Boat boarding system for dogs

A new Boat boarding system for dogs for ALLOWING PETS TO SAFELY AND EASILY EXIT AND ENTER A BOAT. The inventive device includes a folding platform comprising a pair of platform segments hingedly secured together in a linear arrangement. The pair of platform segments include an inner segment and an outer segment. A free end of the inner segment is secured to a boat. A pair of inflatable floatation bags are positioned on an underside of the outer segment disposed inwardly of a free end thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to BOAT LADDERS and more particularly 
pertains to a new BOAT BOARDING SYSTEM FOR DOGS for ALLOWING PETS TO 
SAFELY AND EASILY EXIT AND ENTER A BOAT. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The use of BOAT LADDERS is known in the prior art. More specifically, BOAT 
LADDERS heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of 
familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding 
the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been 
developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
Known prior art BOAT LADDERS include U.S. Pat. No. 5,123,372 to Kobayashi 
et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,891,053 to Burton; U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,925 to 
Ritten; U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,447 to Hebert et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,186,820 
to Cosman et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 334,731 to McCarty. 
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and 
requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new Boat 
boarding system for dogs. The inventive device includes a folding platform 
comprising a pair of platform segments hingedly secured together in a 
linear arrangement. The pair of platform segments include an inner segment 
and an outer segment. A free end of the inner segment is secured to a 
boat. A pair of inflatable floatation bags are positioned on an underside 
of the outer segment disposed inwardly of a free end thereof. 
In these respects, the Boat boarding system for dogs according to the 
present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and 
designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily 
developed for the purpose of ALLOWING PETS TO SAFELY AND EASILY EXIT AND 
ENTER A BOAT. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of BOAT 
LADDERS now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new 
Boat boarding system for dogs construction wherein the same can be 
utilized for ALLOWING PETS TO SAFELY AND EASILY EXIT AND ENTER A BOAT. 
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described 
subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new Boat boarding system 
for dogs apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the BOAT 
LADDERS mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new 
Boat boarding system for dogs which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, 
suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art BOAT LADDERS, either 
alone or in any combination thereof. 
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a folding 
platform comprising a pair of platform segments hingedly secured together 
in a linear arrangement. The pair of platform segments include an inner 
segment and an outer segment. A free end of the inner segment is secured 
to a drop ladder of a boat. Each of the platform segments include a pair 
of opposed vertical supports. A central region is disposed between the 
vertical supports. The central region has a non-slip surface disposed 
thereon. The central region has a plurality of horizontal supports 
extending upwardly therefrom in a spaced relationship. The horizontal 
supports extend between the pair of vertical supports. Each of the 
platform segments has a pair of grasping apertures through the central 
region inwardly of free ends thereof. A pair of inflatable floatation bags 
are positioned on an underside of the opposing vertical supports of the 
outer segment disposed inwardly of the free end thereof. 
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. There are additional 
features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which 
will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
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 description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
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. 
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent 
and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the 
scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar 
with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a 
cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of 
the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention 
of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to 
be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new Boat 
boarding system for dogs apparatus and method which has many of the 
advantages of the BOAT LADDERS mentioned heretofore and many novel 
features that result in a new Boat boarding system for dogs which is not 
anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the 
prior art BOAT LADDERS, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new Boat 
boarding system for dogs which may be easily and efficiently manufactured 
and marketed. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new Boat 
boarding system for dogs which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new Boat 
boarding system for dogs which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture 
with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then 
susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making 
such Boat boarding system for dogs economically available to the buying 
public. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new Boat 
boarding system for dogs which provides in the apparatuses and methods of 
the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously 
overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new Boat 
boarding system for dogs for ALLOWING PETS TO SAFELY AND EASILY EXIT AND 
ENTER A BOAT. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new Boat 
boarding system for dogs which includes a folding platform comprising a 
pair of platform segments hingedly secured together in a linear 
arrangement. The pair of platform segments include an inner segment and an 
outer segment. A free end of the inner segment is secured to a boat. A 
pair of inflatable floatation bags are positioned on an underside of the 
outer segment disposed inwardly of a free end thereof. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new Boat 
boarding system for dogs that is stabilized slightly below the water 
level. 
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new Boat 
boarding system for dogs that features small ridge to aid in footing by 
the pet. 
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various 
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with 
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this 
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating 
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should 
be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there 
are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4 
thereof, a new Boat boarding system for dogs embodying the principles and 
concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the 
reference numeral 10 will be described. 
As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the Boat boarding system for dogs 
10 comprises a folding platform 12 comprising a pair of platform segments 
14 hingedly secured together in a linear arrangement. The pair of platform 
segments 14 include an inner segment 16 and an outer segment 18. A free 
end of the inner segment 16 is secured to a drop ladder 20 of a boat 22. 
Each of the platform segments 14 include a pair of opposed vertical 
supports 24. A central region 26 is disposed between the vertical supports 
24. The central region 26 has a non-slip surface 28 disposed thereon. The 
central region 26 has a plurality of horizontal supports 30 extending 
upwardly therefrom in a spaced relationship. The horizontal supports 30 
extend between the pair of vertical supports 24. Each of the platform 
segments 14 has a pair of grasping apertures 32 through the central region 
28 inwardly of free ends thereof. 
A pair of inflatable floatation bags 34 are positioned on an underside of 
the opposing vertical supports 24 of the outer segment 18 disposed 
inwardly of the free end thereof. 
In use, the device 10 is a floating platform 12 that would allow pets to 
safely and more easily exit and enter a boat. The present invention is 
essentially constructed of a rigid plastic material and measures six feet 
in length and is one foot wide. The inflatable floatation bags 34 
stabilize the device 10 slightly below the water level 36, as illustrated 
in FIG. 1. The inner segment 16 is mounted to a ladder 20 or an edge of 
the boat by means of a clamping device or another mounting bracket. The 
device 10 includes a non-slip surface 28 and the horizontal segments 30 
serve as ridges to aid in footing by the pet while deterring adults from 
using the device 10. The flotation bags 34 can be adjusted according to 
the size and weight of the dog. As the dog steps onto the device 10, it 
would sink into the water, thus allowing the dog to easily step onto the 
end of the outer segment 18 and walk the length of the platform 12 and 
onto the boat 22. Additionally, the device 10 could also be constructed 
for use on docks. 
As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the 
present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. 
Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and 
operation will be provided. 
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the 
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to 
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of 
operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to 
one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those 
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are 
intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the 
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and 
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired 
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and 
described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may 
be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.