Patent Application
20250214678
The present invention relates generally to boat covers. More specifically, the present invention includes a boat cover that includes a flexible cover that is attached to a retracting mechanism, so that the flexible cover is maintained in a rolled up configuration within the retracting mechanism when not in use, and may be unrolled and extended outwardly from the retracting mechanism for covering a boat, particularly during periods of storage or non-use.
Boat covers are commonly used to partially or completely cover boats as protection against wind, rain and for protection against ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Currently, there is a wide variety of boat covers, including covers that may be positioned over the entire boat, as well as covers that extend over the cockpit or helm. One issue with many modern boat covers is the difficulty of securing the boat covers to the boat. For example, many boat covers include a series of snaps around the periphery thereof, and require complementary snap mechanisms to be placed around the exterior of the boat itself. It can be difficult and time consuming for a boat owner to affix each boat cover snap around the entire periphery of the boat.
The following references disclose different types of boat covers that have been developed, and each of the documents cited below are hereby incorporated herein by reference, in their entireties:
U.S. Pat. No. 3,896,832 Canoe Tent
A canoe tent includes a shroud and means for joining the periphery of the shroud to the gunwale of the canoe, a removable bow member adapted for mounting on the bow and resilient means for supporting the shroud at the bow.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,075,723 Boat Cover Means
A cover of flexible sheet material and a flexible resilient rib adapted to extend in arched configuration over a boat from adjacent one gunwale of the boat to the other for supporting the cover arched over the boat. The rib is secured to the cover with the cover extending down beyond the ends of the rib and then down on the sides of the boat for securement over the boat. The rib may be bent into various arched configurations depending on the beam of the boat, and then held in any of the arched configurations.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,768,457 Inflatable Boat Covers
A cover for covering an opening such as a cockpit, hatch and the like in a watercraft includes an inflatable chamber. When the cover is in place and the chamber inflated, the upper surface is convex in shape. This causes water and debris to run off the cover and prevents the pooling of water in the cover. The cover is of a flexible sheet material. When the chamber is deflated and the cover unfastened from the opening, it is as easily stored as are conventional covers.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,807 Temporary Canopy for Small Watercraft
This invention is a lightweight, potentially expendable, temporary canopy sembly for small open type watercraft. The thin resilient battens are interconnected in the form of a bowed longitudinal ridge member having a plurality of shorter length, transversely disposed, longitudinally spaced, bowed rib members connected therewith, with the free ends of the battens, inserted through D-ring type attachment means provided on the inner periphery of the watercraft, while exerting frictional tension against the craft's gunwales areas. A flexible Nylon type cover comprised of selectively joinable half sections is used as the protective canopy. It uses preferably complementally mateable hooks and loops type manual fastener means, such as Velcro® complemental fastener strips, to provide the selective attachment and detachment of the two halves over the bowed center ridge member, and also to detachably secure the canopy perimeter portions to the gunwale areas. The canopy half portions are adapted to be furled down from the center ridge and retained against the side gunwale areas by overlaid portions of a preexisting gunwale area peripherally extended safety line or cargo tie down rope.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,408 Protective Cover Assembly for Boats and the Like
A boat cover assembly includes a boat cover (12) mounted to a plurality of posts assemblies (28), (30), and (32). Each post assembly has a foot section (34) or (80), a post member (48), and a upper section (50). The upper section (50) has a batten member (64) mounted in a channel (56) and extending laterally into sleeves (65) sewn into the cover (12). The cover also has a chord (90) in the hem line (18) to tighten the cover about the boat hull (11) below its rub line (88). Straps (20) and (21) are secured to cover (12) and mounted about the underside (85) of the hull (11) and fastened together to secure the cover to the boat.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,129,034 Accessory Cover for a Boat
Herein taught is an accessory cover device which is removably attachable to an open-top boat. With the cover being of a size and shape to provide comfortable shelter for the user. Also, the cover is portable, and easily assembled and secured while the user is in the boat.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,789,495 Self-Supporting Boat Cover
A self-supporting boat cover includes a cover member having a plurality of sleeves that extends substantially longitudinally from a bow end of the cover member to a stern end. A corresponding plurality of flexible poles are insertable in the sleeves through either end of the sleeves and are releasably securable in the sleeves. The self-supporting boat cover is easily installed and inexpensive to manufacture. Additionally, the flexible poles can be readily disassembled into a plurality of pole sections into a compact and easily transportable configuration.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,455,027 Convertible Cover for Pontoon Boats and Associated Method
A convertible cover for pontoon boats comprises a fabric or cloth cover attached to a set of runners. The invention utilizes a track system on both sides of the boat with round runners. Sliding supports with three glide wheels each ride along these runners and match with an equal runner on the opposite side of the boat. The runners glide along a track guide system mounted onto the handrails of the pontoon boat. The cover glides along the track when manipulated by the user and enables the user to effectively and quickly cover the pontoon boat during storage or other times of inactivity. To remove the cover, it is simply pushed backwards where all supports and the tarp are stored at the rear. To deploy, it is simply pulled by a strap to completely and automatically cover the whole boat.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,950,416 Removable and Collapsible Cover System
A collapsible and removable cover for an object, including a collapsible, lightweight, waterproof cover member configured to cover a portion of the object, a lightweight support frame which is configured to be manipulated by a user between an expanded operative shape and a collapsed storage shape, and which connects to the cover member in the expanded operative shape such that the support frame and the cover member jointly form a self-supporting cover unit having a stable configuration, and retainers which are configured to secure parts of the support frame to the object. The retainers include first portions which are configured to be secured to the object and second portions which securely connect to the parts of the support frame, and the retainers function as a sole source of connection between the cover unit and the object.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,027,499 Self-Supporting Boat Cover
A kit for supporting a flexible material boat cover has a cover of flexible sheet material having a plurality of substantially parallel lateral channels formed on a bottom surface. A plurality of adjustable cross-straps are provided equal in number to the plurality of lateral channels. Each cross-strap has a pocket that is formed at each end thereof. A plurality of resilient cross-poles are provided equal in number to the plurality of lateral channels and each having a length greater than the cross-strap.
A cover assembly for use to protect the contents of a boat including a pair of channels, a semi-rigid guide member slidably disposed within a passage of one of the channels, a crossrod supported on each end by one of the pair of channels and connected on one end to the semi-rigid guide member, and a cover sheet connected to the crossrod. The cover assembly configured such that as a retraction mechanism moves the semi-rigid guide member in the passage, the cover is extended or retracted to the desired position.
The present invention, in one embodiment, a retractable boat cover assembly includes a boat cover for a boat, which preferably includes a windable, retracting mechanism disposed within a housing assembly that allows a flexible boat cover to be wound up and stored in a rolled up state within the housing assembly when not in use. In one embodiment, the retracting mechanism includes a spring-loaded roller within a housing, so that the retracting mechanism automatically winds the flexible cover around the roller due to the winding force applied by the spring. The retracting mechanism may include a stop assembly, so that the flexible cover may be extended to certain incremental lengths, wherein the stop assembly prevents the spring-loaded roller from winding the cover back into the retracting mechanism housing. Such spring-loaded winding mechanisms are commonly used today in many applications, including roller shades for windows, or for water hose reels, or the like. To release the stop assembly, a user may simply pull the boat cover outwardly for a short distance, which reactivates the spring-loaded winding mechanism, causing the boat cover to wind back into the retracting mechanism assembly housing.
In use, the retractable boat cover assembly may be mounted on a boat, preferably adjacent the stern of the boat, so that the boat cover may be unwound from the retracting mechanism to partially or fully cover the top of the boat, particularly during periods of storage or non-use. The cover may include means for attachment to the boat, including snaps, straps, stretch cords, snap-fit mechanisms, or any other suitable means for securing the cover to the boat.
