T-top apparatus with built-in seat for boats
First Claim
1. A T-top apparatus comprising:
- a rigid frame having a left side member and a right side member divided between;
a lower portion including a mounting plate for attachment thereof to a boat deck; and
an upper portion supporting a roof member positioned at an elevated position;
a seat member supported on said lower portion interconnecting said left side frame member and said right side frame member; and
a seat back member supported on said lower portion interconnecting said left and right side frame members at a position above said seat member.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A T-top apparatus for a boat is described in which the rigid framework of the T-top apparatus supports a built-in boat helm seat, seat backrest and other optional attachments. The rigid framework can be secured by bolts to the boat deck only, providing a convenient and effective manner in which to mount the T-top apparatus without requiring additional mounting hardware to fix the T-top structure to either the seat or center console helm. In an optional configuration, the T-top apparatus is formed in two sections with an upper section bearing the canvas roof and the lower section having the boat helm seat mounted therein. The upper section could be pivotally mounted to the lower section to permit the upper section to be pivotally lowered into a lowered configuration in which the overall height of the T-top apparatus is substantially at the same height of the boat helm seat. The upper section could be easily returned to the operating position simply by pivoting the upper section back on top of the lower section. A fastening or locking mechanism would fix the upper and lower sections to resist wind forces and other forces urging the upper section toward the lowered position.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A T-top apparatus comprising:
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a rigid frame having a left side member and a right side member divided between;
a lower portion including a mounting plate for attachment thereof to a boat deck; and
an upper portion supporting a roof member positioned at an elevated position;
a seat member supported on said lower portion interconnecting said left side frame member and said right side frame member; and
a seat back member supported on said lower portion interconnecting said left and right side frame members at a position above said seat member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. In a T-top apparatus for mounting on a boat to provide a detachable roof structure for said boat, the T-top apparatus including a frame having left and right frame members extending upwardly to support an elevated roof member, the improvement comprising:
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said frame supporting a seat member extending between said left and right frame members beneath said roof member; and
said left and right frame members including universal mounting plates for attaching said left and right frame members, respectively, to a deck of said boat. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. In a frame for a T-top apparatus to provide a detachable roof structure for a boat, said frame including left and right frame members extending upwardly to support a roof member in an elevated position, the improvement comprising:
each of said left and right frame members include an upper portion supporting said roof member and a lower portion, said upper portions and said roof member forming a top portion of said T-top apparatus, said lower portions being interconnected to form a bottom portion of said T-top apparatus, said top portion being supported on said bottom portion for movement relative thereto for lowering said roof member from said elevated position to a lowered position, said top portion being connected to said bottom portion by a hinge defining a generally horizontal pivot axis for movement of said top portion relative to said bottom portion, a latch mechanism interconnecting said top and bottom portions to restrict pivotal movement of said top portion. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. In a frame for a T-top apparatus that can be mounted on a boat to provide a roof structure for said boat, said frame including left and right frame members extending upwardly to support a roof member in an elevated position, the improvement comprising:
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each of said left and right frame members include an upper portion supporting said roof member and a lower portion, said upper portions and said roof member forming a top portion of said frame, said lower portions being interconnected to form a bottom portion of said frame, said top portion being supported on said bottom portion for movement relative thereto to lower said roof member from said elevated position to a lowered position; and
said left and right frame members being adapted to support a seat member extending therebetween beneath said roof member, and to support a seat back member extending therebetween above said seat member. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification