Patent ID: 8950416
Filing Date: 2015-02-10
Classification: B63B

Abstract:
1. A collapsible and removable waterproof cover for a boat having an open upper portion bounded by a gunwale of the boat, comprising: a collapsible, lightweight, waterproof cover member configured to fully cover the entire opening defined by the open upper portion of the boat; 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 such that the support frame and the cover member jointly form a self-supporting cover unit having a stable configuration when the frame is in its expanded operative shape; and retainers which are configured to be connected only to the boat for support and to selectively receive parts of the support frame for securing the self-supporting cover unit to the boat; wherein the retainers include first portions which are configured to be connected to the boat and second portions which extend from the first portions and securely receive the parts of the support frame, wherein the support frame includes a plurality of flexible, collapsible rods which are configured to be manipulated between operative and collapsed configurations thereof, including first rods that connect and extend along an outer periphery of the cover member in a longitudinal direction of the cover member, and second rods which extend between the first rods and engage an intermediate portion of the cover member, wherein the first portions of the retainers are configured to be secured near the gunwale of the boat, and the second portions of the retainers are configured to project outwardly of the boat's gunwale so that when the parts of the support frame are secured to the retainers a periphery of the cover member extends substantially entirely outwardly of sides of the boat at a level below the open upper portion, and wherein the second portions of the retainers include elongated slots oriented transverse to and receiving therein parts of the first rods of the support frame as the only connection between the cover unit and the retainers.