BOAT COVER

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to protective equipment, more specifically but not by way of limitation, a universal boat cover that is configured to provide protection of a boat from dust, debris and UV exposure wherein the present invention is manufactured from a lightweight high stretch material so as to facilitate improved deployment and storage thereof.

BACKGROUND

In North America there are approximately thirteen million registered boats for recreational use. Millions of boat owners utilize their boats for a variety of water activities such as but not limited to skiing, fishing and cruising. There are numerous types of marine vessels that range in size from as small as twelve feet to hundreds of feet in length. Smaller trailerable boats are quite common and these boats typically range in size from around eighteen to twenty six feet in length. Common boat types in this size range are boats such as but not limited to ski boats, dual consoles and pontoon boats.

The cost of a common ski boat can easily exceed over one hundred thousand dollars and costs for pontoon style boats can also reach well over fifty thousand dollars. Some of the boat manufacturers provide with the purchase of a boat a canvas material cover that is utilized to protect the boat when stored as well as during trailering the boat. These canvas style covers are quite large and can easily weigh twenty to thirty pounds. The size and weight of these canvas material boat covers will often lead to the boat owners not utilizing them as the storage, deployment and removal is to cumbersome and time consuming. The interior of boats often include very expensive electronics as well as upholstery which can be damage when expose to elements such as but not limited to UV light from the sun and dust/debris. It is optimal if a boat owner provides coverage of their boat in order to protect their significant investment.

Accordingly, there is a need for a lightweight stretchable boat cover that can be easily deployed and is compact when not in use so as to facilitate easier storage thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to provide a boat cover that is configured to be superposed the top of a boat so as to protect the interior thereof wherein the present invention includes a body that is manufactured from a material that has a high stretch percentage.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective cover for a boat that is manufactured from a material having a high stretch percentage wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention employs a material manufactured with elastane.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a boat cover that is configured to be superposed the top of a boat so as to protect the interior thereof wherein the body of the present invention is manufactured to provide universal coverage of boats within a certain size range.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a protective cover for a boat that is manufactured from a material having a high stretch percentage wherein the perimeter of the body of the present invention includes an elastic cord sewn thereinto.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a boat cover that is configured to be superposed the top of a boat so as to protect the interior thereof wherein the body of the present invention includes nylon straps and fasteners secured thereto in various locations around the perimeter of the body.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a protective cover for a boat that is manufactured from a material having a high stretch percentage wherein the body can be manufactured from blends including but not limited to polyester/elastane blend, nylon/elastane blend and bamboo/elastane blend.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a boat cover that is configured to be superposed the top of a boat so as to protect the interior thereof wherein the body of the present invention incorporates an integrated zipped pouch for storage thereof.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the present invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being a part of the present invention, limited only by the scope of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description and appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the present invention secured to an exemplary pontoon style boat; and

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the present invention secured to an exemplary pontoon style boat; and

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the present invention secured to an exemplary ski boat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings submitted herewith, wherein various elements depicted therein are not necessarily drawn to scale and wherein through the views and figures like elements are referenced with identical reference numerals, there is illustrated a boat cover 100 constructed according to the principles of the present invention.

An embodiment of the present invention is discussed herein with reference to the figures submitted herewith. Those skilled in the art will understand that the detailed description herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes and that it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that alternative embodiments are plausible. By way of example but not by way of limitation, those having skill in the art in light of the present teachings of the present invention will recognize a plurality of alternate and suitable approaches dependent upon the needs of the particular application to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein, beyond that of the particular implementation choices in the embodiment described herein. Various modifications and embodiments are within the scope of the present invention.

It is to be further understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular methodology, materials, uses and applications described herein, as these may vary. Furthermore, it is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It must be noted that as used herein and in the claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to “an element” is a reference to one or more elements and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, the word “or” should be understood as having the definition of a logical “or” rather than that of a logical “exclusive or” unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

References to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “exemplary embodiments”, and the like may indicate that the embodiment(s) of the invention so described may include a particular feature, structure or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure or characteristic.

Referring in particular to the Figures submitted herewith, the boat cover 100 is employed to provide protection of boats from items such as but not limited to dust, debris and sunlight. It should be understood within the scope of the present invention that the boat cover 100 is provided in alternate sizes and colors. Furthermore, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the boat cover 100 can be treated with various chemicals to enhance the UV protection as well as provide water resistance so as to inhibit water from absorbing into the body 10. It is further contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the body 10 could be provided with a fabric material having alternate thicknesses either across the entire body 10 or in certain portions of the body 10 such as but not limited to rail engagement portions.

The body 10 in a preferred embodiment is manufactured from a fabric blend that has a stretch percentage of five hundred to eight hundred percent. The stretch percentage in this range provides the ability to manufacture a body 10 that is compact when not in use and as such easier to store in a compartment such as but not limited to under a seat in a boat. The stretch percentage of the body 10 further facilitates a desired tension across the body 10 ensuing installation thereof which provides an engagement with the boat 99 that requires fewer tie down straps 40. While various fabric blends can be utilized to manufacture the body 10, in a preferred embodiment the fabric blend employed to manufacture the body 10 is one of the following fabric blends: polyester/elastane blend, nylon/elastane blend and bamboo/elastane blend.

The body 10 includes perimeter edge 12 wherein the perimeter edge 12 has an elastic cord 14 sewn therein. The elastic cord 14 functions to secure the perimeter edge 12 in areas such as but not limited to underneath the rub rail 98 of a boat 99. The combination of the stretch percentage of the body 10 and the elastic cord 14 provides a tension force across the body 10 subsequent being moved to its installed position that provides a secure engagement with the boat 99. The body 10 includes tie-down straps 40 secured thereto in various locations. The tie-down straps 40 are manufactured from a suitable material such as but not limited to nylon. It is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the body 10 could have various quantities of tie-down straps 40 and wherein the tie-down straps 40 could be secured to the body 10 in alternate locations.

Some embodiments of the body 10 include bow portions 20 wherein the bow portions 20 are configured to extend of an area of the bow of the boat 99. The bow portions 20 are integrally formed with the body 10 and are generally triangular in shape. The bow portions 20 include tie-down strap 42 wherein the tie-down strap 42 is positioned so as to be tied to a cleat 97 present on the bow of the boat 99. While not particularly illustrated herein, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the body 10 includes an integrated zippered pouch that is utilized to store the body 10 in its stored position.

In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other suitable embodiments may be utilized and that logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. The description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The preceding detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.