Reconfigurable Watercraft Seating Assembly with Pivoting Backs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional boat seating systems lack versatility and adaptability, failing to provide multiple configuration options that cater to different recreational activities and user preferences, such as back-to-back seating, sunbathing, and lounging arrangements.
Innovation Solution
A reconfigurable seating assembly for watercraft that includes movable seat back members and a seat bottom, allowing the seating to pivot between back-to-back seats, a flat surface, and lounge configurations, with motorized actuators enabling seamless transitions between these arrangements, and integrated storage solutions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional fixed seating systems are used in watercraft, then the structural simplicity and manufacturing ease are maintained, but the adaptability and versatility for different recreational activities are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements movable seat back members that can pivot between multiple positions (upright, reclined, and flat configurations) to transform the seating assembly from a static structure to a dynamic one. This allows the same physical structure to provide multiple seating arrangements (back-to-back seats, lounge configurations, sunbathing platforms) without requiring separate fixed structures for each function, thereby resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the seat back members to serve multiple functions: they can form upright backs for seated positions, recline to create lounge configurations, and fold flat to create sunbathing platforms. This multi-functionality allows a single seating assembly structure to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate fixed structures, achieving versatility while maintaining relatively simple device complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple fixed seating arrangements are provided, then the versatility for different activities is improved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
By making the seat back members movable rather than fixed, the patent enables a compact seating assembly to dynamically reconfigure into multiple arrangements. The same physical space accommodates different seating configurations (back-to-back for fishing, reclined for lounging, flat for sunbathing) at different times, eliminating the need for multiple separate fixed seating structures that would consume additional space
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the vertical dimension through pivoting motion to create different seating configurations. The seat back members can pivot between upright, reclined, and flat positions, effectively using vertical space and angular movement to generate multiple functional arrangements from a single horizontal footprint, thereby providing versatility without increasing the horizontal area occupied
Data Source
AI summary
Boats can include seating assemblies that can be configured in a variety of different arrangements. In one configuration of the seating assemblies described herein, a forward-facing seat and a rearward-facing seat are arranged back-to-back above a seat bottom. In another configuration, the seating assembly can be arranged as a forward-facing reclined seat such that a forward rotation of the forward-facing seat to a flat position with the seat bottom causes a rearward rotation of the rearward-facing seat to a reclined position. In still another configuration, the seating assembly can be configured form a reclined seat in a rearward-facing configuration.