Retractable rail apparatus

Abstract

A device can include two or more stanchions each including a hollow interior portion. A device can include two or more spindles, each of the two or more spindles movably arranged within respective ones of the hollow interior portion, the two or more spindles can each including an end portion. A device can include a bar coupled with and extending between the end portion of two adjacent spindles of the two or more spindles. Each of the two or more spindles can be configured to transition between at least a first position including at least a portion of each of the two or more spindles can be received in a respective one of the hollow interior portion and a second position including at least a portion of each of the two or more spindles that can be configured to extend from a respective two or more stanchions further than in the first position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rail apparatus for a watercraft, the rail apparatus comprising:
 two or more stanchions each including a hollow interior portion;   two or more spindles, each of the two or more spindles movably arranged within respective ones of the hollow interior portion, the two or more spindles each including an end portion; and   a bar coupled with and extending between the end portion of two adjacent spindles of the two or more spindles;
 wherein each of the two or more spindles are configured to transition between at least a first position including at least a portion of each of the two or more spindles is received in a respective one of the hollow interior portion and a second position including at least a portion of each of the two or more spindles is configured to extend from a respective two or more stanchions further than in the first position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The rail apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the two or more spindles are configured to transition to an extended configuration;
 wherein, in the extended configuration, a majority of a length of at least one of the two or more spindles is located outside of the hollow interior portion.   
     
     
         3 . The rail apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bar includes a horizontal bar configured to move with the two or more spindles between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         4 . The rail apparatus of  claim 1 , including a locking assembly including a first locking element arranged on at least one of the two or more stanchions and a second locking element cooperatively arranged along at least one of the two or more spindles. 
     
     
         5 . The rail apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the locking assembly includes one or more of a pin lock, a clamp lock, corresponding threads, or a cam lock. 
     
     
         6 . The rail apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one spindle of the two or more spindles is configured to rotate relative to its respective one of the two or more stanchions to move into an extended configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The rail apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one spindle of the two or more spindles is configured to translate from a respective stanchion of the two or more stanchions into an extended configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The rail apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein in the second position at least one spindle of the two or more spindles is configured to be locked with a respective stanchion of the two or more stanchions. 
     
     
         9 . The rail apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the rail apparatus extends along one or more side portions of a seat located on a deck of the watercraft, the rail apparatus including:
 a first bar extending along one side portion facing a stern of the watercraft;   a side bar extending along a second side portion facing one of a port or a starboard side of the watercraft; and   a coupling bar including a curved portion or an angled portion, the coupling bar joining the first bar and the side bar.   
     
     
         10 . An adjustable rail apparatus located proximate to a seat on a watercraft, the adjustable rail apparatus comprising:
 at least two stanchions arranged along a deck of the watercraft proximate to the seat, each stanchion of the at least two stanchions including a lower segment and an upper segment, the lower segment coupled to the deck;   at least two spindles each of the at least two spindles including a coupling segment movably coupled with an upper segment of the at least two stanchions; and   a bar extending between two adjacent spindles of the at least two spindles;
 wherein each of the at least two spindles and the bar are configured to transition from a first orientation to a second orientation, the first orientation more proximate to the deck than the second orientation. 
   
     
     
         11 . The adjustable rail apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein at least one stanchion of the at least two stanchions includes a locking feature, the locking feature having a first position;
 wherein at least one spindle is of the at least two spindles is in a locked arrangement to the at least one stanchion of the at least two stanchions and a second position;   wherein the at least one spindle of the at least two spindles are unlocked from the at least one stanchion of the at least two stanchions;
 wherein the first position characterized by discouraging movement of the at least one spindle relative to the at least one stanchion, the second position permitting relative motion between the at least one spindle and the at least one stanchion. 
   
     
     
         12 . The adjustable rail apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the locking feature includes a pin coupled to a spring, the spring is configured to urge the pin into the first position. 
     
     
         13 . The adjustable rail apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein each stanchion of the at least two stanchions includes a base rail that extends between two adjacent stanchions of the at least stanchions. 
     
     
         14 . The adjustable rail apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein each of the at least two stanchions includes a wall having an inner surface surrounding a cavity extending within a length of the stanchion;
 wherein at least one spindle is translatably arranged within the cavity of an associated stanchion, the at least one spindle including an outer surface of a perimeter wall of the at least one spindle;   wherein at least one of the at least two spindles each includes a flared end located along an end of the coupling segment proximate to an associated stanchion, the flared end radially extending from the outer surface of the at least one spindle toward a respective inner surface of the at least one stanchion of the associated stanchion.   
     
     
         15 . The adjustable rail apparatus of  claim 10 , including a plurality of the at least two stanchions, a plurality of at the at least two spindles, and a plurality of the bar;
 wherein the plurality of the at least two stanchions and the plurality of at the at least two spindles are arranged along one or more side portions of the seat;   wherein the plurality of the bar includes at least one horizontal bar extending between the at least two adjacent spindles and in the second orientation, the at least one horizontal bar is a distance more vertical than a top of the seat.   
     
     
         16 . The adjustable rail apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein at least one spindle is pivotally coupled with the respective at least one stanchion;
 wherein the at least one spindle is rotationally coupled along an upper portion of the respective at least one stanchion.   
     
     
         17 . The adjustable rail apparatus of  claim 16 , including a plurality of the at least two stanchions, a plurality of at the at least two spindles, and a plurality of bars;
 wherein the plurality of bars includes a first bar, a second bar, and a coupling bar joining the first bar and the second bar;   wherein the plurality of the at least two stanchions, the plurality of at the at least two spindles, and the plurality of bars are configured to rotate or pivot as one unit.   
     
     
         18 . The adjustable rail apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the at least two stanchions are coupled with the seat. 
     
     
         19 . A watercraft, comprising:
 a plurality of pontoons;   a deck supported by the plurality of pontoons;   a seat coupled with the deck; and   a rail apparatus coupled to the deck proximate to the seat and arranged on the watercraft between the seat and a perimeter of the watercraft, the rail apparatus including:
 a stationary portion extending vertically from the deck, a movable portion movably coupled to the stationary portion and a horizontal bar extending from one of the stationary portion or the movable portion; 
 wherein the movable portion transitions a position relative to the stationary portion. 
   
     
     
         20 . The watercraft of  claim 19 , wherein the movable portion is translatably or pivotally coupled to the stationary portion.