Platforms for boats and other water structures

Abstract

A platform structure for a water structure surrounded by water is disclosed. The platform structure includes a set of inflatable sacks held in place by arm members which are hollow tubes rotatably attached to a hinge structure to a side of said water structure. The platform structure is rotatably attached but may be fixed in a vertical position. The platform structure can be assembled, expanded, contracted and disassembled without the users entering the water. The arm members may alternatively be used to furnish additional storage space beyond the periphery of the water structure. The platform structure may also be put together with additional support components so as to hold a stretched net underwater, thereby providing an underwater platform. The platform structure is designed to provide the option of a waterway for stationing small watercraft adjacent to the water structure. The platform structure is specially designed to protect the water structure as well as other approaching water crafts from the impact of collisions. The arm members of the platform structure can also be used to tug floating platforms and various water crafts with minimal water drag. The apparatus is designed to be compactly stored inside the water structure or to be used without the water structure. The apparatus provides a versatile accessory for use with water structures including pleasure boats.

I claim as my invention:  
     
         1 . A device designed to provide at least part of the stability of a stationed boat or other stationed water structure to at least one floating platform, comprising: 
 an arm structure rotatably attached to a side of said boat or other water structure;    and wherein at least a portion of said floating platform has a cushioning surface to protect said boat or other water structure as well as other approaching water crafts from collisions.    
     
     
         2 . A device designed to provide at least part of the stability of a stationed boat or other stationed water structure to at least one floating platform, comprising: 
 an arm structure rotatably attached to a side of said boat or other water structure;    wherein at least one floating platform is comprised of an inflatable sack which can be deflated, detached from the rotational arm structure, and folded for convenient and compact storage.    
     
     
         3 . The device of    claim 1   , including a hinge structure on a side of said boat or other water structure from which said rotational arm structure extends away in at least two generally opposite directions and then bents in each said opposite direction to extend further away from said hinge structure and said boat or other water structure in at least two generally parallel lines.  
     
     
         4 . The device of    claim 1   , wherein at least part of said arm structure attaches at least one said floating platform from beneath so that other approaching water crafts do not collide directly against said arm structure and so that people do not get hurt by said arm structure if they accidentally fall while standing on said floating platform.  
     
     
         5 . The device of    claim 2   , wherein at least part of said rotational arm structure attaches at least one said inflatable sack from beneath so that other approaching water crafts do not collide directly against said arm structure and so that people do not get hurt by said arm structure if they accidentally fall while standing on said inflatable sack.  
     
     
         6 . A device designed to provide at least part of the stability of a stationed boat or other stationed water structure to at least one floating platform, which can also be tugged to the rear of the boat or other water structure with its proximal portion over the water surface and its distal portion floating on the water, comprising: 
 a rotatably attached arm structure.    
     
     
         7 . A device designed to tug a water craft to a side of a boat or other water structure with the proximal portion of the water craft over the water surface and the distal portion of said craft floating on the water, comprising: 
 an arm structure rotatably attached to a hinge structure on a side of said boat or other water structure.    
     
     
         8 . A device designed to provide an underwater platform to a side of a stationed boat or other stationed water structure comprising at least one piece of a flexible net which can be stretched when mounted on an arm structure, further comprising: 
 means to retrieve at least part of the platform from under the water.    
     
     
         9 . A device designed to provide an underwater platform to a side of a stationed boat or other stationed water structure comprising at least one piece of a flexible fabric which can be stretched when mounted on an arm structure, further comprising: 
 means to retract at least part of the arm structure.    
     
     
         10 . A device designed to provide an underwater platform to a side of a stationed boat or other stationed water structure comprising at least one piece of a flexible fabric which can be mounted on an arm structure, further comprising: 
 means to facilitate the retrieval of at least part of the arm structure from beneath the water surface.    
     
     
         11 . The device of    claim 1   , including a hinge structure to a side of said boat or other water structure which can be at least partially removed when not in use.  
     
     
         12 . The device of    claim 1   , including a hinge structure to a side of said boat or other water structure which can be at least partially retracted when not in use.  
     
     
         13 . A device designed to provide at least part of the stability of a stationed boat or other stationed water structure to at least one floating platform, comprising: 
 an arm structure rotatably attached to a hinge structure on a side of said boat or other water structure;    and wherein the device includes means to lessen the impact on the hinge structure transmitted through the arm structure when an approaching water craft collides against said floating platform.    
     
     
         14 . The device of    claim 1   , wherein said arm structure is comprised of at least two side arms which can be expanded with at least one additional segment for each side arm to fasten at least one additional floating platform; and wherein said additional side arm segments and floating platform can be removed to reduce the assembly to its original size.  
     
     
         15 . The device of    claim 1   , wherein said device is connected to at least one removable underwater platform.  
     
     
         16 . The device of    claim 15   , wherein said underwater platform is connected between two separate floating platforms.  
     
     
         17 . The device of    claim 1   , wherein said floating platform can be detached from said boat or other water structure for convenient and compact storage.  
     
     
         18 . The device of    claim 1   , wherein said floating platform can be detached from said boat or other water structure for use on the water or out of the water.  
     
     
         19 . A platform assembled beyond the periphery of a boat or other water structure to serve as a storage facility for the user of said boat or other water structure, comprising: 
 at least two arm members at least partially over the water surface extending away from said boat or other water structure.    
     
     
         20 . The device of    claim 1   , wherein the arm structure and the floating platform can be assembled and disassembled without the users entering the water.  
     
     
         21 . The device of    claim 1   , wherein the platform structure can be expanded and contracted without the users entering the water.