Abstract:
A boat cover for being attached to a boat includes a canvas, at least one pole supporting the canvas, and at least one strap. The boat cover is arranged to be attached to the boat only using the at least one strap.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a boat cover that is also known as a Bimini top. More specifically, the present invention relates to a boat cover that can be easily and quickly removed from a boat without a lot of hardware. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Known boat covers include Bimini tops. Conventional Bimini tops include an open-front canvas top covering a cockpit of a boat. Conventional Bimini tops are usually supported by a metal frame that is attached to the boat. Such Bimini tops can be collapsed when not in use and raised again if shade or shelter is desired for the boat&#39;s cockpit. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,706,752 and 5,803,104. 
     Conventional Bimini tops only protect an area around the boat&#39;s cockpit from the sun and from rain, if the boat is stationary and there is not any wind. Conventional Bimini tops require permanent hardware, for example, brackets and other similar hardware, to be attached to the boat. That is, conventional Bimini tops are only used for a single boat, i.e. the boat that they are attached to. Further, conventional Bimini tops cannot easily be removed from a boat and stored. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To overcome the problems described above, preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a boat cover that can be easily and quickly removed from a boat without a lot of hardware. Boat covers of the preferred embodiments of the present invention require no permanent hardware to be attached to a boat so that the boat cover can be packed up and easily stored and can be used for multiple boats. 
     A boat cover for being attached to a boat according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a canvas, at least one pole supporting the canvas, and at least one strap. The boat cover is arranged to be attached to the boat only using the at least one strap. 
     The canvas preferably includes at least two pockets, and the ends of the at least one pole preferably engage the at least two pockets. The canvas preferably includes at least one flap, and the at least one pole is preferably inserted through the at least one flap. The boat cover preferably further includes a hole that is arranged such that a tow lug of a tower of the boat can be inserted into the hole when the boat cover is attached to the boat. 
     The boat cover preferably further includes at least one stabilizing pole. A length of the at least one stabilizing pole is preferably adjustable. The at least one stabilizing pole preferably includes a smaller diameter pole located within a bigger diameter pole and a screw or other fastening member that is arranged to fix the smaller diameter pole and the bigger diameter pole with respect to each other. The at least one pole preferably includes two poles, and the two poles preferably cross each other. 
     A boat according to a preferred embodiments of the present invention includes a tower and a boat cover as described above. The at least one strap is preferably tied to the tower. The tower is preferably a wakeboard tower. The boat preferably further includes at least one cleat, where the at least one strap is tied to the at least one cleat. The tower preferably includes a tow lug; the boat cover preferably includes a hole; and the tow lug is preferably located within the hole. 
     A boat according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a tower, and a boat cover including a canvas, at least one pole supporting the canvas, and at least one strap. The boat cover is preferably arranged to cover a top of the tower and to be attached to the boat by the at least one strap. 
     The boat cover preferably fully covers the top of the tower, and the at least one pole preferably includes a pole that is located above the top of the tower. The at least one pole preferably includes two poles that cross each other at a location above the top of the tower. The at least one pole preferably includes a center pole that extends in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a fore-and-aft centerline of the boat. 
     A boat cover for being attached to a boat according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a canvas including at least six pockets and at least three flaps; at least three poles supporting the canvas, each of the at least three poles inserted through one of the at least three flaps and including ends that engage two of the at least six pockets; and at least one strap. The boat cover is arranged to be attached to the boat using the at least one strap, and the at least three poles cross each other. 
     The boat cover preferably further includes at least one stabilizing pole. The length of the at least one stabilizing pole is preferably adjustable. The at least one stabilizing pole preferably includes a smaller diameter pole located within a bigger diameter pole and a screw or other fastening member that is arranged to fix the smaller diameter pole and the bigger diameter pole with respect to each other. 
     The above and other features, elements, characteristics, configurations, arrangements and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a boat cover according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention attached to a boat. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of a boat cover according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention attached to a boat. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of a boat cover according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a close-up view of a portion boat cover according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a close-up view of a portion boat cover according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of a boat cover according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention attached to a boat in another arrangement. 
         FIG. 7  is bottom perspective view of a boat cover according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom plan view of a boat cover according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIGS. 1-8  show a boat cover  10  according to preferred embodiments of the present invention. The boat cover  10  is used to cover the occupants of a boat  20 , for example, to provide shade for the occupants of the boat  20 . The boat cover  10  is preferably used when the boat  20  is not moving or not moving very fast. The boat cover  10  is preferably used with a boat  20  having a boat tower  22 . The boat tower  20  is preferably a wakeboard tower for towing a wakeboarder. 
     The features and elements of the boat cover  10  according to preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with respect to the orientation of the boat  20  shown  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Thus, the use of directional terms such as fore and aft will be with respect to orientation of the boat  20  shown  FIGS. 1 and 2 . For example, the term “fore” in fore straps  15  is used to indicate that fore straps  15  are located at the front of the boat  20  as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . However, these directional terms are used for description purposes only and are not intended to be limiting. For example, as seen in  FIG. 6  in which the orientation of the boat cover  10  with respect to the boat  20  is reversed, the fore straps  15  can be located at the rear of the boat  20 . 
     As seen in  FIGS. 7 and 8  without the boat  20 , the boat cover  10  preferably includes two fore-to-aft poles  11 , a center pole  12 , two fore poles  13 , two fore straps  15 , two aft straps  16 , two center straps  17 , and a canvas  18 . 
     Canvas  18  is preferably made of any suitable material, including cotton, nylon, or polyester. The canvas  18  preferably includes a hole  14 , pockets  18   a , and flaps  18   b . The canvas  18  is preferably large enough to cover the cockpit  26  of the boat  20  and areas near the cockpit but toward the stern  25  and the bow  27  of the boat  20 . Thus, the boat cover  10  is able to provide more cover than traditional Bimini tops that only cover a boat&#39;s cockpit. 
     The hole  14  is preferably located along the fore-and-aft centerline of the boat  20  and is preferably located between the stern  25  of the boat  20  and the center of boat cover  10  so that ratio of the distance from the hole  14  to fore most portion of the boat cover  10  along the fore-and-aft centerline to the distance from the hole  14  to the aft most portion of the boat cover  10  along the fore-and-aft centerline is preferably in the range of about 1:1 to about 4:1, more preferably in the range of about 3:1 to about 4:1. 
     The tow lug  23  of the tower  22  is preferably inserted in the hole  14  as seen in the close-up view shown in  FIG. 4 . Instead of a single hole  14 , it is possible to have no hole or more than one hole. For example, it is possible to use a boat cover  10  with no holes for boats  20  with a tower  22  but without a tow lug  23 , and it is also possible to use a boat cover  10  with multiple holes for boats  20  with a tower  22  with multiple holes  20 . It is also possible to use a boat cover with one or more holes  20  with boats  20  with towers  22  with no tow lugs  23 , in which case no tow lugs  23  will be inserted into the one or more holes  14 . It also possible to use a boat cover  10  without holes  14  with boats  20  with towers  22  with one or more tow lugs  23 , in which case the one or more tow lugs  23  will engage the canvas  18 , possibly distorting the shape of the canvas  18 . The canvas  18  is preferably supported by the tower  22 , and is restrained from moving by the hole  14  engaging the tow lug  23 . The boat cover  10  can be used with a tower  22  even if the tower already has a Bimini top (not shown in the drawings). Because the boat cover  10  provides more cover, it is sometimes desirable to use the boat cover  10 , even if the tower  22  includes a Bimini top. If the tower  22  includes a Bimini top, then the boat cover  10  preferably extends over the Bimini top in both the fore and aft directions. 
     As seen in  FIGS. 1-5 ,  7 , and  8 , the pockets  18   a  and the flaps  18   b  hold in place the fore-to-aft poles  11  and the center pole  12  so that the canvas  18  is taut, with little or no slack. The fore-to-aft poles  11  generally extend in a direction parallel or substantially parallel to the fore-and-aft centerline of the boat  20 , and the center pole  12  extends in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the fore-and-aft centerline of the boat  20 . Preferably there are two pockets  18   a  and two flaps  18   b  for the center pole  12 , and there are two pockets  18   a  and three flaps  18   b  for each of the fore-to-aft poles  11 , for example. Each of the fore-to-aft poles  11  and the center pole  12  is inserted through the corresponding flaps  18   b  (for example, preferably two for the center pole  12  and three for the for-to-aft poles  11 ), and then both ends of each of the fore-to-aft poles  11  and center pole  12  are inserted into a corresponding pocket  18   a , which causes the canvas  18  to be taut, as shown, for example, in the close-up view of  FIG. 5 . The flaps  18   b  are preferably arranged such that the fore-to-aft poles  11  are located above the center pole  12  when the boat cover  10  is attached to the boat  20 . Instead of using pockets  18   a , it is possible use any other suitable structure to hold the poles  11 ,  12  in position. For example, instead of pockets  18   a , it is possible to use grommets that engage with a corresponding smaller diameter portion of the poles that prevent the longitudinal movement of the poles. Instead of flaps  18   b , it is possible to use hooks, fabric or rope sewn into the canvas  18  that can be tied around the poles, or open flaps that can be closed around the poles using Velcro® to prevent lateral movement of the poles. 
     The two fore-to-aft poles  11  preferably cross each other near the hole  14 ; however, it possible that the two fore-to-aft poles  11  do not cross each other. The poles  11  preferably have a linear or substantially linear shape when held by the pockets  18   a  and flaps  18   b ; however, it also possible that the poles have a different shape. For example, it possible that the pockets  18   a  and flaps  18   b  are arranged such that the one or more of the poles  11 ,  12  has or have a semicircular or substantially semicircular shape when held by the pockets  18   a  and flaps  18   b . Although three poles are shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , it possible to use a different number of poles. For example, only two poles could be used or four or more poles could be used. If the number of poles is changed, then the shape of the canvas  18  might also be changed. For example, if only two poles are used, then it would be preferable the canvas  18  have a convex shape along each of the outer edges of the canvas  18  so that the two poles can keep the canvas  18  taut. 
     The poles are preferably made of metal and/or fiber glass; however, any other suitable material, such as plastic or composite materials including carbon fiber, can also be used. The poles preferably can be separated into smaller pieces so that the poles can be easily stored in a bag or other suitable container. The smaller pieces are preferably connected to each other by an elastic cord that keeps the smaller pieces connected together when arranged as the poles but allows the smaller pieces to be easily separated from each other when taking down the boat cover  10 . The elastic cord allows for easy assembly of the smaller pieces into the poles because all of the smaller pieces are kept together. 
     The canvas  18  is preferably attached to the boat  20  using the two fore straps  15 , the two aft straps  16 , and the two center straps  17 . One end of the two fore straps  15 , the two aft straps  16 , and the two center straps  17  is preferably sewn to the edges of the canvas  18 . The other end of the two fore straps  15  and the two aft straps  16  are preferably tied to the fore and aft cleats  21  on the boat  20 , and the other end of the two center straps  17  is preferably tied to the tower  22  as shown in the close-up view of  FIG. 5 . Although six straps are shown in  FIGS. 1-3  and  6 , any number of straps could be used. The straps do not have to be tied to the cleats  21  and the tower  22  and can be tied to other parts of the boat  20 , including, for example, any suitable railing or hand holds on the boat  20 . 
     Although the boat cover  10  is supported by the tower  22 , the boat cover  10  is only attached to the boat  20  using the straps. It is not necessary to add additional hardware, e.g. permanent brackets, to the boat  20  to attach the boat cover  10  to the boat  20 . Because no additional hardware is needed, it is possible to use the boat cover  10  with any boat with a boat tower. It is also possible to pack up the boat cover  10  and to use the boat cover  10  on different boats. 
     The straps  15 - 17  are preferably adjustable so that after the straps  15 - 17  have been tied to the boat, the tension in the straps  15 - 17  can be adjusted. Instead of straps, the canvas  18  could be attached to the boat  20  using any other suitable device, including, for example, rope or bungee cords. 
     The boat cover  10  can also include two fore poles  13  to stabilize the boat cover  10 . One end of the fore poles  13  preferably engages a grommet near the pockets  18   a  near the bow  27  of the boat  10 , and the other end of the fore poles  13  engages a surface of the boat  20 . Any surface of the boat  20  can be used that helps stabilize the boat cover  10 . The length of the fore poles  13  is preferably adjustable. For example, the fore poles  13  can include a smaller diameter pole  13   a  inside a bigger diameter pole  13   b  that can be fixed with respect to each other by a screw  13   c . The fore poles  13  can also be adjustable using telescoping poles with cam locks with a locking lever, locking nut, or snapping push-buttons, for example. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-3  and  5 , the boat cover  10  is stabilized preferably by two fore poles  13 , for example. However, it is possible to use any number of stabilizing poles. For example, it is possible to use no stabilizing poles, for example, if the hole  14  is located near center of the canvas  18 . If the boat  20  does not include a tower  22 , then additional stabilizing poles can be used to support the center of the boat cover  10 . In addition, two aft poles  19  can be used to stabilize the aft portion of the boat cover  10 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . The two aft poles  19  can be used in cooperation with aft straps  16  to stabilize the aft portion of the boat cover  10  in a manner similar to how the fore poles  13  are used in cooperation with the fore straps  15  to stabilize the fore portion of the boat cover  10 . As with the fore poles  13 , the length of the aft poles  19  is preferably adjustable. For example, the aft poles  19  can include a smaller diameter pole  19   a  inside a bigger diameter pole  19   b  that can be fixed with respect to each other by a screw  19   c  or other fastening member. As with the fore poles  13 , the aft poles can also be adjustable using telescoping poles with cam locks with a locking lever, locking nut, or snapping push-buttons, for example. 
       FIG. 6  shows the boat cover  10  in a different arrangement with respect to the boat  20 . The boat  20  in  FIG. 6  includes a tower  22  that sweeps forward instead of backwards as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Because the tower  22  sweeps forward in  FIG. 6 , the tow lug  23  (not shown in  FIG. 6 ) of the tower  22  is located toward the bow  27  of the boat  20 . Accordingly, the orientation of the boat cover  10  is reversed so that the hole  14  is also located toward the bow  27  of the boat  20 . 
     It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the present invention. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variances that fall within the scope of the appended claims.