| Under-deck storage unit for pontoon boat -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
  Under-deck storage unit for pontoon boatUSPTO Application #: 20070295264Title: Under-deck storage unit for pontoon boat Abstract: A watercraft that includes a frame; pontoons mounted to the frame; a deck supported on the frame, the deck including a hatch covering an opening through the deck; and a storage unit mounted to the frame beneath the opening in the deck, and the storage unit having a bottom that is above a water line of the watercraft. The storage unit may be formed from a rotational-molded plastic. The bottom of the watercraft may include a trough. The trough may be deeper in one portion of the bottom and may be graduated from a shallowest point towards the front of the storage unit and deepest towards the rear thereof. A drain aperture may be provided at the deepest portion of the trough. The frame may include structural members, and the storage unit may include channels in an upper mounting end thereof, opposite the bottom, configured to receive the structural members. The channels may have a mounting surface and inclined surfaces extending away from the mounting surface. The storage unit may further include mounting flanges having bolt holes for bolting the storage unit to the frame. The storage unit may also include enlarged portions along the upper mounting end with the channels located between the enlarged portions. (end of abstract)
Agent: Baker & Daniels LLP - Indianapolis, IN, US Inventor: Bradley R. Fishburn USPTO Applicaton #: 20070295264 - Class: 114364 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070295264. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001]This invention relates to a storage unit for a watercraft and, in particular, to an under-deck storage unit that in one application can be used for a pontoon boat. [0002]It is desirable to have a place on a watercraft to store gear and other items. One such storage place that is often utilized is under the seats. In addition, many hulled boats typically have some type of under-deck storage in the hull area. Fewer options have been available for under-deck storage in a pontoon boat where there is usually only a frame and pontoons beneath the deck. [0003]One prior art under-deck storage has been available for pontoon boats having three pontoons. In this version, a hole is cut in the middle pontoon and a rectangular flange welded thereabout. An opening is made in the frame of the pontoon boat with a rectangular framing support extending around and mounted to the flange around the opening in the middle pontoon. An opening covered by a hatch is placed in the deck over the rectangular frame and the opening in the pontoon so that the hatch may be lifted and gear stored in the middle pontoon. [0004]As no under-deck storage has previously been available for pontoon boats with only two pontoons, it is an object of the subject invention to provide an under-deck storage unit that in one application can be used for a pontoon boat having only two pontoons. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005]In one embodiment of the present invention, a watercraft is provided that includes a frame; pontoons mounted to the frame; a deck supported on the frame, the deck including a hatch covering an opening through the deck; and a storage unit mounted to the frame beneath the opening in the deck, and the storage unit having a bottom that is above a water line on the watercraft. [0006]The storage unit may be formed from a rotational-molded plastic. [0007]The bottom of the watercraft may include a trough. The trough may be deeper in one portion of the bottom. The depth of the trough may be graduated from a shallowest point towards the front of the storage unit to a deepest portion towards the rear thereof. The storage unit may also include a drain aperture at the deepest portion of the trough. [0008]The frame may include structural members, and the storage unit may include channels in an upper mounting end thereof opposite the bottom for receipt of the structural members. The channels may have a mounting surface and inclined surfaces extending away from the mounting surface. The storage unit may further include mounting flanges having bolt holes for bolting the storage unit to the frame. [0009]The storage unit may also include enlarged portions along the upper mounting end with the channels located between the enlarged portions. [0010]In another embodiment of the subject invention a watercraft is provided that includes a frame; a pair of pontoons mounted to the frame; a deck supported on the frame, the deck having a hatch covering an opening through the deck; and a polymer storage unit mounted beneath the frame, the polymer storage unit having a top access opening coincident with the opening in the deck, and wherein gear may be placed in the polymer storage unit by opening the hatch and inserting the gear through the openings. [0011]The storage unit may include a bottom having a trough. The trough is deeper in one portion of the bottom and a drain aperture is located at the deepest portion. The trough may run longitudinally along the bottom of the storage unit and the depth can be graduated from a shallowest point to the deepest portion. [0012]The storage unit may include enlarged portions along an upper mounting end thereof and channels located between the enlarged portions. [0013]The watercraft may further include a mounting flange extending about an opening in the upper mounting end of the storage unit and located on the interior of the enlarged portions and having mounting holes extending therethrough. The watercraft may also include channels between the enlarged portions for receipt of structural members of the frame. The channels may have a mounting surface and inclined surfaces extending into the enlarged portions and away from the mounting surfaces. [0014]The storage unit may also include a front enlarged portion extending across the front thereof, a rear enlarged portion extending across the rear and a pair of side enlarged portions on each side of the opening. [0015]The storage unit may also include a radiused portion extending across the front thereof. [0016]It is also a feature of this invention to provide an embodiment of a watercraft including a frame; a pair of pontoons mounted longitudinally along the outer ends of the frame; a deck supported on the frame, the deck having a hatch covering an opening through the deck; and a storage unit mounted beneath the frame in an open area extending between the pontoons, the storage unit having a top access opening coincident with the opening in the deck. [0017]The storage unit may include a trough having a drain aperture. The trough may have a depth that is graduated from a shallowest point towards the front of the storage unit to a deepest portion towards the rear thereof where the drain aperture is located. The storage unit may include an upper mounting end having channels, and the frame includes structural members received in the channels. The channels can be wider at the open end than at the bottoms thereof. [0018]The watercraft may further include a mounting flange extending around an opening in an upper mounting end of the storage unit, the mounting flange having bolt holes for mounting the storage unit to the frame. The upper mounting end of the storage unit may also include enlarged portions and the channels can be located between the enlarged portions. [0019]It is an additional feature of the invention to provide an under-deck storage unit for use on a watercraft, wherein the under-deck storage unit includes a front section; a rear section; a bottom section; and an upper mounting section having an access opening therein and receiving channels for receipt of structural frame members of the watercraft. [0020]The under-deck storage unit may be formed from a rotational-molded plastic. [0021]The under-deck storage unit may further include a mounting flange extending around the access opening for mounting the storage unit to the watercraft. [0022]The under-deck storage unit channels may have a lower mounting surface and inclined surfaces extending away from the mounting surface. The under-deck storage unit channels may be defined by enlarged portions around the periphery of the upper mounting surface. The under-deck storage unit may further include a front enlarged portion extending across the front section, a rear enlarged portion extending across the rear section, and two pairs of side enlarged portions straddling the access opening. Continue reading... Full patent description for Under-deck storage unit for pontoon boat Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Under-deck storage unit for pontoon boat patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Under-deck storage unit for pontoon boat or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Bimini top main bow connector Next Patent Application: Method for producing silicon wafer and silicon wafer Industry Class: Ships ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Under-deck storage unit for pontoon boat patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.09917 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Tyco , Unilever , Warner-lambert , 3m |
||
