Patent Publication Number: US-9849943-B1

Title: Vessel boarding and disembarking apparatus

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to apparatus intended to assist individuals boarding and disembarking from small to medium sized water vessels, and more particularly, is a mechanical device which is easily attached to or detached from a boat&#39;s hull to assist in the boarding and disembarking of the boat. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Climbing into a boat, and getting out of a boat, can be notoriously difficult, especially when the boat is pulled up to the shoreline and is in shallow water as is often the case with a fishing boat such as a river drift boat, or otherwise when the shore-to-boat junction is less than ideal. Not surprisingly, there are many known devices that are intended to make vessel boarding and disembarking easier. However, most of these devices require either a permanent or hard mounted (to the vessel) attachment point, or a two hook (over the gunwale or transom type) ladder. While such known devices can make boarding and disembarking easier than simply climbing over the gunwale or transom, there are also disadvantages. 
     For example, with the hard-mounted variety there is only one location for boarding and disembarking—i.e., where the device is mounted to either the hull or transom. This requires that the boat is positioned on the shore such that the hard-mounted device is accessible and adjacent the shore. This is not always possible or convenient depending on the situation. Moreover, permanently or semi-permanently mounting an external device onto a boat is not something that many boat owners want to do. Not only can the device impede performance of the vessel, but the permanent mounts can alter the appearance and functionality of the boat. Another permanent solution that is used on some drift boats is a hinged access doorway that is cut through the hull, typically near the bow. While such a doorway eases access to the boat, the hatch inherently compromises the structural integrity of the hull and may be prone to leaking. And some drift boat owners simply do not like the through-hull doors. 
     As for the two-hook, over-the-gunwale-or-transom variety, these devices are often cumbersome to use because of the way they hang over the gunwale or transom. Moreover, due to the fact that these ladder-type devices hang on either the gunwale or transom, they tend to create a boarding and disembarking platform that is not entirely stable and which can rock from side to side when a person steps on the rungs of the ladder. 
     Given the drawbacks of the prior solutions to the problems of getting into and out of a boat, there is always an ongoing need for a device that satisfies boarding and disembarking from multiple locations around the vessel, is simple in form and function, floats, allowing the device to be free from constraints, is easily attached and/or removed from the vessel, is stable at all points of attachment, and does not incorporate permanent mounting fixtures. 
     The present invention accomplishes all of the foregoing by utilizing a single rigid (over the gunwale or transom) mount, and includes a bracing feature that contacts the hull of the vessel. The increased contact area between the device and the vessel provides stability that is lacking from prior solutions and results in the device inflicting no damage to the vessel. 
     Although, a single size device according to the present invention is able to satisfy the boarding and disembarking requirements of several types and sizes of vessels, this invention can easily be manufactured in various sizes with varying degrees of adjustability to compensate for the varieties in vessel hull types without losing its unique qualities. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood and its numerous objects and advantages will be apparent by reference to the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the following drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective and partial fragmentary view of a first illustrated embodiment of a vessel boarding and disembarkation assist apparatus according to the present invention, mounted on a vessel—in this case a typical river drift boat—and in which the boat is shown on a trailer. 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  in which the apparatus has been mounted on a boat (shown in cross section in phantom lines) and such that the down brace of the vessel boarding apparatus is oriented vertically in the view of the drawing. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the hull brace portion of the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  a perspective and partial fragmentary view of a second illustrated embodiment of a vessel boarding and disembarkation assist apparatus according to the present invention, mounted on a vessel—again, a typical river drift boat—and in which the boat is shown on a trailer. 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4  in which the apparatus has been mounted on a boat (shown in cross section in phantom lines) and such that the down brace of the vessel boarding apparatus is oriented vertically in the view of the drawing. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings of  FIGS. 1 through 5 . It will be understood that relative directional terms may be used at times to describe components of the invention and relative positions of the parts. As a naming convention and for the purposes of this description, the plane of the surface of a body of water on which a boat floats is considered herein to be a horizontal and planar surface. Other relative directional terms correspond to this convention: “upper” refers to the direction above and away from the flat surface of the water; “lower” is generally in the opposite direction, “inward” is the direction from the exterior of a boat toward the interior of the boat, with reference for example to  FIG. 5 , “vertical” is the direction normal to the horizontal plane of a body of water, and so on. 
     A first illustrated and preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3 . 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the vessel boarding and disembarking assist apparatus  10  comprises a generally F-shaped member  12  (in side profile as in  FIG. 2 , or a reversed Z depending upon the side from which the apparatus is being illustrated and the viewer&#39;s point of reference). Apparatus  10  comprises a top plate  14  that is connected to a top member or brace  16  such that the top plate  14  is oriented transverse to the top brace. A generally vertically depending down member brace  18  is connected to top brace  16  and preferably but optionally includes a handle  20  along the length of the down brace. (“Vertically depending” refers to the orientation shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 .) A hull brace assembly  22  is attached to the down brace  18  approximately midway along the length of the down brace and extends away from the down brace, and when apparatus  10  is mounted on a vessel such as shown in  FIG. 1 , the hull brace assembly extends toward the vessel. A bottom member or brace  24  ( FIG. 2 ) is connected to the lower end of the down brace  18  and a step  26  is connected to the bottom brace. The components of apparatus  10  just mentioned are preferably strong yet lightweight materials such as aluminum tubing. The components are thus connected to one another by welding. They may alternately be connected with fasteners such as bolts. As noted below, the apparatus is fully sealed so that the entire apparatus floats and is thus easily retrievable in the event the apparatus is dropped into the water. 
     The apparatus  10  is used with a vessel  50  that includes a hull  52  and a gunwale  54  (or a transom). As may be seen, apparatus  10  is hung on vessel  50  with the top brace top plate  14  extending over the gunwale  54  and with the top brace  16  resting on the upper edge of the gunwale. As detailed below, the hull brace assembly  22  rests on the hull  52  of the vessel and the step  26  is positioned such that a person may step thereon to assist with boarding and unloading. With the top plate  14  hooked over the gunwale  54  and the hull brace assembly  22  bearing against the vessel&#39;s hull  52  the apparatus  10  defines a very stable and strong platform for use in boarding and de-boarding the boat  50 . 
     Returning to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the construction of apparatus  10  will be detailed. In  FIG. 2 , apparatus  10  has been oriented on vessel that has a hull that is angled such that the down brace  18  is “vertically” oriented, this to illustrate the preferred relative angular orientation of the various components of the apparatus. It is to be understood that in use the angle of the hull of a vessel relative to the transom varies with the type of boat. As such, and as detailed below, the hull plate  44  that is at the distal end of the brace  36  is hinged to the brace to accommodate all boats. Reference line L 1  in  FIG. 2  is the vertical and longitudinal axis along down brace  18 , and reference lines L 2 , L 3  and L 4  are perpendicular to L 1  as shown by the right angle symbol at the intersections of these lines. Angle ALPHA is the angular orientation of bottom brace  24  and step  26  relative to L 1 —that is, the angle between L 1  and L 4 , which as noted is a right angle. Angles BETA and OMEGA are preferably equal. Reference lines L 5  and L 6  are parallel. Angle BETA is the angle between L 3  and L 5 ; angle OMEGA is the angle between L 2  and L 6 ; both angles BETA and OMEGA are acute angles. 
     The relative angular orientations illustrated in  FIG. 2  between the components of apparatus  10  are suited to adapt the apparatus for easy use with most vessels  50 , which typically have inwardly sloped hulls  52  (inwardly from the gunwale  54  toward the chine  70  at the base of the hull side). In addition, hull brace assembly  22  is adapted to allow apparatus  10  to be used with any vessel. Specifically, hull brace assembly  22  is defined by a hinge  72  that is attached (for example, by welding) to the distal or terminal end of the brace  36  that is attached at its proximate end to down brace  18 . With specific reference to  FIG. 3  in which the distal portion of hull plate assembly  22  is shown in isolation, hinge  72  is defined by opposed tabs  74  and  76  that are attached to a base plate  78  that is in turn attached to the terminal end of brace  36 . A single tab  80  is attached to hull plate  44  and when the hull plate is assembled to the brace a pin or bolt  82  is extended through aligned bores in the tabs  74  and  76  and a bore through tab  80 . This construction allows the hull plate to pivot about pin  82  to accommodate a variety of vessels  50  with differently angled hulls. 
     While the relative angular orientations illustrated are typical for apparatus  10 , they may be varied according to factors such as intended use, etc. For example, it will be appreciated that the BETA and OMEGA angles may be varied according to the particular situation. Some vessels have a flat, horizontal gunwale rather than an angled upper surface. Although the apparatus  10  will work fine even with most horizontal gunwales, the OMEGA angle could be changed so that it is a right angle relative to down brace  18 . 
