may be, as shown, an aft end of a pontoon P. In the event the free ends or end caps of the first and second lateral supports 18A, 18B do not abut the adjacent portion of the boat B when the ladder 10 is unloaded, they may be located so that they become abutted with the adjacent portion of the boat when the ladder becomes loaded, that is, when it is supporting a user, with little rotation or pivoting or flexing of the outermost members 22n of the telescoping assemblies 22n with respect to the mounting base 14.

The ladder 10 may be placed into a deployed configuration from a stowed configuration by releasing the free end of the cable 44, thereby allowing the various telescoping members 24n, 26n, 28n, 30n to extend from the members 22n, 24n, 26n, 28n, 30n within which they are received. The various telescoping members 24n, 26n, 28n, 30n may extend from the members 22n, 24n, 26n, 28n, 30n within which they are received under their own weight. If the various telescoping members 24n, 26n, 28n, 30n do not extend from the members 22n, 24n, 26n, 28n, 30n within which they are received under their own weight, a user may pull any of the members or steps connected thereto to extend them from the members within which they are received. In the deployed configuration, at least one of the steps 24E, 26E, 28E, 30E may be below the waterline. With the ladder 10 in the deployed configuration, a user, for example, a human or a dog, may climb the ladder.

The ladder 10 may be placed in a stowed configuration from a deployed configuration by pulling on the cable(s) 44, thereby drawing the final telescoping members toward and into the outermost members and any intervening telescoping members. With the telescoping members fully received within the corresponding receiving members (or in any state of partial retraction), the free end (or intermediate portion) of the cable 44 may be secured, thereby securing the ladder 10 in the stowed configuration.

The ladder 10 has been described and illustrated alone and in connection with a pontoon boat B. The ladder 10 also could be used in connection with a dock, a floating swim platform, a swim platform connected to a boat, or another structure disposed upon, disposable upon, or adjacent a body of water. The mounting base 14 could readily be modified to enable use of the ladder 10 with another form of boat, for example, a speedboat.

The embodiment disclose herein are illustrative and should not be construed to limit the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A marine boarding ladder comprising:

a base configured for connection to a boat;

a stair assembly comprising: a first telescoping assembly having a corresponding outermost member connected to the base; a second telescoping assembly having a corresponding outermost member connected to the base, the second telescoping assembly spaced from and parallel to the first telescoping assembly; a third telescoping assembly having a corresponding outermost member connected to the outermost member of the first telescoping assembly, the third telescoping assembly spaced from and parallel to the first telescoping assembly and the second telescoping assembly; and a fourth telescoping assembly having a corresponding outermost member connected to the outermost member of the second telescoping assembly, the fourth telescoping assembly spaced from and parallel to the first telescoping assembly, the second telescoping assembly, and the third telescoping assembly; the outermost member of each of the first, second, third, and fourth telescoping assemblies having a first end and a second end; each of the first, second, third, and fourth telescoping assemblies further having a corresponding first telescoping member disposed within and telescopingly extendable from and retractable into the corresponding outermost member through the second end thereof; a first step connected to the outermost member of each of the first, second, third, and fourth telescoping assemblies; a second step connected to the first telescoping members of each of the first, second, third, and fourth telescoping assemblies; and

at least one lateral stair support connected to the stair assembly and engagable with the boat.

2. The marine boarding ladder of claim 1 wherein the at least one lateral stair support comprises a first lateral stair support connected to the outer tube of the first telescoping assembly.

3. The marine boarding ladder of claim 2 wherein the at least one lateral support comprises a second lateral stair support connected to the outer tube of the second telescoping assembly.

4. The marine boarding ladder of claim 2 wherein the at least one lateral stair support has a telescopically-adjustable length.

5. The marine boarding ladder of claim 1 further comprising a handrail connected to the base and to the stair assembly.

6. The marine boarding ladder of claim 5 wherein the handrail is connected to the base and to the outer tube of one of the third telescoping assembly and the fourth telescoping assembly.

7. The marine boarding ladder of claim 6 further comprising a second handrail connected to the base and to the outer tube of the other of the third telescoping assembly and the fourth telescoping assembly.

8. The marine boarding ladder of claim 1, each of the first, second, third, and fourth telescoping assemblies further comprising a second telescoping member telescopingly extendable from and retractable into said first telescoping member; the marine boarding ladder further comprising a third step connected to the second telescoping member of each of the first, second, third, and fourth telescoping assemblies.

9. The marine boarding ladder of claim 1, the first telescoping member of one or more of the first, second, third, and fourth telescoping assemblies comprising a stop located nearer the midpoint than the second end thereof, the stop configured to limit extension of the second telescoping member of the one or more of the first, second, third, and fourth telescoping assemblies therefrom.

10. The marine boarding ladder of claim 1 wherein the first step is connected to the outer tubes of the first and second telescoping assemblies or to the outer tubes of the third and fourth telescoping assemblies through an intervening step support.

11. The marine boarding ladder of claim 1 further comprising a lanyard disposed within and extending from the outermost tube of one of the first, second, third, and fourth telescoping assemblies, and connected to the first telescoping member of the one of the first, second, third, and fourth telescoping assemblies or to a further telescoping member disposed within and extendable from the first telescoping member.

12. The marine boarding ladder of claim 1, the outermost member of one or more of the first, second, third, and fourth telescoping assemblies comprising a stop located intermediate the first end and the second end thereof, the stop configured to limit extension of the first telescoping member of the one or more of the first, second, third, and fourth telescoping assemblies therefrom.

13. The marine boarding ladder of claim 12, the stop located nearer the midpoint than the second end of the outermost member of one or more of the first, second, third, and fourth telescoping assemblies.

14. The marine boarding ladder of claim 12, the first end of the first telescoping member of the assembly one or more of the first, second, third, and fourth telescoping assemblies comprising a boss configured to interfere with the stop.