Abstract:
A “J” shaped device for sliding around the base of a pedestal seat, which depresses the locking tab and unlocks the pedestal from the pedestal base, allowing a single person to use both hands to remove the seat and pedestal assembly for maintenance or cleaning.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is related to and claims priority from prior provisional application Ser. No. 61/671,914, filed Jul. 16, 2012 which application is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d). 
     The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention(s). It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art, or material, to the presently described or claimed inventions, or that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of locking tab releases and more specifically relates to a locking tab hold down device to release the locking tab on a pedestal seat so one person can remove the seat and pedestal on a boat. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Many people use boats for recreation and/or work. Most boats have seating; some have bench seats and others may have pedestal seats. It may be desirable at times to remove the seating. When removing pedestal seats from a boat, it can be difficult to depress the safety tab while simultaneously pulling up on the chair. After several days of sitting on the chair, the seat can become stuck in the mount, making it even more difficult to pull out. If an individual is exerting force on the chair to release it from the mount, another person must be holding down the safety tab. Often there may not be more than one person available, causing the task to take longer. If an individual attempts to hold down the safety tab while also trying to pull up on the chair, they may strain a muscle in his/her back. A convenient tool that depresses the safety tab allowing a person to remove pedestal chairs single-handedly is desirable. 
     Various attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problems such as those found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,941,621 to Wolforth; U.S. Pat. No. 6,254,054 to Few; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,561 to Jentry. This art is representative of pedestal releasing means. None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed. 
     Ideally, a locking tab hold down should provide ease of use and, yet would operate reliably and be manufactured at a modest expense. Thus, a need exists for a reliable locking tab hold down system to release a seat locking tab and allow a person to remove a seat pedestal without help from another person and to avoid the above-mentioned problems. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known locking tab art, the present invention provides a novel locking tab hold down system. The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail is to provide a locking tab hold down and allow a person to safely remove a seat pedestal without help from another individual. 
     The locking tab hold down device holds the safety tab down on a seat post, allowing a user to remove the pedestal without having to reach under the seat to hold the tab while lifting simultaneously. The locking tab hold down device makes it possible for virtually anyone to remove a seat post by themselves, helping to perform maintenance safely and efficiently. Even seats that are stuck in place can be easily removed single-handedly. Individuals will no longer have to reach and strain to depress the safety tab while also lifting in the opposite direction, helping to prevent injury. The locking tab hold down device can be used by boat owners, marinas, manufacturers, dealers, repair facilities, on vehicles which use pedestal seats. 
     A locking tab hold down system is disclosed herein, in a preferred embodiment, comprising a locking tab hold down device comprising a top side having a flat planer surface, a bottom side having a flat surface, a finger grasping aperture, and an outer surface (having a first edge, a second edge, a third edge, a fourth edge, a fifth edge, a sixth edge; the sixth edge useful for engaging a seat pedestal locking tab; a seventh edge, an eighth edge, a ninth edge, and a tenth edge). The locking tab hold down device is defined by and comprises in combination: the top side, the bottom side, and the outer surface. The outer surface is defined by and comprises in combination: the first edge, the second edge, the third edge, the fourth edge, the fifth edge, the sixth edge, the seventh edge, the eighth edge, the ninth edge, and the tenth edge. The fifth edge, the sixth edge, the seventh edge, the eighth edge, and the ninth edge engage about the seat pedestal in use. The first edge, the second edge, the third edge, the fourth edge, and the tenth edge do not engage the seat pedestal in use. The fifth edge, the sixth edge, the seventh edge, the eighth edge, and the ninth edge engage the seat pedestal, thereby enabling disengaging the seat pedestal locking tab from a locked condition to an unlocked condition. The finger grasping aperture travels between the top side and the bottom side, and is useful for grasping the locking tab hold down device. 
     The finger grasping aperture is usable as a hanging means to store the locking tab hold down device on a vertical surface (such as a wall or the like) during non-use periods. The locking tab hold down device has a J-shape profile, and preferably comprises dimensions of about ¼ inch thick, by about 5 inches long, by about 4½ inches in width. The flat surface of the bottom side provides that the locking tab hold down device is able to be slidably placed around a seat pedestal of a pedestal-seat such that a locking tab hold-down is able to be disengaged allowing the seat pedestal of the pedestal-seat to be removed from a seat-pedestal-base. The sixth edge useful for engaging the seat pedestal locking tab, thereby allowing the pedestal-seat to be removed from a boat. The locking tab hold down device is rotationally locked around the seat pedestal via a clockwise motion, the sixth edge engaging the seat pedestal locking tab, thereby unlocking the seat pedestal locking tab as the locking tab hold down device is rotated clockwise around the seat pedestal allowing a user to remove the seat pedestal without help from another person. The device can be made in many sizes to fit and work on different sized pedestals. 
     The locking tab hold down device further comprises a kit including: a locking tab hold down device, and a set of user instructions. 
     A method of use for the locking tab hold down device is also disclosed herein comprising the steps of: slidably placing a locking tab hold down device around a seat pedestal of a pedestal-seat, rotating a locking tab hold down device in a clock wise motion (thereby unlocking a seat pedestal locking tab), sliding a seat pedestal out of a seat pedestal base, and removing a locking tab hold down device. The method may further comprise the step of storing the locking tab hold down device on a wall between uses. 
     The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as a locking tab hold down device. For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, a locking tab hold down device, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view illustrating the locking tab hold down device in an in-use condition according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1   
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the locking tab hold down device in relation to a pedestal seat according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a top view illustrating the locking tab hold down device according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a side perspective view illustrating the locking tab hold down device according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating a method of use for the locking tab hold down device according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIGS. 1-4 . 
     
    
    
     The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a seat pedestal release device and more particularly to a locking tab hold down device as used to improve the ability of one person to remove a seat pedestal from a seat pedestal base with relative ease. 
     Generally speaking, the locking tab hold down is a tool used to assist in the removal of a seat post pedestal from the pedestal base on a boat. This tool may be constructed from strong extruded poly-plastic or other suitable material. The tool can be shaped (formed) from one piece, roughly in the shape of a capital “J”. The tool may be about ¼″ thick by about 5″ long by about 4.5″ in width in preferred embodiments. To use, the user hooks the bottom of the “J” on the tab and turns the long side of the tool around the pedestal, where it locks over the safety tab to hold it down. The seat can then be lifted from the post with two hands. 
     Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , various views of locking tab hold down device according to an embodiment of the present invention; beginning with  FIG. 1 , a perspective view illustrating locking tab hold down device  100  in an in-use condition  102 . 
     Locking tab hold down device  100  comprises top side  110  (having flat planer surface  112 ), bottom side  120  (having flat surface  122 ), finger grasping aperture  130 , outer surface  140  having first edge  142 , second edge  144 , third edge  146 , fourth edge  148 , fifth edge  150 , sixth edge  152 ; sixth edge  152  (useful for engaging seat pedestal locking tab  170 ), seventh edge  154 , eighth edge  156 , ninth edge  158 , and tenth edge  160 . Locking tab hold down device  100  is shown in greater detail in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a top view illustrating locking tab hold down device  100  in an in-use condition  102  according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
     Locking tab hold down device  100  comprises in combination: top side  110 , bottom side  120 , and outer surface  140 , outer surface  140  and is defined by and comprises in combination: first edge  142 , second edge  144 , third edge  146 , fourth edge  148 , fifth edge  150 , sixth edge  152 , seventh edge  154 , eighth edge  156 , ninth edge  158 , and tenth edge  160 . Fifth edge  150 , sixth edge  152 , seventh edge  154 , eighth edge  156 , and ninth edge  158  engage about seat pedestal  172  in use, as also shown in  FIG. 1 . First edge  142 , second edge  144 , third edge  146 , fourth edge  148 , and tenth edge  160  do not engage seat pedestal  172  in use. Fifth edge  150 , sixth edge  152 , seventh edge  154 , eighth edge  156 , and ninth edge  158  engage seat pedestal  172 , thereby disengaging seat pedestal locking tab  170  from a locked condition to an unlocked condition. In this way the present invention engages seat pedestal  172 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a top view illustrating locking tab hold down device  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
     Finger grasping aperture  130  travels (traverses) between top side  110  and bottom side  120 , and is useful for grasping locking tab hold down device  100 . Finger grasping aperture  130  is usable as a hanging means to store locking tab hold down device  100  on a vertical surface during non-use periods. Locking tab hold down device  100  comprises a J-shape profile  104 , and dimensions of about ¼ inch thick, by about 5 inches long, by about 4½ inches in width. Flat surface  122  of bottom side  120  provides that locking tab hold down device  100  is able to be slidably placed around a seat pedestal  172  of pedestal-seat  174  such that seat pedestal locking tab  170  is able to be disengaged, allowing seat pedestal  172  of pedestal-seat  174  to be removed from a seat-pedestal-base  176 , as desired. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a side perspective view illustrating locking tab hold down device  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
     Sixth edge  152  of locking tab hold down device  100  is useful for engaging seat pedestal locking tab  170 , allowing pedestal-seat  174  to be removed from a boat (or other such vehicle). Locking tab hold down device  100  is rotationally locked around seat pedestal  172  via a clockwise motion; sixth edge  152  engaging seat pedestal locking tab  170  thereby unlocking seat pedestal locking tab  170  allowing a user to remove seat pedestal  172  without help from another person. In this way the present invention 
     Locking tab hold down device  100  further comprises kit  440  including: locking tab hold down device  100 , and a set of user instructions. Locking tab hold down device  100  may be manufactured and provided for sale in a wide variety of sizes and shapes for a wide assortment of applications. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a flowchart illustrating a method of use  500  for locking tab hold down device  100  according to an embodiment of present invention of  FIGS. 1-4   
     A method of using (method of use  500 ) for locking tab hold down device  100  comprises steps of: step one  501  slidably placing a locking tab hold down device  100  around a seat pedestal  172  of a pedestal-seat  174 , step two  502  rotating locking tab hold down device  100  in a clock wise motion, thereby unlocking seat pedestal locking tab  170 , step three  503  sliding seat pedestal  172  out of seat pedestal base  176 , and step four  504  removing locking tab hold down device  100 . The method  500  may further comprise the step of  505  storing locking tab hold down device  100  between uses. 
     It should be noted that step  505  is an optional step and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of method  500  are illustrated using dotted lines in  FIG. 5  so as to distinguish them from other steps of method  500 . 
     It should be noted that the steps described in method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶6. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods of use arrangements such as, for example, different orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc., may be sufficient. 
     The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.