Abstract:
A T-bar lockable linkage is deployed between the gunnels and forward seating or casting area of a marine craft and effective to limit opening of an array of side and central storage containers including a telescoping cross bar assembly that is connected to mounting brackets at the sides of the front boat deck. The mounting brackets include universal connectors that allow self alignment of the cross bar assembly, notwithstanding varying boat configurations or installation inaccuracies. The cross bar assembly includes a slotted slidable hub that may be aligned with a forward anchorage location, preferably an existing pedestal base for a swivel boat seat. The cross bar assembly includes matching holes aligned with a medial slot in the hub. A front anchor is releasably attached to the front pedestal base and slidably receives a center locking bar. With the center locking bar in place, the front anchor is conditioned against removal. The center locking bar is aligned with and closely overlies the center storage lockers and includes a terminal end that is received in the hub slot and a projecting locating pin that is received in the cross bar holes thereby limiting relatively movement therebetween and preventing disengagement from the mounting brackets. The hub carries a keyed locking device including a latch bolt that engages the center locking bar to unitize the assembly and prevent separation of the components.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to secured storage systems for marine craft and, in particular, to a security system kit for protecting the contents of storage lockers on the deck of a sport fishing boat. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Recreational sport fishing is an extremely popular activity for many outdoor enthusiasts. Bass fishing in particular has an extensive following and many specialized marine products have been developed to assist the angler in pursuit of these selective, combative and challenging fish. Special craft know specifically as bass boats have been developed to take the angler to the varying environments of the bass and provide stable platforms for fishing. Additionally extensive, specialized gear and accessories have been developed for fully outfitting the boat and the angler for the activity. 
     Such gear generally includes a variety of poles and reels, specialized tools, tackle and lures, and bait, cooling and storage containers for the catch, life jackets, sporting attire and related paraphernalia that may be stored separately on board. However, all of the foregoing items are valuable and subject to pilferage when the boat is unattended, docked, transported or otherwise unattended. To provide greater organization and security, specialized lockable containers have become available. However, such individual containers are not readily stowed or organized compactly and efficiently. Moreover, the construction of such containers, usually lighter weight material such a plastics, does not provide substantial deterrence to pilferage. Increasingly, bass boat manufacturers and accessory supplies have provided customized, integrated storage lockers into the boat design. One example of such an approach is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,975,002 to Reiger wherein a plurality of fore and aft storage containers are integrated into the boat construction. Such containers include side containers adjacent the gunnels for rods and reels and center containers for tackle, lures, bait and catch. Generally, the containers are fabricated from plastic and covered by hinged or removable lids. While cover securing devices are employed, substantial deterrence to entry and theft is not afforded. 
     In order to provide greater deterrence to theft, more secure locking systems have been proposed. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,107 to Mitchell, a locking device comprising telescoping pipes is supported between fixed brackets on the gunnels of the boat. The pipes overlie the container lids and limit opening movement thereof to deter pilferage. The inner pipe includes a series of through holes. A padlock link is inserted through the hole nearest the outer pipe to prevent removal of the pipes from the brackets. While providing deterrence to theft from the side boxes, the proposed device required specialized mounting brackets to adapt to varying boat configurations. Moreover, unless accurately aligned, connection with the cross pipes was difficult. Additionally, the regular spacing of the locking holes can result in assembled conditions with sufficient side movement to reduce the capture of the cross pipes and facilitate dislodging of the device. Furthermore, the locking device is effective only against side containers and center containers directly beneath the cross pipes. Inasmuch as many boat designs include a plurality of center containers, the remainder are left unprotected. 
     In view of the foregoing limitations, a need continues to exist for a comprehensive, readily deployed security system for boat storage lockers that can accommodate widely varying boat designs and protect from theft and pilferage the angler&#39;s valuable possessions. 
     Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a lockable security system for providing security to an array of storage lockets in a marine craft with a single device. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a security system for storage lockers of marine craft that can be readily installed in boats of varying configurations. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide secure device for preventing unwanted access to side and center storage containers in bass boats. 
     Yet another object of the invention is to provide a storage locker security kit that may be custom installed on varying boat designs and is effective against pilferage of contents held in a plurality of side and center storage lockers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The foregoing objects are achieved by a storage locker security system in accordance with the invention by T-bar lockable linkage deployed between the gunnels and forward seating or casting area of a marine craft and effective to limit opening of an array of side and central storage containers. More particularly the security system comprises a telescoping cross bar assembly that is connected to mounting brackets at the sides of the front boat deck. The mounting brackets include a universal connector that allows self alignment of the cross bar, notwithstanding varying boat configurations or installation inaccuracies. The cross bar assembly includes a slotted slidable hub that may be aligned with a forward anchorage location, preferably an existing pedestal base for a swivel boat seat. The cross bar assembly includes matching holes aligned with a medial slot in the hub. A front anchor is releasably attached to the front pedestal base and slidably receives a center locking bar. With the locking bar in place, the front anchor is conditioned against removal. The center locking bar is aligned with and closely overlies the center storage lockers and includes a terminal end that is received in the hub slot and a projecting locating pin that is received in the cross bar holes thereby limiting relatively movement therebetween and preventing disengagement from the mounting brackets. The hub carries a locking devices including a latch bolt that engages the center locking bar to unitize the assembly and prevent separation of the components. The resultant assembly is readily installed, without specialized skills, on site with simple equipment. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a deck locker security system in accordance with the present invention installed in the hull of a marine craft; 
     FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the seat pedestal plate and anchor spindle of the deck locker security system shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the hub assembly of the security system; 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the side swivel bracket for the cross bar assembly; 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the anchor spindle for the pedestal bracket in the open position; 
     FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the anchor spindle shown in FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the anchor spindle and center bar in assembly and illustrating the installed condition; 
     FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the mounting spindle in the insertion position with respect to the pedestal base; 
     FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the seat pedestal assembly in the installed condition; 
     FIG. 10 is a fragmentary side elevational view of another embodiment of the seat pedestal assembly in the installed condition; 
     FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the hub and cross bar assemblies in the unlocked condition; 
     FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the hub and cross bar assemblies in the locked condition; 
     FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the anchor spindle; 
     FIG. 14 is side elevational view of anchor spindle of FIG. 13; 
     FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of another pedestal base; and 
     FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of the anchor spindle of FIG.  13 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention relates to storage security for marine craft and will be particularly described with reference to storage lockers for bass boats. However, it will be appreciated that the features, benefits and advantages of the storage security system will be afforded the varying types and sizes of bass boats and marine craft. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a bass boat  10  is provided with a T-bar deck locker security system  12  for limiting access to a plurality of covered storage containers in the hull of the boat including side lockers  14  and  16  located along the sides adjacent the gunnels  18  and  20 , and center lockers  22  and  23  located therebetween. The illustrated boat is provided with a conventional removable swivel seat, not shown, operatively mounted at a front seat pedestal base  24  in the bow. As described below, the pedestal base may used in conjunction with an embodiment of the security system, however, or a separate frontal assembly may be alternatively employed. 
     The side lockers  14  and  16  are used primarily for housing and securing rods and tackle whereas the center locker  22  may be used for bait and game fish and supplies therefor. Inasmuch as the contents of the lockers are valuable and subject to pilferage, the security system  10  is deployed during docking, transporting or other times when the boat is unattended. 
     More particularly, the security system  10  comprises a lateral cross bar assembly  30  closely overlying the side lockers  14 ,  16  and connected to side swivel brackets  32 ,  34  fixedly attached to the gunnels  18 ,  20  respectively, a latching hub  36  carried on the cross bar assembly  30 , and a center bar  38  releasably coupled at in inner end to the latching hub  36  and slidably connected at the outer end to a anchor spindle  40  removably carried at the pedestal base  24 . The center bar  38  overlies the center locker  22 . The security system  10 , as deployed, is sufficiently closely adjacent the locker covers, whether hinged or removable, to prevent the opening thereof sufficiently to gain access to the stored contents thereof. Preferably the cross bar assembly bisects the side lockers  14 ,  16  and the center bar  38  bisects the center locker  22 . As hereinafter described in detail, the security system  10  may be readily deployed and latched for securing the lockers as desired, and readily disassembled and stowed during fishing excursions. 
     The cross bar assembly  30  is transversely disposed with respect to the keel of the boat  10  and removably fixedly connected with the brackets  32 ,  34 . Each bracket is similar in construction. The bracket  32 , for illustrative purposes as shown in FIG. 4, includes a circular front mounting plate  40  and a rear cylindrical sleeve  42 . A spherical bearing  44  is socketed within the sleeve  42  in a conventional manner for universal movement with respect thereto. 
     The cross bar assembly  30  comprises an elongated outer cylindrical outer sleeve  50  telescopically supporting an inner circular shaft  52 . The sleeve  50  and the shaft  52  may axially relatively shifted for extending or shortening the overall length of the cross bar assembly  30 . The outer end of the shaft  52  is provided with an enlarged end cap  54  terminating with a projecting circular stem  56 . The stem  56  is adapted to be slidably received within the bore  46  of the bearing  44 . The inner end of the outer sleeve  50  is provided with a stop collar  58  that engages an appropriate stop surface on the inner end of the shaft  52  to prevent separation of the components after assembly. Referring to FIG. 4, the outer end of the outer sleeve  50  is provided with an end cap  62  having a projecting stem  64  similarly slidably received within the bore  46  of the bearing  44  of the associated bracket. The outer sleeve  50  is provided with a plurality of axially spaced aligning holes  70  for purposes described below. 
     In assembly, the selected transverse orientation of the cross bar assembly  30  is determined and a blind hole is formed in the gunnel for receiving the sleeve  42  of the associated bracket. The mounting plate of the bracket is provided with mounting holes for fixedly securing the bracket to the gunnels by suitable fasteners. It will accordingly be appreciated that in assembly the bar assembly will be self-centered with respect to the brackets, universal accommodating movement being provided by the ability of the spherical bearing to freely rotate to the orientation of the stems. With the brackets mounted on the gunnels, the shaft and the outer sleeve may be outwardly telescoped until the stems are securely seated in the bearings and the center bar assembly firmly supported between the brackets and overlying the selected locker doors to be secured. Such accommodation further permits a standard mounting plate to be used regardless of the curvature of the gunnels at the mounting area. Accordingly, the misalignment, abuse, and premature wear occasioned by fixed point connectors is avoided. 
     Referring to FIGS. 3,  11  and  12 , the hub  36  is slidably carried on the outer sleeve  50  and comprises a lock block  60  and a lock assembly  62  accepting a locking key  64  and operative to transversely shift a lock bolt  66 . The rear end of the block  60  includes a transverse through bore for slidably receiving the outer sleeve  50  of the cross bar assembly  30 . The lock assembly  62  may take various forms of key activated linear bolt actuation. A commercially available billet type lock is preferred. The lock assembly body is recessed in a correspondingly shaped blind hole formed in one side of the block. The lock bolt  66  is operatively coupled to the lock assembly and slidably aligned with a transverse through hole  70 . In the unlatched condition, lock barrel  72  projects laterally outwardly of the block  60 . With the key  64  inserted into the keyhole, the barrel is depressed to shift the lock bolt  66  to the locked condition. Thereafter, the key is appropriately rotated to maintain the locked position relationships. 
     The hub  60  includes a forwardly and downwardly opening support slot  80  for conformably slidably supporting the inner end  82  of the center bar  38 . The inner end  82  of the center bar  38  is laterally narrowed to form an alignment tongue  84  that is received within a conformal tongue portion  86  of the slot  80 . The tongue  84  includes a chamfered transverse hole  87  for receiving the lock bolt  66 . The outer portion  90  of the slot  80  has conformal surfaces for locally supporting the sides of the center bar  36 . The inner end  82  terminates with a projecting circular locating pin  88 . The locating pin  88  is configured to project through aligned holes in the inner shaft  52  and outer sleeve  50 . To this end for custom assembly, the cross bar assembly is mounted at the brackets. Thereafter, the hub  60  is axially shifted along the outer sleeve  50  to the desired alignment for the center bar  38  and aligned axially and circumferentially with the preformed hole  70  in the sleeve  50  closest thereto. This location is then transcribed to the inner shaft  52 . The cross bar assembly  30  is thereafter extended and a through or blind hole drilled into the inner shaft  52  at the inscribed location. Subsequent retraction to align appropriately the slot  80  with the holes will allow the pin of the center bar to enter the aligned apertures thereby preventing relative axial movement and retaining the cross bar assembly on the brackets. With the end surface of the inner end of the center bar engaging the outer sleeve a chamfered through hole  94  on the tongue will be aligned with the lock bolt such that actuation of the lock assembly to the latched condition will releasably retain the center bar on the hub. In this connection it will be appreciated that the inner shaft could be provided with a preformed series of holes provided the incremental aligned positions would ensure retention of the bar assembly at the brackets. Further, neither component need be preformed and both the sleeve and the shaft could be custom drilled on-site. Moreover, with a sufficiently long drill bit, the components may be drilled with the hub in the installed position. 
     After installation of the cross bar assembly, the outer end of the control bar is slidably received through the anchor spindle  40  prior to latching as described below. The center bar  38  is rearwardly shifted into the slot  80  until the locating pin  88  enters the holes and the lock bolt  66  actuated. Thereafter, the security system  10  overlies the lockers  14 , 16 ,  22  and  23  preventing access to the contents thereof. 
     In the preferred embodiment the front anchor spindle is adapted to be used in connection with the existing front pedestal mounts for frontally mounted removable seats commonly used in bass boats. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the mounting pedestal base  24  for such an installation, includes a rectangular mounting plate  100  fastened to the foredeck  102  of the boat by a plurality of fasteners  104 . The mounting plate  100  is centrally apertured and a post sleeve  106  fixedly connected to the lower surface thereof. The sleeve  106  extends through a corresponding opening  107  in the fore deck  102 . The sleeve  106  includes an inner bushing  108  having a vertically extending through bore for accepting a lower post on the swivel seat. With the seat removed, the mounting anchor spindle of the present invention is adapted to be releasably seated at the pedestal base for alignment with and reception of the center bar  38 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 5 through 9, the anchor spindle  40  comprises an upper journal body  110  and a lower latching sleeve  112  including a latching assembly  113 . The journal body  110  includes a horizontal longitudinal cylindrical passage  114  for telescopically receiving the center bar  38 . The journal body  110  includes a lower planar surface for engaging the annular head  116  of the bushing  108 . The latching sleeve  112  is rotatably and slidably received in the bushing. The latching assembly  113  includes an internal actuating arm  122  carrying a cross pin  124  extending through the passage  114  in the journal body  110  and resides in a lower slot  126  at the bottom of the passage in the latched condition. A generally Z-shaped locking tab  128  is pivotally connected to the arm  122  by link  134 . An axial slot is formed in the lower portion of the body aligned with the tab  128 . The tab  128  is rotatable between the insertion position shown in FIG.  8  and the latched condition shown in FIG.  7 . In the unlatched position, the tab  128  is aligned vertically within the envelope of the body permitting insertion of the spindle on the mounting plate. In the latched condition, the tab is transverse to the body and the stop surfaces  130 ,  132  on the tab  128  project outwardly of the bushing thereby locking the mounting spindle. The tab  128  is shifted between the latched condition and the unlatched condition by actuating linkage  130 . The linkage in the raised position interacts with the tab for vertically orienting the tab. In a lowered position, the linkage rotates the tab to the transverse latched condition to prevent spindle withdrawal. 
     In another embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 through 16, the mounting anchor spindle  140  may be used in conjunction with another available pedestal base  142  having a base plate  144  for attachment to the deck, and a downwardly projecting sleeve  146  having an annular rim  148  at the base thereof. The spindle  140  includes a tubular body having a cross hole  149  for slidably receiving the center bar  38 . A latching arm  150  is interiorally pivotally supported at the lower end of the body  148  by cross pin  152 . The latching arm  150  downwardly terminates with a notched latch tab  154 . Access holes  156  are formed in the body  148  for manually pivoting the arm  150 . For assembly, the spindle  140  is lowered into the sleeve and the latching arm  150  manipulated to allow the latching tab to pass beyond the rim. Thereafter the arm is pivoted to the position shown in FIG. 16 wherein the tab overlies the rim  148  and the spindle is latched against removal from the bracket. Insertion of the center bar  38  prevents the locking arm from returning to the released position thereby preventing removal of the spindle in the enabled condition of the security system. 
     A further spindle embodiment is shown in FIG. 10 wherein the anchor spindle  160  includes an upper journal body  162  having a central passage for receiving the center bar  38  and a lower threaded post  164  extending though the mounting bracket sleeve  166  of the base  168  and fixedly clamped thereto by nut  170  welded to the sleeve  166 . The anchor is appropriately threaded onto the nut  170  and aligned with the hub  60  for assembly. This embodiment is advantageous for those boat designs and security systems utilizing the seat bracket for the forward anchorage. 
     All of the foregoing embodiments of the storage locker security system may be incorporated into the original manufacture of the bass boats or preferably available in kit form adaptable to the full range of locker layouts for the various marine craft and sport fishing boats having discrete containers for sporting gear. In kit form, the security systems is provided with the cross bar assembly, the universal side mounting brackets, the connector hub, the center bar, and center bar spindle together with associated fasteners and materials. 
     In typical installation, the installer determines the desired position for lateral cross bar assembly in order to properly overlie the side lockers  14 ,  16 . The location for the fasteners and mounting sleeve noted, the associated holes therefor drilled in the gunnels and the side brackets mounted thereat. Next the center bar assembly is extended and mounted on the side brackets and the connector hub moved to a central position aligned with the forward anchorage point at the seat mounting plate. The hub is aligned on the outer sleeve closest to the aligned location, the inner shaft noted and drilled for reception of the locating plug on the center bar. The forward spindle is inserted into the seat mounting plate bore and conditioned against removal. Thereafter, the outer end of the center bar is inserted through the spindle passage and the inner end roughly positioned in the slot in the hub connector. Aligning the openings in the outer sleeve and the inner shaft with the slot, the center bar is shifted toward the outer sleeve until the locating plug is firmly seated with the lock bolt aligned with the cross hole in the tongue. When the key is actuated, the deployed cross bolt locks the components together to establish a rigid secure structure preventing access to the stored contents. The deployed security system may be removed in reverse sequence and stowed on the boat or elsewhere. 
     Having thus described a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will now be appreciated that the objects of the invention have been fully achieved, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the sprit and scope of the present invention. The disclosures and description herein are intended to be illustrative and are not in any sense limiting of the invention, which is defined solely in accordance with the following claims.