SEAT FOR A WATERCRAFT

Abstract

A seat for a watercraft having a housing section defining a space for receiving a rider, the seat comprising a base seat comprising a longitudinal arcuate base projection or groove extending downwardly or upwardly along a longitudinal axis of the watercraft, the housing section comprising a longitudinal arcuate housing groove or projection extending downwardly or upwardly along the longitudinal axis, the longitudinal arcuate base projection or groove and the longitudinal arcuate housing groove or projection registering with one another such that, in use, the rider can move the base seat from a first configuration to a second configuration, the first configuration being different than the second configuration.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a seat for a watercraft having a housing section defining a space for receiving a rider. The seat has a base seat for supporting the pelvis and thigh regions of the rider and the base seat is adjustable from a first configuration to a second configuration upon movement of the base seat along a longitudinal axis of the watercraft.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In recent years, kayak manufacturers have been implementing improvements on kayaks to accommodate riders and enhance their kayaking experience. In one aspect, the comfort of the rider largely depends on the seating mechanism employed. Furthermore, efforts have been made to ensure that a standard kayak and seating mechanism can accommodate different riders of different sizes as well as the possibly varying needs in comfort of a same rider.

An improvement that has been implemented in an effort to accommodate different sized riders is the possibility of sliding the seat along a straight slot that extends along the longitudinal axis of the watercraft. However, this adjustment does not necessarily provide comfortable support of the pelvis and thigh regions of a rider. In addition, it is also known in the art to employ a pump, valve and bladder mechanism under the thigh support in order to adjust the position of the thigh support via inflation of the bladder. However, this evidently requires the addition of a complicated mechanism in order to achieve a variance in the angle of the seat. Furthermore, only a portion of the base of the seat is movable. Therefore, even though the angular position of the thigh supporting region may be adjusted, this could still provide for a level of discomfort due to the discontinuity in inclination levels between the thigh supporting region and the pelvis supporting region depending on the size of the rider relative to the shape of the seat.

Hence, a deficiency with traditional seat adjustment mechanisms resides in the fact that the rider may not experience a desired level of comfort and support. This could therefore lead to a sub-optimal kayaking experience.

There is therefore a need for an adjustable seat for a watercraft in which the seat base adequately supports the thigh and pelvis region of the rider and wherein the seat base is adjustable to accommodate the comfort needs of different riders or alternatively, different comfort needs of a same rider.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a seat for a watercraft having a housing section defining a space for receiving a rider, the seat comprising a base seat adapted to support the pelvis and thigh regions of the rider, the base seat comprising a longitudinal arcuate base projection or groove extending downwardly or upwardly along a longitudinal axis of the watercraft, the housing section comprising a longitudinal arcuate housing groove or projection extending downwardly or upwardly along the longitudinal axis, the longitudinal arcuate base projection or groove and the longitudinal arcuate housing groove or projection registering with one another such that, in use, the rider can move the base seat from a first configuration to a second configuration, wherein, in the first configuration, the base seat is at a first position along the longitudinal axis and at a first inclination relative to a horizontal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis; wherein, in the second configuration, the base seat is at a second position along the longitudinal axis and at a second inclination relative to the horizontal axis; and wherein the first configuration is different than the second configuration.

This and other aspects and features of the present invention will now become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A detailed description of embodiments of the present invention is provided hereinbelow with reference to the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a watercraft having a housing section defining a space for receiving a rider seated on a seat;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the housing section of FIG. 1 showing the seat having a base seat and back support;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the housing section and seat showing the seat base in a first configuration;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the housing section and seat showing the seat base in a second configuration;

FIG. 5A is an exploded perspective view showing one embodiment of the housing section and seat base of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5B is an exploded perspective view showing another embodiment of the housing section and seat base of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5C is an exploded perspective view showing yet another embodiment of the housing section and seat base of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the housing section and seat base of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the housing section and seat base of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the seat base;

FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of the seat base; and

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of the housing section.

In the drawings, embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood that the description and drawings are only for purposes of illustration and as an aid to understanding, and are not intended to be a definition of the limits of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

To facilitate the description, any reference numeral designating an element in one figure will designate the same element if used in any other figures. In describing the embodiments, specific terminology is resorted to for the sake of clarity but the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is understood that each specific term comprises all equivalents.

Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings are intended to be read together with the specification, and are to be considered a portion of the entire written description of this invention. As used in the following description, the terms “horizontal”, “vertical”, “left”, “right”, “up”, “down” and the like, as well as adjectival and adverbial derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally”, “rightwardly”, “upwardly”, “radially”, etc.), simply refer to the orientation of the illustrated structure. Similarly, the terms “inwardly,” “outwardly” and “radially” generally refer to the orientation of a surface relative to its axis of elongation, or axis of rotation, as appropriate.

