STACKABLE BOARD PLATFORM FOR MARINE VESSEL
There is disclosed a stackable platform for a boat deck which can be placed between a helm of a boat deck and a seat on a boat deck. The platform is for allowing a user to stand on the platform. There is an optional shock absorbing element coupled to the platform as well. There is a base, a platform that can be attached to the base and an optional additional platform such as an intermediate platform.
This application is a continuation in part application and hereby claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/907,332 filed on Dec. 14, 2004, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the InventionThe present invention relates to a stackable support platform disposed on a boat deck.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates to a system for supporting a user over a base floor of a boat deck comprising at least one base platform optionally secured the base floor. There is at least one additional platform wherein this platform can be stacked on top of the base platform. This additional platform can comprise the following elements: a flexible elastic shock absorbing element which may be in the form of any shock absorbing material such as rubber; and a substantially rigid housing disposed around the flexible element. This substantially rigid housing may be in the form of any substantially rigid material and may for example be a polyurethane foam or a blow molded plastic. At least a portion of the shock absorbing element can fit inside of this substantially rigid housing in a recessed region. There is also an additional layer of rigid material which is secured to this shock absorbing element in the form of a flexible layer. This additional layer of rigid material may also be in the form of rigid foam. In this case the flexible shock absorbing layer supports the rigid housing above the rigid foam layer.
A top surface of the substantially rigid housing may be in the form of a non-skid surface.
This system can also be used to adjust the level at which a person stands on a base floor such as a deck of a boat. Therefore, this system can further comprise at least one intermediate stacking element for stacking on top of the base platform. Additional intermediate stacking platforms can be used to stack this standing platform as high as a user would want.
To secure the base layer to the base floor there can be at least one base bracket that is fastened to the base floor for allowing the base layer having a flange region to fasten to the floor.
For example, the base bracket is in the form of a bracket that has at least one flange, wherein the base platform contains a flange which can mate with a flange region on the metal bracket so that the base platform can be secured to the base.
There can also be a strap for securing the additional platform onto the base platform, wherein this strap is securely wrapped around the additional platform and the base platform.
The additional layer can also include an additional substantially rigid layer which is coupled to the flexible shock absorbing layer opposite the housing. This flexible shock absorbing layer may extend out from the housing a sufficient distance to space a bottom surface of the rigid housing from the oppositely spaced substantially rigid layer.
The base platform can have at least one recessed region, and the additional platform can have at least one plug extending out from the additional platform, wherein the plug and the recessed region form a tongue and groove connection, wherein the extending section of this plug can extend into the recessed region the base platform. The optional plug can also optionally contain a rib extending around the plug. The rib can be in the form of a rigid material or in the form of a rubber gasket.
The base platform can have on one face a recessed region for receiving a hook and loop fastener which can be used to secure the base platform to the base floor. The hook and loop fastener can be in the form of two strips with one strip comprising hooks on one side and an adhesive on an opposite side and another strip comprising loops on one side and an adhesive on another side wherein one of the strips is fastened to the base platform and the other strip is fastened to the base floor, such that the base platform can be selectively secured to the base floor using this fastener. This fastener is recessed inside of the base platform so that this base platform maintains its stable foundation and contacts the base floor with a substantially larger surface area of the bottom surface of the base platform. Otherwise, the strips of the hook and loop fastener would elevate this base platform off of the base floor creating an unstable platform.
One of the benefits of this system is that it is designed to be easily securable to a base floor such as a motorboat deck. With the hook and loop fastening system, this device can also be easily removed and stored away so that it does not interfere with a persons movement across a deck.
This system also has the advantage of being stackable with intermediate levels being stacked one on top of the other to elevate the top platform above the base platform to a particular height. This feature is beneficial because if a first user is very tall that user would not need so many intermediate stackable levels. However if another user was not as tall and wanted to have increased visibility above a console and/or steering wheel, that user could simply stack each level, first on the base layer, one on top of the other to the desired height.
