Ships – Boats – boat component – or attachment – Sectional
Reexamination Certificate
2002-11-13
2003-11-04
Swinehart, Ed (Department: 3617)
Ships
Boats, boat component, or attachment
Sectional
C114S061250
Reexamination Certificate
active
06640741
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field
This invention relates to an individual watercraft. More specifically, the invention is directed to inflatable pontoon watercraft, and provides several enhancements for such boats.
2. State of the Art
Typically, boats or watercrafts designed for individuals are powered by the action of swim fins on the user's feet or of oars supported on the framework of the watercraft. Small motors may also be used on these boats. Such boats are popularly used as fishing platforms, but they are also used more generally for water transport, such as in connection with hunting, touring or white water rafting.
These watercraft generally comprise two inflatable cylindrical pontoons harnessed together by means of a rigid mainframe. The mainframe functions as the support for seating or decking, and also serves as the attachment point for any optional equipment; such as foot rests, frame extensions, motors, oars, rod holders, beverage holders, fish finders, stripping aprons, cargo containers, anchors, etc.
Mainframes have typically been constructed of aluminum. In general practice, assembly of the mainframe to the pontoons requires that the mainframe rest directly on the pontoon surfaces. Significant problems have been associated with such direct contact between the mainframe and pontoons. Friction between the surfaces of a pontoon and a frame during use of the boat causes black oxide to rub off of the mainframe and stain the pontoons and anything else coming in contact with the oxide. Aluminum mainframes also are easily scratched and dented during use, transportation and storage. Pontoon surfaces are subject to puncture and abrasion because of the conventional materials of construction of the pontoons, typically PVC, rubber, rubberized fabric or similar polymeric materials. Raised or rough areas on the mainframe cause cuts and abraded areas in the pontoon surfaces. To avoid staining, puncture and abrasion problems, boat owners require considerable time in maintaining the boat. The aluminum frame must be kept painted to avoid any direct surface contact between the mainframe and the pontoons; and any dents or nicks must be smoothed out before the mainframe can be attached to the pontoons.
Historically, these boats have been designed with wrap around mainframes supported on a pair of inflatable pontoons. The mainframe harnesses the pontoons in spaced parallel arrangement. The major portion of the frame is thus suspended between the pontoons as a support structure having side members, front and rear cross members and a central platform. Any additional boat components and accessories are attached to this support structure. Misalignment of the pontoons and mainframe create undesired operational problems in controlling the boat.
The bending moments generated in conventional mainframes have been observed to have a negative impact on the durability of the frame. The largest bending moments generated in the mainframe occur where the side members are joined to the central platform. Breakage often occurs in this area, especially under conditions causing the pontoons to bounce or the load to fluctuate (in rough water, for example). Overstress failures have also been observed to occur in the regions where foot rest and cargo bay accessories are attached to a frame.
Accessories are typically attached to side members of a mainframe, to be convenient to a boater's hand during boating. Unfortunately, any strap used to attach an accessory to a side member of the mainframe is inherently pushed into the pontoon surfaces when a mainframe is mounted on the pontoons. Other fastener systems and accessory surfaces moving against the pontoons also cause problems associated with wear. Vibration due to wind or rough water, or the transport of an assembled boat, causes abrasion of the pontoon surfaces under these pressure points.
Another commonly used method used to attach accessories to the mainframe side members is to fasten or integrally form a clevis at one end of the accessory. The clevis slips over a side member and is fixed in place. Oar locks, fishing rod holders, and beverage holders are examples of accessories that may be attached to a mainframe in this manner. Conventionally, clevis and side members have been made of aluminum. Galling between the clevis and side member surfaces has been found to present a significant problem after short usage times.
Wrap around mainframes are intended to provide stability along the full length of each pontoon and maintain the pontoon pair in parallel position even in relatively rough water conditions. Unfortunately, some conventional wrap around design obstructs a user's entry and exit from the vessel. This problem increases with increasing water depth. Historically, the front cross member of a mainframe has acted as a footrest. A footrest provides many practical advantages; for example, for generally relaxing, for resting and stretching finning muscles, or for supporting a user's feet in an elevated position to clear bottom hazards. It also may serve as a foot brace for more efficient rowing action.
A framing system which eliminates front cross members offers convenient walk-in access to the vessel's seating area, but with the accompanying loss of the footrest. “L”-shaped foot rest extensions have thus been attached to the side members of certain mainframes lacking a front cross member. Neither the conventional front cross member nor the newer foot rest extension is continuously adjustable to comfortably accommodate various leg lengths.
It is recognized that it would be beneficial to provide adequate leg support above the surface of a kick boat's foot rest. Such leg support would be expected to alleviate leg strain when the feet are elevated. Hypothetically, a cross member could provide additional leg support with the use of a foot rest attachment suspended from and located forward of the member, but only if the user's legs, through serendipity, happened to be of the correct length to take advantage of such a feature.
Many pontoon boat accessories are available to enhance user comfort and convenience. Historically, it has been difficult to attach accessories to the mainframe in a manner avoiding entanglement of the boater or abrasion of the pontoons, and to avoid clutter, while allowing the accessory to be easily accessed when wanted. Historically, accessories are provided to serve a single function. It would be of benefit to provide adaptable accessories that can meet a variety of needs, to eliminate clutter.
Conventional boat models are provided with the aim of meeting the needs of boaters primarily interested in one particular type of application. Boats configured for lake fishing are not necessarily convenient for river fishing or river running for example. A versatile boat that can be configured to meet a variety of needs would be highly advantageous.
Storage of inflatable pontoon boats has been inconvenient for those, such as apartment dwellers, having limited storage space. These boats have generally been bulky, even when disassembled for storage or transport. Duffle bags and bags with attached back pack straps have been used to increase boat portability.
Swept pontoons are being offered to replace the previously favored cylindrical pontoons in some applications. When viewed in a longitudinal cross section, cylindrical pontoons have parallel walls over the water contact area, that rest flat on the water. Swept pontoons may include a cylindrical midsection, but are otherwise characterized by converging walls that curve up away from the plane of the water surface. Fully swept pontoons have no cylindrical sections and are offered with varying radii of curvature.
Swept pontoons greatly decrease the water resistance of the boats and allow for greater maneuverability and easy propulsion action. However, boats utilizing swept pontoons are less stable in the water and so are less forgiving of longitudinal load imbalances. Therefore, there is an increased need for adjustability in situating the mainframe longitudi
Milburn & Peterson P.C.
Peterson Robert C.
Swinehart Ed
LandOfFree
Pontoon watercraft integrated load distribution system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Pontoon watercraft integrated load distribution system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Pontoon watercraft integrated load distribution system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3175200