Stowable Boat Top System

Abstract

A boat top system can be easily moved between a deployed state and a stowed state on a boat. The boat top system includes a top plate attached to a frame assembly. The frame assembly includes four legs attached by joints to the underside of the top plate. Two of the four legs include a detachable connection and the other two of the four legs include a joint connection. The detachable connection and the joint connection allow the four legs to easily fold for stowing the boat top system in the stowed state. The detachable connection and joint connection also allow the four legs to easily unfold and deploy the boat top system in the deployed state. A removable insert may be included in the top plate for further features and options.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A boat top system for a boat, the boat top system comprising:
 a top plate having a top surface and a bottom surface; and   a frame assembly comprising four legs, wherein the four legs comprise:
 a port front leg attached at a first joint to a frontward portion of the bottom surface of the top plate; 
 a port rear leg attached at a second joint to a rearward portion of the bottom surface of the top plate; 
 a starboard front leg attached at a third joint to the frontward portion of the bottom surface of the top plate; and 
 a starboard rear leg attached at a fourth joint to the rearward portion of the bottom surface of the top plate, 
 wherein at least two of the four legs each have a detachable connection and at least two of the four legs each have a joint connection configured for moving the boat top assembly between a deployed state and a stowed state. 
   
     
     
         2 . The boat top system of  claim 1 , wherein in the stowed state the boat top assembly lays flat on one of a front deck or an aft deck of the boat. 
     
     
         3 . The boat top system of  claim 1 , wherein the first joint, the second joint, the third joint, and the fourth joint are swivel joints. 
     
     
         4 . The boat top system of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface of the top plate comprises a recess configured to receive the four legs when the boat top assembly is in the stowed state. 
     
     
         5 . The boat top system of  claim 1 , wherein the port front leg and the port rear leg are attached to a port mounting plate and wherein the starboard front leg and the starboard rear leg are attached to a starboard mounting plate. 
     
     
         6 . The boat top system of  claim 5 , wherein the port mounting plate and the starboard mounting plate are generally horizontal and are configured to attach to a deck of the boat. 
     
     
         7 . The boat top system of  claim 6 , wherein the four legs are further configured to attach to a center console of the boat. 
     
     
         8 . The boat top system of  claim 1 , wherein the four legs are configured to attach to a center console of the boat. 
     
     
         9 . The boat top system of  claim 1 , wherein the detachable connection comprises:
 a starboard connector on the starboard front leg; and   a port connector on the port front leg.   
     
     
         10 . The boat top system of  claim 9 , wherein the starboard connector is a cam lock connector that enables the starboard front leg to separate and wherein the port connector is a cam lock connector that enables the port front leg to separate. 
     
     
         11 . The boat top system of  claim 1 , wherein the joint connection comprises:
 a port pivot joint on the port rear leg; and   a starboard pivot joint on the starboard rear leg.   
     
     
         12 . The boat top system of  claim 1 , wherein the joint connection comprises:
 a port rotary joint on the port rear leg; and   a starboard rotary joint on the starboard rear leg.   
     
     
         13 . The boat top system of  claim 1 , wherein in the stowed state the top surface and the bottom surface of the top plate are generally parallel to the front deck. 
     
     
         14 . The boat top system of  claim 1 , wherein in the stowed state portions of the four legs rest on a front deck. 
     
     
         15 . The boat top system of  claim 1 , wherein in the deployed state the top plate is positioned over a center console of the boat. 
     
     
         16 . The boat top system of  claim 1 , wherein the frame assembly further comprises:
 a port gas shock connecting the port front leg and the port rear leg; and   a starboard gas shock connecting the starboard front leg and the starboard rear leg.   
     
     
         17 . The boat top system of  claim 16 , further comprising a motor that actuates the frame assembly to move the boat top system between the stowed state and the deployed state. 
     
     
         18 . The boat top system of  claim 1 , further comprising an insert located in the top plate. 
     
     
         19 . The boat top system of  claim 18 , wherein the top plate comprises a rail system into which the insert slides. 
     
     
         20 . The boat top system of  claim 18 , wherein the insert is one of a solar panel, a translucent material, a cloth, or a support for an upper helm assembly.