FIG. 1 shows a watercraft 10 comprising a front section 12, a medial section 14 and a rear section 16. The medial section 14 has a housing section 18 defining a space for receiving a rider. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the watercraft also comprises a seat 20 having a back support 22 and a base seat 24 adapted to receive and support the pelvis and thigh regions of the rider.

As shown in FIGS. 6 to 10, the base seat 24 comprises a longitudinal arcuate base projection 26 projecting downwardly along a longitudinal axis A-A of the watercraft 10. The longitudinal arcuate base projection 26 registers with a longitudinal arcuate housing groove 28 provided on the housing section 18 and extending downwardly along the longitudinal axis A-A. The longitudinal arcuate base projection 26 and the longitudinal arcuate housing groove 28 are shaped such that they register with one another as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

It is to be noted that the shape of the longitudinal arcuate base projection 26 and the longitudinal arcuate housing groove 28 is not to be limited by the embodiment depicted in the figures. For example, in another embodiment, the longitudinal arcuate base projection 26 can alternatively be full such that the top portion of the base seat 24 is flush and does not present a recess delineating the location of the groove.

In another embodiment, the longitudinal arcuate base projection 26, which extends generally along the medial axis of the base seat 24, may be replaced by two or three separated longitudinal arcuate base projections and the longitudinal arcuate housing groove 26, which extends generally along the medial axis of the housing section 18, may be replaced by two or three separated longitudinal arcuate housing grooves wherein the two or three separated longitudinal arcuate base projections and the two or three separated longitudinal arcuate housing grooves register with one another.

Additionally, in another embodiment, the longitudinal arcuate housing groove 28 can take the form of a longitudinal arcuate housing projection extending upwardly along the longitudinal axis instead, such that the longitudinal arcuate housing projection registers with a longitudinal arcuate groove provided in the base seat and extending upwardly along the longitudinal axis.

As best seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the longitudinal arcuate base projection 26 and the longitudinal arcuate housing groove 28 register with one another such that the base seat 24 slides along the defined arcuate path when the base seat 24 is moved by the rider. As such, the base seat 24 can achieve an infinite number of configurations along the defined arcuate path.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the arcuate path substantially follows a longitudinal axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis A-A. It is however understood that the shapes of the longitudinal arcuate base projection 26 and the longitudinal arcuate housing groove 28 may take any form such that relative motion between the longitudinal arcuate base projection 26 and the longitudinal arcuate housing groove 28 allows for the configuration of the base 24 to be adjusted. More particularly, the base seat 24 must simply register with the bottom portion of the housing section via any means allowing the base seat 24 to follow any conceivable arcuate path where movement of the base seat 24 from a first position to a second position imparts a range of different inclinations of the base seat 24 between a first inclination and a second inclination.

As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, each configuration provides for a specific position along the longitudinal axis A-A and a specific inclination angle θ of the base seat 24 with respect to a horizontal axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis A-A. In FIGS. 3 and 6, the base seat 24 is in a first position and a first inclination with respect to the longitudinal axis A-A. In FIGS. 4 and 7, the base seat 24 is in a second position and a second inclination with respect to the longitudinal axis of the watercraft A-A, wherein the second position is different than the first position (more forward) and the second inclination is different that the first inclination (more inclined) such that the first configuration is different than the second configuration. In other words, in the second configuration shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the base seat 24 is positioned more forwardly and is more inclined compared to the first configuration shown in FIGS. 3 and 6.

The range of movement may be between 2 inches to 12 inches and the inclination angles θ may vary between −5° and 30°. Alternatively, the range of movement may be between 5 inches to 10 inches and the inclination angles θ may vary between 0° and 20°.

It can be understood that the base seat 24 can be manufactured from a variety of rigid materials known in the art. For example, in one embodiment, the base seat 24 can be made of plastic. In a more specific embodiment, the base seat 24 can be made of composite materials, polyethylene, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP) or polycarbonate (PC). In yet another embodiment, the seat can also comprise cushioning foam (not shown) to increase the level of comfort provided. Regarding the shaping of the base seat 24, the base seat 24 can be manufactured, for example, via any molding or shaping technique known in the art.

The seat 20 may also comprise supplementary guiding means in addition to the longitudinal arcuate base groove 26 and the longitudinal arcuate housing groove 28. As best seen in FIGS. 5A, 8 and 9, the base seat 24 may also comprise longitudinal slots for registering with respective left and right tool-free bolts 34, 36. More specifically, the base seat 24 may comprise a left longitudinal slot 30 generally located on the left side of the base seat 24 and a right longitudinal slot 32 generally located on the right side of the base seat 24. The left tool-free bolt 34 registers with the left longitudinal slot 30 and the right tool-free bolt 36 registers with the right longitudinal slot 32.

