US20240166311A1

US20240166311A1 - Watercraft with multi-positional seat

Info

Publication number: US20240166311A1
Application number: US18/518,773
Authority: US
Inventors: James Derbecker
Original assignee: Jgd Products Ga Llc LLC
Current assignee: Jgd Products Ga Llc LLC
Priority date: 2022-11-23
Filing date: 2023-11-24
Publication date: 2024-05-23

Abstract

A watercraft including an adjustable multi-positional seat is provided. The watercraft includes a hull, a seat including at least one leg, and a deck. The deck includes at least one lower pocket that receives the at least one leg to place the seat in a first position on the watercraft. At least one kiss-off can be incorporated into the hull that extends vertically upwards from a bottom wall of the hull towards a bottom surface of the at least one lower pocket to provide structural support for the at least one lower pocket when the at least one leg is in the at least one lower pocket and weight is applied to the seat. The watercraft includes at least one tower that includes at least one upper pocket that receives the at least one leg to place the seat in a second position that is higher than the first position.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/384,861, filed on Nov. 23, 2022, the entirety of which is hereby incorporate by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present application relates to watercrafts, watercraft seat technologies, adjustable seat technologies, and, more particularly, to a watercraft with an adjustable multi-positional seat.

BACKGROUND

Watercrafts, such as kayaks, canoes, and other watercraft have been utilized by users for transportation, leisure activities, competitive sports, exercise, fishing, and even socializing with other users. As user interest in such watercrafts continues to increase, so does the desire to have effective, comfortable, and useful seating. Seats for such watercraft typically have a substantially horizontal seat bottom and a substantially vertical seat back. Often times, once the user positions himself into the cockpit of the kayak and onto the seat accessible via the cockpit, the user's seat position is fixed. For example, for a sit-in kayak, a user typically sits on a seat accessible via the cockpit of the kayak and either fully or partially extends their legs in a forward position within the hull of the kayak. In certain kayaks, the kayaks may include a footwell and/or foot braces that the user can rest the user's feet against.
Being in a fixed position in a watercraft can lead to fatigue or discomfort of the user's legs, joints, muscles, and overall body. Additionally, certain types of activities are better performed or enjoyed when there is flexibility of movement or seat position on a watercraft. For example, when fishing, it is often desirable to be able to be seated at a higher position to locate schools of fish or generally observe the surrounding area. However, in certain scenarios, it may be desirable to have a lower seating position, such as if a lower center of gravity is desired. For example, if there are waves or other water conditions that may be more likely to jostle or even flip the watercraft, having a lower seating position may reduce the probability of the watercraft from flipping. Based on at least the foregoing, existing watercraft and seating technologies can be enhanced to provide greater watercraft versatility, comfort, customizability, and overall usefulness to user.

SUMMARY

A watercraft including an adjustable and multi-positional seat is provided. The adjustable and multi-positional seat can be utilized to provide greater seating and viewing versatility, greater comfort, increased watercraft usefulness, and enhanced user experiences. In certain embodiments, the watercraft can include an adjustable multi-positional seat that can be disposed below the deck of the watercraft or above the deck of the watercraft. The hull, deck, or both can include pockets and towers that can be utilized to provide the multiple seat positions for the watercraft. For example, legs of the seat can be positioned into a pocket (or cavity) of each tower of the watercraft to allow for a high seat position for a user, which can provide better visibility and observation capabilities for navigation, fishing, or other activities. When the legs of the seat are positioned into the pockets that are below the deck, a lower seat position is provided that allows for greater stability and lower center of gravity. For example, in instances when there are rough water conditions or waves, the user may prefer to be seated in the lower seat position to reduce the probability of jostling, flipping over, or capsizing.
In certain embodiments, a watercraft including an adjustable and multi-positional seat is provided. The watercraft can include a hull, a seat comprising including one or more front legs and one or more rear legs, and a deck. In certain embodiments, the deck or hull can include a first lower pocket configured to receive the one or more front legs of the seat. In certain embodiments, the deck and/or hull can include a second lower pocket configured to receive the one or more rear legs of the seat, wherein, when the one or more front legs of the seat is positioned in the first lower pocket and the one or more rear legs of the seat is positioned in the second lower pocket, the seat is in a first position. In certain embodiments, the deck and/or hull can include one or more towers positioned higher than the first and second lower pockets. In certain embodiments, the one or more towers can include a first upper pocket configured to receive the one or more front legs of the seat and a second upper pocket configured to receive the one or more rear legs of the seat. In certain embodiments, when the one or more front legs of the seat is positioned in the first upper pocket and the one or more rear legs of the seat is positioned in the second upper pocket, the seat is in a second position that is higher than the first position.
In certain embodiments, another watercraft including an adjustable and multi-positional seat is provided. In certain embodiments, the watercraft can include a hull, a seat comprising one or more legs, and a deck. In certain embodiments, the deck and/or hull can include one or more lower pockets configured to receive the one or more legs of the seat. In certain embodiments, when the one or more legs of the seat is positioned in the one or more lower pockets, the seat is in a first position. In certain embodiments, hull and/or deck can include a kiss-off extending vertically upwards from a bottom wall of the hull towards a bottom surface of the one or more lower pockets such that the kiss-off is positioned underneath the one or more lower pockets and is configured to provide structural support for the one or more lower pockets such that when the one or more legs is positioned in the one or more lower pockets and a weight is applied to the seat, a force associated with the weight is distributed by the kiss-off to provide the structural support for the one or more lower pockets. In certain embodiments, the hull and/or deck can include one or more towers that can include one or more upper pockets configured to receive the one or more legs of the seat. In certain embodiments, when the one or more legs of the seat is positioned in the one or more upper pockets, the seat is in a second position that is higher than the first position.
In certain embodiments, a method of utilizing a watercraft including an adjustable and multi-positional seat is provided. In certain embodiments, the method can include positioning one or more legs of a seat of the watercraft into one or more lower pockets of a deck of the watercraft so that the seat is in a first position on the watercraft. In certain embodiments, one or more kiss-offs is positioned underneath the one or more lower pockets to provide structural support for the one or more lower pockets when the one or more legs of the seat is positioned into the one or more lower pockets and a weight is applied to the seat. Additionally, in certain embodiments, the method can include removing the one or more legs of the seat of the watercraft from the one or more lower pockets of the deck of the watercraft. In certain embodiments, the method can include positioning the one or more legs of the seat of the watercraft into one or more upper pockets of one or more towers of the deck and/or hull of the watercraft so that the seat is in a second position on the watercraft. In certain embodiments, the second position is higher than the first position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a watercraft including an adjustable multi-positional seat according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is another top perspective view of a watercraft including an adjustable multi-positional seat according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of a watercraft including an adjustable multi-positional seat according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a watercraft including an adjustable multi-positional seat while the seat is a lower position according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a watercraft including an adjustable multi-positional seat while the seat is a higher position according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of a watercraft including an adjustable multi-positional seat while the seat is a lower position according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of a watercraft including an adjustable multi-positional seat while the seat is a higher position according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is another cross-sectional side view of a watercraft including an adjustable multi-positional seat while the seat is a higher position according to embodiments of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary method for utilizing a watercraft including an adjustable multi-positional seat while