Boat Cover And Method of Construction

Abstract

A boat cover is built up from a series of overlapped wide strips of a covering material extending from side to side over the boat. The cover material includes a layer of felt bonded to the inside of a PVC sheeting leaving a narrow strip defining covered with the overlapped areas. An adhesive film, which is covered with a peelable non-adhesive cover. The overlapping areas are bonded together with a strippable adhesive film. A hem piece is attached to bottom portions of the strips encircling the boat hull, with a draw element within the hem tightened to securely grip the boat hull. Tie downs may further secure the cover to a boat trailer or other support for the boat.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/352,013 filed on Apr. 20, 2016.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Shrink wraps are widely used for seasonally covering boats during the winter and also for long term storage of boats or other large items at any time of the year. A UVI (ultraviolet inhibitor protected) PVC (polyvinyl) plastic sheeting is widely used, which is readily conformable to be able to be wrapped over a boat and then be tightly “shrink” wrapped to the boat by the application of heat as by using a heated air blower. The covering is usually completely scrapped after being taken off in the spring as it is not durable enough to be reused particularly since it is weakened by the heating process which shortens its life, and recycling the plastic material is not practical.

Handling and heat shrinking a large piece of plastic sheeting is difficult and usually left to a personnel experienced in the process, increasing the cost to a boat owner. The shrink wrap covering is not strong enough to protect boats from impacts by debris if used to protect against hurricanes and is generally not used for that purpose.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a covering for boats or other large items which is reusable over at least several years so as to reduce the cost and inconvenience of covering the boat.

It is a further object to provide a custom fit boat covering which can be fit to and installed onto a boat by a boat owner without professional help, and does not require an expensive heating gun.

It is yet another object to provide such a boat covering which is strong enough to provide some protection against windblown debris as in a hurricane in a warm weather location.

It also is an object to provide a readily conformable covering material useful in creating such a boat cover, which does not need shrink heating to install.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above recited objects and other objects which will be understood by those skilled in the art are achieved by cutting a plurality of wide strips from a roll of a wrappable covering material. The covering material includes a felt (or none woven polyester) reinforcement sheeting layer bonded to the inside of a UVI plastic sheeting such as PVC leaving a border area along one side thereto having an adhesive, applied thereof preferably in the form of an adhesive film. A removable paper covering overlies the adhesive film to prevent inadvertent adhesive thereto when the strips are being moved into a proper position.

Successive side by side overlapping lengths of the strips are wrapped over the width of the boat to build up a main portion of a cover completely overlying the boat. The strips are bonded together by removing the paper covering so as to be able to be bonded together side by side along overlapping areas thereof.

A hem piece comprised of a folded over narrow section of cover material is then installed bonded along the bottom of the bonded together cover strips, the hem piece encircling the boat hull.

A tightening draw element such as a rope or strap is passed within the hem piece and tightened preferably by a suitable tensioner tool and held taut by a buckle once tightened, to securely grip the boat hull.

Tie down straps are preferably connected to the cover looped through slits cut into the cover material and wrapped around a boat trailer or other structure supporting the boat.

The cover so formed can be repeatedly removed, folded up and then reused, at least several times.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a boat having a completed built up cover according to the invention installed thereon.

FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of a roll of cover material partially unwound showing a felt layer covering most of the inside of a PVC plastic sheeting, leaving a 4 inch wide area along one side, on which an adhesive film is installed as shown with a non-adhesive paper covering shown partially peeled away.

FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged sectional view of a portion of the cover material showing details of the adhesive film used in making the cover material.

FIG. 4A is an enlarged fragmentary pictorial view of an encircling hem piece which is attached extending across a lower region of the installed strips making up a main portion of the cover according to the invention.

FIG. 4B is an enlarged pictorial view of the hem piece installed onto a bottom region of the bonded together strips, showing a slit cut into the strips for installing a tie down.

FIGS. 5A-5F are step by step side views showing the building up of a cover main portion by overlapping and bonding together strips of cover material installed over the width of a boat, drawn tight, and then taped to the hull of the boat.

FIG. 5G is a side view of a boat showing oppositely “shingled” strips used to make up the main portion of the cover, in which lowest strips at each end are installed first, and lapped by higher up strips so as to better shed rain.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show angled relative repositioning of fragmentary portions of a strip illustrating repositioning enabled by the releasability of the adhesive film used to bond the strips together along overlapped areas.

FIG. 8 is a pictorial view showing a covering backing paper strip being peeled off from the adhesive film when the adjacent overlapping sides of two strips are being prepared to be bonded together.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a covered boat with the lower regions of the bonded together strips being partially trimmed off along the bottom of a hem piece installed thereof.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged pictorial view of the installed strips bonded together to form the cover and with a tie down strap installed.

FIG. 11 is a pictorial view of a tensioner tool engaging a draw strap.

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic view of a first apparatus for making the cover material according to the invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic view of an alternative second apparatus for making the cover material according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, certain specific terminology will be employed for the sake of clarity and a particular embodiment described in accordance with the requirements of 35 USC 112, but it is to be understood that the same is not intended to be limiting and should not be so construed inasmuch as the invention is capable of taking many forms and variations within the scope of the appended claims.

The present invention concerning a built up reusable cover 10 for a boat 8 (or other large stored item) (FIG. 1) made by extending an overlapping series of wide PVC or other suitable plastic sheeting strips 12A-F wrapped across the width of a boat hull 28. The strips 12A-12F are bonded to each along overlapping areas, and an adhesive film 22 is provided which normally is covered with a strip of paper 18, but is exposed by peeling off the paper cover layer 18 as each of the strips 12A-12F are wrapped across the boat 8 and the previously installed strip 12.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the strips 12A-12F are cut from a roll 15 of cover material comprised of an outer sheeting 16 of UVI PVC plastic having a felt reinforcement layer 14 bonded to the inside surface preferably by an interposed layer of adhesive film to stiffen and strengthen the cover 10 so as to make the cover 10 so formed durable enough to last at least several seasons or uses, and to be able to better withstand impacts from windblown debris.

The lapped reinforced strips 12A-12F are bonded to each other along overlapped areas 18 by a film type adhesive 22 such as Sekusic 5782 which adhesive allows detachment to enable repositioning of the strips 12A-12F after being installed so as to allow adjustment in relative positioning as necessary to insure proper overlapping of the entire length of strips 12A-12F.

The mold resistant felt 14 overlies most of the outer plastic sheeting 16 but not all, i.e., 56 inches of a 60 inch wide sheeting 16 leaving an uncovered area along one side of the sheeting. The UVI PVC plastic sheeting 16 is preferably of a thickness of 7 mils, which is slightly thicker than what is currently used for conventional shrink wrap covers to be stronger and slightly stiffer.

As noted above, the bonding of the felt layer 14 to the outer plastic sheeting 16 is preferably also accomplished by covering the inside surface of the outer PVC plastic sheeting 16 with a film type adhesive, such as Sekusic 5782, but can alternatively be bonded with a coated adhesive, as described herein.

The uncovered 4 inch border area along one side of the PVC plastic sheeting 16 which is not covered with the felt layer 14 which requires an adhesive film 22 such as Sekusic 5782 film type adhesive attached thereto. The adhesive film is covered with a paper layer 18 which is able to be peeled off (as seen in FIG. 8) when the strips 12A-12F are being successively installed extending across the boat to create a repositionable bond between the overlapped strips 12A-12F as seen in FIGS. 5A-5G which allows peeling apart if necessary to properly locate the same.

As seen in FIGS. 4A and 4B, another component of the cover 10 is a bottom hem piece 26 formed by a 12-16 inch strip of UVI PVC plastic of a length able to encircle the perimeter of the boat hull 28 at the rub rail. The strip is folded in two and the ends of the two halves secured together as with a 4 inch strip 30 of Sekusic 5782 film adhesive. The hem piece 26 is installed extending along the lower area of the assembled strips 12A-12F, thereto with another adhesive strip 32.

