Hatch Table with Protective Walls to Reduce Bow Deck Damage

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Solution Overview

Problem

The bow area of boats is prone to damage from individuals walking over hatches, which can crack glass and damage seals, posing a risk to users and the structure.

Innovation Solution

A hatch table with four walls fitting around the hatch, a tabletop, and a skirt with a tray and receptacles, providing a secure, ventilated, and aesthetically pleasing platform that protects the hatches and allows for article placement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If bow pads are used to cushion the bow area, then user comfort is improved, but the risk of hatch damage increases due to reduced awareness of hatch locations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser comfortVSAvoidhatch damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The hatch table serves as an intermediary structure between the user and the hatch. It provides a safe standing surface that distributes weight away from the hatch while maintaining user comfort through the cushioning bow pad underneath. The table's walls contain the bow pad material to prevent direct contact with the hatch.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the bow area is left uncovered to maintain visibility and access, then hatch accessibility is improved, but user safety deteriorates due to lack of protection against accidental steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehatch accessibilityVSAvoiduser safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The hatch table is segmented with four vertical walls that create compartments. These walls allow the structure to fit precisely around the hatch contour, providing protection in critical areas while leaving other areas open for visibility and access. The segmented design enables selective coverage where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If a protective structure is installed over the hatch, then hatch protection is improved, but ventilation may be compromised due to potential sealing of the hatch area

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehatch protectionVSAvoidventilation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The hatch table utilizes flexible foam material contained within walls to provide protection. This flexible structure allows air to pass through the material, maintaining ventilation while still providing sufficient protection against accidental impacts. The foam acts as a protective film that is permeable to air flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS20250010953A1Hatch table

Publication Date: 2025.01.09 GIDWANI RAJA M

AI summary

A hatch table for mounting over a hatch in a deck of a boat. The hatch table protects the hatch from accidental damage such as a person walking over the hatch. The hatch table includes four walls of dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of the hatch so that the four walls closely fit around the hatch. A tabletop is mounted over the four walls.