Marine vessels and modular deck and seating configurations for marine vessels

• US 10,085,566 B1
• Filed: 08/03/2017
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Original Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Inventors: Gallant, Danny
• Primary Examiner(s): Morano, S. Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hayes, Jovon E
• Application Number:
  US15/668,165
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 114363
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 17/00 Sofas; Couches; Beds bedsteads A47C19/00; spring mattresses A47C23/00; divan bases A47C23/00; stuffed mattresses A47C27/00; beds with special provisions for nursing A61G7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 17/04 Seating furniture, e.g. sofas, couches, settees, or the like, with movable parts changeable to beds; Chair beds
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0292 Multiple configuration seats, e.g. for spacious vehicles or mini-buses
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/22 the back-rest being adjustable B60N2/2878 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/305 the cushion being hinged on the vehicle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2003/485 movably connected to hull or superstructure
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2029/043 Seats; Arrangements thereof on vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 29/00 Accommodation for crew or passengers not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 29/04 Furniture peculiar to vessels floatable furniture B63C9/30

Abstract

A marine vessel has a deck surface having a recessed cavity; a seat module having a seating member, an engagement member, and a hinge that couples the seating member to the engagement member; and a retainer configured to retain the engagement member with respect to the recessed cavity. The seating member is pivotable about the hinge into and between a closed position in which the seating member lies flush with the deck surface and covers the recessed cavity and an open position in which the seating member provides seating for user and the recessed cavity is exposed and provides leg room for the user.

Claims

1. A marine vessel comprising a deck surface having a recessed cavity;

a seat module having a seating member, an engagement member, and a hinge that couples the seating member to the engagement member; and

a retainer configured to retain the engagement member with respect to the recessed cavity;

wherein the seating member is pivotable about the hinge into and between a closed position in which the seating member lies flush with the deck surface and covers the recessed cavity and an open position in which the seating member provides seating for a user and the recessed cavity is exposed and provides leg room for the user, wherein the seating member pivots 180 degrees about the hinge between the open position to the closed position.

2. The marine vessel according to claim 1, wherein the engagement member extends at a 90 degree angle to the seating member when the seating member is in the open position and when the seating member is in the closed position.

3. The marine vessel according to claim 2, wherein the seating member comprises a base having a first side and an opposite, second side, wherein when the seating member is in the closed position, the first side is flush with the deck surface and the second side faces the recessed cavity.

4. The marine vessel according to claim 3, wherein when the seating member is in the open position the first side faces the deck surface.

5. The marine vessel according to claim 4, further comprising a seat on the second side of the seating member, wherein when the seating member is in the closed position, the seat is disposed in the recessed cavity and when the seating member is in the open position, the seat is exposed for use by the user.

6. The marine vessel according to claim 5, wherein the seat comprises a base and a backrest that is pivotable with respect to the base into and between an upright position in which the backrest is transverse to the base and a prone position in which the backrest is parallel to the base.

7. The marine vessel according to claim 6, wherein the seat only fits into the recessed cavity in the prone position.

8. The marine vessel according to claim 1, wherein the recessed cavity is defined by opposing sidewalls and an end wall that extend transversely downwardly from the deck surface, and wherein the retainer is on the end wall.

9. The marine vessel according to claim 8, further comprising support rails disposed in the recessed cavity on the opposing sidewalls, wherein the opposing support rails support the seating member in the closed position.

10. A marine vessel comprising a deck surface having a recessed cavity;

a seat module having a seating member, an engagement member, and a hinge that couples the seating member to the engagement member; and

a retainer configured to retain the engagement member with respect to the recessed cavity;

wherein the seating member is pivotable about the hinge into and between a closed position in which the seating member lies flush with the deck surface and covers the recessed cavity and an open position in which the seating member provides seating for a user and the recessed cavity is exposed and provides leg room for the user;

wherein the recessed cavity is defined by opposing sidewalls and an end wall that extends transversely downwardly from the deck surface, and wherein the retainer is on the end wall;

further comprising support rails disposed in the recessed cavity on the opposing sidewalls, wherein the opposing support rails support the seating member in the closed position;

wherein the retainer comprises an envelope and wherein the engagement member is planar and is manually slide-able into and out of the envelope.

11. The marine vessel according to claim 10, further comprising a latch that engages the engagement member with the envelope when the engagement member is slid into the envelope.

12. The marine vessel according to claim 11, further comprising a release member that can be manually actuated or actuated by a foot of the user to open the latch and allow the engagement member to be manually slid out of the envelope.

13. The marine vessel according to claim 11, wherein the engagement member comprises a pair of hooks, wherein the retainer comprises a pair of envelopes that receive the pair of hooks, and wherein the latch is one of a pair of spring-loaded latches that automatically engage with the pair of hooks when the pair of hooks is slid into the pair of envelopes.

14. The marine vessel according to claim 13, further comprising a release member comprising a linking member that links the pair of spring-loaded latches, wherein pressing down on the release member opens the pair of spring loaded latches so that the pair of hooks can be manually pulled out of the pair of envelopes.

15. A modular seating device comprising a seat module having a seating member, an engagement member, and a hinge that couples the seating member to the engagement member, wherein the seating member is pivotable about the hinge into and between a closed position in which the support side lies flush with a deck surface of the marine vessel and covers a recessed cavity in the deck surface, and an open position in which the seating member provides seating for a user and the recessed cavity is exposed and provides leg room for the user;

wherein the seating member pivots 180 degrees about the hinge from the open position to the closed position, and wherein the engagement member extends at a 90 degree angle to the seating member when the seating member is in the open position and when the seating member is in the closed position.

16. The modular seating device according to claim 15, wherein the seating member comprises a base having a first side and an opposite, second side, wherein when the seating member is in the closed position, the first side is flush with the deck surface and the second side faces the recessed cavity and wherein when the seating member is in the open position the first side faces the deck surface, and further comprising a seat on the second side of the seating member, wherein when the seating member is in the closed position, the seat is disposed in the recessed cavity and when the seating member is in the open position, the seat is exposed for use by the user.

17. The modular seating device according to claim 16, wherein the seat comprises a base and a backrest that is pivotable with respect to the base into and between an upright position in which the backrest is transverse to the base and a prone position in which the backrest is parallel to the base.

18. The modular seating device according to claim 17, wherein the seat is one of a pair of seats on the second side of the seating member.

19. A marine vessel comprising a deck surface having a recessed cavity;

a seat module having a seating member, an engagement member, and a hinge that couples the seating member to the engagement member; and

a retainer configured to retain the engagement member with respect to the recessed cavity;

wherein the seating member is pivotable about the hinge into and between a closed position in which the seating member lies flush with the deck surface and covers the recessed cavity and an open position in which the seating member provides seating for a user and the recessed cavity is exposed and provides leg room for the user, wherein the retainer comprises an envelope and wherein the engagement member is planar and is manually slide-able into and out of the envelope.

20. The marine vessel according to claim 19, further comprising a latch that engages the engagement member with the envelope when the engagement member is slid into the envelope.