In some embodiments, poles or other structures may be used to provide support to the boat cover while the cover is in place covering the boat. In one embodiment, a series of incrementally spaced, parallel slats may be attached to the cover in a transverse orientation, so that the slats may roll up into the retracting mechanism along with the cover. In other embodiments, the poles may be removably affixed to mounts located at various points around the boat to form a support structure, so that the boat cover fits over the pole structure during use.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description and accompanying drawings where:
As shown in
The spring-loaded retractable roller mechanism 20 includes a roller 16, and one edge of the boat cover 14 is attached to the roller in any suitable manner. In one embodiment, the retracting mechanism 20 includes a spring-loaded roller 16 within the assembly housing 12, so that the retracting mechanism 20 automatically winds the flexible cover 14 around the roller 16 due to the winding force applied by the spring. The retracting mechanism 20 may include a stopper mechanism, so that the flexible cover 14 may be extended to certain incremental lengths as desired, wherein the stopper mechanism prevents the spring-loaded roller 16 from winding the cover 14 back toward the assembly housing 12. Such spring-loaded winding mechanisms with stopper mechanisms are commonly used today in many applications, including roller shades for windows, or for water hose reels, cords for certain electrical appliances, or the like. To release the stopfer mechanism, a user may simply pull the boat cover 14 outwardly for a short distance, which reactivates the spring-loaded retracting mechanism 20, causing the boat cover 14 to wind back into the assembly housing 12.
When the boat cover 14 is extended outwardly from the assembly housing 12, it may be attached about the periphery of the boat in any suitable manner, including snaps 22, straps 24, stretch cords, snap-fit mechanisms, hook and loop fasteners, or the like. In a preferred embodiment, adjustable straps 24 are affixed to the boat cover 14, and are attachable to attachment points that are secured to the boat. The straps 24 may be removably attached to the cover 14 using snap-fit mechanisms, carabiners, or using any other suitable attachment mechanisms or methods.
In some embodiments, poles 26 or other structures may be used to provide support to the boat cover 14 while the cover 14 is in place covering the boat, which helps to prevent water from pooling on the cover, and offers additional stability to the boat cover 14 while in place over a boat. In one embodiment, a series of incrementally spaced, parallel slats may be attached to the cover in a transverse orientation, so that the slats may roll up into the retracting mechanism along with the cover 14. The slats may extend outwardly from the cover, and may also be attachable to the boat via snaps or other attachment means. It is contemplated that the slats may be affixed to the cover via transversely extending sleeves, similarly to the manner in which tent poles slide through sleeves on a tent. The slats may also be removable from the cover, if desired. In one embodiment, the slats may be wider than the boat itself, and may be flexible, so that when the slats are attached to either side of the boat, they form an arch structure.
In some embodiments, the poles 26 may simply extend upwardly from the boat to support the cover, as shown in
In some embodiments, the poles 26 may be removably affixed to mounts 28 located at various points around the boat. In this embodiment, a series of mounts 28 are preferably affixed about the boat in desired locations, and the mounts 28 receive the ends of the poles 26, in order to removably secure the poles 26 or pole structure to the boat. The poles 26 are preferably formed by attachable sections that may be assembled together, and may also include an elastic cord disposed within the pole sections to keep the pole sections together during storage in a disassembled state, similarly to the manner in which many tent poles are configured. The poles 26 may be arranged in parallel when in use, or may cross to form one or more X-shaped structures.
In any of the embodiments that include a structure for supporting the boat cover 14 when in use, the cover 14 may include suitable means for attachment to the poles or structure itself, including hook and loop fasteners, straps, snaps, carabiners, cords, or the like.
Alternatively, vertical poles 26 may be positioned under the cover 14 at any desired position, so that the poles 26 serve as vertical supports for the boat cover 14. The flexible boat cover 14 may include pockets or other means for receiving the upper ends of the vertically oriented poles 26, and the vertically oriented poles 26 may be configured telescopically so that they are adjustable to a desired height.
It should be understood that the retracting mechanism 20 and assembly housing 12 are preferably disposed adjacent the stern of a boat, but can be positioned at any suitable or desired location on a boat. The flexible boat cover 14 may be made from any suitable material, although a lightweight, durable material such as canvas, nylon, or the like is preferred.
Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein. All features disclosed in this specification may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
