Abstract:
An accessory platform for fishing rods, light bars, flag masts and similar accessories often used on small boats and watercraft is secured to a mooring cleat by means of an underslung clamping bar having a transversely positioned anchor finger or fork. The anchor finger is positioned to penetrate the arch between cleat legs. The clamping bar is then raised against the cleat arch bight by rotation of a suspension screw.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims the Priority Date Benefit of Provisional Application No. 61/482,912 filed May 5, 2011. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to a portable or removable accessory platform that is conveniently secured to permanently attached deck hardware such as a mooring cleat on a boat, barge or other type of buoyant vessel. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    The owners and operators of pleasure craft and relatively small fishing boats often need or desire a convenient means to secure an accessory article or device such as a fishing rod, flag mast or special lighting for example, to a hull, gunwale or deck portion of their vessel. 
         [0006]    Often, such vessels are highly finished with polished fiberglass, brightly painted or varnished surfaces. Understandably, the owner of such a craft is reticent to disturb his expensive and artistic finish for the purpose of temporarily securing an occasionally used accessory. Responsively, the prior art has turned to the deck mooring cleats that are permanently and securely attached to the decks or gunwales of most vessels as a convenient temporary anchor point for an accessory platform. 
         [0007]    As boat designs, materials and construction methods have evolved, a trend has developed for removing all obstructions and discontinuities from the deck surfaces. While most boat owners still consider mooring cleats to be an essential boat accessory, newer designs have tended to recess the cleats into shallow depressions in the gunwales. Some have gone so far as to recess the cleats below the deck or gunwale surface plane and to enclose the recession or pocket with a recession cover. Such pocket dispositions of the cleat, however, severely complicates mechanical attachment of an accessory platform to the cleat. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention comprises a substantially rigid but preferably buoyant, platform structure having an upper or top surface suitable for securing the desired watercraft fixtures such as, for example, fishing rod holders, flag masts, etc. Projecting substantially normally from the bottom of the platform structure are three to four vertical columns that are length extensible. 
         [0009]    Traversing the underside of the platform structure across the approximate midsection is an elongated clamp bar. Proximate of opposite ends of the clamp bar are length adjustable fasteners such as threaded bolts for securing the clamp bar to the platform structure at a desired spatial distance from the bottom of the platform. 
         [0010]    A structural ring having a close sliding fit around the perimeter of the clamp bar supports a finger projection from the ring perimeter opposite from the platform. A set screw or cotter pin secures the desired axial position of the ring along the clamp bar length. 
         [0011]    The apparatus is secured to the boat deck or gunwale by adjusting the column lengths and clamp bar fasteners to permit penetration of a cleat arc by the anchor finger while the top surface of the platform is level or at the desired angle. With the anchor finger penetrating the arch space of the selected cleat, the adjustable clamp bar fastener proximate of the finger ring is turned to draw the finger up against the cleat cross bar and the support column feet down against the boat deck surface. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The advantages and further features of the invention will be readily appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate like or similar elements throughout. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a partial elevation of a boat hull at the juncture with the gunwale showing the invention in place. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a boat hull and the invention as seen along cutting plane  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of invention clamp bar showing alternative positions of the anchor finger. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is an end elevation view of the clamp bar of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of an alternative embodiment for the invention clamp bar and anchor finger. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a cross section view of the  FIG. 5 . clamp bar as seen along cutting plane  6 - 6 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a partial elevation of a boat hull at the juncture with the gunwale showing an alternative embodiment of boat cleat and platform anchor. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a pictorial view of and anchor fork. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    Drawing  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a typical installation for the invention showing a relevant portion of boat hull  10  and gunwale deck  12 . A cleat recess or pocket  14  is formed in the surface of the gunwale to at least partially, if not completely, position a boat mooring cleat  20  below the surface continuity of the gunwale deck  16 . 
         [0022]    A typical mooring cleat  20  comprises a horned bar  22  supported by a pair of legs  26 . The cleat is secured to the bottom surface of the gunwale pocket  14  by bolts or screws through respective anchor feet  24 . Many contemporary gunwale designs provide an open arch  28  under the horned bar  22  and between the legs  26 . 
         [0023]    An alternative cleat embodiment  50 , also in common usage, is shown by  FIG. 7  to include only one leg  54  secured by a pair of anchor feet  56   
         [0024]    One preferred embodiment of the invention includes a substantially planar structural base for an accessory mounting platform  30 . Accessory mounts, also characterized herein as appliance holding means, such as one or more rod holders  32  ir flag mast sockets are conveniently secured to the upper or outer surface of the platform. Those of ordinary skill will understand that the platform  30  may take many shapes and forms and may be constructed of diverse materials such as, for example, wood, plastic. or steel. Preferably, the platform  30  is sufficiently buoyant to support all of the holders and attached hardware. Buoyancy may be provided by air chambers, not shown, within the platform  30  or by external float elements. 
         [0025]    The platform  30  is supported at a spaced relation above the gunwale deck  16  by structural means such as vertically adjustable support columns  34 . The number of columns  34  preferred for a particular application may be variable. Although four columns are preferable, three or even two may sufficient in some cases. It is also preferable that the column distal ends  35  or edges are faced with a soft polymer or elastomer material to prevent scarring or cutting the boat surface finish. 
         [0026]    In a transverse plane approximately midway between opposite edges  31  of the platform  30 , an axially elongated clamp bar  36  is suspended beneath and substantially parallel with the platform  30  by a pair of vertically adjustable suspension means such as hanger bolts  38  and  39 . A threaded tensile means such as a hanger bolt  38  serves as a pivot hanger that permits a limited degree of clamp bar rotation about the junction of the hanger bolt  38  axis and the clamp bar  36  axis. In the preferred embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the bolt  38  is passed freely through a non-threaded aperture in the platform  30 , a non-threaded spacer sleeve  41  and a non-threaded aperture  46  in the clamp bar  36 . A threaded retainer nut  49  on the end of bolt  38  primarily holds a loose assembly of elements  30 ,  36 ,  38  and  41  together during the platform installation procedure. 
         [0027]    The length of spacer sleeve  41  is variable depending on the specific application. Various boat, deck and cleat configurations require an individualized evaluation of the necessary length. Many plastics serve as suitable construction materials for the spacer sleeve  41 . 
         [0028]    With continuing reference to  FIGS. 1-4 , the opposite end of the clamp bar  30  is also secured by a threaded tensile element such as a bolt  39  that freely penetrates a non-threaded aperture in the platform  30 . The bolt  39  is turned into a threaded aperture  48  in the clamp bar  36 . 
         [0029]    Referring further to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the clamp bar  36  supports a carrier means such as a hanger ring  40  having an axially sliding fit over the circumference of the clamp bar. A set screw  44  may be used to secure a desired displacement position of the ring  40  along the axis of the clamp bar. The several locations of ring  40  along the length of clamp bar  36  shown by  FIG. 3  are merely representative of the flexibility available for positioning the ring  40  to the geometric configuration of a particular boat. 
         [0030]    Secured to the lower perimeter of the hanger ring  40  is a projecting anchor finger  42 . Note should be taken of the upper surface profile  43  for the finger  42  which contributes to the continued final security of the article attachment. Specifically, a low point  45  is provided between the finger base  47  and the distal end  49 . 
         [0031]    To secure the accessory platform to a cleat, the lengths of the several adjustable support columns  34  are adjusted to set the upper surface of the platform  30  at the desired height and angle over the particular mooring cleat  20  to which it is to be attached. This alignment is augmented by the length of the spacing sleeve  41  and the proximity of the anchor finger to the underside of the platform  42 . Ultimately, all of these adjustment elements are coordinated to allow the finger end  49  to be inserted into cleat arch  28 . With the finger end  49  penetrating the cleat arch  28 , the clamping anchor bolt  39  is turned into the threaded bore  48  to raise the finger  42  against the cleat arch bight thereby pressing the column feet  35  tightly against the deck surface. Simultaneously, the clamp bar  36  is drawn tightly against the sleeve  41  to compress the assembly with the underside of the platform  30 . 
         [0032]    The clamp bar  36  of  FIGS. 1-4  has been shown to be of circular cross-section. Alternatively, the bar may also be given a square or rectangular section as shown by the element  60  of  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Moreover, by predrilling multiple apertures  66  along the length of the bar, the ring  62  may be secured longitudinally at selected positions by a cotter pin  64 . 
         [0033]      FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate an embodiment of the invention adaptable to a single leg cleat  50 . In this embodiment, the clamping finger takes the form of a fork  52  having a pair of tines  58  which straddle the leg  54  and engage the underside of cleat horns  51 . 
         [0034]    As used herein, the term “boat” is meant to include water buoyant vessels of all types including barges, rafts, boats and ships. The terms “gunwale” and “deck” are used non-exclusively herein as specific examples only of structural support surfaces on a vessel that may have a mooring cleat attached thereto. 
         [0035]    Although the invention disclosed herein has been described in terms of specified and presently preferred embodiments which are set forth in detail, it should be understood that this is by illustration only and that the invention is not necessarily limited thereto. Alternative embodiments and operating techniques will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the present disclosure. Accordingly, modifications of the invention are contemplated which may be made without departing from the spirit of the claimed invention.