Gate system for a pontoon boat

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12358595-B2
Application number	US-202217837195-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 10, 2022
Priority date	Jun 29, 2021
Publication date	Jul 15, 2025
Grant date	Jul 15, 2025

Abstract

A gate system for a pontoon boat is provided. The gate system may comprise a gate, a guide, and a guide interface member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pontoon boat comprising:
a plurality of pontoons;
a deck supported by the plurality of pontoons;
an enclosure system supported by the deck, the enclosure system including a wall, a gate support structure of the pontoon boat including the wall of the enclosure system and the deck;
the enclosure system further including a gate system including a gate rotatably coupled to the gate support structure, wherein the gate is movable from a first position to a second position, and a guide system supported by the plurality of pontoons, the guide system including a guide and a guide interface member;
a first portion of the guide system is coupled to the gate;
a second portion of the guide system is coupled to the gate supporting structure of the pontoon boat independent of the gate, the first portion being moveable relative to the second portion guide; and
wherein the guide interface member of the guide system slides along a surface of the guide to bias the gate from the first position to the second position.

2. The pontoon boat of claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the guide system includes the guide and the first portion of the guide system includes the guide interface member.

3. The pontoon boat of claim 2 , wherein the guide comprises a guide trough configured to receive the guide interface member.

4. The pontoon boat of claim 3 , wherein the second position is an open position and in the second position the guide interface member is received within the guide trough.

5. The pontoon boat of claim 3 , wherein in the second position the gate has an opening angle from 30° to 180°.

6. The pontoon boat of claim 3 , wherein in the second position the gate has an opening angle from 30° to 120°.

7. The pontoon boat of claim 2 , wherein the guide is coupled to the deck within an interior of the enclosure system.

8. The pontoon boat of claim 2 , wherein the gate is movable from the second position to a third position and in the third position the gate has a greater opening angle than in the second position.

9. The pontoon boat of claim 8 , wherein the guide comprises a first guide trough and a second guide trough, each of which are configured to receive the guide interface member, in the second position the guide interface member is received within the first guide trough, and in the third position the guide interface member is received within the second guide trough.

10. The pontoon boat of claim 8 , wherein the guide comprises a guide trough configured to receive the guide interface member, in the second position the guide interface member is received in the guide trough, and in the third position the guide interface member is positioned at a greater opening angle than the guide trough.

11. A pontoon boat comprising:
a plurality of pontoons;
a deck supported by the plurality of pontoons;
an enclosure system supported by the deck, the enclosure system including a wall, a gate support structure of the pontoon boat including the wall of the enclosure system and the deck;
the enclosure system further including a gate system including a gate rotatably coupled to the gate support structure, wherein the gate is movable from a first position wherein the gate is parallel with an adjacent portion of the wall to a second position and from the second position to a third position wherein the gate is angled relative to the adjacent portion of the wall at an angle, the angle being between 30° and 180°; and
the gate system further including a guide supported by the deck independent of the gate, the guide having a sloped surface; and a guide interface member carried by the gate and configured to interface with the sloped surface to move the gate from the third position to the second position in the circumstance of a lateral force being applied to the gate.

12. The pontoon boat of claim 11 , wherein the gate moves vertically relative to the adjacent wall portion when moved to or from the second position.

13. The pontoon boat of claim 11 further comprising a gate catch configured to maintain the gate in the first position.

14. The pontoon boat of claim 11 , wherein the first position is a closed position, the second position is a lifted position, and the third position is an open position.

15. The pontoon boat of claim 14 , wherein in the second position, the gate remains parallel with the adjacent portion of the wall.

16. The pontoon boat of claim 11 wherein the gate is movable from the second position to the third position without an applied force from a user.

17. The pontoon boat of claim 11 , wherein the guide interface member is configured to interface with the sloped surface to bias the gate from the second position to the third position.

18. A method of moving a gate comprising:
lifting a gate from a closed position to a lifted position;
positioning a guide interface member carried by the gate over a guide, the guide configured for support by a deck;
releasing the gate;
sliding the guide interface member along a surface of the guide towards a stopped open position; and
receiving the guide interface member within a guide trough of the guide in the stopped open position.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising the step of moving the gate from the stopped open position to the lifted position by applying a lateral force to the gate, wherein the guide interface member biases the gate upward by interfacing with the guide when the lateral force is applied.

20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising the step of moving the gate from the stopped open position to a further open position by applying a lateral force to the gate, wherein the guide interfacing member biases the gate upward by interfacing with the guide when the lateral force is applied.

Assignees

• Polaris Inc

Inventors

• Fishburn Bradley R
• Smead Ii Thomas E

Classifications

• B63B35/38

  Rigidly-interconnected pontoons · CPC title

• B63B1/125

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

• B63B3/48

  Decks (planking B63B5/06) · CPC title

• B63B19/08

  Ports or like openings in vessels' sides {or at the vessels' bow or stern (forming ramps when open B63B27/143)} · CPC title

• B63B17/04 Primary

  Stanchions; Guard-rails {; Bulwarks or the like} · CPC title