UNIVERSAL COVER
A cover for an object, such as a boat, that can accommodate at least one optional feature of the object. The cover has at least one area that can be expanded to accommodate an optional feature of the object or collapsed if the object does not have an optional feature.
Latest Dowco, Inc. Patents:
This continuation application claims the benefit of and priority to Ser. No. 16/597,823, filed Oct. 9, 2019, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for all purposes.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to the field of covers.
BACKGROUNDMany objects that are exposed to elements, for example by being outdoors, can benefit from being covered. Some examples include, vehicles, grills, furniture, and outdoor equipment, to name a few. Covers are used to prevent dust, water, snow, ice, leaves, bird droppings, other debris, animals, and ultraviolet radiation from degrading the object. Generally, covers must be sized or capable of being stretched such that they are larger than the structure they are designed to cover. This allows the cover to be more easily put on the object. The cover must also be given shape so that the water runs towards and off the sides of the object. The more form-fitted the cover is to the object, the less entry points, e.g. gaps, and the less wind and other elements will create entry points for debris, elements, etc. from reaching the object.
One example of such an object that is often used with a cover is a vehicle, e.g. a boat, such as before and after use. Some types of objects, such as vehicles, grills, furniture, and outdoor equipment, come in many different models, shapes, configurations and sizes. While a single cover can be sized to cover the largest of such object configurations such that it will fit all configurations of the object, the single cover will then not be optimum for any configuration and provide many entry points. This can lead to an unpleasant visual appearance and poor performance or even failure. For example, if the cover is too big for a given configuration, the cover may sag. This may not only be unsightly, but the sagging may also allow water to pool or otherwise collect. Such pooling can lead to water penetrating the cover, stretching or damaging the cover and/or damage to the covered object.
Another approach is to have a specific cover for each configuration of the object such that the cover is form fitted with a nice visual appearance and better performance. However, the number of different cover configurations can increase costs for such covers by increasing the cost for manufacturing, storage and distribution and even shelf space at a retailer. Further, if an owner customizes or otherwise changes the object post-purchase, they may need to buy a new cover.
As such, there is a need for a small number or even single cover that covers many different models, shapes, configurations and sizes of an object.
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that one or more aspects of this invention can meet certain objectives, while one or more other aspects can lead to certain other objectives. Other objects, features, benefits and advantages of the present invention will be apparent in this summary and descriptions of the disclosed embodiment, and will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such objects, features, benefits and advantages will be apparent from the above as taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures and all reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom.
In one embodiment, the invention provides a covering for an object with a number of optional equipment, models, shapes, configurations and sizes. The covering includes a fabric sized to cover at least a portion of the object. Although the embodiments described further herein reference a boat, the cover could be designed to be used with other types of vehicles, e.g. cars, personal watercraft, motorcycles, bicycles, etc., or other objects, e.g. grills, furniture, outdoor equipment, etc.
As seen in
The cover 10 can generally include a lower layer of material 18, which can be made from a traditional cover material, such as canvas, and an upper layer of material 20, which can be made from a material that can expand or stretch, such as elastic or spandex. Although certain materials are described above, other materials could be used, for example a stretchable film, elastic net/mesh, reinforced rubber material, specialty woven patterns such as knits, accordion folded materials, multi-layer material, 4-way stretch/3D fabric, etc., for the lower cover material and, for example, tarp, plastic sheeting, any woven material coated, laminated, or dipped in another material/chemical for improved weather resistance such as laminated woven scrim/woven coated polyethylene, etc., for the upper cover material, without defeating the spirit of the invention.