the seat is a higher position according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of a watercraft (e.g., watercraft 100) including an adjustable and multi-positional seat (e.g., seat 110) are provided. In certain embodiments, the adjustable and multi-positional seat can be utilized to provide enhanced seating and viewing versatility, improved comfort, increased watercraft flexibility, and better user experiences with watercraft. The adjustable multi-positional seat can, depending on a user's preference, be configured to provide standard (e.g., lower) and elevated (e.g., higher) seat options for watercraft 100, such as canoes, kayaks, and other types of watercrafts. In certain embodiments, the adjustable multi-positional seat of the watercraft 100 can be disposed below the deck of the watercraft 100 or above the deck of the watercraft 100. The hull, deck, or both can include pockets and towers that can be utilized to provide the multiple seat positions for the watercraft 100. In certain embodiments, legs of the seat can be positioned into a pocket (or cavity) of each tower of the watercraft 100 to allow for a high seat position for a user, which can provide enhanced visibility and observation capabilities for navigation, fishing, or other activities. When the legs of the seat are positioned into the pockets that are below the deck, a lower seat position is provided that allows for greater stability and lower center of gravity. For example, in instances when there are rough water conditions or waves, the user may prefer to be seated in the lower seat position to reduce the probability of jostling, flipping over, or capsizing.
In certain embodiments, the seat position of the seat of the watercraft 100 can be adjusted by placing the seat legs in the pockets of the towers or within the lower pockets. In certain embodiments, that lower pockets can be configured to protrude or extend down into the deck of the watercraft 100. By having lower pockets that extend downward into the deck, when the seat legs are positioned into the lower pockets, the seat and also the user sitting in the seat may be positioned closer to the bottom structure of the watercraft 100. Such lower positioning lowers the overall center of gravity of the watercraft 100 and also increases stability. In certain embodiments, in order to provide extra support, the watercraft 100 can include one or more kiss-offs that mate the bottom wall of the watercraft 100 with a top wall, thereby creating a structural system that distributes the force put on the seat pockets by a user sitting on the seat of the watercraft 100.
In certain embodiments, the seat of the watercraft 100 can provide support for the user and can include a seat bottom and a seat back. In certain embodiments, the seat can have a frame, such as a tubing frame, a mesh seat bottom, a mesh seat back, or a combination thereof. IN certain embodiments, the seat back and/or seat bottom can be made adjustable through the use of one or more straps, such as flexible straps that can contract as a user collapses the seat back down towards the seat bottom or expand as a user extends the seat back upwards away from the seat bottom. In certain embodiments, the watercraft can include straps to maintain the position of the seat with respect to the hull. In certain embodiments, the straps and tension elements of the watercraft can enable the seat to be adjusted in a back-and-forth direction and/or an up-and-down direction. In certain embodiments, the foregoing can enable the seat to be removed from the watercraft 100 and easily be reinstalled back on to the watercraft 100.
In certain embodiments, the watercraft 100 can provide a seat that can be adjusted based on a user's preferences and situational context. For example, the user may be fishing and may want the seat raised at a higher position on the watercraft 100. In other situations, however, the user may want more stability and may want the seat in a lower configuration with a more stable center of gravity. In certain embodiments, the user can easily adjust the seat to the appropriate or desired position by placing the one or more legs of the seat in the lower pockets or on the upper pockets of the towers.
In certain embodiments, a watercraft 100 including an adjustable and multi-positional seat is provided. The watercraft 100 can include a hull, a seat comprising including one or more front legs and one or more rear legs, and a deck. In certain embodiments, the deck or hull can include a first lower pocket configured to receive the one or more front legs of the seat. In certain embodiments, the deck and/or hull can include a second lower pocket configured to receive the one or more rear legs of the seat, wherein, when the one or more front legs of the seat is positioned in the first lower pocket and the one or more rear legs of the seat is positioned in the second lower pocket, the seat is in a first position. In certain embodiments, the deck and/or hull can include one or more towers positioned higher than the first and second lower pockets. In certain embodiments, the one or more towers can include a first upper pocket configured to receive the one or more front legs of the seat and a second upper pocket configured to receive the one or more rear legs of the seat. In certain embodiments, when the one or more front legs of the seat is positioned in the first upper pocket and the one or more rear legs of the seat is positioned in the second upper pocket, the seat is in a second position that is higher than the first position.
In certain embodiments, the seat of the watercraft 100 can include a seat bottom and a seat back connected to the seat bottom via one or more adjustable straps configured to adjust a position of the seat back with respect to the seat bottom. In certain embodiments, the watercraft 100 can include a first kiss-off extending vertically upwards from a bottom wall of the hull towards a bottom surface of the first lower pocket such that the first kiss-off is positioned underneath the first lower pocket. In certain embodiments, the watercraft 100 can also include a second kiss-off extending vertically upwards from the bottom wall of the hull towards a bottom surface of the second lower pocket such that the second kiss-off is positioned underneath the second lower pocket. In certain embodiments, the first kiss-off can be configured to provide structural support for the first lower pocket such that when the one or more front legs are positioned in the first lower pocket and a weight is applied to the seat, a force associated with the weight is distributed by the first kiss-off to provide the structural support for the first lower pocket. In certain embodiments, the second kiss-off can be configured to provide structural support for the second lower pocket such that when the one or more rear legs is positioned in the second lower pocket and the weight is applied to the seat, the force associated with the weight is distributed by the second kiss-off to provide the structural support for the second lower pocket.
In certain embodiments, a width of the first kiss-off, a width of the second kiss-off, or a combination thereof, can gradually decrease in size from the bottom wall of the hull towards the bottom surface of the first lower pocket, the bottom surface of the second lower pocket, or a combination thereof. In certain embodiments, the seat further includes a frame comprised of tubing that forms the one or more front legs, the one or more rear legs, a seat back of the seat, or a combination thereof. In certain embodiments, the seat can be configured to be adjusted in a plurality of directions. In certain embodiments, the at one or more front legs and the one or more rear legs are configured to be lifted out of the first lower pocket and the second lower pocket respectively.
In certain embodiments, the one or more towers can extend vertically and away from a top surface of the deck. In certain embodiments, a seat back of the seat can be configured to collapse downwards towards a seat bottom of the seat. In certain embodiments, one or more front legs and the one or more rear legs can be connected via a frame of the seat. In certain embodiments, a width of the first upper pocket and a width of the second upper pocket gradually increase in size from a base of the first upper pocket and a base of the second upper pocket respectively.
In certain embodiments, another watercraft including an adjustable and multi-positional seat is provided. In certain embodiments, the watercraft can include a hull, a seat comprising one or more legs, and a deck. In certain embodiments, the deck and/or hull can include one or more lower pockets configured to receive the one or more legs of the seat. In certain embodiments, when the one or more legs of the seat is positioned in the one or more lower pockets, the seat is in a first position. In certain embodiments, hull and/or deck can include a kiss-off extending vertically upwards from a bottom wall of the hull towards a bottom surface of the one or more lower pockets such that the kiss-off is positioned underneath the one or more lower pockets and is configured to provide structural support for the one or more lower pockets such that when the one or more legs is positioned in the one or more lower pockets and a weight is applied to the seat, a force associated with the weight is distributed by the kiss-off to provide the structural support for the one or more lower pockets. In certain embodiments, the hull and/or deck can include one or more towers that can include one or more upper pockets configured to receive the one or more legs of the seat. In certain embodiments, when the one or more legs of the seat is positioned in the one or more upper pockets, the seat is in a second position that is higher than the first position.
In certain embodiments, the seat can include a seat bottom, and a seat back connected to the seat bottom via one or more adjustable straps configured to adjust a position of the seat back relative to the seat bottom. In certain embodiments, the seat further comprises a frame connecting the one or more legs, the seat bottom, and the seat back to each other. In certain embodiments, the one or more lower pockets and the one or more towers can be molded into the deck, the hull, or a combination thereof. In certain embodiments, a leg position of the one or more legs while in the one or more upper pockets or the one or more lower pockets is configured to be adjusted.
In certain embodiments, a method of utilizing a watercraft including an adjustable and multi-positional seat is provided. In certain embodiments, the method can include positioning one or more legs of a seat of the watercraft into one or more lower pockets of a deck of the watercraft so that the seat is in a first position on the watercraft. In certain embodiments, one or more kiss-offs is positioned underneath the one or more lower pockets to provide structural support for the one or more lower pockets when the one or more legs of the seat is positioned into the one or more lower pockets and a weight is applied to the seat. Additionally, in certain embodiments, the method can include removing the one or more legs of the seat of the watercraft from the one or more lower pockets of the deck of the watercraft. In certain embodiments, the method can include positioning the one or more legs of the seat of the watercraft into one or more upper pockets of one or more towers of the deck and/or hull of the watercraft so that the seat is in a second position on the watercraft. In certain embodiments, the second position is higher than the first position. In certain embodiments, the method can include adjusting a seat back of the seat relative to a seat bottom of the seat by utilizing an adjustable strap of the seat.
Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 , in certain embodiments, a watercraft 100 according to embodiments of the present disclosure is provided. In certain embodiments, the watercraft 100 can be any type of watercraft, such as, but not limited to, a kayak, a canoe, a self-propelled watercraft, a boat, or any other type of watercraft, which is capable of transporting users in a water environment, such as a lake, ocean, river, rapids, and the like. In certain embodiments, the watercraft 100 can incorporate any features and/or functionality of any type of watercraft. In certain embodiments, for example, the watercraft 100 can including a hull 102, a deck 104, a seat 110, adjustable straps 122, lower pockets 130, 132, towers 134, 136, upper pockets 140, 142, kiss- offs 150, 152, 154, 156, and any other componentry and/or features. In certain embodiments, for example, the watercraft can also include a stern, a bow, a port side, a starboard side, a rudder (e.g., to control or steer the direction of the watercraft 100 in the water), a skeg (e.g., for tracking, maneuverability, stability, and to customize the watercraft's operation in varying water and/or weather conditions, etc.), a cockpit (e.g., a location, such as an opening, where the seat may be positioned), deck lines (e.g., to secure gear such as paddles or containers), a hatch for accessing stored items in the watercraft 100, a carry handle (e.g., to lift or drag the watercraft 100), thigh braces, a keel (e.g., to provide resistance to lateral forces (e.g., current), provide structural support, tracking a straight course, provide stability, etc.), footwells (e.g., for a user to place their feet while paddling), foot braces (e.g., adjustable components to provide support to help brace a user's feet while paddling), scupper holes (e.g., to allow water that comes over the sides of the watercraft 100 to drain out effectively), a hatch (e.g., to access a compartment of the watercraft 100), a motor, a steering wheel, any other components and/or features, or a combination thereof.
In certain embodiments, the hull 102 may be the bottom portion of the watercraft 100 that serves as the base of the watercraft 100, a portion of which being in the water when the watercraft 100 is in the water. In certain embodiments, the deck 104 can be the top portion of the watercraft 100 that is secured to the hull 102. In certain embodiments, the seat 110 of the watercraft 100 make take any shape or form and can be made of any material. In certain embodiments, the seat 110 can include a frame that takes the form of metal and/or plastic tubing to interconnect the various components of the seat 110. In certain embodiments, for example, the seat 110 can include a seat bottom 111, a seat back 112, a right rear leg 114, a left rear leg 116, a right front leg 118, a left front leg 120, one or more adjustable straps 122, any other seat components, or a combination thereof. In certain embodiments, the seat bottom 111 can be made of and/or include any type of material, such as, but not limited to, plastic, fabric, mesh, metal, cushions, or a combination thereof. The seat bottom 111 can be where a user sits when sitting on the seat 110. In certain embodiments, the seat back 112 can similarly be made of and/or include any type of material, such as, but not limited to, plastic, fabric, mesh, metal, cushions, or a combination thereof. The seat back 112 can be where the user rests the user's back and can act as a support for the user's back while paddling in the watercraft 100. In certain embodiments, the seat back 112 can collapse towards the seat bottom 111, such as by contracting one or more adjustable straps 122. Similarly, when the seat back 112 is in a collapsed state, the seat back 112 can be extended away from the seat bottom 111 to put the seat back 112 into an extended state.
In certain embodiments, the seat 110 can include any number of legs 114, 116, 118, 120. For example, the seat 110 can include a right rear leg 114, a left rear leg 116, a right front leg 118, and a left front leg 120. In certain embodiments, a greater or lesser number of legs can be utilized with the watercraft 100. In certain embodiments, the right rear leg 114 and left rear leg 116 can be combined to form a long leg (e.g., a leg forming a bar) and the right front leg 118 and the left front leg 120 can similarly be combined to form a long leg (e.g., a leg forming a bar). In certain embodiments, the legs 114, 116, 118, 120 can have any desired width and/or length, and may be adjustable. In certain embodiments, each leg 114, 116, 118, 120 can be collapsed or extended, configured to be moved in a variety of orientations, or a combination thereof.
In certain embodiments, the watercraft 100 can include any number of lower pockets 130, 132. For example, the watercraft 100 can include two front lower pockets 130 (e.g., across from each other, but in the same line/plane) and two rear lower pockets 132 (e.g., across from each other, but in the same line/plane), with each being configured to receive at least one of the legs 114, 116, 118, 120. In certain embodiments, the pockets 130, 132 can extend downwards to desired depths into the deck 104 and can have any width, height, and/or length. In certain embodiments, the width (and/or other dimensions) of the pockets 130, 132 can gradually decrease down the height of the pockets 130, 132 with the narrowest width at the base of each of the pockets 130, 132. Such a design can be utilized so that the base (or bottom) of the pockets 130, 132 is narrow enough to provide an interference fit snug enough to keep a leg 118, 120, 114, 116 secure within the pockets 130, 132. In certain embodiments, the pockets 130, 132 can be configured to receive one or more legs of the seat 110. For example, the front legs 118, 120 can each be inserted into front lower pockets 130 and the rear legs 114, 116 can be inserted into rear lower pockets 132. When in such a configuration, the seat 110 can be in a lower position on the watercraft 100 that has increased stability and a lower center of gravity. In certain embodiments, the lower pockets 130, 132, can be molded into the deck 104, the hull 102, any other components of the watercraft 100, or a combination thereof.
In certain embodiments, the watercraft 100 can include any number of towers 134, 136. For example, the watercraft 100 can include two front towers 134 (e.g., across from each other, but in the same line/plane and two rear towers 136 (e.g., across from each other, but in the same line/plane). In certain embodiments, the towers 134, 136 can take any shape or form. In certain embodiments, the towers 134, 136 can be molded projections extending form the deck 104 (or hull or other component of the watercraft 100) and one set of towers 134 can be located behind the front lower pockets 130 and another set of towers 136 can be located behind the rear lower pockets 132. In certain embodiments, the towers 134, 136 can be located in front of the corresponding lower pockets 130, 132. In certain embodiments, the towers 134, 136 can have any height and/or width, and may include upper pockets 140, 142 that may generally reside in the middle of each tower 134, 136 and may extend downward into each tower 134, 136 at a desired depth. As with the pockets 130, 132, the width (and/or other dimensions) of the upper pockets 140, 142 may gradually decrease down the height of the upper pockets 140, 142 so that when legs 114, 116, 118, 120 are inserted into the upper pockets 140, 142 an interference fit can be achieved to secure the legs 114, 116, 118, 120 in the upper pockets 140, 142. In certain embodiments, when the legs 114, 116, 118, 120 are inserted into the upper pockets 140, 142, the seat 110 can be at a higher position relative to the deck 104 and/or hull 102 than when the legs 114, 116, 118, 120 are inserted into the lower pockets 130, 132. Based on the foregoing, the pockets 130, 132 and the towers 134, 136 including the upper pockets 140, 142 enable seating at lower and higher positions in the watercraft 100.
In certain embodiments, the watercraft 100 can include any number of kiss- offs 150, 152, 154, 156, which can be structures extending vertically from the bottom of the hull 102 upwards to the top wall of the hull 102 (or other desired components of the watercraft 100). In certain embodiments, the kiss- offs 150, 152 can extend upwards until the top portions of the kiss- offs 150, 152 are just under the bottom surfaces of the lower pockets 130, 132 respectively. In certain embodiments, the kiss- offs 150, 152 can provide structural support for the lower pockets 130, 132 and/or the watercraft 100 itself. The kiss- offs 150, 152, 154, 156 can provide structural support to various areas of the watercraft 100 where they are located by deflecting and/or distributing forces experienced in such areas. For example, when the legs 114, 116, 118, 120 are positioned into pairs of lower pockets 130, 132 and a user sits on the seat 110, the forces resulting from the weight of the user sitting on the seat 110 will be distributed away such that the pockets 130 132 do not break apart and/or the hull 102 does not experience excessive force from the weight, which would have led to damage to the hull 102 of the watercraft. In certain embodiments, the kiss- offs 154, 156 can be located in any other areas of the watercraft 100 for which force distribution is desired. In certain embodiments, the width (and/or other dimensions) of the kiss- offs 150, 152, 154, 156 can gradually decrease in size from the bottom wall of the hull 102 towards the bottom surface of the pockets 130, 132 (or other area the kiss-off is being utilized). In certain embodiments, the kiss- offs 150, 152, 154, 156 can be molded and can be projections extending from the hull 102.
Illustratively, the FIG. 1 shows the seat legs 114, 116, 118, 120 inserted into the upper pockets 140, 142 of the towers 134, 136 of the watercraft 100 in a perspective view. In such a scenario, the seat 110 is in an elevated or higher position with respect to the deck 104. FIG. 2 shows the seat legs 114, 116, 118, 120 inserted into the lower pockets 130, 132 of the watercraft 100 in a perspective view. In such a scenario, the seat 110 is a standard or lower position with respect to the deck 104. FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the seat 110 being moved from a lower position to a higher position. FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the watercraft 100 having the seat 110 in a lower position with the seat legs 114, 116, 118, 120 inserted into the lower pockets 130, 132. FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the watercraft 100 having the seat 110 in a higher position with the seat legs 114, 116, 118, 120 inserted into the upper pockets 140, 142 of the towers 134, 136. FIG. 6 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the watercraft 100 having the seat 110 in a lower position with the seat legs 114, 116, 118, 120 inserted into the lower pockets 130, 132. FIG. 7 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the watercraft 100 having the seat 110 in a higher position with the seat legs 114, 116, 118, 120 inserted into the upper pockets 140, 142 of the towers 134, 136. FIG. 8 illustrates a portion of the watercraft 100 cross-sectional side view with the seat 110 in an elevated position.
Referring now also to FIG. 9 , an exemplary method 900 for utilizing a watercraft including an adjustable multi-positional seat is provided. In certain embodiments, the method 900 can include, at step 902, positioning one or more legs of a seat of the watercraft into one or more lower pockets of a deck of the watercraft 100 so that the seat is in a first position on the watercraft. In certain embodiments, one or more kiss-offs can be positioned underneath the one or more lower pockets to provide enhanced structural support for the one or more lower pockets and the watercraft 100 itself, such as when a user is seated on the seat and the one or more legs of the set of the watercraft 100 are positioned in the one or more lower pockets.
In certain embodiments, the method 900 can be repeated as desired, which can be on a continuous basis, periodic basis, or at designated times. Notably, the method 900 can incorporate any of the other functionality as described herein and can be adapted to support the functionality of the watercraft 100 and/or other components described in the present disclosure. In certain embodiments, functionality of the method 900 can be combined with other methods and/or functionality described in the present disclosure. In certain embodiments, certain operations of the method 900 can be replaced with other functionality of the present disclosure and the sequence of operations can be adjusted as desired.
The illustrations of arrangements described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments, and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all the elements and features of devices and systems that might make use of the structures described herein. Other arrangements may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Figures are also merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may be exaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.
Thus, although specific arrangements have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific arrangement shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments and arrangements of the invention. Combinations of the above arrangements, and other arrangements not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure is not limited to the particular arrangement(s) disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments and arrangements falling within the scope of the appended claims.
The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing embodiments of this invention. Modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of this invention. Upon reviewing the aforementioned embodiments, it would be evident to an artisan with ordinary skill in the art that said embodiments can be modified, reduced, or enhanced without departing from the scope and spirit of the claims described below.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A watercraft, comprising:

a hull;

a seat comprising:

at least one front leg; and

at least one rear leg; and

a deck comprising:

a first lower pocket configured to receive the at least one front leg of the seat;

a second lower pocket configured to receive the at least one rear leg of the seat, wherein, when the at least one front leg of the seat is positioned in the first lower pocket and the at least one rear leg of the seat is positioned in the second lower pocket, the seat is in a first position; and

at least one tower positioned higher than the first and second lower pockets, wherein the at least one tower comprises:

a first upper pocket configured to receive the least one front leg of the seat; and

a second upper pocket configured to receive the at least one rear leg of the seat, wherein, when the at least one front leg of the seat is positioned in the first upper pocket and the at least one rear leg of the seat is positioned in the second upper pocket, the seat is in a second position that is higher than the first position.

2. The watercraft of claim 1, wherein the seat further comprises:

a seat bottom; and

a seat back connected to the seat bottom via at least one adjustable strap configured to adjust a position of the seat back with respect to the seat bottom.

3. The watercraft of claim 1, further comprising:

a first kiss-off extending vertically upwards from a bottom wall of the hull towards a bottom surface of the first lower pocket such that the first kiss-off is positioned underneath the first lower pocket; and

a second kiss-off extending vertically upwards from the bottom wall of the hull towards a bottom surface of the second lower pocket such that the second kiss-off is positioned underneath the second lower pocket.

4. The watercraft of claim 3, wherein the first kiss-off is configured to provide structural support for the first lower pocket such that when the at least one front leg is positioned in the first lower pocket and a weight is applied to the seat, a force associated with the weight is distributed by the first kiss-off to provide the structural support for the first lower pocket.

5. The watercraft of claim 4, wherein the second kiss-off is configured to provide structural support for the second lower pocket such that when the at least one rear leg is positioned in the second lower pocket and the weight is applied to the seat, the force associated with the weight is distributed by the second kiss-off to provide the structural support for the second lower pocket.

6. The watercraft of claim 3, wherein a width of the first kiss-off, a width of the second kiss-off, or a combination thereof, gradually decrease in size from the bottom wall of the hull towards the bottom surface of the first lower pocket, the bottom surface of the second lower pocket, or a combination thereof.

7. The watercraft of claim 1, wherein the seat further comprises a frame comprised of tubing that forms the at least one front leg, the at least one rear leg, a seat back of the seat, or a combination thereof.

8. The watercraft of claim 1, wherein the seat is configured to be adjusted in a plurality of directions.

9. The watercraft of claim 1, wherein the at least one front leg and the at least one rear leg are configured to be lifted out of the first lower pocket and the second lower pocket respectively.

10. The watercraft of claim 1, wherein the at least one tower extends vertically and away from a top surface of the deck.

11. The watercraft of claim 1, wherein a seat back of the seat is configured to collapse downwards towards a seat bottom of the seat.

12. The watercraft of claim 1, wherein the at least one front leg and the at least one rear leg are connected via a frame of the seat.

13. The watercraft of claim 1, wherein a width of the first upper pocket and a width of the second upper pocket gradually increase in size from a base of the first upper pocket and a base of the second upper pocket respectively.

14. A watercraft, comprising:

a hull;

a seat comprising at least one leg; and

a deck comprising:

at least one lower pocket configured to receive the at least one leg of the seat, wherein, when the at least one leg of the seat is positioned in the at least one lower pocket, the seat is in a first position;

a kiss-off extending vertically upwards from a bottom wall of the hull towards a bottom surface of the at least one lower pocket such that the kiss-off is positioned underneath the at least one lower pocket and is configured to provide structural support for the at least one lower pocket such that when the at least one leg is positioned in the at least one lower pocket and a weight is applied to the seat, a force associated with the weight is distributed by the kiss-off to provide the structural support for the at least one lower pocket; and

at least one tower, wherein the at least one tower comprises:

at least one upper pocket configured to receive the least one leg of the seat, wherein, when the at least one leg of the seat is positioned in the at least one upper pocket, the seat is in a second position that is higher than the first position.

15. The watercraft of claim 14, wherein the seat further comprises:

a seat bottom; and

a seat back connected to the seat bottom via at least one adjustable strap configured to adjust a position of the seat back relative to the seat bottom.

16. The watercraft of claim 15, wherein the seat further comprises a frame connecting the at least one leg, the seat bottom, and the seat back.

17. The watercraft of claim 14, wherein the at least one lower pocket and the at least one tower are molded into the deck, the hull, or a combination thereof.

18. The watercraft of claim 14, wherein a leg position of the at least one leg while in the at least one upper pocket or the at least one lower pocket is configured to be adjusted.

19. A method for adjusting a seat on a watercraft, comprising:

positioning at least one leg of a seat of the watercraft into at least one lower pocket of a deck of the watercraft so that the seat is in a first position on the watercraft, wherein at least one kiss-off is positioned underneath the at least one lower pocket to provide structural support for the at least one lower pocket when the at least one leg of the seat is positioned into the at least one lower pocket and a weight is applied to the seat;

removing the at least one leg of the seat of the watercraft from the at least one lower pocket of the deck of the watercraft; and

positioning the at least one leg of the seat of the watercraft into at least one upper pocket of at least one tower of the deck of the watercraft so that the seat is in a second position on the watercraft, wherein the second position is higher than the first position.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

adjusting a seat back of the seat relative to a seat bottom of the seat by utilizing an adjustable strap of the seat.