Abstract:
An accessory for addition onto a floating pontoon style fishing craft that enables the occupant to safely stand while the craft is floating without fear of tipping the craft. This is in the form of a lowerable, retractable platform that resides below the waterline of the craft and also incorporates a removeable working table/safety bar that resides in front of the occupant&#39;s seat to constrain them from falling overboard and to allow them a stable work surface from which to perform fishing related activities. The retractable platform serves to allow the center of gravity of the occupant to remain in close proximity to the waterline of the craft thus preventing tipping. Because of the depth the platform projects beneath the craft, the position of the occupant&#39;s mass acts as a stabilizer or ballast rudder so as to let the occupant to safely cast his fishing line from the craft.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an extremely compact accessory for connection to a floating craft, targeted at personal floating pontoon fishing vessels, and adapted to provide both safety and convenience for the user. More particularly, to a system comprised of a retractable, lowerable platform and a table/safety bar restraint that can be retrofit onto a plethora of existing floating craft. 
         [0002]    Personal, floating pontoon fishing vessels are quite popular with fishmen. One of the major drawbacks with these vessel is that the act of casting is limited for three reasons. First, when seated in the craft casting is accomplished forward of the occupant and the craft. There is no method for the occupant to pivot around in his seat to cast behind him. This is necessary as the craft rotates with the current as it moves down the river. Second, casting must be done from a seated position rather than the natural standing position. Lastly, the action of casting rocks the vessel making it somewhat unstable and dangerous. 
         [0003]    Another drawback of these craft is that there is limited space and places from which to tie a fly, change a lure or work on a landed fish. While these type of craft are of great advantage for fisherman and offer improved features over shoreline or bank fishing, they are not able to reach their full potential for avid fishermen. 
         [0004]    Henceforth, a retrofitable system for a pontoon float craft that would allow the occupant to cast in all directions safely coupled with a working platform would fulfill a long felt need in the fishing industry. This new invention utilizes and combines known and new technologies in a unique and novel configuration to overcome the aforementioned problems and accomplish this. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a lowerable, retractable platform that resides below the waterline of the craft and also incorporates a removeable working table/safety bar that resides in front of the occupant&#39;s seat to constrain them from falling overboard and to allow them a stable work surface from which to perform fishing related activities. The retractable platform (when stood upon) serves to allow the center of gravity of the occupant to remain in close proximity to the waterline of the craft thus preventing tipping. Because of the depth the platform projects beneath the craft, the position of the occupant&#39;s mass acts as a stabilizer or ballast rudder so as to let the occupant to safely cast his fishing line from the craft. 
         [0006]    It has many of the advantages mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new pontoon craft retrofittable system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
         [0007]    In accordance with the invention, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved lowerable, retractable fishing platform for a pontoon craft that (in combination with the occupant&#39;s weight) is capable of supporting the weight of a fisherman, and that acts as a below waterline ballast to stabilize the craft. 
         [0008]    It is another object of this invention to provide an improved work surface capable that is capable of being retrofitted onto a plethora of existing pontoon craft via an adjustable attachment system. 
         [0009]    It is a further object of this invention to provide a safety restraint device that can be affixed adjustably to a plethora of pontoon craft to ensure the occupant&#39;s safety when in the water. 
         [0010]    The subject matter of the present invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. However, both the organization and method of operation, together with further advantages and objects thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like elements. Other objects, features and aspects of the present invention are discussed in greater detail below. 
         [0011]    In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a front side perspective view of the extended stabilizing platform showing the general arrangement of all components installed on a floating craft; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a front side perspective view of the retracted stabilizing platform showing the general arrangement of all components installed on a floating craft; 
           [0014]      FIGS. 3-6  are a series of time staggered illustrations showing the steps required to raise and lock the platform; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a front side perspective view of the extended stabilizing platform lowered showing the general arrangement of all components; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a front side perspective view of the extended stabilizing platform lowered with the operating handles extended, showing the general arrangement of all components; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a front side perspective view of the retracted stabilizing platform and the operating handle extended, showing the general arrangement of all components; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a front side perspective view of the retracted stabilizing platform with the operating handle retracted, showing the general arrangement of all components; 
           [0019]    FIG.  7 —is a front perspective view of the platform locked in the fully extended position; 
           [0020]    FIG.  8 —is a front perspective view of the platform unlocked from the fully extended position and with the platform partially raised; 
           [0021]      FIGS. 9-12  are top, front, perspective and side views of the front mounting bracket assembly; 
           [0022]      FIGS. 13-16  are a top, side, perspective and front views of the platform; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 17  is a side perspective of the floating craft with the pontoons removed and the platform ready for raising. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    The above description will enable any person skilled in the art to make and use this invention. It also sets forth the best modes for carrying out this invention. There are numerous variations and modifications thereof that will also remain readily apparent to others skilled in the art, now that the general principles of the present invention have been disclosed. There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. 
         [0025]    As can best be seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  8  and  17  the floating craft stabilization platform  2  consists of a perforated, pivotable platform  4 , an optional universal fit front mounting assembly  6 , a platform lock assembly  8 , a pair of adjustable fabric straps  10 , an upper axle tube  12 , a lower axle tube  13 , an upper axle  15  a lower axle  17 , a pair of adjustable, pivotable legs  14 , a pair of lifting handles  16 , a safety bar  36  and a table  74 . 
         [0026]    The stabilizing platform  2  is a retrofit accessory designed to attach to the various configurations of floating craft frames presently on the market. There are various floating craft manufacturers and there is a plethora of different frame designs that affix to and support the seat  18  and pontoons  40 . The frame tubing used may be round, square or elliptical in cross section. The present design utilizes a pair of universal fit front mounting bracket assemblies  6  and an upper axle tube  12  that will accommodate the connection of the platform to the various configurations and dimensions of frame tubes. Since the platform is designed for use in salt, brackish or freshwater environments the components are rust and salt resistant by material and/or coating selection. In the preferred embodiment these are made of lightweight metal such as aluminum, although a UV resistant polymer would also be suitable as would be powder coated or stainless steel or galvanized metal. 
         [0027]    The front mounting bracket assembly  6  ( FIGS. 9-12 ) is made of an upper U shaped piece of channel  42  joined to a lower U shaped piece of channel  44 . One side of the lower channel  44  is affixed to the bottom of the upper channel  42  such that their linear axes are parallel, but the open face of their U shapes are perpendicular. A strap connector  46  extends from the bottom of the upper channel  42 . A set of U-bolts  48  are threadingly engaged with mating nuts  50  through orifices in the upper channel  42  so as to form two enclosed rings that allow the connection of the front mounting bracket assembly  6  to the floating craft frame members. It is to be noted that the strap connector  46  may be utilized as a connection point for the straps  10  or not, as the straps may directly encircle the frame or may be situated so as to directly encircle the front mounting bracket assembly  6  when mounted on the frame. 
         [0028]    It is known that in an alternate embodiment the front mounting bracket assembly  6  may be eliminated completely. This would be done when the user has no need for a safety bracket  36 . In this configuration the straps  10  have their top end looped around the frame of the floating craft rather than around the front mounting bracket assembly  6  or around the strap connector  46  on the front mounting bracket assembly  6 . In all other aspects the straps  10  would function identically. 
         [0029]    The straps  10  are of a flexible fabric adapted for use in water that have their proximate ends looped through the strap connector  46  (or encircling the frame) and then enmeshed with an adjustment buckle  20  located on the straps between the distil and proximate ends. The perforated platform  4  is a generally rectangular, planar member with numerous perforations  5  formed there through to allow water to freely pass. ( FIGS. 13-16 ) Affixed to the front edge of the platform  4  is a pair of platform strap loops  7  through which the distil end of the strap  10  is attached. In another embodiment of connection, the two ends of the adjustable strap may just be joined at the buckle  20 . In either configuration, the front of the platform  4  may be raised or lowered by adjusting the amount of strap  10  that passes through the buckle  20 . 
         [0030]    Looking at  FIGS. 7 and 8  it can be seen that under the seat, affixed to the pontoon boat&#39;s frame crossmember (shown in phantom) is the upper axle tube  12 . This tube may be welded or mechanically affixed to the crossmember by bolts or clamps. In the preferred embodiment there is a section of flat bar  21  affixed to the upper axle tube  12  and that serves as the point of connection between the upper axle tube  12  and the crossmember by welding. On the upper axle tube  12  extends a locking lever assembly made of a locking lever arm  24  that pivots about pivot pin  25  which is affixed to locking lever bracket  22 . The locking lever arm has a leg portion  28  that will extend through a slot cut in the upper axle tube  12  so as to reside within one of the alignable locking slots  32  cut in the upper axle  30 . When the handle portion of the locking lever arm  24  is raised the leg portion  28  will disengage from the upper axle  30  allowing the upper axle  30  to freely pivot within the upper axle tube  12  and raise or lower the two legs  14 . 
         [0031]    The platform  4  is of a generally planar configuration with a series of perforations  5  formed therethrough. At the front of the platform  4  is a pair of strap loops  7  that extend to allow passage of the strap  10  which suspends the front end of the platform  4 . The rear of the platform is pivotally attached to the legs  14  by the lower axle tube  13 , the lower axle  17  as described herein. 
         [0032]    The leg  14  is comprised of an inner leg member  36  which slidingly resides within outer leg member  38  so as to enable a telescopic style adjustment of leg  14 . There are a set of matchingly dimensioned locking pin orifices  60  formed through both the outer leg member  38  and the inner leg member  36  so as to accommodate locking pin  23  to affix the length of the leg  14 . Attached to the outer leg member  38  is a top guide  27  which keeps the handle  16  and the leg  14  parallel and adjacent at all times. An optional stabilizing brace  99  is affixed between inner leg members  36 . At the bottom of the inner leg members  36  are orifices that accept either end of a lower axle  17  for pivotal motion. The lower end of the inner leg members  36  resides within lower leg brackets comprised of an outer plate  62  and an inner plate  64  which reside parallel to each other and extend normally from the rear edge of platform  4 . The lower axle tube  13  is affixed at either end to one of the inner plates  64  and rotationally houses lower axle  17  which passes through an orifice in the inner plate (not visible) and an orifice in the outer plate  62 . There is also an optional support  98  that may be used to affix the midpoint of the lower axle tube  13  to the platform&#39;s rear edge. The lower axle may be retained therein by a number of mechanical means including mushrooming the axle ends, pins, bolting arrangements, clevises, and the like. This design enables pivoting movement of the platform  4  with respect to the legs  14  as the platform  4  is raised or lowered. There is a series of matingly sized orifices formed through the inner leg member  36  and the outer leg member  38  that align at different extensions so as to receive an adjustment pin  29  to lock the leg  14  at the desired length. 
         [0033]    The handle  16  is a linear member having a bottom guide  54  affixed thereto that is slidingly attached to the leg  14  by inserting the handle  16  first through the top guide  26  then sliding the inner leg member  36  (deattached) through the bottom guide  54  of the handle, then assembling the outer and inner leg members. There are many embodiments of a handle possible as the handle  16  is but a lifting mechanism. It need not be rigidly or slidingly affixed to the leg  14 , rather it could be a cable or stay arrangement that serves simply as a mechanism to lift the leg  14 . 
         [0034]    Attachment of the stabilizing platform  2  requires the user to affix the front mounting bracket assemblies  6  to the tubular frame of the craft with the U bolts and mechanically affixing the upper axle tube  12  to the crossmember. Looking at  FIGS. 3-6  in conjunction with  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the operation of the platform  2  can best be illustrated. The platform  4  resides in the water below and in front of the floating craft&#39;s seat  18 . The actual depth of the platform  4  is determined by adjustments of the buckles  20  on the straps  10  and the telescopic extension or retraction of the inner leg member  36  from within outer leg member  38 . There is a series of matingly sized orifices formed through the inner leg member  36  and the outer leg member  38  that align at different extensions so as to receive an adjustment pin  29  to lock the leg  14  at the desired length. When adjusted properly, this results in a generally horizontal platform orientation. ( FIG. 3 ) The handles  16  are raised vertically and are constrained adjacent and parallel to the legs  14  by handle mounted bottom guides  54  and outer leg member mounted top guide  27 . ( FIG. 4 ) The handle portion of the locking lever arm  24  is raised so that the leg portion  28  will disengage from the upper axle  30  and allow upper axle  30  to freely pivot within the upper axle tube  12  and raise or lower the two legs  14  when the handles  16  are pushed forward and down (toward the waterline at the bow of the craft). This action will cause the legs  14  and platform  4  to pivot up and back ( FIG. 8 ) toward the stern of the craft. Because the platform  4  is pivotally affixed to the legs  14  by a lower axle assembly, as the legs  14  are pivoted rearward the platform remains in a horizontal position by the tension between the straps  10  and the strap loops  96  on the front of the platform  4 . When the platform  4  reaches the fully raised position such that it tucks in underneath the seat  18  the handle portion of the locking lever arm  24  is lowered so that the leg portion  28  will engage the slots in the upper axle  30  to lock the upper axle  30  within the upper axle tube  12  and hold the legs  14  and platform  4  in the retracted position. ( FIG. 5 ) The handles  16  are then slid backward and out of the way. With the use of the straps  10  to secure the front of the platform  4  there are no hard obstacles for the user to bump his legs on when the platform  4  is in the retracted position. 
         [0035]    Depth adjustment of the platform  4  is set to accommodate the leg length of the user such that they can easily return to a seated position and that the safety bar  36  ( FIG. 17 ) is between the knee and waist of the user. 
         [0036]    When the platform  4  is lowered the user may stand on it to cast his line in any direction. This stabilizes the craft as the user and platform assembly combined, now function as a ballast to keep the craft from tipping as the user turns to cast in different directions. It also allows functions as a rudder to keep the craft moving in line with the current in a river, creek or stream rather than moving directionally with the surface wind. In the case of lake usage, it prevents the craft from blowing about. 
         [0037]    The platform  4  and legs  12  whether retracted or extended serve as a ballast to help stabilize the floating craft. Although not having a substantial mass, the perforated design of the platform  4  allows it to offer extreme resistance to movement of the attached craft by virtue of the resistance it offers to water flowing through the perforations as the craft attempts to pivot or move. This feature greatly enhances the stability and safety of the craft. 
         [0038]    Between the front mounting bracket assemblies  6  may be a safety bar  36  which is pivotally and removeably affixed to the front bracket assembly  6 . This pivot connection and the lock on the other end of the safety bar  36  are well known in the art and are not illustrated. This safety bar serves to stabilize the frame and to prevent the user from falling forward out of the craft while standing on the platform  4 . On distal end of the safety bar  36  is a table pedestal support  70  that slidingly engages the pedestal  72  of the table  74 . This support is section of tubing with its inside dimensions larger than the outside dimensions of the similarly configured tubing of the table pedestal  72 . A wingbolt (not visible) engages a threaded recess in the table pedestal support  70  so as to frictionally engage the pedestal  72  within the table pedestal support  70  and set the height of the table  74 . 
         [0039]    Although depicted with two handles  16  as the raising/lowering mechanism in an alternate embodiment only one handle would be utilized. In this configuration the other remaining components would remain identical, thereby allowing the user to select on which side he would prefer the handle  16  to be placed. There are other affixing arrangements such as bolting or compression clamping that would be suitable to attach the front mounting assembly  6  to the frame of the craft, (as would be well known in the art) however the one chosen for this device accomplishes the best overall adaptation for connection to the various frame design. Similarly, physical changes to the U shaped configuration of the mounting assemblies are well within the scope of the disclosure above.