Abstract:
Relocateable boat accessories, such as seats having a second extension that can be positioned through a second extension slot, and then pivoted to position a locking member through a finger slot. The locking member can have a tip that is positioned under a floor so secure the seat to the floor. The floor may have several second extension slots and several finger slots to accommodate various accessory or seat position possibilities.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61265742, filed on Jan. 10, 2010. 
     
    
     GOVERNMENT RIGHTS 
       [0002]    This invention was not made with Government support. The Government does not have any rights in this invention. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Boats typically are purchased with a predetermined number of seats, and a fixed location of seats. However, if there are only one or two people in the boat, and 4 seats, then there may be wasted space occupied by the unused seats. In addition, if there are two or four seats in the boat, and one person in the boat, then the boat would normally be leaning to the right or left if the two or four seats are disposed on the left and right side of the boats. 
         [0004]    A company named “Rivtech” has an adjustable boat seating system described at its web site, “http://www.rivtechdriftboats.com/standard-features/adjustable-removable-drift-boat. However the seats of this product are secured to a bench that is raised above the floor, and secured to the sides of the boats. The seat can be in a fixed position on the bench, or it may slide on a rail that is on the bench. 
         [0005]    As can be seen, there is a need for a boat to have a seat or accessory that is moveable or relocateable to various positions on the floor of the boat to accommodate the number of people in the boat, and the desired space. 
         [0006]    There is also a need for a seat or accessory that is removably attached to a floor of a drift boat. The seat being disposed on the floor provides a lower center of gravity, and thus more safety. 
         [0007]    There is also a need for a boat to have accessories other than seats, such as counsels, cooler, refrigerators, or containers that are moveable or relocateable about the boat floor. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    One aspect of the present invention is a relocateable accessory ( 10 ), comprising: the accessory ( 10 ) having a front side ( 60 ) and a rear side ( 70 ); a first extension ( 30 ) that extends downwardly to a second extension ( 80 ); said first extension ( 30 ) secured to said front side ( 60 ); a floor ( 170 ) having a second extension slot ( 20 ), and a finger slot ( 150 ); said second extension ( 80 ) capable of being disposed through said second extension slot ( 20 ); and a locking member ( 160 ) secured to said rear side ( 70 ), said locking member ( 160 ) can bias from a secured position ( 210 ) and an unsecured position, and a portion of said locking member ( 160 ) is removably displaced through said finger slot ( 150 ). 
         [0009]    Another aspect of the present invention is a relocateable accessory ( 10 ), comprising: a front side ( 60 ); a rear side ( 70 ) opposed from said front side ( 60 ); a first extension ( 30 ) secured to a lower edge ( 65 ) of said front side ( 60 ), said first extension ( 30 ) extending downwardly to a second extension ( 80 ) that is angled away from said accessory ( 10 ) and an angle ( 140 ) of about 40 degrees; a locking member ( 160 ) secured to a lower edge ( 65 ) of said rear side ( 70 ), said locking member ( 160 ) having a finger ( 40 ) that can be biasly disposed through a finger slot ( 150 ) of a floor ( 170 ), said finger ( 40 ) being biasly disposed between a secured position ( 210 ) and an unsecured position; and said floor ( 170 ) having a second extension slot ( 20 ) that is capable of receiving said second extension ( 20 ) therethrough. 
