Rail and panel system for pontoon boat

Abstract

The invention relates to boundaries used on a watercraft. Specially, the invention relates to boundaries used on pontoon boats. The boundaries generally include a rail and panel system positioned around an outer periphery of the pontoon boat. The invention also relates to a method of forming and installing the boundaries on a watercraft.

1 . A watercraft comprising: 
 a frame;    at least one rail supported by the frame, said rail including an extension movable from an open receiving position to a locked position; and    a non-metallic panel supported by said rail and held in position by said extension.    
   
   
       2 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said non-metallic panel includes interlocking portions along the top and bottom edges thereof.  
   
   
       3 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said interlocking portions of said panel are substantially perpendicular to a main plane defined by said panel.  
   
   
       4 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 3 , including a top rail and a bottom rail having extensions with interlocking portions configured to mate with said interlocking portions on said non-metallic panel.  
   
   
       5 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said rail includes a cross-section having at least two areas separated by a stiffener.  
   
   
       6 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein one of the rail areas is smaller than the other, and said extension is connected to the smaller of the areas.  
   
   
       7 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 1 , including a top rail and a bottom rail and at least one intermediate rail extending therebetween, the intermediate rail having a width that is less than the width of said top and bottom rails.  
   
   
       8 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 7 , further including at least one rib located interstitial to said non-metallic panel and said intermediate rail.  
   
   
       9 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein said rib is attached to said non-metallic panel.  
   
   
       10 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein said rib includes a pair of flanges and a raised portion.  
   
   
       11 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said rib includes flanges and a recessed area in each flange, and an adhesive is located in said recessed areas to attach said rib to said non-metallic panel.  
   
   
       12 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 1 , including a pair of side rails, each having extensions, and trim members held in position by said extensions.  
   
   
       13 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein said extensions have interlocking portions, and said trim members have interlocking portions configured to mate with said interlocking portions on said extensions.  
   
   
       14 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein said trim members are configured to include a receiving area, and side edges of said non- metallic panel are positioned in respective receiving areas of said trim members.  
   
   
       15 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein said side edges of said non-metallic panel are loosely clamped in said receiving area of said trim member when said extension of said rails are in the locked position to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction of said panel.  
   
   
       16 . A boundary for a watercraft, the boundary comprising: 
 at least one rail including an extension movable from an open receiving position to a locked position; and    a panel including first and second ends, said first end including an interlocking portion held in position by said extension when said extension is in the locked position.    
   
   
       17 . The boundary for a watercraft as set forth in  claim 16 , including a top rail and a bottom rail having extensions with interlocking portions, and said second end also includes an interlocking portion, said rail interlocking portions configured to mate with said panel interlocking portions.  
   
   
       18 . The boundary for a watercraft as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein said rail includes a cross-section having at least two enclosed areas, and one of said enclosed areas is smaller than the other, and said extension is connected to the smaller of said enclosed areas.  
   
   
       19 . The boundary for a watercraft as set forth in  claim 16 , including a top rail and a bottom rail and at least one intermediate rail extending therebetween, and further including at least one rib located interstitial to said panel and said intermediate rail.  
   
   
       20 . The boundary for a watercraft as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein said rib includes recessed areas and adhesive tape is located in a recessed area to attach said rib to said panel.  
   
   
       21 . The boundary for a watercraft as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein said panel is constructed of polycarbonate.  
   
   
       22 . The boundary for a watercraft as set forth in  claim 16 , including a pair of side rails with extensions and a pair of trim members locked in position by respective extensions.  
   
   
       23 . The boundary for a watercraft as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein said extensions include interlocking portions, and said trim members have interlocking portions configured to mate with said interlocking portions on said extensions.  
   
   
       24 . The boundary for a watercraft as set forth in  claim 23 , wherein said trim members include a receiving area, and side edges of said panel are loosely clamped in said receiving areas to accommodate thermal movement of said panel.  
   
   
       25 . A boundary for a watercraft, the boundary comprising: 
 at least one rail including an extension movable from an open receiving position to a locked position;    a non-metallic panel configured to be attached to said rail;    and    cooperative interlocking members associated with said panel and said rail, said interlocking members configured to attach said panel to said rail.    
   
   
       26 . The boundary for a watercraft as set forth in  claim 25 , including a top rail and a bottom rail, each having one of said interlocking members.  
   
   
       27 . The boundary for a watercraft as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein said panel is configured from a non-metallic material.  
   
   
       28 . The boundary for a watercraft as set forth in  claim 27 , wherein said rail includes a cross-section having at least two enclosed areas.  
   
   
       29 . The boundary for a watercraft as set forth in  claim 28 , wherein one of said enclosed areas is smaller than the other, and said extension is connected to the smaller of said enclosed areas.  
   
   
       30 . The boundary for a watercraft as set forth in  claim 26 , further including at least one intermediate rail, extending between said top rail and said bottom rail, and at least one rib located interstitial to said panel and said intermediate rail.  
   
   
       31 . The boundary for a watercraft as set forth in  claim 30 , wherein said rib includes flanges and recessed areas in each of said flanges for receipt of an adhesive member.  
   
   
       32 . The boundary for a watercraft as set forth in  claim 25 , including a pair of side rails with extensions and a pair of trim members, with one trim member held in position by each extension.  
   
   
       33 . The boundary for a watercraft as set forth in  claim 32 , further including cooperative interlocking members associated with the extensions on the side rails and the trim members, said interlocking members configured to attach said trim members to said rail.  
   
   
       34 . The boundary for a watercraft as set forth in  claim 33 , wherein said trim members include a receiving area, and side edges of said panel are positioned in said receiving areas.  
   
   
       35 . The boundary for a watercraft as set forth in  claim 33 , wherein said panel is held in said receiving areas in a manner that accommodates thermal movement of said panel.