Patent ID: 7735444

Claim:
A boarding aid for assisting a person in embarking on and disembarking from a dinghy having a bow, adjacent inflatable pontoon bow sections spaced apart in lateral directions by a predetermined lateral distance, and a floor extending laterally between the pontoon bow sections, the pontoon bow sections extending altitudinally upward from the floor to corresponding upper edges located at a predetermined height above the floor, the boarding aid comprising: a handgrip bar having a length extending between opposite bar ends portions; a support structure having a first support portion for juxtaposition with the pontoon bow sections, and a second support portion spaced from the first support portion along a longitudinal direction, the support structure being joined with the handgrip bar adjacent the second support portion of the support structure such that the handgrip bar extends laterally with respect to the longitudinal direction of the support structure; and a coupling arrangement for coupling the first support portion of the support structure with the dinghy at a corresponding coupling location juxtaposed with the bow, the coupling arrangement including a lateral member for extending laterally between the pontoon bow sections, the lateral member having laterally opposite ends, and a pair of couplings, each coupling of the pair of couplings being configured and dimensioned for securement to a corresponding pontoon bow section at the corresponding coupling location; the coupling arrangement including a coupling member on the lateral member at a coupling location intermediate the ends of the lateral member, the coupling member being configured and dimensioned for securing the first support portion of the support structure to the lateral member with the support structure fixed against movement relative to the lateral member; the support structure having a prescribed length between the first and second support portions, and each coupling being configured and oriented such that with the first support portion of the support structure coupled with the coupling member, the support structure is installed on the dinghy, fixed against movement relative to the lateral member, with the length of the handgrip bar extending laterally essentially in alignment with the lateral directions and placed at an elevated position located a substantial altitudinal distance above the bow, so as to be accessible for ready grasping by a person remaining essentially erect as the person steps aboard or debarks from the dinghy adjacent the bow.