Abstract:
A platform including a rotatable turntable apparatus for attachment to a boat deck, or the cargo space of a pick-up truck or the cargo space of an all terrain vehicle, or other area where a person with impaired mobility needs to experience greater mobility to engage in fishing, boating, wild game hunting or activities that they would otherwise be unable to enjoy. The platform can be used for securely mounting a wheelchair or a fishing type chair to provide a rotational means for persons with impaired mobility. The turntable is reversibly rotated by an electric motor a full 360 degrees. The motor can be independently actuated by a switch located on the turntable within easy reach of the chair occupant or by a switch at another convenient location.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   A Disclosure Document is on file at the U.S. Patent &amp; Trademark Office and benefit thereof is requested. Ser. No. 569336 is assigned to this Disclosure Document and was received by the U.S. Patent &amp; Trademark Office on Jan. 31, 2005. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to devices for mounting a wheelchair or fishing chair to a motorized rotatable platform mounted on the deck of a boat whereby a person with impaired mobility can engage in boating related activities, fishing, duck hunting, and the like. However, other applications are also contemplated, such as but not limited to land based wild game hunting, and therefore mounting of the present invention platform is also considered for the cargo space on an all terrain vehicle or pickup truck, and any other area where a person with impaired mobility needs to experience greater rotational mobility to engage in activities that they would otherwise be unable to enjoy. In boating and other applications, the platform includes a motorized turntable upon which a wheelchair or fishing chair is securely mounted so the occupant can be rotated 360 degrees in either direction. Preferably a control switch is positioned adjacent to the chair so the turntable occupant can cause the turntable&#39;s rotation, with additional control switches optionally at one or more other locations so another person can rotate the occupant if necessary. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   While many devices are known for seating boaters without impaired mobility, persons with impaired mobility, especially those in a wheelchair, have few devices providing them with similar options so as to allow them to participate in boating related activities including fishing, duck hunting, or boating in general. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,908 to East provides a means for pivotally mounting a wheelchair on a boat deck. However, with this device it is necessary for the wheelchair occupant or another person at his side to unlock, rotate, and lock the wheels to rotate the wheelchair as the situation may require. The present invention overcomes this problem by providing an electric motor as a means of rotation, with a worm gear speed reduction on the electric motor providing the necessary braking by restricting pivotal movement when the motor is not actuated. The wheelchair can be rotated by the turntable occupant actuating a switch within his or her easy reach. A switch at another location on the boat can also be used independently by another person to rotate the wheelchair or fishing chair in situations where the handicapped person may be predisposed with fighting a fish or engaged in some other activity, or in some cases where impairment may prevent the handicapped person from manually actuating the switch on the turntable. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,220,116 to Sheets relates primarily to assisting quadriplegics to support, aim, and fire various weapons from a turntable, with rotational controls that operate via pressure from the quadriplegic&#39;s open hand. This invention is manual or battery powered and probably fairly well suited for a target range, but not suited for a boat or motor vehicle or the marine environment. The present invention has advantages over the Sheets invention by being able to utilize the 12 volt D.C. power from the boat electrical system, eliminating the need for a battery on the turntable. Four contact rings and four wired brushes and the associated wiring of the present invention provide the means of getting power to the turntable-mounted control switch and from the switch to the drive motor, providing the impaired person with an electrically powered means for self-rotation, and thereby eliminating the need for manual rotation of the turntable and chair occupant, as provided in the East and Sheets inventions. The present invention also provides a means for securing the wheelchair to the turntable. The present invention further provides the necessary support for a wheelchair and occupant as well as providing stabilization means to overcome the effects of wave action, as well as acceleration and deceleration, while the boat or other mobile vehicle to which it is attached is underway. The present invention also has an advantage over the Sheets invention by providing an area within the platform of some embodiments to accept a boarding ramp enabling the handicapped person to safely and easily board and also exit the platform. The present invention further uses a simple drive means that includes an electric motor with a worm gear speed reduction in conjunction with a synchronous belt and pulley which eliminates the need for chains, sprockets, idlers, gear boxes, and locking mechanisms used by the Sheets invention and which may not be well suited for the marine environment. The reduced number of moving parts susceptible to failure is also an important advantage of the present invention. There is no chair mounting device for boats or land-based motor vehicles with the same features and all of the advantages of the present invention. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION—OBJECTIVES AND ADVANTAGES 
   The primary object of this invention is to provide a means for accommodating persons with impaired mobility on a boat, and on land based motor vehicles, so they have 360 degree motorized rotational mobility to engage in fishing, boating, hunting and other activities. A further object of this invention is to provide a motorized rotational means for a wheelchair or fishing chair that is constructed from durable materials that are also resistant to weathering and the corrosive effects of the marine environment. It is a further object of this invention to provide a device that is stable, safe, and secure for the handicapped person. A further object of this invention is to provide a device that is fairly economical to manufacture by using components that are readily available and relatively inexpensive. It is also an object of this invention to provide a device that is easy to use and maintain. 
