Structure and assembly for recessed deck portion in pontoon boat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11420711-B2
Application number	US-202016990477-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 11, 2020
Priority date	Dec 2, 2016
Publication date	Aug 23, 2022
Grant date	Aug 23, 2022

Abstract

A pontoon boat is provided that includes at least two pontoons running longitudinally beneath the boat and providing buoyancy thereto; a deck framework mounted above and connected to the pontoons; a deck mounted on the deck framework; a recessed deck portion extending downwardly through the deck and the deck framework, the recessed deck portion forming a cavity into the deck including a bottom and side walls forming a basin extending into and beneath the deck; and at least one seat adjacent the recessed deck portion and mounted to the deck.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A pontoon boat comprising:
a plurality of pontoons;
a deck frame supported by the plurality of pontoons, the deck frame defining a bow side, a stern side, a port side, and a starboard side;
a deck supported by the plurality of pontoons;
a first seating area having a first floor at a first height;
a second seating area having a second floor at a second height lower than the first height, the second seating area being longitudinally forward of the first seating area, the first floor and the second floor each intersecting a longitudinal center plane of the pontoon boat; and
at least one step at a junction between the first seating area and the second seating area,
wherein the deck frame includes a recessed portion to accommodate the second seating area, the recessed portion including a flange that extends outward from an upper end of the recessed portion,
wherein the deck frame includes a first support member, a second support member, and a plurality of cross members, the first and second support members each extending longitudinally from the bow side to the stern side of the deck frame, and the plurality of cross members extending from the port side to the starboard side of the deck frame, across both of the first and second support members,
wherein at least one of the plurality of cross members is interrupted by the recessed portion, and
wherein the flange rests upon the at least one of the plurality of cross members that is interrupted.

2. The pontoon boat of claim 1 , wherein the first seating area is an operator seating area rearward of the second floor.

3. The pontoon boat of claim 1 , wherein the second seating area includes at least one passenger seat having a seat surface and a seat back, and a cup holder positioned at a height corresponding to an upper surface of the seat back.

4. The pontoon boat of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pontoons includes at least a pair of pontoons running longitudinally beneath the boat and providing buoyancy thereto.

5. The pontoon boat of claim 4 , wherein the deck frame is fixed to the plurality of pontoons and supports the first floor and the second floor.

6. The pontoon boat of claim 1 , wherein the recessed portion is contained in a middle pontoon or a partial hull extending longitudinally between the pair of pontoons.

7. The pontoon boat of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first railing extending upwardly from and at least partially around the first seating area to a first top end; and
a second railing extending upwardly from and at least partially around the second seating area to a second top end, the second top end lower than the first top end.

8. The pontoon boat of claim 7 , wherein the second seating area is a passenger's seating area including:
a first passenger seat oriented such that a seated passenger faces sideways toward one of a starboard side and a port side of the pontoon boat, the first passenger seat having a first passenger seating surface and a first seat back extending upwardly from the first passenger seating surface; and
a second passenger seat oriented such that a seated passenger faces sideways toward the other of the starboard side and the port side of the pontoon boat, the second passenger seat having a second passenger seating surface and a second seat back extending upwardly from the second passenger seating surface.

9. The pontoon boat of claim 8 , wherein the second railing includes an upper ledge and the upper ledge includes cup holders, the first seat back and the second seat back each having an upper surface at the upper ledge.

10. The pontoon boat of claim 8 , further comprising a driver seat located in the first seating area, the first passenger seat and the second passenger seat are located forward of the driver seat.

11. The pontoon boat of claim 1 , wherein the first floor of the first seating area extends in a first horizontal plane and the second floor of the second seating area extends in a second horizontal plane spaced below the first horizontal plane.

12. The pontoon boat of claim 1 , wherein the second seating area is a passenger seating area including:
a recessed deck portion supporting the second floor;
a first passenger seat facing a starboard side of the boat and toward the recessed deck portion; and
a second passenger seat facing a port side of the boat and oriented toward the recessed deck portion.

13. The pontoon boat of claim 12 , wherein the first and second passenger seats and a footwell disposed therebetween together extend across a majority of a port-to-starboard lateral extent of the pontoon boat.

14. The pontoon boat of claim 1 , wherein the recessed portion is disposed between segments of the at least one of the plurality of cross members that is interrupted.

15. The pontoon boat of claim 1 , wherein the first and second supporting members are coupled to the plurality of pontoons via one or more brackets, and wherein the plurality of cross members extend transverse to the plurality of pontoons.

16. A pontoon boat comprising:
a plurality of pontoons;
a deck frame supported by the plurality of pontoons, the deck frame defining a bow side, a stern side, a port side, and a starboard side;
a deck supported by the plurality of pontoons;
a railing supported on the deck and including a starboard section and an opposing port section each extending from a front end to a rear end, the deck including a front portion positioned forward of the front end of the railing and a rear portion positioned rearward of the front end of the railing;
a first seating area positioned between the starboard section of the railing and the port section of the railing, the first seating area having a first floor at a first height, the first seating area including a first forward facing seat and a second forward facing seat;
a second seating area positioned between the starboard section of the railing and the port section of the railing, the second seating area having a second floor at a second height lower than the first height, the second seating area including a third seat and a fourth seat, the fourth seat facing the third seat, the second floor being positioned between the third seat and the fourth seat; the third seat being longitudinally forward of the first forward facing seat of the first seating area and the fourth seat being longitudinally forward of the second forward facing seat of the first seating area,
wherein the deck frame includes a recessed portion to accommodate the second seating area, the recessed portion including a flange that extends outward from an upper end of the recessed portion,
wherein the deck frame includes a first support member, a second support member, and a plurality of cross members, the first and second support members each extending longitudinally from the bow side to the stern side of the deck frame, and the plurality of cross members extending from the port side to the starboard side of the deck frame, across both of the first and second support members,
wherein at least one of the plurality of cross members is interrupted by the recessed portion, and
wherein the flange rests upon the at least one of the plurality of cross members that is interrupted.

17. The pontoon boat of claim 16 , wherein the first seating area and the second seating area are both located in the rear portion of the deck.

18. The pontoon boat of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the third seat and the fourth seat includes a seat surface and a seat back, a cup holder positioned at a height corresponding to an upper

Assignees

• Polaris Inc

Inventors

• Vogel Jacob Steven
• Fishburn Brad Roy
• Donat Blair A

Classifications

• B63B2029/043

  Seats; Arrangements thereof on vessels · CPC title

• B63B35/613

  with tubular shaped flotation members · CPC title

• B63B3/48 Primary

  Decks (planking B63B5/06) · CPC title

• B63B1/125

  comprising more than two hulls (B63B1/107 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B63B29/04

  Furniture peculiar to vessels (floatable furniture B63C9/30) · CPC title