A strap or rope drawstring element 34 is inserted in the fold space 36 of the hem piece 26, which allows secure tightening of the bottom of the cover 10 onto the boat hull 28 as described further below.

To create the cover 10, the first step, depicted in FIG. 5A, is to install pairs of support lines 38, which are attached to the highest structure of the boat, with opposite ends of each of the lines 38 attached to fore and aft ends of the boat hull 28.

A first strip 12A of a length required to extend across the highest point on the center structure and down over the hull rub rail is measured and cut, after trimming off the 4″ uncovered border 18 which is not needed for the first strip 12A.

The first strip 12A is installed extending across the boat hull 28 from one side to the other side and with one side adjacent the highest point on the boat center structure. The strip 12A (and the other strips 12B-12F) are arranged to be installed substantially perpendicular to the support lines 38 so as to extend at a slight angle to the hull 28. The first panel strip 12A is then pulled tight and held at the top with pieces of tape 40 and the bottom ends temporarily affixed with pieces of tape 40 to opposite sides of the hull 28 so that it is held tight and is substantially wrinkle free.

The bottom edges 42 are shown extending down over the hull 28 to preferably be trimmed later after the hem piece 26 is installed as described below.

The second strip 12B cut to length is then positioned with one side adjacent the other side of the high point of the boat structure crossing back over the top of first strip 12A (FIG. 5B) and drawn tight. The 4″ adhesive film 22 is exposed by progressively peeling off the paper cover 18 as seen in FIG. 8. The second strip 12B is drawn tight and taped temporarily to the boat hull 28 and the adhesive paper cover 18 is removed by being peeled (FIG. 8) off to enable bonding with the adhesive film 22 to the outer side of the first panel strip 12A as the strip 12B over the first strip 12A.

A precut third strip 12C is put in place (FIG. 5C) located down and parallel to the first strip 12A, as shown, drawn tightly and taped to the hull. The adhesive paper cover 18 is progressively peeled away as before to bond the strip 12C to the overlapping area first strip 12A and across the second strip 12B.

The same steps are then carried out placing a fourth strip 12D over the boat hull 28 (FIG. 5D) and overlapping the lower side of the second strip 12B. The overlapping areas bonded in the same manner as with the other strips.

Two end panels 12E and 12F are then cut and similarly installed as shown in FIGS. 5E and 5F.

The hem piece 26 is then attached to the bottom region of the strips 12A-12F extending around the perimeter of the boat hull 28. The bottom portions of bonded strips 12A-12F extending below the bottom of the hem piece 26 are preferably trimmed off using the hem piece 26 as a guide so that the cut edges thereof will not be visible and thereby present a neat appearance, see FIG. 9.

The hem draw strap 34 is held in tension as with a pair buckles 53 using a commercially available tensioner tool 52 as seen in FIG. 13 to pull the ends of strap 34 together thus be very securely tightened around the boat hull 28.

Tie down straps 46 may be attached as by slitting openings 48 in the strips 12A-12F (covered with a tape piece 49) to allow the tie down straps 46 to be pulled through the slit openings 48 and connected to the boat trailer 50 (FIG. 10).

The built up cover 10 so created can be kept for reuse after being removed and folded to be available to cover the boat again before multiple winter seasons or for other repeated uses. This is not possible with a shrink wrap cover which cannot be reused and is therefore discarded. The cover material is therefore much more durable than the unreinforced PVC plastic sheeting used to form shrink wrap cover since it is not heated as is done to obtain a shrink fit, and also because of the absence of the reinforcing felt layer 14.

The cover 10 here described thus greatly reduces the quantity of plastic material wasted by being discarded after every season.

Also, the average user is able to construct the cover 10 themselves as well as to install and remove the same. A professional installer is typically not needed.

Other advantages include the fact that the cover 10 is seamless, so that no sewing according to a pattern is required.

Other uses of the cover of the invention are possible, such as to cover large items such as autos, etc. which are being stored.

Other possible boat uses are to protect the same against tropical storms or hurricanes, or to cover boats in storage or being moored at a dock for long periods. The reinforced construction can better sustain the impacts of windblown debris common during a hurricane or tropical storm.

FIG. 12 shows a diagram of an apparatus for producing the cover material is used in making the cover 18 according to the invention. The UVI protected PVC plastic sheeting material 16 is fed off a roll 54 and advanced to a next station where an adhesive film 56 is fed onto the inner surface of the PVC sheeting 16, squeezed together with rolls 58.

A roll of felt 60 is arranged to feed a felt layer 62 onto the adhesive film covered inside surface of the PVC sheeting 16.

A second much narrower roll 64 of film adhesive feeds a narrow strip of the adhesive film 64 which has its exposed side covered with a paper strip as described above onto one side of the sheeting 16 which remains uncovered with the felt layer 62. Rollers 66 receive the sheeting 16 with felt layer 62 thereon and the paper covered adhesive film 64 to bond the same together to create a cover material wound up into a roll 68. A lateral roller support 70 may be used to adjust the position of roll 60 to insure maintenance of the proper location of the felt layer 62 on the sheeting 16.

Referring to FIG. 13, an alternate apparatus is shown which includes a topside coater 72 which spreads a suitable liquid adhesive on the inside of the PVC sheeting 16. Such apparatus is commercially available as from Schaefer Machine of Deep River, Conn.

Claims

1. A protective cover for a boat comprising a plurality of side by side wide strips of a sheeting covering material extending over said boat and overlapping each other with a bonding together of overlapped areas creating a unitary cover.

2. The cover of claim 1 further including a hem piece extended around a perimeter of the cover encircling a boat hull, said hem piece having a draw strap therein tightened to cause said hem piece to grip said boat hull.

3. The cover according to claim 1 wherein said covering material comprises a sheeting of plastic having a thin felt layer bonded to an inner side thereof.

4. The cover according to claim 3 wherein an adhesive film is interposed between said plastic sheeting and said felt layer to bind the same together.

5. The cover according to claim 3 wherein said felt layer is narrower than said plastic sheeting which creates a border area along one side thereof not covered with felt, said overlapped areas comprised of said border areas of one strip underlying an opposite side of an adjacent strip.

6. The boat cover according to claim 5 wherein each border area is covered with an adhesive film to be bonded to an overlying side of an overlying strip when successive layers are partially positioned atop one another to create an overlay.

7. A method of forming a boat cover comprising cutting lengths of a cover material into wide strip and installing sequentially each strip over said boat extending from side to side across a hull of said boat so as to overlap each other, with a sufficient number of strips to completely cover said boat, said strips each having a side area overlapping an adjacent strip other side and said overlapping side areas bonded on underlying other side of a previously installed strip.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein each of said strip overlapping areas has an adhesive film layer hereon, having a non adhesive covering which is pulled off as each strip overlapping side areas are positioned extending partially over a side of a previously installed strip.

9. The method according to claim 7 further including attaching a hem piece to a bottom area of said strips adjacent a boat hull of a length able to encircle said hull, said hem piece having a draw element extending therein, said draw element tightened to securely grip said boat hull with said hem piece thereby securing said cover to said boat.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein said strips extend past said hem piece and including trimming off said bottom of said strips to be substantially even with said hem piece.

11. A protective cover material comprising an ultraviolet resistant plastic sheeting having a layer readily conformable of reinforcing material bonded to one side thereof with an interposed adhesive.

12. The cover material according to claim 11 wherein said reinforcing layer does not extend completely over said plastic sheeting to create an uncovered area extending along one side of said plastic sheeting, with an adhesive film extending over said uncovered area, said adhesive film in turn covered with a strippable non-adhesive sheeting overlapping said adhesive film and able to be manually peeled off to expose said adhesive film.

13. The cover material according to claim 12 wherein said reinforcing material comprises felt sheeting.

14. The cover material according to claim 12 wherein said reinforcing material is non woven polyester sheeting.