Abstract:
A combined seating and storage system, particularly adapted for pontoon boats, in which a lid is connected to a storage container by a double pivot hinge which enables the lid to open into a safe vertical orientation in front of the storage container.

Description:
This application is a continuation, of application Ser. No. 08/143,183, filed 10/26/93 now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to combination seating and storage systems and in particular relates to combination seating and storage systems in the field of marine transportation. 
     It is well known in the field of transportation, and particularly in the boat industry, to provide combination seating and storage systems. An advantage of such systems is an efficient use of the limited available space aboard boats. In a most rudimentary system, a separable lid is placed over a container and can serve as an occupant support surface. Often, such lids have been upholstered to increase the comfort of a passenger. It is also well known to hinge a storage compartment lid from the rear edge of the lid thus allowing the lid to pivot about its rearward edge and ultimately rest against a backrest of the seating/storage compartment. Such a system, while allowing efficient space utilization, suffers from several disadvantages. One significant disadvantage of a rear hinge lid is a tendency on a rocking boat to suddenly slam shut. At the least, slamming shut is inconvenient and could be potentially dangerous to one accessing the storage compartment. 
     The present invention concerns a combined seating and storage system, including a double pivot hinge, which provides an alternative to the instability problem of a rear hinged lid for combination seating and storage units. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In a first embodiment, the present invention is a combined seating and storage system which includes a storage container having at least front, rear, left, and right sides, which in turn define an open top. The system further includes a lid having an upper surface suitable as a seating surface, an undersurface, and a double pivot hinge. The double pivot hinge connects the lid to the storage container and includes a first horizontal pivot pin connected adjacent to the top of a front side or front corner of the storage container and a second horizontal pivot pin located between the front and rear edges of the lid on the undersurface of the lid. Preferably, the second pivot is closer to the rear edge of the lid than to the forward edge of the lid. The double pivot hinge also includes a one-piece connecting arm pivotally connected at a first end to the first pivot pin and pivotally connected at a second end to the second pivot pin. The lid can be moved from a closed horizontal position overlying the storage container to an open vertical position in front of the front side of the storage container. This open position allows excellent access to the interior of the storage container. Also, when the lid is in the open vertical position, it is free of a tendency to slam shut. 
     Preferably, the combined seating and storage system also includes a pocket at the rear of the storage container which is receptive of a rearward portion of the lid and wherein the pocket prevents the rearward portion of the lid from hinging upward in advance of the upward hinging of the front edge of the lid. Most preferably, the pocket is provided in part by the bottom edge of a forwardly directed cushion on the backrest. Preferably, the double pivot hinge includes a pair of spaced apart, parallel connecting arms. 
     Additionally, the present invention is a double pivot hinge for connecting a lid of a storage container to the storage container and includes a first bracket carrying a first pivot pin, a second bracket carrying a second pivot, and a first one-piece connecting arm having a first end pivotally carried on the first pivot pin and a second end pivotally carried on the second pivot pin. Preferably, the double pivot hinge also includes a third bracket carrying a third pivot pin which is coaxially aligned with the first pivot pin, a fourth bracket carrying a fourth pivot pin coaxially aligned with the second pivot pin and a second one-piece connecting arm having a first end pivotally carried on the third pivot pin and a second end pivotally carried on the fourth pivot pin and means for rigidly linking the first and second one-piece connecting arms in parallel orientation. The rigid linking of the first and second one-piece connecting arms tends to prevent binding between the two one-piece connecting arms of the hinge. Preferably, the first and third brackets are integrally formed high in the right and left sides of the storage container near front corners of the storage container. Preferably, the first and second one-piece connecting arms have opposing offsets adjacent the first and third pivot pins. Additionally and preferably, the one-piece connecting arms include doglegs adjacent to the second and fourth pivot pins to facilitate rotation of the second and fourth pivot pins over center of an axis defined by the first and third pivot pins. In combination, the overcenter balance and mounting of the second and fourth brackets rearward of the midpoint of the lid facilitates stability when the storage container is opened by movement and pivoting of the lid forward of the front edge of the storage container. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the combination seat and storage system of the present invention, with the lid shown in the fully-opened position; 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG. 2 with lid partially closed; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG. 2 with the lid fully closed; and 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the double pivot hinge connecting arm assembly with a six-sided corner embodiment of the combination seating and storage unit of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In a first embodiment, the present invention is a combination seating and storage unit 20, as shown in FIG. 1. The unit 20 includes a storage container 22 having a front side 24, a rear side 26, a right side 28 and a left side 30. The unit optionally includes a bottom or floor 32. Preferably, the storage container also includes a back 34 carrying a horizontal cushion 36. Additionally, the unit 20 includes a lid 40. 
     Preferably, the storage container 22 is formed from roto-molded plastic. However, suitable storage units could be prepared from plywood, preferably marine plywood, aluminum, steel, or other well-known fabrication materials. The lid 40 is preferably formed of plywood, most preferably marine plywood, of a thickness sufficient to support a seated occupant. Alternatively, other building materials such as aluminum, plastic, steel, or wood planking could be suitably employed. The lid 40 and the back 34 are preferably upholstered with well-known foam upholstery material covered with fabric, or most preferably vinyl. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the lid 40 is connected to the storage container 22 such that when opened, the lid is oriented vertically and positioned immediately in front of the front side 24 of the storage container 22. This positioning of the lid 40 facilitates excellent access to the interior of the storage container through an open top 38 of the storage container. In such an open position, the lid 40 is extremely stable for reasons which will be apparent from the following discussion. 
     With reference to FIG. 2, a double pivot hinge 50 connects the lid 40 to the storage container 22. The double pivot hinge 50 includes a first bracket 52, which in a preferred mode is integral with right side 28 at a location adjacent the open top 38 and the front side 24; in other words, near the upper position of a front corner of the container 22. The bracket 52 carries a first pivot pin 54. A second bracket 56 carries a second pivot pin 58. The second bracket 56 is attached to the lid 40 generally adjacent to the midpoint between the front and rear edges of the lid 40 and most preferably slightly rearward of the midpoint of the lid 40. 
     First and second pivot pins 54 and 58 are each pivotally connected to a one-piece connecting arm 60 at a first end 62 and at a second end 64, respectively. Additionally, the second end 64 of the one-piece connecting arm 60 preferably includes a dogleg or bend 66 adjacent the second end 64. The first and second ends 62 and 64, respectively, are planar and are offset from one another so as to lie in parallel planes. The one-piece connecting arm 60 includes an integral offset portion 68 connecting the first and second ends. Most preferably, the first end 62 has a roughly three-quarters of an inch offset to place the first end 62 in sliding contact with the bracket portion 52 of right side wall 28. The second body 64 of the one-piece connecting arm 60 is therefore offset inward approximately three-quarters of an inch from the right side 28. 
     In a preferred embodiment, a mirror image of the double pivot hinge just explained is present at the left side 30 of the storage container 22 and at the left side of the one-piece lid 40. Most preferably, the connecting arm 60 on the right side and its equivalent member on the left side are rigidly linked together by connecting means comprising at least one rigid rod, tube or bar 70 which rigidly attaches to the connecting arms and holds them in a parallel relationship. The connecting means 70 thus prevents bending, twisting and binding of the double pivot hinge to assure dependable motion of the lid 40 as it is opened and closed from the storage container 22. 
     To close the lid 40, the rearward portion of the lid 40 is pivoted rearwardly about pivot pin 58 until it reaches the open top 38 of storage container 22. Next, application of a downward force to the front edge of lid 40 causes the rearwardly edge to slide rearward into a pocket 72 which is generally defined by the lower edge of cushion 36, the lower edge of back support 34 and the rear portion of the open top 38 of storage container 22. The pocket 72 may be alternatively described as a front opening slot or groove at the rear of the open top 38. 
     As the front of the lid 40 is forced downward, the double pivot hinge 50 moves about pivot pins 54 and 58 to trap the rear edge of the lid 40 within the pocket 72. Ultimately, the configuration shown in FIG. 4 is achieved in which the lid 40 is fully closed over the storage container 22 to provide seating over the storage container 22. It will be evident that due to the capturing effect of pocket 72, the rear edge of the lid 40 cannot rise until the front edge has been lifted and the lid begins to shift upward and forward. Only under the most rigorous rough water conditions is any additional lockdown system required. Such a lockdown system if required is provided at the front edge of the cushioned lid 40. 
     The usefulness of such a seating and storage system is not limited to rectangularly shaped storage containers but may also be used upon alternative shapes, such as a hexagonal corner unit, to provide both seating and storage in a corner of a vessel, such as a pontoon boat, as shown in FIG. 5. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.