U.S. patent application number 14/732385 was filed with the patent office on 2015-09-24 for mold prevention nautical furniture lift.
This patent application is currently assigned to Nick McAllister. The applicant listed for this patent is Jon Cameron, Nick McAlister. Invention is credited to Jon Cameron, Nick McAlister.
Application Number | 20150266552 14/732385 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54141353 |
Filed Date | 2015-09-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150266552 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McAlister; Nick ; et
al. |
September 24, 2015 |
Mold Prevention Nautical Furniture Lift
Abstract
A system and method of mounting nautical furniture to prevent
mold accumulation on the marine flooring. A lift with a flat upper
surface and a ridged lower surface is placed between the furniture
before the furniture is secured to the decking.
Inventors: |
McAlister; Nick;
(Cassopolis, MI) ; Cameron; Jon; (Dallas,
TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
McAlister; Nick
Cameron; Jon |
Cassopolis
Dallas |
MI
TX |
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
McAllister; Nick
Cassopolis
MI
|
Family ID: |
54141353 |
Appl. No.: |
14/732385 |
Filed: |
June 5, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
29/525.02 ;
29/525.01; 29/525.11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 29/49947 20150115;
B63B 5/06 20130101; B63B 59/04 20130101; B63B 29/06 20130101; Y10T
29/49963 20150115; Y10T 29/49948 20150115 |
International
Class: |
B63B 29/06 20060101
B63B029/06; B63B 35/34 20060101 B63B035/34; B63B 9/00 20060101
B63B009/00 |
Claims
1. A method of lifting marine furniture off a boat's flooring, the
method comprising: a. manufacturing a ridge lift comprising a body
of material with a ridge lift flat furniture surface and a
contralateral ridge lift flooring surface; b. attaching said ridge
lift flat furniture surface of said ridge lift to a furniture frame
of a marine furniture; c. placing said marine furniture on a boat's
flooring with said ridge lift flooring surface opposing the
flooring; d. securing said marine furniture to a boat's deck with a
self-drilling fastener positioned through the furniture frame,
ridge lift, flooring and deck.
2. A method of claim 1, wherein said ridge lift flooring surface is
a single tread.
3. A method of claim 1, wherein said ridge lift flooring surface is
an alternating ridge tread.
4. A method of lifting marine furniture off a boat's flooring, the
method comprising: a. manufacturing a ridge lift comprising a body
of material with a ridge lift flat furniture surface and a
contralateral ridge lift flooring surface; b. manufacturing a hole
in said ridge lift; c. drilling a hole through a furniture frame,
flooring and deck; d. attaching said ridge lift flat furniture
surface of said ridge lift to a furniture frame of a marine
furniture; e. placing said marine furniture on a boat's flooring
with said ridge lift flooring surface opposing the flooring; f.
securing said marine furniture to a boat's deck with a fastening
mechanism positioned through the furniture frame, ridge lift,
flooring and deck.
5. A method of claim 4, wherein said hole in said ridge lift is
drilled.
6. A method of claim 4, wherein said ridge lift flooring surface is
a single tread.
7. A method of claim 4, wherein said ridge lift flooring surface is
an alternating ridge tread.
8. A method of claim 4, wherein said fastening mechanism is a
nut-and-bolt combination.
9. A method of claim 4, wherein said fastening mechanism is a lag
screw.
10. A method of lifting marine furniture off a boat's flooring, the
method comprising: a. manufacturing a ridge lift comprising a body
of material with a ridge lift flat furniture surface and a
contralateral ridge lift flooring surface; b. attaching said ridge
lift flat furniture surface of said ridge lift to a furniture frame
of a marine furniture; c. placing said marine furniture on a boat's
flooring with said ridge lift flooring surface opposing the
flooring; d. securing said marine furniture to a boat's deck with a
fastening mechanism positioned through the furniture frame,
flooring and deck.
11. A method of claim 10, wherein said ridge lift flooring surface
is a single tread.
12. A method of claim 10, wherein said ridge lift flooring surface
is an alternating ridge tread.
13. A method of claim 10, wherein said fastening mechanism is a
self-drilling fastener.
14. A method of claim 10, wherein said fastening mechanism is a
nut-and-bolt combination.
15. A method of claim 10 wherein said fastening mechanism is a lag
screw.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] The invention related to the system and method for nautical
furniture installation to prevent mold growth on nautical
vessels.
