Convertible Seat Arrangement for a Boat

Abstract

A convertible seating arrangement for a boat including a passenger area having a peripheral region and an interior region. The convertible seating arrangement includes a bench seating portion positioned at the peripheral region of the passenger area, a seating element, and a pivot mount for allowing the seating element to be pivoted relative to the bench seating portion between a first position and a second position. When the seating element is in the first position, the seating element is positioned adjacent to the bench seating portion and is located at the peripheral region of the passenger area. When the seating element is in the second position, the seating element is positioned adjacent to the bench seating portion and is located at the interior region of the passenger area.

1 . A convertible seating arrangement for a boat, the boat including a passenger area having a periphery and an interior region, the convertible seating arrangement comprising:
 a bench seating portion positioned at the periphery of the passenger area;   a seating element; and   a pivot mount for guiding and pivoting the seating element between a first position and a second position relative to the bench seating portion;   wherein the seating element is positioned adjacent to the bench seating portion and is located at the periphery of the passenger area when the seating element is in the first position; and   wherein the seating element is positioned adjacent to the bench seating portion and is located at the interior region of the passenger area when the seating element is in the second position.   
     
     
         2 . The convertible seating arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the bench seating portion and the seating element together form L shaped seating at the periphery of the passenger area of the boat when the seating element is in the first position. 
     
     
         3 . The convertible seating arrangement of  claim 2 , wherein the seating element extends inwardly from a port wall of the periphery of the passenger area of the boat when the seating element is in the first position. 
     
     
         4 . The convertible seating arrangement of  claim 3 , wherein a backrest for the seating element is formed by the port wall when the seating element is in the first position. 
     
     
         5 . The convertible seating arrangement of  claim 2 , wherein the seating element extends inwardly from a starboard wall of the periphery of the passenger area of the boat when the seating element is in the first position. 
     
     
         6 . The convertible seating arrangement of  claim 5 , wherein a backrest for the seating element is formed by the starboard wall when the seating element is in the first position. 
     
     
         7 . The convertible seating arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the bench seating portion is adapted to extend forwardly from a stern wall of the periphery of the passenger area of the boat. 
     
     
         8 . The convertible seating arrangement of  claim 7 , wherein the bench seating portion includes a backrest supported by the stern wall. 
     
     
         9 . The convertible seating arrangement of  claim 7 , wherein the bench seating portion extends forwardly to and is bounded by a concave edge, the seating element includes a first convex edge that conforms to and is adjacent to a first portion of the concave edge when the seating element is in the first position, and the seating element includes a second convex edge that conforms to and is adjacent to a second portion of the concave edge when the seating element is in the second position. 
     
     
         10 . The convertible seating arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot mount is attached to the bench seating portion. 
     
     
         11 . The convertible seating arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the pivot mount is adapted to be attached to a superstructure of the boat. 
     
     
         12 . The convertible seating arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the seating element is a first seating element, the convertible seating arrangement further comprising a second seating element and a second pivot mount for guiding and pivoting the second seating element between a first position and a second position relative to the bench seating portion, wherein the bench seating portion and the first and the second seating elements together form U shaped seating at the periphery of the passenger area of the boat when the first and the second seating elements are in their first positions. 
     
     
         13 . A boat comprising:
 a passenger area extending substantially between a port side and a starboard side of a hull of the boat, the passenger area including a perimeter and an interior region within the perimeter;   a port wall adjacent at least a portion of the port side of the hull, the port wall extending from a first end to a second end, the first end of the port wall positioned nearer a stern of the boat, the second end of the port wall positioned nearer a bow of the boat, and the port wall defining a first portion of the perimeter of the passenger area of the boat;   a stern wall extending from the first end of the port wall toward the starboard side of the hull, the stern wall defining a second portion of the perimeter of the passenger area of the boat;   stern seating adjacent the stern wall of the boat, the stern seating including a first seating surface extending in a forward direction with respect to the stern wall to a first edge; and   a moveable seating element moveable between a first configuration and a second configuration, the moveable seating element including a second seating surface defining a second edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge;   wherein a first portion of the first edge of the first seating surface of the stern seating is adjacent the second edge of the second seating surface of the moveable seating element and at least a portion of the port wall is substantially adjacent the third edge of the second seating surface of the moveable seating element when the moveable seating element is in the first configuration; and   wherein a second portion of the first edge of the first seating surface of the stern seating is adjacent the fourth edge of the second seating surface of the moveable seating element, the moveable seating element is positioned at the interior region of the passenger area, and the moveable seating element is spaced from the perimeter of the passenger area when the moveable seating element is in the second configuration.   
     
     
         14 . The boat of  claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the stern wall forms a backrest for the stern seating. 
     
     
         15 . The boat of  claim 13 , wherein the port wall or the portion of the port wall forms a backrest for the moveable seating element when the moveable seating element is in the first configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The boat of  claim 13 , wherein the stern seating and the moveable seating element together form L shaped seating at the perimeter of the passenger area of the boat when the moveable seating element is in the first configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The boat of  claim 13 , wherein the moveable seating element is pivotally connected to the stern seating. 
     
     
         18 . The boat of  claim 17 , further comprising a pivot joint member including a first attachment surface and a second attachment surface, wherein the first attachment surface is connected to the stern seating and the second attachment surface is connected to the moveable seating element. 
     
     
         19 . The boat of  claim 13 , wherein the movable seating element is pivotally connected to the hull of the boat. 
     
     
         20 . A boat comprising:
 a passenger area extending substantially between a port side and a starboard side of a hull of the boat, the passenger area including a perimeter and an interior region within the perimeter;   a starboard wall adjacent at least a portion of the starboard side of the hull, the starboard wall extending from a first end to a second end, the first end of the starboard wall positioned nearer a stern of the boat, the second end of the starboard wall positioned nearer a bow of the boat, and the starboard wall defining a first portion of the perimeter of the passenger area of the boat;   a stern wall extending from the first end of the starboard wall toward the port side of the hull, the stern wall defining a second portion of the perimeter of the passenger area of the boat;   stern seating adjacent the stern wall of the boat, the stern seating including a first seating surface extending in a forward direction with respect to the stern wall to a first edge; and   a moveable seating element moveable between a first configuration and a second configuration, the moveable seating element including a second seating surface defining a second edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge;   wherein a first portion of the first edge of the first seating surface of the stern seating is adjacent the second edge of the second seating surface of the moveable seating element and at least a portion of the starboard wall is substantially adjacent the third edge of the second seating surface of the moveable seating element when the moveable seating element is in the first configuration; and   wherein a second portion of the first edge of the first seating surface of the stern seating is adjacent the fourth edge of the second seating surface of the moveable seating element, the moveable seating element is positioned at the interior region of the passenger area, and the moveable seating element is spaced from the perimeter of the passenger area when the moveable seating element is in the second configuration.