         [0010]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a pictorial of one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a pictorial view of one embodiment of one step of how the present invention may be installed on a boat. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a pictorial view of one embodiment of a second step of how the present invention by be installed on a boat. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a pictorial of a first extension and second extension; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a pictorial of a locking member; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a pictorial view of the second extension disposed through the second extension slots in the floor of the boat; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a pictorial view of the locking member with the finger disposed through the finger slot; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a pictorial of a portion of an adjustable seat with a front side having a first extension and second extension, whereby the second extension is disposed through the second extension slot; 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a pictorial view showing an embodiment of an adjustable seat disposed on the boat floor by use of the locking member; 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a pictorial of another embodiment of a locking system of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a pictorial of another embodiment of a locking system of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is a pictorial of the embodiment of the locking system with the enlarged portion; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  is a pictorial of an embodiment with a plurality of first extensions  30  and second extensions  80  on one side of the seat. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
       REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0000]    
       
           10  adjustable seat 
           20  second extension slot 
           30  first extension 
           40  finger 
           50  tab 
           60  front side 
           65  lower edge 
           70  rear side 
           80  second extension 
           90  hook portion 
           100  tip 
           110  bottom side of floor 
           120  bottom of seat 
           130  pivot 
           140  angle between first extension and second extension 
           150  finger slot 
           155  finger pivot 
           160  locking member 
           170  floor 
           180  vertical upward force 
           190  inward direction 
           200  outward direction 
           210  secured position of the locking member 
           220  spring 
           225  fixed end 
       
     
         [0050]      FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment on the present invention. A front side  60  may have a first extension  30  that may extend downwardly to a second extension  80 . The second extension  80  may be removably disposed through a second extension slot  20 . The second extension  80  may extend away from the first extension  30  at an angle  140 , as seen in  FIG. 3 . In one embodiment, that angle  140  may be about 45 degrees. In another embodiment, that angle may be between about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees. Thus, the seat  10  or component  10  cannot be removed solely by a vertical upward force  180 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 1  also illustrates the floor  170  with the finger slot  150 . In one embodiment, the finger slot  150  may be disposed substantially perpendicular to the second extension slot  20 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 2  illustrates one embodiment of a method of using the present invention  10 , and the structure of one embodiment of the present invention  10 . A locking member  160  may be disposed on a rear side  70 . The locking member  160  may removably secure the seat  10  or component  10  to a floor  170 . In one embodiment, the locking member  160  may have a tab  50  that can be displaced inwardly along an inwardly direction  190 , which may cause a finger  40  to be displaced outwardly in an outwardly direction  200 . The finger  40  may extend downwardly to a hook portion  90 . The hook portion  90  may terminate at a tip  100 . In one embodiment, the locking member is J-shaped. For example, the finger  40 , the hook portion  90 , and the tip  100  may be J-shaped.  FIG. 3  illustrates a seat  10  or component  10  that is secured to a floor  170 . In  FIG. 3 , the locking member  160  is illustrated in the secured position  210 . 
         [0053]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , in one embodiment, the hook portion  90  and tip  100  may be disposed below the floor  170  when the seat  10  is secured to the floor  170 , which is also referred to as the secured position  210 . When the seat  10  is secured to the floor  170  in this manner, the locking member  160  is in the secured position  210 . In one embodiment, the tab  50  can be displaced inwardly, such as by pushing it with a thumb with enough force to overcome the force of any spring that may biasly push the tab  50  outwardly, or the spring may force the finger  40  inwardly. The locking member  160  is in the unsecured position when the finger  40  is displaced outwardly, then the tip  100  would be displaced outwardly, which would cause the tip  100  from being below the floor  170 , to being below or within the finger slot  150  so that the front side  60  of the accessory  10  can be lifted upwardly until the second extension  80  is substantially vertical. At which point the second extension  80  can be lifted through the second extension slot  20 . For example, the rear side  70  may be lifted so that the second extension  80  is substantially vertical, so that the second extension  80  can be removed through the second extension slot  20 , and then the seat  10  or component  10  can be removed or relocated and repositioned to the floor  170 . In one embodiment, the first extension  30  is secured to a lower edge  65  of the front side  60 . 
         [0054]    As seen in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the locking member  160  may have a finger pivot  155  disposed below the tab  50 , and above the finger  40  to enable the tab  40  to bias inwardly as the finger  40  biases outwardly. Likewise, the finger pivot  155  may allow the tab  50  to bias outwardly as the finger  40  may bias inwardly. In one embodiment, a spring may exert an outward force above the finger pivot  155 , so that the finger  40  has a hook portion  90  secured through a finger slot  150 , to secure the seat  10  or component  10  to the floor  170 . 
         [0055]    As seen in  FIGS. 3 ,  5 , and  7 , in one embodiment the locking member  160  may have a hook portion  90  that can fit within a finger slot  150 , and then the tip  100  of the hook portion  90  may contact the bottom side of the floor  110  to secure the adjustable seat  10  in place. The first extension  30  may have a second extension  80  extending therefrom at an outward angle  140 . In one embodiment, this angle is called the angle between the first extension and the second extension  140 . In one embodiment, this angle  140  may be about 45 degrees. 
         [0056]    Therefore, as seen in  FIGS. 2 ,  4 , and  6 , in operation, the second extension  80  may be disposed within a slot  20 , then the bottom of the seat  120  may be placed on the floor  170 , then the hook portion  90  may be placed within the slot  20 . The hook portion  90  may be adjusted or manipulated via a tab  50  that can be displaced in one direction, forcing the hook portion  90  to be displaced because of the pivot  130 . 
         [0057]      FIG. 8  further illustrates the seat  10  or component  10  disposed on a floor  170 . The front side  60  is shown having a first extension  30  extending downwardly to a second extension  80 , and the second extension  80  and first extension  30  may be disposed whereby there is an angle  140  between them. In one embodiment, this angle  140  may be about 45 degrees. In one embodiment the angle  140  may be between 30 degrees and 60 degrees. The second extension  80  may be removably disposed through the second extension slot  20 . 
         [0058]      FIG. 9  illustrates the seat  10  or component  10  secured to a floor  170  by means of the locking member  160 . The locking member  160  is illustrated in the secured position  210 . The locking member  160  may be disposed on the rear side  70 . The finger  40  may be removably disposed through the finger slot  150  of the floor  170 . 
         [0059]      FIG. 10  illustrates another embodiment of the locking member  160 . The locking member may pivot about a pivot  130 . The pivot  130  of this embodiment may be rotatably disposed to a locking member housing  230 . The pivot  130  may be disposed above the floor  170 , and beneath a fixed end  225 . A spring  220  may be biasly disposed between the fixed end  225  and a lever member  235 . In one embodiment the lever member  235  may have a contact portion  240 , which a boater&#39;s finger may contact to move the locking member  160 . The lever member  235  may have a horizontal portion  245  that extends inwardly from the contact portion  240 , and the horizontal portion  245  may be immediately adjacent and above the floor  170 . The lever member  235  may have a hook portion  250  that extends downwardly from the horizontal portion  245 . The hook portion  250  may be able to contact the bottom side of floor  110 . For example the spring  220  may force the hook portion  250  against the floor  170  to secure the locking member  160  in place, which also secures the component or seat  10  in place. The seat  10  may be removed by forcing the lever portion  240  upwardly, which displaces the hook portion  250  away from contact with the bottom side of floor  110 , so that the lever member  235  may be lifted upwardly through the finger slot  150 . 
         [0060]      FIG. 11  illustrates another embodiment of a locking member  160 , where the finger  40  terminates in an enlarged portion  260 , which can be displaced through a finger slot keyhole  265  of the finger slot  150 . For example, the enlarged portion  260  may have a diameter smaller then the finger slot keyhole  265 , but larger than the width or diameter of the finger slot  150 . 
         [0061]      FIG. 12  illustrates an embodiment of a seat  10  secured to a floor  170  via the locking member  160  with the enlarged portion  260 . 
         [0062]      FIG. 13  illustrates one embodiment with a plurality of combined first extension  30  and second extensions  80 , whereby either the first extension  30  or second extension  80 , or the interface of where the first extension  30  meets the second extension  80 , may be disposed through the second extension slot  20 .