Patent ID: 8813672
Filing Date: 2014-08-26
Classification: B63B,B63H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A platform assembly adapted to be mounted to a drive assembly housing of a watercraft, the platform assembly comprising: a support platform having a planar top surface and a bottom surface, the support platform adapted to provide a stable support for a swimmer; and a mounting assembly coupled to the support platform, the mounting assembly adapted to be secured to a portion of the drive assembly housing such that the top surface of the support platform is disposed below the surface of the water when the watercraft is traveling in a forward direction at or below a critical rate of speed, and such that the bottom surface of the support platform is disposed above the surface of the water when the watercraft is traveling in a forward direction above the critical rate of speed; wherein the mounting assembly is adapted to be secured to an intermediate portion of the drive assembly housing; wherein an anti-cavitation plate extends from the intermediate portion of the drive assembly housing, and the mounting assembly is adapted to be secured to the anti-cavitation plate; wherein the mounting assembly includes one or more stands, and the one or more stands are adapted to be disposed between the bottom surface of the support platform and a top surface of a cantilevered portion of the anti-cavitation plate; wherein the mounting assembly includes a first stand and a second stand, and each of the first stand and the second stand includes a vertical body, a top extension extending horizontally from a top portion of the body, and a bottom extension extending horizontally from a bottom portion of the body; wherein a bore extends through the top extension of each of the first stand and the second stand such that each bore is coaxially aligned with a corresponding fixture aperture formed in the support platform, and wherein the each bore and corresponding fixture aperture is adapted to receive a bolt that secures the support platform to each of the first stand and the second stand.