Patent Publication Number: US-6904862-B1

Title: Track for locating a ladder with respect to a gate on a deck

Description:
This invention relates to a track member through which a ladder is positioned with respect to a gate in a rail secured to a deck whereby a person may egress from a body of water into a watercraft. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Pontoon boats are a popular watercraft for many people as they provide an operator with the ability to enjoy many water activities such as fishing, trolling, tubing, skiing, cruising and mooring. Most decks are enclosed by a rail, which extend about 2–3 feet from the deck and offer protection against being stepping into a body of water. The rail usually has gates along the side of the deck to permit a person to step from a dock onto the deck. It is not uncommon for a pontoon boat to lay anchor in a body of shallow water and use the deck as a platform for swimmers and as a result the swimmers open the gate to crawl onto the deck by a ladder that is lowered into the body of water. To provide ease in moving from the water onto the deck a ladder could be permanently attached to the deck that extends into the water however marine safety regulations stipulate that a first rung must extend into the water at least twelve inches. Unfortunately with a ladder in the water drag occurs and as a result the motion of the boat can be impaired. U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,303 discloses a two-position ladder that is attached top the deck of a watercraft and can be moved from the water and stowed out of the water when a boat is moving in a body of water. The ladder is retained on a track attached to the deck by a first bolt that extends through a first end of the track and a second bolt that extends through a second end of the track. The bolts are located at the extremity of the track and must carry the weight of a swimmer when egression from the water onto the deck. This type of structure functions in an adequate manner however when a pontoon boat is moving toward a dock the bolts and/or track are often the first to contact the dock and as a result the bolts transmit an impact force into the area of the deck surrounding holes through which the bolts are attached to the deck. Unfortunately after mooring at a dock with the track being impacted, the ladder does not easily move in the track and as a result it is often necessary to replace the track. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A primary object of the present invention is to provide a universally mountable track member for attaching a ladder to a deck of a watercraft whereby a person may ingress/egress from a body of water onto the deck. 
   According to this invention, the track member has a housing having a first end and a second end with a bore that extends from the first end to the second end. The housing has a linear slot that extends from the first end to the second end along a first vertical plane with respect to the bore and first and second vertical slots spaced from the first end. The housing has a radial projection that extends from the axis of the bore in a plane perpendicular to and 180° from the first and second vertical slots. The housing has an axial groove in the bore that is adjacent the radial projection that extends from the first end to the second end. The radial projection has a plurality of radial openings that are located at intervals between the first end and the second end of the housing with at least a first opening located in a first plane a first distance from the first vertical slot toward the first end, a second opening located in a second plane a second distance substantially equal to the first distance from the second vertical slot toward the second end and a third radial opening located adjacent the second end. The housing has a first leg that extends from the bore with a first lip located in a second vertical plane that is perpendicular to a base of the radial projection to define a second linear slot that extends from the first end to the second end and a second leg that extends from the bore with a second lip located in the second vertical plane to define a third linear slot that extends from the first end to the second end. The plurality of openings each receives a bolt with a head that is held by the axial groove and a shaft that extends through the radial projection and into the deck. A nut is secured to the shaft to urge the first and second lips and base of the radial projection into engagement with the deck to fix the track member to the deck. End caps are located in the bore at the first and second end such that a body covers the heads of bolts located in the first and third opening while the end caps have a slanted surface that extends from the base to an apex of the bore of the housing. The slanted surface deflecting any direct impact force away from the bolts such that the area of the deck surrounding the holes through which the bolts extend are adversely impacted. In situations where the plurality of openings are not properly aligned with supports member of the deck the track member is attached to the deck by locating bolts in either the second linear slot and the third linear slot with a head on each bolt being correspondingly held by engagement with the first leg and radial projection or by the second leg and the radial projection with the shaft of such bolt positioned in a hole that is selectively drilled in the support for the deck. A nut that is secured to this shaft to urge the first and second lips and base of the radial projection into engagement with the deck to fix the track member to the deck. As with the attachment bolts located in the axial groove, the end caps on the end of the track housing have a slanted surface and as a result the total impact of any force caused by deck hitting a deck is not carried into these attachment bolts. Cylindrical members attached to first and second legs of a variety of ladders are located in the bore of the housing and may be moved from the first end where the ladder provides for ingress/egress from a body of water to a storage position adjacent the rail. When adjacent the rail, the ladder may be collapsed or folded such that a view from the deck is not impaired. 
   An advantage of this invention resides a track member wherein bolts may be selective positioned with respect to a support stringer on a deck of a watercraft to attach the track member to a deck and where the bolts are covered and not subjected to a direct impact force should the watercraft hit a dock. 
   A further advantage of this invention is provided by an aligning groove that extends from the base of the track member to locate the selectively positioned bolt with respect to the support stringer of the deck. 
   A still further advantage of this invention is provided by the positioning of the attachment bolts to distribute impact loads throughout an entire length of the track and wherein end caps transfer any impact loads to the track without being damaged. 
   A further advantage of this invention provides for the attachment of a telescoping or folding ladder that is attached to a rail such that when stored against a rail a view from the deck is not impaired or detract from the aesthetics of a watercraft. 
   A further advantage of this invention resides in a track member having a housing with a bore therein with a projection that extends from the bore and an axial groove adjacent the projection with openings in the projection that bolts such that the head of a bolt is held by the axial groove and first and second legs that are parallel to the projection to define first and second axial slots between the first and second legs and the projection that selectively receive bolts such that a head is held between the first and or legs and the projection such that when a nut is secured to a shaft of a bolt the legs and a base of the projection are urged into contact with a support to fix the track to adjacent the deck of a water craft. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a water craft with a track member made according to the principles of this invention for attaching a ladder to a deck whereby a person may climb from a body of water onto the deck of the water craft; 
       FIG. 2  is a view of the track member taken along lines  2 — 2  of  FIG. 1  with a sectional view of various areas where the track member is attached to the deck of the water craft of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken along lines  3 — 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along lines  4 — 4  of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along lines  5 — 5  of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged sectional view taken along the circumscribe line  6  of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a side view of the water craft of  FIG. 1  with the ladder attached to the deck and located in a vertical position with respect to the deck; 
       FIG. 8  is a view taken along lines  8 — 8  of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a view taken along the circumscribed line  9   FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 10  is a sectional view of a second embodiment of a track member made according to the present invention for attaching a ladder to a deck of a watercraft; 
       FIG. 11  is a sectional view taken along lines  11 — 11  of  FIG. 10 ; 
       FIG. 12  is a schematic illustration of a water craft with a track member made according to the principles of this invention for attaching a telescoping ladder to a deck of the water craft; 
       FIG. 13  is a sectional view of the track of  FIG. 12 ; and 
       FIG. 14  is a schematic illustration of a water craft with a track member made according to the principles of this invention for attaching a folding ladder to a deck of the water craft. 
   

   In the detailed description wherein a component is fully described with respect on embodiment and it is part of a second embodiment, component is identified by the same number without further description in the second embodiment. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a water craft  10  having a track member  12  through which a ladder  14  is attached to a support  16  for deck  18  of the water craft  10 . The ladder  14  is aligned on the track member  12  in a first vertical position with a gate  20  of a rail  22  to permit ingress/egress from a body of water  24  onto the deck  18  and in a second vertical or stow position shown by the dashed lines  14 ′ adjacent the gate  20 . The ladder  12  is attached to identical blocks  26 , 26 ′ that move in the track member  12  between the second vertical position and first vertical position and on reaching the first vertical position being rotated 180° such that at least one rung  30  on the ladder  14  is located in the body of water  24 . The track member  12  is attached to the support  16  by either a first plurality of bolts  100 , 100 ′ . . .  100   n  that are located along a center line of a base on a projection  60  that extends from a housing  40  for the track member  12  or in first  70  or second  80  vertical slots respectively formed by a first leg  72  and the projection  60  or a second leg  82  and the projection  60 . A head  102  on each bolt  100 , 100 ′ . . .  100   n  is held by a axial groove  50  adjacent the projection  60  or between the first leg  72  and second leg  82  such that when a nut  106  is attached to a shaft  104  of each bolt  100 , the track member  12  is fixed to the support  16  and the ladder  14  is affixed to the water craft  10 . 
   In more particular detail, the track member  14  as shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  8  and  9  is an extruded aluminum composition which is defined by a housing  40  having an first end  42  and a second end  44  with a bore  46  that extends from the first end  42  to the second end  44 . The housing  40  has a center base  62  that extends from the first end  42  to the second end  44  and an end surface from the base  62  that has been shaped along a 45° angle toward an apex  61 , 61 ′ such that each of the first  42  and second  44  ends begin at a point defined by apex  61 , 61 ′ and end in a straight face on the end of base  62 . The housing  40  has a linear slot  48  that extends from the first end  42  to the second end  44  along a first vertical plane with respect to the bore  46  and first  52  and second  54  vertical slots that are spaced from the first end  42 . The housing  40  has a radial projection  60  that extends from the axis of the bore  46  in a plane perpendicular to and 180° from the first  52  and second  54  vertical slots. The housing  40  has an axial groove  50  in the bore  46  that is adjacent the radial projection  60  which extends from the first end  42  to the second end  44 . The radial projection  60  has a plurality of radial openings  58 , 58 ′ . . .  58   n  located at intervals between the first end  42  and the second end  44  of the housing  40 . 
   An exact number of opening  58 , 58 ′ . . .  58   n  is not set but at least three openings in the radial projection  60  is preferred with the first opening  58  being located in a first plane that is a first distance “X 1 ” from the first vertical slot  52  toward the first end  42 , a second opening  58 ′ being located in a second plane a second distance “X 2 ” that is substantially equal to the first distance “X 1 ” from the second vertical slot  54  toward the second end  44  and a third opening  58   n  being located adjacent the second end  44 . Openings  58 , 58 ′ receive attaching bolts  100 , 100 ′ and are located adjacent the vertical slots  52 , 54  to provide for uniform input into the support  16  when weight is placed on ladder  14  by a person emerging from the body of water  24 . 
   The housing  40  is further distinguished in that first  72  and second legs  82  are parallel and extend from the first end  42  to the second end  44  of base  62 . The first leg  72  projects from cylindrical segment  47  of housing  40  adjacent linear slot  48  that form bore  46  and has a lip  74  that is located in a second vertical plane that is perpendicular to base  62  of radial projection  60  to define a second linear slot  70 . The second leg  82  extends from a tangent of the cylindrical portion  49  of bore  46  opposite linear slot  48  and it too also has a lip  84  that is located in same second vertical plane of the base  62  of projection  60  to define a third linear slot  82 . The first  74  and second  84  lips being designed to engage the support  16  and assist in maintaining the base  62  in the vertical plane defined by support  16 . In addition the defined second  72  and third  82  linear slots that extend from the first end  42  to the second end  44  offer an opportunity to locate an attaching secondary bolts  200  anywhere on the support  16  that would be acceptable for transmitting forces into the structure of the water craft  10 . 
   A preferred manner of attaching the track member  12  to support  16  is through the plurality of openings  58 , 58 ′ . . .  58   n  that each receive a bolt  100 . Each bolt  100  is identical and has a head  102  that is located in axial groove  50  such that the head  102  is held stationary by the side walls  51 , 51 ′, a shaft  104  that extends through the radial projection  60  and into support  16  for deck  18 , and a nut  106  that is secured to shaft  104  to urge first  74  and second  84  lips and base  62  of the radial projection  60  into engagement with support  16  to fix the track member  12  adjacent the deck  18 . 
   The side support numbers  19 , 19 ′ . . .  19   n  for the support structure  16  of some water craft  10  may not be located in a same location and in a best position for mounting the track member  12  in alignment with gate  20  and as a result openings  58 , 58 ′ . . .  58   n  which are provided in track member  12  may not be appropriate and as a result new opening  581 , 581 ′ . . .  58   ln  can be drilled along at a desired location along the v-shaped center line  63  of base  62  as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 8  or a smaller second bolt  200 , as shown in  FIG. 9 , can be selected to attach track member  12  to support  16 . When a smaller second bolt is selected, either the second linear slot  70  or the third linear slot  80  can be utilized to receive any number of second bolts  200 , they all be the same, to attach the track member  12  to support  16  in a desired location. The head  202  of a bolt is held the selected linear slot  70  or  80  by being located between leg  72 ,  82  and projection  60  such that head  202  that held from rotating by the engagement with the leg  72 , 82  and radial projection  60  while the shaft  202  of bolt  200  extends through support  16  at any location along the track member  12  from the first end  42  to the second end  44  that may be appropriate to carry a load into the support  16 . When a nut  206  is secured to shaft  204  and tightened, the first  74  and second  84  lips and base  62  of the radial projection  60  are urged into engagement with the support  16  to affix the track member  12  adjacent the deck  18  in alignment with gate  20 . 
   Bore  46  of housing  40  essentially has a smooth circular shape with a segment missing to define linear slot  48  and the first  52  and  52  vertical slots located adjacent end  42 . Bore  46  has a first diameter that receives identical first  26  and second  26 ′ cylindrical members which have a slightly smaller second diameter that allow for the cylindrical member  26 , 26 ′ to move in bore  46  without binding. Each of the cylindrical members  26 , 26 ′ have a first end  27  and a second end  29  with a cross bore  32  that is perpendicular to its axis with the cross bore  32  having a first diameter  34  and a second diameter  36 . The first diameter  34  is larger than the second diameter  36  and extends from a first peripheral surface on a cylindrical member  26 , 26 ′ to a surface that transitions into the second diameter  36  that extends to a second peripheral surface on the cylindrical member  26 , 26 ′. The cross bore  32  receives a attaching bolt  15  that is screwed into threads a side rail  13  of ladder  14  to fix a cylindrical member  26  to a side rail  13 . The depth of the threads in the side rail  13  is such that when the matching threads on attaching bolt  15  are tightened therein a gap exist between the cylindrical body  26 , 26 ′ and the top of the side rail  13 . A plug  38  is located in first diameter of the cross bore  32  to close the cross bore  32  and maintain a smooth peripheral surface on the cylindrical body  26 , 26 ′ and the size of attaching bolt  15  has a smaller diameter than the linear slot  48  and the first  52  and second  54  vertical slots such that movement of a cylindrical member  26 ,  26 ′ in bore  46  between first and second positions for the ladder  14  is not hindered. 
   Bore  46  is closed and the cylindrical bodies  26 , 26 ′ are retained therein end caps  90 , 90 ′ that are respectively attached to ends  42 , 44 . Each end cap  90 , 90 ′ has a cylindrical body  92  that extends into bore  46  a sufficient length to respectively cover head  102  of a bolt  100  located in the first opening  58  and head  102   n  of bolt  100   n  in third opening  58   n . The first  90  and second  90 ′ end caps each having a surface that extends from alignment with base  62  of projection  60  along the 45° angle toward an apex  61  to match the radial peripheral surface of housing  40  and also functions to transmit any impact force received to the end  42  or  44  into the track member  12  in a manner such that the entire force is not directly communicated into first  100  and/or second  200  bolts selected to attach the track member  12  to the support  16 . End caps  90 , 90 ′ are respectively attached to housing  40  by screws  91 , 91  as best shown in  FIG. 6 . 
   When the ladder  14  is in the first vertical position is desirable that the ladder  14  remain in this position without placing too great a lateral force on bolts  100  or  200  which everyone is selected and as a result a stand-off member  94 , 94 ′ is attached to each side rail  13 , 13 ′. The stand off member  94 , 94 ′ engages structure such as a pontoon  11  on watercraft  10  when ladder  14  is in the water and holds the ladder  14  is a vertical position. The stand off member  94 , 94 ′ is designed such that it may engage the side rail  22  to also assist in retaining the ladder  14  in a vertical position when the ladder  14  is positioned in its second vertical position adjacent gate  20 . 
   A more positive means of retaining a ladder  14  in the second vertical position is defined by latch members  125 , 125 ′ that are attached to rail  22 . Each of the latch members  125 , 125 ′ have a first strap  127 , 127 ′ with a snap  129 , 129 ′ on the end thereof that receive head on a second strap  131 , 131 ′ both of which are attached to a side rail  13 , 13 ′ to assist in holding the ladder  14  in the second vertical position. A cord  133 , 133 ′ extends from the first strap  127 , 127 ′ such that a person in the water may undo the snap and pull ladder  14  into the water should ingress be necessary. 
   It is understood that a different latch such a Velcro type strap with a cord thereon or parallel first and second resilient fingers that are attached to the rail  22  that could engage the side rails  13 , 13 ′ and assist in holding the ladder  14  in the second vertical position adjacent the gate  22 . 
