Retractable boat awning

A retractable boat awning or “bimini cover” is provided. The present retractable boat awning may replace existing awnings on a boat or may be added to a boat which lacks an awning. The present retractable boat awning has a first folding locking bar and a second folding locking bar which are concealed within a slim securing container when the device is not in use. To use the awning, the first and the second locking bar are rotated outward from the interior of the securing container and secure a protective awning fabric cover. The awning may be fully assembled into the usable form or may be collapsed into the stored securing container in around a minute.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A retractable boat awning or “bimini cover” is provided. The present retractable boat awning may replace existing awnings on a boat or may be added to a boat which lacks an awning. The present retractable boat awning has a first folding locking bar and a second folding locking bar which are concealed within a slim securing container when the device is not in use. To use the awning, the first and the second locking bar are rotated outward from the interior of the securing container and secure a protective awning fabric cover. The awning may be fully assembled into the usable form or may be collapsed into the stored securing container in around a minute.

Boat awnings are common. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 9,862,461 to Cao discloses an awning for a boat which is operable between retracted and extended positions and includes a frame structure having left and right telescopically extendable and retractable tube assemblies each having a fixed tube, a telescopic mid tube and a telescopic end tube. Cross tubes extend transversely between each of the mid tubes and the end tubes. A canvas roller is mounted transversely between the fixed tubes. A sheet of marine canvas is secured to the roller and the end cross tube and is rolled onto the roller when the awning is retracted. A gear box disengages the canvas roller to allow the telescoping tube assemblies and canvas to be manually extended. To retract the awning, the gear box is engaged with the canvas roller and a removable crank handle is operated to rotate the roller and roll up the canvas as the frame structure is telescopically retracted.

Further, U.S. Pat. No. 7,895,964 to Russikoff discloses a retractable boat top device having an arched canopy assembly operatively deployed in mounted attachment upon a conventional radar arch or like elevated structure on the deck of a boat. The arched canopy assembly includes a stationery roof section formed having a curved planar surface transversely mounted within the radar arch, a pair of telescoping extension arms mounted on opposite sides of the roof section, and an arched roller assembled to hold a flexible canopy material thereon and operatively connected between the outer ends of the extension arms so that the flexible canopy material may be extended and retracted relative to the stationery roof section in an arched configuration substantially in the same plane as the roof section. The arched roller includes a curved roller bar supported coaxially within the bore of a flexible hose member that supports the canopy material in a rolled-up state and further includes torsion spring members mounted along opposite sides of the roller bar to maintain tension upon the canopy material during roll-out and retraction.

Still further, U.S. Pat. No. 7,395,744 to Borges discloses a retractable canopy structure adapted to be used in conjunction with the canopy structure on a boat's existing T-top tubular frame near the level of the existing canopy. The canopy frame structure comprises two longitudinally aligned, telescoping members with at least one transverse, telescoping frame member disposed between the two longitudinal members to prevent the canopy from collapsing when under tension. The canopy frame structure is disposed onto the existing T-top frame using a mounting assembly comprising of a grommet adapted to be placed between two frame members and wrapped with an adjustable strap. The canopy and telescoping frame components are designed to be adaptable to various T-top canopy widths, and can be extended to various lengths to increase the amount of available canopy shade area while in the mounted position on the boat's existing T-top.

However, these patents fail to describe a retractable boat awning which is easy to use. Further, these patents fail to provide for a retractable boat awning which has an extendable first and second locking bar which are concealed in a zipped-up slim securing container when the awning is not in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A retractable boat awning or “bimini cover” is provided. The present retractable boat awning may replace existing awnings on a boat or may be added to a boat which lacks an awning. The present retractable boat awning has a first folding locking bar and a second folding locking bar which are concealed within a slim securing container when the device is not in use. To use the awning, the first and the second locking bar are rotated outward from the interior of the securing container and secure a protective awning fabric cover. The awning may be fully assembled into the usable form or may be collapsed into the stored securing container in around a minute.

An advantage of the present retractable boat awning is that the present retractable boat awning is quickly assembled and quickly stored in a securing container.

Another advantage of the present retractable boat awning is that the present retractable boat awning is lightweight.

Yet another advantage of the present retractable boat awning is that the present retractable boat awning is durable.

For a more complete understanding of the above listed features and advantages of the retractable boat awning reference should be made to the detailed description and the drawings. Further, additional features and advantages of the invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A retractable boat awning or “bimini cover” is provided. The present retractable boat awning may replace existing awnings on a boat or may be added to a boat which lacks an awning. The present retractable boat awning has a first folding locking bar and a second folding locking bar which are concealed within a slim securing container when the device is not in use. To use the awning, the first and the second locking bar are rotated outward from the interior of the securing container and secure a protective awning fabric cover. The awning may be fully assembled into the usable form or may be collapsed into the stored securing container in around a minute.

In an embodiment, a retractable awning system1for a boat300is provided. The retractable awning system1may have a slim securing container10which secures components of the system within an interior17of the container10. The securing container10may have a top11(FIG.3), a bottom12(FIG.1), a front13(FIG.6), a back14(FIG.1), a first side15(FIG.6), a second side16(FIG.11) and an elongated hollow interior17(FIG.3). The slim securing container10is generally rectangular, extending approximately the width of the boat300that the awning system1is used on.

The securing container10is preferably made of a light-weight durable material, such as a non-corrosive metal such as, for example, aluminum. The securing container10may store at least an awning20, a first locking bar21and a second locking bar22within its interior17when the awning system1is not in use. The awning20itself is preferably a durable, flexible fabric material.

