Patent Document

[0001]    The present invention relates generally to a shock absorbing boat seat pedestal, and methods of constructing and utilizing same. 
         [0002]    More particularly, the present invention relates to a shock absorbing boat seat pedestal which uses a coil spring, a shock absorber, or a coil spring disposed over a shock absorber, and methods of constructing and utilizing same. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The relevant art is exemplified by the following U.S. patents: 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,679 issued in 1995 to Mardikian entitled “PERSONAL WATERCRAFT AND BOAT WITH SHOCK ABSORBING FLOORBOARDS”; 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,182,590 issued in 2001 to Patera entitled “PERSONAL WATERCRAFT SUSPENSION SYSTEM”; and 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,880,483 issued in 2005 to Fedders entitled “ACTIVE SEAT SUSPENSION FOR WATERCRAFT”. 
         [0007]    The desideratum of the present invention is to avoid the animadversions of conventional devices, methods and techniques, and to provide a novel, simple and relatively inexpensive shock absorbing boat seat pedestal which results in a much softer boat ride. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention provides novel and unique shock absorbing boat seat pedestal comprising, in combination: a pedestal interconnecting a seat in a boat with a seat base near a bottom portion of the boat; said pedestal including outer an inner telescoping components; a first one of said telescoping components being affixed to said boat seat; a second one of said telescoping components being affixed to said seat base near said bottom surface of said boat; shock absorbing means disposed within said telescoping components to absorb impacts created between said boat and waves. 
         [0009]    A primary object of the invention is to provide a softer boat ride which minimizes and/or eliminates impacts between the boat and waves. 
         [0010]    Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparant to those persons skilled in this particular area of technology and to other persons after having been exposed to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying patent drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a boat provided with a shock absorber boat seat pedestal in accordance with the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the invention including the optional external reservoir. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is an elevational view of the  FIG. 2  embodiment in an expanded condition and omitting the external reservoir for clarity. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  shows the  FIG. 3  embodiment in a compressed condition. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is an end view of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  shows a second embodiment of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  shows a third embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a boat  10 , a boat seat  11 , a boat seat base  12 , and a shock absorbing boat seat pedestal  20  in accordance with the invention. 
         [0019]    The pedestal  20  is keyed into and bolted to the seat  11  and to the base  12 . 
         [0020]    Preferably, but not necessarily, the seat  11  and the base  12  may be standard components for current boat construction. 
         [0021]    With reference to  FIGS. 2-5 , there is illustrated shock absorbing boat seat pedestal  20  in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention. 
         [0022]    The pedestal  20  includes an outer tubular component  21 , an inner tubular component  22 , a shock absorber  23 , and a coil spring  24 . 
         [0023]    Tubular components  21  and  22  are constructed, dimensioned and arranged to move telescopically relative to each other. 
         [0024]    The components  21  and  22  may be fabricated from any suitable material, such as, for example, aluminum, steel, anodized aluminum, etc. 
         [0025]    One end  27  of the shock absorber  23  is affixed to the outer tubular component  21  by means of a threaded nut  25  bearing against flange  26 . 
         [0026]    The other end  28  of the shock absorber  23  is affixed to the inner tubular component  22  by means of a transverse bolt  29  and mating threaded nut  30 . 
         [0027]    The coil spring  24  is placed over the shock absorber  23 , and is positioned between the flanges  26  and  31  of components  21  and  22 , respectively. 
         [0028]    Components  21  and  22  are thus held together with the coil spring  24  and shock absorber  23 . 
         [0029]    The components  21  and  22  move separately of each other through the shock absorber  23 /coil spring  24  to absorb any impacts between waves and the boat  10 , thus creatin a much smoother/softer ride. 
         [0030]    The flange  26  separates the main portion of outer tubular component  21  from an end portion  32  which is provided with an elongated alignment notch or keyway  33 . 
         [0031]    The keyway  33  slidably joins with a mating part (not shown) of the boat seat  11  to secure the component  21  to the boat seat  11  aided by peripheral bolts (not shown). 
         [0032]    The flange  31  separates the main portion of inner tubular component  22  from an end portion  34  which is provided with an elongated alignment notch or keyway  35 . 
         [0033]    The keyway  35  slidably joins with a mating part (not shown) of the seat base  12  to secure the component  22  to the seat base  12  aided by peripheral bolts (not shown). 
         [0034]    Preferably, but not necessarily, the components  21  and  22  may be provided with alternative shock mounting holes  36 . 
         [0035]    With reference to  FIG. 6 , there is illustrated a second embodiment in the form of a shock absorbing boat seat pedestal  40 . 
         [0036]    Pedestal  40  has components similar to the pedestal  20 , but the pedestal  40  omits the shock absorber  23 . 
         [0037]    With reference to  FIG. 7 , there is illustrated a third embodiment in the form of a shock absorbing boat seat pedestal  50 . 
         [0038]    Pedestal  50  has components similar to the pedestal  20 , but the pedestal  50  omits the coil spring  24 . 
         [0039]    Optionally, the pedestals  20  and  50  may be operatively connected with an external reservoir  60 . 
         [0040]    The height of the pedestal  20 ,  40  or  50  is preferably between six inches and sixteen inches. 
         [0041]    Although the invention has been described in detail in the foregoing only for the purpose of illustration, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that variations can be made therein by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims, including all equivalents thereof.

Technology Category: b