Stool for paddleable watercraft

Abstract

A stool for a paddleable watercraft having a support surface includes a base omnidirectionally pivotly supporting a saddle. An upper portion of the stool includes a post supporting a saddle for partially supporting a paddler in a sitting position. The base, supported by the support surface of the watercraft, includes a support assembly for the post including a bearing assembly and a flexible, resilient, cylindrical coupling omnidirectionally pivotly supporting the lower end of the post. The saddle includes a tubular member for connecting with the support assembly to place the upper portion in a stowed position wherein the post is substantially horizontal to the support surface.

1 . A stool for a paddleable watercraft having a support surface; said stool comprising:
 an upper portion including:
 a post including:
 a lower end including
 a bearing surface; and 
 
 an upper end; and 
 
 a saddle connected to said upper end of said post for partially supporting a paddler in a sitting position. 
   a base supported by the support surface of the watercraft including:
 a support assembly for said post including:
 a bearing assembly including:
 bearing member including: 
  a bearing surface for omnidirectionally pivotly supporting said lower end of said post; and 
 
 a cylindrical coupling having a normal axis relative to the support surface and including:
 an upper collar connected to said post for supporting said post in a generally normal orientation relative to the support surface; said coupling being flexible and resilient such that said saddle moves omnidirectionally horizontally responsive to horizontal forces on said saddle by a paddler and such that said post is biased to the vertical orientation relative to the support surface. 
 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The stool of  claim 1  wherein:
 at least one said bearing surface of said bearing member or said lower end of said post are adapted for pivoting said post without vertical movement of said post. 
 
     
     
         3 . The stool of  claim 1  wherein:
 said bearing member includes:
 a concave bearing surface; and 
 
 said lower end of said post includes a matching convex bearing surface for pivoting thereupon. 
 
     
     
         4 . The stool of  claim 1  having a stowed position and wherein:
 said saddle includes:
 stowing connecting means for connecting said saddle to said base such that said post is stowed substantially horizontally to the support surface. 
 
 
     
     
         5 . The stool of  claim 1  wherein:
 said saddle includes a tubular member for sitting upon by the paddler including:
 an end adapted for mating with said coupler for connecting said saddle to said coupler such that said post may be stowed substantially horizontally to the support surface. 
 
 
     
     
         6 . In combination:
 a paddleable watercraft including:
 a support surface; and 
   a stool for partially supporting a paddler comprising:
 an upper portion including:
 a post including:
 a lower end including 
  a bearing surface; and 
 an upper end; and 
 
 a saddle connected to said upper end of said post for partially supporting a paddler in a sitting position. 
 
   a base supported by the support surface of the watercraft including:
 a support assembly for said post including:
 a bearing assembly including:
 bearing member including: 
  a bearing surface for omnidirectionally pivotly supporting said lower end of said post; and 
 
 a cylindrical coupling having a normal axis relative to the support surface and including:
 an upper collar connected to said post for supporting said post in a generally normal orientation relative to the support surface; said coupling being flexible and resilient such that said saddle moves omnidirectionally horizontally responsive to horizontal forces on said saddle by a paddler and such that said post is biased to the vertical orientation relative to the support surface. 
 
 
   
     
     
         7 . The combination of  claim 6  wherein:
 at least one said bearing surface of said bearing member or said lower end of said post are adapted for pivoting said post without vertical movement of said post. 
 
     
     
         8 . The combination of  claim 6  wherein:
 said bearing member includes:
 a concave bearing surface; and 
 
 said lower end of said post includes a matching convex bearing surface for pivoting thereupon. 
 
     
     
         9 . The combination of  claim 6 , said stool having a stowed position and wherein:
 said saddle includes:
 stowing connecting means for connecting said saddle to said base such that said post is stowed substantially horizontally to the support surface. 
   
     
     
         10 . The combination of  claim 6  wherein:
 said saddle includes a tubular member for sitting upon by the paddler including:
 an end adapted for mating with said coupler for connecting said saddle to said coupler such that said post may be stowed substantially horizontally to the support surface.