Boat Side Console

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/709,051 filed on Mar. 30, 2022 and entitled “Boat Side Console,” which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/167,986 filed on Mar. 30, 2021 and entitled “Boat Side Console,” and also U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/275,219 filed on Nov. 3, 2021 and entitled “Boat Side Console,” which applications are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Small watercraft are often simple in their design. That is, these watercraft are manufactured in a minimalistic fashion such that they include only very basic components. For example, the basic watercraft may include seats and potentially a mount at the stern of the watercraft for mounting a motor. It is assumed that navigation of the watercraft will occur by the user directly interacting with the motor at the stern of the watercraft.

However, boaters may wish to add additional elements to their watercraft. In particular, a boater may wish to change how navigation of the craft occurs. For example, some boaters may prefer to have a console mounted more towards the bow or midsection of the watercraft having steering and throttle controls so as to be able to navigate the craft from that location. Currently, there exist modular console units that can be added to basic watercraft for adding steering and throttle controls. However, these modular consoles are large and obtrusive and obstruct large portions of the floor of the watercraft. Thus, it would be useful to implement a modular console unit that is less obtrusive than previous modular consoles.

The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one exemplary technology area where some embodiments described herein may be practiced.

A modular steering console. The modular steering console has a main console portion having a top side and a side. The top side includes holes for receiving bolts. The side of the main console portion has holes for receiving bolts. The modular steering console has one or more brackets having slots in a top side configured to be fastened to the main console top side by bolts through the slots to allow lateral adjustment of the brackets while allowing a side of the brackets and the side of the main console portion to sandwich a side of a boat.

In another embodiment of a modular steering console, the modular steering console has a main console portion having a top side and a side. The top side includes slots for receiving bolts. The side of the main console portion has holes for receiving bolts. The modular steering console has one or more brackets having a top side configured to be fastened to the main console top side by bolts through the slots to allow lateral adjustment of the brackets while allowing a side of the brackets and the side of the main console portion to sandwich a side of a boat.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the teachings herein. Features and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

Embodiments illustrated herein are directed to an adjustable marine steering console that utilizes a sliding-adjustable bracket that is secured by thru-bolting the adjustable bracket on the underside of the console to the outside part of the console that is bent over the gunwale of the boat.

The bracket is adjustable along the top side of the console with cut slots in the bracket for bolts. These bolts lock the adjustable bracket arm in place topside once the bracket is slid into place firmly against the inside wall of the boat, and thru-bolted. The console is made solid by thru-bolting the underside bracket to the console's outside wall, and the top side bolts thru-bolted to the underside arms of the bracket.

Alternatively, the bracket is adjustable along the top side of the console with cut slots for bolts. These bolts lock the adjustable bracket arm in place topside once the bracket is slid into place firmly against the inside wall of the boat, and thru-bolted. The console is made solid by thru-bolting the underside bracket to console's outside wall, and the top side bolts thru-bolted to the underside arms of the bracket.

Examples are now illustrated by reference to the figures.

In particular,illustrate a modular consolethat can be added to a boatto provide a steering console to the boat. The consoleincludes a main console portionand a plurality of adjustable brackets. The brackets have a plurality of slotsformed in top portions of the brackets. Boltscan be passed through the slotsand through the holes formed in the top side of the main console portionof the console. This allows the bracketsto be laterally adjusted to accommodate different hull thicknesses on boats. Note that the bracketsfurther include an angled portionthat is neither coplanar with the top sideof the main console portionnor sideof the main console portionwhich allows the modular consoleto fit around the gunwale of a boat. Note that the top sideand sideform an angle. Similarly, the top sidesand the sidesof the brackets, in some embodiments, form the same angle to cause a tight fit to the wall of the boat.

Referring now toholesthrough the sideof the of the main console portionare shown. Note that in some embodiments no corresponding holes are pre-formed in sidesof the brackets. Rather, in some embodiments, once the modular consolehas been fitted to a particular boat with the hull of the boat between the bracket sideand the main console portion side, the bracketscan be marked for further drilling to ensure that the holesline up with any holes formed in the brackets. This can be accomplished using writing implements such as markers or other implements. Alternatively or additionally, an installer can use a drill bit to begin partially drilling through the brackets. The bracketscan then be drilled through either by removing the brackets and finishing drilling or by finishing the drilling process with the bracketsremaining in place.

