Boat Cushion Mount

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a latching arrangement for securing a cushion or other structure to a mounting location. The latching arrangement includes a female latching element that interlocks with a corresponding male latching element. The female latching element can include a split sleeve that extends along a first axis from a first end to a second end. The female latching element can also include a flange that projects radially outwardly from the first end of the split sleeve. The female latching element can further including an elastic ring that mounts around the split sleeve at a location between the first and second ends of the split sleeve. The male latching element can include a shaft that extends along a second axis from a first end to a second end. The male latching element can also include a flange that projects radially outwardly from the first end of the shaft, and an enlarged head positioned at the second end of the shaft for retaining the shaft within the split sleeve when the male and female latching elements are coupled together.

1 . A boat comprising:
 a hull having a bow, a stern, a port side and a starboard side;   a structural component positioned within the hull, the structural component defining at least a portion of a cushion mounting location, the structural component defining a mounting opening positioned at the cushion mounting location;   a female latching element having a flange that seats on the structural component and a receiver having at least a portion that projects outwardly from the flange and extends through the mounting opening;   a cushion that mounts at the cushion mounting location, the cushion having a resilient cushioning layer secured to a substrate forming a backing of the cushion;   a male latching element including a shaft having a base end and a free end, the male latching element also including a flange connected to the base end of the shaft and an enlargement provided at the free end of the shaft, the flange of the male latching element being connected to the substrate of the cushion with the shaft projecting outwardly from the backing of the cushion;   wherein the cushion is mounted at the cushion mounting location by moving the cushion toward the cushion mounting location such that the shaft of the male latching element is received within the receiver of the female latching element thereby causing the cushion to be latched to the structural component.   
   
   
       2 . The boat of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting flange of the female latching element has a thickness that is less than or equal to one quarter of an inch. 
   
   
       3 . The boat of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting flange of the male latching element has a thickness that is less than or equal to one quarter of an inch. 
   
   
       4 . The boat of  claim 1 , wherein the flange of the female latching component is fastened to the structural component and the flange of the male latching component is fastened to the substrate of the cushion. 
   
   
       5 . The boat of  claim 1 , wherein the female latching component has a flush mounted configuration relative to the structural component. 
   
   
       6 . The boat of  claim 1 , wherein the enlargement at the free end of the shaft of the male latching element includes a head having a rounded, conical end. 
   
   
       7 . The boat of  claim 1 , wherein the receiver of the female latching element includes a split sleeve. 
   
   
       8 . The boat of  claim 7 , wherein the split sleeve includes at least first and second pieces separated by split-lines. 
   
   
       9 . The boat of  claim 8 , wherein the split sleeve includes two half-pieces. 
   
   
       10 . The boat of  claim 7 , wherein the split sleeve includes a first end positioned at the flange of the female latching element and a second end spaced from the flange of the female latching element, and wherein the split sleeve has a truncated conical configuration with a major cross-dimension positioned at the first end of the split sleeve and a minor cross-dimension positioned at the second end of the split sleeve. 
   
   
       11 . The boat of  claim 7 , wherein the female latching element includes an elastic ring mounted around the split sleeve. 
   
   
       12 . The boat of  claim 11 , wherein the elastic ring is mounted in a circumferential groove defined around an exterior of the split sleeve. 
   
   
       13 . The boat of  claim 11 , wherein the split sleeve and the flange of the female latching element are integrally molded as a unitary plastic part. 
   
   
       14 . A latching arrangement comprising:
 a female latching element including a split sleeve that extends along a first axis from a first end to a second end, the female latching element also including a flange that projects radially outwardly from the first end of the split sleeve, the female latching element further including an elastic ring that mounts around the split sleeve at a location between the first and second ends of the split sleeve;   a male latching element including a shaft that extends along a second axis from a first end to a second end, the male latching element also including a flange that projects radially outwardly from the first end of the shaft, the male latching element further including an enlarged head positioned at the second end of the shaft;   wherein the male latching element is coupled to the female latching element by inserting the shaft of the male latching element through into the receiver of the female latching element.   
   
   
       15 . The latching arrangement of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second axes are co-axially aligned when the shaft of the male latching element is positioned within the split sleeve of the female latching element. 
   
   
       16 . The latching arrangement of  claim 14 , wherein the mounting flange of the female latching element has a maximum thickness measured in the direction of the first axis that is less than or equal to one quarter of an inch. 
   
   
       17 . The latching arrangement of  claim 16 , wherein the mounting flange of the male latching element has a maximum thickness measured in the direction of the second axis that is less than or equal to one quarter of an inch. 
   
   
       18 . The latching arrangement of  claim 14 , wherein the head at the second end of the shaft of the male latching element has a rounded, conical end. 
   
   
       19 . The latching arrangement of  claim 14 , wherein the split sleeve includes at least first and second pieces separated by split-lines that extend along the first axis. 
   
   
       20 . The latching arrangement of  claim 19 , wherein the split sleeve includes two half-pieces. 
   
   
       21 . The latching arrangement of  claim 14 , split sleeve has a truncated conical configuration with a major cross-dimension positioned at the first end of the split sleeve and a minor cross-dimension positioned at the second end of the split sleeve. 
   
   
       22 . The latching arrangement of  claim 14 , wherein the elastic ring is mounted in a circumferential groove defined around an exterior of the split sleeve. 
   
   
       23 . The latching arrangement of  claim 14 , wherein the split sleeve and the flange of the female latching element are integrally molded as a unitary plastic part.