Abstract:
A storage device for an overhead cover of a boating vehicle. The storage device provides additional storage space for accessories and personal items being stored on a boat, and provides portable and easy access to the items. In one embodiment of the invention, the storage device is removably secured to the overhead cover of the boat. In this case, the storage device is removable and transportable for use with other vehicles. In an alternative embodiment, the storage device is formed integral with the overhead cover.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The invention relates to a storage device, and in particular, to an overhead storage device which may be incorporated into an overhead cover for a boating vehicle.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     It is common in the boating world for vehicles to include a soft canvas top, such as a bemini top, to protect individuals on the boat from the elements. These covers, however, typically do not provide any other purpose beyond this protection. While individuals often seek protection from the elements, it is equally desired to enjoy the pleasures that come along with owning such a vessel, for example sunbathing, tubing, water skiing, etc. In this regard, the one thing that all boaters have in common is the need for storage of accessories and personal items for such activities. Preferably, these accessories and personal items are stored in a convenient, safe and easily accessible location. Commonly, glove box compartments, seatback compartments, under bow storage or under seat storage devices are utilized for this purpose. Unfortunately, these storage compartments can consume a large amount of space, as well as get in the way of the passengers on the boat.  
         [0003]     Thus far, conventional storage compartments offer little in the way of providing sufficient, additional storage that is easily accessible to passengers.  FIG. 1  shows a conventional bemini top for use with a boat. Conventional bemini tops, as illustrated here, simply provide protection from the elements. Few of these tops provide additional functionality. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,931,114 to Bartholomew discloses a small storage compartment attached to the frame of a boat top. The storage compartment is attached to the bottom face of the boat top for storing desired items, such as radios, navigation aids, books, maps, etc. The storage compartment can be open or can have an appropriate cover for securing the items stored therein from the elements.  
         [0004]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,327,993 to Richens discloses an overhead storage system for a boat bemini top having an elongated unitized backing material. Attached to the bottom surface of the backing material is a series of removable storage pockets, of varying sizes, that are generally rectangular in shape and have a hinged lid.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,527,261 to Johnson discloses a canopy top for use with a vehicle having an open passenger compartment and carrying equipment. Means formed integral with the frame secure equipment to the top.  
         [0006]     It would therefore be advantageous if there was additional storage space on the boat to prevent the boat from being cluttered with additional gear and/or personal items, and, at the same time, being easily accessible to the passengers. In particular, it would be advantageous to have storage space which is capable of storing large and/or bulky items, such as an inflated inner-tube.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention seeks to solve the longstanding problem of recreational boaters, namely, limited storage capacity on a boat. In particular, the present invention enables boaters to store large and/or bulky items, such as an inflated inner-tube.  
         [0008]     In one embodiment of the invention, there is a top for use with a vehicle and configured to carry equipment, including 
        a storage apparatus removably attached to the top and configured to hold the equipment, wherein the storage apparatus is collapsible with the top.        
 
         [0010]     In one aspect of the invention, the storage apparatus is secured to the top at a plurality of locations by a corresponding number of securing members.  
         [0011]     In another aspect of the invention the storage apparatus is secured to a frame of the top at a plurality of locations by a corresponding number of securing members.  
         [0012]     In still another aspect of the invention, the frame apparatus is removably attached to the vehicle along side walls of a passenger compartment.  
         [0013]     In yet another aspect of the invention, the storage apparatus is expandable to accommodate a variety of equipment.  
         [0014]     In another embodiment of the invention, the storage apparatus is formed integral with the top, such that additional securing members are not required.  
         [0015]     In another embodiment of the invention, there is a storage apparatus for use with an overhead cover and designed to carry equipment, comprising a casing configured to secure to the overhead cover and to store the equipment.  
         [0016]     In one aspect of the invention, the casing includes a plurality of securing members for removably securing the storage apparatus to the overhead cover.  
         [0017]     In another aspect of the invention, the casing includes a plurality of securing members for removably securing the storage apparatus to a frame of the overhead cover.  
         [0018]     In still another aspect of the invention, the casing forms a receptacle with a closure at one end for reception of the equipment.  
         [0019]     In yet another aspect of the invention, at least a portion of the casing is waterproof.  
         [0020]     In still another embodiment of the invention, there is a top, comprising a storage apparatus formed integral therewith for securing to a frame of a vehicle.  
         [0021]     In yet another embodiment of the invention, there is an overhead storage apparatus for storage of accessories and attachable to a cover of a boating vehicle, including a frame configured to be secured to the boating vehicle, and a canopy top configured as the cover and removably secured to the frame, wherein the overhead storage apparatus is comprised of a flexible material having a receptacle for storage of the equipment and removably secured to the cover or frame of the boating vehicle at a plurality of locations by a plurality of securing members.  
         [0022]     In one aspect of the invention, the overhead storage apparatus includes at least one internal storage section to store additional accessories separate from the receptacle.  
         [0023]     In another aspect of the invention, the receptacle has an opening at one end and is configured for closure.  
         [0024]     In still another aspect of the invention, the opening is secured using a zipper or Velcro. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0025]      FIG. 1  shows a conventional bemini top.  
         [0026]      FIG. 2  shows an overhead cover with a storage compartment in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0027]      FIG. 3  shows an overhead cover with a storage device in another embodiment according to the present invention.  
         [0028]      FIG. 4  shows an overhead cover with a storage device secured thereto by three straps.  
