Patent Publication Number: US-7913637-B2

Title: Marine seating system and apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to seating, and particularly seating for use in marine applications. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Seating used in marine applications may be subjected to conditions substantially different from seating used in traditional applications. As a result, different considerations must be taken into account when creating marine seating. For example, unlike seating for a home or office, seating used in a marine application, such as on a pontoon boat, often encounters substantial amounts of water and, as a result, is made to withstand the same. Additionally, to provide flexibility to the manufacturer, such as a manufacturer of boats, marine seating may be designed to be modular. 
     Modular marine seating consists of various, individual components, such as sections of a bench seat, which can be arranged according to each manufacturer&#39;s specifications. For example, a marine bench seat may be formed from two, individual components which can be joined together on the deck of a pontoon boat. Each of the individual, modular components includes a seating frame upon which the seating surface is formed. The seating frame is rectangular and has four walls of equal height, e.g., a front wall, a back wall, and two connecting side walls. Cushioning material, such as foam, is then placed atop or within the walls of the seating frame to form the seating surface. 
     When two individual seating components are joined together to form a bench seat, the end walls of the seating frames of the individual seating components are connected together. Due to the height of the end walls being equal to the height of the front and back walls of the seating frame or otherwise protruding upwardly, the end walls form a ridge at the junction between the individual seating components. This ridge is substantial enough to be noticeable to a user seated on or near the junction of the individual seating components. Additionally, if a user moves along the bench seat, i.e., slides down the bench seat, and has to cross between the individual seating components, the user must cross over the ridge formed by the end walls of the seating frame, which may cause discomfort to the user. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to seating for use in marine applications. In one exemplary embodiment, an assembled modular seat is formed from two individual, modular seating components. Each seating component includes a base and a seating frame secured thereto. The seating frame further includes a front support structure, a back support structure, and a connecting structure extending therebetween. The connecting structure has a height that is less than the height of the front and back support structures. As a result, a void or depression is formed by the connecting structure which preferably extends substantially entirely between the front support structure and the back support structure of the seating frame. Extending from the front support structure to the back support structure and across the depression formed by the connecting structure is a resiliently extensible support material. In one exemplary embodiment, the support material is formed as a woven fabric and is tightly stretched between the front support structure and the back support structure of the seating frame. The support material may be formed from a polymer, such as polyester. The support material, which may be attached directly to the seating frame, can then be covered by cushioning material and/or a final covering, such as foam and/or vinyl, respectively, to form the final seating surface. 
     Advantageously, by creating a depression between the front support structure and the back support structure of the seating frame, i.e., forming the connecting structure with a height that is less at at least one point than the height of the front and back support structures of the seating frame, the ridge created when the modular seating components of the prior art are joined to form a completed seat is eliminated. Thus, a person seated on or near the junction formed between modular seating components of the present invention will experience substantially the same seating comfort as a person seated at a location spaced away from the junction. 
     Additionally, by utilizing the connecting structure of the present invention, the tightly stretched fabric support material extending between the front support structure and back support structure of the seating frame can deflect into the depression formed by the connecting structure in response to the weight of a user seated thereon. As a result, the stretched fabric provides a resilient spring-like support for the cushion and a person seated upon the seating surface will not contact the rigid connecting structure of the seating frame, which provides added comfort. Moreover, the resilient support material enables the use of a thinner foam layer so that there is less tendency for the cushioning material and/or the covering of the modular seating component to tighten around a user as the cushioning material and/or covering is extended. Such tightening of the cushioning material and/or covering can cause a mild pinching sensation, which is substantially eliminated with the design of the present invention. 
     In one exemplary embodiment, the seating frame and the base of the modular seating component of the present invention are secured to one another by an actuation mechanism. The actuation mechanism allows for the seating frame to be rotated away from the base to expose a cavity formed therein. This cavity can be used as a storage area to store items, such as life jackets, on a pontoon boat or other type of boat. In one exemplary embodiment, the actuation mechanism is connected to the base at a first rotational point and is connected to the seating frame at a second rotational point. 
     In one form thereof, the present invention provides a modular seat including a plurality of modular seating components each including a seating frame having a front support structure, a back support structure, and a connecting structure extending therebetween, the connection structure forming a depression extending substantially entirely from the front support structure to the back support structure, the plurality of modular seating components further including a stretched resiliently extensible fabric support material secured to and extending substantially entirely from the front support structure of the seating frame to the back support structure of the seating frame, the support material extending across the depression of the connecting structure to form a substantially planar unsupported surface spaced apart from the connecting structure, at least one of the plurality of modular seating components secured to another of the plurality of modular seating components in adjacent opposing relationship to form a junction therebetween. 
