Stowable Folding Boat Step with Pivoting Support Bar
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing boat steps are often unstable, cumbersome, and occupy valuable space in the cockpit, failing to provide safe and unobtrusive access for boarding and unboarding, especially for older individuals.
Innovation Solution
A foldable and stowable boat step system with gunwale brackets, step support brackets, and a pivoting support bar that deploys for stable access and retracts vertically into the cockpit stowage area beneath the gunwale, ensuring secure storage and minimizing space usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed step is mounted on the boat, then the step provides stable footing for boarding and unboarding, but the step creates a tripping hazard and occupies valuable cockpit space
Solution Approach 1:
The step is designed with a folding mechanism that allows it to transition between a deployed position (providing stable footing) and a retracted position (eliminating tripping hazard). The step can be manually operated to fold up into the wall when not in use, dynamically adapting to different operational states.
Solution Approach 2:
The step assembly is divided into separate components including the step itself, mounting brackets, and a support bar that can be independently positioned. This segmentation allows the step to be folded and stored while maintaining structural integrity when deployed.
2Ease of operation
If a ladder-like structure is used for boarding, then the step provides assistance for stepping into the boat, but the structure is unstable and occupies valuable cockpit space
Solution Approach 1:
The step uses a folding mechanism with pivot points that allow the structure to be stable when deployed and compact when stored. The dynamic folding action provides stability during use while eliminating the need for permanent installation that would occupy cockpit space.
Solution Approach 2:
A support bar is introduced as an intermediary element that provides additional stability to the step structure when deployed. The support bar can be positioned to brace the step and can be removed or retracted when not needed, maintaining stability during use while minimizing space occupation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a single boarding step is deployed outside and inside the boat, then the step assists in both boarding from dock and entering cockpit, but two steps need to be deployed which increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The step assembly is designed with universal mounting brackets that can be installed in different positions (outside the boat or inside the cockpit) and serves multiple functions: assisting with boarding from the dock and assisting with entering the cockpit. The same basic step structure can be deployed in different locations as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The folding mechanism allows the step to be easily deployed and stowed, reducing the complexity of managing multiple steps. The step can be quickly folded up into the wall when not in use, eliminating the need to maintain multiple separate step structures.
Data Source
AI summary
A folding step for a boat cockpit includes a gunwale bracket connectable to a wall extending downward from a gunwale of a boat. Support bracket(s) support a step in a pivoting manner between a deployed and a stowed position. A support bar is attachable within the cockpit to be in a stowed position, in which it is out of the way, and in a deployed position for supporting the step when it is deployed.