Once appropriate holes have been drilled in the brackets(and the side of the boat) the brackets can be secured to the main console portionby passing a bolt through the sideof the main console portion, through holes drilled in the hull of the boat, and finally through the holes formed in the brackets, where the bolt can be secured using appropriate fasteners hardware such as appropriate nuts and washers. This allows the sidesandto sandwich the side of the boat. The fit of the bracketsto the main console portionis further facilitated by having the top sideand sidesbe at the angle for the top sideand sideof the main console portion. Note further that appropriate epoxies and other compounds can be used to seal the side of the boat to prevent leakage.

Note that the figures further illustrate stabilizersattached to the bracket sideand bracket top side. These stabilizersmay be attached using linkages as shown to allow for adjustability in installation.

Referring once again to, the console may further have attached to it a steering wheeland a throttle/shifter boxfor controlling steering and speed.further illustrates an accessory platethat may be included on the side of the console. The accessory platemay be used for mounting switches or other accessories.

With regard to the materials used for the various embodiments, various different materials may be used. For example, in some embodiments the main console portionand the bracketsare formed from aluminum. In some embodiments, the bracketshave a thickness of 3/16 while the main console portionhas a thickness of ⅛. Note that other thicknesses may be used as appropriate.

Note that other materials may be used including stainless steel, painted steel, or even cured materials such as fiberglass or other appropriate materials. Note that in some embodiments, materials are selected to be comparatively lightweight so as to prevent excessive rotational stress forces on the hull of the boat.

illustrate a modular consolethat can be added to a boat to provide a steering console to the boat. The consoleincludes a main console portionand a plurality of adjustable brackets. As illustrated in, the main console portionhas a plurality of slotsformed in a top sideof the main console portion. Boltscan be passed through the slotsand through the holesformed in top sidesof the brackets. This allows the brackets to be laterally adjusted to accommodate different hull thicknesses on boats. Note that the bracketsfurther include an angled portionthat is neither coplanar with the topsideof the main console portionnor sideof the main console portionwhich allows the modular consoleto fit around the gunwale of a boat. Note that the top sideand sideform an angle. Similarly, the top sidesand the sidesof the bracketsform the same angle to cause a tight fit to the wall of the boat.

Referring now toillustrates bolt holesthrough the sideof the of the main console portion. Note thatillustrates that in some embodiments no corresponding holes are pre-formed in sidesof the brackets. Rather, in some embodiments, once the modular consolehas been fitted to a particular boat with the hull of the boat between the bracket sideand the main console portion side, the bracketscan be marked for further drilling to ensure that the holesline up with any holes formed in the brackets. This can be accomplished using writing implements such as markers or other implements. Alternatively or additionally, an installer can use a drill bit to begin partially drilling through the brackets. The bracketscan then be drilled through either by removing the brackets and finishing drilling or by finishing the drilling process with the bracketsremaining in place.

Once appropriate holes have been drilled in the brackets(and the side of the boat) the brackets can be secured to the main console portionby passing a bolt through the sideof the main console portion, through holes drilled in the hull of the boat, and finally through the holes formed in the brackets, where the bolt can be secured using appropriate fasteners hardware such as appropriate nuts and washers. This allows the sidesandto sandwich the side of the boat. The fit of the bracketsto the main console portionis further facilitated by having the top sideand sidesbe at the angle for the top portionand sideof the main console portion. Note further that appropriate epoxies and other compounds can be used to seal the side of the boat to prevent leakage.

With regard to the materials used for the various embodiments, various different materials may be used. For example, in some embodiments the main console portionand the bracketsare formed from aluminum. In some embodiments, the bracketshave a thickness of 3/16 while the main console portionhas a thickness of ⅛. Note that other thicknesses may be used as appropriate.

Note that other materials may be used including stainless steel, painted steel, or even cured materials such as fiberglass or other appropriate materials. Note that in some embodiments, materials are selected to be comparatively lightweight so as to prevent excessive rotational stress forces on the hull of the boat.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.