Pontoon shields

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to pontoon shields. The pontoon shields disclosed herein may, for example, protect pontoons from damage and/or enhance the aesthetic appearance of pontoons. The shields may be fashioned from one or more segments of resilient material configured to attach along a longitudinal aspect of a pontoon. The shields may be fashioned from a single segment, or from one or more segments configured to mate with one another. The shields may be attached to a pontoon, for example, via an adhesive, weld, and/or one or more brackets, or other mechanical means.

1 . A pontoon shield comprising:
 one or more segments of resilient material configured to attach to a pontoon by means of one or more brackets, along a longitudinal aspect of the pontoon.   
     
     
         2 . The pontoon shield of  claim 1 , wherein the shield comprises a front segment, at least one mid-segment, and a rear segment. 
     
     
         3 . The pontoon shield of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more segments are configured to mate with one another segment. 
     
     
         4 . The pontoon shield of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the segments is cut to size from a length of material. 
     
     
         5 . The pontoon shield of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the segments are configured to attach to the pontoon by means of an adhesive. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The pontoon shield of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the segments comprise a channel configured to receive the bracket. 
     
     
         8 . The pontoon shield of  claim 7 , wherein the cross-sectional shape of the channel comprises a circle or an L-shape. 
     
     
         9 . The pontoon shield of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the segments comprise one or more sockets configured to receive the bracket. 
     
     
         10 . The pontoon shield of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the segments are removable. 
     
     
         11 . The pontoon shield of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the segments are constructed from a material selected from the group consisting of: natural or synthetic rubbers, polymers, ceramics, plastics, composites of any of the foregoing, and co-molded combinations of any of the foregoing. 
     
     
         12 . The pontoon shield of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the segments are reinforced with a substantially inductile material. 
     
     
         13 . The pontoon shield of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the segments comprise a low profile configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The pontoon shield of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the segments comprise a concave inner surface configured to form a concavity defined by the adjoining surface of the pontoon. 
     
     
         15 . The pontoon shield of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the segments comprise one or more chambers within the body of the segment. 
     
     
         16 . The pontoon shield of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the segments comprise an outer surface having a splash deflector. 
     
     
         17 . The pontoon shield of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the segments comprise an abrasion resistant or substantially inductile material that outwardly bisects the resilient material. 
     
     
         18 . The pontoon shield of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the segments comprise a skin configured to wrap at least a portion of the pontoon. 
     
     
         19 . The pontoon shield of  claim 18 , wherein the skin is configured to wrap one or more of: a lower aspect, an upper aspect, a longitudinal aspect, a front aspect, and a rear aspect, of the pontoon. 
     
     
         20 . The pontoon shield of  claim 18 , wherein the skin is configured to removably attach to the pontoon by means of one or more brackets. 
     
     
         21 . The pontoon shield of  claim 18 , wherein the skin is between about 0.8 mm to 5 mm thick. 
     
     
         22 . The pontoon shield of  claim 1 , wherein the shield is configured to span a longitudinal aspect having a length between about 5% to about 100% of the length of the pontoon. 
     
     
         23 . The pontoon shield of  claim 1 , wherein the shield is configured to span about 1% to about 100% of the circumference or perimeter of the pontoon. 
     
     
         24 . The pontoon shield of  claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional thickness of the resilient material of one or more of the segments is between about 0.1 to 1.0 inches. 
     
     
         25 . The pontoon shield of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the segments comprise an outward surface having a profile corresponding to a shape selected from the group consisting of: curvilinear, circle, oval, quatrefoil, parallelogram, rectangle, trapezoid, triangle, rhomboid, pentagon, hexagon, heptagon, octagon, nonagon, decagon. 
     
     
         26 . The pontoon shield of  claim 1 , wherein the shield is attached to a pontoon. 
     
     
         27 . The pontoon shield of  claim 1 , wherein the shield is configured to serve at least one of the following functions: absorb an impact, deflect water, conceal damage, conceal a repair, and provide an aesthetic enhancement.