Boat with recessed shifter

• US 6,971,328 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2003
• Issued: 12/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lund Boat Company (Brunswick Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lund Boat Company (Brunswick Corporation)
• Inventors: Zarn, Paul David
• Primary Examiner(s): Olson, Lars A.
• Application Number:
  US10/652,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20050045087A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 114/364, 440/84, 440/87, 743/35
• US Class Current: 114/364
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 21/21 Control means for engine or transmission, specially adapted for use on marine vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 21/213 Levers or the like for controlling the engine or the transmission, e.g. single hand control levers

Abstract

A boat including a hull having a bow, a stern and first and second sides that extend between the bow and the stern. The boat also includes an interior sidewall that extends along at least a portion of the first side of the hull. A recess structure is defined by the interior sidewall. At least one shifter is mounted at the recess structure.

Claims

1. A boat comprising:

a hull including a bow, a stern and first and second sides that extend between the bow and the stern;

a top deck that extends along the first side of the hull;

an interior sidewall that extends along at least a portion of the top deck;

a pocket defined by the interior sidewall;

the top deck including a first width rearward of the pocket, a second width adjacent to the pocket, and a third width forward of the pocket, the second width being smaller than the first and third widths;

at least one shifter mounted at the pocket;

wherein the interior sidewall defines a primary boundary along one side of a cockpit of the boat, wherein the pocket includes a recessed side that is recessed relative to the primary boundary and an open side located at the primary boundary, and wherein the shifter is mounted to the recessed side; and

wherein the interior sidewall includes a rearward section positioned aft of the pocket, and a forward section positioned in front of the pocket, the rearward and forward sections being positioned in a generally upright orientation.

2. The boat of claim 1, wherein the first and third widths are equal to one another.

3. The boat of claim 1, wherein the shifter includes a shifter arm that extends upwardly through an open upper region of the pocket so as to extend above the top deck.

4. The boat of claim 1, wherein the pocket is sized to allow at least two shifters to be mounted at the pocket.

5. The boat of claim 4, wherein two shifters are mounted at the pocket.

6. The boat of claim 1, wherein the second width is less than 60 percent as large as the first and third widths.

7. The boat of claim 1, wherein the pocket includes a rearward offset portion that extends between the recessed side of the pocket and the rearward section of the interior wall, and a forward offset portion that extends between the recessed side of the pocket and the forward section of the interior wall.

8. The boat of claim 7, wherein the front offset portion is aligned at an oblique angle relative to the forward section of the interior wall and the recessed side of the pocket, and the rear offset portion is aligned at an oblique angle relative to the rearward section of the interior wall and the recessed side of the pocket.

9. The boat of claim 8, further comprising a steering console and a driver'"'"'s seat, the front offset portion being located rearward of the console and forward of the driver'"'"'s seat, and the rear offset portion being located rearward of the driver'"'"'s seat.

10. The boat of claim 9, wherein the shifter includes a shifter arm that is at least partially recessed relative to the primary boundary.

11. The boat of claim 10, wherein the shifter arm includes a top handle having a length that extends in a direction between the recessed side of the pocket and the primary boundary, a majority of the length of the handle being recessed relative to the primary boundary.

12. The boat of claim 1, wherein the shifter includes a shifter arm that is at least partially recessed relative to a boundary that defines an occupiable interior space of the boat.

13. The boat of claim 12, wherein a majority of the shifter arm is recessed relative to the boundary.

14. The boat of claim 12, wherein a portion of the shifter arm extends upwardly through an open topside of the pocket.

15. A boat comprising:

a hull having a bow, a stern and first and second sides that extend between the bow and the stern;

an interior wall that extends along at least a portion of the first side of the hull, the interior wall including a generally upright first section and a generally upright second section that is recessed relative to the first section;

wherein the second upright section includes a reinforcing panel to which a shifter is mounted; and

at least one shifter mounted to the second section, the shifter including a shifter arm at least partially recessed relative to the first upright section.

16. The boat of claim 15, wherein the first upright section is located aft of the second upright section, wherein a third upright section is located in front of the second upright section, and wherein the second upright section is recessed relative to both the first and third upright sections.

17. The boat of claim 16, wherein the interior sidewall includes a rearward offset section that extends between the first upright section and the second upright section and a forward offset, section that extends between the second upright section and the third upright section.

18. The boat of claim 18, wherein the rear offset section is aligned at oblique angles relative to the first and second upright sections, and the forward offset section is aligned at oblique angles relative to the second and third upright sections.