Seating Device for a Boat

Abstract

A seat for mounting to a platform of a boat in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure has a lid contoured to receive a person sitting on the lid and a lower housing having a cavity, the lower housing hingedly coupled to the lid and having contours substantially similar to the shape of the lid.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/896,173, entitled “Butt Seat with Storage Compartment,” filed on Mar. 21, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

A fisherman oftentimes fishes from a boat. For bass boats, in particular, the fisherman positions himself aft or at the stern of the boat where a trolling motor is typically located. While using the trolling motor to propel the boat in a desired direction or location, the fisherman drops his line in the water attempting to catch bass.

Typically, it takes considerable time to catch a limit of bass. Thus, the fisherman, in order to maintain control of his line and the trolling motor, stands holding his rod with his line in the water attempting to catch fish.

SUMMARY OF DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure provides a butt seat with a storage compartment. The storage compartment is utilized for conveniently storing various items including but not limited to sunglasses, sunscreen, maps, pliers, and fishing tackle. Further the storage compartment does not interfere with the normal function of the butt seat.

The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new butt seat with a storage system or storage compartment and that does not take away from the function of conventional butt seats.

In one embodiment, the present disclosure comprises a seat lid that is pivotally attachable to a lower member. The lower member has a bottom and a wall that form an open compartment, wherein the compartment becomes a closed compartment when the seat lid is pivoted against the top side of the wall. In another embodiment a storage tray is placed in the compartment to provide partitioned areas within the compartment.

In another embodiment of the above disclosure, a latching system couples the lid to the bottom member so items within the compartment are secure. The seat lid preferably has an upholstered seat cushion for providing sitting comfort

The above exemplary embodiments provide a broad description of the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description may be better understood. There are additional elements and features of the disclosure that are described in a detailed description.

It is to be understood that embodiments of the disclosure do not limit the scope of the claims of the invention. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Furthermore, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a seat in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure showing the seat in a closed position.

FIG. 2 depicts the exemplary embodiment of the seat such as is depicted in FIG. 1 showing the seat in an open position.

FIG. 3 depicts additional details of an exemplary embodiment of the seat of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of the support post of the seat of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 depicts additional details of an exemplary embodiment of the seat of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure generally pertains to a fishing seat that has a storage compartment. The fishing seat is attached to a platform on a boat and provides a place to sit or lean while a fisherman is fishing from the boat.

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary seat 100 in a “closed position” in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Note that “closed position” refers to the seat 100 when it is in a position such that a fisherman (not shown) can sit on the seat 100. The seat 100 comprises a lid 120 and a lower housing 140. In the closed position, the lid 120 of the seat 100 is shown resting on the lower housing 140. The lid 120 has a top side 121 on which a fisherman can sit or lean. In one embodiment, the top side 121 of the lid 120 is upholstered and has padding to provide a comfortable sitting area.

Furthermore, in one embodiment, the top side 121 is contoured so as to comfortably receive a fisherman (not shown) seated on the seat 100. In addition, the top side comprises symmetric curved edges 125 that are contiguous with a front protruding edge 127 and a rounded back edge 126.

As shown in FIG. 2, the seat 100 opens to an “open position,” which is described further herein. Thus, with reference to FIG. 1, in order to retain the seat in the closed position, the lower housing 140 further comprises one or more stubs 147. The lid 120 comprises connecting tabs 122 that connect to the stubs 147, as shown. The connecting tabs 122 rotate in an upward radial motion indicated by reference arrow 260 and off and away from the stubs 147 in order to disconnect the lid 120 with the lower housing 140. The connecting tabs 122 and stubs 147 ensure that the seat 100 remains in the closed position while a fisherman is using the seat 100.

Note that in one embodiment the tabs 122 are made of rubber and have a T-handle grip. The tabs 122 further have an opening that fits over the attachment stubs 147 on the lower member 140. Additional details are provided in FIG. 4. In other embodiments other latching systems are possible. The attachment system as described is not a limitation on the present invention.

In addition, the seat 100 further comprises a seat pole 180 extending downward from the lower housing 140. One end of the seat pole 180 is attached to the lower housing 140 and the opposing end of the seat pole is dimensioned for inserting into a fitting (not shown) on the deck of the boat. The scat pole 180 is shown extending downward from the bottom side of the lower housing 140. The seat pole 180 is a conventional seat pole and is generally available for purchase at a boat equipment store.

FIG. 2 depicts the seat 100 in the open position. The open position shows that the lid 120 has a bottom side 124, which defines a portion of the storage compartment. In one embodiment, the lid 121 exhibits a shape that approximates the contours of the top side 121. Notably, the shape of the bottom side 124 follows the front protruding edge 127, the symmetric curved edges 125, and the rounded back edge 126 of the lid 120. Note that in other embodiments of the seat 100 other shapes of the seat 100 are possible.

The lower housing 140 has substantially the same shape as the lid 120 so that the lid 120 when closed fits atop the lower housing 140. Further, the lower housing 140 has a bottom 142, also shown in FIG. 4, and an upward extending wall 144 that extends from the bottom 142 thereby creating a hollow cavity 241. The wall 144 is essentially perpendicular to the bottom 142 of the lower housing 140 and forms substantially the same shape as the lid 120 following the front protruding edge 127, the symmetric curved edges 125, and the rounded back edge 126.

As described with reference to FIG. 1, the tabs 122 affixed to the lid 120 and the stubs 147 on the lower housing 140 couple together to retain the seat 100 in the closed position. With reference to FIG. 2, to couple the lid 120 to the lower housing 140, the fisherman (not shown) rotates the lid 120 in a direction of reference arrow 262, which rotates about a hinge system 150. Further, once the lid 120 is atop the lower housing 140, the fisherman rotates the tab 122 in a direction of reference arrow 261 such that the tabs 122 are retained by the stubs 147 on the lower housing 140 to securely close the seat 100. The open cavity 241 formed by the wall 144 of the lower housing 140 is shown in more detail in FIG. 3.

The hinges 150 secure the lid 120 to the lower housing 140 and thereby provide coupling so that the lid 120 may be in the open position shown or in the closed position as shown in FIG. 1. Although there are two hinges shown in FIG. 2, other types of coupling systems and other numbers of hinges are possible in other embodiments. Further other conventional devices for coupling the lid 120 to the lower housing 140 are possible in other embodiments.

The seat 100 further comprises a tray 160 having a plurality of partitions 246. The tray 160 may be made of plastic, wood, fiberglass, or other materials that are known to those skilled in the art. The tray 160 has a shape that is dimensioned for placement within the open cavity 241 of the lower housing 140. Although the seat 100 in one embodiment does not use tray 160, in another embodiment the tray 160 provide the multiple partitions 246 for storing a variety of items. The size and the arrangement of the partitions 246 may be different in other embodiments of the tray 160.

FIG. 3 depicts the seat 100 as described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. However, in FIG. 3 the tray 160 has been removed from the cavity 241 of the seat 100. When the tray 160 is removed from the cavity 241, the cavity 241 can also serve as a storage area for things such as sunglasses, lures, towels, etc. Thus, the tray 160 is removeably situated and inserted within the cavity 241 to provide more versatility.

FIG. 4 shows the top surface of the lid 120 that is upholstered as previously described. In addition FIG. 5 shows the seat pole 180 extending from the bottom of the lower housing 140. The seat pole 180 has a coupling plate 184 that is attached to the bottom surface of the lower member 140 with fasteners 186, for example bolts.

FIG. 5 depicts a view of the tab 122 that attaches to the lid 120 via an attachment screw 503. In the embodiment shown, the tab 122 comprises a grip handle 501 and an opening 502. The opening 502 in the tab 122 (there is one on each side of the lid 120) is dimensioned to fit over stub 147 that extends from the lower housing 140.

In one embodiment, the tab 122 is made of an elastic material. Thus, when the tab 122 is rotated downward and the opening 502 receives the stub 147, the elasticity causes tension in the tab 122 that serves to retain the tab 122 on the stub 147.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed to be within the expertise of those skilled in the art, and all equivalent structural variations and relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention.

Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A seat for mounting to a platform of a boat, the seat comprising:

a lid having a contoured shape for receiving a person sitting on the lid; and

a lower housing having a cavity, the lower housing hingedly coupled to the lid and having contours substantially similar to the shape of the lid.

2. The seat of claim 1 wherein the seat further has a seat pole for coupling the lower housing to the platform of the boat.

3. The seat of claim 1, further comprising a tray, wherein the tray fits within the cavity.

4. The seat of claim 3, wherein the tray comprises a plurality of partitions that form openings for receiving one or more stored items.

5. The seat of claim 1, wherein the lid is coupled to at least one tab.

6. The seat of claim 5, wherein the tab comprises a handle and the tab forms an opening.

7. The seat of claim 6, wherein the lower housing comprises a stub.

8. The seat of claim 7, wherein the lid is retained in a closed position when the opening in the tab receives the stub.

9. A seat, comprising:

a lid having a shape formed by a front protruding edge, symmetric side edges, and a rounded back edge and having a contoured top portion, the lid for receiving a sitting person;

a lower housing forming a cavity, the lower housing hingedly coupled to the lid and having a shape substantially similar to the shape formed by the front protruding edge, the symmetric side edges, and the rounded back edge, the cavity for storing fishing items; and

a seat pole fixedly coupled to the lower housing, the seat pole for coupling to a fitting on a boat.

10. The seat of claim 9, further comprising a tray, wherein the tray fits within the cavity.

11. The seat of claim 10, wherein the tray comprises a plurality of partitions that form openings for receiving one or more stored items.

12. The seat of claim 9, wherein the lid is coupled to at least one tab.

13. The seat of claim 12, wherein the tab comprises a handle and the tab forms an opening.

14. The seat of claim 13, wherein the lower housing comprises a stub.

15. The seat of claim 14, wherein the lid is retained in a closed position when the opening in the tab receives the stub.