Another beneficial feature of this invention is that the flexible shock absorbing layer in the additional layer provides absorbs some of the energy of any dramatic movements from a motorboat such as bouncing up and down in choppy seas while at moderate to high speeds. During these periods of shocks, the rigid outer housing would compress down on top of the oppositely spaced rigid layer such that the intermediate flexible layer would absorb much of the energy of the shock. When these dramatic stresses are removed from this component then the housing would be elevated back up above the bottom rigid layer.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.
In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:
Turning now in detail to the drawings,
This assembly can occur as follows: first the hook and loop fasteners/fastening system 70 is mounted wherein a first strip 72 is applied to a boat deck via an adhesive. The opposite strip 74 is then applied via an adhesive to the indents 22 and 24 in bottom board 20. Once the strips have been applied, bottom board 20 can be placed onto the bottom surface or boat deck so that this bottom board can be aligned. Next, for additional optional securing of the device, additional fasteners such as screws 60 can be inserted into countersunk openings 28 and secured via washers 52. In addition, brackets 80 for securing a hold down strap can be guided into recess 27 in bottom board 20. Next, once bottom board 20 is secure, middle board 30 is inserted using plug 34 into opening 26 to secure middle board 30 to bottom board 20. Rib 35 is frictionally guided into opening 26 to secure plug 34 therein. In addition plug 34 can be easily guided into opening 26 via a chamfered edge 38.
Next, top board 40 is inserted into middle board 30. With this insertion plug 48 is inserted into opening 36 such that chamfered edge 49 of plug 48 guides plug into opening 36. In addition, friction rib 47 can be used to secure top board 40 into middle board 30. Once this entire device has been secured down, a strap 90 can be wrapped around all of the boards, to secure these boards together. In addition, this strap can be secured to the base or floor via bracket 80.
In another embodiment
In addition other optional components may be associated with this design, for example, instead of using a substantially rectangular shaped plug 48a, there can be another type of system which involves a round plug which can then conversely fit into a round hole in the base or bottom board cut out.
Extending sections 310, 330, and 340 extend into receiving sections 210, 230, and 240 to lock platform 300 laterally in place. A flexible shock absorbing top cover 400 is mounted on top of platform section 300 and attached thereto via any known attachment element such as for example, via a hook and loop fastener, an adhesive element or sewing. For example, hook and loop fastening sections 392, 394, 396 and 398 are used to adhere to an underside of flexible shock absorbing top cover 400.
Platform 300 can also include electronic components. For example, there are wires 350 and 352 which are used to electrically connect this platform 300 to another source of power such as a boat battery in a known manner. Alternatively, a battery 354 can be stored inside platform 300 and used to power electric components. One optional electric component is a heater disposed in platform 300 in the form of heating wires 360 which are used to heat the platform and top cover 400 to create a heated platform for heating a person's feet when standing on the boat platform.
In addition, another optional electrical component is a vibration element 380 which when turned on, vibrates to create a soothing sensation to a user's feet. Another optional electrical component is a light 370, which extends around an exterior or peripheral region of platform 300 such that this light then illuminates platform 300 so that a user can see platform 300 on a non-lighted boat deck.
Intermediate platform 520 is an optional platform wherein one or more of these platforms can be used to elevate top platform 510 above base 530. Intermediate platform 520 includes recesses 522 and 523 as well as feet 524 and 525 in the form of bumpons wherein these feet are insertable into recesses 532 and 533 in base 530. In addition, feet or bumpons 515 and 516 are insertable into openings 532 or 533 as well, if intermediate platform 520 is not used.
Base 530 includes an open region 531, and openings or recesses 532 and 533 for receiving feet or bumpons. Base 530 is essentially a mat that can be placed on a boat deck such as boat deck 11 (See
In addition, base 530 can be of any shape but in this embodiment is shown as having sloped sides 534 and 535 to provide a wider base region, and also to prevent anyone from stubbing a toe on this base 530.
With this design, as with the above designs, the height adjustability of the device allows a person standing between a helm or console unit of a boat and the seat of the boat to have a selectively height adjustable system which allows users adjustability so that they can achieve greater visibility as well as easier positioning for controlling the helm of the boat.
Accordingly, while a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A system for supporting a user on a boat deck comprising:
- a) at least one base coupled to a recessed region on said boat deck behind a helm of a boat and disposed between a seat and a console unit on a boat;
- b) at least one platform, coupled to said at least one base; and
- c) at least one flexible elastic shock absorbing element coupled to said at least one platform;
- wherein said at least one base has at least one recessed region, and said at least one platform has at least one extending section, wherein when said at least one platform is coupled to said at least one base, said at least one extending section extends into said at least one recessed region of said base, and such that said at least one platform is stacked upon said base to support a user on said boat deck to provide a support for a user positioned adjacent to the helm of a boat to allow a user to stand and operate at the helm of a boat.
2. The system as in claim 1, further comprising at least one intermediate stacking element for stacking on top of said at least one base, wherein said at least one platform is stackable on top of said at least one intermediate stacking element.
3. The system as in claim 1, wherein said at least one platform is made from a substantially rigid housing that is made from a composite foam material.
4. The system as in claim 2, wherein said at least one intermediate stacking platform has at least one recessed region, and said at least one intermediate stacking platform has at least one extending section, wherein said at least one extending section extends into said at least one recessed region of said base.
5. The system as in claim 1, wherein said at least one platform further comprises a non-skid surface disposed on a top surface of said at least one platform.
6. The system as in claim 1, further comprising at least one heater disposed in said platform.
7. The system as in claim 6, further comprising at least one battery disposed in said platform.
8. The system as in claim 1, further comprising at least one light coupled to said platform.
9. The system as in claim 1, further comprising at least one vibrating element coupled to said platform.
10. The system as in claim 1, further comprising at least one flange coupled to said platform for covering at least one section of said boat deck.
11. A system for supporting a user on a boat deck comprising:
- a) at least one base coupled to said boat deck behind a helm of a boat and disposed between a seat and a console unit on a boat; and
- b) at least one platform, coupled to said at least one base;
- wherein when said at least one platform is coupled to said at least one base, wherein said at least one platform is stacked upon said base to support a user on said boat deck to provide a support for a user positioned adjacent to the helm of a boat to allow a user to stand and operate at the helm of a boat.
12. The system as in claim 11, further comprising at least one intermediate stacking element for stacking on top of said at least one base, wherein said at least one platform is stackable on top of said at least one intermediate stacking element.
13. The system as in claim 11, wherein said at least one platform is made from a substantially rigid housing that is made from a composite foam material.
14. The system as in claim 12, wherein said at least one intermediate stacking platform has at least one recessed region, and said at least one intermediate stacking platform has at least one extending section, wherein said at least one extending section extends into said at least one recessed region of said base.
15. The system as in claim 11, wherein said at least one platform further comprises a non-skid surface disposed on a top surface of said at least one platform.
16. The system as in claim 11, further comprising at least one heater disposed in said platform.
17. The system as in claim 16, further comprising at least one battery disposed in said platform.
18. The system as in claim 11, further comprising at least one light coupled to said platform.
19. The system as in claim 11, further comprising at least one vibrating element coupled to said platform.
20. A system for supporting a user on a boat deck comprising:
- a) at least one base disposed on the boat deck between a seat and a console unit on a boat, said base having a top receiving surface; and
- b) at least one platform, positioned on said at least one base, said at least one platform having a top surface, positioned above said top receiving surface on said base;
- wherein said at least one platform provides height adjustability for a user above a boat deck.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 21, 2008
Publication Date: Aug 14, 2008
Inventor: John Giannasca (Point Lookout, NY)
Application Number: 12/053,284
International Classification: B63B 29/02 (20060101);