Patent Abstract:
A cleat which has an extended operative position and a retracted position includes a securing portion and a base portion in the form of a housing which can receive the securing portion. The securing portion is shaped for securing thereto a line when the securing portion is in an extended position. When the securing portion is in a retracted position, the securing portion lay relatively flush with a surface of the boat. Detents are provided to hold the securing portion in the extended position until pressure is exerted on the securing portion to overcome the detents and transition the securing portion from the extended position to the retracted position.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/068,326, filed Oct. 31, 2013, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to boat cleats having a depressed retracted position and which are capable of being raised to an extended, operative position. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Cleats having a depressed inoperative position which can be moved to an operative position are well known in the art; such as seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,535,694; 5,301,627, 4,809,634. Such cleats lay substantially flush against the boat deck when retracted and extend outwardly from the boat deck when they are extended, permitting a line to be properly secured as with a stationary boat cleat. 
         [0004]    In the prior boat cleats, two threaded posts are provided for securing the boat cleat to the boat deck. During the molding/fabrication process, the threads are typically formed on the posts and two sets of nuts and lock washers must be provided to secure the boat cleat to the boat deck, substantially increasing the cost of the boat cleat and increasing the complexity of manufacturing and installation. Often, for aftermarket installation, the underside of the boat deck/hull is difficult to access, making installation of two nuts and lock washers difficult. Since the prior boat cleats have two such posts and two receiving members, four holes must be drilled in the boat deck, properly sized and spaced, adding to the effort of installing the boat cleats of the prior art. 
         [0005]    Furthermore, because the securing portions of the boat cleat must move freely in/out of receiving members, there is a potential for water to penetrate the small gap between these features and make its way to the hull of the boat. 
         [0006]    What is needed is a boat cleat that will easily move from a retracted position to an extended position and back, having improved water resistance and simplified installation. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    A cleat which has an extended operative position and a retracted position includes a securing portion and a base portion in the form of a housing which can receive the securing portion. The securing portion is shaped for securing thereto a line when the securing portion is in an extended position. When the securing portion is in a retracted position, the securing portion lay relatively flush with a surface of the boat. Detents are provided to hold the securing portion in the extended position until pressure is exerted on the securing portion to overcome the detents and transition the securing portion from the extended position to the retracted position. 
         [0008]    In one embodiment, a cleat assembly is disclosed including a securing member for accepting a line and a base member. The securing member has a surface and two legs depending from an underside of the surface. The legs are spaced apart. The base member has two receiving members spaced to align with the legs, such that, the legs extend into bores of the receiving members. The base member includes a single threaded bolt portion depending from the base member between the receiving members. A mechanism (e.g., bolts and optional washers) slideably retains the legs within the bores of the receiving members. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, a method of installing a boat cleat is disclosed including providing the boat cleat described above and creating exactly three holes in a surface (e.g., a surface of a boat, dock, etc.). Each hole aligns with one of the legs or the single threaded bolt portion. The legs and the single threaded bolt portion are inserted through the holes and a nut (and optional lock washer) is threaded onto the single threaded bolt portion and tightened, thereby securing the boat cleat to the surface. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment, a cleat assembly is disclosed including a securing member for accepting a line and a base member. The securing member has a surface with two spaced apart legs depending from the surface. The base member has two receiving members spaced to align with the legs such that the legs extend into bores of the receiving members. The base member further comprises a single threaded bolt portion depending from the base member between the receiving members for securing to a surface such as a boat deck. A detent mechanism is formed between the legs and the bores such that, when the securing mechanism is in an extended position, the detent mechanism holds the securing mechanism in the extended position until an overcoming force is applied on the securing mechanism in a direction of the base member. The legs are slideably held within the bores of the receiving members by corresponding fasteners and washers. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of the securing portion of the boat cleat. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the stationary portion of the boat cleat. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of an optional security plate of the boat cleat. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates an exploded view of the boat cleat, including the optional security plate of the boat cleat. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures. 
         [0017]    A boat cleat assembly  10  shown in  FIGS. 1-4  includes a base or housing member  12  and a securing portion  14 . In general, when extended, a rope or line is tied to the securing portion  14  of the boat cleat  10 . The securing member has a surface and two legs  30 / 32  depending from one side of the surface. 
         [0018]    The securing portion  14  of the boat cleat  10  has a raised position in which the securing portion  14  extends above the base  12  and the securing portion  14  has a retracted position in which the securing portion  14  is retracted against the base  12  and boat deck (not shown) for aesthetic, efficiency, and safety reasons (e.g. when in the retracted position, the boat cleat  10  looks nicer, exerts less air resistance, and is less likely to cause tripping). 
         [0019]    The base  12  has a pair of receiving members  22 / 24  that are preferably, though not required to be, cylindrical. Being cylindrical facilitates use in round holes as made by a standard drill. The base member also has a single threaded mounting bolt section  18 . For installation, three holes are drilled/formed in the boat (e.g. deck), sized and spaced to accept the receiving members  22 / 24  and to accept the mounting bolt section  18 . It is preferred that the inner diameter of the holes (not shown) are substantially the same size as the outer diameter of the corresponding receiving members  22 / 24  and mounting bolt section  18  to provide maximum structural strength and minimum opportunity for liquids to pass through to the hull of the boat. 
