Abstract
A boat includes a compartment and a stowable seat. The stowable seat includes a stowable seat bottom movable between a stowed position and a raised position. In the stowed position, the stowable seat bottom is located in the compartment. In the raised position, the stowable seat bottom can be located laterally between a first seat and a second seat and at a level higher than a floor of the boat. The stowable seat can include a stowable seat frame having a static support and a pivot arm. The upper end of the pivot arm can be pivotably connected to the stowable seat bottom. The stowable seat bottom can include a slider engaged with a slot of the static support to slide within the slot as the stowable seat bottom moves between the stowed position and the raised position.
Claims
1. A boat comprising: a deck including a floor; a first seat with a first seat bottom positioned at a level higher than the floor; a second seat with a second seat bottom positioned at a level higher than the floor; a compartment positioned laterally between the first seat and the second seat, at least a portion of the compartment being at a level lower than the floor; and a stowable seat including a stowable seat bottom movable between a stowed position and a raised position, wherein, in the stowed position, the stowable seat bottom is located in the compartment, and, in the raised position, the stowable seat bottom is located laterally between the first seat and the second seat and at a level higher than the floor.
2. The boat of claim 1, wherein the first seat is a bench seat with the first seat bottom extending in a longitudinal direction, and wherein the second seat is a bench seat with the second seat bottom parallel to the first seat bottom and extending in the longitudinal direction.
3. The boat of claim 2, wherein the longitudinal direction is a fore and aft direction of the boat.
4. The boat of claim 2, wherein stowable seat bottom is a bench seat with the stowable seat bottom extending in a transverse direction that is transverse to the longitudinal direction.
5. The boat of claim 1, wherein the first seat is located on a port side of the boat and the second seat is located on a starboard side of the boat.
6. The boat of claim 1, wherein, in the raised position, the stowable seat bottom is located adjacent to the first seat bottom, the second seat bottom, or both.
7. The boat of claim 1, further comprising a hatch, the hatch being movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein, in the open position, the hatch allows access to the compartment and allows the stowable seat bottom to move out of the stowed position, and in the closed position, the hatch closes the compartment.
8. The boat of claim 7, wherein the hatch has a top surface and, when the hatch is in the closed position, the top surface of the hatch is level with the floor.
9. The boat of claim 7, wherein the hatch is movable between the open position and the closed position when the stowable seat bottom is in the raised position.
10. The boat of claim 9, wherein, when the hatch is in the closed position and the stowable seat bottom is in the raised position, the hatch locks the stowable seat bottom in the raised position.
11. The boat of claim 1, further comprising: a windshield; and a primary seating area positioned aft of the windshield, the first seat, the second seat, and the stowable seat being located in the primary seating area.
12. The boat of claim 11, further comprising a bow seating area positioned forward of the primary seating area.
13. The boat of claim 11, further comprising a control console located in the primary seating area proximate the windshield.
14. The boat of claim 1, wherein, when the stowable seat bottom is in the raised position, the stowable seat is an aft-facing seat.
15. The boat of claim 1, wherein the stowable seat includes a seat back, the seat back being movable with the stowable seat bottom and pivotable between a folded position and an upright position, and the seat back being positioned transverse to the stowable seat bottom in the upright position and being positioned parallel to the stowable seat bottom in the folded position.
16. The boat of claim 15, wherein, when the seat back is in the folded position, the seat back includes an upper surface forming a table surface.
17. The boat of claim 1, wherein the stowable seat includes a plurality of seat backs, each seat back of the plurality of seat backs being movable with the stowable seat bottom and pivotable between a folded position and an upright position, and each seat back being positioned transverse to the stowable seat bottom in the upright position and being positioned parallel to the stowable seat bottom in the folded position.
18. A boat comprising: a deck including a floor; a compartment, at least a portion of the compartment being at a level lower than the floor; and a stowable seat including: a stowable seat frame having: a static support having a slot formed therein, at least a portion of the slot being located in the compartment and the slot extending upward therefrom; and a pivot arm with a lower end and an upper end, the lower end pivotably located in the compartment; and a stowable seat bottom movable between a stowed position and a raised position, the stowable seat bottom being located in the compartment in the stowed position, the upper end of the pivot arm being pivotably connected to the stowable seat bottom, the stowable seat bottom including a slider engaged with the slot to slide within the slot as the stowable seat bottom moves between the stowed position and the raised position.
19. The boat of claim 18, wherein the stowable seat bottom includes a front portion and a back portion, the slider being located at the front portion of the stowable seat bottom, and the upper end of the pivot arm being pivotably connected to the back portion of the stowable seat bottom.
20. The boat of claim 18, wherein the static support includes a lock, and the slot includes an upper portion, the lock being located at the upper portion of the slot to retain the slider at the upper portion of the slot.
21. The boat of claim 18, further comprising a first seat with a first seat bottom positioned at a level higher than the floor, the first seat including a first seat support structure to support the first seat bottom and the static support being attached to the first seat support structure.
22. The boat of claim 18, wherein the stowable seat bottom includes a front portion and a back portion, the slider being located at the front portion of the stowable seat bottom, and wherein the stowable seat includes a seat back pivotably connected to the back portion of the stowable seat bottom to pivot between a folded position and an upright position, the seat back being positioned transverse to the stowable seat bottom in the upright position and being positioned parallel to the stowable seat bottom in the folded position.
23. The boat of claim 18, further comprising a biasing member having an extension linkage to exert a biasing force, the extension linkage of the biasing member being connected to the pivot arm between the lower end and the upper end to exert the biasing force on the pivot arm in an upward direction.
24. The boat of claim 18, wherein the stowable seat bottom includes a front portion and a back portion, the stowable seat bottom further including a handle positioned on the front portion.
25. The boat of claim 24, further comprising a biasing member having an extension linkage to exert a biasing force, the biasing member being located in the compartment and positioned to exert the biasing force in an upward direction on the back portion of the stowable seat bottom.
26. The boat of claim 25, further comprising a bell crank including a first attachment point and a second attachment point rotatable together about a pivot, the extension linkage of the biasing member being attached to the first attachment point and a contact surface connected to the second attachment point contacting the back portion of the stowable seat bottom in the stowed position to exert the biasing force in the upward direction.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 shows a boat having a stowable seat.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a top view of the boat shown in FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of a primary seating area of the boat shown in FIG. 1 with the stowable seat in a stowed position.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the primary seating area with the stowable seat in a raised position.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a side view of the stowable seat in the raised position.
[0013] FIG. 6 is another perspective of a portion of the primary seating area with the stowable seat in raised position.
[0014] FIGS. 7A to 7C show a process of moving a stowable seat bottom of the stowable from the stowed position to the raised position. FIG. 7A shows a first step, FIG. 7B shows a second step, and FIG. 7C shows a third step.
[0015] FIG. 8 is another perspective view of the primary seating area showing the back side of the stowable seat in the raised position.
[0016] FIG. 9 is a detail view of a hatch and a stowable seat frame of the stowable seat, showing detail 9 in FIG. 8.
[0017] FIGS. 10A to 10D show ends of a slot of the stowable seat frame. FIG. 10A shows a L-shaped end. FIGS. 10B to 10D show a J-shaped end. FIG. 10B is a perspective view similar to FIG. 10A. FIG. 10C shows a slider of the stowable seat in a locked position, and FIG. 10D shows the slider being moved to or from the locked position.
[0018] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the compartment showing a lift assist system that can be used with the seat bottom.
[0019] FIGS. 12A and 12B show the lift assist system. FIG. 12A shows a bell crank of the lift assist system in a lowered position, and FIG. 12B shows the bell crank in a raised position.
[0020] FIG. 13 shows another stowable seat in a raised position.
[0021] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the stowable seat shown in FIG. 13 in the stowed position.
[0022] FIGS. 15A to 15E illustrate the process of moving the stowable seat shown in FIG. 13 from the stowed position in FIG. 14 to the raised position in FIG. 13. FIG. 15A is a first step. FIG. 15B is a second step. FIG. 15C is a third step. FIG. 15D is a fourth step. FIG. 15E is a fifth step.
[0023] FIG. 16 shows another stowable seat in a raised position.
[0024] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the stowable seat shown in FIG. 16 in the stowed position.
[0025] FIGS. 18A and 18B show a pedestal lift that can be used with the stowable seat shown in FIG. 16. FIG. 18A shows the pedestal lift in a raised position, and FIG. 18B shows the pedestal lift in a lowered position.