     In another form thereof, the present invention provides a vessel including a boat including a deck, a modular seating component positioned on the deck, the modular seating component including a base and a seating frame positioned on the base, the seating frame including a front support structure having a first length, a back support structure having a second length, and a connecting structure extending between the front support structure and the back support structure, the connecting structure forming a depression extending substantially entirely between the front support structure and the back support structure, the modular seating component further including a stretched resiliently extensible fabric support material secured to the front support structure and the back support structure, the support material extending across the depression to form a substantially planar unsupported surface spaced apart from the connecting structure and extending substantially entirely from the front support structure along the first length to the back support structure along the second length. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is perspective view of a pontoon boat having a deck and an assembled modular seat according to an embodiment of the present invention positioned on the deck; 
         FIG. 2  is a partially segmented cross sectional view of the assembled seat of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a partially segmented cross sectional view of the assembled seat of  FIG. 2 , depicting the support material extending substantially entirely to the junction; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged, fragmentary view of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view substantially similar to the cross sectional view of  FIG. 7  depicting a seating frame and related components according to one exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a seating frame and support material according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the seating frame and related components of the assembled seat of  FIG. 8  taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the assembled modular seat of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the assembled modular seat of  FIG. 1  depicting the seating frame of one of the modular seating components in an actuated position; 
         FIG. 10  is a fragmentary plan view of the assembled seat of  FIG. 9  taken along line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 9 ; and 
         FIG. 11  is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the assembled seat of  FIG. 9  taken along line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention any manner. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  depicts pontoon boat  10  having floats  12  and deck  14 . While boat  10  is described and depicted herein as a pontoon boat, boat  10  may be any type of boat, such as a deck boat. Deck  14  of pontoon boat  10  is positioned upon floats  12 , which provide sufficient buoyancy to keep deck  14  above water  16 . Substantially enclosing a portion of deck  14  is railing  18 . Positioned within railing  18  are a variety of seating options for passengers aboard pontoon boat  10 . Specifically, chairs  20 , seat  22 , and assembled modular seat  24  are all positioned within railing  18  on deck  14 . Due to varying consumer taste, as well as manufacturer preference, the arrangement of the seating on deck  14  may be varied. Thus, chairs  20 , seat  22 , and assembled modular seat  24  of  FIG. 1  may be arranged in any manner or, alternatively, may be interchanged with other similar seating components. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , modular seat  24  is formed from individual, modular seating components  26 , which are positioned adjacent to and opposing one another to form junction  45  therebetween. Once positioned in adjacent, opposing relationship, modular seating components  26  are secured to one another to form modular seat  24 . The securement of modular seating components  26  together to form modular seat  24  may be achieved using any known fastening system. As shown in  FIG. 2 , each modular seating component  26  includes base  28 , seating frame  30 , back  32 , and side unit  34 . As depicted and described herein, side units  34  are arranged with bases  28 , seating frames  30  ( FIGS. 5-7 ), and backs  32  to form benches or chaises, i.e., units having a long seat that supports multiple occupants or an outstretched person. While described and depicted herein as forming chaises, side units  34  may form any desired seating structure. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , each seating frame  30  is positioned atop base  28  of modular seating component  26 . Seating frame  30  includes front supporting structure such as wall  36  and back supporting structure such as wall  38 , both of which are positioned on support  39  ( FIG. 7 ). In other exemplary embodiments, support  39  is not present and seating frame  30  is positioned directly atop or, alternatively, incorporated into base  28 . Front wall  36  is spaced from and connected to back wall  38  via connecting structure  40 . As described in detail below, connecting structure  40  forms a void or depression  42  extending substantially entirely between front wall  36  and back wall  38 . Secured to and extending from front wall  36  to back wall  38  is resiliently extensible fabric support material  44 , which is stretched tight to form a substantially planar unsupported surface between front wall  36  and back wall  38 . In one exemplary embodiment, support material  44  is secured to front wall  36  of seating frame  30  via staples  31  ( FIG. 7 ). Alternatively, support material  44  may be secured to front wall  36  in any known manner, including the use of adhesives or other suitable fasteners, such as screws  41  ( FIG. 6 ). 
