# Patent

## Title
Boat seat deck base

## Abstract

A deck base for mounting a seat on a deck of a boat is molded from plastic as a single part. A downwardly extending tube receives a pedestal mount from the seat. Structural support is provided to this tube, including a concentric outer tube, and frusto-conical supporting web. The plate portion of the deck base has a caulking groove at its outer periphery.

## Background
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This application relates to a deck base for mounting a boat seat to a boat deck, wherein the deck base is molded as a one-piece item, and preferably from a plastic.
Seats are mounted onto a boat deck through an adjustable pedestal. Generally, the pedestal must be able to rotate within its mount, such that the seat itself can rotate.
Typically, a two-piece base is mounted to the deck, with a flat plate on the deck, and a tube extending downwardly through the plate, and into the deck. The tube receives and mounts a portion of the seat pedestal, to mount the seat for rotation relative to the deck. Typically, the tube portion has been welded to the plate.
The use of metal, and the use of the weld joint has many undesirable drawbacks. In particular, the weld joint corrodes quickly, as does a good deal of the surface area of the tube and plate. Further, the weld joint provides a break point between the tube and the plate, as forces are transmitted from the seat to the tube or plate.
The prior art deck bases have required replacements every few years due to the corrosion problem. The problem becomes particularly acute in saltwater environments. Moreover, particularly with corrosion, there is often breakage between the tube and the plate portion. This is somewhat dangerous, as it tends to occur when the occupant of the seat is applying some force to the seat. That is, the seat often breaks away while someone is sitting in it.
In addition, the metal deck plate is somewhat noisy, and can transfer forces to the deck. This has been a potential cause of damage to the deck in the past.
One other prior art design had a part aluminum plate, with a tube of a second material. However, this also was subject to breakage.
A need therefore exists for a deck base for mounting a seat to a deck that is less susceptible to corrosion and to breakage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a disclosed embodiment of this invention, a deck base and supporting tube for supporting a pedestal of a seat are molded as a one-piece item. Preferably, the item is molded from a suitable plastic. The plastic is corrosion resistant, and the fact that the tube and plate are molded as a single item eliminates any likelihood of breaking as the prior art weld joints. Further, the plastic deck plate eliminates the noise and force transmission problems mentioned above.
In a preferred embodiment, the downwardly extending tube actually includes an inner cylindrical tube portion for supporting the seat pedestal, and structural support radially outwardly of this inner tube. In particular, frusto-conical supporting webs extend from the tube to the plate. Moreover, a second concentric ring is positioned outwardly of the inner tube.
In another feature, a caulking groove is formed in the plate at a laterally outer area. The caulking groove receives caulking as the plate is mounted to the deck, thus providing a more water-tight seal between the plate and the deck.
These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the inventive deck base.
FIG. 2 is a view of the underside of the deck base of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the inventive deck base.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 shows a boat deck 20 having a seat pedestal 22 mounting a seat 24. As known, the seat pedestal 22 is mounted within a deck base 26. Screws 28 are shown securing the deck base 26 to the deck 20. The inventive deck base 26 is molded from a suitable plastic, and thus is not susceptible to corrosion.
Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2, the underside of the deck base 26 includes an inner tube 32 that receives a portion of the seat pedestal 22 for mounting the seat pedestal. An outer concentric ring 34 provides additional support to the inner ring 32, along with frusto-conical supporting webs 36.
Further, as shown, a caulking groove 30 is formed at the outer periphery 38 of the deck base 26.
As shown in FIG. 3, the inner tube 32 extends downwardly to support the seat pedestal 22. The concentric ring 34 is connected to the inner ring 32 by the frusto-conical webs 36. The caulking groove 30 is formed adjacent the outer perimeter 38, and receives caulking to provide a water-tight seal between the deck base 26 and the deck 20.
The present invention thus eliminates the likelihood of breakage at the interface of the tube and the plate portion, and in addition eliminates problems due to corrosion.
Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.

## Claims

1. A deck base comprising:
a generally planar plate, said plate having a central opening on an upper surface, and an integrally molded downwardly extending inner tube extending downwardly from said upper surface, and beyond a lower extent of said plate, and said inner tube and said plate being molded as a one-piece item; and
an outer periphery of said plate includes a caulking groove on an underside surface to receive a bead of caulking.

2. A deck base as set forth in claim 1, wherein said one-piece molded item is molded from a plastic.

3. A deck base comprising:
a generally planar plate, said plate having a central opening on an upper surface, and an integrally molded downwardly extending inner tube extending downwardly from said upper surface, and beyond a lower extent of said plate, and said inner tube and said plate being molded as a one-piece item, an outer periphery of said plate includes a caulking groove on an underside surface to receive a bead of caulking; and
wherein an outer support structure is molded outwardly of said inner tube to provide additional support to said inner tube, said outer support structure including a structure extending downwardly from said plate, said downwardly extending structure surrounding said inner tube.

4. A deck base as set forth in claim 3, wherein frusto-conical supporting webs connect said inner tube and said outer support structure.

5. A deck base as set forth in claim 3, wherein said downwardly extending structure is cylindrical, and webs connect said downwardly extending structure and said inner tube.

6. A deck base comprising:
a generally planar plate portion having a central opening on an upper surface, and an integrally molded downwardly extending inner tube extending downwardly from said upper surface, and beyond a lower extent of said plate, and said inner tube and said plate being molded as a one-piece item from plastic; and
an outer ring mounted concentrically outwardly of said inner tube to provide additional support to said inner tube, frusto-conical supporting webs connect said inner tube and said outer rings; an outer periphery of said plate including a caulking groove on an underside surface to receive a bead of caulking.

7. A boat comprising:
a deck;
a seat;
a deck plate for mounting said seat on said deck;
said deck plate including a central opening on an upper surface, and an integrally molded downwardly extending inner tube extending downwardly from said upper surface, and beyond a lower extent of said plate, and said inner tube and said plate being molded as a one-piece item; and
an outer periphery of said plate includes a caulking groove on an underside surface to receive a bead of caulking.

8. A boat as set forth in claim 7, wherein said one-piece molded item is molded from a plastic.

9. A boat comprising:
a deck;
a seat;
a deck plate for mounting said seat on said deck;
said deck plate including a central opening on an upper surface, and an integrally molded downwardly extending inner tube extending downwardly from said upper surface, and beyond a lower extent of said plate, and said inner tube and said plate being molded as a one-piece item, an outer periphery of said plate includes a caulking groove on an underside surface to receive a bead of caulking; and
an outer support structure is molded outwardly of said inner tube to provide additional support to said inner tube.

10. A boat as set forth in claim 9, wherein frusto-conical supporting webs connect said inner tube and said outer support structure.

11. A boat as set forth in claim 9, wherein said downwardly extending structure is cylindrical, and webs connect said downwardly extending structure and said inner tube.