MOUNTING ASSEMBLY FOR PONTOON BOAT ATTACHMENTS

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/714,503, filed Oct. 31, 2024, and is also a continuation-in-part of prior U.S. Application No. 29/943,496, filed May 22, 2024, the entire contents all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to pontoon boats, and in particular to an attachment for a pontoon boat.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pontoon boats are used on water for recreation including swimming and fishing. Pontoon boats typically include a main boat motor for moving the boats in a relatively quick manner from one area of a body of water to another area. However, a trolling motor can be desired instead of a main motor when moving the pontoon boat in shallow water and/or to allow fishers to maneuver the pontoon boat skillfully and quietly. Furthermore, it can be desirable to maintain the pontoon boat in an area of relatively shallow water using a power pole anchor. It can further be desirous of connecting other items to a pontoon boat in an easy and non-destructive manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, according to one aspect, is directed to a pontoon boat comprising a plurality of pontoons supporting a support structure, with at least one of the pontoons including an eye extending from an end of the at least one of the pontoons, the eye comprising a flange and a hole through the flange. A mounting assembly is connected to the at least one of the pontoons via first fasteners extending through the mounting assembly and into the support structure and a second fastener that extends through the hole of the eye. An additional structure is connected to the mounting assembly such that the mounting assembly connects the additional structure to the pontoons and the support structure. Using openings for the first fasteners in the support structure results in no damage to an upper finished deck surface to connect the mounting assembly to the pontoon boat, such that the upper finished deck surface of the pontoon boat is not destroyed or damaged when connecting the mounting assembly to the pontoon boat.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an improvement to a pontoon boat comprising a plurality of pontoons supporting a support structure and having flooring with an upper finished deck surface, with at least one of the pontoons including an eye extending from an end of the at least one of the pontoons, the eye comprising a flange and a hole through the flange. The improvement comprises a mounting assembly connected to the at least one of the pontoons via first fasteners extending through the mounting assembly and into the support structure and a second fastener that extends through the hole of the eye, and an additional structure connected to the mounting assembly such that the mounting assembly connects the additional structure to the pontoons and the support structure. Using openings for the first fasteners in the support structure results in no damage to an upper finished deck surface to connect the mounting assembly to the pontoon boat, such that the upper finished deck surface of the pontoon boat is not destroyed or damaged when connecting the mounting assembly to the pontoon boat.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method of connecting additional structure to a pontoon boat, the pontoon boat comprising a plurality of pontoons supporting a support structure, with at least one of the pontoons including an eye extending from an end of the at least one of the pontoons, the eye comprising a flange and a hole through the flange, and with first fasteners connecting the pontoons to the support structure. The method comprises removing the first fasteners from openings in the support structure, connecting the mounting assembly to the at least one of the pontoons via extending the first fasteners extending through the mounting assembly and into the openings in the support structure and by extending a second fastener through the hole of the eye, and connecting an additional structure to the mounting assembly such that the mounting assembly connects the additional structure to the pontoons and the support structure. Using openings for the first fasteners in the support structure results in no additional openings needed to be formed in the support structure to connect the mounting assembly to the pontoon boat, such that a finished deck surface of the pontoon boat is not destroyed or damaged when connecting the mounting assembly to the pontoon boat.

A further aspect of the present invention is to provide a pontoon boat comprising a plurality of pontoons supporting a support structure, flooring with an upper finished deck surface located above the support structure, a mounting assembly connected to at least one of the pontoons via fasteners extending through the mounting assembly and into the support structure, and an additional structure connected to the mounting assembly such that the mounting assembly connects the additional structure to the pontoons and the support structure. Using openings for the fasteners in the support structure results in no damage to the upper finished deck surface to connect the mounting assembly to the pontoon boat, such that the upper finished deck surface of the pontoon boat is not destroyed or damaged when connecting the mounting assembly to the pontoon boat.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a pontoon boat comprising a plurality of pontoons supporting a support structure, flooring with an upper finished deck surface located above the support structure, a mounting assembly connected to at least one of the pontoons via fasteners extending through the mounting assembly and into the support structure, with the mounting assembly having a horizontal plate and a vertical plate, and a power pole anchor connected to the vertical plate of the mounting assembly such that the mounting assembly connects the power pole anchor to the pontoons and the support structure. The horizontal plate of the mounting assembly is connected to a bottom horizontal surface of the support structure and the vertical plate of the mounting assembly is substantially flush with a periphery of the support structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by way of example and should not be construed as being limited to the specific embodiments depicted in the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a pontoon boat employing a pair of mounting assemblies according to the present invention, including a front mounting assembly and a rear mounting assembly.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a frame member and pontoons of the pontoon boat.

FIG. 2A is a side view of a rear area of a pontoon of the pontoon boat.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the front mounting assembly of the present invention connected to the pontoon boat, and a trolling motor on the front attachment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the front mounting assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the front mounting assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the front mounting assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the front mounting assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a top view of a mounting plate of the front mounting assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a top view of a connection plate of the front mounting assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of the rear mounting assembly of the present invention connected to the pontoon boat, and a pole anchor on the front attachment.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the rear mounting assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a front view of the rear mounting assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a side view of the rear mounting assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a top view of the rear mounting assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the front mounting assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a rear mounting assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a mounting assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a rear mounting assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 19 illustrates a front exploded view of a fastener assembly for connecting the pontoon mounting assemblies to the pontoon boat.

The specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For purposes of description herein, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined herein. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless expressly stated otherwise.

The reference number 10 (FIG. 1) generally designates a pontoon boat incorporating aspects of the present invention. The pontoon boat 10 includes a plurality of pontoons 12 to keep the pontoon boat 10 afloat, a flooring 14 with an upper finished deck surface (e.g., having a surface finish and/or being made of wood or vinyl or any other surface well known to those skilled in the art) located on the pontoons 12 and a seating area 16, and a motor 18 for propelling the pontoon boat 10 located at a rear of the pontoon boat 10. The illustrated pontoon boat 10 includes a plurality of pontoon mounting assemblies 100 for connecting additional structures to the pontoon boat 10. In the illustrated example, the pontoon mounting assemblies 100 include a front mounting assembly 20 which is shown as supporting a trolling motor 22 and a rear mounting assembly 24 which is shown as supporting a pole anchor 26. The illustrated front mounting assembly 20 and the rear mounting assembly 24 are configured to be connected to the pontoon boat 10 using existing structure of the pontoon boat 10 without requiring any further structure and without destroying or damaging any finished deck surface of the pontoon boat 10. It is further contemplated that, at least in some embodiments, the illustrated front mounting assembly 20 and the rear mounting assembly 24 could be configured to be connected to the pontoon boat 10 without destroying or damaging any parts of the pontoon boat 10.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of a portion of a pontoon boat 10 as is well known to those skilled in the art. The portion of the pontoon boat 10 shown in FIG. 2 includes a plurality of the pontoons 12 that has a support structure 28 thereon. The support structure 28 supports the seating area 16 and other portions of the pontoon boat 10 as is well known to those skilled in the art. The support structure 28 includes a frame member 30 connected to tops of the pontoon 12 and a flooring panel 32 connected to the frame member 30. The frame member 30 can be a plurality of cross bars 34 having any cross-section shapes and the cross bars 34 can be separate as shown or can include members connecting the cross bars 34. The flooring panel 32 is connected to the cross bars 34 employing fasteners 36 (e.g., screws, bolts, etc.) extending into (and possibly through) openings 35 in the cross bars 34 and possibly into the flooring panel 32. It is contemplated that other elements could be connected to the pontoons 12 as an alternative to or in addition to the flooring panel 32 including saddle brackets, wire brackets and splash fins. However, in an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, there are preexisting fasteners 36 before the front mounting assembly 20 and/or the rear mounting assembly 24 are connected to the pontoon boat 10. As shown in FIG. 2, at least one pontoon 12 includes a nose cone 38 having a bow eye 40 comprising a vertical front flange 42 having a hole 44 therethrough. As shown in FIG. 2A, at least one pontoon 12 includes a rear end cap 46 having a stern eye 48 comprising a vertical rear flange 50 having a hole 52 therethrough.

In the illustrated example, the pontoon mounting assemblies 100 are configured to be connected to the portions of the pontoon boat 10 as illustrated in FIG. 2 to provide support for additional structures. Each of the mounting assemblies 100 can include a horizontal mounting area 102 (see, for example, FIGS. 6 and 13) for connection to a vertically oriented hole, such as the hole 44 in the bow eye 40 or the hole 52 in the stern eye 48. An additional fastener 104 (see, for example, FIGS. 3 and 10) extends in a horizontal mounting direction through the vertically oriented hole 44, 52. Each of the mounting assemblies 100 also includes a vertical mounting area 106 (see, for example, FIGS. 4, 5, 11 and 14) for connection to a vertically oriented opening in the support structure 28. The preexisting fasteners 36 extend in a vertical mounting direction through the vertically oriented openings 35 and into the cross bars 34 (or similar structure). Therefore, the pontoon mounting assemblies 100 can be connected to the pontoon boat 10 without requiring additional holes to be formed in the pontoon boat 10 to prevent destroying or damaging any further parts of the pontoon boat 10. However, it is also contemplated that the fasteners 36 could be inserted into holes in the support structure 28 that are specifically made to mount the mounting assemblies 100 thereto. Nevertheless, even when additional holes are specifically made to mount the mounting assemblies 100, the finished deck surface of the pontoon boat 10 is not damaged.