         [0020]    The receiving members  22 / 24  each have a vertically extending receiving opening  26 / 28  therein, for receiving the legs  30 / 32  of the securing portion  14 . Each opening  26 / 28  is of a substantially similar cross-sectional shape as the opening&#39;s  26 / 28  corresponding leg  30 / 32 . In one embodiment (as shown in the figures), the legs  30 / 32  are substantially cylindrical (circular cross section) as are the openings  26 / 28 . The outer size (e.g. diameter) of the legs  30 / 32  is slightly less than the inner size (e.g. diameter) of the openings  26 / 28 , thereby permitting axial movement of the legs  30 / 32  within the openings  26 / 28 . Note that, to reduce liquid penetration, it is preferred, though not required, that the legs  30 / 32  are sized to fit snuggly within the openings  26 / 28 . Although round/cylindrical legs  30 / 32  are shown, there is no limitation to the cross sectional shape of the legs  30 / 32  (and therefore the openings  26 / 28 ) and other shapes are equally anticipated such as oval cross sectional shapes. 
         [0021]    The cross section of the legs  30 / 32  register with the cross section of the receiving members  22 / 24  and are received therein for relative axial movement. 
         [0022]    A detent mechanism  34 / 35 / 36 / 38 / 39  maintains the securing portion  14  in an extended position until force is applied to the securing portion  14 . Once in the extended position, pushing downwardly on the securing portion  14  overcomes the detent mechanisms  34 / 35 / 36 / 38 / 39  and the legs  30 / 32  move axially into the receiving members  22 / 24 . The detent mechanism  34 / 35 / 36 / 38 / 39  mechanically resists or arrests the securing portion  14  in the extended position until external force is applied to the securing portion to overcome the detent mechanism  34 / 35 / 36 / 38 / 39  and push the legs  30 / 32  into the receiving members  22 / 24 . Although many detent mechanisms are anticipated, the example shown includes bores  34 / 36  formed in respective legs  30 / 32 . During assembly, before initially inserting the legs  30 / 32  into the receiving openings  26 / 28 , a ball  30  and spring  35  is placed into each bore  34 / 36  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ). The springs  35  apply outward force on the balls  30  providing a small amount of resistance to axial movement of the legs  30 / 32  within the receiving openings  26 / 28 . As the securing portion  14  is moved towards the extended position, the balls  35  are pushed into receiving channels  39  that are cut/formed on an inside surface of the receiving openings  26 / 28 , substantially in line with the respective bores  34 / 36 . This detent action provides resistance to hold the securing portion  14  from leaving the extended position, until external force is applied to the securing portion  14  (e.g. a person pushed down on the securing portion  14 ). 
         [0023]    During assembly, the legs  30 / 32  are inserted into and register with the cross section of the receiving members  22 / 24  and the legs  30 / 32  are prevented from exiting the receiving members  22 / 24  by at least bolts  62 / 64  and optionally washers  52 / 54 . The ends of the legs  30 / 32  have fastener receiving bores (not shown) that are, for example, threaded to receive the bolts  62 / 64 . In such, it is preferred that the outer diameter of the bolts  62 / 64  and/or the optional washers  52 / 54  are larger than the inner diameter of the receiving openings  26 / 28  so that the legs  30 / 32  will not exit the receiving openings  26 / 28  when the securing portion  14  is pulled into the extended position. It is also preferred, though not required, that the diameter of the bolts  62 / 64  and/or the diameter of the washers  52 / 54  are less than or equal to the outer diameter of the receiving members  22 / 24  so that the bolts  62 / 64  and/or the washers  52 / 54  pass freely through the holes formed/drilled in the deck. 
         [0024]    The mounting bolt portion  18  is threaded and, after inserting the receiving members  22 / 24  and the mounting bolt portion  18  through the holes formed/drilled in the boat surface, a nut  68  and optional lock washer  66  hold is threaded and tightened onto the mounting bolt portion, thereby holding the boat cleat  10  securely on the boat surface. The three appendages (receiving members  22 / 24  and mounting bolt portion  18 ) keep the boat cleat  10  from skewing or twisting. 
         [0025]    In some installations, where additional strength is desired, a support plate  40  is installed under the boat surface. The support plate has holes  42 / 44 / 46  that are sized and positioned such that the receiving members  22 / 24  and mounting bolt portion  18  pass through the boat surface and then through the support plate has holes  42 / 44 / 46  and then the nut  68  and optional lock washer  66  are secured and tightened against the support plate  40 . In some embodiments, additional holes  48  are made in the plate  40  for securing the plate  40  to the boat surface. 
         [0026]    In a preferred embodiment, the exposed surface of the base  12  is curved or tapered, becoming thinner at the edges to reduce liquid build-up around the receiving openings  26 / 28 . Also, in a preferred embodiment, the underside surface of the securing portion  14  is cupped to accommodate the volume and shape of the base  12 , so that when the securing portion  14  is pushed into the retracted position, the edges of the securing portion  14  touch the boat surface and the base  12  is contained beneath the cupped area and is not clearly visible. In this, the securing portion  14  covers the base  12  and receiving openings  26 / 28 , further reducing seepage of liquids through any gaps between the legs  30 / 32  and the receiving openings  26 / 28 . 
         [0027]    To facilitate grasping of the securing portion  14  when moving the securing portion  14  from the retraced position to the extended position, it is preferred, though not required, that one or more finger tabs  8  are formed in the securing portion  14 . 
         [0028]    Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result. 
         [0029]    It is believed that the system and method as described and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8