[0026] FIGS. 19A and 19B show a parallel bar lift that can be used with the stowable seat shown in FIG. 16. FIG. 19A shows the parallel bar lift in a raised position, and FIG. 19B shows the parallel bar lift in a lowered position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0027] As noted above, recreational boats can be used with water sports. People in the boat often desire to watch the water sports participant, and in some states, a spotter is required by law. Because the water sports participant is behind the boat, it is desirable to have an aft-facing seat within a seating area of the boat. However, because space in a boat is at a premium, the aft-facing seat advantageously is stowable to allow the boat to be reconfigured for other uses. Discussed herein are stowable seats that can be used for such purposes in recreational boats.
[0028] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a boat 100 having a stowable seat 200 according to embodiments discussed herein. The boat 100 includes a hull 110 with a bow 112, a transom 114, a port side 116, and a starboard side 118. The boat 100 has a deck 120 including a floor 121. The port and starboard sides 116, 118 have port and starboard gunwales 122, 124, respectively. In some embodiments, such as for fiberglass boats, the boat 100 can be formed from a hull molding, forming at least a portion of the hull 110, and a deck molding, forming at least a portion of the deck 120 and the floor 121. The top edge of the hull side, such as a top edge of the hull molding where the hull molding comes into contact with the deck molding, defines a sheerline 126 of the boat 100. The port and starboard gunwales 122, 124 can be a generally horizontal surface of the deck molding (generally horizontal deck surface). Alternatively, the port and starboard gunwales 122, 124 can be formed as part of the hull 110 and, more specifically, as part of the hull molding. The port and starboard gunwales 122, 124 can be a top perimeter surface of the deck 120 or hull 110. The boat 100 also can have a rub rail 128, which in some embodiments is positioned over the sheerline 126. The boat 100 has a longitudinal centerline 102 running down the middle of the boat 100, halfway between the port and starboard sides 116, 118. A longitudinal direction is defined parallel to the longitudinal centerline 102, and the longitudinal direction can be a fore and aft direction. A transverse direction is defined transverse to the longitudinal direction, and the transverse direction a port and starboard direction. Collectively, the bow 112, the transom 114, and the port and starboard sides 116, 118 define an interior 130 of the boat 100.
[0029] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the boat 100 is a bowrider having both a bow seating area 132 positioned in the bow 112 of the boat 100 and a primary seating area 134 (sometimes also referred to as the cockpit) positioned aft of a windshield 104. The boat 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 also has a pair of aft-facing seats 136, such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,650,117, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Although described in reference to a bowrider, the stowable seats 200 discussed herein can be used with any suitable deck arrangements. Other boats can include cuddies, center consoles, or cruisers, for example. The stowable seats 200 discussed herein are not limited to use on boats with single decks but can also be used with other boats that have multiple decks, such as a flybridge. The stowable seats 200 discussed herein also can be used with pontoon boats and multi-hull boats.
[0030] The boat 100 includes a horizontal swim platform 106 attached to the transom 114 to make it easier for people to get into the water from the boat 100 or into the boat 100 from the water. A top view of the swim platform 106 is shown in FIG. 2, but the swim platform is omitted from FIG. 1 for clarity. The swim platform 106 should be capable of supporting a human, and the swim platform 106 is preferably capable of supporting at least 500 lbs. and, even more preferably, 1250 lbs. The swim platform 106 may be constructed from any suitable material that may be used in a marine environment, including for example, fiberglass or teak. In this embodiment, the swim platform 106 is attached to the transom 114 of the boat 100 using two brackets screwed to the transom 114; however, the swim platform 106 may be attached to the transom 114 by any suitable means. While the swim platform 106 is described as an attachable/detachable platform, it is not so limited. For example, the swim platform 106 may be integrally formed with the stern 108 of the boat 100.
[0031] The boat 100 shown in FIG. 1 is a recreational boat and, more specifically, a recreational sport boat that may be used for water sports, such as water skiing, wakeboarding, wake surfing, wake foiling, and tubing. The boat 100 thus may be equipped with water sports accessories or systems to facilitate the use of the boat 100 with such activities. These water sports accessories and systems include, for example, devices that interact with the water and are capable of enhancing or otherwise adjusting the wake produced by the boat 100 and tow points for towing water sports participants.
[0032] The boat 100 may include the capability to add ballast. Ballast may be used to increase the weight and displacement of the boat 100 and increase the size of the wake for water sports, such as wakeboarding or wake surfing. Any suitable means to add ballast may be used, including ballast bags (sacks) or ballast tanks. The boat 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes three ballast tanks. The boat 100 includes a stern 108, and preferably, two ballast tanks are positioned in the stern 108 of the boat near the bottom of the hull, one on each side of the boat (a port ballast tank 142 and a starboard ballast tank 144), and a third ballast tank (not shown) is positioned along the boat's centerline near the bottom of the hull, forward of the two stern ballast tanks 142, 144. Ballast bags may be used in addition to the ballast tanks and may be plumbed into the ballast system of the boat 100. Preferably, the ballast bags are positioned above the stern ballast tanks 142, 144 in a compartment underneath the aft-facing seats 136. Both the ballast tanks and the ballast bags operate similarly in that water, such as water surrounding the boat 100, may be pumped into the tank or bag by ballast pumps to add weight. The ballast tanks (e.g., the port ballast tank 142 and the starboard ballast tank 144) and the ballast bags are fluidly coupled to the water surrounding the boat 100 by ballast lines and through-hull fittings. Any suitable ballast system and arrangements tanks, bags, and the like may be used, including, for example, the ballast systems disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 11,254,391, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
[0033] The boat 100 may be equipped with surf devices 152, 154, which may be used to shape the wake of the boat for wake surfing. Any suitable surf devices may be used, including, for example, the port and starboard wake-modifying devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,833,286, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Each of the port and starboard surf devices 152, 154 includes a plate-like member that is pivotably attached to the transom 114 of the boat 100. The plate-like members pivot about pivot axes to move between at least one non-deployed position and at least one deployed position. The port and starboard surf devices 152, 154 may include a plurality of non-deployed and deployed positions. In this embodiment, the pivot axes are hinges. Here, the hinges are piano hinges that are welded to a leading portion of each plate-like member and attached to the transom 114 of the boat 100 using screws. However, any suitable pivotable connection may be used and may be affixed to the transom 114 of the boat 100 and the port and starboard surf devices 152, 154 using any suitable means, including but not limited to bolts, screws, rivets, welding, and epoxy. Each of the port and starboard surf devices 152, 154 also may include one or more downturned and/or upturned surfaces, such as downturned surfaces at the trailing edge of the plate-like members that are angled at a downward angle relative to the plate-like member. However, as noted above, any suitable surf device may be used, and other suitable surf devices may include, for example, the port and starboard wake-modifying devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,802,684, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, and the surf devices disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2022/0089258, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 1, the boat 100 is also equipped with a central trim device (a center tab 156) positioned to span the longitudinal centerline 102 of the boat. Any suitable trim device may be used, but in this embodiment, the center tab 156 is a generally rectangular trim tab that is pivotably attached to the transom 114 of the boat 100. The center tab 156 includes a plate-like member and pivots about a pivot axis to move between at least one non-deployed position and at least one deployed position. The center tab 156 may have a plurality of non-deployed and deployed positions. Like the pivot axes of the surf devices 152, 154, the pivot axis of the center tab 156 may be any suitable pivotable connection affixed to the transom 114 of the boat 100. However, as noted above, any suitable surf device may be used, and other suitable surf devices may include, for example, the center wake-modifying devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 10,358,189, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
[0035] Each of the surf devices 152, 154 and the center tab 156 is movable between the deployed position and the non-deployed position by a drive mechanism 158. In the embodiment shown, one drive mechanism 158 is used for each surf device 152, 154 and the center tab 156, allowing them to be independently operated. Each of the drive mechanisms 158 shown in this embodiment is a linear actuator. The linear actuator may be an electric linear actuator or an electro-hydraulic actuator (EHA). A suitable electric linear actuator may be one from Lenco Marine of Stuart, Florida, and a suitable electro-hydraulic actuator (EHA) may be one available from Parker Hannifin of Marysville, Ohio. One end of the linear actuator is connected to the transom 114 of the boat 100, and the other end is connected to the surf device 152, 154 or center tab 156. Any suitable means may be used to move the surf devices 152, 154 and the center tab 156 between the deployed and non-deployed positions, including but not limited to hydraulic linear actuators, gas assist pneumatic actuators, and electrical motors.
[0036] The boat 100 is also equipped with an apparatus for towing a water sports participant. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the towing apparatus is a tower 160 that is particularly used for towing a wakeboarder. Any suitable tower 160 may be used, including, for example, those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,580,155 and 10,150,540, which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. The tower 160 includes two legs: a port leg 162 and a starboard leg 164. The port leg 162 is attached to the boat 100 on the port side of the longitudinal centerline 102 of the boat 100, and the starboard leg 164 is attached to the boat 100 on the starboard side of the longitudinal centerline 102 of the boat 100. Preferably, the port and starboard legs 162, 164 are attached to the port gunwale 122 and to the starboard gunwale 124, respectively. The tower 160 also includes a header 166. The header 166 is connected to an upper portion of each of the two legs 162, 164 and spans the interior 130 of the boat 100 at a height suitable for passengers to pass underneath while standing. In addition, the tower 160 has a towline-attachment structure 168 at an upper portion of the tower 160 (the header 166 in this embodiment). This towline-attachment structure 168 may be used to connect a towline suitable for towing a water sports participant, such as a wakeboarder. Any suitable towline-attachment structure may be used, including but not limited to the integrated light and towline-attachment assembly disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,539,886, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Additionally or alternatively, towline-attachment structures 168 may be located elsewhere on the boat, such as on the transom 114 or a portion deck in the stern 108. Such lower towline-attachment structures 168 are preferably used for water sports like tubing.
[0037] The boat 100 of this embodiment is an inboard boat. However, this invention can be utilized with other types of boats and propulsion systems, including but not limited to outboard motors, sterndrives, jet drives, and the like. The boat includes a propulsion system, and propulsion system includes a motor operatively coupled to a propulsor to drive the propulsor. The motor can be a combustion engine or an electrical motor, for example. The propulsor of the inboard boat is a propeller, but other suitable propulsors may be used, such as, for example, impellers in jet drives. The engine is configured to drive (rotate) the propeller, and the engine is connected to the propeller by a drive shaft. The engine is located within the interior 130 of the boat 100, and the drive shaft extends through the hull bottom 119. The engine is coupled to the drive shaft to rotate the drive shaft, and thus the propeller. The propeller is positioned beneath the hull bottom 119 and forward of the transom 114. The propulsion system, specifically, the engine and the drive shaft, can be arranged in a V-drive arrangement, allowing the engine to be located aft in the stern 108 of the boat 100 and further increasing the displacement of the stern 108 of the boat 100 for water sports, such as wake surfing or wake boarding. The propulsion system may be arranged in other inboard arrangements, such as a direct drive arrangement, which may be preferred for water ski boats where increased displacement is not desired.
[0038] A rudder for turning the boat 100 is positioned behind (aft of) the propeller. A user may turn the boat 100 by rotating a steering wheel 175 located at a control console 170 of the boat 100. The steering wheel 175 is coupled to the rudder such that turning the steering wheel 175 rotates the rudder. Any suitable steering system may be used, including mechanical rack-and-pinion systems connected to the rudder by mechanical linkages, hydraulic steering systems, electronic steering systems, or the rudder system shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,611,009, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. In other embodiments, for example, the steering wheel 175 may rotate a marine drive of an outboard or sterndrive or a nozzle of a jet drive when these other propulsions systems are used.
[0039] The boat 100 can be operated by an operator or driver at a control console 170 located within the interior 130 of the boat 100 and, more specifically, within the primary seating area 134. Here, the control console 170 is positioned on the starboard side of the boat 100 proximate to and aft of the windshield 104. The control console 170 is used to support and enclose various controls for operating the boat 100. As noted above, the steering wheel 175 are located at the control console 170. The engine and the propeller may be operated by a user at the control console 170. The control console 170 may include a forward control operable to engage the motor with the propulsor to move the boat in a forward direction and a reverse control operable to engage the motor with the propulsor to move the boat in an aft direction. Although other suitable forward and reverse controls may be used, such as buttons or switches, the forward and reverse control in this embodiment is a control lever 177 that operates a throttle of the engine and engages the engine with the drive shaft.
[0040] The control console 170 may also include at least one display screen. In this embodiment, the control console 170 includes two display screens, a center display 171 and a side display 173. The center display 171 may be positioned and oriented so that the operator can be aware of the information displayed on the center display 171 without substantially deviating his or her attention from the boat's heading. In this embodiment, for example, the center display 171 is located at the top of the dash forward of the steering wheel 175 and above the steering column of the steering wheel 175 so that the operator is able to view the information displayed on the center display 171 without turning his or her head. Although the center display 171 may be a touchscreen, the center display 171 in this particular embodiment is not because of the positioning of the center display 171 and the type of information displayed on it. The positioning of the center display 171 makes it difficult or awkward for a user to reach with his or her hand, so to the extent that user-selectable options are displayed on the center display 171, they may be selected by using a section knob, switch pad, or another suitable input device (user interface). In this embodiment the center display 171 is a rectangular 15-inch screen.
[0041] The control console 170 includes input devices 179 that are used to select various functions or options and operate various features and systems of the boat. Such input devices 179 may be operator controls. Many of the input devices 179 on the boat 100 may be conveniently located on the control console 170 to the side of the steering wheel 175. In this embodiment, the input devices 179 are located on the outboard side of the steering wheel 175 and can be conveniently operated by the operator's right hand. One of the main input devices 179 in this embodiment is the side display 173. In this embodiment, the side display 173 is a 15 inch, rectangular, touchscreen display, and a plurality of user-selectable elements (controls) are displayed on the side display 173. The plurality of user-selectable options are icons displayed on the side display 173 that may be selected by a user pressing the icon. The terms icon, virtual button, and button will be used interchangeably herein to describe these and other user-selectable options displayed by a controller on the side display 173. When a user-selectable option is selected or activated, the side display 173 generates an output or signal that is transmitted to the controller, for example. Other input devices 179 (controls) may include other static buttons and switches that are part of, for example, a switch pack. These static buttons and switches are another example of user-selectable elements (controls).
[0042] As noted above, the boat 100 includes a plurality of seating areas within the interior 130 of the boat 100. More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the boat 100 includes a bow seating area 132 and a primary seating area 134. Each of the bow seating area 132 and the primary seating area 134 includes a plurality of seats. As depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, the primary seating area 134 includes a helm seat 138, a starboard seat 180, a port seat 190, and the stowable seat 200. As will be discussed further below, the stowable seat 200 is movable between a stowed position and a raised position. The stowable seat 200 is shown in the stowed position in FIGS. 1 and 2. The helm seat 138 is positioned at the control console 170 and is a seat for the operator to use when operating the boat 100.
[0043] The starboard seat 180 depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a seat bottom, which is referred to herein as a starboard seat bottom 181. The starboard seat bottom 181 includes a cushion, which is referred to herein as a starboard seat bottom cushion 183. The cushions discussed herein, including the starboard seat bottom cushion 183, can be constructed from a soft but supportive material, such as triple-density foam, and covered with a waterproof material, such as premium grade vinyl. The underside of the cushions can have backing material, such as backing board. All of the seat bottoms or other cushions discussed herein can have this structure.
[0044] The starboard seat bottom 181 is supported by a seat support structure, more specifically a starboard seat support structure 185. The seat bottoms discussed herein, including the starboard seat bottom 181, can comprise a structural member covered by a cushion, such as the starboard seat bottom cushion 183, on at least the side facing the occupant. The seat bottom structural member extends underneath the cushion to support the cushion. The seat bottom structural member can also be referred to as a sub-structure of the seat. The seat bottom structural member can be a generally planar structure, such as a plate, or include a plurality of generally planar surfaces, such as a frame, to support the starboard seat bottom cushion 183. The seat bottom structural member may be made from any structural material suitable for the marine environment and capable of supporting the weight of an adult. For the starboard seat 180, the seat bottom structural member is integrally formed as part of the starboard seat support structure 185. Alternatively, the seat bottom structural member can be formed separately from the starboard seat support structure 185 and attached thereto. The starboard seat support structure 185 in the boat 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a raised portion of the deck 120 and formed integrally with the deck 120. The deck 120 can be fiberglass and thus, as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, the starboard seat support structure 185 is molded seat support structure and, more specifically, fiberglass. The starboard seat support structure 185 can be formed of a plurality of side walls, including the starboard seat side wall 189 shown in FIG. 1. The upper edge of the side walls forms the seat bottom structural member in the depicted embodiment. The starboard seat support structure 185 and starboard seat side wall 189 is positioned adjacent to the position of the deck 120 having the floor 121.
[0045] The starboard seat 180 can be various different types of seats. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the starboard seat 180 is a bench seat extending in the longitudinal direction of the boat 100. The starboard seat 180 is positioned adjacent to the inner sidewall of the boat 100 and, more specifically, the inner starboard sidewall of the starboard side 118 of the hull 110. The starboard seat 180 includes a starboard seat back 187, which can include a cushion mounted on the inner starboard sidewall.