It is contemplated that any further structure can be connected to the illustrated mounting assemblies 100. For example, the trolling motor 22 or the pole anchor 26 can be connected to the mounting assemblies 100. Therefore, by using openings for the fasteners 36 already formed in the support structure 28, no additional openings are needed to be formed in the support structure 28 to connect the mounting assemblies 100 to the pontoon boat 10 such that the finished deck surface of the pontoon boat 10 is not destroyed or damaged by adding the mounting assemblies 100 to the pontoon boat 10.

FIG. 3 illustrates the mounting assemblies 100 in an embodiment of the front mounting assembly 20. While any structure could be connected to the front mounting assembly 20, FIG. 3 illustrates the trolling motor 22 connected thereto. The trolling motor 22 can include any trolling motor well known to those skilled in the art, including a trolling motor 22 having a stationary bracket 58 and a motor portion 60 that can rotate about the stationary bracket 58 to place a trolling motor propeller (not shown) into the water. Such trolling motors 22 are well known to those skilled in the art.

In the illustrated example, the front mounting assembly 20 (FIGS. 4-7) is configured to connect the trolling motor 22 to the pontoon boat 10. The front mounting assembly 20 includes a connection portion 54 and a mounting portion 56. The connection portion 54 is for connecting to the pontoon boat 10 and the mounting portion 56 is for connecting to a further structure, such as the trolling motor 22. The mounting portion 56 can have any configuration to conform to the stationary bracket 58 of the trolling motor 22. While a particular configuration of a mounting portion 56 of the front mounting assembly 20 is illustrated, it is contemplated that the mounting portion 56 can be configured to complement the mounting portion 56 of any particular trolling motor 22 (or any other additional structure).

The illustrated connection portion 54 of the front mounting assembly 20 is configured to be connected to the pontoon boat 10. The connection portion 54 includes a pair of L-shaped mounting arms 62. Each of the L-shaped mounting arms 62 includes a vertical plate 64 and a horizontal plate 66. Moreover, each of the L-shaped mounting arms 62 includes a front portion 68 wherein the vertical plates 64 thereof are substantially parallel and a rear portion 70 wherein the vertical plates 64 thereof extend away from each other. The horizontal plate 66 includes apertures 72 therethrough and define the vertical mounting area 106 of the mounting assembly 100. The apertures 72 are configured to be aligned with various openings 35 in the frame member 30 such that the fasteners 36 can extend through the apertures 72 and the openings 35 to connect the front mounting assembly 20 to the pontoon boat 10. It is contemplated that the angle of the rear portions 70 and the locations and number of the apertures 72 can vary to accommodate the location of openings 35 in different pontoon boats 10.

In the illustrated example, the front portion 68 of the L-shaped mounting arms 62 of the front mounting assembly 20 is also configured to be connected to the pontoon boat 10 and to support the mounting portion 56. The front portion 68 of the L-shaped mounting arms 62 each have an aligned vertical aperture 74 that define the horizontal mounting area 102 of the mounting assembly 100. It is contemplated that a support panel 77 can surround each of the vertical aperture 74 and be connected to the vertical plate 64 on either the inside (as shown) or the outside (or both). The vertical plates 64 of the front portion 68 of the L-shaped mounting arms 62 of the front mounting assembly 20 are configured to straddle the bow eye 40 such that the additional fastener 104 can extend through one of the vertical apertures 74, the hole 44 in the bow eye 40 and then through the other vertical aperture 74 to connect the front mounting assembly 20 to the bow eye 40 (along with a nut or similar part as shown).

In the illustrated example, the front portion 68 of the L-shaped mounting arms 62 of the front mounting assembly 20 is also configured to be connected to the pontoon boat 10 and to support the mounting portion 56. The mounting portion 56 of the front mounting assembly 20 includes a C-shaped support plate 76 and an L-shaped base plate 78. The C-shaped support plate 76 (see FIG. 9) has a front panel 80 and a pair of side panels 82. Each of the side panels 82 have inwardly facing lips 84. The C-shaped support plate 76 is connected to a top of the front portion 68 of the L-shaped mounting arms 62 as shown in FIGS. 5-7. The L-shaped base plate 78 includes a front plate 86 located in front of the front panel 80 of the C-shaped support plate 76 and a top plate 88 located on top of the C-shaped support plate 76. The top plate 88 of the L-shaped base plate 78 has a rear edge 90 configured to abut against a front edge 92 of the flooring 14 as shown in FIG. 3. The top plate 88 can also have any configuration to support or connect to the structure connected thereto, for example to support the stationary bracket 58 of the trolling motor 22.

