Pontoon boat door assembly and method of use
AssigneeForest River, Inc.
InventorsKevin Bestul, Todd W. Moore
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pontoon boat includes a deck and an interior of the pontoon boat that is located on the deck. The interior of the pontoon boat includes seating for passengers of the pontoon boat. The pontoon boat includes a door movable between a closed position that blocks access to the interior and an open position that facilitates access to the interior. The door includes a door frame and a release assembly movable vertically relative to the door frame from an upper position to a lower position, and the release assembly is positioned at least partially within the door frame. When the release assembly is in the lower position and the door is in the closed position the door is not movable to the open position.
Claims20
A pontoon boat comprising:
- a frame including a first wall and a second wall spaced apart from the first wall;
- a door movable between a closed position in which the door is aligned with the first wall and the second wall and an open position in which the door is not aligned with the first wall and the second wall, the door including a door frame;
- a deck relative to which the door is pivotable, the deck supporting the frame;
- a stopper fixedly coupled to the deck and configured to receive the door in the closed position;
- wherein the door further includes a release assembly positioned at least partially within the door frame and movable vertically relative to the door frame from an upper position to a lower position;
- and
- wherein, when the release assembly is in the lower position and the door is in the closed position, the door is not movable to the open position.
A pontoon boat comprising:
- a deck and an interior of the pontoon boat that is located on the deck, the interior including seating for passengers of the pontoon boat;
- a door movable between a closed position blocking access to the interior and an open position facilitating access to the interior, the door including a door frame;
- wherein the door further includes a release assembly positioned at least partially within the door frame and movable vertically relative to the door frame from an upper position to a lower position;
- and
- wherein, when the release assembly is in the lower position and the door is in the closed position, the door is not movable to the open position.
A method of operating a door for a pontoon boat to block access to an interior of the pontoon boat, the method comprising:
- moving a door of the pontoon boat from an open position in which a release assembly of the door is in a lower position, to a partially open position in which the release assembly of the door is in an upper position;
- moving the door from the partially open position to a closed position in which the release assembly is in the lower position;
- wherein when the release assembly is in the lower position and the door is in the closed position the door is not movable to the open position;
- wherein moving the door from the open position to the partially open position includes initiating contact between the release assembly and a stopper fixedly coupled to the deck;
- and
- wherein when the door is in the partially open position and when the door is in the closed position access by passengers to the interior of the pontoon boat is blocked by the door.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.