   As described herein, properly manufactured and mounted, the present invention handicapped sporting platform provides a means by which a person with impaired mobility can easily rotate 360 degrees in either direction. It includes a turntable mounted to a vertical pivot assembly. When a wheelchair is to be mounted upon the turntable while it is secured to the deck of a boat, the person in the wheelchair comes aboard the boat on a ramp. Wheel chocks and U-bolts are then used to secure the wheelchair to the turntable. A stabilizing ring is bolted to the underside of the turntable. Casters are bolted to the top surface of the stabilizing ring, and the wheels of the casters engage the bottom side of the top deck of the platform thereby stabilizing the turntable during boat acceleration, deceleration, and wake conditions. The weight of the fishing chair and occupant, or wheelchair and occupant, is supported by casters bolted to the top side of the bottom deck of the platform, with the wheels of the castors engaging the bottom side of the turntable. A reversible 12-volt D.C. electric motor with an attached worm drive speed reduction device is bolted to the bottom deck of the platform, with the drive gear of the worm drive engaging a synchronous belt encircling a driven pulley that is bolted to the bottom side of the turntable providing rotational means for the turntable. The turntable is attached to the top of a hollow shaft that passes up through a flanged pillow block bearing that is bolted to the top of the pivot support hub. The hollow shaft has four contact rings attached to the lower end by a suitable insulating material. Four brush holders are attached to the pivot support hub housing four wired brushes with each brush being urged against its corresponding contact ring by a spring housed within each brush holder. The leads of two of the brushes connect to the boat&#39;s 12-volt D.C. electrical system, while the leads of the other two brushes connect to the 12-volt D.C. reversible electric motor. Four wire leads from the contact rings pass up through the hollow shaft and connect to a four conductor connector in a waterproof pivot cap. Two of these wires provide power to a drive motor switch on the turntable, with the other two wires supplying 12-volt D.C. current from the switch on the turntable to the drive motor when the switch is manually actuated. It is also an object of this invention to provide a device that is versatile by means of multiple controls wherein a switch at one or more other convenient locations on the boat or vehicle allows another person to rotate the platform independently from any one of these locations as the need arises. 
   While the description herein provides preferred embodiments of the present fishing chair and wheelchair mounting invention, it should not be used to limit its scope. For example, variations of the present invention, while not shown and described herein, can also be considered within the scope of the present invention, such as variations in the width and thickness dimensions of its turntable and stabilization ring; and the type of material from which its frame, turntable, casters, and stabilization ring are made. Such components may be made from wood, fiberglass, carbon-fiber, polyvinylchloride, aluminum, copper, brass, stainless steel, and other synthetic or man made materials or a combination thereof. In addition, the type of control switches used with the present invention may include three-position momentary-on/off/momentary-on switches, wireless remote switches, and any other switches may be used that are consistent with the requirements of the present invention. The location and number of additional control switches can also vary by personal requirements and/or type of boat, motor vehicle, or other environment in which it is used. Variations will further occur in the number, type, and placement of threaded inserts, fasteners, casters, and other components depending on weight and space requirements, limitations, and other factors. Thus, the scope of the present invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than being limited to the examples given. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention platform and turntable illustrating a wheelchair mounted to the present invention turntable, as viewed from the bow looking toward the stern of the boat. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention platform and turntable illustrating a fishing chair mounted to the present invention turntable. 
       FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention platform and turntable illustrating the top deck and mounting bolts, and with the turntable showing the placement of the threaded inserts in the present invention turntable. 
       FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention platform and turntable illustrating the bottom deck and mounting bolts, as well as the drive motor and other components. 
       FIG. 5  is a vertical sectional view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention platform and turntable generally along line  5 — 5  of  FIG. 3  with the components shown in section. 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention platform and turntable generally along line  6 — 6  of  FIG. 3  and illustrating the details of the drive motor and speed reducing worm drive and other components shown in section. 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention platform and turntable generally along line  7 —- 7  of  FIG. 3  and illustrating the details of the vertical pivot assembly and other components shown in section. 
       FIG. 8  is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention platform and turntable generally along line  8 — 8  of  FIG. 3  with components shown in section. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 REFERENCE NUMBERS IN THE DRAWINGS 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 1 
                 platform assembly 
                 38 
                 nut for bolt (37) 
               
               
                 2 
                 wheelchair 
                 39 
                 hollow pivot shaft 
               
               
                 3 
                 rear wheel of (2) 
                 40 
                 tubular post for (25) 
               
               
                 4 
                 front wheel of (2) 
                 41 
                 waterproof pivot cap 
               
               
                 5 
                 wheel chocks 
                 42 
                 threaded inserts for (40) 
               
               
                 6 
                 U-bolts for (5) 
                 43 
                 threaded inserts (48) 
               
               
                 7 
                 wing nuts for (6) 
                 44 
                 ring on bottom of (9) 
               
               
                 8 
                 mounting bolts for (5) 
                 45 
                 nuts for bolts (36) 
               
               
                 9 
                 fishing chair 
                 46 
                 nuts for bolts (61) 
               
               
                 10 
                 top deck 
                 47 
                 nuts for bolts (35) 
               
               
                 11 
                 turntable 
                 48 
                 eye bolts 
               
               
                 12 
                 bottom deck 
                 49 
                 bottom nut on (39) 
               
               
                 13 
                 frame 
                 50 
                 flanged pillow block bearing 
               
               
                 14 
                 drive motor 
                 51 
                 pivot support hub 
               
               
                 15 
                 wiring harness for (14) 
                 52 
                 stabilizing ring 
               
               
                 16 
                 two conductor connector 
                 53 
                 four conductor connector 
               
               
                 17 
                 wire leads from (27) 
                 54 
                 top nut on (39) 
               
               
                 18 
                 boarding ramp 
                 55 
                 casters for (52) 
               
               
                 19 
                 insulating material for (20) 
                 56 
                 mounting brackets for (57) 
               
               
                 20 
                 contact rings 
                 57 
                 driven pulley for (58) 
               
               
                 21 
                 wiring harness for (20) 
                 58 
                 synchronous belt 
               
               
                 22 
                 four conductor connector 
                 59 
                 casters for (11) 
               
               
                 23 
                 wiring harness for (25) 
                 60 
                 mounting bolts for (56) 
               
               
                 24 
                 control switch 
                 61 
                 mounting bolts for (52) 
               
               
                 25 
                 control switch on (11) 
                 62 
                 mounting bolts for (52) 
               
               
                 26 
                 brush holder 
                 63 
                 mounting bolt for (40) 
               
               
                 27 
                 wired brushes 
                 64 
                 mounting bolts for (14) 
               
               
                 28 
                 brush springs 
                 65 
                 mounting bolts for (57) 
               
               
                 29 
                 turnbuckles 
                 66 
                 nuts for bolts (65) 
               
               
                 30 
                 bolts for (10) 
                 67 
                 drive pulley 
               
               
                 31 
                 threaded inserts for (52) 
                 68 
                 spacers 
               
               
                 32 
                 threaded inserts for (5) 
                 69 
                 pier 
               
               
                 33 
                 threaded inserts for (56) 
                 70 
                 platform mounting bolt 
               
               
                 34 
                 bolts for (12) 
                 71 
                 boat 
               
               
                 35 
                 bolts for casters (59) 
                 72 
                 speed reducing worm drive 
               
               
                 36 
                 mntg. bolts for (51) 
                 73 
                 platform mounting bracket 
               
               
                 37 
                 mntg. bolts for (50) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a platform with a turntable onto which a wheelchair or fishing chair can be secured to accommodate a person with impaired mobility so as to allow that person to participate in fishing, boating, wild game hunting and other activities that he or she would otherwise be unable to enjoy. Although most of the examples herein relate to marine applications, which were first contemplated, it must be noted that other non-marine applications are equally important to give a person with impaired mobility the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of land based activities. Mounting of the present invention platform and turntable in any land-based motor vehicle applications would be substantially the same as that presented herein for marine applications. 
     FIG. 1  illustrates the first preferred embodiment of the present invention platform and turntable and showing the platform assembly  1  mounted on the deck of the boat  71 .  FIG. 1  also illustrates top deck  10  and the turntable  11  mounted within the circular cutout portion of the top deck  10 , a wheelchair  2  mounted on the turntable  11 , the wheel chocks  5  mounted to the turntable  11  by bolts passing through mounting bolt holes (not shown) in wheel chocks  5 , and threaded into the threaded inserts  32 . Wheels  3  and  4  of wheelchair  2  are secured to the wheel chocks  5  by U-bolts  6  positioned about the wheels  3  and  4  with the threaded legs of U-bolts  6  then passing through bolt holes (not shown) in the wheel chocks  5  with wing nuts  7  threaded onto the threaded legs of U-bolts  6 , thereby securing the wheelchair  2  to the turntable  11 .  FIG. 1  further illustrates the boarding ramp  18  (shown in phantom) as it would be typically positioned extending from the top deck  10  of the platform  11  to the pier  69  (also shown in phantom) during boarding and disembarking of the wheelchair  2 .  FIG. 1  further illustrates the drive motor control switch  25  mounted atop the tubular post  40  in a position readily accessible to the occupant of the turntable  11 . The switch  24  at the helm of the boat  71  is shown. In the alternative, wireless remote switches (not shown) are also contemplated. Any one of these switches,  24 ,  25 , wireless, or other, can be used to independently actuate the drive motor  14  and thereby cause rotation of the turntable  11  in either direction, with post  40  and switch  25  being removable from the turntable  11  by disconnecting the connector  22  and lifting out the tubular post  40 . 
     FIG. 2  illustrates the second preferred embodiment of the present invention platform and turntable showing a fishing chair  9  secured to the turntable  11  with eyebolts  48  bolted into threaded inserts  43 , with turnbuckles  29  connecting the ring  44  on the bottom of the fishing chair  9  to the eyebolts  48  thereby securing the fishing chair  9  to the turntable  11 . 
     FIG. 3  is a top view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention platform and turntable showing the placement of the bolts  30  securing the top deck  10  to the frame  13 .  FIG. 3  also illustrates bolt  70  that is used to secure the platform  1  to the boat  71 .  FIG. 3  further illustrates the placement of threaded inserts  31  for the stabilizing ring  52 , threaded inserts  32  for the wheel chocks  5 , and threaded inserts  33  for the driven pulley mounting brackets  56 . 
     FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention platform and turntable showing the placement of bolts  34  securing the bottom deck  12  to the frame  13 .  FIG. 4  also illustrates bolts  35  for mounting the turntable support casters  59  to the bottom deck  12 , bolts  36  for mounting the pivot support hub  51  to the bottom deck  12 , and the nuts  38  for the bolts  37  that are used for mounting the flanged pillow block bearing  50  to the top of the pivot support hub  51 .  FIG. 4  also illustrates a bottom view of the platform mounting bracket  73  and bolt  70  used for mounting the platform  1  to the boat  71 , and nut  49  on the bottom of the hollow pivot shaft  39 .  FIG. 4  further illustrates drive motor  14  with wiring harness  15  and wiring harness  17  connected by two conductor connector  16  that provides the electrical connection between drive motor  14  and the wired brushes  27 .  FIG. 4  also illustrates the bottom of brush holder  26 . 
     FIG. 5  is a vertical cross section of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention platform and turntable generally along line  5 —- 5  of  FIG. 3 , as viewed from the bow looking toward the stern of the boat  71 , and showing the components in cross section. 
     FIG. 6  is an enlarged vertical cross section view of the drive motor side of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention platform and turntable generally along line  6 — 6  of  FIG. 3 . Although  FIG. 6  shows several bolts  30 ,  34 ,  35 , and  62 – 65 , the bolt holes through which they pass and into which they are threaded for the most part are difficult to distinguish or otherwise hidden from view in  FIG. 6 , and for clarity of illustration they remain unnumbered.  FIG. 6  shows in detail the speed reducing worm drive  72 , with drive motor mounting bolts  64  passing through the bolt holes in the bottom deck  12  and threaded into the threaded mounting bolt holes in the speed reducing worm drive  72 .  FIG. 6  also illustrates in cross section tubular post  40  with switch  25 , four conductor connector  22 , and wiring harness  23 . Also illustrated is tubular post attaching bolt  63  bolted into threaded insert  42 , the stabilizing ring  52  with attaching bolt  62  passing through the bolt holes in the stabilizing ring  52  then passing through spacer  68  and bolted into threaded insert  31 , thereby securing the stabilizing ring  52  to the turntable  11 , the stabilizing caster  55  with mounting bolt  61  passing through the bolt hole in the stabilizing ring  52  then passing through the caster  55  and threaded into nut  46 , thereby securing the stabilizing caster  55  to the stabilizing ring  52 . In addition,  FIG. 6  illustrates the drive pulley  67  engaging the synchronous drive belt  58 , the driven pulley  57  attached to one end of the mounting bracket  56  by bolt  65  passing through the bolt hole in the driven pulley  57  then passing through the bolt hole in the mounting bracket  56  and threaded into nut  66  with bolt  60  passing through the bolt hole in the opposite end of the mounting bracket  56  and threaded into threaded insert  33  thereby securing the mounting bracket  56  and the driven pulley  57  to the turntable  11 .  FIG. 6  further illustrates in cross section the turntable support caster  59  with bolt  35  passing through the bolt hole in the bottom deck  12  then passing through the turntable support caster  59  and threaded into nut  47  thereby securing the turntable support caster  59  to the bottom deck  12 .  FIG. 6  further illustrates in cross section bolt  30  passing through the bolt hole in the top deck  10  and into the threaded bolt hole in the frame  13 , and bolt  34  passing through the bolt hole in the bottom deck  12  and into the threaded bolt hole in the frame  13  thereby securing the top deck  10  and the bottom deck  12  to the frame  13 . 
     FIG. 7  is an enlarged vertical cross section view of the center portion of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention platform and turntable generally along line  7 — 7  of  FIG. 3  showing details of the vertical pivot assembly and other components in cross section. Similar to the treatment of bolt holes in  FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 7  shows bolts  36  and  37 , however, the bolt holes through which they pass and into which they are threaded are hidden from view in  FIG. 7 , and remain unnumbered.  FIG. 7  further illustrates pivot support hub mounting bolts  36  passing through bolt holes in the flange of the pivot support hub  51  then passing through bolt holes in the bottom deck  12  and threaded into nuts  45  thereby securing the pivot support hub  51  to the bottom deck  12 . In addition,  FIG. 7  illustrates bolts  37  passing through bolt holes in the flange of the flanged pillow block bearing  50  then passing through the bolt holes in the pivot support hub  51  and threaded into nuts  38  and thereby securing the flanged pillow block bearing  50  to the pivot support hub  51 .  FIG. 7  further illustrates the lower end of the hollow pivot shaft  39  with nut  49  attached and the hollow pivot shaft  39  passing up through the flanged pillow block bearing  50  then passing through the center hole in the turntable  11  then passing through the hole in the bottom of waterproof pivot cap  41  with nut  54  threaded onto top threaded portion of hollow pivot shaft  39  thereby securing the turntable  11  to the hollow pivot shaft  39  and creating an axis of rotation for the turntable  11 . The lower end of the hollow pivot shaft  39  has four separate electrically conductive contact rings  20  made from an electrically conductive material such as but not limited to copper or brass, and attached to the hollow pivot shaft  39  by epoxy  19  or by another suitable non-conductive material, a brush holder  26  mounted in the pivot support hub  51  adjacent to the contact rings  20  houses four wired brushes  27  with each brush being urged into electrical contact with the corresponding contact ring  20  by spring  28 .  FIG. 7  also illustrates the wiring harness  21  from the contact rings  20  passing up through the hollow pivot shaft  39  and connecting to the four conductor connector  22  housed within the waterproof pivot cap  41 , wires  17  from two brushes  27  are connected to the two conductor connector  16  for supplying 12 volt D.C. current from the control switch  25  on the turntable  11  to the drive motor  14 , the wires of the four wired brushes  27  connect to the four conductor connector  53  with two of the wires from the four conductor connector  53  being connected to the 12 volt D.C. power supply of the boat  71 . 
     FIG. 8  is an enlarged vertical cross section view of the center portion of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention platform and turntable generally along line  8 —- 8  of  FIG. 3  showing an enlarged cross section view, with all of the components in  FIG. 8  having been previously described in  FIG. 6 . 
   Thus, it has been shown that the present invention handicapped sporting platform and turntable is particularly well suited for use on boats, however it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention is also well suited for other activities and easily adapted for use on a wide variety of mobile conveyances and in a variety of environments, such as but not limited to all terrain vehicles (A.T.V.&#39;s), light trucks, and other land-based vehicles for the purpose of wild game hunting, and perhaps just enjoying the outdoors with 360 degrees of self-controllable rotational mobility.