GB2570492A

GB2570492A - Fold away and self containing platform for boat body maintenance

Info

Publication number: GB2570492A
Application number: GB1801364.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Smith John; Peter Postlethwaite Anthony
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-01-27
Filing date: 2018-01-27
Publication date: 2019-07-31
Anticipated expiration: 2038-01-27
Also published as: GB2570492B; GB201801364D0

Abstract

A fold-away platform for boat maintenance comprises a pair of hooks 11, which fit over the gunwale 9 of a vessel, and a pair of legs 2, which extend down the side of the vessel, to platform support brackets 15, which support a platform 1. The platform is also supported by shorter folding structure legs 3, 4, which are hingedly coupled to the longer legs and to the platform. In some embodiments, the hooks, 11, may be extendable, and in some embodiments, the entire structure may collapse and be stored within the platform 1, which may be hollow.

Description

PATENT APPLICATION

OF

JOHN ALAN SMITH AND ANTHONY PETER POSTLETHWAITE

FOR

FOLD AWAY AND SELF CONTAINING PLATFORM FOR BOAT BODY MAINTENANCE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a platform on which a person can stand when wanting to carry out cleaning or maintenance on the body or sides of a boat, to include but not exclusively, narrow boats or canal barges.

Background

When a narrow boat or other boat type has been in water for a long period it will require maintenance to its body. The hull of the boat becomes coated in dirt and algae which affects the condition of the material from which the hull is made.

Boats also require painting periodically to ensure the wood or metal, depending on what they are made of, is kept to the required standard and repairs are also made.

If a boat is being repaired or maintained in water, the owner has to be able to access the areas of the boats body or hull and also the boat needs to be turned around from its position in the water to gain access to the other side, which can be restrictive or difficult depending on the narrowness of the location at that time.

Attempts have been made to provide methods of cleaning the boat body and parts of a hull but these often are more related to very complex machinery for larger corporate cleaning stations.

Patent document GB1112960 shows an elongated vertical roller ensemble which is located to one side of a docking area. This is a large industrial sized method of cleaning a hull and boat bottom, under the water level and involves the need for several people attending to it.

Patent document GB190723507 shows a ladder and batten construction for large ships, this has the ability to access the planar hull surface but required access to a dry dock and a large footing area for assembly and use.

Patent document US2010/0139541 shows a boat docking cleaning device. This is a full area system into which a vessel is docked and has a large roller system which in turn cleans the boats body and hull while in place. This requires a very large area of a dock to be installed and operated successfully.

Summary of the invention

According to the present invention there is provided a means for a person to gain access to the sides of a narrow boat or other suitable boats to clean, maintain or paint them while in water or in dry dock.

A horizontal platform is provided as a type of batten, which is of suitable length to accommodate a standing person. The platform is of a metal variant or may also be wooden with a non-slip surface finish. The platform is held horizontally in an advantageous position along the side of the boat.

The platform body is hollow within and has a hinged full door to the underside; the hinged door opens to reveal the full interior as a hollow storage space for the supporting structure frame legs and cleaning materials, if required.

This is made possible by supporting structure legs which are derived to fold for storage within the platform body. Each of the two supporting structure legs has a longer metal or aluminium frame length which is straight and has a short horizontal right angled straight head to the upper end. The short right angled straight head is hollow and provides a housing for a hooked sliding section within it. The hooked sliding section is generally of the same shape and form, but slightly smaller in dimension to enable it to slide outward and back inward as required. This enables adjustment to differing widths of the gunwale or boat edge onto which it will be engaged and hooked over.

The hooked section has equally spaced through holes along its centre line horizontally. A single hole is provided on the outer surface of the housing into which it is slid. The hooked sliding section is then able to be extended to suit the width of the boat gunwale, which is the edge of the boat, over which it is to be placed and a through pin passes through the aligned holes, to secure the two sections in place, in the known way. As shown in the accompanying Figures.

A second frame length which forms a hinged leg is located parallel to the larger frame length when closed. The second frame length is more narrowed and slightly shorter that the larger of the two sections. To the upper end of the second frame length is a squared piece into which the larger frame length is flanked and attached. The square piece locates and flanks over the outer edge of the larger frame length and has a fixed through pin creating a pivot for the second frame length thereto, as shown in the accompanying Figures.

This enables the second frame length to swing outward and inward from the larger frame length.

Located to the lower portion of the second frame length is a short fold down strut, which is a platform support bracket. This has a through pin through its body and through a fitting hole in the second frame length, which provides a pivot hinge. The platform support bracket is of suitable length to provide fixed spacing between the two frame lengths.

The second frame length, which is the smaller of the two, is folded outward, forming a triangular shape of the two frame section, as shown in the accompanying figures.

The short platform support bracket is then folded downward, via the pivot hinge, to be perpendicular to the longer frame length and a hole within its opposing end aligns with one of two through holes at suitably positioned points on the corresponding lower section of the larger frame section. Once the holes of the short platform support bracket and the holes in the larger frame section are chosen and aligned, each hole offering a slightly different angle and width for use, a through pin is inserted to hold the strut in place to the larger frame section thereto.

This action is repeated on two separate frame section ensembles, to provide the triangular type structure onto which the horizontal platform is to be placed. The horizontal platform may seat onto the aligned opposing support brackets of the frame, as shown in the accompanying Figures.

In a first embodiment, the platform support bracket may provide a lip on its inner side, onto which the end of the platform may seat, as shown in Figure 1. In this embodiment the end of the platform is not longer than the extremities of the two frame ensembles to either end and the platform sits within them.

In a second embodiment, the horizontal platform has semi cut away sections to its underside, to either end, these cut away sections seat over the width of the platform support brackets in a transverse manner to secure the platform in place, between the two opened and fixed frame sections. As shown in Figure 4 using a wooden platform with cut away sections, which overlap the struts transversely at the ends. The cut away sections may also be located toward the ends of the platform as hook overs, as shown in Figures 5 and 8 and is more applicable to a metal or aluminium platform composition.

The hooked ends of the upper areas of the larger frame sections are hooked over the rail or gunwale, rim or edge of the boat. This is the rail, edge or rim which runs around the boat body and is usually the final crossing point of a person before they encounter the deck. Once the frame ensemble and the platform are hooked over this rail, rim or edge, the person can then climb over and stand on the platform. This gives them direct access to the areas within reach from that point to maintain, clean or paint the boat body or hull area.

Once this area of work is completed the frames and platform are moved across to a new section to be worked upon and this is repeated until completed.

The fact that the frame and platform can be placed anywhere from the rail edge, advantageously means there is no requirement to move or rotate the boat during the process.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the Patent Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved fold away and self-containing platform for boat body maintenance which has all the advantages of the prior art protective covers and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new fold away and selfcontaining platform for boat body maintenance which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved fold away and self-containing platform for boat body maintenance which is of durable and reliable construction.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved fold away and self-containing platform for boat body maintenance which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and

Labour, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such a product available to the buying public.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved fold away and self-containing platform for boat body maintenance which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and detailed descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

Brief description of figures

Figure 1 shows a dimensional view of the self-containing platform.

Figure 2 shows a dimensional view of the frame sections.

Figure 3 shows a dimensional view of the frame sections folding parts.

Figure 4 shows a dimensional view of a platform with overlap and cut away sections.

Figure 5 shows a dimensional underside view of the platform.

Figure 6 shows a dimensional underside view of the platform with its lid opened and the frame sections stored inside.

Figure 7 shows a side elevation of the support frame sections and their moving parts.

Figure 8 shows a frontal side elevation of the platform.

Detailed description of figures

A typical embodiment of the fold away and self-containing platform for boat body maintenance is shown in Figure 1. It comprises a platform 1 which a person stands upon. The platform 1 is held horizontally by structure legs comprising a longer structure leg frame 2 and 5 and a folding shorter structure leg frame 3 and 4. The folding shorter structure leg frame 3 and 4 has a hinged pivot 6 and 7, as shown in Figure 1, which enables it to swing outward and inward thereto.

A platform support bracket 15 and 19 is pivoted 18 and folds down to a ninety degree angle to be held perpendicular to the longer structure leg frame 2 and 5 via a through pin 16 which is held to the longer structure leg frame 2 and 5 on a cable or chain 14. The platform 1 is placed onto a support lip 17 and 20 under the ends of the platform 1.

A right angled hook section 11 has an extending hook 12 which locates over the gunwale, edge of the boat 9. The extending hook 12 is held via a through pin 10 held to the hinged pivot 6 and 7, via a cable or chain 8 and 13.

In a second embodiment, the platform 1A is seated on top of the platform support brackets 15A and 19A once they are folded down. Platform support bracket 15A is shown being folded down and is held in place by through pin 16A. As shown in Figure 2.

Folding shorter structure leg 5A is shown folding via means of pivot 6A.

The extending hook 12A is shown closed and held over the edge of the boat 9A, with seating of the hook width 21 on to top of the edge of the boat 9A.

Figure 3 shows the moving sections of the frame structure overall. The folding shorter structure leg frame 4B closes to fold the platform support bracket 19B vertically, as shown.

This is made possible by the hinged pivot 6B. The folding up of the opposite platform support bracket 15B is shown also in this Figure.

Cutaway sections 22 and 23 are provided underneath the platform 1C, to align and seat with the platform support brackets 15C and 19C, as shown in Figure 4.

The underside of the platform 1D is shown in Figure 5, with the cutaway sections 22D and 23D shown located at the ends of the platform 1D, with end flanges 24 and 25.

The underside planar surface 28 is a door, with opening provided by hinges 26, 27 and 29. Closure is provided by clip catches 30, 31 and 32, as shown in Figure 5.

The platform depth 33 provides sufficient internal storage room as shown in Figure 6.

The door 28E opens via hinges 26E, 27E and 29E and the frame structure is stored inside, as indicated by 2E, 5E, 11E and 12E.

Figure 7 shows the working parts of one of the two frame support structures, wherein the longer structure leg frame 2F has the angled hook section 12F which has alignment holes 34 which are held in place by the through pin 10F.

The shorter structure leg frame 3F is hinged at the hinged pivot 7F, as shown to swing outward. Extended position shown as broken lines 3F.

On the outward swinging of the shorter structure leg 3F the platform support bracket 15F folds down, as shown with broken lines 15F, this is secured using through pin 16F in alignment hole 35. As shown in Figure 7.

The platform 1G, as shown in Figure 8 has the cutaway sections 22G and 23G which are level with the platform upper surface, as shown. The end flanges 24G and 25G extend downwards, to the underside planar surface 28G.

Claims

1) A fold away and self-containing platform for boat body maintenance constituted by:

A horizontal platform with added structure legs, longer structure leg frames, the gunwale; edge of a boat, right angled hook sections, extending hooks, alignment holes, through pins, cables or chains, folding shorter structure leg frames, hinged pivot, platform support brackets, support lips, cutaway sections, end flanges, planar door, hinges, clip catches.

2) A fold away and self-containing platform for boat body maintenance as set forth in claim 1 wherein, a horizontal platform is provided on which a person can stand to clean or maintain the sides of a narrow boat or other vessel.

3) A fold away and self-containing platform for boat body maintenance as set forth in claim 1 and claimed in claim 2 wherein, a horizontal platform which enables a person to stand upright and work on the sides of a boat, is held in the suitable position for said work via means of structure legs, which are two identical longer leg frames which vertically locate and hook over the gunwale, which is the edge of a boat.

