Ships – Displacement-type hull – Multiple hulls
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-10
2001-11-06
Morano, S. Joseph (Department: 3617)
Ships
Displacement-type hull
Multiple hulls
C114S061220, C114S061240
Reexamination Certificate
active
06311632
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a portable, stable, durable motor propelled small pontoon water craft having an upright lounge chair to safely and comfortably support a user for recreational purposes.
Motorized and manually self-propelled small pontoon boats have been disclosed previously. Some of these pontoon boats have a pair of opposing pontoons in spaced apart relationship and support a chair on a horizontal support. There are many problems with these small pontoon boats in that they are very unsafe, unduly unstable, extremely uncomfortable, very undurable and incapable of withstanding wear and tear, and are difficult to operate and control.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The unique portable pontoon craft of the present invention overcomes many of the deficiencies of the prior art chair supported small pontoon boats. In accordance with the present invention, the craft is constructed of two spaced apart, hollow aluminum pontoons mounted to a main frame with a chair releasably mounted on the mainframe. The unique characteristics of the pontoons is that they are fabricated only from aluminum which provides a more durable and stable lightweight water craft without the addition of any floatable material.
The main frame is composed of three spaced apart yoke harness members looped over and overlappingly secured to the pontoons at opposite ends and having cross bar elements securing the entire structure together. A midframe having elongated tubing members secured lengthwise to the three spaced apart yoke harness members prevent shearing between the pontoons and holds the pontoons parallel to each other. The positioning of the yoke harness members prevents the pontoons from flexing outwardly and equally distribute the weight of the craft to the pontoons preventing the pontoons from rolling. The midframe also provides increased strength and stability to the main frame and provides a support for the battery.
A lounge chair having three leg supports is releasably secured to the cross bar elements of the yoke harness members by means of retaining clips. The positioning of the chair fitting snugly between the pontoons equally distributes the weight of the user within the structure. The positioning of the battery beneath the chair further stabilizes the craft.
The craft is easily and comfortably operated by the steering power head secured to the right pontoon adjacent to the seating area of the chair. The power head communicates with the motor driving the propeller at the rear of the craft being energized by the battery. The steering mechanism extending from the power head to the power unit includes shaft collars having steering brackets movably attached to a connecting rod.
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Morano S. Joseph
Olson Lars A.
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