Abstract:
A platform structure for a water structure surrounded by water is disclosed. The platform structure includes a set of inflatable sacks held in place by arm members which are hollow tubes rotatably attached to a hinge structure to a side of said water structure. The platform structure is especially designed to protect the water structure as well as other approaching water crafts from the impact of collisions. The arm members of the platform structure can also be used to tug floating platforms and various water crafts with minimal water drag. The platform structure can also be adjusted to function with a hinge structure installed at any of various heights on said water structure. The platform structure also has means to provide it with added stability on the water.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/751784, filed on Dec. 29, 2000. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to the field of recreational equipment for water structures, such as pleasure boats, for supporting people on the water. More specifically, the present invention relates to a platform structure which is connected to a water structure such as to the side of a boat, and which pivots on a hinge structure from a generally vertical position above the water to a generally horizontal position floating on the water surface in which it presents generally horizontal and stable surfaces for supporting people. The platform structure is comprised of aluminum tubes and inflatable sacks, which cushioning surface protects boats from the impact of collisions with other approaching water crafts. The inflatable sacks can also be deflated and folded for convenient and compact storage inside the boat together with the rest of the assembly. Aternatively, the inflatable sacks can be deflated and stored away while the rest of the structure is used to tug small water crafts such as kayaks or jet skies. Yet another alternative would be to tug at least some of the inflatable sacks or at least part of the platform structure on the rear of the boat. The platform structure can be adjusted to perform its functions even when the hinge structure required to attach the platform structure to the boat is not installed at a precise standard altitude on the side wall of the boat.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    One object of the present invention is to provide a relatively stable above water platform structure with a cushioned and comfortable surface adjacent to a boat.  
           [0004]    A further object of the present invention is to provide a platform structure which can be disassembled for convenient and compact storage.  
           [0005]    An additional object of the present invention is to provide a platform structure which provides the foregoing benefits while allowing assembly and disassembly without the users entering the water.  
           [0006]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide a save platform for dockage of small craft contiguous to a boat, with means to protect both the boat and the small craft from the impact of collisions.  
           [0007]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide the facility to tug from a boat the platform structure itself or other small crafts with minimal water resistance.  
           [0008]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which provides the foregoing benefits and which can be adjusted to perform its functions even when the hinge structure required to attach the platform structure to the boat is not installed at a precise standard altitude on the side wall of the boat. The platform structure can thus be adjusted to function with imprecise installations on the side wall of the boat.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    The object, advantage and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following discussion taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 shows a pair of hinge tubes with a perpendicular fulcrum segment which is a hollow cylindrical tube with openings on both ends. The hinge tubes are removably attached to circular plates.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 shows the hinge tubes attached to the circular plates.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 shows a boat with two pairs of hinge tubes attached to corresponding circular plates, adhered to the rear and to a side of the boat. The plates are adhered to the side walls of the boat with plastic cement or other bonding products available on the market.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 shows a pair of arm members, each arm member assembled with four separate segments, three of which are inflatable sack fastening segments. The other segment has a horizontally bent portion which extends slidably into a corresponding cylindrical fulcrum segment of a hinge tube.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 shows the arm members illustrated in FIG. 4 but with the horizontally bent cylindrical portion of one of its segments extended slidably into the fulcrum segments of the hinge tubes adhered to a side wall of a boat. As said horizontally bent cylindrical portions rotate within the hollow cylindrical fulcrum segments of the hinge tubes, the three inflatable sack fastening segments pivot to a generally upright position as shown.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 shows the assembly illustrated in FIG. 5 but with the inflatable sack fastening segments attaching another short segment and three separate inflatable sacks.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 is a cut away view of of one of the three inflatable sacks shown on FIG. 6 and the belts with which it is attached to loops on the pair of arm members shown on FIG. 4.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 8 again shows the assembly of FIG. 6 but this time on a fully deployed mode, floating on the water to a side of the boat. Boaters can rotate the assembly from the upright orientation of FIG. 6 to the deployed mode of this FIGURE by pushing it away from the boat.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 9 shows how the assembly can be optionally equipped with stabilizers with cushioned ends which bump against a side wall of the boat when the platform structure is tilted either towards or away from the boat.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 10 illustrates how the stabilizers shown on FIG. 9 can be retracted when not in use.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 11 shows how the platform structure can be tugged on the rear of the boat with its proximal portion over the surface of the water.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 12 shows that the platform structure can be tugged as shown on FIG. 11 but without one of its inflatable sacks to provide space for the outboard motor on the rear of the boat.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 13 shows that the assembly of FIG. 12 can also be used as a reduced floating platform on the rear of the outboard motor.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 14 shows that part of the assembly can also be used to tug a kayack or other small craft on the rear of the boat.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0024]    As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.  
         [0025]    Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein like characteristics and features of the present invention shown in the various FIGURES are designated by the same reference numerals.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 1 shows a pair of hinge tubes  2  with a flat circular base  3  having a series of holes  4  circling a segment  5  connected to said circular base. Each hinge tube also has a perpendicular fulcrum segment  6  which is a hollow cylindrical tube extending generally horizontally with openings  7  on both ends. Each hole  4  on the base of the hinge tubes  2  coincides with another threaded hole  9  on a separate bigger circular plate  8  so as to fit on each said hole a small bolt  10  with which to attach removably hinge tubes  2  to plates  8 . FIG. 1 also shows that if small arrows  11  protruding from opposite sides of the pair of plates  8  are aligned with each other, as evidenced by intermittent line  51  drawn on a side wall  50  of the boat (not shown), fulcrum segments  6  will likewise be aligned and directed towards each other when hinge tubes  2  are attached to plates  8 .  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 2 shows hinge tubes  2  attached to circular plates  8  with bolts  10 .  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 3 shows a boat  100  with pairs of hinge tubes  2  perfectly aligned with each other and attached removably to corresponding plates  8 , adhered to the rear and to a side of the boat. The plates are adhered to the side walls of the boat with plastic cement or other bonding products available on the market. Said plates are preferably adhered at an altitude on the side wall of the boat  100  over the surface of the water, but can also be adhered underwater.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 4 shows two arm members  12  and  14 , each one comprised of four separate aluminum segments A, B, C and D, constructed as cylindrical hollow tubes. All segments except segments A are inflatable sack fastening segments. Segments C and D are straight longitudinal tubes, attached removably to one another. A small portion of segments D is slidably received inside a small portion of segments C so that a bolt  15  can be fitted on coinciding threaded holes (not shown) on said segments. Segments B also have a straight longitudinal portion which is likewise attached removably to segments C with a bolt  15 , but have a further vertically bent portion designed to extend slidably into the vertical portion of segments A, also having a horizontally bent portion designed to extend slidably into cylindrical fulcrum segments  6  of hinge tubes  2 . The vertical portions of segments A and segments B have a number of holes. Segments A have one threaded hole, and Segments B three separate threaded holes each, which likewise serve to fit a bolt to attach segments B to segments A with a portion of the former slidably received inside a portion of the latter. The holes on segments B are numbered  18 ,  19  and  20 . The hole on segments A is numbered  21 . The bolt can be fitted on hole  18  of segments B and hole  21  of segments A, or hole  19  of segments B and hole  21  of segments A, or hole  20  of segments B and hole  21  of segments A. If the bolt is fitted on hole  18  of segments B and hole  21  of segments A as in FIG. 4, the assembly is extended as the vertical distance between the horizontally bent portion of segments A and segments B is increased. Conversely, if the bolt were to be fitted instead on hole  20  of segments B and hole  21  of segments A said vertical distance would be reduced to the point where the assembly would be fully contracted. The assembly can be so extended or contracted to adjust within a certain range the depth of inflatable sack fastening segments B, C and D as they are pivoted to a horizontal orientation underwater. See FIG. 8. It could be necessary to adjust the depth of segments B, C and D as they are oriented underwater if plates  8 , and thus hinge tubes  2  attached thereto, are mistakenly adhered to the side wall of the boat  100  at the wrong altitude and fulcrum segments  6  are therefore affixed higher or lower than expected.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 5 shows inflatable sack fastening segments B, C and D of arm members  12  and  14  in an upright position with their horizontally bent cylindrical portion of segments A slided inside cylindrical fulcrum segments  6  of hinge tubes  2  attached to side wall  50  of the boat  100 . A small pin  22  resting on hole  23  at the end of each horizontally bent portion of segments A prevents said horizontally bent portion from sliding off fulcrum segments  6  while at the same time allowing said horizontally bent portions to rotate within said fulcrum segments so that inflatable sack fastening segments B, C, and D can pivot between a vertical and a horizontal orientation.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 6 then shows the assembly of FIG. 5 with three separate but identical inflatable sacks  34 ,  36 , and  38  and an additional short segment  66  to form the platform structure  101 . Each inflatable sack has a pair of short belts  40  and  41  on one side and a single large belt  42  on an opposite side. Short belts  40  and  41  are of the same size in all three inflatable sacks and their purpose is not only to fasten the sacks to loops  44  and  45  on segments B, C and D of arm member  12  but also to align each sack with the other two sacks as the sacks are fastened. Said short belts, one on the left of each loop  44  and the other on the right of each loop  45 , are designed to be fastened with buckles  53  sewn to the inflatable sacks on the same side of the loops where said short belts are sewn. In contrast, single large belt  42 , sewn to the side of the inflatable sacks opposite to where the two short belts are sewn, is designed not only to fasten the sack to loop  48  on segments B, C and D of arm member  14  but also, as can be more clearly seen on FIG. 7, to do so even as the separation between hinge tubes  2 , and thus between arm members  12  and  14  attached thereto, varies within a certain range, as a result of plates  8  being mistakenly adhered to the side wall of the boat  100  with the wrong separation between them. This relatively large belt  42  is wrapped around loop  48  on segments B, C, and D of arm member  14  and fastened with buckle  55  on the side of loop  48  opposite to where said belt  42  is sewn, to thus exert pressure from two opposite sides of loop  48 . All said short belts  40  and  41  and large belts  42  are sewn to the side of the inflatable sacks which faces the water when the assembly is pivoted downward as in FIG. 8.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 6 further shows that inflatable sacks  34 ,  36  and  38  can also be fastened together with a tensioned rope  83 , passing through loops  82  on said sacks, and that arm members  12  and  14  can be joined together by a short longitudinal segment  66 . Said short segment  66  is attached removably to each segment B to provide added firmness and stability on the water to the whole platform structure  101 .  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 7 is a cut away view of inflatable sack  34  as it is fastened by short belts  40  and  41  to loops  44  and  45  of segment B of arm member  12 , and by large belt  42  to loop  48  of segment B of arm member  14 . In this drawing the middle portion of large belt  42  is wrapped around said loop  48 , while equal portions of the belt remain stretched on both the left and the right side of said loop. However, if plates  8  were to be mistakenly adhered to a side wall of the boat  100  with a shorter separation between them than the recommended one, and hinge tubes  2  and arm members  12  and  14  attached thereto were consequently nearer to each other than expected, the portion of belt  42  wrapped around loop  48  would end up being the one closer to buckle  55  and not the middle portion thereof. Conversely, if plates  8  were to be mistakenly adhered to a side wall of the boat  100  with a greater separation between them than the recommended one, and hinge tubes  2  and arm members  12  and  14  attached thereto were consequently farther away from each other than expected, the portion of belt  42  wrapped around loop  48  would end up being the one farther away from said buckle  55  and not the middle portion thereof.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 8 shows the platform structure  101  in a fully deployed mode on the water, after being pushed away from the side of the boat  100 . Inflatable sacks  34 ,  36  and  38  float on the water as short belts  40  and  41  and large belts  42  attach the loops on aluminum segments B, C and D of arm members  12  and  14  (not shown) under the surface of the water. These aluminum segments are extended in a generally horizontal orientation parallel to each other and beneath the floating inflatable sacks so that approaching water crafts can not collide directly against them and damage the platform structure  101  and perhaps the side wall of the boat  100 . Arm members  12  and  14  are thus distanced from the edges of the platform structure  101  except the one facing the boat  100 . Flexible retreval lines  13  are tied to securing loops  16  on inflatable sack  38  and extend into the boat  100  for pulling the distal portion of the platform structure  101  out of the water and towards the boat  100  for disassembly.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 9 shows the assembly without the three inflatable sacks and segments B, C and D of arm members  12  and  14  extended outwardly under the water from the side of the boat  100 . Segments B of arm members  12  and  14  are shown attaching additional segments which can be optionally assembled to provide added stability on the water to the platform structure  101 . Among these additional components are cylindrical stabilizers  60  attached removably under segments B. Each of these stabilizers has a cushioned end  61  which bumps against side wall  50  of the boat  100  every time the weight on top of the platform structure  101  is overly concentrated on the distal portion of said platform, thus tilting it with segments D of arm members  12  and  14  further underwater than segments B. As cushioned end  61  of stabilizers  60  then bumps against the side wall of the boat, the tilted platform structure  101  recovers its stability or at least stops inclining further.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 9 also illustrates another stabilizer  62  with a cushioned end  63 , which likewise bumps against the side wall of the boat every time strong waves or winds lift slightly the distal portion of the platform structure and tilts it in the opposite direction. This other stabilizer  62  is attached removably with a bolt  15  fitted on a threaded hole on longitudinal segment  66  attached to segments B of arm members  12  and  14 . A main advantage of these stabilizers is that their operation does not require any attachment or work done on the side wall of the boat.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 10 then shows that stabilizers  60  can be retracted under segments B of arm members  12  and  14  and their cushioned end  61  distanced from the side wall of the boat when not in use (and extended outwardly again towards said side wall to be used). This is accomplished by sliding each stabilizer  60  away from (or towards) the side wall of the boat  100  and then fitting a bolt on a selected hole on said stabilizers  60 , to lock the stabilizers with the same bolt passing through a coinciding threaded hole on hollow cylindrical tubes  70  attached underneath segments B. A small portion of stabilizers  60  carrying cushioned end  61  can also be retracted (or extended outwardly) with a rotatable joint  71 . FIG. 10 further shows that stabilizer  62  is telescopic and thus can also be retracted and its cushioned end  63  distanced from the side wall of the boat when not in use (and extended upwardly again towards said side wall to be used). Alternatively, all three stabilizers can be removed and stored away.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 11 shows the platform structure  101  attached to the pair of hinge tubes  2  on the rear of boat  100  Here the platform structure is inclined with its proximal portion over the surface of the water, and the vertical portion of segments B of arm members  12  and  14  retracted inside the vertical portion of segments A. In this position the platform structure can be pulled or tugged with minimal water resistance.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 12 shows that inflatable sack  34  can be removed from the assembly and short segment  66  located further to the rear of segments B of arm members  12  and  14  to provide space for outdoor motor  90  on the rear of boat  102 . In this drawing the vertical portion of segments B is also fully retracted inside the vertical portion of segments A to raise the proximal portion of inflatable sack  36  over the surface of the water and tug with minimal water drag two of the three inflatable sacks of the platform structure.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 13 then shows that with inflatable sack  34  removed the reduced platform structure can still be used as a stable floating platform on the rear of outboard motor  90 . In this drawing the vertical portion of segments B is extended out of the vertical portion of segments A to lower the proximal portion of inflatable sack  36  and allow inflatable sacks  36  and  38  to float horizontally on the water as the boat is stationed.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 14 shows arm members  12  and  14  attached to the pair of hinge tubes  2  on the rear of boat  102  and outdoor motor  90 , with the vertical portion of segments B of said arm members retracted inside the vertical portion of segments A. In this drawing the inflatable sacks are replaced by a kayak  87  which is attached with ropes  93  to loops  80  on not one but two short segments  66  attached removably to arm members  12  and  14 . One short segment  66  is attached to segments B and the other said short segment  66  to segments D. The kayak can thus be tugged with minimal water resistance with its proximal portion over the surface of the water.  
         [0042]    While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms or certain embodiments or modifications which it has assumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.