System for Attaching Accessories to a Boat or a Marine Environment

Abstract

A system for attaching accessories to a boat that is moveable between a first, stored configuration and a second, expanded configuration. The system includes a boat, a first leg frame member, a second leg frame member, an attachment device, a first support member, and a second support member. The first leg frame member has a proximal first end attached to the boat such that a portion of the first leg frame member is pivotable relative to the boat. The second leg frame member has a proximal second end attached to the boat such that a portion of the second leg frame member is pivotable relative to the boat. The attachment device is mounted to the first leg frame member and the second leg frame member. The first support member is attached to the first leg frame member and the second support member is attached to the second leg frame member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for attaching accessories to a boat, the system moveable between a first, stored configuration and a second, expanded configuration, the system comprising:
 a boat having a deck;   a first leg frame member having a proximal first end and a distal first end, the proximal first end attached to the boat such that a portion of the first leg frame member is pivotable relative to the boat, the distal first end disposed a first distance from the deck when said system is in the first, stored configuration, the distal first end disposed a second distance from the deck when said system is in the second, expanded configuration, the second distance being greater than the first distance;   a second leg frame member having a proximal second end and a distal second end, the proximal second end attached to the boat such that a portion of the second leg frame member is pivotable relative to the boat, the distal second end disposed a third distance from the deck when said system is in the first, stored configuration, the distal second end disposed a fourth distance from the deck when said system is in the second, expanded configuration, the fourth distance being greater than the third distance;   an attachment device mounted to the first leg frame member and the second leg frame member;   a first support member having a first end attached to one of the first leg frame member or the attachment device and a second end attached to one of the boat or the first leg frame member; and   a second support member having a first end attached to one of the second leg frame member or the attachment device and a second end attached to one of the boat or the second leg frame member.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the first leg frame member is disposed substantially parallel to the deck when said system is in the first, stored configuration; and
 wherein the portion of the second leg frame member is disposed substantially parallel to the deck when said system is in the first, stored configuration.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the first leg frame member is disposed at a first angle relative to the deck when said system is in the second, expanded configuration;
 wherein the portion of the second leg frame member is disposed at a second angle relative to the deck when said system is in the second, expanded configuration; and   wherein each of the first angle and the second angle is greater than 90 degrees.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the boat has a bow, a stern, a port side, and a starboard side;
 wherein the proximal first end is attached to a starboard side of the deck; and   wherein the proximal second end is attached to a port side of the deck.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first support member is attached to the deck; and
 wherein the second support member is attached to the deck.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the boat has a bow, a stern, a port side, a starboard side, and a fence;
 wherein the first support member is attached to the deck between the fence and the starboard side; and   wherein the second support member is attached to the deck between the fence and the port side.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first leg frame member has a base member attached to the boat, an intermediate member, and a top member, the intermediate member of the first leg frame member attached to the base member of the first leg frame member, and the top member of the first leg frame member attached to the intermediate member of the first leg frame member; and
 wherein the second leg frame member has a base member attached to the boat, an intermediate member, and a top member, the intermediate member of the second leg frame member attached to the base member of the second leg frame member, and the top member of the second leg frame member attached to the intermediate member of the second leg frame member.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the intermediate member of the first leg frame member is pivotably attached to the base member of the first leg frame member; and
 wherein the intermediate member of the second leg frame member is pivotably attached to the base member of the second leg frame member.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first leg frame member has a base member and an intermediate member, the base member of the first leg frame member attached to the boat and defining a track, the intermediate member of the first leg frame member slidably disposed within the track of the base member of the first leg frame member and moveable between a first position relative to the track of the base member of the first leg frame member when said system is in the first, stored configuration and a second position relative to the track of the base member of the first leg frame member when said system is in the second, expanded configuration;
 wherein the second leg frame member has a base member and an intermediate member, the base member of the second leg frame member attached to the boat and defining a track, the intermediate member of the second leg frame member slidably disposed within the track of the base member of the second leg frame member and moveable between a first position relative to the track of the base member of the second leg frame member when said system is in the first, stored configuration and a second position relative to the track of the base member of the second leg frame member when said system is in the second, expanded configuration;   wherein the first support member is attached to the base member of the first leg frame member; and   wherein the second support member is attached to the base member of the second leg frame member.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the intermediate member of the first leg frame member is pivotably attached to the base member of the first leg frame member; and
 wherein the intermediate member of the second leg frame member is pivotably attached to the base member of the second leg frame member.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first support member is pivotably attached to the base member of the first leg frame member; and
 wherein the second support member is pivotably attached to the base member of the second leg frame member.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein each of the first support member and the second support member is telescopic. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the intermediate member of the first leg frame member has a first end and a second end, the first end of the intermediate member of the first leg frame member disposed a first distance from the bow when in the first position and disposed a second distance from the bow when in the second position, the second distance being less than the first distance. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first support member is attached to the first leg frame member; and
 wherein the second support member is attached to the second leg frame member.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first support member is a flexible support member; and
 wherein the second support member is a flexible support member.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an accessory attachable to the attachment device. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the accessory is selected from the group consisting of a hammock, a chair, and a platform. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a third flexible support member attached to the boat and the first leg frame member; and
 further comprising a fourth flexible support member attached to the boat and the second leg frame member.   
     
