Convertible Seat - Deck Arrangement for a Boat

Abstract

A convertible deck arrangement is provided for a boat including a passenger area having a periphery and an interior region within the periphery. A portion of the passenger area includes a deck arrangement area bounded in part by the periphery of the passenger area. The convertible deck arrangement includes: horizontal seating surfaces, positioned at the periphery of the passenger area and within the deck arrangement area; deck elements; and pivot mounts, for allowing the deck elements to be pivoted relative to the horizontal seating surfaces. The deck elements can be pivoted between a first configuration and a second configuration. When the deck elements are in the first configuration, the deck elements are vertically positioned adjacent to a vertical wall below the horizontal seating surfaces and seats are formed within the deck arrangement area. When the deck elements are in the second configuration, the deck elements are horizontally positioned adjacent to the horizontal seating surfaces and to each other and form a deck bounded by the deck arrangement area.

1 . A convertible deck arrangement for a boat, the boat including a passenger area having a periphery and a deck arrangement area bounded in part by the periphery of the passenger area, the convertible deck arrangement comprising:
 at least one substantially horizontal seating surface positioned at the periphery of the passenger area and within the deck arrangement area;   at least two deck elements; and   rotatable mounts, for allowing the deck elements to be rotated and positioned relative to the at least one horizontal seating surface between a first position and a second position;   wherein when the deck elements are in the first position, the deck elements are positioned below the at least one horizontal seating surface and seats are formed within the deck arrangement area; and   wherein when the deck elements are in the second position, the deck elements are substantially horizontally positioned adjacent to the at least one horizontal seating surface and to each other and form a deck together with the at least one horizontal seating surface.   
     
     
         2 . The convertible deck arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the deck is bounded by the deck arrangement area. 
     
     
         3 . The convertible deck arrangement of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one substantially vertical wall below the at least one horizontal seating surface, wherein when the deck elements are in the first position, at least one of the deck elements are substantially vertically positioned adjacent to the vertical wall. 
     
     
         4 . The convertible deck arrangement of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one deployable leg rotatably mounted to at least one of the deck elements, the deployable leg supporting at least part of the deck elements when the deck elements are in the second position. 
     
     
         5 . The convertible deck arrangement of  claim 4 , further comprising a pocket within at least one of the deck elements, wherein the deployable leg is stored within the pocket when the deck elements are in the first position. 
     
     
         6 . The convertible deck arrangement of  claim 3 , further comprising at least one deployable leg and a pocket within the vertical wall, the deployable leg rotatably mounted to at least one of the deck elements, the deployable leg supporting at least part of the deck elements when the deck elements are in the second position, and wherein the deployable leg is stored within the pocket of the vertical wall when the deck elements are in the first position. 
     
     
         7 . A convertible seat-deck arrangement for a bow of a boat, the convertible seat-deck arrangement comprising:
 a port seat including a port seating surface that extends from a first edge to a second edge, the first edge of the port seating surface generally positioned along a portion of a perimeter of a bow passenger area adjacent a port side of the boat, the second edge of the port seating surface spaced in a generally starboard facing direction from the first edge of the port seating surface;   a reconfigurable port seat skirt having a first configuration and a second configuration, the port seat skirt including a port skirt surface that extends from a first edge to a second edge, the first edge of the port skirt surface positioned generally parallel with the second edge of the port seating surface;   a starboard seat including a starboard seating surface that extends from a first edge to a second edge, the first edge of the starboard seating surface generally positioned along a portion of the perimeter of the bow passenger area adjacent a starboard side of the boat, the second edge of the starboard seating surface spaced in a generally port facing direction from the first edge of the starboard seating surface;   a reconfigurable starboard seat skirt having a first configuration and a second configuration, the starboard seat skirt including a starboard skirt surface that extends from a first edge to a second edge, the first edge of the starboard skirt surface positioned generally parallel with the second edge of the starboard seating surface; and   a footwell bounded at least in part by the second edge of the port seating surface, the second edge of the starboard seating surface, and a floor of the bow passenger area;   wherein the port seat includes the port seat skirt when the port seat skirt is in its first configuration;   wherein the first edge of the port skirt surface is positioned below the second edge of the port seating surface and the second edge of the port skirt surface is positioned below the first edge of the port skirt surface when the port seat skirt is in its first configuration;   wherein the starboard seat includes the starboard seat skirt when the starboard seat skirt is in its first configuration;   wherein the first edge of the starboard skirt surface is positioned below the second edge of the starboard seating surface and the second edge of the starboard skirt surface is positioned below the first edge of the starboard skirt surface when the starboard seat skirt is in its first configuration; and   wherein the port seating surface, the starboard seating surface, the port skirt surface, and the starboard skirt surface are collectively transformed into at least a portion of a substantially horizontal deck when the port seat skirt and the starboard seat skirt are in their second configurations.   
     
     
         8 . The convertible seat-deck arrangement of  claim 7 , further comprising a bow seat including a bow seating surface that extends from a first edge to a second edge, the first edge of the bow seating surface generally positioned along a portion of the perimeter of the bow passenger area adjacent the bow of the boat, the second edge of the bow seating surface spaced in a generally aft direction from the first edge of the bow seating surface. 
     
     
         9 . The convertible seat-deck arrangement of  claim 8 , wherein the bow seating surface of the bow seat is also collectively transformed into the substantially horizontal deck when the port seat skirt and the starboard seat skirt are in their second configurations. 
     
     
         10 . The convertible seat-deck arrangement of  claim 7 , wherein the port skirt surface and the starboard skirt surface are oriented substantially vertically when the port seat skirt and the starboard seat skirt are in their first configurations. 
     
     
         11 . The convertible seat-deck arrangement of  claim 9 , wherein the port skirt surface and the starboard skirt surface are oriented substantially vertically and the second edge of the port skirt surface and the second edge of the starboard skirt surface are generally parallel to the floor of the bow passenger area when the port seat skirt and the starboard seat skirt are in their first configurations. 
     
     
         12 . The convertible seat-deck arrangement of  claim 11 , further comprising a bow seat skirt including a bow skirt surface, the bow skirt surface extending from a first edge to a second edge, the first edge of the bow skirt surface positioned generally parallel with the second edge of the bow seating surface. 
     
     
         13 . The convertible seat-deck arrangement of  claim 12 , wherein the footwell is further bounded by the port seat skirt, the bow seat skirt, and the starboard seat skirt when the port seat skirt and the starboard seat skirt are in their first configurations. 
     
     
         14 . The convertible seat-deck arrangement of  claim 7 , wherein the footwell is substantially covered by the port seat skirt and the starboard seat skirt when the port seat skirt and the starboard seat skirt are in their second configurations. 
     
     
         15 . The convertible seat-deck arrangement of  claim 13 , wherein the port skirt surface, the bow skirt surface, and the starboard skirt surface together form a wraparound that wraps around a port side, a bow side, and a starboard side of the footwell, the first edges of the port skirt surface, the bow skirt surface, and the starboard skirt surface blending together to form a first edge of the wraparound, and the second edges of the port skirt surface, the bow skirt surface, and the starboard skirt surface blending together to form a second edge of the wraparound when the port seat skirt and the starboard seat skirt are in their first configurations. 
     
     
         16 . The convertible seat-deck arrangement of  claim 15 , wherein an aft side of the footwell is open and the floor of the bow passenger area transitions to a walkway of the boat at or near the aft side of the footwell. 
     
     
         17 . The convertible seat-deck arrangement of  claim 7 , wherein the port seat skirt and the starboard seat skirt are each rotatably mounted to the boat and pivot with respect to the boat between their first and second configurations. 
     
     
         18 . The convertible seat-deck arrangement of  claim 17 , wherein foldable supports support the port seat skirt and/or the starboard seat skirt when the port seat skirt and the starboard seat skirt are in their second configurations. 
     
     
         19 . The convertible seat-deck arrangement of  claim 7 , wherein the port seating surface, the starboard seating surface, the port skirt surface, and the starboard skirt surface are cushioned surfaces. 
     
     
         20 . The convertible seat-deck arrangement of  claim 7 , wherein the port seat includes a port backrest and the starboard seat includes a starboard backrest, the port backrest formed at a port portion of a periphery of the bow passenger area, and the starboard backrest formed at a starboard portion of the periphery of the bow passenger area.