US 12,337,938 B1
Adjustable chair or leaning post for kayaks and other watercraft
Henry Ledford, High Point, NC (US); Michael D Ledford, High Point, NC (US); and John Ledford Kirkpatrick, High Point, NC (US)
Filed by Henry Ledford, High Point, NC (US); Michael D Ledford, High Point, NC (US); and John Ledford Kirkpatrick, High Point, NC (US)
Filed on Apr. 8, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/716,041.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/174,077, filed on Apr. 13, 2021.
Int. Cl. B63B 34/26 (2020.01); B63B 17/00 (2006.01); B63B 29/04 (2006.01); B63B 34/21 (2020.01)
CPC B63B 34/26 (2020.02) [B63B 17/00 (2013.01); B63B 29/04 (2013.01); B63B 34/21 (2020.02); B63B 2029/043 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An adjustable chair and leaning post comprising:
a mechanical, load bearing, rotating, and collapsible framework that attaches the adjustable chair and the leaning post to a vessel, where the framework is configured to transfer a load of a client and seat structure to the vessel and is configured to attach to a superior surface of the vessel; where the framework comprises:
a mechanical, vertically-oriented, U-shaped, load bearing, and telescopic supporting structure with an adjustable length, where the support structure rotates relative to the vessel, allowing for the adjustment of a cant formed between each of a plurality of load bearing vectors formed by the supporting structure and gravity the supporting structure comprising:
a telescopic and load bearing starboard supporting shaft that forms a first arm of the U-shape of the supporting structure, wherein a length of a center axis of the starboard supporting shaft is adjustable;
a telescopic load bearing port supporting shaft that forms a second arm of the U-shape of the supporting structure, wherein the port supporting shaft is identical to the starboard supporting shaft, and where a length of a center axis of the port supporting shaft is adjustable; and
a crossbeam that forms a crossbeam of the U-shape of the supporting structure, where the crossbeam:
is a load transfer structure and a brace that stabilizes the supporting structure;
attaches the starboard supporting shaft to the port supporting shaft;
attaches to a superior congruent end of the starboard supporting shaft;
attaches to a superior congruent end of the port supporting shaft;
a mechanical pedestal that attaches the supporting structure to the vessel in a fixed position, where the supporting structure rotates relative to the pedestal; and where the position of the attachment of the supporting structure to the pedestal is adjustable, where the pedestal comprises a starboard c-channel and a port c-channel that each attach to a fixed position on the vessel; and
a plurality of hinges that attach the supporting structure to the pedestal and that attach a first structural element of the supporting structure to a second structural element of the supporting structure, where the plurality of hinges allow the supporting structure to rotate between a collapsed position and a deployed position, and where a lockable structure of the plurality of hinges allows the supporting structure to be fixed in the deployed position; and
a seat that forms both a seating structure that removably attaches to the framework and a leaning structure, where the seat comprises:
a mechanical backrest that forms a vertically canted structure, where the mechanical backrest is removably configured to attach to the supporting structure, and where an elevation of the backrest adjusts by adjusting an attachment position on the supporting structure;
and a mechanical bench that removably attaches to the supporting structure, where an elevation of the bench is adjusted by adjusting the attachment position on the supporting structure;
wherein the adjustable chair and leaning post is a collapsible structure;
where the seat is removed from the framework before the framework is collapsed to form a structure of reduced volume;
where the supporting structure transfers a load borne by the seat to the plurality of hinges and elevates the seat above the vessel;
where the seat attaches to the starboard supporting shaft and the port supporting shaft, and where the starboard supporting shaft and the port supporting shaft both transfer a portion of the load borne by the seat to the pedestal;
where the starboard supporting shaft attaches to the starboard c-channel such that a load borne by the starboard supporting shaft transfers to the vessel through the starboard c-channel and such that the starboard supporting shaft rotates relative to the starboard c-channel; and
where the port supporting shaft attaches to the port c-channel such that a load borne by the port supporting shaft transfers to the vessel through the port c-channel and such that the port supporting shaft rotates relative to the port c-channel.