# US 2014/0360421 A1 · Vented storage for boat

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- Number: US 2014/0360421 A1
- Document ID: US20140360421A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/915,171
- Filed: 2013-06-11
- Published: 2014-12-11
- Earliest claimed: 2013-06-11
- Assignees: Ranger Boats, LLC
- Applicants: Ranger Boats, LLC
- Inventors: Randy Wayne Hopper; Bradley G. Garringer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140360421A1

## CPC

- B63J 2/06: of engine rooms
- B63H 20/00: Outboard propulsion units, e.g. outboard motors or Z-drives; Arrangements thereof on vessels
- B63H 20/007: {Trolling propulsion units (trolling plates for slowing down B63H25/50; dynamo-electric machines of trolling units H02K)}
- B63J 2/08: of holds (heating or cooling of liquid-freight-carrying tanks B63J2/14; arrangements for stowing frozen goods in vessels B63B25/26)
- B63B 34/05: {Vessels specially adapted for hunting or fishing}
- B63J: AUXILIARIES ON VESSELS
- B63H: MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING (propulsion of air-cushion vehicles B60V1/14; specially adapted for submarines, other than nuclear propulsion, B63G; specially adapted for torpedoes F42B19/00)
- B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06)

## Abstract

A storage system for a boat includes one or more storage compartments situated in a bow of a boat. An air flow path includes an air inlet opening, the storage compartment, and an air outlet opening. A fan is situated to move air along the air flow path. The fan may be positioned proximate one of the air inlet and the air outlet, for example.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A storage compartment system for a boat, comprising:
a first compartment situated in a bow of a boat, the first compartment having an air inlet opening;
a second compartment situated in the bow of the boat, the second compartment having an air outlet opening;
an air flow path including the air inlet opening, the first compartment, the second compartment, and the air outlet opening; and
a fan situated to move air along the air flow path.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The storage compartment system of claim 1, wherein the fan is positioned proximate one of the air inlet and the air outlet.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The storage compartment system of claim 2, wherein the fan is positioned proximate to the air outlet.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The storage compartment system of claim 1, wherein the air flow path includes at least one compartment-to-compartment air-flow vent.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The storage compartment system of claim 4, wherein the compartment-to-compartment air-flow vent is provided in a compartment side wall.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The storage compartment system of claim 1, further comprising:
a third compartment situated in the bow of the boat, the third compartment being positioned along the air flow path, and the air flow path including a plurality of compartment-to-compartment air-flow vents.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The storage compartment system of claim 1, wherein the first and second compartments include upper access doors that form at least a portion of a deck of the bow.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The storage compartment system of claim 1, wherein one of the air inlet and the air outlet is positioned at a port side of the boat, and the other of the air inlet and the air outlet is positioned at a starboard side of the boat.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The storage compartment system of claim 6, wherein the third storage compartment is positioned at a central location along a keel of the boat, wherein the first compartment is positioned at one of a port side or starboard side of the boat, wherein the second compartment is positioned at the other of the port or starboard side of the boat, wherein the third storage compartment is positioned between the first and second compartments, wherein the third storage compartment is a fishing rod storage compartment, and wherein the first, second and third compartments have upper access doors that define at least a portion of a deck of the bow.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The storage compartment system of claim 9, wherein the compartment-to-compartment air-flow vents are provided in compartment side walls.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The storage compartment system of claim 1, wherein the air inlet opening and the air outlet opening face towards a stern of the boat.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The storage compartment system of claim 1, wherein the first and second compartments each include a top surface that forms a deck of the bow.

### Claim 13 (depends on 6)

The storage compartment system of claim 6, wherein the first storage compartment is on one of the port and starboard sides, the second storage compartment is on the other of the port and starboard sides, such that the air flow path loops in a U-shaped path.

### Claim 14 (depends on 6)

The storage compartment system of claim 6, further comprising:
a fourth compartment situated in the bow of the boat, the fourth compartment being positioned along the air flow path.

### Claim 15 (depends on 5)

The storage compartment system of claim 5, wherein the first and second compartments each include an end wall, wherein the air inlet is in one of the first and second compartment end walls, and the outlet is on the other of the first and second compartment end walls.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The storage system of claim 15, wherein the end walls are oriented perpendicular to the compartment side wall.

### Claim 17

A boat, comprising:
a hull;
a storage compartment situated in the hull;
the storage compartment having a top surface forming a first portion of a deck of the boat;
an upper access door movably connected to the top surface to selectively provide access to an inside area of the storage compartment, the upper access door forming a second portion of the deck of the boat;
an air inlet opening;
an air outlet opening;
an air flow path including the air inlet opening, the storage compartment, and the air outlet opening; and
a fan situated to move air along the air flow path.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The boat of claim 17, wherein the inlet opening and the outlet opening are both oriented towards an interior of the boat.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The boat of claim 17, wherein the storage compartment is situated in a bow of the boat.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The boat of claim 17, wherein the fan is positioned proximate one of the air inlet and the air outlet.

### Claim 21 (depends on 17)

The boat of claim 17, wherein one of the air inlet and the air outlet is positioned at a port side of the boat, and the other of the air inlet and the air outlet is positioned at a starboard side of the boat.

### Claim 22 (depends on 17)

The boat of claim 17, further comprising:
a cockpit console, wherein at least one of the inlet opening and the outlet opening is situated under the cockpit console.

### Claim 23 (depends on 17)

The boat of claim 17, further comprising:
a cockpit console; and
a passenger console;
wherein the inlet opening is situated under one of the cockpit console and the passenger console, and the outlet opening is situated under the other of the cockpit console and the passenger console.

### Claim 24 (depends on 17)

The boat of claim 17, further comprising:
a plurality of the storage compartments situated in the hull;
wherein the air flow path includes the plurality of air flow vents.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The boat of claim 24, wherein:
the air inlet is in a first one of the plurality of storage compartments;
the air outlet is in a second one of the plurality of storage compartments; and
the air flow path includes at least one compartment-to-compartment air-flow vent.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The boat of claim 25, wherein:
the plurality of storage compartments includes a third storage compartment and a fourth storage compartment;
the first compartment is positioned along a starboard side of the boat;
the second compartment is positioned along a port side of the boat;
the third storage compartment is positioned at a central location along a keel of the boat;
the fourth storage compartment is positioned along the starboard side of the boat adjacent the first compartment; and
the air flow path includes the third and fourth storage compartments and a plurality of the compartment-to-compartment air-flow vents.

### Claim 27

A method for venting storage compartments of a boat, comprising:
situating a first compartment in a bow of a boat;
providing an air inlet opening in the first compartment;
situating a second compartment in the bow of the boat;
providing an air outlet opening in the second compartment;
providing at least one compartment-to-compartment air-flow vent; and
moving air along an air flow path including the air inlet opening, the first compartment, the compartment-to-compartment air flow vent, the second compartment, and the air outlet opening.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The method of claim 27, wherein moving the air along the airflow path includes operating a fan proximate at least one of the air inlet opening, the compartment-to-compartment air flow vent, and the air outlet opening.

### Claim 29 (depends on 27)

The method of claim 27, further comprising orienting the inlet opening and the outlet opening towards an interior of the boat.

### Claim 30 (depends on 27)

The method of claim 27, further comprising positioning one of the air inlet and the air outlet at a port side of the boat, and the other of the air inlet and the air outlet at a starboard side of the boat.

### Claim 31 (depends on 27)

The method of claim 27, further comprising:
providing first and second top surfaces on the first and second compartments, respectively;
providing first and second upper access doors in the first and second top surfaces, respectively, to selectively provide access to inside areas of the first and second storage compartments; and
wherein the first and second top surfaces and the first and second upper access doors form at least a portion of a deck of the boat.