         [0029]      FIG. 5  shows an overhead cover with a storage device secured thereto by alternative fasteners. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0030]     The invention solves the longstanding problem of recreational boaters. As alluded to above, many pleasure boaters find that they frequently have more gear than storage space with the end result that the floor or other surface areas of the boat become cluttered with gear. One common example is those who use recreation boats for water skiing, tubing and wake boarding. Each of these activities requires separate gear, and storage on a boat is scarce. An intertube designed for use behind a boat, for example, is particularly difficult to store on the boat once inflated, and cannot be towed behind the boat while pulling a skier or a wake-boarder. Similarly, skis and other bulky gear often clutter the boat, limiting the amount of usable space on the boat.  
         [0031]     The present invention solves the above described problems with use of a light weight storage system that can be integrated into or fastened to and rest on top of the boat&#39;s top. The invention is comprised of a storage receptacle, which can be made of a variety of materials, that may lie flat when not in use, but is expandable and capable of holding large objects such as inflated tubes, life preservers, ski ropes, wake boards, skis and other objects. The receptacle can also be designed to include rigid stays to maintain its storage capacity, if desired. The receptacle will typically have a large closure located in the rear of the device, and can be closed with a variety of closures including, for example, snaps, zippers or Velcro strips.  
         [0032]     In general, a canopy top (i.e. cover) for use with a boating vehicle is provided. The canopy top has a frame adaptable of being secured to the boat and supported above a passenger compartment. The canopy typically overlies the frame of the boat, and is capable of holding a storage device to be formed integral to the canopy (i.e. top) for securing equipment thereto.  
         [0033]      FIG. 2  illustrates an overhead cover with a storage compartment in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, a storage device  1  is removably attached to the frame  4  of a cover  3 , such as a bemini top. The storage device  1  thereby rests on top of the cover  3  (e.g. bemini top), while allowing the cover  3  to provide typical protection from the elements, and, at the same time, allow additional storage for gear and accessories. The storage device  1  can be made from a variety of materials, including plastic, cloth, canvas, mesh, etc., and can be made in a variety of shapes and sizes to conform with the size of the boat cover  3 . The storage device  1  may also be formed as a “one size fits all” device, and can also be constructed out of waterproof materials to prevent items stored within from getting wet.  
         [0034]     In a preferred embodiment of the storage device, the storage device  1  is secured, for example by Velcro, button-on laches, stays or straps which may be tightened, to the frame  4  of the top. The cover  3  is secured to stays of the frame by respective fore and aft flaps or loops. The loops are created by folding or looping edges of canopy material underneath the sewing or otherwise appropriately fixing the edges to the underside of the canopy. Loops are shaped and sized so that when the cover  3  is fully deployed, canopy is tautly expanded, with respective stays tautly but slidably disposed therein. Fore and aft reinforcing adjustable straps or tethers are optionally tied to the boat to further support and stabilized he canopy in the expanded position. Once the canopy is positioned, the storage device  1  may be fastenably secured to thereto. To deploy the storage device  1 , the storage device  1  is first placed on top of the canopy. The storage device  1  is then unfolded such that the four corners are matched to the four corners of the canopy or frame top. Once matched, the four corners are securably fastened to the frame such that the storage device is taut with the cover. Gear and accessories can then be stowed inside the storage device for hauling. To minimize noise, such as flapping while the boat is moving, additional straps may be located on the storage device for further securing the device when not fully expanded or filled with gear. In another embodiment, the fabric is expandable or zippers are placed on the sides of the storage device to allow the device to be expanded or contracted according to the amount of gear being stowed therein.  
         [0035]     Although the storage device, in the preferred embodiment, is shown as secured to the frame of the top, the invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the storage device could also be secured to the stern or bow of the boat, and can even be used as a storage device for use with other vehicles such as automobiles, trucks, etc. This enables the passengers to easily tow gear from one location to another, without having to unpack and re-pack. For example, the storage device (with gear included) can be moved from one vehicle to another. Removal of the storage device is as simple as un-tethering or unsnapping the straps, or unhooking fasteners or clips, and lifting the storage device off of the cover. Naturally, attaching the storage device to an automobile or other vehicle is as simple as installation to the boat.  
         [0036]      FIG. 3  shows an overhead cover with a storage device in another embodiment according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the storage device  1  is made integral and collapsible with the overhead cover. That is, the cover  3  is formed such that the storage device  1  is part of the cover  3 . In this embodiment, the cover  3  and storage device  1  are assembled and disassembled as one piece. The cover  3  is attached to the frame  4  in a generally transverse position with respect to the longitudinal dimension of the hull of the boat. The cover  3  may be attached, for example, along side members of the frame or secured by straps or otherwise at ends of the frame, and is adapted to be fastened or tensioned.  
         [0037]     It is also possible, as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , to secure the storage device to the canopy using only three fasteners, or by supplying through holes integrated with the storage device such that rope or straps may be fed through the holes and fastened to the canopy of frame of the boat.  
         [0038]     Accordingly, the overhead storage system is removably attached to the overhead cover of a boating vehicle and can be easily installed, requires no special tools or fittings for installation, and is easily removed for use in another location. Moreover, the present invention addresses the longstanding need for additional storage capacity on a boating vessel, within easy reach of passengers. Finally, the storage system may include internal, smaller storage sections where smaller, personal items may be stored, and, which smaller sections may be waterproof.  
         [0039]     The present invention is not limited to the above described material, but rather as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention.