WATERCRAFT SEAT

Abstract

A seat for a watercraft having a hull with a hull bottom having a first contoured shape. The seat includes a base having a second contoured shape that is operable to be slidably engaged with the first contoured shape of the hull bottom. The seat is operable to slide in forward and aft directions within the hull, and the seat and the base can be removed from the hull.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/964,129 filed Aug. 9, 2007.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to watercraft, and more particularly relates to an adjustable and movable seat for small personal watercraft such as kayaks, canoes, and the like.

BACKGROUND

People use watercraft such as kayaks and canoes for recreational activities, such as paddling and fishing. Modern versions of such watercraft often include hulls constructed of plastics or composite materials that are relatively strong, tough, and lightweight. When constructed of a plastic material such as polyethylene, the hulls of such watercraft can be formed using modern molding processes, including rotational molding. Such molding processes can yield a plastic hull having a relatively complex shape in a unitary piece. Some modern paddle watercraft include hulls having open cockpits in which occupants sit, while others include a hollow hull having a top surface or “deck” on which an occupant sits.

Modern paddle watercraft such as fishing kayaks and canoes typically include one or more seats mounted or formed within the cockpits of their hulls at an elevation that is at or slightly above the waterline. This low seat position permits a seated occupant's center of gravity to be as low as possible, thus maximizing the stability of the watercraft on the water. Though such seats may be vertically supported by a hull's bottom, the fore and aft position of a seat typically is secured by connecting the seat to the hull using a plurality of adjustable straps that each include at least one end fixed to the hull. Once such a seat is affixed to a watercraft's hull, the seat is restrained against all substantial forward and aftward movement relative to the hull, and cannot be easily moved to another location within the hull while a person is seated in the seat. Preferably, seats for kayaks and canoes should provided adequate back, buttocks and thigh support for the comfort of paddlers and fishermen, and to minimize back and leg fatigue.

Fishermen and paddlers sometimes must move forward or aftward in a watercraft in order to reach gear, reach another occupant, and the like. When seated in a seat having a fixed position, a person typically must exit the seat in order to access a distant portion of the watercraft. Because small watercraft can be prone to tipping or capsizing, a person must be extremely careful when exiting the person's seat and moving forward or aftward within the watercraft.

Accordingly, there is a need for a seat for a watercraft that permits a seated person to stably and safely move forward and aftward in the watercraft while remaining seated. Preferably, such a seat should provide comfortable support to an occupant, and should be adjustable to fit persons having various body types and seating preferences. In addition, it is desirable for such a seat to be easily installed in a watercraft, and to be easily removed from a watercraft. Once removed from the watercraft, it is desirable for such a seat to be usable outside of the watercraft as a beach chair, a camping chair, or the like.

SUMMARY

One embodiment of the invention includes a watercraft having a substantially unitary hull including a bottom with an elongated raised portion extending in forward and aft directions. The watercraft also includes a seat comprising a base having a recess or channel configured to receive the elongated raised portion of the hull. When the base of the seat rests atop the bottom, and the raised portion is received in the recess or channel, the seat is capable of forward and aftward sliding movement along the hull's bottom. The seat can include a back pivotally mounted to the base. The seat also can include a bottom pivotally mounted to the base, wherein the bottom and back can be independently movable relative to the base.

Another embodiment includes a seat for a watercraft having a hull with a hull bottom having a first contoured shape. The seat includes a base having a second contoured shape that is operable to be slidably engaged with the first contoured shape of the hull bottom. The seat is operable to slide in forward and aft directions within the hull, and the seat and the base are removable from the hull.

A further embodiment includes a seat for a watercraft including a base and a seat bottom pivotally mounted to the base. A seat back can be pivotally connected to the seat bottom or base. The seat also can include means for selectively adjusting the elevation of a forward portion of the seat bottom relative to the base.

These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following detailed description together with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of one embodiment of watercraft seat according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front top perspective view of an embodiment of a seat according to the invention.

FIGS. 3A-3E are side views of the seat shown in FIG. 2 with portions of the seat adjusted to different selected positions.

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the seat shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a partial side perspective view of lower portion of a seat like those shown in FIGS. 1-4.

FIG. 6 is detail view of a hinge portion of the seat shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is perspective view of a watercraft having an uncovered cockpit equipped with a seat like that shown in FIGS. 1 and 4-6.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a seat installed in the cockpit of the watercraft shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a portion of the bottom of the hull of the watercraft shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a latching device for fixing the fore and aft position of a seat within a cockpit of a watercraft like that shown in FIGS. 7-9.

FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of a seat according to the invention installed within a hull of an open-cockpit watercraft.

FIG. 12 is a side perspective view of the seat and watercraft shown in FIG. 11 showing a rear portion of the seat.

FIG. 13 is a top and side perspective view of a seat according to the invention with the seat's back downwardly folded to a stowed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One embodiment of a seat according to the invention is shown in FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the seat 10 includes a base 40, a bottom frame 22, and a back frame 24. As described in detail below, a rear portion of the bottom frame 22 can be pivotally connected to a rear portion of the base 40, and a lower portion of the back frame also can be pivotally connected to a rear portion of the base 40. In this arrangement, the bottom frame 22 and back frame 24 can pivot independently from each other relative to the base 40. As shown in FIG. 1, a bottom support 26 can be pivotally connected to a forward portion of the bottom frame 22. The bottom support 26 vertically supports the forward portion of the bottom frame 22, and as described below, can be used to selectively adjust the vertical height of the front edge of the bottom frame 22. The bottom frame 22, back frame 24, and bottom support 26 can be constructed of anodized aluminum tubing. For example, such tubing may have a diameter of about 0.75 inch, and may have a wall thickness of about 0.06 inch. Alternatively, the frames 22, 24 can be constructed of substantially any material, and can have substantially any cross-sectional shape, diameter and thickness. Preferably, the material and shape are selected such that the weight of the frame portions 22, 24 and seat 10 is minimized, and such that the frames 22, 24 have no sharp edges or corners.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bottom frame 22 can support a seat bottom 33 that is slung or suspended across the bottom frame 22. Similarly, the back frame 24 can support a seat back 31 suspended across the back frame 24. The seat bottom 33 and seat back 31 can be constructed of a fabric material that provides comfortable, cushioned support for an occupant of the seat 10. In one embodiment, the seat bottom 33 and seat back 31 can be constructed of a polymeric mesh fabric such as Textilene®, by Twitchell Corp. Textilene® is a woven polyester outdoor fabric that has good elasticity, and permits both air and water to flow through its open-weave mesh. The polyester threads of Textilene® have a coating that substantially protects the polyester material from damaging ultra-violet rays. Alternatively, the seat bottom 33 and seat back 31 can be constructed of substantially any fabric that is suitable for outdoor use, and that preferably permits both water and air to flow the seat bottom 33 and seat back 31. In one embodiment, the seat bottom 33 and seat back 31 each include two layers of Textilene® fabric with a layer of spacer fabric disposed in between. The spacer fabric can provide additional cushioning, while also permitting the flow of air and water through the seat bottom 33 and seat back 31. For example, the spacer fabric can be HiFlO™ three-dimensional mesh, available from Highland Industries, Inc. As shown in FIG. 1, the bottom frame 22 and back frame 24 can have a contoured shape such that when the seat bottom 33 and seat back 31 are stretched across the frames 22, 24, the seat bottom 33 and seat back 31 have contoured “saddle” shapes that substantially conform to the shape of a person's buttocks and lower back, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a pair of adjustable straps 35, 37 can extend between a forward portion of the bottom frame 22 and an upper portion of the back frame 24. The lengths of the straps 35 and 37 can be adjusted to change the included angle between the back frame 24 and the bottom frame 22 and the base 40. Accordingly, a person can selectively adjust the position of the back 31 according to the person's seating preferences. The straps 35, 37 can include buckles 39 or other connectors that permit the lengths of the straps to be selectively lengthened and shortened.

FIGS. 3A-3C show three different positions of the back frame 24 relative to the bottom frame 22 and base 40. In FIG. 3A, the straps 35, 37 are near their maximum lengths, and permit the back frame 24 to rearwardly extend to a substantially reclined position. In FIG. 3B, the straps 35, 37 are at a medium length, and permit the back frame 24 to tilt at a slightly reclined position. In FIG. 3C, the straps 35, 37 are shortened to near their minimum length, and restrain the back frame 24 in a substantially vertically upright position.

