Patent Publication Number: US-2011049775-A1

Title: Boat shock absorption system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a Boat Shock Absorption System (“System”) for providing shock absorption and cushioning while riding in or driving a boat, which encounters impact with waves in the water or wakes from other boats that cause the boat to pound. The present invention relates more specifically to a System that an ice cooler ring can be inserted into for riders to sit on or that a driver can place under a platform to stand on while driving the boat. The System absorbs the shock the boat encounters from the waves in the water and wakes from other boats. 
     2. Objects of the Invention 
     A primary object and feature of this invention is to provide comfort to those sitting on the coolers in the boat when the boat hits waves or wakes of other boats. 
     Additionally, it is an object and feature of the present invention to provide comfort to the driver standing and operating the boat when the boat hits waves or wakes of other boats. 
     A further object and feature of the present invention is to provide comfort to anyone sitting or standing on the boat by placing the lower portion of the System underneath a seat or standing platform. 
     It is further an object and feature of the present invention that all components of the System be made out of aluminum or stainless steel to prevent rust. 
     It is further an object and feature of the present invention that the system be easy to install on a wide variety of boats without causing damage or physical modification to the boat. Additionally, it is an object and feature of the present invention that the system provides these features effectively in an inexpensive form, without complicated instructions or extensive time required to set up or remove. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The above and other objectives and features are archived through the use of a novel System herein disclosed. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the System as provided comprises a lower portion and an upper portion that could contain a cooler ring. The upper portion could also be any apparatus desired for sitting or standing on inside the boat. The lower portion contains upper and lower plates and two side supports. Preferably, there are springs between the two plates of the lower portion, and the springs are spaced evenly along the plates and welded between the plates. The upper portion of the System may contain a cooler retaining ring, which will be sized to fit the cooler desired for use and will have posts and a plate for affixing the upper portion to the lower portion. The upper portion is bolted to the lower portion of the System using bolts and nuts. It is preferred that all material used to construct the System be aluminum or stainless steel to prevent rusting. 
     It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to these details and construction, the arrangement of components stated herein or in the drawings, or strictly the uses described. The invention is capable of different embodiments and being used in other ways, including but not limited to affixing the lower portion underneath a platform for the driver to stand on while operating the boat. The terms used herein are for descriptive purposes only, and should not be regarded as limiting. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the other structures and methods for carrying out the listed purposes of the invention. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the exact embodiment herein illustrated and described, and accordingly, all appropriate modifications and equivalents may fall within the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a boat encountering impacts with waves and/or wakes of other boats with the driver standing in the boat and the passenger sitting in the boat, both feeling the Impact of the waves and/or wakes of other boats. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional side view of the preferred form of the System sitting on the floor of a boat with a cooler inside the cooler retaining ring. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the preferred form of the System illustrating the upper and lower portions that are bolted together and also showing where the cooler is inserted. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the preferred form of the System illustrating the springs and side supports. 
         FIG. 5  is an elevated, partially sectioned, side view of the preferred form of the System showing how the cooler retaining ring is affixed to the upper plate of the lower portion. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A FIRST PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a first preferred embodiment of the present invention describes a System  10  that is used for placement of a cooler  20  inside a cooler retaining ring  22 . The cooler  20  acts as a seat for passengers on a boat, and the System  10  underneath the cooler  20  absorbs the shock from waves or wakes from other boats. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the passenger  50  sitting inside the boat  16  is being pounded from the waves and wakes of other boats.  FIG. 2  illustrates, in general, the System  10  sitting in a boat  16  on the floor  18  with a cooler  20  placed inside the cooler retaining ring  22 . 
     The System  10 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 &amp; 5 , includes a lower portion  14  and an upper portion  12 . The lower portion  14  as illustrated in  FIG. 3  is a comprised of an upper plate  32  and a lower plate  34 . The plates are attached together using four evenly spaced springs  26 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 &amp; 4 , the lower plate  34  has side supports  24  affixed to them, which allow the upper plates  32  to move up and down as the springs  26  are compromised and released. As shown in  FIG. 3 , each upper plate  32  has two upper plate holes  42  for use in affixing the upper portion  12  to the lower portion  14 . The upper portion  12 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , contains a cooler retaining ring  22 , which is designed to fit around the perimeter of the cooler  20  desired for use as a seat on the boat. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the cooler retaining ring  22  is affixed to four posts  36 , two on each end. The posts  36  are then connected to the cooler retaining ring plates  38 , one on each side. Each cooler retaining plate  38  is connected to two cooler retaining posts  36 . Each cooler retaining plate  38  has two cooler retaining ring plate holes  40  for use in affixing the upper portion  12  to the lower portion  14 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates how the upper portion  14  is bolted to the lower portion  12  using four bolts  28  and four nuts  30 , two on each end. The bolts  28  are placed facing down through the cooler retaining ring plate  38  and then into the upper plate holes  42  of the lower portion  14  of the System  10 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 &amp; 5 , nuts  30  are placed underneath the upper plate  32  of the lower portion  14  and screwed into the bolts  28  to keep the bolts in place.  FIG. 5  shows the upper portion  12  and lower portion  14  connected via the bolts  28  and nuts  30 . The cooler retaining ring plate  38  is then directly on top of the upper plate  32 .  FIG. 5  also illustrates the side supports  24  connected to the lower plate  34  and the spacing of the springs  26  welded between the upper plate  32  and lower plate  34 .  FIG. 5  shows the cooler retaining ring posts  36  connected to the cooler retaining ring  22  and the cooler retaining ring plate  38 . 
     The System  10  can be placed anywhere on a boat floor  18  (see  FIG. 2 ) and the cooler  20  is inserted into the System  10  within the cooler retaining ring  22 . A boat passenger  50  can sit on the cooler  20 , and the shock from waves or wakes of other boats will be absorbed. All material in the System  10  must be aluminum or stainless steel to prevent rusting. This preferred embodiment would have the advantage of eliminating much of the impact and discomfort a boat passenger feels when the boat hits waves or wakes from other boats. Because people will be sitting on the coolers  20 , it is preferred that the springs  26  used have a compression for up to 650 pounds. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Various modifications of the above described basic concept are also anticipated. It may be desirable to place the lower portion  14  of the System  10  (as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 5 ) underneath a type of platform that the driver can stand on while operating the boat. Such an embodiment would have the advantage of eliminating the impacts a driver will encounter when the boat hits waves and wakes of other boats as he/she is trying to operate the boat. Such an embodiment for use under a platform could be established by building only the lower portion  14  of the System  10  and not attaching the upper portion  12  containing the cooler retaining ring  22 , but instead attaching the lower portion  14  of the System  10  to a type of platform that can be used to stand on while operating the boat. A wooden board or other material could be used as the platform. 
     Other embodiments are anticipated including placing the lower portion  14  of the System  10  under any type of seat on the boat or any apparatus that can be stood on by a passenger or driver. This may include, but is not limited to, a leaning post or the platform the passengers stand on while riding in the boat. 
     It is to be understood that the inventions are not limited to the exact construction or method illustrated, but that various changes and/or modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions as more fully described in this application.