초록 ▼

A retractable step assembly has a U-shaped step, a rotatable joint including a bracket, a first member to fix the bracket to the rear of a boat or personal watercraft, to a fixed step, a pivotable rod, and a second member to fix the U-shaped step to it for rotation with respect to the first member.

A retractable step assembly has a U-shaped step, a rotatable joint including a bracket, a first member to fix the bracket to the rear of a boat or personal watercraft, to a fixed step, a pivotable rod, and a second member to fix the U-shaped step to it for rotation with respect to the first member. The joint includes two rings which are fixed to the bracket and a tube disposed within the rings at each end for rotation around the axis of the tube and rings. One of the assemblies is fixed to the tube and another assembly is fixed to the bracket. The bracket has two springs fixed to it and also acting on the tube or the assembly connected to the tube to rotationally bias the tube and assembly with respect to the bracket. In another embodiment, a retractable step is rotatably connected to the underside of a boat or swim platform of a boat by a plurality of rods, two of the rods being connected to the retractable step using the bracket, and a third rod being connected to a U-shaped bar allowing rotation of the bar with respect to the rod to provide a three-point attachment to the underside of the boat or platform.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A step assembly for a watercraft, comprising:a U-shaped step having first and second ends; anda support assembly comprising means for mounting the step to the watercraft, andfurther comprising two joints for pivotably attaching the U-shaped step to the means for mounting,

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A step assembly for a watercraft, comprising:a U-shaped step having first and second ends; anda support assembly comprising means for mounting the step to the watercraft, andfurther comprising two joints for pivotably attaching the U-shaped step to the means for mounting, each joint including a tubular member and a bracket comprising two annular members for rotatably receiving ends of the tubular member, and torsion means fixed with respect to the bracket for rotatably biasing the tubular member with respect to the bracket, the means for mounting being fixed to one of the bracket and the tubular member, and each end of the U-shaped step being fixed to the other of the bracket and the tubular member, such that the tubular member is rotatable with respect to the bracket, whereby the U-shaped step is rotatably biased with respect to the means for mounting.