Abstract:
The present disclosure provides a portable platform for use on a boat. The platform has a number of uses including, for example, providing a platform to stand on for sight fishing and bow fishing from a boat. A method of fishing from a boat is also provided.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 62/034,076, filed Aug. 6, 2014, entitled “Fishing Platform for a Boat,” which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    A portable stable platform for a boat and a method of fishing using the platform is provided. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Boats are adapted for particular applications such as cruising and entertaining, skiing, general fishing, duck hunting, bow fishing, bass fishing, as well as many others. Because people may want to use their boats for applications that the boat is not specifically designed for, there is a need in the art for portable attachments that facilitate a particular application. The present disclosure provides a fishing platform that can be attached to most boats to facilitate the boat&#39;s use for bow fishing and other applications that would benefit from an elevated platform with lights. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The present disclosure provides a portable platform for use on a boat. The platform has a number of uses including, for example, providing a platform to stand on for sight fishing and bow fishing from a boat. A method of fishing from a boat is also provided. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a perspective of an embodiment of a portable fishing platform of the present disclosure; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the portable fishing platform of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the portable fishing platform of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a bottom perspective view of a platform assembly of the portable fishing platform of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the platform assembly of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view along line A-A of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view along line B-B of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view along line D-D of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view along line E-E of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  is a side view of a rear pivot plate of the portable fishing platform of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 11  is a side view of a front pivot plate of the portable fishing platform of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 12  is a side view of a pedestal catch assembly of the portable fishing platform of  FIG. 1  in a first orientation; 
           [0017]      FIG. 13  is a side view of the pedestal catch assembly of  FIG. 12  in a second orientation; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 14  is a side view of a portion of the pedestal catch assembly of  FIG. 12 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-14 , an embodiment of a portable fishing platform  10  according to the present disclosure is described herein in further detail. In the depicted embodiment, the portable fishing platform  10  includes a platform assembly  12 , a rear leg assembly  14 , and a front leg assembly  16 . In the depicted embodiment the portable fishing platform  10  includes a single platform assembly, but it should be appreciated that in alternative embodiments the fishing platform can be comprised of a number of individual platforms connected to or arranged adjacent to each other on a boat to form a single working platform from which to bow fish. 
         [0020]    In the depicted embodiment, the front leg assembly  16  is configured to pivot from a storage position to a use position. In the storage position, the front leg assembly  16  is configured to be folded under a platform assembly  12 . The front leg assembly includes two support legs that are configured to rest on the flat or curved floor or bench seat surface S 1  of a boat. Similarly, the rear leg assembly  14  is configured to pivot from a storage position to a use position. In the storage position, the rear leg assembly  14  is folded under a platform assembly  12 . The rear leg assembly  14  includes two telescoping support legs that are configured to rest on the flat or curved floor or seat surface S 2  of a boat. As shown in the depicted embodiment, the portable fishing platform  10  can be secured onto a traditionally shaped fishing boat wherein the floor surface is V-shaped in the cross-sectional beam direction Si and S 2 , and curved in the longitudinal direction S 3 . It should be appreciated that the platform can also be secured onto a variety of boats including, for example, boats with flat bottoms and bench seats (duck hunting boats), boats with a flat floor substructure (e.g., bass fishing boats). 
         [0021]    The platform assembly  12  defines a front periphery edge  18 , a rear periphery edge  20 , a first side periphery edge  22 , and a second side periphery edge  24 . In the depicted embodiment the platform frame assembly is generally tapered from a rear area towards a front area. The tapered shape can be beneficial when the portable fishing platform  10  is positioned in the bow area of a boat. 
         [0022]    In the depicted embodiment, the platform assembly includes a non-slip cladding that is secured to a metal frame (e.g., aluminum frame structure). It should be appreciated that many other configurations are possible. For example, in an alternative embodiment the platform assembly can be constructed of a molded plastic without a separable sub-frame structure. In the depicted embodiment, the frame includes a rear frame member  26  and a pair of longitudinal frame members  28 ,  30  connected thereto. In the depicted embodiment the longitudinal frame members  28 ,  30  are perpendicular to the rear frame member  26  and parallel to each other. 
         [0023]    In the depicted embodiment, rear pivot members  32 ,  34  are welded to the rear frame member  26  and front pivot members  36 ,  38  are welded to a distal end of the longitudinal members  28 ,  30 . In the depicted embodiment, a structural support member  40  is welded to the rear frame member  26  and the longitudinal members  28 ,  30 . The structural support member includes a circular aperture that is configured to receive the post of a seat in the event the user desires to configure the platform such that a seat is positioned above the platform. 
         [0024]    In the depicted embodiment, the foot support platform includes a pedestal catch  42  that is configured to extend through a preexisting aperture in some boats and engage the edges of the aperture to serve as an anchor point for securing the platform on the boat. In some embodiments ratchet straps are used to hook onto the tie down points on the bottom surface of the platform and around support on the boat (e.g., around the seats, through the clevis located at the outside front of the boat that is typically used to pull the boat out of the water, through oar locks, etc.). 
         [0025]    In the depicted embodiment, a pair of kick rails  44 ,  46  are configured to be removably attached at the side periphery edges  22  and  24  of the platform. In the depicted embodiment, the kick rails are attached via pins. It should be appreciated that many other configurations are also possible. For example, in an alternative embodiment, the side rails can be configured to pivot from a use position to a storage position similar to the leg assemblies. 
         [0026]    In the depicted embodiment, the platform includes a lighting system that includes a number of LED lights that are mounted to the portable fishing platform  10  to illuminate the water. In the depicted embodiment the lighting system can include lights  50  mounted to the kick rails, lights  52  slidably mounted to the periphery edges of the platform assembly  12  that engage the channels on downwardly facing edge, and light  54  mounted to the sub-frame structure of the platform assembly. The lights can be connected to their own power source (battery) mounted to the bottom surface of the fishing platform assembly  12  or to an auxiliary power source. 
         [0027]    The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.