   The uniform length ladder  14  shown in  FIG. 1  may be replaced by a ladder  400  as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13  wherein the rungs  416 , 416 ′ . . .  416   n  are connected to tubular side rails  418 , 418 ′ . . .  418   n  and  419 , 419 ′ . . .  419   n . Side rails  418 , 418 ′ . . .  418   n  and  419 , 419 ′ . . .  419   n  have a progressive smaller diameter that telescope into each other. Tubular side rails  418  and  419  have a solid end  420 , 420 ′ that is threaded to receive threads on attaching bolts  15 , 15 ′ that respectively extends from blocks  26 , 26 ′ located in bore  46  of housing  40  of track member  14 . As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the tubular side rails  418 , 418 ′ . . .  418   n  and  419 , 419 ′ . . .  419   n  collapse from a first length in the first vertical position when the ladder  400  is in the body of water  24  to a smaller second length in the second vertical position shown in phantom in  FIG. 12  as the smaller diameter section move into the larger diameter sections. In this second collapsed position, the top of the end rung  420  is engaged by latch  125 , 125 ′ and is located below the top of rail  22  so as not to interfere with a view of a person on deck  18 . 
   The uniform length ladder  14  shown in  FIG. 1  may be replaced by a ladder  500  shown in  FIG. 14  having a first section  510  with first  512  and second  512 ′ side rails and a second section  514  with third  516  and fourth  516 ′ side rails. The length of the first section  510  and the length of the second section  514  are approximately the same with the first side rail  512  connected to the first side rail  514  by a first pin  520  and the second side rail  512 ′ connected to the second side rail  514 ′ by a second pin  520 ′. The first section  510  has a U-shaped projection  594  that extends from the back side of side rails  512 , 512 ′ to define a hold off that engages pontoon  11  to maintain ladder  500  in the first vertical position. Rungs  522  and  524  are located in the first section  510  while rungs  526  and  528  are located in the second section  514  such that a uniform spacing occurs for the ladder  500  as shown in the first vertical position to define a first length with the ladder  500  in the first vertical position in alignment with gate  20 . The second section  514  is folded into the first section by pivoting on pins  520 , 520  the rungs nestle together into a compact structure. Thereafter, when ladder  500  is rotated into the second vertical position, the smaller second length is such that ladder  500  does not extend above the top of rail  22  and as a result the view from the deck  18  is not obstructed. In this embodiment, a latch member  125 , 125 ′ also engages the side rails  512 , 512 ′ to assist in holding the collapsed ladder  500  in the second vertical position. 
   For some applications, housing  240  and resulting bore  246  may be extruded in an rectangular shape as illustrated in  FIG. 11  rather than a circular shape as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . In this embodiment, housing  240  has an rectangular bore  246  for receiving corresponding first  226  and second  226 ′ rectangular blocks through which ladder  14  is attached to track member  214 . The first  226  and second  226 ′ rectangular blocks are identical and as shown have a first member  228  with a vertical slot  230  therein although two part with a spacer therein would work in an equally well manner. As shown the first  228  and second  228 ′ members have an axial bore  229  there through for receiving a pin  232 . Pin  232  retain an eye  234  on a bolt  236  connected to a nut located in end face of side rail  13  of ladder  14 . The slot  230  or spacer is designed to have a greater width than eye  234  such that bolt  236  can rotate on pin  232  and correspondingly a ladder  14  may to rotate between the first and second vertical positions blocks  226 , 226 ′ remain stationary in the first vertical position in track member  214  while blocks  226 , 226 ′ may be moved without binding in the rectangular bore  246  as the ladder  14  is moved between the first and second positions. As with housing  40 , housing  240  has an axial groove  250  adjacent a radial projection  260  for receiving a bolt  100  and corresponding legs  272 , 282  which along with radial projection  260  define a second linear slot  270  and a third linear slot  280  for selectively receiving a bolt  200  to attach track member  212  to a support for a deck  18  of a water craft  10 . As with track member  14 , end caps  290 , 290 ′ are attached to the ends  242 , 244  to close the bore  246  and also provide a surface through which an impact force applied to the end  242  or end  244  are transmitted into the bolts selected to attach the track member  214  to support  16 . 
   In any event the number and pattern for bolts  100  or  200  may be with three bolts in axial groove  50 ,  250 , one bolts in axial groove  50 , 250  and two bolts in either slots  70 , 80  or  270 , 280  or three or four bolts in either slots  70 , 80  or  270 , 280  to selectively attach track member  12 , 214  to support or stringer  16  for the alignment of a ladder  14 , 400  or  500  with a gate  20  on a deck  18  and as a result any impact force received by the track member  12 , 214  is uniformity transferred along its entire length into the support or stinger  16  of the deck.