The lower layer of material 18 is generally sized to the largest configuration of the boat 12 and the upper layer of material 20 is generally sized to fit the smallest configuration of the boat 12. When the cover 10 is applied to the smallest configuration of the boat 12 the lower layer of material 18 will be folded, bunched or otherwise not fully expanded, while the upper layer of material 20 will be mostly, if not fully, expanded, but only stretched a little if at all, e.g. as seen in
When the cover 10 is applied to the largest configuration of the boat 12, the lower layer of material 18 will be unfolded, unbunched or otherwise mostly, if not fully expanded, and the upper layer of material 20 will not only be mostly, if not fully, expanded, but also stretched, as seen in
As seen in
In
In one embodiment, as seen in
In the embodiment seen in
In the embodiment seen in
The panel 28 could be attached to the cover 10 in a number of ways. One example, as seen in
In another embodiment, seen in
In another embodiment, seen in
In the embodiment seen in
The panel 28 can also be shaped or formed to accommodate a specific feature. For example, in
Using a base layer of material 26 helps prevent the upper layer of material 20 from over stretching. For example, if the cover 10 was made entirely from a stretchable material, such as spandex, the cover would stretch significantly in locations where features were located and minimally in other locations. This could lead to deformation or damage to the cover 10, including holes being torn. Further, the use of spandex is more expensive than, for example, a canvas material, and limiting its use to the locations needed provides cost saving advantages. Spandex or elastic is generally less puncture, wear, water and ultraviolet light resistant than other traditional cover materials, such as canvas.
If only a stretchable material was used, for example, sewn into the cover in the openings 22 of the base layer of material 26 at locations of features, certain locations of the stretchable material may over stretch and others only minimally stretch. The use of a base layer of material 26 and a lower layer of material 18, helps control the amount and location the upper layer of material 20 is stretched. However, only a lower layer of material 18, as described in alternative embodiments below, or only an upper layer of material 20, for example a robust elastic material, can be used without defeating the spirit of the invention.
The cover 10 can also include one or more limiters 46 helps control the amount and location the upper layer of material 20 is stretched. In one embodiment, a panel 28 is used to accommodate a trolling motor 14 located near the bow of the boat 12. Because covers 10 are often put on the bow 48 first, as the cover is stretched over the remainder of the boat 12, the bow panel 50 can over stretch. A limiter 46 can control or limit the amount of stretch of a given panel 28.
In one embodiment, seen in
In the embodiment seen in
Alternatively or additionally, the straps of one or more limiters could be oriented in a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal direction(s) to further control the alignment of the front of the cover over the bow area of the boat and/or the orientation, tilt, or position of the loop of the strap 52. For example, a limiter could be located to engage the structure, e.g. a trolling motor, in addition or alternative to going around the structure as described above and seen in
Other methods of providing a cover 10 that can accommodate an object with a number of optional equipment, models, shapes, configurations and sizes can also be used. For example, an exterior pocket 68 can be formed at a location of the cover 10 above an optional feature. In the embodiment seen in
The exterior pocket 68 could be shaped to more closely fit the feature or more generally to make it easier to apply the cover 10. In the embodiment seen in
Once the control head end 78 of the trolling motor 14 is in the motor pocket 74, the shaft 80 in the sleeve 72 and the propeller end 76 in the propeller pocket 70, the zipper 82 can be used to close the sleeve 72 around the shaft and the motor pocket 74 around control head end 78 of the trolling motor 14.
Allowing the motor pocket 74 and propeller pocket 70 to be free, extend or protrude from the base layer of material 26 or cover, allows the pockets to be adjusted, such as by rolling. One or more ends of the exterior pocket 68 can include an adjusting means for decreasing the size of the exterior pocket to the size of the feature. In one embodiment, shown in
If the exterior pocket 68 is larger than the feature for which it is accommodating, the end can be rolled up around the strap 84 to make the pocket 68 smaller. The fasteners 88 on the two ends 90, 92 of the strap 84 can be attached to each other to hold the rolled up portion of the pocket 68 in place or attached to counterpart fasteners, e.g. buckle portions, attached to the cover 10, e.g. the upper layer of material 20. The pocket 68 can also include a second strap 98 with fasteners 88 for making the second end 99 of the exterior pocket, e.g. propeller pocket 70, smaller.
The exterior pocket 68 can utilize a single layer of material, such as a base layer of material 26 or have a lower layer of material 18 and a stretchable upper layer of material 20 such that the cover 10 has minimal to no sagging, which provides a nice appearance and good performance.
The cover 10 could alternatively or additionally utilize re-closable or selectively closeable fasteners or devices 88 including, but not limited to snaps, buttons, zippers, hooks and loops, clips, straps, rings, ties, etc. in other locations. For example, the control panel layer of material 36 as discussed with regards to
In another embodiment, seen in the
For example, as seen in
In the embodiment shown in
In another embodiment seen in
In the embodiment seen in
In another embodiment, the cover 10 can include one or more interchangeable sections. For example, in
The greater the number of different segments that are used for a given section and/or the greater number of sections, the more specifically tailored the cover 10 will be for the boat 12. However, the more segments and/or sections, the greater the cost will be for the cover such as for manufacturing, storage and distribution and even shelf space at a retailer. While each or some of the segments could be made from a single layer of material, for example, canvas, using a larger lower layer of material 18 and a smaller upper layer of material 20 could allow each segment to accommodate a number of different features, while still providing a nice appearance and good performance.
The cover 10, could also include a substrate layer of material 118 to which each segment connects. If the segment for the middle section 114 is removed, for example, the cover 10 will still generally retain its shape. For example, the substrate layer of material 118 could include areas of selectively closeable devices 88, e.g. hook material, located between each section. Each section could include selectively closeable devices 88 that attach to the selectively closeable devices on the substrate layer of material.
The cover 10 can be attached to the boat in any number of ways which are known in the art, the use of which would not defeat the spirit of the invention. For example, the rail of a boat 12 could have part of a snap that attaches to the other part of the snap which is attached to the perimeter of the cover 10. A rope, cord, strap, etc. could be attached to the cover 10, e.g. by being located in a loop or passage around the perimeter of the cover. An adjusting means, e.g. a ratchet or buckle snap, could be attached to the rope such that when the cover 10 is applied to a boat 12, the adjusting means can be used to tighten the perimeter cover to the boat. Other examples of ways of attaching a cover 10 to a boat 12 that can be used with the present invention include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. D773,691, D773,695, 9,759,373, 10,336,406, and 10,300,833 and U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 16/286,895 and 16/373,179, which are owned by the same owner of the present invention and are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.
Although the invention has been herein described in what is perceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments set forth above. It is recognized that modifications may be made by one of skill in the art of the invention without departing from the spirit or intent of the invention and, therefore, the invention is to be taken as including all reasonable equivalents to the subject matter of the appended claims and the description of the invention herein.
Claims
1. A cover comprising:
- a base layer of material sized to cover at least a portion of an object, the base layer of material having a selectively openable slot formed therein;
- an inner layer of material having a first end and a second end, the first end of the inner layer of material attached to an underside of the base layer of material on a first side of the slot and the second end of the inner layer of material attached to the underside of the base layer of material on a second side of the slot;
- wherein the inner layer of material is configured such that when the cover is applied to an object and the slot is opened, the inner layer of material covers at least a portion of the object located in the opened slot.
2. The cover of claim 1, wherein the inner layer of material is sized such that when the cover is applied to the object and the slot is opened, a structure of the object extends at least partially through the slot; and wherein the inner layer of material is configured such that when the structure of the object extends at least partially through the slot, the inner layer of material covers the structure and the inner layer of material extends at least partially through the slot and above the base layer of material.
3. The cover of claim 1, further comprising a selectively closeable device attached to the base layer of material adjacent the slot such that the slot may be selectively opened and closed.
4. The cover of claim 3, wherein the selectively closeable device is selected from a group consisting of snaps, buttons, zippers, hooks and loops, clips, straps, rings and ties.
5. The cover of claim 1, wherein the slot is configured to open more at a first end of the slot than a second end of the slot.
6. The cover of claim 1, further comprising a second layer of material located in the slot and attached to the base layer of material;
- the second layer of material is configured such that when the slot is opened, the second layer of material is stretched to cover the opened slot and the at least a portion of the object located in the opened slot.
7. The cover of claim 6, wherein the inner layer of material is larger than the second layer of material when the slot is not opened and the inner layer of material is generally the same size as the second layer of material when the at least a portion of the object is located in the opened slot.
8. The cover of claim 7, wherein the inner layer of material is not expanded when the slot is not opened and wherein the inner layer of material is expanded when the at least a portion of the object is located in the opened slot.
9. The cover of claim 6, wherein the second layer of material is located above the inner layer of material.
10. The cover of claim 6, wherein the second layer of material is configured to stretch more when the at least a portion of the object is located in the opened slot than when the slot is not opened.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 17, 2020
Publication Date: Apr 15, 2021
Applicant: Dowco, Inc. (Manitowoc, WI)
Inventors: David Baird (Marshfield, MO), Caleb Stith (Lebanon, MO)
Application Number: 16/851,384