PROTECTIVE COVER FOR A BOAT
A boat deck cover includes a flexible, generally water impervious, non-elastic central sheet with a peripheral, elastic strip having fasteners along the outside edge thereof for attachment to compatible fasteners on the boat.
In a principal aspect, the present invention relates to a boat cover and more particularly to a boat cover which protects a boat (cockpit and/or deck) from the elements including rain and the like.
Boaters often place their boat in an open area on the water or on their boat trailer. In doing so, and when the boat is not in use, it becomes appropriate and desirable to cover the deck and open top of the boat to protect it from the elements. Various means have been utilized in the past for such protection. Typically, a tarpaulin or waterproof sheet of material is placed over the top of the boat deck and retained thereon by means of bungee cords, ropes, straps, snaps and the like. Nonetheless, there has remained a need for a more easily and snugly positioned cover sheet or boat cover which can be securely and easily placed on the boat and can be easily removed from the boat.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONBriefly, the present invention comprises a boat cover including an impervious or protective central sheet of flexible, waterproof material having a peripheral edge with an elastic band attached to or near that peripheral edge. Alternatively, an elastic band is positioned between a central sheet and a peripheral strip of generally inelastic material. When the elastic band is on the peripheral edge, it includes fastening elements such as grommets incorporated therein which each cooperate with catch elements such as a stud on a boat to thereby allow the central protective sheet to be more easily attached to the top or sides of the boat. When the elastic band is inside the peripheral edge, the peripheral edge may include sections or a strip which incorporates the fastening devices. The fastening devices may thus be positioned onto a compatible catch affixed to the boat by stretching the elastic band. As an alternative, elastic material which retains the fastening devices (such as grommets) may also be positioned in the elastic band which may be stretched to enable the fastening device to be positioned over a stud or the like affixed to the boat.
Various types of fastening devices may be used in combination with the generally non-elastic interior or central panel of the boat cover and the peripheral fastening arrangement. For example, grommets, key shaped openings, and twist lock fasteners may be used.
Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide a lightweight, durable, economical, generally waterproof, flexible and easily attachable boat protection cover.
Another object is to provide a boat cover that may be easily folded for storage.
Another object is to provide a boat cover that includes a generally peripheral, elastic fastening feature which insures that the cover will remain tightly attached over or on a boat deck.
These and other objects, advantages and features will be set forth in the detailed description which follows.
In the detailed description which follows, reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures:
Referring to the figures, the boat cover of the invention comprises a flexible sheet 10 of waterproof material for covering the open top and/or the deck of a boat as depicted in
In one embodiment, arranged at various positions within and along the elastic band 14 are fastener elements 20. The fastener elements 20 (such as shaped grommets) are preferably positioned adjacent outer edge 22. If the elastic band is on the periphery as depicted in
Numerous types of fastening constructions may be utilized to attach the elastic band 14 to catch elements, such as post element 30 affixed to the boat. Additionally, numerous types of elastic materials 14 may be utilized in combination with the cover sheet 10. In one embodiment, the band 14 comprises a continuous peripheral elastic element attached to the sheet 10. Preferably the sheet 10 and band 14 further comprise a foldable, waterproof material to thereby facilitate protection of a boat deck or other item covered by the sheet 10. However, the elastic material may comprise discrete sections or elements as depicted in
Attached to an outside edge of the peripheral band 54; namely to outside edge 56, is a secondary circumferential or peripheral band 58. The band 58 may be sewn or otherwise attached to the elastic band 54. A snap fastener 60 is provided in the band 58 for cooperation with a headed fastening element 62 attached to the deck or sides of a boat. Note that the shape and configuration and relative width of the elastic band 54 may be varied about the circumference of the peripheral edge 52.
Multiple elastic strips, such as strip 84, may be attached to and extend outwardly from boundary 81. Each strip 84 includes a grommet 85 with a polygonal (rectangular) shaped opening 86. The grommet 85 may be fitted over a post 87 having a rotatable, locking catch 88. A pull tab 90 is provided as an extension of the strip 84. The strip 84 may thus be stretched to position grommet 85 over and on post 87. Alternatively, an elastic band 82 may be attached to boundary 81 and a strap 92 of non-elastic material with a grommet 85 compatible with a post 87 may be utilized.
Fasteners of the invention considered important in the choice of the design of the boat cover include the width of the elastic boundary band 14. A band of at least two inches and preferably about six or more inches is considered beneficial. Also, placement of the fasteners such as grommets 60 is preferably adjacent the outer boundary of the band 14. The use of a non-elastic band 58 is highly desirable since the non-elastic band can utilize materials that will not be seriously weakened by grommets 60 and will not tend to tear as some elastic materials may. The use of a band 14 enables adoption of configurations of a sheet 10 which is highly variable and further provides a structure which distributes the load on the elastic member or band 14, again enhancing the ruggedness of the construction.
Variations of the combination of elastic and inelastic materials may be used. For example, portions of the sheet 10 may include elastic strips or sections that permit lateral extension or stretching of the cover.
Thus, while there has been set forth embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.
Claims
1. A boat cover comprising, in combination:
- (a) a waterproof, flexible sheet having a circumferential edge;
- (b) a partial or a continuous elastic band fastened to the circumferential edge and extending outwardly from the edge, said elastic band including an outside margin; and
- (c) a plurality of fastener elements attached to the elastic band, each fastener element spaced one from the other about the circumferential edge and elastically moveable relative to the edge, said fastener elements positioned adjacent the outside margin whereby the sheet may be placed over the top of a boat and the fastener elements affixed to the boat by elastically deforming the band.
2. The cover of claim 1 wherein the sheet is configured generally congruently with the deck of a boat.
3. The cover of claim 1 wherein the band has a width of at least six (6) inches.
4. The cover of claim 1 wherein each fastener element comprises an element selected from the group consisting of a snap, a hook and a grommet that may be attached to a boat.
5. A universal boat cover comprising, in combination:
- (a) a generally waterproof inelastic cover sheet having a circumferential edge;
- (b) a partial or continuous elastic band attached to the circumferential edge and extending outwardly therefrom;
- (c) an inelastic, flexible band assembly attached to the elastic band, said band including fasteners for attachment of the outer edge of the cover to a structure.
6. A universal boat cover comprising, in combination:
- (a) a generally non-elastic, generally impervious central cover panel having a circumferential edge;
- (b) a generally elastic, circumferential band with an outside edge, said band affixed to and extending outwardly from the peripheral edge of the central cover panel;
- (c) a generally inelastic material attached to the outside edge of the elastic band at least at selected portions of said elastic band; and
- (d) fastening elements located in the inelastic material for attachment to compatible fastener elements on a boat.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 6, 2007
Publication Date: Sep 11, 2008
Inventor: William W. Boyd (Wilmette, IL)
Application Number: 11/682,530
International Classification: B63B 17/02 (20060101); B63B 17/00 (20060101);