Abstract:
A thru-hull cap cover for a watercraft thru-hull and method therefor capable of covering and protecting the exposed exterior end of a thru-hull from the elements, thus reducing the need to replace a watercraft thru-hull.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims priority to a corresponding provisional application U.S. Ser. No. 60/630,328, filed Nov. 23, 2004 in the name of the applicant of this application. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to watercraft accessories and, more specifically, to a thru-hull cap dimensioned to cover the open end of a thru-hull and method therefor. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Boating, sailing, jet skiing and other water sports are very popular forms of recreation. Virtually all watercraft are constructed with at least one thru-hull, a device inserted through the hull of a watercraft and designed to drain or expel excess water out of the watercraft. Usually, thru-hulls are installed at a manufacturing stage of the watercraft, however it is often the case that thru-hulls are installed at a post-manufacturing stage either to replace a broken thru-hull, repair a leak, or to simply add a new drainage area to the watercraft. The interior end of the thru-hull is typically coupled to a hose that is connected to a bilge pump for pumping excess water out of the watercraft. The exterior end of the thru-hull, which is coupled to the exterior surface of the hull, is exposed to the elements. 
   Often, a need arises to replace a thru-hull due to the deterioration of this exposed exterior end of the thru-hull. While the rest of the thru-hull is shielded from the elements inside the watercraft and is otherwise in perfect working order, the exposed exterior end of the thru-hull is subject to cracking and other deterioration as a result of direct exposure to sunshine, wind, rain, water, salt water and physical contact with the dock. Depending upon their placement on the watercraft, obtaining access to existing thru-hulls in order to replace them can often be a difficult and time-consuming process. 
   A need therefore existed for a thru-hull cap capable of covering the exposed open end of a thru-hull in order to help prevent deterioration and destruction of the thru-hull, thus negating the need for thru-hull replacement. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of the present invention is to provide a thru-hull cap for a thru-hull and method therefor capable of covering and protecting the exposed exterior end of a thru-hull. 
   BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a thru-hull cap for a watercraft thru-hull is disclosed, comprising, in combination, a thru-hull having a first open end and a second open end and a tube therebetween, the thru-hull dimensioned to be inserted through a hull of a watercraft so that the first open end being coupled proximate an interior surface of the hull and the second open end being coupled proximate an exterior surface of the hull, the thru-hull dimensioned to expel excess liquid through the tube and the second end of the thru-hull and out of the watercraft, and a covering defining an opening and having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface of the covering dimensioned to mate with an exterior surface of the second open end of the thru-hull, the covering dimensioned to cover substantially all of the exterior surface of the second open end of the thru-hull while at the same time allowing for excess liquid to be expelled through the opening defined by the covering. 
   In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a thru-hull cap for a watercraft thru-hull is disclosed comprising, in combination, a thru-hull having a first open end and a second open end and a tube therebetween, the thru-hull dimensioned to be inserted through a hull of a watercraft so that the first open end being coupled proximate an interior surface of the hull and the second open end being coupled proximate an exterior surface of the hull, the thru-hull dimensioned to expel excess liquid through the tube and the second end of the thru-hull and out of the watercraft, a covering defining an opening and having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface of the covering dimensioned to mate with the second open end of the thru-hull, the covering dimensioned to cover substantially all of an exposed portion of the second open end of the thru-hull while at the same time allowing for excess liquid to be expelled through the opening defined by the covering, an adhesive coupled to an interior surface of the covering and dimensioned to couple the covering to the second open end of the thru-hull, and a substantially circular flange coupled to the covering proximate the interior surface of the covering, the circular flange dimensioned to be inserted through the second open end of the thru-hull and into the tube until the interior surface of the covering being in direct contact with the exterior surface of the second open end of the thru-hull. 
   In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention, a method for protecting a thru-hull is disclosed comprising, in combination, the steps of providing a thru-hull having a first open end and a second open end and a tube therebetween, inserting the thru-hull through a hull of a watercraft so that the first open end being coupled proximate an interior surface of the hull and the second open end being coupled proximate an exterior surface of the hull, the thru-hull dimensioned to expel excess liquid through the tube and the second end of the thru-hull and out of the watercraft, providing a covering defining an opening and having an interior surface and an exterior surface, and mating the interior surface of the covering with an exterior surface of the second open end of the thru-hull so that the covering covers substantially all of the exterior surface of the second open end of the thru-hull while at the same time allowing for excess liquid to be expelled through the opening defined by the covering. 
   The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the thru-hull cap of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a side, cross-sectional view of a thru-hull coupled to a boat and having a thru-hull cap. 
       FIG. 3   a  is a side view of another embodiment of the thru-hull cap of the present invention, showing a substantially trapezoidal-shaped thru-hull cap. 
       FIG. 3   b  is a side view of another embodiment of the thru-hull cap of the present invention, showing a substantially round-shaped thru-hull cap. 
       FIG. 3   c  is a side view of another embodiment of the thru-hull cap of the present invention, showing a substantially hexagonal-shaped thru-hull cap. 