The retractable awning system1may be stored in a closed (or “first”) orientation as shown inFIGS.6,10and11when the awning1is not in use or the awning system1may be moved to the open (or “second”) orientation best illustrated byFIGS.1and9when a user desires to use the awning system1. In an embodiment, the back14of the securing container10may have a plurality of securing loops/clamps18. The securing loops/clamps18(FIG.1) may allow the awning system1to be attached to existing rods or “boat tower”350of a boat300. The figures show the present retractable awning system1having two securing loops/clamps18; however, a greater or fewer number of securing loops/clamps18may be used. Additionally, alternative securing mechanisms may be used to secure the present retractable awning system1to the boat300as illustrated inFIGS.7and8and discussed further below.

The securing container10may itself have a fabric cover40having a securing means41. The fabric cover40is preferably secured to both the top11and the bottom12of the securing container10and temporarily covers the front13of the securing container10when the awning system1is not in use. The back14of the securing container10may be free from the fabric cover40. The securing means41of the fabric cover40may be, for example, a zipper which runs the entire length of the fabric cover40so that the fabric cover40is essentially split into two separate units (a top unit and a bottom unit) when the securing mechanism41(“zipper”) is unzipped. In the open (or unzipped) orientation as best shown inFIG.3, the interior17of the securing container10is accessible.

In the closed orientation ofFIG.6when the securing means41of the fabric cover40of the securing container10is zipped-up, the first locking bar21, the second locking bar22and the awning20are safely stored within the interior17of the securing container10. In an alternative embodiment, only the first locking bar21and the second locking bar22are stored within the interior17of the securing container10when the awning system1is not in use and the fabric awning20is stored elsewhere. In an embodiment, the first locking bar21and the second locking bar22are secured to the securing container10at one end and rotate at that end.

When a user wishes to use the awning system the user first unzips the fabric cover40of the securing container10. Once the fabric cover40of the securing container10is unzipped and therefore split into the top and bottom units, a user may now attach the back end of the awning20to the same securing means41of the securing container10by using a zipper or other securing means375attached to the awning20to secure the awning20to the top unit of the fabric cover40when the fabric cover40is unzipped. Once the awning20is secured to the top unit40A of the fabric cover40, the user then rotates the first locking bar21approximately ninety degrees from being parallel to the securing container10(and located within the securing container10) to being generally perpendicular with respect to the securing container10as shown inFIG.1. The first locking bar21may rotate at a pivot joint30. In an embodiment, a first support bar26is also rotated to provide additional support and stability to the first locking bar21during use. The support bar26rotates less than (preferably half the distance with respect to) the first locking bar21. Preferably between forty and fifth degrees with respect to the locking bars21,22. The same process is repeated on the other side of the device1with the second locking bar22and a second support bar27. In an embodiment, the support bars26,27are attached to the securing container10at one end and attached to the locking bars21,22and their other end.

After the first locking bar21and the second locking bar22are rotated approximately ninety degrees (and are again parallel) each and are then perpendicular with respect to the securing container10, the front60of the awning20may now be secured to the locking bars21,22in a tight manner. Specifically, an end plug50(FIG.5) of the front60of the awning20is inserted into an opening (not shown) located at the distal end of the first locking bar21so that the sides of the awning20are stretched to approximately the same length (often around four feet) as the length of the first locking bar21and the second locking bar22. A securing strip51may additionally be wrapped around the first locking bar21and second locking bar22. The securing strip51may be. For example, a hook and loop fastener system.

In an embodiment, the clamps/loops18may separate into two halves18A,18B and have two or four screws to connect both halves18A,18B. The clamps/loops18may be attached to the boat tower350on the top of the boat300. The boat tower350at the top of the boat300is sometimes called the “bimini” tower. In an embodiment, an optional and removable rubber O-ring unit425(FIG.1) fits inside the clamps/loops18to protect the tower350of the boat300and further to allow the awning system1to be used in connection with different sized towers350.

Referring now toFIGS.7and8, in an alternative embodiment, the securing container10may be secured to the clamps/loops18by use of a stand-off brace500. In this embodiment, the base of the clamps/loops18may slide into one of several opening slots505of the stand-off brace500. The stand-off brace500may allow the user to slide the clamps/loops18into one of a plurality of openings505of the stand-off brace500so as to be able to adjust the angle of the device1with respect to the boat tower350.

In an embodiment, the clamps/loops18of the stand-off brace500are secured to the boat tower350. The stand-off brace500may be generally u-shaped having a front503, a first side501, a second side502, an open back518, a first end530and a second end531(defining its length). The open back518provides access to the interior508of the stand-off brace500so that the stand-off brace500may receive the securing container10. Along the front503of the stand-off brace500may be at least two grasping units wherein each grasping units (combined as504,505and506) have a first extended ridge504and a second extended ridge506and an opening slot505located before the first extended ridge504and the second extended ridge506.FIGS.7and8illustrates three grasping units, although a greater or fewer number of grasping units may be present on the stand-off brace500.

In an embodiment, the bottom19B of a shaft19A of the clamps/loops18may slide into one of the grasping unit openings505of the stand-off brace500at the first end530or the second end531of the stand-off brace500. The securing container10is secured to the back of the stand-off brace10. A built-in spring509having an opening510on the first side501and the second side502of the stand-off brace500allows the stand-off brace500to be slightly flexible so as to properly receive and provide flexible support for both the clamps/loops18and the securing container10.

FIGS.12and13illustrate three separate sets of clamps/loops18occupying each of the grasping units; however, it should be understood that, in use, only one of the grasping units of the stand-off brace500is used at a time.FIGS.12and13illustrate all the grasping units being used at the same time only for illustrative purposes to illustrate the potential angles of the clamps/loops18with respect to the tower3650of the boat300.

Although embodiments of the invention are shown and described therein, it should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages.