Collapsible pontoon boat

Abstract

A collapsible pontoon boat includes a plurality of pontoons arranged generally parallel to a longitudinal axis and a deck structure supported above the pontoons, the deck structure including a center deck section and laterally adjacent outer deck sections arranged side-by-side along a transverse axis. The boat is configurable between a retracted configuration having a reduced overall beam and an extended configuration having an increased overall beam. In the retracted configuration, the outer deck sections are displaced toward one another and the center deck section is positioned at a lowered elevation relative to the outer deck sections; in the extended configuration, the outer deck sections are displaced away from one another and the center deck section is raised such that upper surfaces of the deck sections are arranged in a common deck plane. A center guide structure disposed on a center pontoon provides a support surface that supports lateral translation of lateral guide members coupled to the outer deck sections. An actuator laterally translates at least one of the outer deck sections relative to the center deck section. A cam arrangement converts the lateral translation into vertical motion of the center deck section, including at least one cam lever pivotably mounted relative to the center guide structure and configured to engage a mating feature coupled to a laterally moving structure to pivot between lowered and raised orientations. In some implementations, a plurality of lift mechanisms are spaced apart along the longitudinal axis.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims priority to and incorporates by reference Provisional U.S. Pat. No. 63,766,068 filed on Mar. 3, 2025.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to pontoon boats and, in particular, to a pontoon boat that collapses for towing and does not require a separate trailer.Background

[0003] Outdoor activities, including fishing and general boating, occupy significant amounts of the leisure time of many people. These activities can be shared by all family members and friends. Different types of watercraft have therefore been developed or improved to serve the demand. Personal watercraft and small, highly maneuverable powerboats have particularly experienced strong demand. Sales of runabouts, fishing boats, sailboats, paddleboats and boats of all types have also benefited; however, specialized boats have been developed to provide a large platform for larger groups of people to enjoy a wide range of activities.

[0004] As a result, pontoon boats have also enjoyed strong growth. The ability of such craft to contain and transport large numbers of users in a relaxed, social atmosphere makes this type of watercraft very desirable to many owners. Occupant capacities of 1500 to 2000 pounds, or more depending on the size of the boat, are common. Upholstered seating, cabinetry and other personal conveniences have made the crafts more appealing to a wider range of users. The watercraft is very stable and accommodates sun and weather covers to shelter users from inclement conditions. Changes to pontoon and frame design have also improved the maneuverability of the watercraft and permit water skiing and other towed water sports.

[0005] Although the size of the craft provides many advantages, the imposing size restricts the transportability of the craft. The boats typically measure 8 to 20 feet in width and 18 to 40 feet in length and can weigh 2500 to 4000 pounds, with some boats much wider, longer, and heavier. The lateral spacing of the pontoons and elevated decks frequently require special trailers to transport the craft. The craft can also be difficult to maneuver onto the trailers, especially under windy conditions. The physical dimensions can also make it difficult to trailer the craft over narrow or heavily traveled roads. Consequently, many craft are moored at marinas and docks and are only launched and removed from the water at the start and end of each boating season, and practically cannot be moved.

[0006] Efforts have been directed to designing a pontoon boat that disassembles. Two collapsible boats having inflatable pontoons are described at U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,651,706 and 4,562,786. An articulating pontoon float is also described at U.S. Pat. No. 4,730,574. The described craft are relatively small and accommodate a relatively few users.

[0007] In other prior art designs that use three pontoons, one of the end pontoons moves outward from the other two when the pontoon expands, which creates a spacing problem. The center pontoon is no longer in the middle but is closer to the pontoon that does not move when the deck expands to flat. This creates a problem with the stability of the craft, and can cause the motor to be off center are well.

[0008] Further, collapsible pontoon boats are known in the art as well. U.S. Pat. No. 6,067,925 discloses one such boat. The design while quite innovative, does suffer from some drawbacks. In particular, the pontoons are not full length, but have a gap on the middle which affects the stability of the boat. Also, the pivoting mechanism is prone to pinching the two sides together as they pivot. Special provisions need to be made to allow one side to pivot over the top of the other which increases the overall complexity.

[0009] Pontoon boats are also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 10,717,497B2, U.S. Pat. No. 9,845,135B2, U.S. Pat. No. 10,029,761B2, U.S. Pat. No. 6,647,913B2, U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,458A, US20180099726A, U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,940A, U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,169A.

[0010] The pontoon boat of the present invention was developed to provide an easily stored, mobile alternative to conventional pontoon watercraft. The assembly does not require a separate trailer, accommodates full size pontoons, can work with more than two pontoons equally spaced apart, and avoids the pinching problem in the prior art. The integral framework facilitates launching and extraction by a single person, yet the craft accommodates large numbers of users, especially families. The portions of the framework that support transport are integrated into frame and do not appreciably add to weight or limit maneuverability. The design is easily scalable to boats of a wide variety of sizes.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0011] The file of this patent contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.

[0012] FIG. 1A and B show views of a pontoon boat in an extended and collapsed position.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a side view of the lift mechanism of the boat in the collapsed position.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a side view of the lift mechanism of the boat in the extended position.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a side view of the lift mechanism of the boat in the collapsed position.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the boat in between the two positions.

[0017] FIG. 6 is a view of the cam of the lift mechanism.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] In the Figures, is a collapsible pontoon boat. The boat includes three equally spaced pontoons secured to the underside of a folding / collapsible deck. FIG. 1A and B show a collapsible pontoon boat 10 (or “boat”). The boat is comprised of three pontoons 12, with decking 14, and a frame therebetween. The boat has a longitudinal axis (see “L” in FIG. 1B) that extends from the front to the back of the boat, parallel with the length of the pontoons. A transverse axis (see “T” in FIG. 1B) is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

[0019] The decking 14 is divided into three sections, with the seam between the sections extending along the longitudinal axis of the boat. FIG. 1A shows the boat in a retracted position, with the center decking section 18 lowered below the outer two sections. FIG. 1B shows the boat in the extended position with the decking section in the same plane. The retracted position is most commonly used to store, dock, or transport the boat, while the boat is usually in the extended position when its in use.

[0020] A lift mechanism is used to move the boat between the extended and retracted positions, which is shown in FIGS. 2-5. FIG. 2 shows the boat in the retracted position. A sleeve 20 is secured to the top of the center pontoon under the bottom of the center section of the deck. A C-shaped channel 22 is secured to the top of each of the outer two pontoons and the bottom of the outer sections of the deck.

[0021] The sleeve 20 includes a lower ridge or shelf 24 (See FIG. 6) that captures the bottom of the C-shaped channels 22 and upon which the channels 22 ride as the boat is moved between the extended and retracted position.

[0022] Two cam levers 26 are attached to either side of the bottom of the center deck section 18, one on each side of the sleeves 22. The top of the levers attach to a first plate 28 that slides on a second plate 30 secured to the bottom of the center deck section 18. The cams 26 are secured, at a midpoint, to the top of the sleeve 22 with a roller 32 such that the cams 26 can pivot about this connection. The bottom of the cams have a U-shaped catch 34 that engages with a stud 36 extending outward on both sides of the C-shaped channels 22. FIG. 6 shows the foregoing configuration in detail from a first side, where the opposite second side is identically configured with a catch and stud on the sleeve.

[0023] A hydraulic cylinder 38 is secured to the sleeve 20 at its center point and extends outward to a connection point on one of the C-shaped channels 22.

[0024] Starting with FIG. 2, the boat 10 is in the collapsed position with the center deck portion 18 below the outer deck portions, which have been moved toward each other by retracting the piston of the hydraulic cylinder 38. In this position the cams 26 are lying flat which draws the center deck section 18 downward into the opening of the C-shaped channels 22.

[0025] In FIG. 3, the boat 10 is in the extended position. To move into that position the hydraulic cylinder 38 drives the piston outward, moving the C-shaped channels 22 away from the center of the boat 10 along the transverse axis. After the top of the openings of the C-shaped channels 22 have cleared the top of the center deck section 18. The bottom opening of the cam 26 engages the stud 36 on the C-shaped channels 22 which pivots the cam 26 into an upright position shown in FIG. 3 thereby raising the center deck section 18 in line with the outer deck sections.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 5 the boat 10 comprises four lift mechanisms along the longitudinal axis of the boat 10, where the number thereof can vary depending on the size of the boat 10. Also, multiple hydraulic cylinders 38 are used and can be located on either side of the sleeve 22 (one on each side to drive each outer deck section). Further, alternative drive means can be used such as a screw drive, and the like.

[0027] In the manner described above, the present invention solves the problems in the prior art by providing an efficient and effective method and apparatus to change the width of the boat. This method also keeps the deck section planer so that material located on the decks are not affected by the change in position. For example, furniture, storage lockers, or other items can still be fixed to the outer deck sections without interfering with the movement of the sections.

[0028] The above specification and accompanying Figures are for illustrative use only. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art that have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A boat configurable between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration, the boat comprising: a plurality of pontoons including a center pontoon and at least two outer pontoons arranged generally parallel to a longitudinal axis; a deck structure supported above the plurality of pontoons, the deck structure including a center deck section and at least two outer deck sections laterally adjacent to the center deck section along a transverse axis; a center guide structure disposed on the center pontoon below the center deck section, the center guide structure including a support surface; for each of the at least two outer deck sections, a lateral guide member coupled to the respective outer deck section and positioned to be supported by the support surface of the center guide structure during lateral translation; at least one actuator arranged to laterally translate at least one of the outer deck sections relative to the center deck section between (i) the retracted configuration in which the outer deck sections are displaced toward one another and (ii) the extended configuration in which the outer deck sections are displaced away from one another; and a cam arrangement configured to convert the lateral translation of the outer deck sections into vertical motion of the center deck section between (i) a lowered position associated with the retracted configuration and (ii) a raised position associated with the extended configuration.

2. The boat of claim 1, wherein, in the retracted configuration, an upper surface of the center deck section is positioned below an upper plane defined by upper surfaces of the outer deck sections.

3. The boat of claim 1, wherein, in the extended configuration, upper surfaces of the center deck section and the outer deck sections are arranged in a common deck plane.

4. The boat of claim 1, wherein the center guide structure comprises a sleeve secured to an upper portion of the center pontoon, and wherein the support surface comprises a shelf of the sleeve.

5. The boat of claim 4, wherein each lateral guide member comprises a channel having a lower portion captured by the shelf such that the channel rides on the shelf during the lateral translation.

6. The boat of claim 5, wherein the channel is C-shaped.

7. The boat of claim 1, wherein the cam arrangement includes, on each lateral side of the center deck section, a cam lever pivotably mounted relative to the center guide structure.

8. The boat of claim 7, wherein the cam lever is pivotably mounted to the center guide structure by a roller.

9. The boat of claim 7, wherein the cam lever includes a catch feature configured to selectively engage a mating feature coupled to the lateral guide member.

10. The boat of claim 9, wherein the catch feature comprises a U-shaped catch and the mating feature comprises a stud.

11. The boat of claim 9, wherein engagement between the catch feature and the mating feature occurs during lateral movement toward the extended configuration and causes the cam lever to pivot to lift the center deck section toward the raised position.

12. The boat of claim 7, further comprising, between the cam lever and an underside of the center deck section, a plate interface including a first plate configured to slide relative to a second plate secured to the underside of the center deck section.

13. The boat of claim 1, wherein the at least one actuator comprises a hydraulic cylinder having a first end secured to the center guide structure and a second end coupled to the lateral guide member of one of the outer deck sections.

14. The boat of claim 1, wherein the at least one actuator comprises a screw drive configured to laterally translate at least one of the outer deck sections.

15. The boat of claim 1, comprising a plurality of lift mechanisms spaced apart along the longitudinal axis, each lift mechanism including a respective portion of the center guide structure, a respective portion of the cam arrangement, and a respective actuator.

16. The boat of claim 15, wherein the plurality of lift mechanisms includes four lift mechanisms spaced along a length of the boat.

17. The boat of claim 1, wherein the deck structure is segmented into a plurality of deck sections arranged side-by-side across the transverse axis, and wherein seams between adjacent deck sections extend generally along the longitudinal axis.

18. A deck-width adjustment system for a pontoon boat having a center pontoon and at least two outer pontoons, the deck-width adjustment system comprising: a center guide structure securable to the center pontoon and including a support surface; for each of at least two outer deck sections, a lateral guide member configured to be supported by the support surface during lateral translation along a transverse axis; an actuator configured to laterally translate at least one of the lateral guide members; and a cam arrangement including at least one cam lever pivotably mountable relative to the center guide structure and having a catch feature configured to engage a mating feature coupled to the lateral guide member such that lateral translation of the lateral guide member causes the cam lever to pivot and change a vertical position of a center deck section between a lowered position and a raised position.

19. The deck-width adjustment system of claim 18, wherein the support surface comprises a shelf of a sleeve, and wherein the lateral guide member comprises a channel having a lower portion captured by the shelf.

20. The deck-width adjustment system of claim 18, wherein the cam lever is pivotable between (i) a lowered orientation associated with the lowered position of the center deck section and (ii) a raised orientation associated with the raised position of the center deck section.

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