Adjustable height upper deck system and method

Abstract

An adjustable height boat includes a lower deck and an upper deck, movable relative to the lower deck. The upper deck is configured to support one or more passengers and facilitates movement of the passengers in an upright position. The adjustable height boat include a plurality of telescopic support legs. In one embodiment, the plurality of telescopic support legs includes four columns having actuators therein, which are configured to extend and retract in response to signals received from a controller to move the upper deck from a first position in which the upper deck is a first height above the lower deck and a second position in which the upper deck is a second height above the lower deck.

1 . An adjustable height boat, comprising:
 a lower deck;   an upper deck;   a plurality of telescopic support legs each of which extends and retracts, wherein each of the telescopic support legs have one end operatively connected to the lower deck and another end operatively connected to the upper deck, wherein an extension of the plurality of telescopic support legs raises the upper deck with respect to the lower deck and a retraction of the plurality of telescopic support legs lowers the upper deck with respect to the lower deck;   wherein the upper deck is movable from a first position in which the upper deck is a first height above the lower deck and a second position in which the upper deck is a second height above the lower deck.   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable height boat of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of telescopic support legs include:
 a first column and a second column, each positioned toward a rearward end of the boat and extending upward from the lower deck; and 
 a third column and a forth column, each positioned forward of the first column and the second column and extending upward from the lower deck. 
 
     
     
         3 . The adjustable height boat of  claim 2 , wherein
 the first column and the second column are spaced apart a first distance from each other in a lateral direction;   wherein the third column and the forth column are spaced apart a second distance from each other in the lateral direction;   wherein the first column and the second column are spaced apart a third distance from the third column and the fourth column in a fore-aft direction.   
     
     
         4 . The adjustable height boat of  claim 1 , wherein the upper deck includes a walkable surface that is flat, continuous, planar and configured to support a passenger in an upright position. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustable height boat of  claim 4 , wherein a length of the walkable surface is at least 20% of a length of the adjustable height boat defined from a bow to a stern of the adjustable height boat. 
     
     
         6 . The adjustable height boat of  claim 5 , wherein the upper deck includes a first side rail and a second rail positioned on opposite sides of the walkable surface and each extending along an entirety of the walkable surface, and a front rail positioned at a front portion of the walkable surface. 
     
     
         7 . The adjustable height boat of  claim 3 , wherein when viewed in a side view, the first column, the second column, the third column, and the fourth column are each perpendicular to the walkable surface when the upper deck is in the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         8 . The adjustable height boat of  claim 3 , further comprising first, second, third, and fourth actuators positioned in the first, the second, the third, and the fourth columns, respectively;
 wherein each actuator is configured to extend and retract to move the upper deck between the first position and the second position.   
     
     
         9 . The adjustable height boat of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 at least one sensor configured to detect obstructions exterior to the upper deck; and   a controller configured to receive signals from the at least one sensor indicative of detected obstructions, wherein the controller is configured to cause extension or retraction of the first, the second, the third, and the fourth actuators in response to the signals received from the at least one sensor.   
     
     
         10 . The adjustable height boat of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a ladder having a first end and a second end operatively connected to the lower deck and spaced from the first end; and 
 a track system operatively connected to the upper deck and operatively connected to the first end of the ladder, wherein the track system adjusts a position of the first end of the ladder with respect to the deck in response to the upper deck being raised or lowered. 
 
     
     
         11 . The adjustable height boat of  claim 10  wherein the ladder includes a first section including the first end of the ladder and a second section including the second end of the ladder, wherein the first section is rotatably connected to the second section and the first section rotates with respect to the second section in response to the upper deck being raised and lowered. 
     
     
         12 . The adjustable height boat of  claim 11  wherein the track system includes a track bracket having a slot and the first end of the ladder slidingly engages the slot in response to the upper deck being raised and lowered. 
     
     
         13 . The adjustable height boat of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first siderail fixedly connected to the upper deck; and 
 a second siderail rotatably coupled to the upper deck and to the first siderail, the second siderail having a raised position and a lowered position. 
 
     
     
         14 . The adjustable height boat of  claim 13 , further comprising a backrest rotatably coupled to the upper deck and movable between a plurality of inclined positions and the second siderail includes a siderail plate to fix the backrest in one of the plurality of inclined positions. 
     
     
         15 . The adjustable height boat of  claim 14  wherein the siderail plate includes a plurality of plate apertures and the backrest includes a backrest aperture, wherein alignment of the backrest aperture with one of plurality of plate apertures locates the backrest at one of the plurality of inclined positions. 
     
     
         16 . The adjustable height boat of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a slide fixedly coupled to the upper deck, wherein the extension and retraction of the plurality of telescopic support legs raises and lowers the slide with respect to the lower deck. 
 
     
     
         17 . The adjustable height boat of  claim 16  further comprising a slide support structure operatively connected to the slide and to an underneath portion of the upper deck, wherein a first end of the slide is fixedly connected to the upper deck and the slide support structure is fixedly coupled to the slide. 
     
     
         18 . The adjustable height boat of  claim 17  further comprising a plurality of gear hooks, wherein each of the plurality of gear hooks is coupled to the slide support structure. 
     
     
         19 . The adjustable height boat of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable height boat is a toon boat. 
     
     
         20 . A telescoping upper deck assembly for an adjustable height boat, comprising:
 a first column and a second column spaced apart a first distance from each other in a lateral direction;   a third column and a forth column spaced apart a second distance from each other in the lateral direction;   wherein the first column and the second column are spaced apart a third distance from the third column and the fourth column in a fore-aft direction;   an upper deck supported by the first column, the second column, the third column, and the forth column;   wherein the first column, the second column, the third column, and the fourth column each include a moveable section, a fixed section, and an actuator positioned within the moveable section and the fixed section;   wherein the upper deck is movable relative to the fixed section of each of the first column, the second column, the third column, and the fourth column via extension and retraction of each actuator.   
     
     
         21 . A method of operating a telescoping upper deck assembly for an adjustable height boat, comprising:
 receiving, via a controller, an instruction to move an upper deck of the adjustable height boat from: (i) a first position in which the upper deck is a first height above a lower deck of the adjustable height boat and (ii) a second position in which the upper deck is a second height above the lower deck of the adjustable height boat; and   sending signals from the controller to first, second, third, and fourth actuators, which are positioned within first, second, third, and fourth columns, respectively, that cooperate to support the upper deck above the lower deck, the signals causing movement of the upper deck from the first position to the second position based on the instruction received via the controller.