     An alternative embodiment of a hull assembly  22  is shown in the embodiment of  FIGS. 4 and 5 . In that embodiment a threaded rod  30  that has its proximate end  32  threaded into a plate  34  that is on the end of brace  36 , which is connected to down brace  18 . The distal end  38  or rod  30  is defined by a ball and socket joint that allows the hull plate  44  to pivot. Specifically, a ball  40  is received in a socket mount  42  that is connected to the hull plate  44 . A lock nut  46  is threaded onto rod  30  so that hull brace assembly  22  is longitudinally adjustable so that the apparatus  10  may be adjustably fitted to a particular vessel  50 . And the ball and socket joint allows the hull plate  44  to swivel about ball and socket mount (ball  40 , socket mount  42 ) so that the hull plate rests flush against the hull  52  of the vessel  50 . 
     Use of apparatus  10  will now be described with reference to the all of the drawings. Apparatus  10  is “attached” to boat  50  by hooking the apparatus over the gunwale  54 , or the boat&#39;s transom as the case may be, such that the  14  extends over the inner edge  56  of the gunwale as shown in the dashed lines in  FIG. 1  and so that the top brace  16  rests on the upper edge  58  of the gunwale. When the user releases the apparatus the hull plate  44  makes contact with the hull  52  under the weight of the apparatus  10  and the plate  44  pivots about pin  82  so that it rests flush against the side of the hull. This is best shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     When the apparatus  10  is attached to vessel  50  as shown in  FIG. 2 , step  26  is essentially horizontal. The device is used by a person placing one foot on step  26  and then easily climbing into the boat by swinging their opposite foot into the boat. The apparatus  10  may then be easily removed. A person gets out of the boat in the opposite manner. It will be appreciated that when the weight of a boarding or disembarking person is applied to step  26 , a significant rotational moment is created along down brace  18  and so that significant force is applied to hull plate  44 , pushing against hull  52 . The engagement of top plate  14  on gunwale  52  prevents apparatus  10  from moving during this boarding process, and this pinching or “clamping” moment applied to the gunwale or transom of the vessel, affords a highly stabile platform for step  26  during boarding or disembarking from the vessel  50 . Bottom brace  24  creates the necessary structural integrity to mount the step  10  and the step forms the platform utilized while boarding or disembarking the vessel. It can be noted, too, that the apparatus  10  may be utilized when vessel  50  is on a boat trailer (as shown in  FIG. 5 ) to make a convenient step for loading, unloading and cleaning the boat. 
     The alternate hull plate assembly for apparatus  10  that is shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  is used in much the same manner as described above. The apparatus is “attached” to boat  50  by hooking the apparatus over the gunwale  54  (or the boat&#39;s transom as the case may be) such that the  14  extends over the inner edge  56  of the gunwale and so that the top brace  16  rests on the upper edge  58  of the gunwale. The longitudinal length of hull brace assembly  22  is next adjusted so that the down brace  18  is near vertical when the hull plate  44  lies flush against the hull of the vessel  50  on which the device is being used. The length of the hull brace assembly is adjusted by loosening lock nut  46  and rotating threaded rod  30  to thereby extend or retract hull plate  44  from the plate  34 . The rod  30  should be rotated until the point when down brace  18  is near vertical when hull plate  44  is resting against hull  52  as seen in  FIG. 5 . When the length of the hull brace assembly is adjusted to the desired point, lock nut  46  may be tightened against plate  34  to prevent further rotation of rod  30  and thereby securely fix the length of the hull brace assembly  22 . Since hull plate  44  may be swiveled on the ball and socket mount, the hull plate adjusts automatically to rest flush against hull  52  as illustrated. 
     The optional handle  20  allows the user to grasp the apparatus  10  and easily hang it or remove it from a vessel. 
     It will be appreciated by those of skill in the relevant art that certain modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the scope or spirt of the claims. To articulate a few examples, as noted, the relative angular orientation of the component parts may be varied from the illustrated embodiments. Further, the surface of step  26  may be made slip-resistant by adding adhesive backed sand paper or other similar techniques like abrading the surface, and padding such as foam may be added to the surfaces of apparatus  10  that make contact with boat  50  (for example, the surface of hull plate  44  that makes contact with hull  52 , and the surfaces of top plate  14  and top brace  16 ). If apparatus  10  is specially made for one type of vessel  50 , the length of hull brace assembly  44  may be fixed rather than adjustable as shown in the preferred embodiments. Other adaptations may similarly be made, including, making top brace  16  a length-adjustable brace to accommodate boats having different gunwale widths. The size of step  26  may be increased in order to allow for a swimmer to sit on the step, and the step (and/or the top brace) may be hinged to the down brace to facilitate a smaller footprint for storing the apparatus. The apparatus described herein floats without any external floatation. However, external floatation may be added if desired to insure that the apparatus floats in the unfortunate event that it is dropped into the water. 
     While the present invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill that the spirit and scope of the invention is not limited to those embodiments, but extended to the various modifications and equivalents required for various vessel hull types.