Each of the tool-free bolts 34, 36 has gripping portions allowing the rider to turn the bolt without a tool. For example, each of the tool-free bolts 34, 36 may have a head 35 having projections and depressions defining gripping portions that offer a proper grip to the thumb and finger(s) of the rider. In use, each of the tool-free bolts 34, 36 may be in two different positions for performing two different functions. More particularly, in a first position, the tool-free bolts 34, 36 are unscrewed by the rider in order to allow movement of the base seat 24 from the first configuration to the second configuration. In this first position, the base seat 24 is then further guided by the movement of the slots 30, 32 relative to the tool-free bolts 34, 36. In a second position, the bolts 34, 36 are screwed by the rider in order to prevent movement of the base seat 24. Each of the tool-free bolts 34, 36 has therefore two functions; first, it serves as a guiding means when the base seat 24 moves from a first configuration to a second configuration, and second, it serves as a locking means for preventing movement of the base seat 24 along the longitudinal axis A-A once the rider has selected the desired configuration.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 to 5A, the seat 20 may also comprise a strap 50 attached at both ends of the housing section 18 and to the base seat 24. As shown in FIG. 5A, a substantial portion of the strap 50 may be located under the base seat 24. The strap 50 may comprise a left end strap portion 52 mounted on the left side of the housing section 18 and a right end strap portion 54 mounted on the right side of the housing section 18. The seat 20 may also comprise left and right buckles 56, 58 mounted on each side of the housing section 18 in order to aid in the tightening and loosening of the strap 50. More specifically, the left end strap portion 52 would pass through the left buckle 56 located on the left side of the housing section 18 and the right end strap portion 54 would pass through the right buckle 58 located on the right side of the housing section 18. The left end strap portion 52 and the right end strap portion 54 of the strap 50 may serve as a locking mechanism for the base seat 24 such that the inclination of the base seat 24 remains the same when the strap 50 is tightened. For example, once the base seat 24 is in the first inclination shown in FIG. 3, or in the second inclination shown in FIG. 4, a tightening of the strap 50 would act against the rider's weight such that the base seat 24 remains in the selected inclination when the rider is seated on the seat 20 (seat base 24). It is understood that the tool-free bolts 34, 36 also serve as a locking means for preventing movement of the base seat 24 once the rider has selected the desired configuration.

Referring to FIG. 5A, the left longitudinal slot 30 and the right longitudinal slot 32 may each be defined along a downward projecting arcuate portion 40. As best shown in FIG. 10, the housing section 18 has left and right side downward projecting concave portions 42 (only left side concave portion is shown). The left and right side downward projecting arcuate portions 40 on the base seat 24 register with left and right side downward projecting arcuate concave portions 42 on the housing section 18 such that the left and right side downward projecting arcuate portions 40 and the left and right side downward projecting concave portions 42 slidingly engage with one another as the base seat 24 moves along the longitudinal axis A-A while the rider adjusts the base seat 24 from the first configuration to the second configuration.

In other embodiments such as those depicted in FIGS. 5B and 5C, the tool-free bolts 34, 36 are replaced by guiding bolts 134, 136 such that they are not indented to be screwed or unscrewed by the rider and that they are primarily guiding means. More specifically, the guiding bolts 134, 136 of FIGS. 5B and 5C are not adjustable without a tool (e.g. screwdriver) and, once in a given position, there is no need for the rider to screw or unscrew the guiding bolts 134, 136. The guiding bolts 134, 136 are therefore guiding means that register with the longitudinal slots 30, 32.

As shown in FIG. 5B, a portion of the strap 50 is attached to the base seat 24 via at least one bolt 60 and nut 62. For example, the base seat 24 may comprise a number of apertures 64 which align with respective apertures 66 on the strap 50 to receive a given bolt 60 and a given nut 62. In another embodiment, such as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5C, the strap 50 passes through a set of base seat apertures 70 suitably sized to receive the strap 50.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C, the left end strap portion 52 and the right end strap portion 54 of the strap 50 serve as a locking mechanism for the base seat 24 such that the inclination and longitudinal position of the base seat 24 remains the same when the strap 50 is tightened. Hence, once the base seat 24 is in the desired configuration, a tightening of the strap 50 would act against the rider's weight such that the base seat remains in the selected inclination. Moreover, because a portion of the strap is attached to the base seat 24 (by the bolt and nut assembly shown in FIG. 5B or by the portion of the strap passing in the apertures 70 shown in FIG. 5C), a tightening of the strap 50 would also prevent movement of the base seat 24 along the longitudinal axis A-A such that the base seat 24 remains in the selected position.