Seat/thigh vertical adjustment is contemplated in one embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 5, when the bottom support 26 is positioned substantially vertically relative to the base 40, the forward portion of the bottom frame 22 is at a maximum height “h.” As shown in FIG. 3D, the bottom support 26 can be rotated relative to the bottom frame 22 such that the forward portion of the bottom frame 22 pivots downwardly below its maximum height. As shown in FIG. 5, a forward portion of the base 40 can include a series of cavities or grooves 47 that each are configured to receive a lower edge of the bottom support 26. Thus, by positioning the bottom support 26 in a selected one of the grooves 47 of the base 40, a user can adjust the angle of inclination and height of the bottom frame 22 to a preferred position.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3E, the bottom frame 22 and back frame 24 can pivot together in an aft direction relative to the base 40. The straps 35, 37 maintain the angular orientation of the back frame 24 to the bottom frame 22. Accordingly, a person seated in the seat can lean back and cause the seat to tilt backward. This tilted back position can be useful to permit a seated person to stretch the person's legs. In additional, this pivoting motion permits a seated person to rock back and forward while seated in the seat 10.

As shown in FIGS. 1-5, the base 40 can have a substantially flat profile that permits the seat 10 to be stably supported atop a substantially flat surface. Thus, though the seat 10 can be used inside a watercraft, the seat 10 also can be placed atop substantially any substantially flat and substantially horizontal floor or ground surface, and can be used outside a watercraft, as well. The base 40 can be constructed of a plastic material such as molded polyethylene, or the like. As shown in FIG. 6, the base 40 can include a hinge 43 for pivotally supporting rear portions of the bottom frame 22 and the back frame 24. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 6, the hinge 43 includes two portions 43a, 43b that join together to form a substantially circular upper opening 46 for receiving and pivotally supporting the back frame 24. As also shown in FIG. 6, the base 40 and hinge 43 can be configured such that a portion of the base 40 and the mated hinge portions 43a, 43b combine to form a substantially circular lower opening 49 for receiving and pivotally supporting the bottom frame 22. The lower ends of the mated hinge portions 43a, 43b can be connected to the base 40 by suitable mechanical fasteners, such as screws, bolts, or the like. As shown in FIG. 2, the base 40 can include one or more tray receptacles 90 for stowing items such as keys, wallets, and the like.

FIG. 7 shows a watercraft 100 having a hull 102 with an uncovered cockpit 104, and a seat 10 like that described above assembled within the cockpit 104. As shown in FIG. 8, the base 40 of the seat 10 sits atop the bottom 109 of the hull 102 such that the seat 10 is substantially centered between the two hull sidewalls 105, 107. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the hull bottom 109 can include an elongated raised portion 112 that longitudinally extends beneath the base 40 and forward of the base 40, and is substantially centered between the sidewalls 105, 107. In a preferred embodiment of the watercraft 100, the raised portion 112 extends substantially the full length of the hull 102. As shown in FIG. 4, the base 40 can include a central channel 44 formed by an upper wall 42 and two opposed sidewalls 41, 45. The channel 44 is shaped and sized to slidably receive the raised portion 112 of the hull bottom 109. Accordingly, when the base 40 sits atop the hull bottom 109 and the raised portion 112 is received in the channel 44 of the base 40, the seat 10 is centered between the sidewalls 105, 107, and is capable of sliding movement in both forward and aftward directions along the elongated raised portion 112. Accordingly, when a person is seated in the seat 10, the person can push or pull the seat in a forward or aftward direction, thus causing the seat to slide in a desired fore or aft direction. Thus, if a person seated in the seat 10 wishes to reach an item in a forward portion of the cockpit 104, the person can pull the seat 10 forward along the raised portion 112 while remaining fully seated, and then can push the seat aftward to return the seat 10 to its starting position while remaining fully seated.

Though the longitudinal sliding movement of the seat 40 in the watercraft is useful for occasionally moving the seat to another forward or aft position while remaining seated, it may be desirable to at least partially restrain movement of the seat during periods of paddling, fishing, or other activity. In particular, it may be desirable to selectively prevent at least aftward movement of the seat 10 during paddling. In a typical small watercraft such as a kayak, a person typically places the person's feet on footpegs 190 like those shown n FIG. 9. Such footpegs 190 can be selectively positioned forward of the seat 10 at a distance that permits a person to push on the footpegs 190 with the person's legs and feet such that the person's back is firmly pressed against the seat's back 31. In this position, a person's lower body is securely wedged in place between the footpegs 190 and the seat back 31, thus leaving the person's torso and arms free for paddling. Therefore, in order to permit such restraint of a paddler, aftward movement of the seat 10 relative to the footpegs 190 must be prevented. Note that forward movement of the seat 10 relative to the footpegs 190 is controlled by the force applied between the footpegs 190 and the seat's back 31 by the seated person's body and legs.

FIG. 10 shows one embodiment of a seat restraint 160 for selectively restraining both fore and aftward movement of a seat 10 within a hull 102. The seat restraint 160 can be attached to a sidewall 107 of the hull 102 such as by non-mechanical or mechanical means, such as screws, bolts, or the like. In this embodiment, the seat restraint 160 includes an aft notch 162 and a forward notch 164. A pivoting aft latch 166 is positioned proximate to the aft notch 162, and a pivoting forward latch 168 is positioned proximate to the forward notch 164. A second seat restraint (not shown in FIG. 10) can be positioned on an opposite sidewall of the hull 102, and can be substantially identical to the first seat restraint 160 described above. As shown in FIGS. 1, 5, 8 and 10, a seat 10 can include a pair of pegs 29 that outwardly extend from sides of the seat 10. The pegs 29 are sized and positioned such that the pegs 29 can be received in either the forward or aft notches 164, 162 of a seat restraint 160. Once a peg 29 is received in a notch 162, 164, the associated latch 166, 168 can be pivoted such that the peg 29 also is received in a slot 167, 169 on the latch 166, 168, thereby capturing the peg 29, and preventing forward and aft movement of the peg 29 and seat relative to the hull 102. To release the seat 10, the engaged latches 166, 168 can be rotated away from the pegs 29, thus permitting the pegs 29 to be withdrawn from the notches 162, 164.

The watercraft 200 shown in FIG. 11 includes another arrangement for restraining a seat 10 against aftward movement within the watercraft's hull 202. In this embodiment, the base 40 can include two opposed, upwardly extending lips 241, 242 along the base's lateral edges. Two opposed seat clips 260 can be attached along the opposed sidewalls 205, 207 of the hull 202, such as by non-mechanical or mechanical means, such as screws, bolts, or the like. As shown in FIG. 11, each seat clip 260 can include a downwardly depending tab 262. The base 40 of the seat 10 sits atop the hull's bottom 209 such that an elongated raised portion of the bottom 209 is received within a mating channel 44 of the base 40. Accordingly, the seat 10 is capable of forward and aft sliding moving atop the hull bottom 209. As the seat 10 slides aftward in the hull 202, however, the lips 241, 242 on the base 40 slide beneath the clips 260 and tabs 262. As the seat 10 continues to slide aftward, the narrowing contours of the hull's bottom 209 and sidewalls 205, 207 urge the rearmost portions of the base 40 upward as the base 40 continues to slide aftward. This upward movement of the base 40 eventually causes the lips 241, 242 of the base 40 to be wedged against the seat clips 260 and captured behind the tabs 262. In this position, further aftward movement and any upward movement of the seat 10 is blocked by the seat clips 260, though forward sliding movement of the seat 10 remains substantially unrestrained. As shown in FIG. 12, the seat 10 can be connected to an aft portion of the watercraft 200 in order to prevent or discourage unwanted forward movement of the seat 10. For example, a cord 282 can be connected between the seat 10 and a thwart 280 located aft of the seat 10. The cord 282 can be substantially non-stretchable, in which case the cord 282 prevents substantially any forward movement of the seat 10. Alternatively, the cord 282 can be resiliently stretchable, such that at least some forward movement of the seat 10 is permitted by the cord 282. Such a resilient cord 282 also can assist return sliding movement of the seat 10 once the seat 10 has moved forward of its fixed position.

Other devices and methods also can be used to at least temporarily restrain forward and aft movement of a seat 10 in watercraft. For example, one or more straps having one end attached to a sidewall of a watercraft and a second end clipped to or otherwise removably attached to a seat can be used to at least partially restrain the seat's forward and/or aftward movement.

As shown in FIG. 13, when a seat 10 is installed within a watercraft 100, the back frame 24 can be downwardly folded toward the bottom frame 22. In this folded and stowed position, substantially no portion of the seat 10 extends above the watercraft's sidewalls 105, 107.

As can be seen from the above description, the seat 10 can be readily and easily removed from a watercraft, and readily and easily installed in a watercraft. Once removed from a watercraft, the seat 10 can be used by a person to sit on substantially any flat surface, and can be used as a beach chair, a camping chair, and the like. The seat's light weight permits the seat to be easily lifted and transported.

The above detailed description of various embodiments of the invention is intended to illustrate various aspects and features of the invention. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that certain changes and modifications can be made to the described embodiments without departing from the invention. All such changes and modifications are intended to be within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A watercraft comprising:

(a) a substantially unitary hull having a hull bottom with at least one elongated raised portion extending in forward and aft directions;

(b) a seat comprising a base, the base including at least one recess shaped to receive the elongated raised portion of the hull;

(c) wherein the seat is operable to slide in forward and aft directions along the hull bottom and is substantially restrained against lateral movement when the raised portion of the hull is received in the recess in the base.

2. A watercraft according to claim 1 wherein the recess and the raised portion are configured such that the seat is selectively vertically removable from the hull when the raised portion is received in the recess.

3. A watercraft according to claim 1 wherein the seat further comprises a seat bottom and a back, the back being selectively movable relative to the seat portion.

4. A watercraft according to claim 3 wherein a rear portion of the seat bottom is pivotably connected to the base.

5. A watercraft according to claim 4 further comprising at least one adjustable strap extending between the seat bottom and the back for selectively fixing the position of the back relative to the seat bottom.

6. A watercraft according to claim 3 further comprising a bottom support on a forward portion of the seat bottom, the bottom support being configured to vertically support the forward portion of the seat bottom.

7. A watercraft according to claim 6 wherein the bottom support is pivotally connected to the forward portion of the seat bottom, the base includes a plurality of spaced cavities, and the bottom support is configured to be selectively received in the each of the cavities, whereby the elevation of the forward portion of the seat bottom can be varied by positioning the bottom support in different ones of the spaced cavities.

8. A watercraft according to claim 3 wherein the seat further comprises a seat bottom and a back, the seat bottom comprises a bottom frame with a bottom panel disposed thereon, and the back comprises a back frame with a back panel disposed thereon.

9. A watercraft according to claim 1 wherein the seat is selectively removable from the watercraft, and the base is configured to stably support the seat when the base rests atop a substantially flat horizontal surface external to the watercraft.

10. A watercraft according to claim 1 further comprising means to selectively prevent forward and aft movement of the seat along the hull bottom when the raised portion of the hull is received in the recess in the base.

11. A seat for a watercraft having a hull with a hull bottom having a first contoured shape, the seat comprising a base having a second contoured shape that is configured to be slidably engaged with the first contoured shape of the hull bottom such that the seat is operable to slide in forward and aft directions along the hull bottom, the seat and the base being removable from the hull.

12. A seat for a watercraft according to claim 11 further comprising a seat bottom and a back, the back being selectively movable relative to the seat portion.

13. A seat according to claim 12 wherein a rear portion of the seat bottom is pivotably connected to the base.

14. A seat according to claim 13 further comprising at least one strap extending between the seat bottom and the back for selectively fixing the position of the back relative to the seat bottom.

15. A seat according to claim 12 further comprising a bottom support on a forward portion of the seat bottom, the bottom support being configured to vertically support the forward portion of the seat bottom.

16. A seat according to claim 15 wherein the bottom support is pivotally connected to the forward portion of the seat bottom, the base includes a plurality of cavities, and the bottom support is configured to be selectively received in the respective cavities, whereby an elevation of the forward portion of the seat bottom can be varied by selectively positioning the bottom support in different ones of the cavities.

17. A seat according to claim 12 wherein the seat bottom comprises a bottom frame with a bottom fabric panel disposed thereon, and the back comprises a back frame with a back fabric panel disposed thereon.

18. A seat for a watercraft comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a seat bottom pivotally mounted to the base;

(c) a seat back that is selectively movable relative to the seat bottom; and

(d) means for selectively adjusting the elevation of a forward portion of the seat bottom relative to the base.

19. A seat according to claim 18 wherein the seat is for a watercraft of a type having a hull with a hull bottom having a first contoured shape, the base has a second contoured shape that is operable to be slidably engaged with the first contoured shape of the hull bottom such that the seat is operable to slide in forward and aft directions within the hull, and the seat is restrained against substantial lateral movement when the base is slidably engaged with the hull bottom.

20. A seat according to claim 18 wherein the means for selectively adjusting the elevation of a forward portion of the seat bottom comprises an adjustable seat support pivotally connected to the seat bottom.

21. A seat according to claim 20 wherein the base includes a plurality of spaced cavities and the seat support is configured to be selectively received in each of the respective cavities, whereby an elevation of a forward portion of the seat bottom can be varied by selectively positioning the seat support in different ones of the cavities.

22. A seat according to claim 18 further comprising means for selectively adjusting the position of the seat back relative to the seat bottom.

23. A seat according to claim 22 wherein the means for selectively adjusting the position of the seat back relative to the seat bottom comprises at least one adjustable strap extending between the seat back and the seat bottom.

24. A seat according to claim 18 wherein the base is configured to stably support the seat bottom and the seat back when the base rests upon a substantially flat horizontal surface external to a watercraft.