[0046] The port seat 190 is constructed in a manner similar to the starboard seat 180. More specifically, the port seat 190 includes a port seat bottom 191, a port seat bottom cushion 193 (FIG. 6), a port seat support structure 195, a port seat back 197, and a port seat side wall 199. The above discussion of the starboard seat 180 also applies to the corresponding features of the port seat 190. The port seat 190 likewise is a bench seat extending in the longitudinal direction of the boat 100. The port seat 190 is positioned parallel to the starboard seat 180 and, more specifically, the port seat bottom 191 of the port seat 190 is positioned parallel to the starboard seat bottom 181 of the starboard seat 180. The floor 121 is positioned between the starboard seat 180 and the port seat 190. The starboard seat 180 and the port seat 190 can, together with other seats (or seat sections), form a U-shaped seating arrangement in the primary seating area 134. In some seating arrangements, the starboard seat 180 and the port seat 190 (or portions thereof, such as the starboard seat support structure 185 and the port seat support structure 195) can be integrally formed with each other.
[0047] The starboard seat 180 and the port seat 190 can each form a fixed-seat assembly within the primary seating area 134. Each fixed-seat assembly remains installed in a fixed location on the boat 100 and is supported by the corresponding seat support structure 185, 195, which can be integrally formed with, attached to, or otherwise supported by the deck 120. The fixed-seat assemblies, such as starboard seat 180 and the port seat 190, are non-hidden seats that remain exposed and available for use during normal operation of the boat 100. The seat bottoms 181, 191 of the fixed-seat assemblies can be movable to a limited extent relative to the seat support structures 185, 195. For example, each seat bottom 181, 191 can be configured to pivot, lift, or otherwise adjust in height or inclination to provide access to a compartment located beneath the seat bottom or to enhance occupant comfort.
[0048] The primary seating area 134 also includes a stowable seat 200 movable between a stowed position and a raised position. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the stowable seat 200 is positioned in the stowed position. The stowable seat 200 can be positioned within a compartment 210 in the stowed position. The compartment 210 can be seen in FIG. 5, and at least a portion of the compartment 210 can be at a level lower than the floor 121, such as the entirety of the compartment 210 being at a level lower than the floor 121. The compartment 210 can be a compartment formed underneath the deck 120 or, as shown in FIG. 5, a recessed portion of the deck 120. The compartment 210 includes an opening 212. The opening 212 can be an opening formed in the floor 121 of the deck 120. The compartment 210 also includes a hatch 214. The hatch 214 is movable between an open position and a closed position. The hatch 214 is shown in the open position in FIG. 5. In the open position, the hatch 214 allows access to the compartment 210 via the opening 212.
[0049] Returning to FIGS. 1 and 2, the hatch 214 is shown in the closed position. In the closed position, the hatch 214 is positioned over the opening 212 to close the compartment 210. The hatch 214 includes a top surface 216. When the hatch 214 is in the closed position, the top surface 216 of the hatch 214 forms a surface with the floor 121. The top surface 216 of the hatch 214 can form a continuous surface with the floor 121. The top surface 216 of the hatch 214 can be coplanar with the floor 121.
[0050] The compartment 210 is positioned laterally between the starboard seat 180 and the port seat 190 relative to the transverse direction of the boat. More specifically, the compartment 210 can be positioned between the starboard seat 180 and the port seat 190 at one end of each of the starboard seat 180 and the port seat 190. The compartment 210 can be positioned between the starboard seat 180 and the port seat 190 at a forward portion of each of the starboard seat bottom 181 and the port seat bottom 191, for example. The compartment 210 can also be located aft of the windshield 104, such as aft of the control console 170. As shown in FIG. 2, the boat 100 can include a walkthrough 139 connecting the primary seating area 134 with the bow seating area 132. The walkthrough 139 can be adjacent to the control console 170. The boat 100 can also include a passenger side console, and the walkthrough 139 is located between the passenger side console and the control console 170. The compartment 210 can be positioned aft of the walkthrough 139.
[0051] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the primary seating area 134 with the stowable seat 200 in the stowed position. The compartment 210 is positioned between the starboard seat 180 and the port seat 190 (FIGS. 1 and 2) and, more specifically, between the starboard seat side wall 189 and the port seat side wall 199 (FIG. 2). The hatch 214 is shown in the closed position.
[0052] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the primary seating area 134 with the stowable seat 200 in the raised position. The raised position can also be a seated position. The stowable seat 200 includes a seat bottom that is movable between the stowed position and the raised position. The seat bottom of the stowable seat 200 is referred to herein as a stowable seat bottom 220. The stowable seat bottom 220 includes a seat bottom structural member (a stowable seat bottom structural member 221). The stowable seat bottom structural member 221 can be any of the structural members discussed above including, for example, a framework, such as a metal framework or a plastic molded framework. The stowable seat 200 includes one or more seat bottom cushions, such as a port stowable seat bottom cushion 223 and a starboard stowable seat bottom cushion 225. The port stowable seat bottom cushion 223 and the starboard stowable seat bottom cushion 225 can be positioned adjacent to each other to form a continuous seating surface. Similarly, the stowable seat bottom 220 can be located adjacent to the starboard seat bottom 181, the port seat bottom 191 (FIG. 6), or both, as shown in FIG. 4. More specifically, the port stowable seat bottom cushion 223 can be positioned to form a continuous seating surface with the port seat bottom cushion 193, and the starboard stowable seat bottom cushion 225 can be positioned to form a continuous seating surface with the starboard seat bottom cushion 183. The stowable seat bottom 220 can include a front portion 227 and a back portion 229. The front portion 227 and the back portion 229 of the stowable seat bottom 220 are taken, herein, as relative to the normal orientation of the stowable seat bottom 220 in a seating configuration and do not necessarily correspond to a forward or aft direction of the boat 100. The stowable seat bottom 220 can be above the compartment 210 or adjacent thereto in the raised position, and thus the discussion of the positioning of the compartment 210 within the boat 100 also applies to the stowable seat bottom 220 in the raised position.
[0053] The stowable seat 200 also includes one or more seat backs, such as a plurality of seat backs, including a port stowable seat back 232 and a starboard stowable seat back 234. The port stowable seat back 232 and the starboard stowable seat back 234 correspond, respectively, to the port stowable seat bottom cushion 223 and the starboard stowable seat bottom cushion 225. Accordingly, the port stowable seat back 232 forms a seat back for a person seated on the port stowable seat bottom cushion 223, and the starboard stowable seat back 234 forms a seat back for a person seated on the starboard stowable seat bottom cushion 225.
[0054] As depicted, the port stowable seat back 232 and the starboard stowable seat back 234 are similar to each other. The following discussion will reference the port stowable seat back 232 and the port stowable seat bottom cushion 223, but it also applies equally to the starboard stowable seat back 234 and the starboard stowable seat bottom cushion 225. The port stowable seat back 232 is movable between a folded position and an upright position. The upright position is shown in FIG. 5. The port stowable seat back 232 is positioned on the back portion 229 of the of the stowable seat bottom 220. The port stowable seat back 232 can be connected to the back portion 229 of the stowable seat bottom 220 in the upright position to be capable of supporting the back of a person seated on the stowable seat bottom 220 and, more specifically, the port stowable seat bottom cushion 223. In the upright position, the port stowable seat back 232 is positioned transversely to the port stowable seat bottom cushion 223. When in the upright position, the angle between a front surface 236 of the port stowable seat back 232 and a seating surface of the port stowable seat bottom cushion 223 is set so that a person can comfortably sit on the stowable seat 200. This angle can be 90 degrees or greater, such as from 95 degrees to 135 degrees.
[0055] The stowable seat 200 shown in FIG. 4 is arranged as an aft-facing seat. In this configuration, the front surface 236 of the port stowable seat back 232 serves as the aft-facing surface when the seat back 232 is in the upright position. The stowable seat bottom 220 has a width that extends in a direction transverse to the port seat bottom 191, the starboard seat bottom 181, or both. As illustrated, the stowable seat bottom 220 extends in the transverse direction of the boat 100, for example in a port-to-starboard direction. In other embodiments, the stowable seat 200 can be arranged in alternative orientations, such as a forward-facing, inboard-facing, or outboard-facing seat. In these arrangements, the stowable seat bottom 220 can extend in a longitudinal direction of the boat 100, for example in a forward-to-aft direction.
[0056] FIG. 5 is a side view of the stowable seat 200. FIG. 5 illustrates the port stowable seat back 232 moving from the folded position to the upright position. When in the folded position, the port stowable seat back 232 can be parallel to the port stowable seat bottom cushion 223. The port stowable seat back 232 can sit or rest on top of the port stowable seat bottom cushion 223 with the front surface 236, or a portion thereof, abutting the top surface (a seating surface) of the port stowable seat bottom cushion 223.
[0057] As noted above, the port stowable seat back 232 is movable relative to the port stowable seat bottom cushion 223. More specifically, the port stowable seat back 232 is pivotably attached to the stowable seat bottom 220 and pivots with respect to the stowable seat bottom 220. The port stowable seat back 232 can be pivotably attached to the back portion 229 of the stowable seat bottom 220. The port stowable seat back 232 can be manually movable between the folded position and the upright position. For example, a person can grasp the port stowable seat back 232 and pivot the port stowable seat back 232 from the folded position to the upright position as indicted by arrow A in FIG. 5. To move the port stowable seat back 232 from the upright position to the folded position, a user can grasp the port stowable seat back 232 and move the port stowable seat back 232 in the opposite direction.
[0058] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the primary seating area 134 similar to FIG. 4, except in FIG. 6, the port stowable seat back 232 is in the upright position and the starboard stowable seat back 234 is in the folded position. The port stowable seat back 232 and the starboard stowable seat back 234 can be independently movable. Each of the port stowable seat back 232 and the starboard stowable seat back 234 has a back surface 238. In the folded position, the back surface 238 can function as a table surface and can include features for supporting items placed thereon, such as a flat surface, cutouts for drinkware or dinnerware, or both.
[0059] Referring back to FIG. 5, the stowable seat bottom 220 includes a stowable seat frame 240. The stowable seat frame 240 includes one or more static supports 242 and one or more pivot arms 244. Here, the stowable seat frame 240 includes a port static support on the port side of the stowable seat bottom 220 and a starboard static support on the starboard side of the stowable seat bottom 220. The port static support and the starboard static support are mirror images of each other, and reference numeral 242 will apply to either static support unless otherwise indicated. Similarly, the stowable seat frame 240 includes a port pivot arm on the port side of the stowable seat bottom 220 and a starboard pivot arm on the starboard side of the stowable seat bottom 220. The port pivot arm and the starboard pivot arm are mirror images of each other, and reference numeral 244 will apply to either pivot arm unless otherwise indicated.
[0060] The static support 242 can be a bar with a slot 250 formed therein. The static support 242 can be formed of various suitable materials including metals, such as stainless steel, or plastics. The static support 242 can be attached to one of the seat support structures or another portion of the deck 120. For example, the starboard static support can be attached to the starboard seat side wall 189 (see FIGS. 1, 3, and 4), and the port static support can be attached to the port seat side wall 199 (see FIG. 4). Although shown as a separate structure, the static support 242 can be integrally formed with the starboard seat side wall 189 and the port seat side wall 199, such as having the slot 250 formed therein. The slot 250 shown in FIG. 5 includes a horizontal portion 252 at one end of the static support 242, a vertical portion 254 at the other end of the static support 242, and an angled portion 256 connecting the vertical portion 254 with the horizontal portion 252. The vertical portion 254 can be located in the compartment 210, such as at an aft portion of the compartment 210. The angled portion 256 extends upward and away from of the vertical portion 254 to the horizontal portion 252. The angled portion 256 can thus extend away from the compartment 210, such as in an aft direction to extend upward and aft of the vertical portion 254. The stowable seat bottom 220 can have other arrangements and movement directions, and the static support 242, with slot 250 formed therein, can be positioned in other directions to extend from the compartment 210. For example, the static support 242 can be positioned with the angled portion 256 extending forward from the compartment 210, inboard from the compartment, or outboard from the compartment.
[0061] The stowable seat bottom 220 includes a slider 258 (see also FIG. 10A), such as a pin, that engages with a corresponding one of the slots 250. The stowable seat bottom 220 includes a port slider on the port side of the stowable seat bottom 220 and a starboard slider on the starboard side of the stowable seat bottom 220 that engage with the port static support and the starboard static support, respectively. The port slider and the starboard slider are mirror images of each other, and reference numeral 258 will apply to either slider unless otherwise indicated. The sliders 258 are located on the front portion 227 of the stowable seat bottom 220. The static support 242 and, more specifically, the horizontal portion 252 of the slot 250, supports the slider 258, and thus the stowable seat bottom 220, when the stowable seat bottom 220 is in the raised position. The slot 250 also guides the slider 258 as the stowable seat bottom 220 is moved between the raised position and the stowed position, as will be discussed further below.
[0062] The stowable seat bottom 220 is supported by the pivot arm 244 in the raised position. The pivot arm 244 can be attached to the back portion 229 of the stowable seat bottom 220 to support the back portion 229. The pivot arm 244 is in an upright orientation, such as a generally vertical orientation, to support a downward load from the stowable seat bottom 220 when the stowable seat bottom 220 is in the raised position and, in this orientation, includes a lower end and an upper end. The upper end of the pivot arm 244 is attached to the stowable seat bottom 220, such as pivotably attached to the stowable seat bottom 220. The pivot arm 244 also can be attached to the compartment 210, and when the compartment 210 is part of the deck 120, the pivot arm 244 can be attached to the deck 120 to support the stowable seat bottom 220. The pivot arm 244 can be attached to an aft portion of the compartment 210, such as proximate to the vertical portion 254 of the static support 242, or even directly attached to the static support 242. The lower end of the pivot arm 244 thus can be pivotably located in the compartment 210, such as having a pivotable connection within the compartment 210. The pivot arm 244 also can be a bar, such as a metal bar (e.g., stainless steel) or plastic bar, having a suitable strength to support the design load of the stowable seat bottom 220.
[0063] The stowable seat frame 240 can include one or more biasing members to aid in moving the stowable seat bottom 220 between the stowed position and the raised position. One biasing member, referred to herein as a pivot arm biasing member 246, can be attached to the pivot arm 244, for example, to exert a biasing force on the pivot arm 244 and thus the stowable seat bottom 220. In FIG. 5, the pivot arm biasing member 246 is a pneumatic spring or pneumatic cylinder, but other biasing members can be used such as other types of springs, including but not limited to coil springs (e.g., extension springs or compression springs). The pivot arm biasing member 246 includes an extension linkage 248 connected to the pivot arm 244 to exert the biasing force on the pivot arm 244 in an upward direction. In FIG. 5, the extension linkage 248 is a rod of the pneumatic spring that is extended by the pneumatic force of the cylinder, but the extension linkage, in other biasing members, can be other portions of the biasing member that are moved by the biasing member, such as an integrally formed portion of a spring. The extension linkage 248 is connected to the pivot arm 244 between the lower end and the upper end of the pivot arm 244. The pivot arm biasing member 246 also imparts the biasing force in a direction to help hold the pivot arm 244 in the upright position to support the stowable seat bottom 220. The biasing direction of the pivot arm biasing member 246 shown in FIG. 5 is thus an aft direction and, more specifically, an upward and aft direction.
[0064] FIGS. 7A to 7C show a process of moving the stowable seat bottom 220 from the stowed position to the raised position. FIG. 7A shows a first step, FIG. 7B shows a second step, and FIG. 7C shows a third step. Initially, as shown in FIG. 7A, the hatch 214 is moved by a user from the closed position (see FIG. 3) to the open position. The hatch 214 can be pivotably attached to the deck 120 by, for example, a hinge. The hatch 214 can be manually opened by the user grasping a portion of the hatch 214, such as a flush pull ring, to move the hatch 214 in the direction indicated by arrow B. The hatch 214 can include one or more biasing members to aid in moving the hatch 214 to the open position and holding the hatch 214 in the open position. These biasing members are referred to herein as hatch biasing members 218. The hatch biasing member 218 can be similar to the pivot arm biasing member 246, and the discussion above applies here. The hatch biasing member 218 is connected to the hatch 214 to impart the biasing force in an upward direction to help the hatch 214 open and hold the hatch 214 in the open position.
[0065] FIG. 7B shows a second step. After the hatch 214 has been moved to the open position, the stowable seat bottom 220 can be moved from the stowed position shown in FIG. 7B to the raised position shown in FIG. 7C. The stowable seat bottom 220 is manually moved in this embodiment, and a user can grasp the stowable seat bottom 220 to move the stowable seat bottom 220. As shown in FIG. 4, the stowable seat bottom 220 can include a handle 260, which provides a place for the user to grasp and move the stowable seat bottom 220. The handle 260 can include, for example, a handhold 262 to be grasped by the user and a hand opening 264 that provides space for the user to grasp the handhold 262. The hand opening 264 can be shaped to double as a cupholder. The handle 260 can be centrally located on the stowable seat bottom 220 and can be located on the front portion 227 of the stowable seat bottom 220. More specifically, the handle 260 can be located between the port stowable seat bottom cushion 223 and the starboard stowable seat bottom cushion 225.
[0066] Referring back to FIG. 7B, the user can pull upward on the stowable seat bottom 220 by grasping the handle 260 (FIG. 4) to raise the stowable seat bottom 220 out of the compartment 210. During this initial movement, the vertical portion 254 of the slot 250 guides the stowable seat bottom 220. The user can then continue pulling upward and aftward on the stowable seat bottom 220 (as indicated by arrow C) to move it into the raised position, with the angled portion 256 and the horizontal portion 252 of the slot 250 directing the motion. In alternative arrangements, the stowable seat bottom 220 can be configured to follow other paths of movement. For example, the static support 242, with the slot 250 formed therein, can be oriented differently relative to the compartment 210 to permit extension in other directions. In such cases, the user can pull the stowable seat bottom 220 upward and forward, upward and inboard, or upward and outboard, in addition to or instead of upward and aftward, to transition the stowable seat bottom 220 into the raised position.
[0067] FIG. 7C shows the stowable seat bottom 220 in the raised position and illustrates a third step. The slot 250 can include a recess 272 below the bottom edge of the slot 250. The horizontal portion 252 of the slot 250 can thus have an L-shape or a J-shape. When the slider 258 reaches the recess 272, the slider 258 can move down in the recess 272, providing a positioning and retention feature for the stowable seat bottom 220. Then, the port stowable seat back 232, the starboard stowable seat back 234, or both can be moved to the upright position by moving in the direction indicated by arrow A in the manner discussed above.
[0068] FIG. 8 is another perspective view of a portion of the primary seating area 134 showing the back side of the stowable seat 200 in the raised position. The hatch 214 opens and closes on one side of the compartment 210, which is the forward side of the compartment 210 in FIG. 8, and the stowable seat bottom 220 is located, in the raised position, on the opposite side of the compartment 210, which is the aft side of the compartment 210 in FIG. 8. With the stowable seat bottom 220 in the raised position, the hatch 214 can move between the open position and the closed position, allowing the compartment 210 to be closed when the stowable seat bottom 220 is in the raised position. The hatch 214 is shown in the closed position in FIG. 8. As noted above, however, the static support 242 and the stowable seat bottom 220 in the raised position can be positioned on other sides of the compartment 210 and thus the hatch 214 can be positioned on a side opposite the static support 242 and the stowable seat bottom 220, accordingly. After one of the steps shown in FIG. 7B or 7C, the hatch 214 is closed and positioned as shown in FIG. 8. To move the stowable seat bottom 220 from the raised position to the stowed position, the steps discussed above can be reversed.
[0069] FIG. 9 is a detail view of the hatch 214 and the stowable seat frame 240 of the stowable seat 200, showing detail 9 in FIG. 8. The hatch 214 also can be used as a retention feature to help hold the stowable seat bottom 220 in the raised position. The hatch 214 can include a cutout 219 sized and positioned to fit around the pivot arm 244 when the pivot arm is in the upright orientation. More specifically, the cutout 219 sandwiches the pivot arm 244 between the hatch 214 and a side wall of the compartment 210 to hold the pivot arm 244 in the upright orientation. The hatch 214 thus can lock or otherwise secure the stowable seat bottom 220 in the raised position when the hatch 214 is in the closed position and the stowable seat bottom 220 is in the raised position.
[0070] FIG. 10A shows an L-shaped end 270 of the slot 250. In addition to or instead of the hatch 214, other retention features, such as locking mechanisms, may be used to lock or otherwise secure the stowable seat bottom 220 in the upright position. As noted above, the slider 258 can be located in the recess 272 in the raised position. Here, the recess 272 is positioned and connected to the slot 250 and, more specifically, the horizontal portion 252 of the slot 250, to form an L-shape, although the recess 272 and slot 250 can be arranged to form other shapes, as noted above.
[0071] A lock can be used to secure the stowable seat bottom 220 in the raised position. The locking mechanism of the lock shown in FIG. 10A includes a locking pin 274 to hold the slider 258 in the recess 272. The locking pin 274 can be positioned over the slider 258 to prevent the slider from rising up out of the recess 272 and into the horizontal portion 252 of the slot 250. This is referred to herein as an extended position. The locking pin 274 can include a spring or other biasing member to hold the locking pin 274 in the extended position. The locking pin 274 can be positioned at the end of the horizontal portion 252 of the slot 250 such that when the slider 258 contacts an end of the locking pin 274 as the stowable seat bottom 220 is being moved from the stowed position to the raised position, the slider 258 pushes the locking pin 274 to a retracted position, allowing the slider 258 to move into the recess 272. Once the slider 258 is located in the recess 272, the locking pin 274 moves back to the extended position, locking the slider 258 in the recess 272, as depicted in FIG. 10A.
[0072] The locking pin 274 can be connected to a knob 276. To move the stowable seat bottom 220 to the stowed position from the raised position, an operator can move the knob 276 to the retracted position, allowing the slider 258 to move up out of the recess 272 and into the horizontal portion 252 of the slot 250, where the slider 258 together with the stowable seat bottom 220 can be moved to the stowed position.
[0073] FIGS. 10B through 10D illustrate a J-shaped end 280 of the slot 250. As previously described, the recess 272 and slot 250 can be arranged to form various shapes. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10B, the recess 272 is positioned adjacent to and connected with the horizontal portion 252 of the slot 250 to define the J-shaped configuration. The recess 272 includes an opening 282 that provides communication between the slot 250 and the recess 272. The opening 282 is delineated, in part, by a lip 284 formed between the slot 250 and the recess 272. A surface of the lip 284 facing the slot 250 can be upwardly angled. An inward-facing surface 286 of the slot 250 is located opposite the lip 284 to further define the opening 282. The opening 282 has an opening width (w.sub.0) defined as the distance between the lip 284 and the inward-facing surface 286. The effective width of the opening 282 can vary relative to the opening width (w.sub.0) based on the state of a resilient projection 288 located within the opening 282, as described below.
[0074] The locking arrangement shown in FIG. 10B can be described as a soft lock. The locking mechanism includes a compressible, resilient projection 288 located within the opening 282. The resilient projection 288 is positioned on or formed as part of the inward-facing surface 286 and projects toward the lip 284. The resilient projection 288 can be formed of an elastomeric material, such as an O-ring, or another resilient element capable of elastic deformation. In a non-compressed state (see FIG. 10C), the resilient projection 288 partially occupies the opening 282 such that a first effective width (w.sub.1) of the opening 282, measured between the resilient projection 288 and the lip 284, is less than a corresponding width of the slider 258. In this condition, the slider 258 is retained within the recess 272 and prevented from moving out through the opening 282. When a sufficient external force is applied to the slider 258, the slider 258 bears against the resilient projection 288, compressing it to increase the effective width of the opening 282 to a second effective width (w.sub.2). The second effective width (w.sub.2) is greater than the width of the slider 258, allowing the slider 258 to move between the recess 272 and the slot 250, as shown in FIG. 10D. The resilient projection 288 then returns to its non-compressed state to reestablish the first effective width (w.sub.1), thereby retaining the slider 258 within the recess 272 during normal operation of the boat 100, as depicted in FIG. 10C.
[0075] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the compartment 210 showing a lift assist system 290 that can be used with the stowable seat bottom 220. As noted above, biasing members, such as the pivot arm biasing member 246, can be used to help move the stowable seat bottom 220 from the stowed position to the raised position. With the arrangement of the pivot arm biasing member 246 above, much of the biasing force when the stowable seat bottom 220 is in the stowed position is directed in an aftward direction and a smaller amount is directed upward. The stowable seat 200 can include a lift assist system 290 to help start movement of the stowable seat bottom 220, such as the vertical movement out of the compartment 210. The lift assist system 290 is positioned near the bottom of the compartment 210, such as attached to one of the sidewalls of the compartment 210. The lift assist system 290 shown in FIG. 11 is attached to a forward wall of the compartment 210. The lift assist system 290 can include one or more biasing members to aid in moving the stowable seat bottom 220 upward out of the compartment 210. This biasing member is referred to herein as a lift biasing member 291. The lift biasing member 291 is similar to the pivot arm biasing member 246 and the discussion above applies here. The lift biasing member 291 is positioned in the compartment 210 to impart the biasing force in an upward direction to help move the stowable seat bottom 220 from within the compartment 210.
[0076] FIGS. 12A and 12B show the lift assist system 290. The lift assist system 290 uses a bell crank 293 to impart the biasing force to the stowable seat bottom 220. FIG. 12A shows the bell crank 293 in a lowered position, and FIG. 12B shows the bell crank 293 in a raised position. The bell crank 293 includes a linkage assembly 294 including a first attachment point 295 and a second attachment point 296. The linkage assembly 294 is rotatable about a pivot 297. The distance from the pivot 297 to the first attachment point 295 forms a first lever arm (distance d.sub.1), and the distance from the pivot 297 to the second attachment point 296 forms a second lever arm (distance d.sub.2). The first attachment point 295 and the second attachment point 296 are attached to each other, such as by the linkage assembly 294, to pivot together, and rotation of one causes the other to rotate.
[0077] The extension linkage 248 of the lift biasing member 291 is attached to the linkage assembly 294 at the first attachment point 295. A contact surface, such as a contact surface of a contacting projection, is connected to the second attachment point 296 and contacts the stowable seat bottom 220 in the stowed position to exert the biasing force in the upward direction. The contacting projection can be a pin 298, for example, and the outer surface of the pin 298 is the contacting surface. More specifically, the pin 298 contacts the back portion 229 of the stowable seat bottom 220, such as, for example, the underside of the stowable seat bottom 220. With the stowable seat bottom 220 in the stowed position, the stowable seat bottom 220 moves the pin 298 and the second attachment point 296 against the biasing force of the lift biasing member 291, and the bell crank 293 is in the lowered position shown in FIG. 12A. The biasing force from the lift biasing member 291 imparts an upward force on the stowable seat bottom 220 to help a user lift the stowable seat bottom 220, and as the user lifts the stowable seat bottom 220, the lift biasing member 291 moves the first attachment point 295 laterally to rotate the second attachment point 296 and pin 298 about the pivot 297, moving in the direction indicated by arrow D. The pin 298 imparts an upward force on the stowable seat bottom 220 to aid in removing the stowable seat bottom from the compartment 210.
[0078] The bell crank 293 is used to change the direction of force applied by the stowable seat bottom 220 and the lift biasing member 291. As shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B for example, the angle between the first lever arm distance and the second lever arm distance is less than 180 degrees, such as from 80 degrees to 100 degrees so the horizontal movement of the lift biasing member 291 imparts an upward force on the stowable seat bottom 220. The ratio between the first lever arm (distance d.sub.1) and the second lever arm (distance d.sub.2) can be used as a force multiplier, to change the amount of linear displacement, or both. In FIGS. 12A and 12B, for example the second lever arm (distance d.sub.2) is longer than the first lever arm (distance d.sub.1), reducing the force applied to the stowable seat bottom 220 from the lift biasing member 291, and increased the distance that the force is applicable, relative to the distance that the extension linkage 248 of the lift biasing member 291 moves.
[0079] Other types of stowable seats can be positioned as discussed above with the compartment and raised positions located in the manner discussed above. FIGS. 13 to 19B illustrate additional stowable seats and components thereof that can be used in the boat 100 in a manner similar to the stowable seat 200. The stowable seats discussed below are similar to the stowable seat 200 discussed above, and when a feature is described as being similar to another feature above, the discussion of the feature above applies.
[0080] FIG. 13 shows another stowable seat 300 in a raised position. The stowable seat 300 includes a stowable seat bottom 310 having a stowable seat bottom structural member 311 and a seat bottom cushion 320 similar to the stowable seat bottom 220 discussed above. The stowable seat bottom 310 includes a front portion 313 and a back portion 315. The seat bottom cushion 320 includes a seating surface 322, which in the raised position, is an upward facing surface of the seat bottom cushion 320 on which a person can sit. The stowable seat bottom 310 also includes a back side surface 317, which is a surface of the stowable seat bottom 310 that is opposite the seating surface 322. In FIG. 13, the back side surface 317 is an underside surface of the stowable seat bottom 310.
[0081] The stowable seat 300 also includes a seat back 330, a front surface 332, and a back surface 334 similar to the port stowable seat back 232 discussed above. The seat back 330 is movable between a folded position and an upright position in a manner similar to the port stowable seat back 232 discussed above. The upright position is shown in FIG. 5.
[0082] The stowable seat 300 also includes a stowable seat frame 340 supporting the stowable seat bottom 310. The stowable seat frame 340 includes one or more front legs 342 and one or more back legs 344. The stowable seat frame 340 can include, for example, two front legs 342, one on either side of the stowable seat bottom 310, and two back legs 344, also one on either side of the stowable seat bottom 310. The front legs 342 can be pivotably attached to the front portion 313 of the stowable seat bottom 310, and the back legs 344 can be pivotably attached to the back portion 315 of the stowable seat bottom 310. The front legs 342 and the back legs 344 have a lower end and an upper end and are each similar to the pivot arm 244 discussed above.
[0083] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the stowable seat 300 in the stowed position. As with the stowable seat 200 discussed above, the stowable seat 300 can be positioned within the compartment 210 in the stowed configuration. In the stowed configuration, the stowable seat bottom 310 is located above the seat back 330. Both of the stowable seat bottom 310 and the seat back 330 can be located in the compartment 210 in the stowed configuration. While a hatch, similar to the hatch 214 (FIG. 3) discussed above, can be used to close the opening 212 of the compartment 210, the back side surface 317 can be used to close the opening 212 and can form a continuous surface with the floor 121 (FIG. 3) when the seat back 330 is in the stowed position.
[0084] FIGS. 15A to 15E illustrate the process of moving the stowable seat 300 from the stowed position in FIG. 14 to the raised position in FIG. 13. FIG. 15A is a first step, which begins by raising the back portion 315 of the stowable seat bottom 310. FIG. 15B illustrates a next step where the front portion 313 is rotated upward about a pivot point where the lower end of the front legs 342 connect to the boat 100, such as the deck 120. The front legs 342 also pivot about the pivot point on the lower end of the front legs 342 until the front legs 342 reach a stop. The front portion 313 of the stowable seat bottom 310 is rotated over the back portion 315 to flip the seating surface 322 from facing downward to facing upward. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 15C, the back portion 315 is rotated out from underneath the front portion 313 of the stowable seat bottom 310 and upward. The back legs 344 pivot about a pivot point on the lower end of the back legs 344 where the back legs 344 attach to the boat until the back legs 344 reach a stop. The stop can be a projection 319 formed on the stowable seat bottom 310, such as a side surface. As the back portion 315 is rotated up, the stowable seat bottom 310 can also be moved in a back direction towards the back portion 315 and over the opening 212 of the compartment 210. The upper end of the front legs 342 can contact a stop, such as one formed on the projection 319. The seat back 330 is rotated in the folded position with the stowable seat bottom 310. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 15E, the seat back 330 can be moved from the folded position to the upright position similarly to the port stowable seat back 232 in the manner discussed above.
[0085] FIG. 16 shows another stowable seat 400 in a raised position. The stowable seat 400 shown in FIG. 16 includes a stowable seat bottom 310 and a seat back 330 similar to the stowable seat 300. The reference numerals of the stowable seat bottom 310 discussed above are used for the same or similar features of the stowable seat 400 shown in FIG. 16. The stowable seat 400 is moved between the stowed and raised position in a different manner. In the stowed position the seating surface 322 is positioned facing upward, and the stowable seat bottom 310 is moved upward and downward by a lift to move between the stowed position and the raised position.
[0086] The lift of the stowable seat 400 depicted in FIG. 16 is a scissor lift 410. The scissor lift 410 includes a plurality of scissor arms. The scissor arms are interlinked with each other. Two of the scissor arms, a first scissor arm 422 and a second scissor arm 424, are connected to each other as a first set of scissor arms 420. The first scissor arm 422 and the second scissor arm 424 can be connected to each other by a central pivot 426. Similarly, a second set of scissor arms 430, a first scissor arm 432 and a second scissor arm 434, are connected to each other, such as by a central pivot 436. The upper end of the first scissor arm 422 of the first set of scissor arms 420 is pivotably connected to the lower end of the second scissor arm 434 of the second set of scissor arms 430. Similarly, the upper end of the second scissor arm 424 of the first set of scissor arms 420 is pivotably connected to the lower end of the first scissor arm 432 of the second set of scissor arms 430. The upper end of each of the first scissor arm 432 and the second scissor arm 434 of the second set of scissor arms 430 is pivotably attached to the back portion 315 and the front portion 313, respectively, of the stowable seat bottom 310. While shown with two sets of scissor arms, any number of sets of scissor arms can be used. Another scissor mechanism can be positioned on the other side of the stowable seat bottom 310 to have a scissor mechanism on each of the left and right side of the stowable seat bottom 310.
[0087] At least one of the first scissor arm 432 or the second scissor arm 434 of the second set of scissor arms 430 is slidably attached to the stowable seat bottom 310, allowing the upper ends of the first scissor arm 432 and the second scissor arm 434 to move closer to or farther away from each other. The lower ends of the first scissor arm 422 and the second scissor arm 424 of the first set of scissor arms 420 are attached to a bottom surface of the compartment 210. Likewise, one of the lower ends of the first scissor arm 422 or the second scissor arm 424 can be moved closer to or farther from the lower end of the other one of the first scissor arm 422 or the second scissor arm 424. With arrangement of the pivotable connections discussed above, moving the first scissor arm 422 and the second scissor arm 424 raises the stowable seat bottom 310 and moving them farther away from each other lowers the stowable seat bottom 310. An actuator 412 can be operatively coupled to at least one of the first scissor arm 422 or the second scissor arm 424 and used to move the lower end of the first scissor arm 422 and the second scissor arm 424 closer to or farther away from each other. Suitable actuators include linear actuators, such as electrical actuators, hydraulic actuators, and electro-hydraulic actuators (EHA), for example.
[0088] To prevent objects from falling into the compartment 210 when the stowable seat bottom 310 is in the raised position, the stowable seat 400 can include a movable cover 414. The movable cover 414 can be connected to the scissor lift 410 to move with the stowable seat bottom 310 at a position underneath the stowable seat bottom 310. When the stowable seat bottom 310 is in the raised position, the movable cover 414 can be positioned to close the opening 212 of the compartment 210. An upper surface 416 of the movable cover 414 can form a continuous surface with the floor 121, similar to the upper surface of the movable cover 414 as discussed above. The movable cover 414 can be pivotably and slidably attached to the pivot arms of the scissor lift 410 in a manner similar to the stowable seat bottom 310.
[0089] FIG. 17 shows the stowable seat 400 in the stowed position. The seat back 330 can be positioned in the folded position with the stowable seat 400 in the stowed position. While a hatch, similar to the hatch 214 (FIG. 3) discussed above, can be used to close the opening 212 of the compartment 210, the back surface 334 of the seat back 330 can be used to close the opening 212 and can form a continuous surface with the floor 121 (FIG. 3) when the stowable seat 400 is in the stowed position.
[0090] FIGS. 18A and 18B show another lift that can be used with the stowable seat 400. Other lifts other than the scissor lift 410 can be used with the stowable seat 400 to raise and lower the stowable seat bottom 310. FIGS. 18A and 18B show a pedestal lift 440. FIG. 18A shows the pedestal lift 440 in a raised position, and FIG. 18B shows the pedestal lift 440 in a lowered position. The pedestal lift 440 can be positioned within the compartment 210 similarly to the scissor lift 410 and used to raise and lower the stowable seat bottom 310 (FIG. 16). When the pedestal lift 440 is the raised position, the stowable seat bottom 310 can be positioned in the raised position, and when the pedestal lift 440 is in the lowered position, the stowable seat bottom 310 can be positioned in the stowed position. The pedestal lift 440 can include a pedestal 442 with a plate 444 or other coupling attached to an upper end of the pedestal 442. The plate 444 can be attached to the back side surface 317 (FIG. 16) of the stowable seat bottom 310. The pedestal 442 can include a plurality of telescoping cylinders that can be moved relative to each other.
[0091] The pedestal lift 440 can include an actuator or spring, such as pneumatic spring positioned within the pedestal 442 to move the telescoping cylinders. A lever 446 can be connected to the pneumatic spring. To raise the plate 444 and the stowable seat bottom 310 (FIG. 16), a person can grasp the lever 446, which allows the pneumatic spring to raise the plate 444 and the stowable seat bottom 310 until the person releases the lever 446 or the pedestal 442 reaches its maximum height. To lower the plate 444 and the stowable seat bottom 310, a person applies a downward force to pneumatic spring while grasping the lever 446. The downward force can be applied on the seating surface 322 (FIG. 16) of the seat bottom cushion 320 (FIG. 16), such as by the person sitting on the seat bottom cushion 320. While the lever 446 is grasped and the downward force is applied, the plate 444 and the stowable seat bottom 310 lowers until the person releases the lever 446 or the stowable seat bottom 310 is in the stowed position.
[0092] FIGS. 19A and 19B show another lift that can be used with the stowable seat 400. FIGS. 19A and 19B show a parallel bar lift 450. FIG. 19A shows the parallel bar lift 450 in a raised position, and FIG. 19B shows the parallel bar lift 450 in a lowered position. The parallel bar lift 450 is similar to the pedestal lift 440, and the same reference numerals are used for the same or similar features. Instead of having nested and telescoping cylinders, the parallel bar lift 450 includes a first pedestal 452 and a second pedestal 454 connected to each other by a plurality of parallel bars 456. The parallel bars 456 are shown in a four-bar arrangement, but other parallel bar arrangements can be used. An actuator or spring, such as pneumatic spring, can be positioned within one of the first pedestal 452 or the second pedestal 454 and used to move the parallel bars 456 and raise and lower the second pedestal 454.
[0093] While one stowable seat 300 is shown in FIG. 13 and one stowable seat 400 is shown in FIG. 16, two of such seats can be positioned adjacent to each other in a manner similar to the port stowable seat bottom cushion 223 and the starboard stowable seat bottom cushion 225 in FIG. 4. The seats can be movable independently of each other or together. Alternatively, the stowable seat 300 and the stowable seat 400 can be configured with one seat bottom and two seat backs similar to the stowable seat 200 shown in FIG. 4 but moved with the mechanisms respectively discussed above.
[0094] As used herein, the directional terms forward (fore), aft, inboard, and outboard have their customary meanings as understood in the marine and boating arts. Specifically, forward or fore refers to a direction toward the bow of the boat, while aft refers to a direction toward the stern. The term inboard denotes a direction toward the longitudinal centerline or central axis of the boat, whereas outboard indicates a direction away from the centerline, toward the sides or outer edges of the boat.
[0095] As used herein, the directional terms forward, rearward, left, and right are defined relative to the seat assembly. The terms front and back correspond to the forward and rearward directions of the seat assembly, while left and right correspond to the left and right sides of the seat assembly, respectively, when viewed from an occupant-facing orientation. These directional terms can be used interchangeably with the terms fore, aft, port, and starboard when the seat assembly is installed on a boat to provide consistent spatial references. The described directions of fore, aft, port, and starboard, or similar terminology, correspond to the orientations shown in the depicted embodiments and are intended to establish relative reference directions for clarity of description. However, the seat assembly can be installed in other locations or orientations on the boat.
[0096] The terms coupled, fixed, attached, connected, and the like, refer to both direct coupling, fixing, attaching, or connecting, as well as indirect coupling, fixing, attaching, or connecting through one or more intermediate components or features, unless otherwise specified herein.
[0097] As used herein, the term bench seat refers to a seat having a horizontally extended seating surface capable of supporting more than one seated occupant side by side. A bench seat can include a continuous or segmented seat bottom, with or without fixed dividers or armrests. The seat bottom is generally longer across its width than it is deep from front to back.
[0098] As used herein, a fixed-seat assembly refers to a seat that remains installed in a fixed location on the boat, typically supported by or integrated with a seat support structure. The seat bottom of the fixed-seat assembly can be movable to a limited extent, such as by pivoting, lifting, or adjusting in height or inclination, to provide access to a compartment located beneath the seat bottom or to enhance occupant comfort.
[0099] As used herein, the term biasing member refers to a class of mechanical components that applies a predetermined force or torque to influence the position, movement, or behavior of another part or mechanism. The biasing member provides a continuous or variable load in a specific direction to resist undesired motion, return a component to a default state, maintain contact, or stabilize a system. The biasing member can function passively to ensure that the system remains within a desired range or configuration. Biasing members include, but are not limited to, springs, elastomeric components, gas pistons, and other similar force-applying or energy-storing devices.
[0100] Although this invention has been described with respect to certain specific exemplary embodiments, various modifications, adaptations, and alternatives will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of this disclosure. It is, therefore, to be understood that this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. Thus, the exemplary embodiments of the invention should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive, and the scope of the invention is determined by any claims supportable by this disclosure and the equivalents of the embodiments and structures discussed herein, rather than by the foregoing description.