[0003] 2. Background of the Invention
[0004] The present invention is a useful and novel method for
preventing mold that occurs in boats where the furniture is mounted
over the deck's marine flooring. Current installation methods allow
water to be trapped in both the flooring under the furniture areas
and the absorbent areas of the furniture resting on the
flooring.
[0005] Boat furniture is mounted to a deck by: [0006] 1.
Rail-to-rail flooring, such as marine carpeting, of areas to
receive furniture; [0007] 2. Laying out furniture on the carpeted
deck; [0008] 3. Securing each adjacent piece of furniture together;
[0009] 4. Drilling a hole through the furniture base and the
decking; [0010] 5. Securing to the decking with either a lag screw
or a nut-and-bolt combination.
[0011] All the marine furniture mounting methods heretofore known
suffer from a number of disadvantages: [0012] 1. Furniture is
mounted directly onto a carpet creating a moisture trap along the
furniture edge and below the furniture; [0013] 2. The user is not
able to power wash the flooring without flooding the boat. [0014]
3. Trapped water below the furniture frame and under the furniture
causes the wood deck under the marine carpet to rot faster. [0015]
4. In order to better allow evaporation of water under furniture,
the consumer has to pull up furniture cushions and leave
unassembled. [0016] 5. To remove accumulated mold under the
furniture frame, the furniture must be unmounted from the deck.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] An invention, which meets the needs stated above, is a
system and method of lifting furniture off a boat's marine flooring
by attaching a ridged lift before attaching the furniture to the
boat.
Objects and Advantages
[0018] Accordingly, besides the objects and advantages of the
system for the nautical furniture installation method and system
described above, several objects and advantages of the present
invention are: [0019] a) to provide minimum touch points between
the furniture and flooring while securing the furniture to the
deck; [0020] b) to provide drainage and evaporation for normal
moisture accumulation on a boat deck; [0021] c) to provide drainage
and evaporation for power washing; [0022] d) to provide
customization of ridge lift sizes; [0023] e) to provide
customization of ridge lift assembly locations.
[0024] Further objects and advantages of this invention will become
apparent from a consideration of the drawings and the ensuing
description of the drawings.
DRAWING FIGURES
[0025] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of
the present invention and together with the description, serve to
explain the principles of this invention. In the figures:
[0026] FIG. 1.--Drawing of a boat with a cut-away showing furniture
mounted on ridge lifts.
[0027] FIGS. 2A-2B.--Drawings illustrating the components of
securing marine furniture with a ridge lift.
[0028] FIGS. 3A-3B.--Illustration demonstrating the components of a
ridge lift.
KEY TERMS
[0029] Alternating ridge tread: a configuration of a ridge lift
with at least two ridge treads where adjacent treads associate a
concave ridge with a convex ridge.
[0030] Ridge: a pattern formed by raised surfaces on an area. The
pattern of the raised surface may be substantially curved,
triangular, spiked or flat.
[0031] Ridge lift: a device that produces minimal contact with
marine flooring by having a ridged surface on the bottom side of
the device. The ridge lift allows ventilation by both evaporation
and run off of the water through the ridge treads.
[0032] Ridge tread: a single series of ridges running the entire
length of the ridge lift.
REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS
[0033] 10 Water, moisture [0034] 20 Boat, marine craft [0035] 30
Boat furniture, marine furniture, furniture [0036] 31 Furniture
frame [0037] 32 Furniture front [0038] 34 Furniture back [0039] 36
Furniture side [0040] 38 Furniture cushion [0041] 40 Flooring
[0042] 42 Plush flooring [0043] 44 Firm flooring [0044] 50 Deck,
decking [0045] 60 Fastening mechanism [0046] 62 Self-drilling
fastener [0047] 64 Nut-and-bolt combination [0048] 66 Lag screw
[0049] 70 Ridge lift [0050] 71 Ridge lift side [0051] 72 Ridge lift
flat furniture surface [0052] 73 Ridge lift snaps [0053] 74 Ridge
lift flooring surface [0054] 76 Ridge, ridge tread [0055] 77
Alternating ridge tread [0056] 78 Ridge lift adhesive
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0057] Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals represent
like elements,
[0058] FIG. 1
[0059] Turning to FIG. 1, the illustration depicts a pontoon boat
20 with a cutout. Like all marine crafts 20, a pontoon boat is
highly susceptible to water, or moisture 10, accumulating on the
interior of the boat 20. The water 10 can be trafficked into the
marine craft 20 by overspray, power washing, humidity, leaking,
spilling, rapid deceleration of the boat 10, passengers entering
the boat 10, rain, high waves and wet objects like clothing. A
marine craft 20 typically has furniture 30 which is mounted through
the flooring 40 to the deck 50. Flooring 40 comprises a wide range
of materials including marine carpeting, grass, rubber, vinyl,
plastics, and wood. Boat furniture 30 comprises seating, tables,
appliances, storage, beds, engine housing, and captain stands.
Typically, furniture 30 comprises a front 32, back 34 and sides 36
where the furniture frame 31 can be mounted to the deck 50 using a
fastening mechanism 60. Typical fastening mechanisms 60 comprise
self-drilling fasteners 62, nut-and-bolt combination 64, and lag
screws 66. In the prior art of lag screw 66 and nut-and-bolt
combination 64 assembly, the assembler arranges the boat furniture
30 on the flooring 40, drills holes in the furniture frame 31,
drills holes through the flooring 40, drills holes through the deck
50, and secures the three together with the fastening mechanisms
60. In the prior art of self-drilling fastener 62, the assembler
arranges the furniture 30 on the flooring 40, simultaneously drills
a self-drilling fastener 62 through the furniture frame 31,
flooring 40, deck 50, and secures the three 31, 40, 50 together
without drilling a hole. In FIG. 1, the present invention adds a
ridge lift 70 to the front 32, back 34 and sides 36 of the
furniture frame 31. The ridge lift 70 prevents moisture 10 from
being trapped under the boat furniture 30 and acts as a ventilation
aid. Ridge lifts 70 may be assembled on two opposing sides of the
furniture 30 or on every side of the marine furniture 30.
[0060] FIGS. 2A-2B
[0061] Referring now to FIGS. 2A-2B, the drawings show the various
components that comprise securing marine furniture 30 with a ridge
lift 70.
[0062] FIG. 2A is a preferred assembly embodiment because it
simplifies the assembly process for the installer. One of the
advantages of using a fastening mechanism 60 like a self-drilling
fastener 62 is the installer does not have to drill multiple holes
for one fastener 60 and then align those holes for the final
assembly. However, the disadvantage is that without the drilled
holes, the installer cannot see the locations of ridge lift 70
while drilling through the furniture frame 31. FIG. 2A demonstrates
that the self drilling fastener 62 does not have to penetrate the
ridge lift 70 because the pressure of the fastening mechanism 60
creates enough pressure to keep the ridge lift 70 in place after
installation. Therefore, this method eliminates the disadvantage of
the assembler not being able to see the ridge lift 70 during
installation.
[0063] In FIG. 2A, to assemble the furniture 30 through the
flooring 40 and into the deck 50, the assembler first attaches the
ridge lifts 70 to the underside of the furniture frame 31 using the
ridge frame adhesive 78 on the ridge lift flat furniture surface
72. Ridge lifts 70 may be assembled on two opposing sides of the
furniture 30 or on every side of the marine furniture 30. The
installer can customize the location of the ridge lifts 70 to
maximize invisibility, drainage, evaporation or stability. However,
he has no need to record the location of the ridge lifts 70. As
shown in FIG. 2A, the ridge lift 70 may be the substantial width
and/or length of the furniture frame 31.
[0064] The furniture 30 manufacturer may also incorporate the ridge
lifts 70 into the frame 31 design to eliminate the additional step
of attaching the ridge lift 70 with the ridge frame adhesive
78.
[0065] The assembler then arranges the furniture 30 on the deck 50
above the flooring 40, such as plush flooring 42 like marine
carpeting, and attaches the adjacent furniture 30 components
together with horizontal fastening mechanisms 60. Using a
self-drilling fastener 62, the assembler drills the fastening
mechanism 60 into place in any location he determines advantageous
without concerns about the underside location of the ridge lift 70.
If the furniture 30 requires additional components, such as a
furniture cushion 38, the installer then places it above, or into,
the furniture frame 31.
[0066] In FIG. 2B, we show three additional embodiments of the
present invention. One, the flooring 40 can be a firm flooring 44
such as rubber, vinyl, plastics, and wood. While these types of
flooring 40 would not retain moisture 10 in their surface, they
present a slip risk from water 10 and still allow the accumulation
of moisture 10 under the furniture 30, particularly along the
furniture frame 31.
[0067] The second additional embodiment is the use of pre-drilled
fastening mechanism 60 such as nut-and-bold 64 and lag screws 66.
The assembly, including the ridge lift 70, comprises pre-drilling a
hole through the ridge lift 70 to align with the hole in the
furniture 30 and the associated hole in the flooring 40 and decking
50.
[0068] The invention's third additional embodiment is the ridge
lift 70 is not substantially the length of the furniture frame 31
and instead the assembly is comprised of shorter segments of
sufficient strength to bear the weight of storage, furniture 30 and
passengers.
[0069] FIGS. 3A-3B
[0070] Finally, turning to FIGS. 3A to 3B depicting features of two
example ridge lifts 70. FIG. 3A shows a ridge lift 70 with five (5)
alternating ridge treads 76. The alternating ridge tread 77 may be
manufactured as a single ridge lift 70 with alternating ridges 76.
The alternating ridge tread 77 may be manufactured as individual
treads 76 and later assembled to desired widths using ridge lift
snaps 73, or any such attachment means, on the ridge lift sides 71.
A ridge lift 70 may be manufactured in materials comprising rubber,
plastic, synthetics, wood, or other natural materials.
[0071] FIG. 3B shows a ridge lift 70 with a single ridge tread 76.
The ridge lift 70 comprises ridge lift sides 71, ridge lift flat
furniture surface 72 with a ridge lift adhesive 78 and a ridge lift
flooring surface 74 with a ridge tread 76.
[0072] The ridge lift's 70 are assembled with the bottom-most
furniture frame 31 resting on the ridge lift flat furniture surface
72. This maximizes the stability of the ridge lift 70 against the
furniture frame 31. The ridge lift flooring surface 74 rests on the
flooring 40 whereby the ridge treads 76 create only minimal points
of contact with the flooring 40 and allows ventilation of moisture
and water 10. The ventilation occurs by both evaporation and run
off of the water 10 through the ridge tread 76.
[0073] In order to simply assembly, the ridge lift 70 may comprise
a ridge lift adhesive 78 on the ridge lift flat furniture surface
72. The adhesive 78 would hold the ridge lift 70 in the assembler's
desired location on the furniture frame 31 while he is locating the
furniture 30 on the flooring 40 and attaching the fastening
mechanisms 60. Once the fastening mechanism 60 is in place, the
ridge lift 70 would be held in place by the pressure generated by
the fastening mechanism 60. The ridge lift adhesive 78 material may
comprise chemical adhesives, drying adhesives, polymer adhesives,
polymer dispersion adhesives, non-reactive adhesives, contact
adhesives, pressure-sensitive adhesives, natural adhesives, loop
and hook adhesives, heat seal adhesives or magnetic adhesives.
[0074] Although the present disclosure and its advantages have been
described in detail, it should be understood that various changes,
substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing
from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the
appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is
not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the
process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means,
methods and steps described in the specification. As one of
ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the
disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of
matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be
developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve
substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments
described herein may be utilized according to the present
disclosure. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to
include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture,
compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.
[0075] In the foregoing description, and the following claims,
method steps and/or actions are described in a particular order for
the purposes of illustration. It should be appreciated that in
alternate embodiments, the method steps and/or actions may be
performed in a different order than that described. While
illustrative and presently preferred embodiments of the invention
have been described in detail herein, it is to be understood that
the inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and
employed, and that the appended claims are intended to be construed
to include such variations, except as limited by the prior art.
[0076] Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have
been described herein with regard to specific embodiments. However,
the advantages, associated benefits, specific solutions to
problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage,
or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be
construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements
of any or all the claims of the invention. As used herein, the
terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variation thereof,
are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a
process, method, article, or apparatus composed of a list of
elements that may include other elements not expressly listed or
inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.
[0077] Advantages
[0078] From the description above, a number of advantages become
evident for the "Mold Prevention Nautical Furniture Lift." The
present invention provides all new benefits for participating
parties including furniture installers, boat manufacturers and
consumers: [0079] a) allows boat manufacturers to increase retail;
[0080] b) allows boat manufacturers to add options like ridge
lifts, ventilated storage flooring, and electric under-cushion
fans; [0081] c) allows boat manufacturers to customize the size and
shape of the ridge lifts; [0082] d) allows furniture installers to
customize the width of the ridge lift; [0083] e) allows furniture
installers to customize the locations of the ridge lifts to
maximize ventilation; [0084] f) allows furniture installers to
customize the position of the ridge lifts so they cannot be seen by
the consumer; [0085] g) allows consumers to power wash a boat
decking, including under furniture without resulting mold and
mildew; [0086] h) allows consumers to easily clean the dirt
build-up around the furniture-flooring edges.
* * * * *