MARINE EQUIPMENT PLATFORM

Abstract

A platform for holding marine equipment. A vertical section has a pair of rail grippers at one end for hanging the platform from the rail of a boat, and is hinged to a horizontal section at the other end. A pair of cables each attached between the top of the vertical section and the distal end of the horizontal section support the horizontal section at a right angle, such that a generator or other marine equipment may be supported by the horizontal section.

Description

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates to a platform for holding marine equipment.

Often, boat owners need temporary power when at dock or anchor, and remote power may not be readily available from a shore hook-up. Further, although portable generators are well known, it is desirable to place such a piece of equipment out of the way so it is not an obstruction on the deck, to lessen the noise factor, and to prevent or minimize exposure to carbon dioxide fumes from the generator.

A number of marine platforms are known from the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,495,883 entitled Adjustable Diving Platform shows a platform hinged to a vertical supporting frame, and hangers on the vertical frame are secured by a bracket and screws to the deck or gunwale. U.S. Pat. No. 6,119,615 entitled Removable Lower Deck for Watercraft shows a platform suspended from cleats on the gunwale by marine rope, with a fender mounted on the inside edge of the platform to protect the side of the boat. U.S. Pat. No. 7,475,652 entitled Collapsible Board Boarding Platform shows a platform suspended from a single cleat on the gunwale by marine rope, with suction cups affixed at the boat edge of the platform. However, further improvements in marine platforms are still desirable.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A platform for holding marine equipment is described and illustrated. The platform includes a vertical section defined by a pair of support members and a horizontal section also defined by a corresponding pair of support members. Each of a pair of rail grippers is attached to the top end of respective vertical support members for hanging the platform from the rail of a boat. A back board is attached as a cross-member between the lower ends of the vertical support members. A pair of bottom boards are attached as cross-members between the horizontal support members. A hinge couples the back board to one of the bottom boards providing hinged movement between the vertical and horizontal sections. A cable couples the tops of each vertical member to the other of the bottom boards, and in its fully extended position, supports the horizontal section at substantially a right angle to the vertical section. A strap is attached to the horizontal section for securing a generator or other marine equipment to the bottom boards.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following drawings, like reference numbers are used to refer to like elements. Further, the various embodiments shown are intended to be illustrative and not limiting.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a marine equipment platform.

FIGS. 2-4 are perspective views of portions of the marine equipment platform shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a marine equipment platform.

FIG. 6 illustrates a generator mounted on the marine equipment platform shown in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate an embodiment of a platform 100 for marine equipment. In general terms, the platform 100 has a vertical section 110 coupled to a horizontal section 120 by a pair of hinges 130 and a pair of cables 140.

The vertical section 110 is further illustrated in FIG. 2 and includes a pair of identical vertical support members 111, which are held apart in parallel by a cross-member or back board 112 that is affixed across both of the vertical members at a right angle. The vertical members 111 are made of a structural material, such as ¾ inch square stock aluminum tubing with a 1/16 inch wall, or a suitable equivalent, with plastic caps covering the ends. Other suitable materials could include ½ inch diameter galvanized steel tubing (painted), or ¾ inch square polyvinyl or solid plastic tubing. Each vertical member 111 has a length L₁ that is well adapted to hang over a boat rail and hold the platform 100 against the side of a boat. For example, in one preferred structure, each vertical member 111 has a length L₁ of 28 inches. Holes 111h (typical) are tapped or drilled in the vertical members 111 to receive fasteners as necessary.

The back board 112 is a marine-grade wood or suitable equivalent, such as ⅜ inch iron wood or a composite material, such as a Trex® deck board, and in this embodiment has a length L₂ of 22 inches and a width W₂ of 5½ inches. The back board 112 is attached to both of the vertical members 111 with fasteners 112f, for example, in four places with stainless steel ¼-20 by 1½ inch fasteners. The back board 112 is positioned so that the bottom of the board 112b is spaced above the bottom end 111b of the vertical members 111 by approximately ½ inch (to accommodate the hinges 130 and the horizontal section), and the ends of the board 112e extend approximately ½ inch beyond each vertical member, i.e., the vertical members are held apart from each other by approximately 21 inches (outside edge to outside edge) in a parallel relationship.

Each of the hinges 130 is a simple butt hinge attached at opposite ends of the bottom 112b of the back board 112 by fasteners 130f, for example, steel hinges painted with enamel paint and measuring 1½ inches by 3 inches, with ¼-20 by 1¼ inch fasteners (although one of the vertical member fasteners 112f may advantageously be used for both purposes—attaching the hinge to the board, and attaching the board the vertical member).

The horizontal section 120 is further illustrated in FIG. 3 and includes a pair of identical horizontal members 121, which are held apart in parallel by a pair of cross-members or bottom boards 122 that are affixed across both of the horizontal members at a right angle, just like in the vertical section. The horizontal members 121 are made of the same structural material as the vertical members 111, and in this embodiment, each horizontal member 121 has a length L₃ of 12½ inches. Holes are tapped or drilled in the horizontal members 121 to receive fasteners as necessary.

Each of the bottom boards 122 is identical to the back board 112, i.e., ⅜ inch iron wood having a length L₂ of 22 inches and a width W₂ of 5½ inches, although other embodiments could be used, including a single bottom board. The bottom boards 122 are each attached to both of the horizontal members 121, for example in four places with the same fasteners 112f, as used with the back board 112, i.e., stainless steel ¼-20 by 1½ inch fasteners. Both of the bottom boards 122 are positioned inset from the end 121b of the horizontal members 121 by approximately ½ inch (to accommodate the hinges 130 and the vertical section at the back end), and the ends of each board 122e extend approximately ½ inch beyond each horizontal member, i.e., the horizontal members are held apart from each other by approximately 21 inches (outside edge to outside edge) in a parallel relationship, just like the vertical section 110. A ½ inch gap is provided between the pair of bottom boards.

Each of the hinges 130 is attached at opposite ends of the back 122b of the bottom board 122r by fasteners 130f in correspondence with the vertical section 110. Thus, the horizontal section 120 is fully coupled for hinged movement relative to the vertical section 110.

A pair of chains or cables 140, for example, a plastic-coated steel cable, is attached between corresponding distal ends of vertical members 111 and horizontal members 121, to provide a limit to the hinged movement of the horizontal section 120. The length of the cables 140 is chosen so that in the open or fully extended position, the horizontal section 120 is held out at a right angle to the vertical section 110.

A rail attachment structure 150 is illustrated in FIG. 4A, and is attached to the top of each of the vertical members 111 in two places with fasteners 150f, for example, a 3/16 inch stainless steel pop rivet with a stainless steel washer, or bolt and nut. Each rail attachment structure 150 features a hook portion 151, which in use are hooked as a pair over a rail of the boat and the vertical members 111 gently placed to hang against the side of the boat. The rail attachment structures 150 may be secured to the rails, for example, with a long carriage bolt 152 with wing nut 153. In one embodiment, each rail attachment structure 150 is a conventional adjustable “J” type pipe hanger having shrink tubing covering the pipe hanger to protect the boat rails. For example, FIG. 4A illustrates the use of the Cooper model B3890 ¾ inch galvanized “J” type pipe hanger, with a side opening secured by a carriage bolt with nut, which is used upside-down from its normal orientation as a pipe hanger. In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 4B, a Caddy® Cablecat model 21 “J” type galvanized pipe hanger is illustrated for use as rail attachment structure 150a, which is attached in the same manner, i.e., upside-down from its normal orientation as a pipe hanger, to the top of each vertical member 111 with fasteners 150f The hook portion 151a is hooked over the rail of the boat, and carriage bolt 152a with wing nut 153a are tightened to secure the rail attachment structure to the boat rail. Advantageously, a nut 154 is fastened to the threaded portion of the carriage bolt 152a to prevent dropping the carriage bolt into the water when not secured. Likewise, a cable 155 attaches the wing nut 153a to the hanger to prevent losing the wing nut when the rail attachment structure is not secured.

A strap 160 is attached to the front of board 122f and a corresponding strap 161 is attached to the rear 122b of board 122r. As shown in FIG. 6, a generator or other equipment may be secured to the platform 100 with straps 160 and 161.

Another embodiment of a platform 200 for marine equipment is illustrated in FIG. 5.

The platform 200 is similar to platform 100, with vertical section 210 and horizontal section 220 coupled by hinges 230. However, in this embodiment, all of the vertical members 211 and horizontal members 221 are made from round galvanized stock instead of square stock, painted with white enamel paint. In addition, the hinges 230 are a “swing-clear” type of hinge where the barrel of the hinge is offset from the edge of the boards. This allows the back board and bottom board(s) to be attached at the end of the structural members, rather than offset a bit, and thus improving clearances during hinging action. Also, a linked chain 240 is used instead of cable 140. Lastly, the rail attachment structure 250 is a simple J-type bracket, attached to the vertical members 211 with fasteners 250f upside-down from its normal orientation so that the platform 200 may be hung from the boat rail by the rail attachment structure.

FIG. 6 shows a generator 10 mounted on platform 200 and secured with strap 160.

In general, those skilled in the art to which this disclosure relates will recognize that changes in construction and materials as well as varying embodiments will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of this disclosure. Accordingly, the disclosures and descriptions herein are intended to be illustrative only, and not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the attached claims.

Claims

1. A marine equipment platform, comprising:

a vertical section having a top portion and a bottom portion;

a pair of rail grippers each attached at separate spaced apart locations to the top portion of the vertical section;

a horizontal section having a front portion, a rear portion, and a support bottom between the front and rear portions;

a hinge coupling the rear portion of the horizontal section to the bottom portion of the vertical section, and providing hinged movement between the horizontal and vertical sections;

a pair of cables each attached at separate spaced apart locations between the top portion of the vertical section and the front portion of the horizontal section, the cables having a length when fully extended that places the horizontal section at a right angle to the vertical section; and

a strap attached to the horizontal section for securing marine equipment to the support bottom.

2. The marine equipment platform of claim 1, further wherein:

the vertical section comprises a pair of vertical support members spaced apart in parallel and a back board attached across and at right angles to the bottom portion of each of the vertical support members, and wherein each of the pair of rail grippers and one end of each of the pair of cables is attached to the top portion of each of the vertical support members;

the horizontal section comprises a pair of horizontal support members spaced apart in parallel, and the support bottom is a bottom board attached across and at right angles to each of the horizontal support members, and wherein another end of each of the pair of cables is attached to the front portion of each of the horizontal support members; and

the hinge comprises a pair of hinges each attached at separate spaced apart locations on the back board and the bottom board.

3. The marine equipment platform of claim 2, wherein the bottom board comprises two bottom boards each identical to the back board and spaced apart on the horizontal members.

4. The marine equipment platform of claim 1, wherein each of the rail grippers is configured to hang from a boat rail.

5. The marine equipment platform of claim 4, wherein each of the rail grippers has an opening to be placed over the boat rail and a closure mechanism to secure the rail gripper on the boat rail.

6. The marine equipment platform of claim 5, wherein each of the rail grippers is a “J” type pipe hanger.

7. The marine equipment platform of claim 2, wherein each of the vertical and horizontal support members is either square or round stock.

8. The marine equipment platform of claim 7, wherein each of the vertical and horizontal support members is formed from galvanized steel or a composite material.

9. The marine equipment platform of claim 3, wherein the back board and bottom boards are formed from marine-grade wood or a composite material.

10. The marine equipment platform of claim 1, further comprising a portable generator secured to the support bottom.

11. A marine equipment platform, comprising:

a pair of vertical supports spaced apart in parallel;

a back board attached across and at right angles to a bottom portion of each of the vertical supports;

a pair of horizontal supports spaced apart in parallel;

a bottom board attached across and at right angles to each of the horizontal supports;

a pair of hinges each coupling a rear portion of the bottom board to a lower portion of the back board;

a pair of rail grippers each attached at separate spaced apart locations to the top portion of the vertical section;

a pair of cables each attached at separate spaced apart locations between the top portion of the vertical section and the front portion of the horizontal section, the cables having a length when fully extended that places the horizontal section at a right angle to the vertical section; and

a strap attached to the horizontal section for securing marine equipment to the support bottom.

12. The marine equipment platform of claim 11, wherein the bottom board comprises two bottom boards each identical to the back board and spaced apart on the horizontal members.