Post by LawrenceCoBowhunter on Jun 1, 2007 7:30:55 GMT -5
Wish I had one of these a time or two lol
Fishermen design ‘bathroom privacy system’ for boats
By LORI COPE | East Texas Edition
Inventors of the Bassroom, Matt Smith (pictured) and his son reside in North Texas and are avid fishermen. The Smiths say their patent-pending Bassroom can be erected on any fishing boat within minutes, and will hopefully become as common on boats as a life jacket. “You may not always need a life jacket, but when you do, you’re glad there’s one on the boat. Hopefully, it will be the same with the Bassroom,” Matt said.
– Courtesy photo
Naturally, it’d be avid fishermen who came up with the Bassroom. The product is a bathroom privacy system for fishing boats to be used when nature calls, and you’re in nature.
Two North Texans, Matt Smith and son Kirk Smith, developed the Bassroom that can be erected for use within two minutes. It offers the on-board privacy needed for “bathroom emergencies” or when the angler simply doesn’t want to leave a good fishing spot.
Matt also pointed out that use of the Bassroom is “environmentally better” than the alternatives. Plus, as Matt pointed out, with a growing number of houses around lakes, and with more folks having cameras on their cell phones, exposing oneself to take care of “personal business” can land one in trouble.
It was about two years ago that the father-and-son fishing partners began developing their idea. “We’d went for years thinking someone would come up with this” but no product materialized. Matt said they checked for patents, and found nothing like what they were thinking about creating.
So, the two designed a bathroom privacy system for fishing boats that is very sturdy, comfortable, and easy to use. They utilized their know-how of what would and would not work on a boat to create the Bassroom. The Bassroom system basically includes a domed cover, stool with full toilet seat, and black, zip-up plastic bags for waste. The cover folds so it can be stored into a one-inch-thick by 23-inches-around bag. Plus, the system includes another 18-inches by 21-inches storage bag for the stool.
The Smiths did not skimp on material quality. The cover is made of 190-T polyester. “It’s top grade material, and we doubled the weight of the material around the steel bands” of the cover frame. The stool, made of one-inch steel tubing, is the same height as a home toilet. The seat is also a regular, household toilet seat, Matt said. The bags are hefty, made of 2 mil. black plastic with zip-up tops. The kit includes 12, and of course, refills can be ordered.
The durability of the stool and bags are key, but the quality of the cover is also important – as noted by their website address “coveryourbass.com.” Matt noted the cover is 72-inches by 72-inches square and is 47-inches tall. “It’s easy to get in and out of,” he said, “and it won’t get in the way of another person fishing on the boat (or casting from the boat).”
Although the heavy-duty polyester offers some breathability, the zippered front and back flaps can be opened as much as needed if extra ventiliation is required.
The Bassroom can be customized to fit any fishing boat. It comes with eight tie-downs, and a customizing kit, Matt said. Because of the slope of most boats’ floors, the initially-designed cover could have a three-inch gap at the bottom. “But unless someone got down and looked under, it wasn’t a problem.”
However, when Matt and his son showed a prototype of the Bassroom to their wives, the ladies quickly pointed out that any woman using the device would not like the gap. “That’s why it now has a five-inch skirt around the bottom,” Matt said.
Matt and Kirk worked on designs for the product to make it the best. “We bought some four-foot by eight-foot cardboard and made the prototype. We worked with it (design) and worked with it. Then, I came up with a full set of plans and found a manufacturer.”
A lawyer has helped with the patenting process, and currently the Bassroom is a “patent-pending” product. “There’s a lot to this process than just designing it,” Matt said. Besides the patent paperwork, they’ve dealt with creating a good website for marketing the device and an effective way of handling the orders.
The Bassroom system sells for $149.95, and can be ordered online at www.coveryourbass.com. A full description of the product is also there.
“I’ve talked to some of the pros at Lake Fork and I’ve had at least three tell me they think in the next year and a half, something would have to be done” to protect the liability of fishermen on the water who are handling the call of nature, Matt said. “And, I’ve had some of the lady pros tell me something like this has been needed for a long time.”
One thing the Smiths urge is for those who purchase a Bassroom to practice setting it up. “The cover can be set up on the boat in about a minute, and even less than that for setting up the stool,” Matt said. “But you want to practice setting it up on your boat, so when you need it, you’ll be ready.”
Fishermen design ‘bathroom privacy system’ for boats
By LORI COPE | East Texas Edition
Inventors of the Bassroom, Matt Smith (pictured) and his son reside in North Texas and are avid fishermen. The Smiths say their patent-pending Bassroom can be erected on any fishing boat within minutes, and will hopefully become as common on boats as a life jacket. “You may not always need a life jacket, but when you do, you’re glad there’s one on the boat. Hopefully, it will be the same with the Bassroom,” Matt said.
– Courtesy photo
Naturally, it’d be avid fishermen who came up with the Bassroom. The product is a bathroom privacy system for fishing boats to be used when nature calls, and you’re in nature.
Two North Texans, Matt Smith and son Kirk Smith, developed the Bassroom that can be erected for use within two minutes. It offers the on-board privacy needed for “bathroom emergencies” or when the angler simply doesn’t want to leave a good fishing spot.
Matt also pointed out that use of the Bassroom is “environmentally better” than the alternatives. Plus, as Matt pointed out, with a growing number of houses around lakes, and with more folks having cameras on their cell phones, exposing oneself to take care of “personal business” can land one in trouble.
It was about two years ago that the father-and-son fishing partners began developing their idea. “We’d went for years thinking someone would come up with this” but no product materialized. Matt said they checked for patents, and found nothing like what they were thinking about creating.
So, the two designed a bathroom privacy system for fishing boats that is very sturdy, comfortable, and easy to use. They utilized their know-how of what would and would not work on a boat to create the Bassroom. The Bassroom system basically includes a domed cover, stool with full toilet seat, and black, zip-up plastic bags for waste. The cover folds so it can be stored into a one-inch-thick by 23-inches-around bag. Plus, the system includes another 18-inches by 21-inches storage bag for the stool.
The Smiths did not skimp on material quality. The cover is made of 190-T polyester. “It’s top grade material, and we doubled the weight of the material around the steel bands” of the cover frame. The stool, made of one-inch steel tubing, is the same height as a home toilet. The seat is also a regular, household toilet seat, Matt said. The bags are hefty, made of 2 mil. black plastic with zip-up tops. The kit includes 12, and of course, refills can be ordered.
The durability of the stool and bags are key, but the quality of the cover is also important – as noted by their website address “coveryourbass.com.” Matt noted the cover is 72-inches by 72-inches square and is 47-inches tall. “It’s easy to get in and out of,” he said, “and it won’t get in the way of another person fishing on the boat (or casting from the boat).”
Although the heavy-duty polyester offers some breathability, the zippered front and back flaps can be opened as much as needed if extra ventiliation is required.
The Bassroom can be customized to fit any fishing boat. It comes with eight tie-downs, and a customizing kit, Matt said. Because of the slope of most boats’ floors, the initially-designed cover could have a three-inch gap at the bottom. “But unless someone got down and looked under, it wasn’t a problem.”
However, when Matt and his son showed a prototype of the Bassroom to their wives, the ladies quickly pointed out that any woman using the device would not like the gap. “That’s why it now has a five-inch skirt around the bottom,” Matt said.
Matt and Kirk worked on designs for the product to make it the best. “We bought some four-foot by eight-foot cardboard and made the prototype. We worked with it (design) and worked with it. Then, I came up with a full set of plans and found a manufacturer.”
A lawyer has helped with the patenting process, and currently the Bassroom is a “patent-pending” product. “There’s a lot to this process than just designing it,” Matt said. Besides the patent paperwork, they’ve dealt with creating a good website for marketing the device and an effective way of handling the orders.
The Bassroom system sells for $149.95, and can be ordered online at www.coveryourbass.com. A full description of the product is also there.
“I’ve talked to some of the pros at Lake Fork and I’ve had at least three tell me they think in the next year and a half, something would have to be done” to protect the liability of fishermen on the water who are handling the call of nature, Matt said. “And, I’ve had some of the lady pros tell me something like this has been needed for a long time.”
One thing the Smiths urge is for those who purchase a Bassroom to practice setting it up. “The cover can be set up on the boat in about a minute, and even less than that for setting up the stool,” Matt said. “But you want to practice setting it up on your boat, so when you need it, you’ll be ready.”
