Gate system for a pontoon boat

Abstract

A gate system for a pontoon boat is provided. The gate system may comprise a gate, a guide, and a guide interface member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pontoon boat comprising:
 a plurality of pontoons;   a deck supported by the plurality of pontoons;   an enclosure system supported by the deck, the enclosure system including a wall surrounding the deck;   a gate rotatably coupled to the wall;   a guide interface member coupled to the gate via a mounting plate;   a first guide supported by the deck, wherein the first guide is:
 disposed at a first side of the gate; and 
 configured to receive the guide interface member when the gate is in a first position; and 
   a second guide supported by the deck, wherein the second guide is:
 disposed at a second side of the gate that is opposite the first side of the gate; and 
 configured to receive the guide interface member when the gate is in a second position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The pontoon boat of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first guide includes a first guide trough;   the second guide includes a second guide trough; and   the guide interface member is configured to be received within either the first guide trough or the second guide trough.   
     
     
         3 . The pontoon boat of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first guide trough defines a first stopped open position at a first opening angle; and   the second guide trough defines a second stopped open position at a second opening angle.   
     
     
         4 . The pontoon boat of  claim 1 , wherein the first guide and the second guide are discontinuous from each other. 
     
     
         5 . The pontoon boat of  claim 1 , wherein the first guide and the second guide are integral with each other. 
     
     
         6 . The pontoon boat of  claim 1 , wherein the guide interface member is positioned between the first guide and the second guide when the gate is in a third position. 
     
     
         7 . The pontoon boat of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first guide and the second guide includes multiple guide troughs positioned at different opening angles. 
     
     
         8 . The pontoon boat of  claim 7 , wherein the multiple guide troughs are positioned at opening angles selected from 30°, 45°, 60°, 120°, and 180°. 
     
     
         9 . A pontoon boat comprising:
 a plurality of pontoons;   a deck supported by the plurality of pontoons;   an enclosure system supported by the deck, the enclosure system including a wall surrounding the deck;   a gate rotatably coupled to the wall;   a guide interface member coupled to the gate via a mounting plate;   a first guide supported by the deck, wherein the first guide has a first guide trough and is:
 disposed at a first side of the gate; and 
 configured to receive the guide interface member when the gate is in a first position; and 
   a second guide supported by the deck, wherein the second guide has a second guide trough and is:
 disposed at a second side of the gate that is opposite the first side of the gate; and 
 configured to receive the guide interface member when the gate is in a second position. 
   
     
     
         10 . The pontoon boat of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the guide interface member is configured to be received within either the first guide trough or the second guide trough   the first guide trough defines a first stopped open position at a first opening angle; and   the second guide trough defines a second stopped open position at a second opening angle.   
     
     
         11 . The pontoon boat of  claim 9 , wherein the first guide and the second guide are discontinuous from each other. 
     
     
         12 . The pontoon boat of  claim 9 , wherein the first guide and the second guide are integral with each other. 
     
     
         13 . The pontoon boat of  claim 9 , wherein the guide interface member is positioned between the first guide and the second guide when the gate is in a third position. 
     
     
         14 . The pontoon boat of  claim 9 , wherein:
 each of the first guide and the second guide includes additional guide troughs positioned at different opening angles; and   the additional guide troughs are positioned at opening angles selected from 30°, 45°, 60°, 120°, and 180°.   
     
     
         15 . A pontoon boat comprising:
 a plurality of pontoons;   a deck supported by the plurality of pontoons;   an enclosure system supported by the deck, the enclosure system including a wall surrounding the deck;   a gate rotatably coupled to the wall;   a guide interface member coupled to the gate via a mounting plate;   a first guide supported by the deck, wherein the first guide is:
 disposed at a first side of the gate; and 
 configured to receive the guide interface member when the gate is in a first position; and 
   a second guide supported by the deck, wherein the second guide is:
 disposed at a second side of the gate that is opposite the first side of the gate; and 
 configured to receive the guide interface member when the gate is in a second position where the guide interface member is positioned between the first guide and the second guide when the gate is in a third position. 
   
     
     
         16 . The pontoon boat of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the first guide includes a first guide trough;   the second guide includes a second guide trough;   the guide interface member is configured to be received within either the first guide trough or the second guide trough;   
     
     
         17 . The pontoon boat of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the first guide trough defines a first stopped open position at a first opening angle; and   the second guide trough defines a second stopped open position at a second opening angle.   
     
     
         18 . The pontoon boat of  claim 15 , wherein the first guide and the second guide are discontinuous from each other. 
     
     
         19 . The pontoon boat of  claim 15 , wherein the first guide and the second guide are integral with each other. 
     
     
         20 . The pontoon boat of  claim 15 , wherein:
 each of the first guide and the second guide includes multiple guide troughs positioned at different opening angles; and   the multiple guide troughs are positioned at opening angles selected from 30°, 45°, 60°, 120°, and 180°.