Ships – Boats – boat component – or attachment – Seat and foot support
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-08
2001-09-04
Brown, Peter R. (Department: 3624)
Ships
Boats, boat component, or attachment
Seat and foot support
C297S118000, C297S125000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283059
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a convertible seat and deck apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus on a marine vessel that may be converted between being a deck and being a seat.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
It is well known in the field of transportation, and particularly in the boat industry, to provide combination seating and storage or seating and bed systems. An advantage of these systems is the efficient use of the limited space available aboard boats. In seating and storage systems, a separable lid is placed over a container. The lid also serves as an occupant support surface. Often, these lids have been upholstered to increase the comfort for a passenger. Additionally, it is well known to hinge the storage compartment lid from the rear ledge of the lid to allow the lid to pivot about its rearward edge and ultimately rest against a back rest of the seating/storage compartment.
In the seating and bed systems, the seat back is pivotable with respect to the seat base so that the seat back can pivot between a first position where it forms the back of seat and a second position where it is substantially coplanar with the seat base, thereby forming a bed.
In marine vessels that are used for fishing, the bow and stern portions of the boat are often provided with raised decks so that a fisherman can stand on these decks while fishing. Fishing boats often have a large amount of open space so that the fisherman is free to travel between the deck at the bow of the boat and the deck at the stern of the boat. Usually, the only impediment to the fisherman is one or two seats for the operator of the boat to use while driving the boat to, from and about the fishing grounds. But one frequently fishes with more than two people. Therefore, while traveling to, from and about the fishing grounds it is desirous to provide additional seating for these additional passengers.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a marine vessel that includes a deck that can be converted into a seating apparatus. The deck can be used, for instance, as a platform for fishing or a platform for bedding. There is a further need in the art to maintain the position for the convertible seat/deck apparatus in either the deck or seat position so that the deck will not inadvertently move to the seat position and the seat will not inadvertently move to the deck position. Moreover, there is a need for a convertible seat and deck apparatus that takes up a minimum amount of space on a vessel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to an exemplary embodiment of a convertible seat and deck apparatus according to the present invention these and other objects are achieved with a frame that has a first guide wall. The first guide wall has a first elongated slot and a second elongated slot. A seat back has a first seating surface, an opposite second deck surface and a first side. A first guide pin projects from the first side. A second guide pin projects from the first side. The first guide pin is slidably received in the first elongated slot. The second guide pin is slidably received in the second elongated slot. The seat back is movable with respect to the frame between a first seating position and a second deck position.
According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, these and other objects are achieved with a frame having a first guide wall and a second guide wall. The first guide wall has a first elongated slot and a second elongated slot. The second guide wall has a third elongated slot and a fourth elongated slot. A seat back has a first seating surface, an opposite second deck surface, a first side and a second side. A first guide pin and a second guide pin project from the first side. A third guide pin and a fourth guide pin project from the second side. The seat back is moveable with respect to the frame between a first seating position and a second deck position.
A locking mechanism may also be provided that locks the seat back in either the deck position or the seating position. The locking mechanism may comprise a hook member having a lever attached thereto. In the preferred embodiment, two hook members are pivotally attached to each guide wall and are configured to selectively engage the guide pins. A bushing may also be disposed about the guide pin, with bushing acting to reduce friction and lubricate the guide pins within the slots.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 1255764 (1918-02-01), Macon
patent: 1471007 (1923-10-01), Schmidt
patent: 1888263 (1932-11-01), Geiger
patent: 2229608 (1941-01-01), Ragsdale et al.
patent: 2383178 (1945-08-01), Edwards
patent: 3475773 (1969-11-01), Codman, Jr
patent: 4266441 (1981-05-01), Stordeur
patent: 4473250 (1984-09-01), Truex et al.
patent: 4738217 (1988-04-01), Smith
patent: 4934303 (1990-06-01), Lathers et al.
Brown Peter R.
Domingue & Waddell PLC
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