US 12,030,593 B2
Watercraft swim platform with deployable steps
Michael J. Fafard, Nashville, GA (US); Michael Anthony Werle, Nashville, GA (US); and Justin Everett Brooks, Nashville, GA (US)
Assigned to Chaparral Boats, Inc., Nashville, GA (US)
Filed by Chaparral Boats, Inc., Nashville, GA (US)
Filed on Sep. 8, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/243,830.
Application 18/243,830 is a continuation of application No. 17/876,892, filed on Jul. 29, 2022, granted, now 11,780,537.
Application 17/876,892 is a continuation of application No. 16/994,826, filed on Aug. 17, 2020, granted, now 11,401,012, issued on Aug. 2, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/948,492, filed on Dec. 16, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/887,995, filed on Aug. 16, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0415857 A1, Dec. 28, 2023
Int. Cl. B63B 27/14 (2006.01); B63B 29/02 (2006.01)
CPC B63B 27/146 (2013.01) [B63B 29/02 (2013.01); B63B 2029/022 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A watercraft comprising:
a hull including a port side wall and a starboard side wall; and
a system of steps integrated with the port side wall or the starboard side wall and comprising:
a first platform;
a second platform; and
a linkage that is pivotably coupled to the hull such that the system of steps is reconfigurable between: (a) a closed position in which the system of steps comprises a portion of the port side wall or the starboard side wall and (b) an open position in which an opening in the port side wall or the starboard side wall is created,
wherein the linkage movably couples the first and second platforms together such that, when the system of steps is in the open position, the first and second platforms are reconfigurable between: (i) a retracted configuration in which the system of steps forms a single platform and (ii) a deployed configuration in which the first and second platforms form two steps.