US20150158560A1 - Bolster cushion and methods of use - Google Patents

Abstract

A bolster cushion to raise the sitting height of a watercraft seat. The bolster cushion is sized and configured to rest on a horizontal seat portion of the watercraft seat and comprises a resilient foam core and an outer covering.

Description

BACKGROUND
• The seats in ski boats and fishing boats often sit very low. Many boat drivers or passengers prefer to sit higher when driving or riding in their boats for better visibility over the dash board of the boat, especially when pulling waterskiers, wakeboarders, wakesurfers and watertubers or when fishing. In order to raise the sitting height, boat drivers or passengers will often sit on life vests or throwable floatation devices or throw cushions placed on the seats. However, life vests and throw cushions are not particularly comfortable to sit on and they do not fit well on many boat seats causing them to slip off the seat whenever the user stands or moves around on the seat.
• Accordingly, there is a need for a bolster cushion that will provide an elevated or raised sitting height for watercraft seats, which is properly sized to be received in the watercraft seat, which is comfortable to sit on, and which stays in place on the seat.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a bolster cushion disposed on a watercraft seat.
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bottom side of the bolster cushion ofFIG. 1.
• FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a bolster cushion comprising stacked cushions.
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bolster cushion ofFIG. 3 showing the stacked cushions separated.
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bolster cushion ofFIG. 3 with the bolster cushions with one of the cushions positioned to provide a back cushion.
• FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the bolster cushion comprising stacked cushions hingedly joined.
• FIG. 7 a perspective view of the bolster cushion ofFIG. 6 with the bolster cushions positioned to provide a back cushion.
• FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a bolster cushion shown positioned on a watercraft seat.
• FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the bolster cushion shown inFIG. 8.
• FIG. 10 is a front elevation view of the bolster cushion ofFIG. 9.
• FIG. 11 is a rear elevation view of the bolster cushion ofFIG. 9.
• FIG. 12 is a left side elevation view of the bolster cushion ofFIG. 9.
• FIG. 13 is a right side elevation view of the bolster cushion ofFIG. 9.
• FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the of the bolster cushion ofFIG. 9.
• FIG. 15 is a bottom plan view of the bolster cushion ofFIG. 9.
DESCRIPTION
• Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views,FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of abolster cushion10 disposed on awatercraft seat12, such as the seat of a ski boat or fishing boat.FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment of abolster cushion10 having a contoured recessed seat portion50. Thebolster cushion10 provides an elevated or raised sitting height of the watercraft seat which is often desirable to drivers and riders of the watercraft.
• Thebolster cushion10 comprises a generally rectangularresilient cushion body20 sized and configured to be received on the horizontal seat portion14 of thewatercraft seat12. Theresilient cushion body20 has anupper surface22, alower surface23, afront end24, arear end25, aleft side26 and aright side27. Theresilient cushion body20 is comprised of aresilient foam core30 surrounded by anouter covering32. The material comprising theresilient foam core30 may be open cell foam or closed cell foam or a combination of open cell and closed cell foam layers or other suitably resilient foam material. The density of the foam material comprising thefoam core30 may vary according to the stiffness desired for thecushion body20, but generally a firm to medium-firm stiffness is desirable. Open cell foam is generally more comfortable for use as a sitting cushion and the open cell material enables water to drain away if it becomes wet. Thecushion body20 may be treated with an antimicrobial agent to prevent mold and mildew. Marine grade open cell polyurethane is one example of suitable material for the cushion body which is treated with an antimicrobial agent. Closed cell foam is typically stiffer than open cell foam, but closed cell foam does not retain water and therefore abolster cushion10 which comprises closed cell foam may also serve as a floatation device. Accordingly, it may be desirable to provide abolster cushion10 which is comprised of an upper layer ofopen cell foam30A and a lower layer of closed cell foam30B as illustrated inFIG. 2. In such an embodiment, the lower closed cell foam layer30B will provide a level of rigidity and support to thebolster cushion10 while the upper opencell foam layer30A provides a softer cushion layer for comfort.
• Theouter covering32 may be vinyl and/or other suitable material that preferably resists mold and mildew and can withstand exposure to sun and water. Theouter covering32 is preferably configured to fit snuggly over theresilient foam core30, such that thebolster cushion10 has a finished upholstered appearance which matches or is complimentary to the upholstered watercraft seats. Theouter covering32 may include an opening34 on thelower surface23 of thebody20 with a zipper closure or other other suitable closure, such as snaps, Velcro®, lacing, or the like, to permit thefoam core30 to be removable from theouter covering32.
• Thebolster cushion10 may have any desired height dimension, but a cushion height of between four to eight inches is typically suitable. Additionally, the height of thebolster cushion10 may be adjustable by incorporatingstackable cushions10A,10B (FIG. 3). For example, each of the stackable cushions may have a height of four inches such that when stacked together the total cushion height is approximately eight inches. Additional cushions may be added or subtracted to provide the desired sitting height. In such an embodiment, each stackable cushion comprises aresilient foam core30 andouter covering32 as previously described. In one example, theupper cushion10A may have an opencell foam core30A and the bottom cushion may have a closed cell foam core30B as illustrated inFIG. 3. Alternatively eachcushion10A,10B may comprise open cell foam or a combination of open and closed cell foam layers as previously described.
• To prevent thestackable cushions10A,10B from moving with respect to one another, the cushions may be removably secured together using mating hook andloop fasteners36, such as Velcro® strips, on theupper side22 of thebottom cushion10B and on thelower side23 of thetop cushion10A as illustrated inFIG. 4. Of course, if it is desirable to have a lower height elevation, the stackable cushions can be detached from one another and only one cushion may be used on the watercraft seat. Alternatively, the cushions may be detached from one another and used as pillows or head rests when laying on the boat deck, or as cushions for other purposes. Alternatively, one of the cushions may be positioned vertically on the seat and used as a back cushion and lumbar support as shown inFIG. 5.
• In an alternative embodiment, the top andbottom cushions10A,10B may be hingedly attached bymating flaps38 extending from one side of each of the top and bottom cushions which connect together using snaps, Velcro® strips or other suitable attaching means. With this configuration, thetop cushion10A may be pivoted with respect to thelower cushion10B as shown inFIG. 6 and used as a pillow when laying on the boat deck, or for other desired uses. Alternatively, with the hinged configuration, thetop cushion10A may be flipped up and used as a back cushion or for lumbar support as shown inFIG. 7.
• Thebolster cushion10 may include one or more pockets40, which may be made of the same material as theouter covering32 or the pocket may be made of a mesh netting material.
• Thebolster cushion10 may also include one ormore straps42 for use as handholds for carrying the cushion or when used as a floatation device. Thestrap42 may be made of a fabric material, such as nylon, polyester and other suitable materials.
• A lanyard orcord44 may be attached to one of thestraps42 on thebolster cushion10 for securing thebolster cushion10 to the seat of the watercraft.
• Referring toFIGS. 8-15, theupper surface22 of thebolster cushion10 may be contoured to provide a recessed seat portion50. The recessed seat portion50 may be sloped downwardly and rearwardly fromfront end24 toward therear end25 and downwardly and inwardly from theouter sides26,27 toward the middle thereby defining a cup shape in which the user sits.
• Various embodiments of the invention have been described above for purposes of illustrating the details thereof and to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. The details and features of the disclosed embodiment[s] are not intended to be limiting, as many variations and modifications will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is intended to be interpreted broadly and to include all variations and modifications coming within the scope and spirit of the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims (9)

1. In combination, a watercraft seat and a bolster cushion for raising a sitting height of the watercraft seat, the bolster cushion comprising:

a resilient cushion body sized and configured to rest on a horizontal seat portion of the watercraft seat, the resilient cushion body comprising a resilient foam core;

an outer covering surrounding the resilient foam core;

a strap secured to a side of the cushion to serve as a hand hold.

2. The combination ofclaim 1, wherein the cushion body comprises an upper cushion and a lower cushion.

3. The combination ofclaim 2, wherein the upper cushion is removably attached to the lower cushion.

4. The combination ofclaim 2, wherein the upper cushion is hingedly attached to the lower cushion.

5. The combination ofclaim 1 wherein an upper surface of the resilient cushion body includes a recessed seat portion which is contoured downwardly and rearwardly from a forward end toward a rearward end and downwardly and inwardly from opposing sides toward a middle of the cushion body.

6. The combination ofclaim 1 wherein the resilient cushion body comprises open cell foam.

7. The combination ofclaim 1 wherein the resilient cushion body comprises an open cell foam layer and a closed cell foam layer.

8. The combination ofclaim 2 wherein the upper cushion body comprises open cell foam and the lower cushion body comprises closed cell foam.

9. The combination ofclaim 2 wherein each cushion body comprises an open cell foam layer and a closed cell foam layer.

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