CANOPY FOR WEATHER PROTECTION ESPECIALLY SUITABLE FOR A BOAT OR PLEASURE VESSEL

Abstract

The invention relates to a canopy for protection against elements. It is especially relevant for a boat or a pleasure vessel but may also be used in places where protection from the sun is desirable, e.g. terraces. The canopy has a centrally located anchoring point for a line and at least one side anchoring rope. The canopy comprises a continuous resilient frame arranged in a channel around the circumference of the canopy. The central anchoring point comprises an in-the-canopy-located plate through which the central line is led and a splint that constitutes the anchoring point for the line.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a canopy for protection against the elements. It is especially relevant for a boat or a pleasure vessel but may also be used in places where protection from the sun is desirable, e.g. terraces.

BACKGROUND ART

People in boats on the open sea may need to be protected from the sun, rain or wind. There are several products in use. They can mainly be divided into two types. The first type can be termed as fixed installations. Metal rods are fixed to a boat’s deck from which a canopy is supported, the rods holding up and ensuring that the textile in use is tensioned. The second type are flexible solutions intended for temporary use. These are canopies being stretched over a boom or other support and being supported and tensioned by a frame.

An example of such a product is called “Freebag Overhead” owned by the applicant. This consists of two articulated rods connected with bushings assembled to provide a rigid load-bearing frame. To assemble the canopy, the rods need to be threaded into guides in the canopy and then finally assembled using bushings. One of the drawbacks with this type is that quite a lot of force is needed to position the rods and force them into the bushings. This might be challenging, especially in rougher seas or windy conditions and as such limits the usefulness of the product.

In the invention, the canvas is flexible and self-assembling. This is achieved by using a frame with spring structure. The canvas can be stored in a folded position but when releasing the spring the flexible frame bounce out and thereby stretched the canvas to its desired position.

Such a solution is known from a video posted on YouTube by the applicant. Another example is U.S. Pat. Application 2012/073770. They show a spring-loaded frame with a canvas that will unpack upon release of the spring frame. The frame is foldable into a shape convenient for storage and can be kept in a bag to prevent unintentional assembly.

However, the known solutions have a number of drawbacks, chief among these is how to keep the canopy taut and in position.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the invention these problems are overcome by providing the canopy with a first stabilizing rope fastened to the sides of the boat and providing the canopy with an extra anchoring rope extending downwards from the boat’s rig or boom and led through the centre of the canopy. The rope is supported by a plate sown into the canopy and fastened on the underside of the canopy by using a splint or other stop.

According to the invention the canopy comprises a continuous resilient frame arranged in a channel around the circumference of the canopy and that the central anchoring point comprises a plate located in the canopy through which the central line is led and a splint that constitutes the anchoring point for the line.

Preferably the resilient frame comprises a glass fibre rod. Using only one rod helps alleviated the problem of assembling several rods with bushings.

Advantageously the canopy is made of a polyester material.

Another feature of the invention is that the side anchoring rope is led through holes in the circumferential area of the canopy and fastened directly to the frame.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in more detail while referring to the accompanying drawings where

FIG. 1 shows the canopy in the mounted position on the boat

FIG. 2 shows the canopy from above.

FIG. 3 anchoring point with pocket and plate

FIG. 4 shows detailed view of plate

FIG. 5 shows cross-section of part of the canopy with anchoring plate and glass fibre rod

FIGS. 6 - 8 show the assembly of the canopy to its mounted position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a canopy 10 according to the invention mounted above a deck on a boat 1. As also shown in FIG. 2 the canopy has a roughly oval circular shape. The canopy 10 is held in place using an overhead boom 12 with a line 14 that is fastened to the centre 20 of the canopy. The canopy is held in its preferred position by the line 14 anchored in the rig or boom 12 of the boat. The method of fastening will be described in more detail with respect to FIGS. 3 to 5. The canopy preferably is also fastened to railings 4 with at least one side anchoring rope 16.

The canopy is preferably made of a thick textile such as a waterproof polyester. A larger thickness confers more stability and avoids the canopy moving in the wind. The polyester textile can have a polyurethane coat on the bottom side that will protect the canopy from water ingress and an aluminium coating on the upper side for protection against UV rays.

The centrally located anchoring point 11 has a pocket 17 into which is sown a plate 18 as shown in FIG. 3. The underside of the pocket is preferably made of a mesh material to facilitate ventilation to avoid collection of water and /or humidity.

As shown in FIG. 4, plate 18 is preferably made of a hard plastic to be strong but lightweight. Plate 18 has the same oval circular shape and orientation as the canopy 10. The line 14 is threaded through a hole 15 in the centre of the plate 18 and fastened below the canopy with a splint 19 that is crosswise positioned against the plate 18.

The plate 18 has two main functions. Firstly, it is the anchoring point holding the canvas up. This keeps the canopy in tension and in the correct position. The plate also will stabilize the textile that makes up the canopy. It will also help to distribute the forces through the canopy.

FIG. 5 shows how around the circumference of the canopy the textile is preferably doubled over, both for increased strength and to create a channel. Preferably this area 30 is about 10 cm wide. This extra thickness around the periphery also confers better stability. A rod 32, preferably made of a glass fibre material is inserted into the channel. The flexible rod is inserted into this channel and is pre-loaded during manufacture of the canopy.

As also shown in FIG. 5, side anchoring ropes 16 are attached to rods 32 through a hole in the circumferential area 30. This enables a more secure fastening than if the ropes were attached to the textile.

FIGS. 6 - 8 show the sequence when unfolding the canopy. When not in use the canopy is folded and placed in a bag that can be stowed away. When taking the canopy out of the bag it will naturally unfold itself completely, due to the flexibility of the glass fibre rod.

Claims

1-9. (canceled)

10. A canopy for weather protection especially suitable for a boat or pleasure vessel comprising a canopy having a centrally located anchoring points for a line and at least one side anchoring rope arranged between the side (30) of the canopy and the boat’s deck or railings, wherein the canopy comprises a continuous resilient frame arranged in a channel around the circumference of the canopy and that the central anchoring point comprises an in the canopy located plate through which the central line is led with a splint that constitutes the anchoring point for the line and that the plate is located in a pocket of the canopy where the underside of the pocket is made of a mesh material.

11. The canopy according to claim 10, wherein the resilient frame comprises a glass fiber rod.

12. The canopy according to claim 10, wherein the resilient frame results in a popup effect upon mounting.

13. The canopy according to claim 10, wherein the resilient frame can be folded away for storage.

14. The canopy according to claim 10, wherein the resilient frame comes preassembled and ready for use.

15. The canopy according to claim 10, wherein the canopy is made of a polyester material.

16. The canopy according to claim 15, wherein the material on the topside is coated with material for UV protection.

17. The canopy according to claim 10, wherein the side anchoring rope is led through holes in the circumferential area of the canopy and fastened to the frame.

18. The canopy according to claim 10, wherein the central anchoring point further comprises a splint joined to the plate and to which the line is fastened.