Patent Application
20070096558
Removable covers, canopies, shelters and similar protective enclosures are commonly used for many purposes, not the least of which include protecting the interior spaces of vehicles and marine vessels from the weather. Such enclosures, which include covers and tops made of canvas or other heavy-duty material, are also used to protect the cabs of industrial equipment and exterior living spaces such as residential patios and outdoor restaurants. Examples of the use of such enclosures on vessels and vehicle cabs are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,703.
Such enclosures have, in the past, been secured to their bases or supporting surfaces by a variety of different means e.g. buttons, snaps, Velcro®, twist fasteners, lashing, etc. There have been some attempts to secure the lower regions of enclosures within channel members. So far, these attempts have met with limited success. For example,
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide an enclosure track which overcomes the disadvantages and limitations of prior enclosure track support assemblies.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an enclosure track which is high strength, rigid, and non-deformable, even after assembly onto a support surface.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an enclosure track which readily receives and rigidly maintains a protective enclosure in position on a support surface.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an enclosure track which is of a configuration which permits its placement and use on surfaces of various radii and which attaches easily to these surfaces without bending or otherwise deforming.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an enclosure track which has a contoured curvilinear bottom surface to allow mounting on windshields, railings, tubing, and other curvilinear surfaces.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an enclosure track which allows the lip of an enclosure to slide unimpeded and unobstructed through the track, permitting the smooth and easy insertion and removal of the enclosure from the track.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an enclosure track which can support a variety of protective enclosures for marine, vehicle and shoreside use.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an enclosure track which can be used on marine vessels, land-based industrial equipment vehicles, and outdoor living spaces such as outdoor restaurants and residential patios.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an enclosure track which can withstand the elements of nature, is durable, and can withstand repeated uses without failure.
These and other objects are accomplished by the present invention, an enclosure track which comprises an elongated longitudinally extending unitary body made of high strength, non-deformable, rigid material. The track has an upper section with a longitudinally extending space and a lower section with a longitudinally extending space which is contiguous with the space of the upper section. The track has a bottom wall with a curvilinear lower surface adapted to be mounted on surfaces of any radius, to maintain the track in place. At all times, and especially when connected to the top surface of a bulkhead or other supporting surface, the track, being non-deformable, maintains its original shape. Thus, the track's high strength and non-deformable configuration and construction eliminates bending or flexing of the track and permits it to successfully maintain any type of protective enclosure rigidly and securely in place.
Novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention, itself, however, both as to its design, construction and use, together with the additional features and advantages thereof, are best understood upon review of the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Track 1 of the present invention comprises an elongated, longitudinally extending unitary body, preferably made of a high strength, non-deformable material, e.g. rigid PVC, hard plastic, or equivalent material. The rigid material from which the track is manufactured must, at all times, be able to maintain the shape of the track, even upon installation, as more fully described below.
Track 1 comprises upper section 2 having longitudinally extending space 4 partially surrounded by curvilinear interior surface 6. Track 1 further comprises lower section 8 having longitudinally extending space 10 which is contiguous with longitudinally extending space 4 of upper section 2. Side walls 11 and 12 of track 1 extend to form longitudinally extending slot 13 which opens into space 4.
The lower region of track 1 consists of bottom wall 14 which has a top surface 16 and a curvilinear bottom surface 18. Side walls 11 and 12 extend upwards from bottom surface 18 of bottom wall 14, to slot 13. Counter-sunk holes extend through bottom wall 14 and are configured to accept and seat a number of screws 22.
Bottom surface 18 of track 1 is configured to be positioned on top surface 32 of an upstanding bulkhead or wall 30 of a boat cabin, industrial vehicle side wall, or a living space such as an outdoor restaurant or residential patios. Once placed on top surface 32 of bulkhead 30, track 1 is secured to the bulkhead by means of a plurality of screws, represented in the accompanying drawings by screw 22. When fully tightened, screws 22 are located solely within space 10, through bottom wall 14 and into bulkhead 30.
The non-deformable, rigid nature of track 1 ensures that it will always maintain its shape, even after screws 22 are tightened to attach track 1 to a surface, like top surface 32. Specifically, side walls 11 and 12 remain in their original, pre-attachment configuration; and the distance between the upper regions of the walls, that distance forming slot 13, also remains unchanged after attachment. The rigid, non-deformable configuration of track 1, therefore, allows for a consistent, measured opening at slot 13, and, significantly, this configuration provides a solid, non-deformable, unbendable support foundation for maintaining enclosure 40 and all large, substantial and heavy-weight enclosures in position on top surface 32 of bulkhead 30 or similar supporting bulkheads.
Enclosure 40, which can be a vessel, vehicle or other enclosure, comprises lip 42. The shape of lip 42 substantially conforms with interior surface 6 of space 4 of upper section 2. Once track 1 is secured onto bulkhead 30, lip 42 is slid completely through longitudinally extending space 4 of upper section 2. When lip 42 is fully inserted into space 4 of upper section 2, enclosure 40 is advantageously positioned and rigidly secured over and on bulkhead 30, thus successfully enclosing the space of the boat cabin, vehicle, etc.
Since track 1 is secured to bulkhead 30 by means of screws 22 which are located solely within longitudinally extending space 10 of lower section 8, lip 42 of enclosure 40 is able to slide unimpeded and unobstructed through space 4 of upper section 2 of track 1, providing for smooth and easy insertion and removal of the enclosure from the track. In addition, ease of removal and insertion of enclosure 40 is also assisted by the high strength and rigid configuration of track 1. Since track 1 never flexes, bends, or any manner deforms, sliding insertion and removal of lip 42 of enclosure 40 is accomplished most easily and smoothly.
Track 1 can be used on a variety of different bulkheads in which removable enclosures are contemplated. Such uses include, without limitation or restriction, marine enclosures for boat cabins, marine covers, canvas tops, industrial vehicle enclosures, and enclosures for outdoor living spaces such as restaurants and patios, etc. In fact, the location of placement and use of the track of the present invention is not to be considered restricted to the vehicles, vessels, or other locations discussed herein. It is contemplated that the track will be used with any structure where there is a need for an enclosure, cover, or similar protective shelter. In addition, the curvilinear nature bottom surface 18 of track 1 allows it to be mounted on virtually any radiused surface such as on windshields, railings, tubing, and the like.
Track 1 of a subject invention replaces the conventional flange style track assembly shown in
Certain novel features and components of this invention are disclosed in detail in order to make the invention clear in at least one form thereof. However, it is to be clearly understood that the invention as disclosed is not necessarily limited to the exact form and details as disclosed, since is apparent that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.
