Deployable seating platform
View Patent ↗A deployable seating platform preferably includes a base configured for attachment to a horizontal surface, such as the underside of a swimming platform on a boat. The base is coupled to a slide and pivot mechanism, which is coupled to a first end of an elongated member, with the second end of the elongated member coupled to a seat. The slide and pivot mechanism allows the elongated member to slide and pivot from a non-deployed position to a deployed position and allows the elongated member to slide and pivot from the deployed position to the non-deployed position. When in the non-deployed position, the deployable seating platform is out of the water and out of the way under the swimming platform. When in the deployed position, the seat of the deployable seating platform is in the water, providing a place for a person to sit in the water.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a substantially planar base having a plurality of mounting holes in a plane for attaching the base to a horizontal surface;
a slide receiver fixedly attached to the base, wherein the slide receiver comprises two parallel members having opposing cane-shaped slots that have a first linear portion and a sideways U-shaped portion at a rear of the slide receiver, the slide receiver further including opposing recessed areas in the two parallel members and an adjustable first pivot stop;
at least one member coupling the two parallel members of the slide receiver;
an arm having a first end coupled to the slide receiver in a manner that allows the arm to slide from a non-deployed position to a deployed position as the arm is slid in a first direction along the slide receiver and that allows the arm to slide from the deployed position to the non-deployed position as the arm is slid in a second direction along the slide receiver opposite the first direction, and wherein the at least one portion of the arm coupled to the slide receiver comprises a first member extending through the first end of the arm and through the opposing slots in a manner that allows the first member to slide in the opposing slots, wherein the arm pivots with respect to the slide receiver when the arm is in the deployed position, the arm resting against the first pivot stop in the slide receiver when the arm is in the deployed position at an obtuse angle with respect to a line extending from a front of the base to a rear of the base when the arm is in the deployed position;
a seat having a front portion pivotally coupled to a second end of the arm opposite the first end, the seat providing a place for a person to sit when the arm is in the deployed position, the seat including a recessed portion that lies in the recessed areas in the parallel members of the slide receiver when the arm is in the non-deployed position; and
a seat stop fixedly coupled to the second end of the arm in a position that stops the pivoting of the seat in a desired position for sitting when the arm is in the deployed position.