     
         19 . A system for attaching accessories to a boat, the system moveable between a first, stored configuration and a second, expanded configuration, the system comprising:
 a boat having a deck;   a first leg frame member having a proximal first end and a distal first end, the proximal first end attached to the boat such that a portion of the first leg frame member is pivotable relative to the boat, the portion of the first leg frame member disposed substantially parallel to the deck when said system is in the first, stored configuration, the portion of the first leg frame member disposed at a first angle relative to the deck when said system is in the second, expanded configuration, the distal first end disposed a first distance from the deck when said system is in the first, stored configuration, the distal first end disposed a second distance from the deck when said system is in the second, expanded configuration, the second distance being greater than the first distance;   a second leg frame member having a proximal second end and a distal second end, the proximal second end attached to the boat such that a portion of the second leg frame member is pivotable relative to the boat, the portion of the second leg frame member disposed substantially parallel to the deck when said system is in the first, stored configuration, the portion of the second leg frame member disposed at a second angle relative to the deck when said system is in the second, expanded configuration, the distal second end disposed a third distance from the deck when said system is in the first, stored configuration, the distal second end disposed a fourth distance from the deck when said system is in the second, expanded configuration, the fourth distance being greater than the third distance;   an attachment device mounted to the first leg frame member and the second leg frame member;   a first support member having a first end attached to one of the first leg frame member or the attachment device and a second end attached to one of the boat or the first leg frame member; and   a second support member having a first end attached to one of the second leg frame member or the attachment device and a second end attached to one of the boat or the second leg frame member;   wherein each of the first angle and the second angle is greater than 90 degrees.   
     
     
         20 . A system for attaching accessories to a boat, the system moveable between a first, stored configuration and a second, expanded configuration, the system comprising:
 a boat having a deck;   a first leg frame member having a proximal first end, a distal first end, a base member, and an intermediate member, the base member of the first leg frame member attached to the boat such that the intermediate member of the first leg frame member is pivotable relative to the boat, the intermediate member of the first leg frame member disposed substantially parallel to the deck when said system is in the first, stored configuration, the intermediate member of the first leg frame member disposed at a first angle relative to the deck when said system is in the second, expanded configuration, the distal first end disposed a first distance from the deck when said system is in the first, stored configuration, the distal first end disposed a second distance from the deck when said system is in the second, expanded configuration, the second distance being greater than the first distance;   a second leg frame member having a proximal second end, a distal second end, a base member, and an intermediate member, the base member of the second leg frame member attached to the boat such that the intermediate member of the second leg frame member is pivotable relative to the boat, the intermediate member of the second leg frame member disposed substantially parallel to the deck when said system is in the first, stored configuration, the intermediate member of the second leg frame member disposed at a second angle relative to the deck when said system is in the second, expanded configuration, the distal second end disposed a third distance from the deck when said system is in the first, stored configuration, the distal second end disposed a fourth distance from the deck when said system is in the second, expanded configuration, the fourth distance being greater than the third distance;   an attachment device mounted to the first leg frame member and the second leg frame member;   a first support member having a first end attached to the first leg frame member and a second end attached to the first leg frame member; and   a second support member having a first end attached to the second leg frame member and a second end attached to the second leg frame member;   wherein each of the first angle and the second angle is greater than 90 degrees.