       FIG. 3   d  is a side view of another embodiment of the thru-hull cap of the present invention, showing a substantially trapezoidal-shaped thru-hull cap having slightly curved side portions. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1–3   d , a thru-hull cap, hereinafter thru-hull cap  10 , of the present invention is shown. A thru-hull  12  is typically used in order to drain excess water  19  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) out of a watercraft  14 . The watercraft  14  may be a boat (shown in  FIG. 2 ), a jet ski or some other type of watercraft that requires draining. Typically, the larger the watercraft, the greater the number of thru-hulls  12  used to drain water  19  out of the watercraft  14 . A standard thru-hull  12  comprises a tube  13  having a first open end  16  dimensioned to be coupled to a hose (not shown) that is usually connected to a bilge pump (not shown), sink (not shown), circulation pump (not shown), or any other apparatus used to discharge water overboard. Thru-hulls  12  can also be used to drain excess water  19  from a watercraft  14  by gravity, under pressure or by some other means. The thru-hull  12  comprises a second open end  18  for expelling the excess water  19  out of the watercraft  14 . Usually a thru-hull  12  is substantially tube-shaped with a threaded portion proximate the second open end  18  and a nut  20  for securing the thru-hull  12  to the watercraft  14 . 
   The second end  18  of the thru-hull  12  is typically either trapezoidal-shaped (as shown in  FIG. 3A ), round-shaped (as shown in  FIG. 3B ), hexagonal-shaped (as shown in  FIG. 3C ) or substantially trapezoidal-shaped having slightly curved side portions (as shown in  FIG. 3   d ). 
   Still referring to  FIGS. 1–3D  a thru-hull cap, hereinafter thru-hull cap  10 , is shown. The thru-hull cap  10  comprises a covering dimensioned to be coupled to the second open end  18  of the thru-hull  12  in order to prevent wear and tear or other damage to a standard thru-hull  12 . The thru-hull cap  10  defines an opening  11  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) dimensioned to correspond to the opening defined by the second open end  18  of the thru-hull  12 . In this way, a thru-hull cap  10  could be substantially trapezoidal-shaped (as shown in  FIG. 3A ), round-shaped (as shown in  FIG. 3B ), hexagonal-shaped (as shown in  FIG. 3C ), substantially trapezoidal-shaped having slightly curved side portions (as shown in  FIG. 3   d ) or any other shape necessary to mate securely with the second end  18  of a corresponding thru-hull  12  of the same shape. 
   In addition, a thru-hull cap  10  could be used to maintain a color scheme or a theme, such as stainless steel, that is already present in the boat&#39;s decor. In one embodiment, a UV resistant plastic thru-hull cap  10  could be made in various colors to match pin-striping on boats. The thru-hull cap  10  could be comprised of plastic, stainless steel, brass, bronze, a marine enamel such as power coat, or some other material. While, in the preferred embodiment, the thru-hull cap  10  is comprised of a material designed to protect the second open end  18  of the thru-hull  12  from deterioration, such as stainless steel, it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which the main purpose of the thru-hull cap  10  is to provide a matching decor for a watercraft  14 . 
   In the preferred embodiment, the thru-hull cap  10  further comprises an adhesive in order to securely couple the thru-hull cap  10  to an exterior surface the open second end  18  of the thru-hull  12 . The adhesive can be silicon, acrylic based, acid based, a cured rubber or some other kind of material capable of securely coupling the thru-hull cap  10  to the open second end  18  of the thru-hull  12 . The adhesive may be coupled to a bottom surface of the thru-hull cap  10 , or alternatively to an exterior surface of the open second end  18  of the thru-hull  12 . 
   In the preferred embodiment, the thru-hull cap  10  further comprises a substantially circular flange  15  coupled to a bottom surface of the thru-hull cap  10  proximate the opening  11  and extending from the interior surface of the thru-hull cap  10 . Preferably, the circular flange  15  has a thickness of approximately five millimeters, although it should be clear that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative embodiment of the circular flange  15  that deviates, even substantially, from the preferred thickness, in either direction. The substantially circular flange  15  is dimensioned to be inserted into the tube  13  through the open second end  18  of the thru-hull  12  in order to more securely couple the thru-hull cap  10  to the thru-hull  12 . Further preferably, the substantially circular flange  15  defines a notch  17  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) dimensioned to allow a user to squeeze the substantially circular flange  15  in order to adjust the outer diameter of the substantially circular flange  15  for mating the flange  15  with the second open end  18  of a thru-hull  12 . It should be clearly understood that while an adhesive is preferably coupled to a bottom surface of the thru-hull cap for purposes of coupling the thru-hull cap  10  to an open second end  18  of a thru-hull  12 , it is within the spirit and scope of this invention that an adhesive be coupled to at least a portion of the circular flange  15  either in place of or in addition to the adhesive used on the bottom surface of the thru-hull cap  10 . It is also within the spirit and scope of the invention that no adhesive be used, so long as the thru-hull cap  10  can be secured to the second open end  18  of the thru-hull  12 , for example, by frictional engagement of an exterior surface of the circular flange  15  with an interior surface of the tube  13 . 
   While, in the preferred embodiment, the thru-hull cap  10  comprises a substantially circular flange  15  defining a notch  17 , it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which the thru-hull cap  10  does not comprise a substantially circular flange  15  or in which the flange  15  does not define a notch  17 . 
   Statement of Operation 
   In order to install the thru-hull cap  10  of the present invention, one preferably applies an adhesive to a bottom surface of the thru-hull cap  10 , or alternatively, one peels back a protective covering exposing an adhesive on the bottom surface of the thru-hall cap  10 . In one embodiment, an adhesive can be applied to the substantially circular flange  15 . In another embodiment, an adhesive is applied to the open second end  18  of the thru-hull  12 . Once an adhesive is either applied or exposed, the thru-hull cap  10  is securely coupled to the second open end  18  of the thru-hull  12 . In one embodiment, the substantially circular flange  15  may need to be squeezed in order to facilitate insertion of the substantially circular flange  15  into the tube  13  through the second open end  18  of the thru-hull  12 . 
   While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.