IP Library Granted Patent US 9,242,703
Granted Patent B2
US 9,242,703 · App. 14/227,935 · Granted Jan 26, 2016

Height-adjustable seat for watercraft

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,242,703
App. No.
14/227,935
Granted
Jan 26, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed adjustable seat systems that provide a self-contained height-adjustable seat system for sit-on-top kayaking that allows the seat to be adjusted into various height and angle positions, while maintaining independent adjustment to the fore/aft position of the seat in the kayak. Some of the adjustable seat systems include a seat upper that includes a seat bottom and a seat back; a seat base adapted to slidably engage a flat surface in the watercraft; and at least two pivot mechanisms coupling the seat upper to the seat base, wherein the at least two pivot mechanisms allow the seat upper to be raised and lowered relative to the seat base. Some of the adjustable seat systems further include a front seat axis, a rear seat axis, a front base axis, and a rear base axis, a front pivot mechanism that pivotally engages both the front seat axis and the front base axis, and a rear pivot mechanism that pivotally engages both the rear seat axis and the rear base axis.

Claims (60)

1. An adjustable seating system for a watercraft, comprising:

a seat upper comprising a seat bottom and a seat back;

a seat base adapted to slidably engage a flat surface in the watercraft; and

at least two pivot mechanisms coupling the seat upper to the seat base, wherein the at least two pivot mechanisms allow the seat upper to be raised and lowered relative to the seat base,

wherein the seat back is tilt-adjustable, and

wherein an angle of the seat back relative to the seat bottom is adjustable via one or more straps.

2. The seating system of claim 1 , wherein raising the seat upper comprises pivoting the at least two pivot mechanisms in the same direction.

3. An adjustable seating system for a watercraft, comprising:

a seat upper comprising a seat bottom and a seat back;

a seat base adapted to slidably engage a flat surface in the watercraft; and

at least two pivot mechanisms coupling the seat upper to the seat base, wherein the at least two pivot mechanisms allow the seat upper to be raised and lowered relative to the seat base,

wherein the seat back is hingeably coupled to the seat bottom and adapted to fold substantially flat over the seat bottom.

4. The adjustable seating system of claim 3 , wherein the adjustable seating system is configured to removably couple to the watercraft via one or more front adjustment straps and one or more rear tensioning members.

5. The seating system of claim 3 , wherein raising the seat upper comprises pivoting the at least two pivot mechanisms in the same direction.

6. An adjustable seating system for a watercraft, comprising:

a seat upper comprising a seat bottom and a seat back;

a seat base; and

at least two pivot mechanisms coupling the seat upper to the seat base,

wherein the at least two pivot mechanisms allow the seat upper to be raised and lowered relative to the seat base,

wherein the seat upper comprises a front seat axis and a rear seat axis fixed relative to the seat upper,

wherein the seat base comprises a front base axis and a rear base axis fixed relative to the seat base, and

wherein the at least two pivot mechanisms comprise a front pivot mechanism that pivotally engages both the front seat axis and the front base axis, and a rear pivot mechanism that pivotally engages both the rear seat axis and the rear base axis,

wherein the seat bottom remains substantially horizontal as the seat upper is raised and lowered relative to the seat base.

7. The seating system of claim 6 ,

wherein the seat base is adapted to slidably engage the watercraft.

8. The seating system of claim 6 ,

wherein an angle of the seat back relative to the seat bottom is adjustable.

9. The seating system of claim 6 ,

wherein the front pivot mechanism and the rear pivot mechanism are able to pivot independent from one another to position the seat upper in a reclined position.

10. The seating system of claim 6 , wherein raising the seat upper comprises pivoting the at least two pivot mechanisms in the same direction.

11. An adjustable seating system for a watercraft, comprising:

a seat upper comprising a seat bottom and a seat back;

a seat base; and

at least two pivot mechanisms coupling the seat upper to the seat base,

wherein the at least two pivot mechanisms allow the seat upper to be raised and lowered relative to the seat base,

wherein the at least two pivot mechanisms comprise a front pivot mechanism, and a rear pivot mechanism,

wherein each pivot mechanism has a first position and a second position, where the first position is raised relative to the second position,

wherein when the front and rear pivot mechanisms are each in the first position the seat bottom is substantially parallel with the seat base and the front pivot mechanism is parallel with the rear pivot mechanism;

wherein when the front and rear pivot mechanisms are each in the second position, the seat bottom is substantially parallel with the seat base and the front pivot mechanism is parallel with the rear pivot mechanism.

12. The seating system of claim 11 ,

wherein the seat base is adapted to slidably engage the watercraft.

13. The seating system of claim 11 ,

wherein an angle of the seat back relative to the seat bottom is adjustable.

14. The seating system of claim 11 ,

wherein the front pivot mechanism and the rear pivot mechanism are able to pivot independent from one another to position the seat upper in a reclined position.

15. The seating system of claim 11 , wherein raising the seat upper comprises pivoting the at least two pivot mechanisms in the same direction.

16. An adjustable seating system for a watercraft, comprising:

a seat upper;

a seat base; and

at least a front pivot mechanism and a rear pivot mechanism coupling the seat upper to the seat base to allow the seat upper to travel between a first position and a second position with respect to the seat base, where the first position is raised relative to the second position,

wherein the seat upper in the first position is in a first location along a fore/aft direction of the watercraft, the seat upper in the second position is in a second location along a fore/aft direction of the watercraft, and the first location and the second location are different,

wherein the front pivot mechanism is substantially parallel with the rear pivot mechanism in the first position, and the front pivot mechanism is substantially parallel with the rear pivot mechanism in the second position.

17. The seating system of claim 16 ,

wherein the seat base is adapted to slidably engage the watercraft.

18. The seating system of claim 16 ,

wherein the seat upper comprises a seat bottom and a seat back, and

wherein an angle of the seat back relative to the seat bottom is adjustable.

19. The seating system of claim 16 ,

wherein the front pivot mechanism and the rear pivot mechanism are able to pivot independent from one another to position the seat upper in a reclined position.

20. The seating system of claim 16 , wherein raising the seat upper comprises pivoting the at least two pivot mechanisms in the same direction.

Assignments (11)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 14, 2025
From: CONFLUENCE OUTDOOR INC.
To: 95395893 US LLC
Reel/Frame 072484/0146 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 14, 2025
From: 95395893 US LLC
To: PELICAN INTL USA LLC
Reel/Frame 072467/0668 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 29, 2022
From: CONFLUENCE OUTDOOR INC.
To: NATIONAL BANK OF CANADA, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 059430/0154 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 4, 2022
From: ACF FINCO I LP
To: CONFLUENCE OUTDOOR, LLC; PAPA HANA, LLC
Reel/Frame 059171/0214 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 1, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: CONFLUENCE OUTDOOR INC.
Reel/Frame 059691/0611 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 11, 2020
From: CONFLUENCE OUTDOOR INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 052624/0343 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 6, 2020
From: PADDLE ACQUISITION CO. INC.
To: CONFLUENCE OUTDOOR INC.
Reel/Frame 052595/0781 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 22, 2020
From: CONFLUENCE OUTDOOR LLC
To: PADDLE ACQUISITION CO. INC.
Reel/Frame 052185/0976 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 17, 2019
From: ALLY BANK (SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO ALLY COMMERCIAL FINANCE LLC (AN ENTITY FORMERLY KNOWN AS GMAC COMMERCIAL FINANCE LLC))
To: CONFLUENCE OUTDOOR, LLC
Reel/Frame 048911/0257 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 17, 2019
From: GARRISON LOAN AGENCY SERVICES LLC
To: CONFLUENCE OUTDOOR, LLC
Reel/Frame 048912/0010 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 17, 2019
From: CONFLUENCE OUTDOOR, LLC; PAPA HANA, LLC
To: ACF FINCO I LP
Reel/Frame 048913/0001 →