     Support material  44  may be formed from any resiliently extensible material capable of supporting the weight of a user thereon. In the preferred embodiment, support material  44  is a woven polyester fabric. For example, support material  44  may be Ultra-Flex™ Sheet Webbing manufactured by Ultraflex™, a subsidiary of Hickory Springs Manufacturing Company of Highpoint, N.C. To complete the seating surface of modular seating component  26 , cushioning material  46 , such as foam, is positioned on fabric support material  44 . Covering  48 , which, in one embodiment is a layer of vinyl, is then wrapped over cushioning material  46 , fabric  44 , and seating frame  30 , to form the ultimate seating surface. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , and discussed in detail above with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , modular seating components  26  are arranged in adjacent, opposing relationship to form modular seat  24 . In this position, the substantially planar unsupported surfaces formed by support material  44  and extending between front walls  36  and back walls  38  are adjacent to and aligned with one another. Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 4 , support material  44  of the individual, modular seating components  26  lie on substantially the same plane and are separated only by a small gap G. In another exemplary embodiment, support material  44  of the individual, modular seating components  26  is in direct contact across junction  45  and gap G is eliminated. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , front wall  36  and back wall  38  each have a length L w , which is substantially equal for both front wall  36  and back wall  38 . Thus, the substantially planar unsupported surface formed by support material  44  extends substantially entirely along length L w  of front wall  36  and back wall  38 . In another exemplary embodiment, the length of front wall  36  and back wall  38  are not substantially equal, e.g., when seating frames  30  of individual modular seating components  26  having corresponding chamfers to form an L-shaped modular seat  24 . However, even in this embodiment, the substantially planar unsupported surface formed by support material  44  extends substantially entirely along the lengths of both walls  36 ,  38  and along all points therebetween. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , depression  42  formed by connecting structure  40  extends along length L substantially entirely from front wall  36  to back wall  38 . Additionally, connecting structure  40  is spaced apart from support material  44  by distance D. While distance D is described below and depicted herein as varying along length L, distance D may also be consistent along length L, such that connecting structure  40  has a planar upper surface forming depression  42 . Due to the formation of depression  42  by connecting structure  40 , the ridge formed at the junction between the modular seating components of the prior art is eliminated and all of the support at the junction of the two seating units  30  is provided by the tightly stretched fabric sheets  44 . Advantageously, eliminating the ridge formed at junction  45  between modular seating components  26  when modular seating components  26  are in adjacent, opposing relationship removes any appreciable difference between the support provided to a person seated on or near junction  45  and a person seated at a location away from junction  45 . 
     Thus, the extension of support material  44  into depression  42  of connecting structure  40  does not result in support material  44  contacting connecting structure  40 . Furthermore, because of the slightly resilient support provided by the stretched fabric  44 , thinner foam  46  can be used. As a result, cushioning material  46  and covering  48  are substantially prevented from tightening around a person seated on support material  44  as the same are extended. Such tightening of cushioning material  46  and covering  48  may cause a user seated thereon to experience a mild pinching sensation, which is substantially eliminated by the use of resiliently extensible support material  44  and connecting structure  40 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , the portion of seating frame  30  including front wall  36 , back wall  38 , and connecting structure  40 , may be formed as an integral, monolithic component. In another exemplary embodiment, shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , front walls  36 ′,  36 ″, back walls  38 ′,  38 ″, and connecting structures  40 ′,  40 ″ of seating frames  30 ′,  30 ″, are formed as separate, individual components. Referring to  FIG. 6 , connecting member  40 ′ is secured to front wall  36 ′ and back wall  38 ′ via any known securement mechanism, such as fasteners or adhesives. In one exemplary embodiment, connecting member  40 ′ is connected to front wall  36 ′ and back wall  38 ′ via screws  41 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , cavity  50  is formed between connecting structure  40 ′ and support  39  of seating frame  30 ′. By forming cavity  50 , less material is used in the construction of seating frame  30 ′, which, correspondingly, reduces manufacturing and material costs. Alternatively, in another exemplary embodiment, connecting member  40 ′ is comprised of a plurality of distinct components, each extending from first wall  36 ′ to back wall  38 ′. 
     The embodiment of seating frame  30  is depicted in  FIG. 7  as seating frame  30 ″. Seating frame  30 ″ of  FIG. 7  has several components which are identical or substantially identical to corresponding components of seating frame  30  of  FIG. 5  and identical reference numerals are used to indicate identical or substantially identical components therebetween. Seating frame  30 ″ includes front wall  36 ″, back wall  38 ″, and connecting structure  40 ″. Connecting structure  40 ″ is formed as a pair of individual, distinct ribs or end panels  90  extending between front wall  36 ″ and back wall  38 ″ at respective ends of unit  26  and connected to support  39 . In one exemplary embodiment, a plurality of ribs  90  extend along length L w  ( FIG. 2 ) between front wall  36 ″ and back wall  38 ″ and are separated by predetermined distances to cooperatively form connecting structure  40 ″. Advantageously, by forming connecting structure  40  as a plurality of ribs, the cost of the material required to form connecting structure  40  is substantially reduced, while still maintaining sufficient strength. The use of ribs  90  to form connecting structure  40 ″ creates cavity  92  substantially adjacent rib  90  and between front wall  36 ″ and back wall  38 ″. Cavity  92  provides a large volume into which support material  44  may extend when a person sits on the seat. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , both individual, modular seating components  26  forming modular seat  24  are depicted with their corresponding seating frames  30  ( FIG. 2 ) in the seating position, i.e., are positioned to receive and support a user thereon. In contrast, as shown in  FIG. 9 , one of seating frames  30  is rotated to a position substantially perpendicular to the other of seating frames  30 . In this position, access to storage area  52 , formed as a cavity within base  28 , is provided. Storage area  52  is used to store life jackets, skis, or other marine items, for example, therein. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , actuation mechanism  54 , which connects base  28  ( FIG. 2 ) to seating frame  30 , is shown. Referring to  FIG. 10 , actuation mechanism  54  includes linkages  56 ,  58  positioned on opposing sides of connecting rod  60 . Connecting rod  60  helps to ensure that movement of one of linkages  56 ,  58  results in corresponding movement of the other of linkages  56 ,  58 . Apertures  62 ,  64  ( FIG. 11 ) extend through opposing ends of linkages  56 ,  58 . Linkages  56 ,  58  are connected to opposing side walls  63 ,  65  of base  28  by bolts  66  extending through apertures  62 . Bolts  66  are then retained in place by nuts  68 . Linkages  56 ,  58  are not rigidly secured to base  28 , but are free to pivot about bolts  66 . Thus, bolts  66  and nuts  68 , in combination with apertures  62  of linkages  56 ,  58 , form a first rotational point for linkages  56 ,  58 . 
     At the opposing side of linkages  56 ,  58 , apertures  64  are aligned with corresponding apertures extending through brackets  70  ( FIG. 10 ) secured to seating frame  30 . Brackets  70  may be secured to seating frame  30  in any known manner, such as by fasteners. With the apertures of brackets  70  and apertures  64  of linkages  56 ,  58  aligned, bolts  72  are passed therethrough and secured via nuts  74 . Due to the design of brackets  70 , bolts  72  and nuts  74  may be securely fastened thereto to create a second rotational point for linkages  56 ,  58  about bolts  72 . While linkages  56 ,  58  are depicted and described herein as secured to base  28  and seating frame  30  via bolts  56 ,  72 , nuts  68 ,  74 , and brackets  70 , linkages  56 ,  58  may be secured in any known manner capable of providing a point of rotation for each of linkages  56 ,  58 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , movement of seating frame  30  from a first position, shown in dashed lines, to a second position, shown in solid lines, is facilitated by actuation mechanism  54 . Specifically, to move seating frame  30  from the first position substantially covering storage area  52  to the second position substantially exposing storage area  52 , seating frame  30  is pivoted about the first rotational point formed by bolts  66  to raise seating frame  30  from base  28 . Correspondingly, seating frame  30  is rotated about the second rotational point formed by bolts  72  and brackets  70  to rotate seating frame  30  from the first position substantially parallel to base  28  to the second position substantially perpendicular to base  28 . In this position, storage area  52  of base  28  is exposed, such that a person may access storage area  52  to position items therein or remove items therefrom. 
     To move seating frame  30  from the second position to the first position, substantially parallel to base  28 , seating frame  30  is lifted causing seating frame  30  to pivot about the second rotation point formed by nuts  74  and brackets  70 . Actuation mechanism  54  may then be rotated about the first rotation point formed by bolts  66  to cause linkages  56 ,  58  to rotate downward into storage area  52  of base  28 . As seating frame  30  is moved toward base  28 , actuation mechanism  54  rotates into the position shown in dashed lines in  FIG. 11  and seating frame  30  is positioned upon and substantially parallel to base  28 . 
     While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.