Self-leveling pontoon boat assembly

Abstract

Pontoon boat assemblies and methods stabilized against rolling, pitching, or g-forces via, at least in part, a mechanical or electronic means are discussed.

1 . A pontoon boat assembly comprising:
 two or more pontoons;   at least one deck disposed above the two or more pontoons, the deck rotatably movable relative to the two or more pontoons; and   an actuating means to rotate the at least one deck in response to a motion of at least one of the pontoons such that the deck remains substantially level.   
   
   
       2 . The pontoon boat assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one deck includes an upper deck and a lower deck, the lower deck disposed between the upper deck and the two or more pontoons. 
   
   
       3 . The pontoon boat assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the upper deck is independently suspended above the two or more pontoons. 
   
   
       4 . The pontoon boat assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the actuating means is disposed between the upper deck and the lower deck. 
   
   
       5 . The pontoon boat assembly of  claim 2 , comprising at least one curved track support member disposed between the upper deck and the lower deck. 
   
   
       6 . The pontoon boat assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the actuating means includes a mechanical gyro having one or more struts and one or more wheels attached to an end of the struts, the one or more wheels configured to rest and move along the at least one curved track support member. 
   
   
       7 . The pontoon boat assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the actuating means includes an electronic gyro configured to provide sensed electrical information to a controller. 
   
   
       8 . The pontoon boat assembly of  claim 7 , comprising two or more piston devices positioned between the upper deck and the lower deck, the two or more piston devices configured to adjust in response to a rolling or pitching motion of the two or more pontoons using an actuating signal provided by the controller. 
   
   
       9 . The pontoon boat assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the two or more pistons comprise at least one of air or hydraulic pistons. 
   
   
       10 . The pontoon boat assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the electronic gyro is disposed adjacent a middle portion of the at least one deck. 
   
   
       11 . The pontoon boat assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the actuating means is disposed between the two or more pontoons. 
   
   
       12 . A method comprising:
 supporting a deck relative to a pair of pontoons using a curved support; and   keeping the deck substantially level regardless of a position of the pontoons.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein supporting the deck relative to the pair of pontoons includes supporting an upper deck relative to a lower deck using the curved support. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein supporting the deck relative to the pair of pontoons further includes using a mechanical gyro having one or more struts and one or more wheels attached to an end of the struts. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein keeping the deck substantially level regardless of a position of the pontoons includes moving the one or more wheels along the curved support. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein moving the one or more wheels along the curved support includes rotating a first portion of the deck along the curved support to a position near a top of a first pontoon; and
 moving a second portion of the deck along the curved support to a position distant from a top of a second pontoon.   
   
   
       17 . A method comprising:
 supporting a deck relative to a pair of pontoons using two or more piston devices disposed between the deck and the pontoons;   sensing a change in position of at least one pontoon;   generating an actuator signal using the sensed change in pontoon position; and   causing the two or more pistons to keep the deck substantially level regardless of the positions of one or both pontoons.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein supporting the deck relative to the pair of pontoons includes using four piston devices, each piston device disposed at a corner portion of the deck. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein causing the two or more pistons to keep the deck substantially level includes moving at least a first piston in a first direction and moving at least a second piston in a second direction opposite the first direction. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein causing the two or more pistons to keep the deck substantially level includes suppressing a rolling or pitching force applied to the at least one pontoon.