Although various embodiments have been illustrated, this was for the purpose of describing, but not limiting, the invention. Various modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art and are within the scope of this invention, which is defined more particularly by the attached claims.

Claims

1. A seat for a watercraft having a housing section defining a space for receiving a rider, said seat comprising a base seat adapted to support the pelvis and thigh regions of the rider, said base seat comprising a longitudinal arcuate base projection or groove extending downwardly or upwardly along a longitudinal axis of the watercraft, said housing section comprising a longitudinal arcuate housing groove or projection extending downwardly or upwardly along said longitudinal axis, said longitudinal arcuate base projection or groove and said longitudinal arcuate housing groove or projection registering with one another such that, in use, the rider can move said base seat from a first configuration to a second configuration, wherein, in said first configuration, said base seat is at a first position along said longitudinal axis and at a first inclination relative to a horizontal axis parallel to said longitudinal axis; wherein, in said second configuration, said base seat is at a second position along said longitudinal axis and at a second inclination relative to said horizontal axis; and wherein said first configuration is different than said second configuration.

2. A seat for a watercraft as defined in claim 1, wherein inclination angles of said base seat relative to said horizontal axis vary between −5° and 30° when said base seat is moved from said first configuration to said second configuration.

3. A seat for a watercraft as defined in claim 1, wherein inclination angles of said base seat relative to said horizontal axis vary between 0° and 20° when said base seat is moved from said first configuration to said second configuration.

4. A seat for a watercraft as defined in claim 1, wherein said base seat has a first downward projecting arcuate portion on a left side and a second downward projecting arcuate portion on a right side, said left and right side downward projecting arcuate portions registering respectively with a left downward projecting arcuate concave portion and a right downward projecting arcuate concave portion provided on said housing section.

5. A seat for a watercraft as defined in claim 4, wherein said left and right side downward projecting arcuate portions comprise left and right longitudinal slots for receiving left and right bolts adapted to guide movement of said base seat as said base seat is moved from said first configuration to said second configuration.

6. A seat for a watercraft as defined in claim 5, wherein each of said left and right bolts has a head allowing the rider to turn said bolt without a tool such that the rider can unscrew said bolt for allowing movement of said base seat along said longitudinal axis and screw said bolt for preventing movement of said base seat.

7. A seat for a watercraft as defined in claim 6, wherein said head has projections and depressions defining gripping portions.

8. A seat for a watercraft as defined in claim 1, further comprising a strap located under said base seat and comprising a left end strap portion passing through a left buckle provided on said housing section and a right end strap portion passing through a right buckle provided on said housing section.

9. A seat for a watercraft as defined in claim 8, wherein said left end strap portion and said right end strap portion are capable of being loosened for adjusting said base seat from said first configuration to said second configuration and being tightened for maintaining said base seat in a selected configuration.

10. A seat for a watercraft as defined in claim 9, wherein a portion of said strap located under said base seat is affixed to said base seat such that movement of said base seat along said longitudinal axis is prevented when said strap is tightened.

11. A seat for a watercraft as defined in claim 1, wherein said longitudinal arcuate base projection or groove is a longitudinal arcuate base projection, wherein said longitudinal arcuate housing groove or projection is a longitudinal arcuate housing groove, and wherein said longitudinal arcuate base projection and said longitudinal arcuate housing groove register with one another.

12. A seat for a watercraft as defined in claim 11, wherein said longitudinal arcuate base projection extends generally along a medial axis of said base seat and said longitudinal arcuate housing groove extends generally along a medial axis of said housing section.

13. A seat for a watercraft as defined in claim 1, wherein said longitudinal arcuate base projection or groove comprises left and right separate longitudinal arcuate base projections, wherein said longitudinal arcuate housing groove or projection comprise left and right separate longitudinal arcuate housing grooves, and wherein said left and right longitudinal arcuate base projections and said left and right longitudinal arcuate housing grooves register with one another.

14. A seat for a watercraft as described in claim 1, wherein said base seat is made of a rigid material.

15. A seat for a watercraft as described in claim 14, wherein said rigid material is plastic.

16. A seat for a watercraft as described in claim 14, wherein said base seat is molded.

17. A seat for a watercraft as defined in claim 14, wherein said seat base is made of composite materials, polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene or polycarbonate.

18. A seat for a watercraft as defined in claim 14, wherein said seat further comprises cushioning foam.

19. A seat for a watercraft as defined in claim 18, wherein said cushioning foam is selected from a group of polyurethanes.