U.S. patent application number 12/202904 was filed with the patent office on 2009-05-14 for cuddy cabin vessel with separate privacy enclosure.
Invention is credited to Anthony Kalil.
Application Number | 20090120341 12/202904 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40622511 |
Filed Date | 2009-05-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090120341 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kalil; Anthony |
May 14, 2009 |
Cuddy Cabin Vessel with Separate Privacy Enclosure
Abstract
A privacy enclosure separate from the vessel hold and having at
least one entranceway accessible from outside the hold of the
vessel.
Inventors: |
Kalil; Anthony; (Palm City,
FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SALIWANCHIK LLOYD & SALIWANCHIK;A PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION
PO Box 142950
GAINESVILLE
FL
32614
US
|
Family ID: |
40622511 |
Appl. No.: |
12/202904 |
Filed: |
September 2, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60969439 |
Aug 31, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
114/71 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63B 29/02 20130101;
B63B 19/00 20130101; B63B 2019/0053 20130101; B63B 29/14
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
114/71 |
International
Class: |
B63B 29/02 20060101
B63B029/02 |
Claims
1. A vessel hull comprising: a cockpit area; a covered hold area
accessible through a hold doorway; a privacy enclosure having at
least one entranceway located outside the covered hold area; and an
enclosure door covering the entranceway.
2. The vessel hull, according to claim 1, wherein the entranceway
is located in the cockpit area.
3. The vessel hull, according to claim 1, wherein the enclosure
door is deformable such that it can be deformed in shape to
facilitate entry or exit.
4. The vessel hull, according to claim 1, further comprising one or
more sliding tracks in which the enclosure door is slidably mounted
to facilitate entry or exit.
5. The vessel hull, according to claim 1, wherein the enclosure
door is affixed with one or more swinging hinges.
6. The vessel hull, according to claim 1, wherein the floor of the
privacy enclosure is at the same level as the deck area.
7. The vessel hull, according to claim 1, wherein the floor of the
privacy enclosure is below the deck level.
8. The vessel hull, according to claim 10, further comprising a
second entranceway in the hold area.
9. The vessel hull, according to claim 1, wherein the bottom edge
of the enclosure door is no lower than the floor of the
cockpit.
10. The vessel, according to claim 1, wherein the bottom edge of
the enclosure door is below the floor level of the cockpit.
11. A vessel hull comprising: a cockpit area; a covered hold area
accessible through a hold doorway; a privacy enclosure having at
least one entranceway located outside the covered hold area; an
enclosure door covering the entranceway; at least one sliding track
into which at least a portion of the enclosure door is slidably
affixed, by which the entranceway can opened or closed by sliding
the enclosure door.
12. The vessel hull, according to claim 11, wherein the entranceway
is located in the cockpit area.
13. The vessel hull, according to claim 12, wherein the enclosure
door comprises a rigid or semi-rigid material contoured to maintain
its shape as it is opened.
14. The vessel hull, according to claim 11, wherein the enclosure
door comprises a deformable portion that can be deformed in shape
to facilitate entry or exit.
15. The vessel hull, according to claim 11, wherein the floor of
the privacy enclosure is at the same level as the deck area.
16. The vessel hull, according to claim 11, wherein the floor of
the privacy enclosure is below the deck level.
17. The vessel hull, according to claim 16, wherein the privacy
enclosure incorporates personal facilities located within the
covered hold area.
18. The vessel hull, according to claim 17, further comprising a
second entranceway in the hold area.
19. The vessel hull, according to claim 11, wherein the bottom edge
of the enclosure door is no lower than the floor of the
cockpit.
20. The vessel, according to claim 11, wherein the bottom edge of
the enclosure door is below the floor level of the cockpit.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/969,439, filed Aug. 31, 2007,
which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] There are a variety of small boat vessel designs for various
purposes. Cuddy cabin boats are a style of nimble, maneuverable
vessel hull design with a closed deck over the bow area. This
enclosed deck area, referred to as the "hold" or "cuddy cabin" is
often utilized as a living area for sleeping and/or cooking, and
often has limited plumbing for a toilet and a sink. Current cuddy
cabin designs are usually lacking in privacy, with the personal
facilities often in the same area as the sleeping and cooking
areas.
[0003] There have been some attempts for provide for more private
facilities. Some examples of boating vessels with privacy
enclosures include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,092,754; 4,566,397; 5,029,348;
and 7,117,646. However, these privacy enclosures are still accessed
from within the vessel cabin, or comprise bulky enclosures that sit
on a vessel desk, such as a pontoon or deck boat. Relatively few
improvements have been made to the interior design of boat holds to
provide more privacy. There is a need for vessel hull design that
provides a cuddy cabin or hold, as well as a privacy enclosure for
personal facilities, such as a toilet or washing area that can be
accessed without entering the cabin.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0004] The subject invention provides a vessel design having an
incorporated enclosed compartment for use as a marine head or with
a portable toilet. The vessel design of the subject invention can
be manufactured in accordance with conventional techniques and
materials, is of simple construction, and adaptable to a variety of
uses other than those that are exemplified herein. The advantages
of the vessel design of the subject invention, which will become
apparent from the following disclosure, reside in the details of
the construction and ability to incorporate the subject invention
into currently existing boat designs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0005] In order that a more precise understanding of the above
recited invention be obtained, a more particular description of the
invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to
specific embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the appended
drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical
embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered
as limiting in scope, the invention will be described and explained
with additional specificity and detail through the use of the
accompanying drawings in which:
[0006] FIG. 1 is an illustration of a perspective view of the
cockpit area from the starboard quarter of the boat hull of the
subject invention. Shown are the openings to the cuddy cabin and to
the privacy enclosure of the subject invention.
[0007] FIG. 2 is an illustration of the cockpit area of FIG. 1
showing the privacy enclosure with an open door.
[0008] FIG. 3 is an illustration of the cockpit area of FIG. 1
showing the cuddy cabin with an open door. The cuddy cabin door
cannot be seen because it swings into the cuddy cabin.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the boat hull of the subject
invention.
DETAILED DISCLOSURE
[0010] The subject invention in general pertains to a privacy
enclosure that can be incorporated into a boat or vessel comprising
a cuddy cabin or hold and a cockpit. More specifically, the subject
invention pertains to a boat or vessel design comprising a cabin or
hold, as well as a separate privacy enclosure that are,
advantageously, each separately accessible from the cockpit area of
a boat. A further advantage of the subject invention is the
incorporation of the privacy enclosure into the construction of the
boat, which does not detract from the streamline of the boat. The
separate entranceway provides privacy and separation of personal
facilities from the interior of the cabin compartment.
[0011] Thus, the subject invention is particularly useful with
vessels comprising a cockpit area and a covered bow hold accessible
through an entrance centered and leading from the cockpit. The hold
is at least partially below the level of the cockpit, requiring a
step down to enter the hold area. Thus, vessels with which the
subject invention can be utilized include any of those known in the
art with covered holds, including, for example, powerboats,
trawlers, yachts, sailboats, cruisers, cuddy cabins, and other
vessel types having at least a partially enclosed area.
[0012] Therefore, with reference to the attached figures, which
show certain embodiments of the subject invention, it can be seen
that the subject invention comprises a boat vessel 10 with standard
structures known in the art, including a bow 2, stern 4, cockpit
area 15, and a covered hold 20. FIGS. 1-4 show one example of a
vessel that can utilize the privacy enclosure of the subject
invention.
[0013] The cockpit area 15 of a vessel of the subject invention can
comprise any of a variety of features known in the art of boat
manufacturing, including a boat control area, various seating
arrangements and storage compartments. Such modification and
configurations of the vessel design are considered to be within the
scope of the subject invention.
[0014] The hold 20 can be separated from the cockpit utilizing any
of a variety of hold doors 22 known in the art of vessel design.
Hold doors 22 known in the art are configured to open interiorly or
exteriorly to the hold 20 of a vessel, depending upon the style of
entranceway. Often, hold doors open to the interior of the hold to
reduce or prevent contact or interference of the door with people
and/or objects in the cockpit area 15, as shown for example in FIG.
3. Further, because the hold of a boat is often below the deck
level of the cockpit, it is necessary to step down into a hold.
Thus, the hold door is often also positioned at least partially
below deck level and opens interiorly to the hold to more easily
accommodate entrance to the hold. FIG. 3 shows an example of a hold
located below the deck level of a vessel cockpit area and having an
interiorly directed door.
[0015] As mentioned above, a unique feature of the vessel design of
the subject invention is a privacy enclosure 30 having at least one
entranceway 32 located outside the vessel's hold 20, an example of
which is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In an embodiment, the at least one
entranceway 32 is accessible from the cockpit area 15 of a vessel
10. But, in alternative embodiments, at least one entranceway 32
can be accessible from other areas of the vessel, including, for
example, a walkway, a console door, hatchway, or other area of the
vessel. And, in a further alternative embodiment, not shown in the
Figures, the privacy enclosure 30 can have both an entranceway 32
from the cockpit area 15 and from the hold 20.
[0016] In one embodiment, the entranceway 32 is positioned at the
port 6, or left, side of the hold door 22, as shown, for example in
FIG. 2. Alternatively, the entranceway can be located on the
starboard 7, or right, side of the hold door. A person with skill
in the art will be able to determine an arrangement of the cockpit
area 15, including the location of the boat controls, seating,
storage, etc. that can accommodate alternative locations of the
privacy enclosure 30 and its entranceway 32.
[0017] Vessels that have holds, most often, also have personal
facilities therein. These facilities are often located at either
the bow 2 or stern 4 of the hold 20. Thus, in these vessel designs,
at least one wall of the personal facility area is in contact with
the outside area of the vessel. Therefore, in a further embodiment,
at least one entranceway 32 is positioned within an outside wall in
contact with the personal facilities within the hold of a
vessel.
[0018] In an alternative embodiment, utilizing techniques and
materials known in the art, a portion of the hold 20 near an
outside facing wall can be isolated from the interior of the hold
to provide space for a privacy enclosure 30. An entranceway 32 can
then be incorporated into the outside wall of the hold to provide
access to the privacy enclosure from outside the hold 20.
Alternatively, as mentioned above, a further entranceway 32 can be
provided from within the hold 20, so that the privacy enclosure has
at least two entranceways.
[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the privacy enclosure 30 of the
subject invention comprises an entranceway 32 from the cockpit 15
of a vessel having a bow hold 20, as shown for example in FIGS.
1-4. Usually, as mentioned above, in such vessel designs the level
of the hold is below the level of the cockpit, as seen in the FIG.
3. Thus, in one embodiment, the level of the privacy enclosure 30
of the subject invention can also be at or near the same level as
the hold 20. This can maximize the space in the privacy enclosure
30, providing more headroom for example. But, in an alternative
embodiment, the privacy enclosure can be at the same level as the
cockpit deck.
[0020] In a further embodiment, the privacy enclosure 30 comprises
at least one door 34 to seclude the enclosure and any occupant(s)
therein. As mentioned above, alternative embodiments of the privacy
enclosure 30 of the subject invention can have more than one
entranceway. Therefore, preferably, each entranceway 32 provided to
the privacy enclosure 30 will have a door affixed thereto.
[0021] One embodiment of the privacy enclosure comprises an
entranceway and enclosure door 34 positioned similarly to that of a
hold opening and hold door 22 that is hung at least partially below
the cockpit deck level, as described above. In this embodiment, the
level of the privacy enclosure will be near or equivalent to the
level of the hold.
[0022] In an alternative embodiment, the level of the enclosure
door 34 can be at or near the deck level of the cockpit, as shown
for example in FIGS. 1 and 2. In this embodiment, the level of the
privacy enclosure 30 can be near or at the level of the hold. And,
in a further embodiment, the enclosure door 34 can be affixed to
open exteriorly, over the deck of the cockpit, as shown, for
example in FIG. 2. In this embodiment, the level of the privacy
enclosure is below deck level of the cockpit, requiring a step down
to enter the enclosure 30, the enclosure door 34 following
afterwards to close.
[0023] The enclosure door can comprise any of a variety of door
styles known in the art, including those that are collapsible,
foldable, flexible, molded, or similar devices. In one embodiment,
the enclosure door 34 can be a contoured rigid or semi-rigid panel,
as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 to accommodate the shape of the hold wall
or console area into which the door closes. Thus, in one
embodiment, the door is contoured to close flush with the console
of the cockpit area 15, as shown, for example in FIG. 4. In a
further embodiment, the door is positioned over the entranceway
utilizing any of a variety of techniques and devices known to those
with skill in the art. In one embodiment, the door is positioned
with one or more swinging hinges that allow the door 34 to swing
open either inwards to outwards.
[0024] In an alternative embodiment, the enclosure door 34 can be
mounted on one or more sliding tracks 16 that conform to the
contours of an outside wall 18 of the enclosure, for example, as
shown in FIG. 5. In this embodiment, the enclosure door can be slid
open and closed by pushing, pulling or otherwise slidably moving
the enclosure door 34 along the one or more tracks or sets of
tracks. The tracks 16 can be mounted in one or more locations. In
one embodiment, shown in FIG. 5, the tracks are located in such a
position that the top of the enclosure door is slidably attached to
tracks 16, so that the enclosure door, in general, hangs from the
tracks. In an alternative embodiment, the tracks are located at or
near the bottom of the enclosure door, such that the bottom end of
the door is slidably attached to the tracks. In a still further
embodiment, for example, as also seen in FIG. 5, the enclosure door
is slidably attached to the tracks at or near the middle of the
door, or at some other point between the top and bottom of the
enclosure.
[0025] In a further embodiment, the contours of the enclosure door
conform to, or are otherwise compatible with, the contours of an
adjacent enclosure wall 18 or other structure against which the
enclosure door will be moved. For example, the enclosure door can
be generally vertically planar (or flat), and slide along tracks
located along the top end and/or bottom end of the enclosure door.
As the enclosure door slides along the tracks it moves parallel
with and along one or the other side of an adjacent enclosure wall
18. In a further embodiment, the door slides generally flush with
the adjacent enclosure wall 18.
[0026] In an alternative embodiment, the enclosure door can
comprise a flexible, or semi-rigid material that can change contour
or shape, as it moves along one or more tracks. This allows the
enclosure door to conform to the shape of the entranceway 32, as
well as the shape of an adjacent enclosure wall 18, as the door is
slid open.
[0027] In yet other embodiments the door can be slid from a closed
position near the center of the deck towards the external wall of
the hull to open. In such an open configuration the door 34 will be
in close proximity to the interior wall of the vessel hull. Many
variations on these embodiments are possible. The selection of an
appropriate sliding door and track configuration is within the
competence of those skilled in the art, as are its dimensions for
the intended purpose.
[0028] The invention has been described herein in considerable
detail, in order to comply with the Patent Statutes and to provide
those skilled in the art with information needed to apply the novel
principles, and to construct and use such specialized components as
are required. However, it is to be understood that the invention
can be carried out by specifically different equipment and devices,
and that various modification, both as to equipment details and
operating procedures can be effected without departing from the
scope of the invention itself. Further, it should be understood
that, although the present invention has been described with
reference to specific details of certain embodiments thereof, it is
not intended that such details should be regarded as limitations
upon the scope of the invention except as and to the extent that
they are included in the accompanying claims.
* * * * *