BOAT PONTOON

Abstract

A boat pontoon having a concave V-shape on a bottom portion thereof, generally straight vertical sides, a flat top panel member, and a removable and replaceable skid pad running longitudinally along the bottom of the pontoon. Vertically oriented gussets are positioned on an interior of the pontoon, to provide structural integrity and additional strength. In a preferred embodiment, a buoyant foam is provided within the interior cavity of the pontoon.

Claims

1. A pontoon comprising: a generally flat top panel having a generally rectangular shape extending in a longitudinal manner and a lip along each longitudinal edge; a pair of vertical sides, each vertical side having a top edge and a bottom edge, wherein said top edge is attached to one lip of said flat top panel; a bottom portion attached to said bottom edges of said vertical sides, wherein said bottom portion forms a concave-V shape having a flat base.

2. The pontoon set forth in claim 1, wherein said pontoon includes a series of spaced gussets mounted vertically on an inner portion of said pontoon, wherein said gussets include a generally straight top horizontally oriented edge, two generally straight vertical sides, and a bottom gusset portion having edges corresponding with said concave-V shape of said bottom portion of said pontoon.

3. The pontoon set forth in claim 2, wherein said gussets include at least one hole.

4. (canceled)

5. The pontoon set forth in claim 1, further including a front section that has a rear portion that is shaped to complement a cross section of said pontoon, and which extends forwardly, narrowing in width, and extending upwardly toward said flat top panel to form a V-hull shape.

6. The pontoon set forth in claim 1, further including a skid pad that is attached to said flat base of said bottom portion of said pontoon.

7. The pontoon set forth in claim 6, wherein said skid pad is removable and replaceable.

8. A pontoon comprising: a generally flat top panel having a generally rectangular shape extending in a longitudinal manner and a lip along each longitudinal edge; a pair of vertical sides, each vertical side having a top edge and a bottom edge, wherein said top edge is attached to one lip of said flat top panel; a first bottom portion attached to said bottom edges of said vertical sides, wherein said first bottom portion forms a concave-V shape with a flat based and is positioned on a front section of said pontoon; and a second bottom portion of said pontoon having a U-shape, wherein said second bottom portion is positioned on a rear section of said pontoon.

9. The pontoon set forth in claim 8, wherein said pontoon includes a series of spaced gussets mounted vertically on an inner portion of said pontoon, wherein said gussets include a generally straight top horizontally oriented edge, two generally straight vertical sides, and a bottom gusset portion having edges corresponding with said concave-V shape of said first bottom portion of said pontoon in said front section of said pontoon.

10. The pontoon set forth in claim 8, wherein said pontoon includes a series of spaced gussets mounted vertically on an inner portion of said pontoon, wherein said gussets include a generally straight top horizontally oriented edge, two generally straight vertical sides, and a bottom gusset portion having edges corresponding with said U-shape of said second bottom portion of said pontoon in said rear section of said pontoon.

11. (canceled)

12. The pontoon set forth in claim 8, further including a skid pad that is attached to said flat base of said concave-V shape on said front portion of said pontoon.

13. The pontoon set forth in claim 12, wherein said skid pad is removable and replaceable.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pontoon boat including one embodiment of the boat pontoons having a concave V-shape on a bottom portion thereof;

[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a boat pontoon in accordance with one aspect of the present invention;

[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective cutaway view of one embodiment of a boat pontoon having a concave V-shape on a bottom portion thereof, and further including intermittently spaced seam gussets and support gussets positioned in a vertical orientation;

[0023] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3, illustrating one embodiment of a boat pontoon having a concave V-shape on a bottom portion thereof, and further including a seam gusset defining a series of holes therein and a detachable skid plate on an underside of the pontoon;

[0024] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3 illustrating one embodiment of a boat pontoon having a concave V-shape on a bottom portion thereof, and further including a support gusset and a detachable skid plate on an underside of the pontoon;

[0025] FIG. 6 is a magnified cross-sectional view of the bottom portion of a pontoon in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, including a gusset vertically disposed on an inner portion thereof, and further including a detachable skid plate on an underside of the pontoon; and

[0026] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a pontoon having a concave V-shaped section on an underside of the pontoon along a front portion thereof, and having a U-shaped underside toward the rear of the pontoon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] Overview

[0028] The present invention includes, in a first embodiment, a pontoon 10 having a concave V-shape 12 on a bottom portion thereof, generally straight vertical sides 14, a flat top panel member 16, and a removable skid pad 18 running longitudinally along the bottom of the pontoon 10, as shown in FIGS. 1-6. The pontoon 10 may be manufactured in sections, and each section preferably includes a right side member 20, a left side member 22 and a flat top panel 16. The top panel 16 is a longitudinally extending flat surface, and includes a lip 24 extending downwardly on either side. The right side member 20 includes a generally straight vertical side section 14, a curved lower portion 26, and a horizontal bottom lip 28, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The left side member 22 is essentially a mirror image of the right side member 20, also including a generally straight vertical side section 14, a curved lower portion 26, and a horizontal bottom lip 28.

[0029] When the right side member 20 and the left side member 22 are assembled together, the horizontal lips 28 are adapted to stack one on top of the other, as shown, so that they can be welded or otherwise attached together, and so that the bottom portion of the pontoon 10 includes a double layer of material (preferably aluminum or other metal). The flat top panel 16 is placed over the top edge of the right and left side members 20, 22, and the lip 24 on either side of the flat top panel 16 extends downwardly on the outer sides of the generally straight side walls 14 of the right and left side members 20, 22, as shown. Preferably, all of the seams are welded, although it is contemplated that other attachment means may be used.

[0030] In order to provide support and strength to the pontoons 10, different types of gussets are used. A seam gusset 30 has the same general shape as the cross-section of the pontoon 10, with the concave V-shape on a bottom portion thereof, generally straight vertical sides, and a flat top, as shown in FIG. 4. The seam gussets 30 are preferably used at both ends of a section of the pontoon 10, so that a seam gusset 30 is positioned adjacent a seam in the pontoon 10, when the pontoon 10 is manufactured in shorter sections that are affixed to one another.

[0031] A second type of gusset, the support gusset 32, has a similar shape, but the support gusset 32 does not reach all the way to the top of the pontoon, which provides an opening between the top of the support gusset 32 and the flat top panel 16, as shown in FIG. 5. The support gussets 32 are placed within the sections of the pontoon 10, and are intermittently spaced, as shown in FIG. 3, in order to provide strength and support of the V-shaped bottom 12, and of the pontoon 10 overall. Preferably, both the seam gusset 30 and the support gusset 32 also include or define a series of holes 34.

[0032] In a preferred embodiment, the front section of the pontoon has a rear portion that complements or mirrors the shape of the pontoon 10, as described above, and which narrows and rises going forward to a point at the top of the pontoon 10, similarly to the shape of the bow of a V-hull fiberglass boat. The rear of the pontoon preferably includes a watertight cap 36, which mirrors the cross-sectional size and shape of the pontoon, as shown in FIGS. 1-3. Other structures may be assembled on the rear portion of the pontoon (particularly for twin-engine pontoons that include a well), as will be recognized by those skilled in the art, and as set forth in the references cited above that have been incorporated by reference herein.

[0033] The pontoons 10 are preferably welded so that they are watertight. Additionally, a buoyant foam may be blown into the interior of the pontoons, so that the foam substantially fills the interior space of the pontoons. This arrangement provides additional floatation, particularly in the event that the pontoon becomes ruptured or damaged in an accident. The holes 34 in the seam gussets 30 and the support gussets 32 allow the buoyant foam to flow therethrough. After blowing the foam into the interior of the pontoons 10, the foam is allowed to harden.

[0034] A removable and replaceable skid pad 18 may be placed on the bottom of the pontoons, as shown in FIGS. 4-6. The skid pad 18 is a longitudinal strip of tough, durable material. Any suitable material may be used for the skid pad 18, including plastics, nylon, metal or some combination thereof. Preferably, the skid pad 18 is attached by using sunken screws 38 that do not completely penetrate through the bottom of the pontoon, in order to maintain the airtight structure thereof. If a skid pad 18 becomes damaged or worn, it may simply be removed and replaced with a new one.

[0035] The flat panel 16 on the top of the pontoon 10 is advantageous because it makes attachment to a pontoon boat platform much easier, and does not require the same type of fittings that must be welded onto upper portions of pontoons having a circular cross-section. Additionally, in one embodiment, the flat top panel 16 may extend the full length of the pontoon 10, even if the rest of the pontoon 10 (right and left side members 20, 22) are made in sections. Alternatively, if the flat top panel 16 is made into sections, the seams of the flat panel may be offset from the seams attaching the right and left sections to adjacent sections, in order to provide additional strength to the pontoons 10.

[0036] In another embodiment, the concave V-shape on the bottom portion of the pontoon extends from a front of the pontoon to a point toward the rear of the pontoon, and then is stepped out to form a U-shape on the bottom portion thereof, near the rear of the pontoon, as shown in FIG. 7. In this embodiment, the rear U-shaped portion of the pontoon on an underside resembles a traditional pontoon, and preferably extends from the rear of the pontoon through the rear to of the pontoon, although the rear U-shaped portion may extend throughout more or less of the pontoon, as desired. This arrangement is designed to improve the turning performance of the pontoon boat, so that the rear portion of the pontoon has less resistance to lateral movement.

[0037] It is contemplated that variations on the present pontoon may be made. For instance, it is possible to manufacture the pontoon 10 from fiberglass, rather than metal. Also, it is understood that the pontoons 10 may be pressurized, if desired. Further, it is possible to produce the pontoons 10 so that the side sections and flat top panel are integrally formed longitudinal pieces, rather than being assembled in sections.

[0038] Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein. All features disclosed in this specification may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.