Abstract:
A cover element adapted for disposition across a portion of a boat hull. The cover element is formed from a textile fabric having elastomeric stretch and recovery characteristics.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to an elastomerically deformable fabric and more particularly to a fabric for use in outdoor covering applications such as the covering of watercraft wherein the fabric has stretch and recovery characteristics permitting the reproducible development of a tight barrier over the watercraft in a wide variety of temperature and humidity conditions.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The use of protective covers across boats and other watercraft is well known. Such protective covers are useful in preventing precipitation and/or dirt from collecting within the interior of the boat between uses. Such protection extends the useful life of components such as seats and instruments within the boat while at the same time substantially reducing pre-use preparation time required before the boat can be used. In order to provide an effective barrier across the interior of the boat it is generally desirable for the cover to be secured in place in a substantially taut, drum-like orientation.  
           [0003]    Historically, the desired arrangement of a cover across a boat was achieved by tying a tarpaulin such as a piece of water-proofed canvas or the like in place so that it was fixed tightly across the boat interior. While such a tying arrangement may be useful in many instances, it requires a substantial degree of skill and strength to achieve the desired taut orientation. Moreover, the material may stretch over time giving rise to sagging at the interior between the tie points.  
           [0004]    In order to address the deficiencies of a traditional tie-down arrangement, preformed covers of coated fabrics that snap in place around the perimeter of the boat have been developed. While such preformed covers avoid the need for complex tie-down arrangements, it is common that such preformed covers may be quite difficult to snap in place under cold conditions due to thermal shrinkage and stiffening of the coating. Likewise, under extremely high temperature conditions, it may be difficult to achieve the desired taut orientation since the cover remains stretched. Moreover, just as with traditional tie-down covers, such preformed covers tend to lose their dimensional stability and tend to either shrink or stretch over time thereby reducing their effectiveness. Finally, even under optimal performance conditions current preformed covers are useful only on boats of a particular size and shape and thus cannot generally be used for a variety of boat constructions.  
         SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention provides advantages and alternatives over the prior art by providing a fabric and boat cover formed therefrom which has elastomeric stretch and recovery properties permitting stretching under tension as the cover is snapped in place and thereafter maintaining a state of tension during use over a wide range of environmental conditions. The cover may be stretched into place with relative ease and is adaptable to a wide range of boat sizes. Once in place, the internal tension within the cover is maintained by the elastomeric properties of the fabric. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be presented with reference to the accompanying drawing which is incorporated in and which constitutes a part of this specification and in which:  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is an elevation perspective view of a boat incorporating a fabric cover. 
     
    
       [0008]    While the invention has been illustrated and will hereinafter be described and disclosed in connection with certain preferred embodiments, practices and procedures, it is by no means intended to limit the invention to such specific embodiments, practices and procedures. Rather it is intended to cover all such alternatives and modifications thereto as may fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention and all equivalents thereto.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0009]    Referring now to the FIGURE, a boat  10  is illustrated. As shown, the boat  10  includes a hull  12  disposed in surrounding relation to an interior portion  14 . Disposed around the hull  12  outboard of the interior portion  14  are a plurality of fixed fastening elements  16  such as one half of a male/female snap stud arrangement or the like.  
         [0010]    In the illustrated configuration a cover  20  of pliable fabric as will be described further hereinafter is disposed partially across the interior  14 . The cover  20  may be manipulated to substantially cover the open interior portion  14 . In such a covering relation the cover  20  is held in place by cooperative interaction between the fixed fastening elements  16  and cover fastening elements  22  disposed a locations around the cover  20 . The cover fastening elements  22  are adapted to engage the fixed fastening elements  16  by a releasable snap-in relation or the like so as to permit the establishment of a relatively tight covering arrangement.  
         [0011]    As indicated, the cover  20  is formed from a pliable fabric. Moreover, such fabric is constructed with stretch and recovery characteristics so as to permit it to be stretched into a tensioned state during the covering process. This tensioned state is thereafter maintained by the internal elastomeric recovery forces within the fabric such that the cover is held in tight relation across the interior  14 . It is contemplated that a number of fabric constructions incorporating elastomeric components may be utilized to achieve the desired stretch and recovery characteristics. By way of example only, it is contemplated that the fabric forming the cover may be a woven, knit, or nonwoven construction including an elastomeric fiber constituent. Preferably, the fabric will be characterized by stretch and recovery in both the length and the width dimension so as to maintain tension in all directions.  
         [0012]    By way of example only, and not limitation, one fabric which may be used is a stitch bonded fabric incorporating a stitching thread of SPANDEX, LYCRA OR HYTREL polymer extending in spaced apart substantially parallel rows of stitches through a nonwoven fiber web of acrylic or polyester staple fibers. The fibers forming the nonwoven fiber web may be solution dyed to impart desired coloration if desired. According to one contemplated construction, the fabric may be a stitch bonded fabric having a weight of about 4 to about 8 ounces per square yard and more preferably about 6.5 ounces per square yard. Lycra yarn with a covering layer such as solution dyed acrylic or polyester fiber is stitched through a fiber web in a tricot stitch configuration. The stitch bonded construction provides stretch in all directions. Of course it is contemplated that other stitch bonded constructions may likewise be utilized if desired. By way of example only, several stitch bonding practices and constructions are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,876,128; 4,773,238; 4,704,321 and 4,737,394 all of which are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.  
         [0013]    While stitch bonded fabrics may be useful in the present invention it is to be understood that any number of other fabric constructions may likewise be utilized if desired. By way of example only, it is contemplated that a knit fabric incorporating an elastomeric constituent yarn such as LYCRA, SPANDEX, HYTREL or the like may be utilized if desired. Likewise, a woven fabric incorporating suitable elastomeric constituent fibers may also be utilized if desired provided that adequate stretch and recovery characteristics are obtained.  
         [0014]    It is, of course, to be appreciated that while the invention has been described by reference to certain embodiments, procedures and practices, the invention is in no way to be limited thereto, since modifications may be made and other embodiments of the principles of this invention will no doubt occur to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains. Therefore, it is intended to cover any such modifications and other embodiments as may incorporate the features of this invention within the true spirit and scope thereof.