Battery-powered adjustable boat seat

• US 8,292,368 B1
• Filed: 01/04/2010
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William S. Yarbrough
• Original Assignee: William S. Yarbrough
• Inventors: Yarbrough, William S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cranmer, Laurie
• Application Number:
  US12/651,615
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• Field of Search: 297/344.1, 297/344.12, 29734415-34417, 297/353, 297/340, 297236-328, 114/363
• US Class Current: 297/344.12
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/029 by changing the length or the inclination of the legs varying the height of a seat by inclining the legs A47C3/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2220/00 Adaptations of particular transporting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1059 adjusting the height of the seat
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1072 rotating the whole seat around a vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1075 tilting the whole seat backwards tilting forwards for standing-up or sitting-down aids A61G5/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/14 Standing-up or sitting-down aids
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2029/043 Seats; Arrangements thereof on vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 29/04 Furniture peculiar to vessels floatable furniture B63C9/30

Abstract

An electrically-operated seating apparatus for use on a boat which assists a user in standing up or sitting down is intended for use by elderly and/or disabled users, particularly in low-riding boats such as bass-boats, ski-boats and the like. The apparatus comprises a chair assembly mounted to the boat deck and a drive assembly which raises the seat up and down and tilts seat portion forward with the aid of electrical drive motors. In such a manner, the user can be assisted when getting into or out of the chair. Each side of the seat portion is provided with a small armrest to help secure the individual as well as aid in the lifting and lowering process. The electric motors would be powered from the boat battery and controlled through a set of arm-mounted switches.

Claims

1. An adjustable boat seat comprising:

a chair;

an adjusting mechanism connected to said chair in such a manner that said chair is adjustably positioned between forwardly tilted and normally upright positions respectively;

a chair mount securely fastened to said adjusting mechanism;

a pedestal connected to said chair mount;

a foot connected to said pedestal and adapted to be fastened to an upper portion of a boat deck; and

,

a first and a second axle;

wherein said adjusting mechanism further comprises;

a control pad connected to said chair and having a plurality of motion control switches for adjusting a position of said chair;

a lower platform affixed to said chair mount;

an upper platform connected to said chair and said lower platform;

a first pair of crossed links connecting a first side portion of said lower platform to a corresponding side portion of said upper platform; and

,

a second pair of crossed links connecting a second side portion of said lower platform to a corresponding side portion of said upper platform; and

,

wherein a lower end of said second pair of crossed links is pivotally connected onto an outer end of said second axle while an opposite upper end of said second pair of crossed links is pivotally connected to an outer end of said first axle.

2. The adjustable boat seat of claim 1, wherein a lower end of said first pair of crossed links is pivotally connected onto a rearward end portion of said first side portion of said lower platform while an opposite upper end of said first pair of crossed links is slidingly connected onto a forward end portion of a first side portion of said upper platform.

3. The adjustable boat seat of claim 2, wherein said adjusting mechanism further comprises:

a first guide provided within said rear portion of said first side of said upper platform; and

,

a second guide provided within said rear portion of said second side of said upper platform;

wherein said first and second guides are engaged with said first axle.

4. The adjustable boat seat of claim 1, further comprising:

first and second slots provided at frontward side end portions of said lower platform;

wherein a center of said first pair of crossed links is pivotally connected to each other and a center of said second pair of crossed links is pivotally connected to each other; and

,

wherein each outer end of said second axle is slidingly guided by said first slot and said second slot.

5. The adjustable boat seat of claim 1, wherein said first pair of crossed links, said second pair of crossed links are oriented in an “

X”

disposition such that said upper platform is raised upwardly away from said lower platform in a symmetrically uniform action.

6. The adjustable boat seat of claim 5, wherein said adjusting mechanism further comprises:

an electrically powered rotatable first jack; and

,

a first screw and a first nut connected thereto;

wherein said first nut transfers forward and rearward motion onto said second axle and thereby causes a scissor-like lifting action onto said first and second pairs of crossed links so that said upper platform and said chair are lifted.

7. The adjustable boat seat of claim 6, wherein said adjusting mechanism further comprises:

a second jack; and

,

a second screw and a second nut rotatably attached thereto;

wherein a rear portion of said upper platform is raised and lowered when an upward and downward motion is transferred onto said second nut.

8. An adjustable boat seat comprising:

a chair having first and second arms connected thereto;

an adjusting mechanism connected to said chair in such a manner that said chair is adjustably positioned between forwardly tilted and normally upright positions respectively;

a chair mount securely fastened to said adjusting mechanism;

a pedestal connected to said chair mount;

a foot connected to said pedestal and adapted to be fastened to an upper portion of a boat deck; and

,

a first and a second axle;

wherein said adjusting mechanism comprises;

a control pad connected to said chair and having a plurality of motion control switches for adjusting a position of said chair;

a lower platform affixed to said chair mount;

an upper platform connected to said chair and said lower platform;

a first pair of crossed links connecting a first side portion of said lower platform to a corresponding side portion of said upper platform; and

,

a second pair of crossed links connecting a second side portion of said lower platform to a corresponding side portion of said upper platform; and

,

wherein a lower end of said second pair of crossed links is pivotally connected onto an outer end of said second axle while an opposite upper end of said second pair of crossed links is pivotally connected to an outer end of said first axle.

9. The adjustable boat seat of claim 8, wherein a lower end of said first pair of crossed links is pivotally connected onto a rearward end portion of said first side portion of said lower platform while an opposite upper end of said first pair of crossed links is slidingly connected onto a forward end portion of a first side portion of said upper platform.

10. The adjustable boat seat of claim 9, wherein said adjusting mechanism further comprises:

a first guide provided within said rear portion of said first side of said upper platform; and

,

a second guide provided within said rear portion of said second side of said upper platform;

wherein said first and second guides are engaged with said first axle.

11. The adjustable boat seat of claim 8, further comprising:

first and second slots provided at frontward side end portions of said lower platform;

wherein a center of said first pair of crossed links is pivotally connected to each other and a center of said second pair of crossed links is pivotally connected to each other; and

,

wherein each outer end of said second axle is slidingly guided by said first slot and said second slot.

12. The adjustable boat seat of claim 8, wherein said first pair of crossed links, said second pair of crossed links are oriented in an “

X”

disposition such that said upper platform is raised upwardly away from said lower platform in a symmetrically uniform action.

13. The adjustable boat seat of claim 12, wherein said adjusting mechanism further comprises:

an electrically powered rotatable first jack; and

,

a first screw and a first nut connected thereto;

wherein said first nut transfers forward and rearward motion onto said second axle and thereby causes a scissor-like lifting action onto said first and second pairs of crossed links so that said upper platform and said chair are lifted.

14. The adjustable boat seat of claim 13, wherein said adjusting mechanism further comprises:

a second jack; and

,

a second screw and a second nut rotatably attached thereto;

wherein a rear portion of said upper platform is raised and lowered when an upward and downward motion is transferred onto said second nut.