The illustrated rear mounting assembly 24 (FIGS. 11-14) is configured to connect the pole anchor 26 to the pontoon boat 10. The rear mounting assembly 24 includes a mounting plate 120 configured to have a support plate 122 of the pole anchor 26 connected thereto. It is contemplated that any pole anchor 26 could be employed. For example, the pole anchor 26 could be the Power-Pole® Sportsman II 2.0 Shallow Water Anchor as sold by JL Marine Systems, Inc. of Tampa, Florida. The pole anchor 26 includes a movable arm connected to the support plate 122 that selectively moves a pole into the ground near the pontoon boat 10 to maintain the pontoon boat 10 in a location near the ground having the pole therein.

In the illustrated example, the rear mounting assembly 24 includes a top horizontal plate 124, a pair of rear connection plates 126 and a T-shaped support panel 128. The top horizontal plate 124 is substantially rectangular and the rear connection plates 126 are connected to a bottom surface 132 of the top horizontal plate 124 and extend rearward therefrom. The rear connection plates 126 each include apertures 130 therethrough and define the vertical mounting area 106 of the mounting assembly 100. The apertures 130 are configured to be aligned with various openings 35 in the frame member 30 such that the fasteners 36 can extend through the apertures 130 and the openings 35 to connect the rear mounting assembly 24 to the pontoon boat 10. It is configured that the number of apertures 130 and their location can vary to accommodate the location of openings 35 in different pontoon boats 10. The T-shaped support panel 128 extends downwardly from the bottom surface of the top horizontal plate 124 and includes the mounting plate 120 and a connection plate 134 connected to a middle of the mounting plate 120. The connection plate 134 includes a rear vertical aperture 136 that defines the horizontal mounting area 102 of the mounting assembly 100. The connection plate 134 is configured to abut the stern eye 48 such that the additional fastener 104 can extend through the vertical apertures 136 and the hole 52 in the stern eye 48 to connect the rear mounting assembly 24 to the stern eye 48 (along with a nut or similar part as shown).

FIG. 15 illustrates another of the pontoon mounting assemblies 100 comprising a second embodiment of the front mounting assembly 20a. Since the second embodiment of the front mounting assembly 20a is similar to the previously described front mounting assembly 20, similar parts appearing in FIGS. 1-9 and FIG. 15, respectively, are represented by the same, corresponding reference number, except for the suffix “a” in the numerals of the latter. The second embodiment of the front mounting assembly 20a includes a different mounting portion 200 on the horizontal plates 66a of the pair of L-shaped mounting arms 62a of the connection portion 54a at the front portion 68a thereof. The mounting portion 200 includes a pair of horizontal tubes 202 on the horizontal plates 66a that support a horizontal support plate 204. The horizontal support plate 204 is configured to have the stationary bracket 58 of the trolling motor 22 connected thereto.

Further embodiments of the pontoon mounting assemblies 100 include the rear mounting assemblies 24a-24c shown in FIGS. 16-18. Each of these rear mounting assemblies 24a-24c connect to the pontoon boat 10 as in the first embodiment of the rear mounting assembly 24 as described above, but have different peripheral shapes for the top horizontal plate 124 and the T-shaped support panel 128.

FIG. 19 illustrates a fastener assembly 500 for connecting the pontoon mounting assemblies 100 to the pontoon boat 10 when the pontoon mounting assemblies 100 are connected to the support structure 28 of the pontoon boat 10 wherein the support structure 28 does not have a pre-existing fastener receiving threaded opening. The fastener assembly 500 includes a T-shaped fastener 502 having a top bar 504 and a threaded post 506. A nut 508 of the fastener assembly 500 is configured to be threaded onto the threaded post 506 of the T-shaped fastener 502. It is contemplated that the T-shaped fastener 502 could have a nut with an internally threaded opening instead of the threaded post 506, with a typical screw fastener being screwed into the internally threaded nut to connect the fastener assembly together. The illustrated threaded post 506 is configured to extend through an opening in the support structure 28 of the pontoon boat 10, with the top bar 504 resting on a top of the support surface. The threaded post 506 can extend through the apertures 72 of the horizontal plate 66 of the vertical mounting area 106 of the front mounting assembly 20. The threaded post 506 can also extend through the top horizontal plate 124 and/or the apertures 130 in the rear connection plates 126 of the rear mounting assembly 24.

Therefore, embodiments of the pontoon boat 10 of the present invention can include embodiments with no additional structure needed to connect the mounting assembly 100 to the pontoon boat either with no damage to any part of the pontoon boat or at least no damage to a finished deck surface of the pontoon boat. Furthermore, it is contemplated that the mounting assemblies 100 could be connected to the pontoon boat 10 employing only vertical fasteners extending into the support structure 28 without using a horizontal fastener or any connection to the stern eye or bow eye. Moreover, instead of using a pre-existing opening for fasteners in the support structure of the pontoon boat 10 as discussed above, it is contemplated that the mounting assembly 100 can be connected to the pontoon boat 10 using newly created holes in the support structure.

Although particular preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the present invention.