Abstract:
A platform for a boat including a top member, removable leg members and apparatus for storing the leg members to an underside of the top member when the legs are removed. A compact package results, which is readily storable in a hatch of a boat. The platform is readily assembled, attached to the boat, and then disassembled and stored.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefits of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/098,901 filed Sep. 2, 1998. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates in general to the field of boat platforms and in particular to storable bow platforms for use with a fishing boat. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     There are types of fishing where it is most advantageous for a fisherman to stand on a raised platform on a boat. The added height gives a fisherman the ability to actually see the fish in the water for longer distances. Flats fishing for bonefish is one such example. However, bonefishing is not a sport where a cast is made in the hopes that a fish is present in the general location of the cast. The fisherman needs to see bonefish in the water in order to make a cast at the exact location of the fish. 
     When fishing for bonefish, a specially rigged boat is used. They are generally called flats boats. They consist of a sixteen to twenty foot boat which is able to float in shallow water having a depth of approximately two to four feet. A platform is permanently mounted at the boat&#39;s stern directly above the boat&#39;s motor. The stern platform is used by the captain to “hunt” for bonefish and from which he propels the boat by a long poling rod. The fisherman is located at the boat&#39;s bow. Upon seeing a bonefish, the captain directs the fisherman where to cast; however, the ability of the fisherman to actually see the bonefish greatly enhances his ability to catch the fish. As previously stated, a raised platform provides this advantage. 
     There exist bow platforms in the prior art which comprise integrally assembled components i.e. the legs form part of a welded frame to which a platform is welded. Certainly such platforms perform their function quite adequately; however, they are not without problems. One problem is the inability to store the platform on the boat when the platform is not being used. There simply is no storage space on a flats boat or other small boats which can accommodate a prior art platform. Typically therefore, the prior art platform is left in place on the bow of the boat. This presents a problem of interference. It forms an obstacle which always seems to be in the way of the fisherman when he is not bonefishing. It forms an obstacle when dropping an anchor. It forms an obstacle when using the boat for other types of fishing where a platform has no advantage. It forms an obstacle when attempting to access the boat&#39;s bow hatch. Since there are so many instances where a bow platform is disadvantages to a boater and fisherman, the fisherman more often than not, disposes with the use of a platform and simply leaves it off the boat. This, of course, leaves the fisherman without the advantages of a bow platform. The present invention is intended to overcome the disadvantages of the bow platform of the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a bow platform which eliminates most of the disadvantages of an integrally made platform. The present invention comprises a bow platform whereby the legs are mounted to the platform but can be quickly and easily removed from the platform. The legs are stored on the underside of the platform resulting in an assembly that is essentially flat and easily storable in a hatch on the boat. The unique construction of the inventive bow platform provides for an extremely sturdy platform having little or no side to side or front to back movement when in use. In another embodiment of the present invention, the bow hatch cover is removable and to which legs are attachable to form the bow platform. After use, the legs are removed, stored under the cover and the cover is reattached to the bow hatch. This embodiment eliminates all storage problems. 
     The above-stated objects as well as other objects which, although not specifically stated, but are intended to be included within the scope the present invention, are accomplished by the present invention and will become apparent from the hereinafter set forth Detailed Description of the Invention, Drawings, and the claims appended herewith. 
     In accordance with the above, there has been summarized the more important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention as it appears in the below detailed description of the same, may be better understood. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Various other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following discussion taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the present invention illustrating its attachment to the bow of a boat. 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric rendering of the arrangement of two legs to a top mounting plate. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a bottom view of a bow platform with the legs attached for storage. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the line  4 — 4  of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates one construction of a leg attachment of the embodiment of FIG.  5 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functioning details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. 
     Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein like the characteristics and features of the present invention shown in the various figures are designated by the same reference numerals. 
     FIG. 1 shows the inventive bow platform  10  in place over the hatch cover  11  of a boat  12 . The platform includes a platform top  13 , four legs  14 , two mounting plates  15  and a hold-down means  24 . It is necessary that the attachment of the legs to the platform top be very rigid or sturdy so that the fisherman does not experience wobbling of the platform which will interfere with his casting, and reeling in a fish. Yet the connections of the legs  14  to the platform top  13  must be capable of being accomplished without tools. 
     In order to provide the necessary rigidity to the platform  10 , mounting plates  15  are used which are interconnected between the legs  14  and the platform top  13 . This type of construction provides for minimizing the overall weight of the platform by allowing the use of a relatively thin platform top  13  and yet provides for a rigid connection between the legs and the platform top  13 . The platform top  13  is preferably trapezoidal in configuration to coincide with the typical shape of a bow hatch cover and/or the pointed bow of a boat; however, any configuration is within the scope of the present invention. Sufficient space is provided around the outside of the platform to allow a person to walk around the platform. While it is preferable that the stowable platform  10  be mounted to the bow hatch cover  16 , its location is not limited to this position. 
     The platform top  13  may be made from a honeycombed construction material  17  for weight purposes. A fiberglass coating may then be used on the top and bottom of the honeycombed material  17  to add stiffness and weatherproofing. The top surface of the platform top  13  may be provided with a non-skid surface. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates the connection of two leg members  14  to one mounting plate  15 . Each leg  14  is threadingly connectable to the mounting plate  15 . The length of the threads  18  on the leg is slightly less than the thickness of the mounting plate  15  so as to prevent the threaded portion  18  from extending above the top surface  19  of the support plate  15 . The thickness of the mounting plate.  15 , however is to be sufficiently thick so as to assume a rigid threaded connection e.g. ¾ inch. The mounting plate  15  extends along the side length of the platform top  13 . This length provides for a flat support surface area of sufficient magnitudes between the top  19  of the support plate  15  and the bottom of the platform top  13  which is essential to preventing any wobble between the platform top and the support plate. A plurality of screws or bolts  20  may also be used to connect the mounting plate  15  to the platform top  13 . 
     FIG. 2 illustrates the construction of a leg member  14 . The leg member  14  is made from a hollow tube to provide lightness although a solid rod may also be used. A threaded rod  21  is fitted to one end of the leg member. A somewhat resilient spacer member  22  is fitted between the outer diameter of the threaded rod  21  and the inner diameter of the leg post  14  in order to allow a press fit, however, the space member is not essential. The threaded rod may be directly press fitted into the leg post  14 . A relatively large and flat bearing surface  23  is provided at the top of the leg post  14  to assure firm seating of the leg member  14  when threaded into the mounting plate  15 . A large bearing area is necessary to prevent wobble between the leg  14  to plate  15  connection using only hand applied force to tighten the connection. 
     A fully assembled platform  10  is held to the deck or bow hatch cover  16  of the boat  12  by any appropriate attaching means  24 . FIG. 1 illustrates the use of one or more turnbuckles attached to threaded rods, or more preferably nylon straps, having quick disconnect, over the center, buckles may be used. 
     When the inventive platform  10  is to be removed from the boat deck, the preferred straps  24  are disconnected to free the platform  10  from the deck of the boat  12 . Each leg member  14  is then unthreaded by hand and attached by clips  25  to the underside  26  of the platform top  13  as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. A relatively flat and lightweight structure results which may then be conveniently stored for example, in the bow hatch. Any type of securement means may be used to removably attach the leg members  14  to the underside of the platform top, e.g. straps, bars, recess bolts, spring clips, and other such like devices. Assembly is, of course, the reverse of the disassembly procedure. The relatively large diameter of the leg members  14  also provides the ability to sufficiently hand tighten the leg members  14  to mounting plates  15  to assure a tight wobble free connection. 
     The embodiment shown in FIG. 5 utilizes the bow hatch cover  11  as the platform top. In order to accomplish this, take-apart hinges  40  are used to connect the hatch cover  11  to the hatch opening. The mounting plates  15  of the previous embodiment may be used to connect the leg members  41  to the hatch cover  11  or individual plates  42  may be used. Since the leg members  41  extend within the hatch cover opening, a deck plate  43  must be used at each leg  41  location. The deck plates  43  are attached to the underside of the deck and extend into the hatch opening. Details of the leg members  41  and the deck plate  43  are shown in FIG. 6. A step  44  between the top surface  45  and the leg attaching surface  46  provides for a recess which allows the hatch cover  11  to fit flush with the deck of the boat. 
     In the embodiment of FIG. 5, it is not necessary to utilize a strap or turnbuckle to secure the inventive platform  10  to the deck of the boat  12 . In this embodiment, the lower end of the leg members  41  is provided with a threaded end  47  which fits through a mating hole  48  in the deck plate which hole  48  serves as an alignment and vertical support bushing for the legs  41 . A threaded nut is used to attach the leg member to the deck plate. In order to preserve the ability to assembly and disassemble the inventive platform by hand, a unique feature is employed. A plastic tube  49  is heated to a point where the plastic becomes pliable. A nut  50  is then forced into the opening of the plastic tube  49  causing the diameter of the tube to fit over the hexagonal shape of the nut  50  which firmly attaches the nut  50  to the tube  49 . The plastic tube  49  forms an elongated handle which a boater can easily grasp and firmly screw the nut  50  onto the threaded lower end  47  of the leg member  41 . A unique collar  51  suspended from the bottom surface of the deck plate  43  captures the nut  50  when it is removed from the leg member  41  and retains the nut  50  within the collar  51  of the deck plate  43 . In this manner, there is no chance of misplacing the nut  50 . 
     In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the deck plate  43  includes the hole  48  for accepting the reduced diameter  52  of the leg member  41  at the bottom portion thereof. The reduced diameter portion  52  of the leg member  41  is not threaded. It mates closely with the hole  48  in the deck plate. The large flange portion  53  between the reduced diameter portion  52  and the main portion of the leg member  41  provides for a large seating area to assure a wobble free attachment to the deck plate  43  when nut  51  is firmly threaded onto threaded portion  47  of the leg  41 . The embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 also provide for storage of the leg members  41  to the underside of the hatch cover  11  as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. 
     Thus there is described a removable, lightweight but sturdy bow platform which is capable of being formed into a readily stowable form and which can be assembled, put in place on a boat, removed from the boat and disassembled by hand without the use of hand or power tools. 
     While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in certain terms or certain embodiments or modifications which it has assumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be nor should it be deemed to be limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved.