Emergency capsized boat seating apparatus

• US 8,156,885 B1
• Filed: 10/27/2010
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vannessa A. Beach
• Original Assignee: Vannessa A. Beach
• Inventors: Beach, Vannessa A.
• Primary Examiner(s): SWINEHART, EDWIN L
• Application Number:
  US12/913,442
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 114/348, 114/363
• US Class Current: 114/363
• 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

A emergency capsized boat seating apparatus includes a boat that has a hull with a bottom side. A plurality of chair assemblies is provided and each is embedded into the bottom side. Each of the chair assemblies is positionable in a stored position is approximately flush with the bottom side or in a deployed position extending outwardly away from the bottom side.

Claims

1. An emergency seating system comprising:

a boat having a hull having a bottom side; and

a plurality of chair assemblies, each of said chair members being embedded into said bottom side, each of said chair assemblies being positionable in a stored position being approximately flush with said bottom side or in a deployed position extending outwardly away from said bottom side,

wherein each of said chair assemblies includes;

a chamber extending into said bottom side, said chamber including a bottom wall and a perimeter wall being attached to and extending between said bottom wall and said bottom side of said hull;

a seat being mounted to said chamber, said seat having an upper side, a lower side, a front edge and a back edge;

a backrest being pivotally coupled to said seat adjacent to said back edge, said backrest being foldable into said stored position lying on and abutting said upper side or into said deployed position extending upwardly from said seat.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein a juncture of said front edge and said lower side is hingedly coupled to said hull at a juncture of said perimeter wall and said bottom side to allow said seat to be pivoted onto said bottom side of said hull such that said upper side faces upwardly.

3. The system according to claim 2, further including said lower side comprising a cover covering said chamber when said seat is pivoted into said chamber, a gasket engaging said cover to inhibit water flow into said chamber.

4. The system according to claim 1, further including a plurality of seat straps, each of said chair assemblies having one of said seat straps attached thereto and being configured to secure a person to associated ones of said chair assemblies.

5. The system according to claim 1, further including a capsized sensor being mounted in said boat, said capsized sensor detecting an orientation of said boat hull, a capsized beacon being electrically coupled to said capsized sensor, said capsized beacon wirelessly transmitting a distress signal when said capsized sensor detects said bottom side facing upwardly.

6. The system according to claim 1, further including a seat deployment sensor being mounted in one of said chair assemblies, a seat deployment beacon being electrically coupled to said seat deployment sensor and transmitting a wireless distress signal when said seat deployment sensor detects deployment of one of said chair assemblies associated with said seat deployment sensor.

7. The system according to claim 1, further including a seat usage sensor being mounted in one of said chair assemblies, a chair usage beacon being electrically coupled to said seat usage sensor and transmitting a wireless distress signal when said seat usage sensor detects weight on a seat of one of said chair assemblies associated with said seat usage sensor.

8. An emergency seating system comprising:

a boat having a hull having a bottom side;

a plurality of chair assemblies, each of said chair members being embedded into said bottom side, each of said chair assemblies being positionable in a stored position being approximately flush with said bottom side or in a deployed position extending outwardly away from said bottom side, each of said chair assemblies including;

a chamber extending into said bottom side, said chamber including a bottom wall and a perimeter wall being attached to and extending between said bottom wall and said bottom side of said hull;

a seat being mounted to said hull, said seat having an upper side, a lower side, a front edge and a back edge, a juncture of said front edge and said lower side being hingedly coupled to said hull at a juncture of said perimeter wall and said bottom side to allow said seat to be pivoted onto said bottom side of said hull such that said upper side faces upwardly;

a backrest being pivotally coupled to said seat adjacent to said back edge, said backrest being foldable into said stored position lying on and abutting said upper side or into said deployed position extending upwardly from said seat;

said lower side comprising a cover covering said chamber when said seat is pivoted into said chamber, a gasket engaging said cover to inhibit water flow into said chamber;

a plurality of seat straps, each of said chair assemblies having one of said seat straps attached thereto and being configured to secure a person to associated ones of said chair assemblies;

a capsized sensor being mounted in said boat, said capsized sensor detecting an orientation of said boat hull, a capsized beacon being electrically coupled to said capsized sensor, said capsized beacon wirelessly transmitting a distress signal when said capsized sensor detects said bottom side facing upwardly;

a seat deployment sensor being mounted in one of said chair assemblies, a seat deployment beacon being electrically coupled to said seat deployment sensor and transmitting a wireless distress signal when said seat deployment sensor detects deployment of one of said chair assemblies associated with said seat deployment sensor; and

a seat usage sensor being mounted in one of said chair assemblies, a chair usage beacon being electrically coupled to said seat usage sensor and transmitting a wireless distress signal when said seat usage sensor detects weight on a seat of one of said chair assemblies associated with said seat usage sensor.

9. An emergency seating system comprising:

a boat having a hull having a bottom side;

a plurality of chair assemblies, each of said chair members being embedded into said bottom side, each of said chair assemblies being positionable in a stored position being approximately flush with said bottom side or in a deployed position extending outwardly away from said bottom side; and

a seat deployment sensor being mounted in one of said chair assemblies, a seat deployment beacon being electrically coupled to said seat deployment sensor and transmitting a wireless distress signal when said seat deployment sensor detects deployment of one of said chair assemblies associated with said seat deployment sensor.

10. The system according to claim 9, further including a plurality of seat straps, each of said chair assemblies having one of said seat straps attached thereto and being configured to secure a person to associated ones of said chair assemblies.

11. The system according to claim 9, further including a capsized sensor being mounted in said boat, said capsized sensor detecting an orientation of said boat hull, a capsized beacon being electrically coupled to said capsized sensor, said capsized beacon wirelessly transmitting a distress signal when said capsized sensor detects said bottom side facing upwardly.

12. The system according to claim 9, further including a seat usage sensor being mounted in one of said chair assemblies, a chair usage beacon being electrically coupled to said seat usage sensor and transmitting a wireless distress signal when said seat usage sensor detects weight on a seat of one of said chair assemblies associated with said seat usage sensor.