4) A fold away and self-containing platform for boat body maintenance as set forth in claim 1 and claimed in claim 3 wherein, the hooking action and adjustment means of identical longer leg frames is provided by a hollow right angled hook section to the top end of the longer leg frames.

5) A fold away and self-containing platform for boat body maintenance as set forth in claim 1 and claimed in claim 4 wherein, the right angled hook section houses an extending hook which can slide inward and outward from the right angled hook section.

6) A fold away and self-containing platform for boat body maintenance as set forth in claim 1 and claimed in claim 5 wherein, an extending hook section has a line of alignment holes fully through its surfaces, which align to a single fixture hole through the surfaces of the main right angled hook section, to be held in place when suitably fitted over the gunwale of a boat, via a through pin on a cable or chain attachment thereto.

7) A fold away and self-containing platform for boat body maintenance as set forth in claim 1 and claimed in claim 6 wherein, a folding shorter structure leg frame is located and attached to the longer leg frame, near the right angled hook section via means of a hinged pivot with through pin.

8) A fold away and self-containing platform for boat body maintenance as set forth in claim 1 and claimed in claim 7 wherein, a hinged pivot which attaches a folding shorter structure leg frame to a longer leg frame, provides folding and swinging means for the folding shorter leg frame, away from and toward the longer leg frame in alignment.

9) A fold away and self-containing platform for boat body maintenance as set forth in claim 1 and claimed in claim 8 wherein, a shorter leg frame is held outward and in place via a platform support bracket.

10) A fold away and self-containing platform for boat body maintenance as set forth in claim 1 and claimed in claim 9 wherein, a platform support bracket is folded down using its pivoted fixture on a shorter structure leg frame, to horizontally engage with a vertical longer structure frame.

11) A fold away and self-containing platform for boat body maintenance as set forth in claim 1 and claimed all previous claims wherein, structure legs to support a horizontal platform and to locate the platform to the side of a narrow boat or other vessel for boat maintenance, are provided via two triangular movable structure frames held by movable platform support brackets, onto which the horizontal platform is seated.

12) A fold away and self-containing platform for boat body maintenance as set forth in claim 1 and claimed in claim 11 wherein, a platform support bracket may have short horizontal support lips made of a metal variant, steel or aluminium onto which the ends and end undersides of the platform are seated.

13) A fold away and self-containing platform for boat body maintenance as set forth in claim 1 and claimed in claim 12 wherein, a platform support bracket may seat into cutaway sections located in the underside of a horizontal platform.

14) A fold away and self-containing platform for boat body maintenance as set forth in claim 1 and claimed in claim 13 wherein, cutaway sections on the ends of a platform may be flanged and hook over platform support brackets.

15) A fold away and self-containing platform for boat body maintenance as set forth in claim 1 and claimed in claim 14 wherein, to the underside of the hollow platform is a door which opens via means of hinges and is held closed via clip catches.

16) A fold away and self-containing platform for boat body maintenance as set forth in claim 1 and claimed in claim 15 wherein, a platform is hollow and all other components of the frame structure can be folded and stored inside it.

Intellectual Property Office

Application No: GB1801364.9 Examiner: Mr Michael Shaw

Claims searched: 1-16 Date of search: 14 May 2019

Patents Act 1977: Search Report under Section 17

Documents considered to be relevant:

Category Relevant to claims Identity of document and passage or figure of particular relevance X 1-6 FR 2793519 A [DANJOU] see figure 1, EPODOC abstract X 1-4 KR 1020130005864 A [HYUN DAI HEAVY IND CO LTD] see figures 1 and 2, EPOQUENET abstract X 1-3 GB 190723507 A [BETHUNE] see figures, abstract X 1-3 KR 102010/0059047 A [LEE et al] see figures, abstract X 1-3 GB 1301756 A [MYLAEUS] see figures, abstract X 1-3 GB1410274 A [GOETAVERKEN AB] see figures, abstract