US3584704A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Boarding step for boats
Assignee: Chris Craft Industries Inc
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Filing: 1969-09-24
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Granted: 1971-06-15
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Expires: 1989-09-24
Abstract
Abstract A light-draft marine craft, preferably of the inboard motor type, has a prefabricated boarding step unit built into one or both of the beam sides thereof. The unit is outboard of the boat hull in its entirety and is mounted a trifle above the chine and substantially forward of the transom. A step device of the unit has spaced rigid legs slidable in the tubular sockets recessed and sealed in the hull, extending in the inboard and upward direction. The step device is spring-biased upwardly in its leg sockets, and has a bottom cross-tread, step or stirrup piece which is mounted from outboard by a water skier, swimmer or other user, whose weight draws the step device downwardly against its spring bias.
Inventors
- 👤 John A Eckmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 15:30
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B27/00; B63B27/14; B63B2027/141
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
A boarding step structure for application to the hullside of a watercraft, comprising an elongated step unit retractable into and withdrawable from a hole in said hullside, means comprising a flange plate waterproofingly sealed around said hole to said hull, tubular guide means disposed inboard of the hullside and extending inwardly and upwardly in a position inwardly of said hole, an elongated tubular housing member sealed to said flange and enclosing said step unit along the length of the latter, a cap for sealing the upper end of said housing, an opening in said housing, said opening being higher then the waterline and positioned to discharge water entering said housing into the bilge of the watercraft and a coil spring acting at one end on said step unit, said spring being fixedly restrained at its opposite end to bias the step unit in the direction inboard of the hullside, the step unit having a tread member lying closely adjacent the hullside when the step unit is thus biased.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
A boarding step structure for application to the hullside of a watercraft, comprising an elongated step unit retractable into and withdrawable from a hole in said hullside, means comprising a flange plate waterproofingly sealed around said hole to said hull, tubular guide means disposed inboard of the hullside and extending inwardly and upwardly in a position inwardly of said hole, an elongated tubular housing member sealed to said flange and enclosing said step unit along the length of the latter, a cap for sealing the upper end of said housing, an opening in said housing, said opening being higher then the waterline and positioned to discharge water entering said housing into the bilge of the watercraft and a coil spring acting at one end on said step unit, said spring being fixedly restrained at its opposite end to bias the step unit in the direction inboard of the hullside, the step unit having a tread member lying closely adjacent the hullside when the step unit is thus biased.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
190 words
A boarding step structure for application to the hullside of a watercraft, comprising mounting means fixedly sealed to said hullside in juxtaposition to a hole in the latter, an elongated step unit retractable into and withdrawable from said hullside hole, tubular guide means disposed inboard of the hullside when the structure is applied thereto, and in a position inwardly of said hole and said mounting means, said mounting means having at least one tubular socket member positioned to extend in said hole, an elongated tubular housing member coaxially sealed to said socket member and coaxially enclosing said step unit along the length of the latter, and a coil spring surrounding and acting at one end on said step unit, said spring being fixedly restrained at its opposite end by said housing member to bias the step unit in the direction inboard of the hullside, the step unit having a tread member lying closely adjacent said mounting means and the hullside when the step unit is thus biased, when inboard said tread means projecting outwardLy beyond said hullside by a distance which provides a toe hold for extending said boarding step.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
190 words
A boarding step structure for application to the hullside of a watercraft, comprising mounting means fixedly sealed to said hullside in juxtaposition to a hole in the latter, an elongated step unit retractable into and withdrawable from said hullside hole, tubular guide means disposed inboard of the hullside when the structure is applied thereto, and in a position inwardly of said hole and said mounting means, said mounting means having at least one tubular socket member positioned to extend in said hole, an elongated tubular housing member coaxially sealed to said socket member and coaxially enclosing said step unit along the length of the latter, and a coil spring surrounding and acting at one end on said step unit, said spring being fixedly restrained at its opposite end by said housing member to bias the step unit in the direction inboard of the hullside, the step unit having a tread member lying closely adjacent said mounting means and the hullside when the step unit is thus biased, when inboard said tread means projecting outwardLy beyond said hullside by a distance which provides a toe hold for extending said boarding step.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
The step structure of claim 2, in which there are a pair of said tubular socket members paralleling one another and a pair of said housing members coaxially secured to the respective socket members, the step unit having a pair of elongated members which are received in the respective housing members, each member of the step unit being surrounded and biased by a coil spring.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The step structure of claim 3, in which the springs are compression springs acting respectively at one end against a socket member of the mounting means, each of said step unit members having an abutment engaged by the opposite end of its coil compression spring.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The step structure of claim 3, in which said mounting means comprises a flanged base having means to apply it fixedly to the exterior of the hullside and over the hullside hole.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The step structure of claim 4, in which said mounting means comprises a flanged base having means to apply it fixedly to the exterior of the hullside and over the hullside hole.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
10 words
A watercraft equipped with the step structure of claim 1.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
10 words
A watercraft equipped with the step structure of claim 2.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
10 words
A watercraft equipped with the step structure of claim 3.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
10 words
A watercraft equipped with the step structure of claim 4.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
10 words
A watercraft equipped with the step structure of claim 6.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-14 | 1974-12-14 | 1975-06-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-14 | 1978-12-14 | 1979-06-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-14 | 1982-12-14 | 1983-06-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |