COVER EXTENSION

Abstract

An apparatus (100), having: an extension structure (200) configured to be secured to a base structure (400) and to define an extension structure roofline (204); and a side cover assembly (300) having a first portion (304) that is configured to be supported by the extension structure and a second portion (306) that is configured to protrude past the extension structure and thereby not be supported by the extension structure.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an extension structure and side cover assembly that expands a covered area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Items stored in storage structures may be replaced by other items of varied sizes over a lifetime of the storage structure. In certain instances, the item to be stored may exceed a footprint provided by the existing storage structure. This may result in a portion of the item being stored extending past a covered area of the storage structure. It is often not practical to replace the storage structure with a larger, more suitable storage structure to overcome this. Consequently, there remains room in the art for improvement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained in the following description in view of the drawings that show:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example embodiment of an extension structure and an example embodiment of a side cover assembly disclosed herein disposed on a base structure.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the extension structure and the side cover assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the extension structure and the side cover assembly of FIG. 1 with a roof on the base structure.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the extension structure and the side cover assembly of FIG. 1 with a flexible substrate lowered.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an underside of the extension structure of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a cross section of the side cover assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the side cover assembly of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 to FIG. 10 are perspective views of an example embodiment of the extension structure and an example embodiment of the side cover assembly.

FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of the extension structure and the side cover assembly of FIG. 8 with the flexible substrate lowered.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present inventor has created a unique and innovative cover extension that extends a covered area of an existing base structure. This extended covered area includes an extension structure that provides an extended area of coverage and a side cover assembly that provides side protection for both the extension structure and the base structure. The extension structure may be configured to define its own roofline and its roofline can be configured to match with and extend an existing roofline of the base structure, thereby providing a seamless appearance. The side cover assembly may be configured to have one flexible substrate section (e.g., akin to a curtain) that provides all the side protection up to and including an entire perimeter of the extension structure and the base structure. Alternately, the side cover assembly may have multiple substrate sections that may be configured to be raised or lowered in unison and/or independently.

FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 show an example embodiment of a cover extension assembly 100 having an example embodiment of an extension structure 200 and an example embodiment of a side cover assembly 300. The side cover assembly 300 disclosed herein is embodied as a flexible substrate assembly 302 (e.g., a curtain assembly) but is not limited to being such an assembly. For example, the side cover assembly 300 could alternately include an awning or any suitable covering. The cover extension assembly 100 is disposed on a base structure 400. In this example embodiment, the cover extension assembly 100 is configured to be secure to a base structure 400 composed of pilings 402 such as those used to define a boat slip. The cover extension assembly 100 may be disposed over an entrance to the boat slip to cover a stern of an oversized boat. The base structure 400 may or may not have its own roof/top cover 404. If the base structure 400 does not have its own roof 404, the cover extension assembly 100 may further include a roof for the base structure 400. The base structure 400 is not limited to a piling structure and can include conventional storage sheds and may also be used as an extension of an existing building awning and the like.

The extension structure 200 is secured to or positioned adjacent to the base structure 400, optionally includes a top cover 202, and defines an extension structure roofline 204. The side cover assembly 300 includes a first portion 304 that is configured to extend along the extension structure 200. Optionally, the first portion 304 is configured to be secured to the extension structure 200. The side cover assembly 300 further includes a second portion 306 that is configured to protrude past (e.g., cantilever from) the extension structure 200 and thereby not be directly supported along its cantilevered length by the extension structure 200. In this example embodiment, the second portion 306 is configured to extend along the base structure 400. Optionally, the second portion 306 is configured to be secured to the base structure 400. In various embodiments, the side cover assembly 300 may be secured to the extension structure 200 only, to the base structure 400 only, to both the extension structure 200 and the base structure 400, or it may be additionally or exclusively supported by an entirely separate structure such as one or more dedicated support posts and the like.

The first portion 304 of the side cover assembly 300 includes three segments 304A, 304B, 304C and the second portion 306 of the side cover assembly 300 includes three segments 306A, 3068, 306C. However, there may be any number of segments in any shape. In this example, non-limiting embodiment, a total length of the segments (306A+306B+306C) of the second portion 306 segment is greater than a total length of the segments (304A+304B+304C) of the first portion 304, however this need not be the case in other embodiments.

In this example embodiment, the side cover assembly 300 includes a straight section 310 composed of two segments. A first segment 304C of the straight section 310 is configured to be supported by the extension structure 200. A second segment 306C of the straight section 310 is configured to protrude past the extension structure 200 and thereby not be supported by the extension structure, but instead be supported by the base structure 400. Alternately, the straight section 310 may be seen as composed of a first segment 304A and a second segment 306A that are similarly mounted.

In this example embodiment, the side cover assembly 300 is configured to enclose a perimeter 320 defined by segments 304A+304B+304C+306A+306B+306C. A first portion 322 of the perimeter 320 is defined by segments 304A+304B+304C and is configured to be secured to an extension structure roofline 204. A second portion 324 of the perimeter 320 is defined by segments 306A+306B+306C and is configured to be secured to the base structure 400. The extension structure 200 occupies a first portion 330 of an area defined by the perimeter 320, where the first portion 330 is defined by segments 304A+304B+304C+304D. A remainder 332 of the area defined by the perimeter 320 is defined by segments 306A+306B+306C+306D. In the example embodiment shown, the remainder 332 is greater than the first portion 330, though this is not necessary.

In an example embodiment, the area of the first portion 330 is up to 50% of the area of the remainder 332. As a result, a ratio of the first portion 330 to the remainder 332 can range from just above 0:2 up to 1:2. A corresponding ratio of the first portion 330 to the entire area enclosed by the perimeter 320 can range from just above 0:3 to 1:3.

In other example embodiments, the ratio of the first portion 330 to the remainder 332 can range from just above 0:2 up to 0.25:2; from 0.25:2 to 0.5:2; from 0.5:2 to 0.75:2; from 0.75:2 to 1:2, and from 1:2 to 2:2. Corresponding respective ratios of the first portion 330 to the entire area enclosed by the perimeter 320 can range from just above 0:3 up to 1:9; from 1:9 to 1:5; from 1:5 to 1:3.67; from 1:3.67 to 1:3; and from 1:3 to 1:2.

In an example embodiment, the segment 304A can extend and distance from the base structure. In example embodiments, the segment 304A extends up to ten (10) feet from the base structure 400. Segment 304C may extend a same distance as segment 304A. Alternately, Segment 304C may extend its own unique distance to match required design criteria. In other example embodiments, the segment 304A may extend any distance from the base structure 400, including one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, or ten feet, and any distance in between any two of these distances.

Both the base structure 400 and the extension structure 200 shown in the figures are each characterized by a rectangular perimeter, and when assembled together, define a different rectangular perimeter 320. However, the perimeter of the base structure 400 need not be rectangular or even rectilinear. Likewise, the perimeter of the extension structure 200 need not be rectangular or even rectilinear. The resulting perimeter 320 also need not be rectangular or even rectilinear. The perimeter of the base structure 400, the perimeter of the extension structure 200, and the resulting perimeter 320 can take any shape, including square, triangular, round, oval etc.

In alternate example embodiments, the side cover assembly 300 may not enclose a perimeter. Instead, the side cover assembly 300 may have a C-shape (e.g., segments 304A+304B+304C+306A+306C but not segment 306B), an L-shape (e.g., segments 304B+304C+306C), or only a straight shape like straight section 310. Any combination of segments is considered within the scope of the disclosure.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the base structure 400 includes the roof 404 that defines a base structure roofline 406 to which the side cover assembly 300 can be secured. The extension structure 200 is configured to define the extension structure roofline 204 to match and thereby seamlessly integrate with the base structure roofline 406. This results in a uniform and natural look as the cover extension assembly 100 includes/encircles both the extension structure 200 and the base structure 400.

Optionally included in the side cover assembly 300 is a valence 344 configured to cover the mounting hardware associated with the side cover assembly 300 the valence 344 may be disposed on some or all the segments 304A 304B 304C 304D 306A 306B 306C 306D. The valence 344 is configured to protect the mounting hardware from the weather and wildlife and thereby extend the life thereof. The valance 344 may extend laterally (away from the base structure 400) and vertically, such as downward, to protect the mounting hardware.

As best indicated in FIG. 4, a flexible substrate 340 (e.g., a curtain) of the side cover assembly 300 includes a continuous section 342 that spans the entire perimeter and thereby necessarily spans the straight section(s) 310. The flexible substrate 340 can alternately be composed of plural separate sections that may be controlled as one or may be independently controllable.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an underside of the extension structure of FIG. 1. The extension structure 200 can be formed by any suitable extension structure framework 210 known to the artisan, such as a tubular framework composed of square and/or round tubing and the like. A motor 212 may be operatively connected to cables 214 that are routed around pulleys 216 in a manner known to the artisan to raise and lower the flexible substrate 340.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 show an example embodiment of a mounting arrangement 350 of the side cover assembly 300. The mounting arrangement 350 is configured to secure the flexible substrate 340 and the valance 344 to mounting structure 352 (e.g., the roofline) of at least one of the extension structure 200 and the base structure 400. In this example embodiment, a flexible substrate framework 354 including a horizontal member 356 and an angled member 358 are secured (e.g., bolted) to the mounting structure 352. A support bar 360 is secured to at least one of the horizontal member 356 and the angled member 358 and is configured to support the flexible substrate 340 which hangs from the support bar 360.

An upper end 370 of the valance 344 is secured to the mounting structure 352 via any suitable connection. In an example embodiment, half 372 of a hook and loop assembly 374 is secured to the upper end 370 of the valance, and the other half 376 of the hook and loop assembly 374 is secured to the mounting structure 352. However, the upper end 370 may be secured in any suitable way know to the artisan. The valance 344 extends in a lateral direction LD (away from the mounting arrangement 350) and then in a vertical direction VD (downward). A lower end 378 of the valance 344 hangs over and past the support bar 360 and may be weighted with a weight 380 to hold the lower end 378 in place. In this manner, the valance 344 covers all the mounting hardware as well as the flexible substrate 340. Should the environment degrade the valance 344 over time, the valance 344 alone can be replaced, which is significantly less expensive than replacing the flexible substrate 340 and any other associated components that the valance 344 covers and protects.

Installation of the cover extension assembly 100 is straightforward. The extension structure 200 is secured to or otherwise positioned adjacent the base structure 400. The mounting arrangement 350 is then secured to the mounting structure 352 of at least one of the extension structure 200 and the base structure 400. Alternately, the mounting arrangement 350 is additionally or exclusively secured to a separate structure that positions the flexible substrate 340 adjacent the extension structure 200 and the base structure 400. The flexible substrate 340 is secured to the mounting arrangement 350, the pulleys 216 are installed and the cables 214 are routed. The valance 344 also is secured to the mounting structure 352 of at least one of the extension structure 200 and the base structure 400. The top cover 202 is installed over the extension structure 200 and optionally a top cover is installed over the base structure 400. The flexible substrate 340 and valance 344 may enclose some or all the extension structure 200 and the base structure 400. Alternately, the flexible substrate 340 is directly secured to at least one of the base structure 400, the extension structure 200, and the separate structure without some or all of the mounting arrangement 350.

FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 show another example embodiment of the extension structure 800 and the side cover assembly 900 with the flexible substrate 902 in the raised position. The extension structure 800 includes a framework 802 that is cantilevered from a roofline 1000 of the base structure 1002. The framework 802 can be secured to the base structure 1002 in any way known to the artisan. The top cover 804 is disposed over the extension structure 800. The motor 810 is secured to the framework 802 and rotates about an axis of rotation 812 to extend and retract the cables 814. The cables 814 are, in turn, routed around the pulleys 816 en route to respective positions along the bottom of the flexible substrate 902. Hence, the cables 814 are sized to reach various locations around the perimeter 320. With the help of the pulleys 816, the cables 814 are routed to reach various locations around the perimeter 320. The cables 814 and pulleys 816 are thereby configured to reach well beyond the perimeter of just the extension structure 200. Similarly, the motor 810 is selected to have a capacity suitable for raising and lowering a flexible substrate 902 that may be much larger than would be necessary if the flexible substrate 902 were only being used for the extension structure 800.

The motor 810, cables 814 and pulleys 816 need not be located as shown but can be located anywhere suitable. Pulley group 818 is an example embodiment of a group of pulleys that direct the cables 814 to various parts of the side cover assembly 900.

FIG. 10 shows a closeup of the pulley group 818 of FIG. 9. As can be seen between FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, this pulley group 818 includes pulleys 816L, 816D, and 816R. Pulley 816L redirects cable 814L toward a left side (as shown in FIG. 10) of the side cover assembly 900. At a selected location along the side cover assembly 900, cable 814L will be directed down via another pully (not shown) to connect to a respective location at the bottom of the flexible substrate 902. Pulley 816D redirects cable 814D downward to a respective location at the bottom of the flexible substrate 902. Pulley 816R redirects cable 814R toward a right side (as shown in FIG. 10) of the side cover assembly 900. At a selected location along the side cover assembly 900, cable 814R will be directed down via another pully (not shown) to connect to a respective location at the bottom of the flexible substrate 902.

All the cables 814L 814D 814R are connected to the motor 810, either directly or indirectly. In this example embodiment, the cables 814L 814D 814R are indirectly connected to the motor 810. The cables 814L 814D 814R are connected to an intermediate cable 8141M at a junction 814J, and the intermediate cable 814IM is connected directly to the motor 810 (though an indirect connection to the motor 810 is also possible). Likewise, each cable 814L 814D 814R from the motor 810 may be branched into two or more cables that extend to respective locations along the bottom of the flexible substrate 902. This branching can be repeated as often as is deemed suitable.

Rotating the motor about the axis of rotation 812 in one direction extends the cables 814L 814D 814R in unison which, in turn, lowers the entire flexible substrate 902 in unison. Rotating the motor about the axis of rotation 812 in the opposite direction retracts the cables 814L 814D 814R around the motor 810 in unison, which, in turn, raises the entire flexible substrate 902 in unison. There may be as many cables 814 as are necessary to effectively lift the flexible substrate 902. There may be as many pulleys 816 as is necessary to properly route the cables from the motor 810, in the required directions, and around all obstacles to the respective locations at the bottom of the flexible substrate 902 (or any other select part of the flexible substrate 902).

FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of the extension structure 800 and the side cover assembly 900 of FIG. 1 with the flexible substrate 902 lowered. As can be seen at corner 1100, a first side 1102 of the flexible substrate 902 and a second side 1104 of the flexible substrate 902 are continuous around the corner 1100. There is no separable interface between the first side 1102 and the second side 1104 because the two sides are joined. This can be achieved using one piece of flexible substrate 902 to form the two sides 1102, 1104. The one piece of flexible substrate 902 may be composed of plural smaller pieces permanently joined to each other by sewing or the like. Alternately, the one piece of flexible substrate 902 may be composed of one intact piece of material in an original form that is simply long enough as received from its production line to form the two sides 1102, 1104 as one continuous/monolithic piece. Any number of corners may be continuous. In the instance where every corner is continuous, the flexible substrate can be described as one continuous loop of flexible substrate (e.g., a continuous skirt) that surrounds the entire perimeter 320.

Raising and lowering continuous pieces like this is made possible by, for example, using a motor/cable/pully lifting arrangement like that described above. In contrast, certain conventional raising and lowering arrangements include a roller that is rotated in one direction to coil the flexible substrate thereon, which raises the flexible substrate, and rotated in the opposite direction to uncoil and thereby lower the flexible substrate. These conventional raising and lowering arrangement coils are not suitable for raising and lowering substrates that are continuous around a corner. This is because the conventional raising and lowering system would require a roller for each side 1102, 1104, and each roller would raise and lower its respective section of the flexible substrate 902, but the two sides 1102, 1104 would be still connected to each other while being rolled around and unrolled from their respective roller. This would leave the corner to be rolled while the two sides 1102, 114 are being rolled, but the corner would be unsupported and hence, free to tangle.

Alternately, there may be plural sections of the flexible substrate 902. Each section may have its own motor, cable(s), and pulley(s) to provide independent control of the raising and lowering of the respective sections of the flexible substrate 902.

The cover extension assembly disclosed herein provides a simple and economic increase in covered area in a way that seamlessly integrates with the original structure. Components of the cover extension assembly are protected from the weather and wildlife by a valance that can be more readily replaced, as necessary. This extends the life of and maintains the appearance of the protected components at a lower overall cost. Consequently, the cover extension assembly disclosed herein represents an improvement in the art.

All features disclosed in the specification, including the claims, abstract, and drawings, and all the steps in any method or process disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. Each feature disclosed in the specification, including the claims, abstract, and drawings, can be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent, or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes and substitutions may be made without departing from the invention herein. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising: an extension structure configured to be secured to a base structure and to define an extension structure roofline; anda side cover assembly comprising a first portion that is configured to extend along the extension structure and a second portion that is configured to protrude past the extension structure.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of: the first portion is configured to be secured to the extension structure; and the second portion is configured to be secured to an existing base structure.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a top cover configured to cover at least the extension structure.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first portion comprises at least one first portion segment, the second portion comprises at least one second portion segment, and a total length of the at least one second portion segment is greater than a total length of the at least one first portion segment.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the side cover assembly comprises a straight section, wherein a first segment of the straight section is configured to be supported by the extension structure and a second segment of the straight section is configured to protrude past the extension structure.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the side cover assembly comprises a flexible substrate, and wherein the flexible substrate comprises the first portion of the straight section and the second portion of the straight section.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the side cover assembly is configured to raise and lower the flexible substrate.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the base structure.

9. An apparatus, comprising: an extension structure configured to be cantilevered from a base structure and to define an extension structure roofline; anda side cover assembly configured to be secured to the extension structure and configured to extend beyond the extension structure to be secured to the base structure.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the extension structure roofline extends a base structure roofline of the base structure, and wherein the side cover assembly is configured to be secured to the base structure roofline.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the side cover assembly is configured to enclose a perimeter, wherein a first portion of the perimeter is configured to be secured to the extension structure roofline and a second portion of the perimeter is configured to be secured to the base structure.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the extension structure occupies a first portion of an area defined by the perimeter, and wherein a remainder of the area defined by the perimeter is greater than the first portion.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the side cover assembly comprises a continuous section of flexible substrate that is configured to be secured to the extension structure and to extend beyond the extension structure to be secured to the base structure.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the side cover assembly comprises a retractable flexible substrate.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the side cover assembly comprises a flexible substrate, a mounting arrangement configured to secure the flexible substrate, and a removable valance configured to cover the flexible substrate and the mounting arrangement.

16. A method, comprising: associating an extension structure with an existing base structure; andinstalling a side cover assembly that is configured to position a flexible substrate adjacent both the extension structure and the base structure.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising securing the side cover assembly to at least one of the extension structure and the existing base structure.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising installing a top cover on the extension structure.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising enclosing both the extension structure and the base structure with the side cover assembly.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the base structure comprises dock pilings.