Abstract:
A convertible boat top provides a covered area to protect the occupants from environmental concerns such as sun, rain, etc. The convertible top is easily deployed and can be unobtrusively tucked away into a storage area. The top can be provided as original equipment or may be embodied as a kit to adapt an existing boat.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/402,945, filed Aug. 14, 2002, the entire content of which is herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a convertible top for a boat or the like and, more particularly, to a convertible boat top that is easily deployed and retracted and can be unobtrusively tucked away into a storage area. 
     Many boat models typically do not include a covered area that is easily deployed to protect the occupants from environmental concerns, such as sun, rain, etc. It would be desirable to provide a convertible top attachment that could be readily adapted for an existing boat. At the same time, however, the convertible boat top should be easily extended and retracted into and out of the use position. Still further, in a retracted position, the components of the top should be unobtrusively stored away. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a convertible boat top includes a canopy and a support structure supporting the canopy and shiftable with the canopy between a stowed position and an installed position. The support structure includes a main support bar engaging the canopy and coupled with a sliding mechanism. The main support bar is disposed in a first position in the sliding mechanism when the support structure is in the stowed position and in a second position in the sliding mechanism when the support structure is in the installed position. 
     Preferably, the support structure additionally includes a pair of interim brackets respectively pivotally attached at one end to the main support bar and attached at an opposite end to the canopy. In this context, the interim brackets may be attached to the canopy via respective canopy brackets. A secondary support bar may be pivotally secured to the main support bar and include a crossbar extending across a width of the main support bar, which secondary support bar supports a middle portion of the canopy. In a preferred arrangement, the canopy includes a first sleeve through which the main support bar is threaded and a second sleeve through which the secondary support bar is threaded. In this context, the first sleeve is disposed at a rearward end of the canopy, and the second sleeve is disposed at the middle portion of the canopy. The canopy may include a relief zipper extending from an area of the canopy adjacent at least one of the interim brackets. 
     In one arrangement, the canopy includes a canopy trim defining a shaped rigid forward perimeter of the canopy. The canopy trim preferably comprises a rigid or semi-rigid rod threaded into a pocket formed in the forward perimeter of the canopy. The canopy trim may be bowed such that the canopy does not sit flush with a top trim of a boat windshield frame. One or more attachment clips may be secured to the canopy via the canopy trim, wherein each attachment clip is selectively securable to a top trim of a boat windshield frame. 
     With the canopy trim defining a shaped rigid forward perimeter of the canopy, the support structure may further include a pair of interim brackets respectively pivotally attached at one end to the main support bar and attached at respective opposite ends to ends of the canopy trim. In this context, the interim brackets and the canopy trim are preferably pivotable to a position adjacent the main support bar in the stowed position. In a similar construction, the secondary support bar may also be included such that the interim brackets, the canopy trim and the secondary support bar are pivotable to a position adjacent the main support bar in the stowed position. 
     The sliding mechanism preferably includes a slide rail attachable to an interior boat surface and a sliding bracket mounted in sliding engagement with the slide rail. In this context, the main support bar may be pivotably secured to a first end of the sliding bracket, and the sliding mechanism may further include a pivot device pivotably secured between a second end of the sliding bracket and the main support bar. The pivot device is preferably configured to bias the main support bar toward the installed position. 
     In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, a boat windshield assembly utilizes the convertible boat top of the invention. In a similar context, in still another exemplary embodiment of the invention, a boat incorporates the convertible boat top of the invention. In yet another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the convertible boat top is embodied in a kit for assembling the convertible boat top. 
     In a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, a convertible boat top includes a canopy including a canopy trim defining a shaped rigid forward perimeter of the canopy; and a support structure supporting the canopy, the support structure including a main support bar supporting a rearward perimeter of the canopy, and a pair of interim brackets respectively pivotally attached at one end to the main support bar and attached at an opposite end to the canopy trim supporting the forward perimeter of the canopy. The interim brackets and the canopy trim are pivotable to a position adjacent the main support bar in a stowed position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a boat with the convertible boat top according to the present invention in its extended position; 
         FIG. 2  is a closer view of the attachment structure for the convertible boat top; 
         FIG. 3  is a closer view of the sliding and link mechanisms; 
         FIG. 4  is a sequence diagram showing stage positions of the link mechanism; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing one attachment of the convertible boat top to an existing portion of the windshield top trim; 
         FIG. 6  shows the connector attached to the convertible boat top; and 
         FIG. 7  shows a relief zipper of the convertible top to facilitate storage. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , the convertible boat top  10  according to the present invention is shown installed in a conventional open-top boat including a windshield  2  supported by a bottom trim member  15  secured to a boat frame  4 . Preferably, the convertible boat top  10  of the invention includes support structure  12  supporting a fabric canopy  14 . At a front end, the canopy  14  is provided with a trim member  16  securing connectors that attach to a top trim  18  of the boat windshield frame. 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  show details of the support structure  12 . A main support bar  20  is generally U-shaped including a cross rail extending substantially the width of the boat and two support rails bent relative to the cross rail. In  FIG. 2 , only one side of the main support bar  20  is shown, it being understood that the other side is essentially identical in construction. 
     An end  20   a  of the support bar  20  is pivotally secured to a slide mechanism  22 . With reference to  FIG. 3 , the slide mechanism  22  includes a slide rail  24  secured to an interior surface of the boat via any suitable means and a slide bracket  26 . The slide bracket  26  is mounted in sliding engagement on the slide rail  24  for sliding between a forward position (shown in  FIG. 3 ) and a rearward position. The end  20   a  is pivotally secured to a forward end of the slide bracket  26  via a pivot  20   b . This attachment can be effected by any suitable means. A piston device such as a piston member or gas strut  28  is pivotally secured at one end to a rearward end of the slide bracket  26 . Although a gas strut is preferred, the pivot device may also comprise a suitably configured spring, hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder, electric actuator or the like. An opposite end of the gas strut  28  is pivotally secured via a connector  30  to the main support bar  20 . Preferably, the connector  30  is fixed to the main support bar  20  at a position spaced from the end  20   a  of the main support bar  20  to enable the gas strut  28  to have appropriate leverage for assisting the main support bar  20  and attached canopy. In operation, the gas strut  28  is displaceable between an extended position (as shown in  FIG. 3 ) and a retracted position, corresponding to the installed position of the boat top and a stowed position of the boat top, respectively. 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 2  and with reference to  FIG. 7 , an interim bracket  32  is pivotally attached to the main support bar  20  via a connector  30  for pivoting about a pivot point  34 . An opposite end of the interim bracket  32  may be fixed, via screws or the like to a bracket  36  mounting the canopy trim  16  or may be mounted directly to the canopy trim  16 . 
     A secondary support bar  38  also in a substantially U-shape configuration and including a crossbar extending across the width of the boat is pivotally secured to the main support bar  20  via another connector  30  for pivoting about pivot point  40 . The secondary support bar  38  supports a middle portion of the canopy  14  as shown in, for example,  FIG. 2 . 
     The canopy  14  is generally made of a fabric material although other materials may be suitable for the convertible boat top according to the present invention. The canopy  14  includes a first sleeve  42  at a rearward end of the canopy  14  preferably sewn therein in which is received the main support bar  20  as shown in  FIG. 2 . A second sleeve  44  located at an intermediate portion of the canopy  14  receives the secondary support bar  38  as also shown in  FIG. 2 . The sleeves  42 ,  44  may also be secured in any other suitable manner, such as welded, zipped, or the like. The forward end of the canopy includes the canopy trim  16 , which is formed of a rigid or semi-rigid rod-like material such as extruded aluminum, defining a shaped rigid forward perimeter of the canopy  14 . The canopy trim  16  is preferably threaded into a pocket formed in the forward perimeter of the canopy  14 , although other suitable means for securing the canopy trim  16  may of course be contemplated. The canopy trim  16  is mounted at either end. Any suitable connecting structure can be used. Preferably, the canopy trim  16  is slightly bowed so that the canopy does not sit flush with the top trim of the windshield frame without a positive coupling. With this construction, when the canopy is released, the canopy trim  16  automatically pops off of the windshield top trim to facilitate retraction of the convertible boat top to the stowed position. This feature also enables the occupants to open the center panel of the windshield without requiring removal of the top. 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 2 and 7 , the canopy  14  also includes a relief zipper  46  generally adjacent the interim bracket  32  and bracket  36 . In the retracted position, as shown in  FIG. 7 , without the relief zipper  46 , the canopy  14  would tend to be intrusive into the occupant space. In the stowed position, the relief zipper  46  can be opened so that the canopy  14  can be stowed further toward the rear of the boat. 
       FIG. 4  is a sequence drawing showing multiple positions of the support structure  12  and slide mechanism  22  as the canopy  14  is shifted between its stowed position and its installed position. In operation, from the stowed position, the boat top structure is removed from storage and can be easily lifted with the assistance of the gas strut  28  to the leftmost position shown in  FIG. 4 . The canopy  14  can then be manually opened or pivoted forward as shown particularly by the pivoting of interim bracket  32  in  FIG. 4 . Simultaneously or in a separate step, the slide bracket  26  is slid forward on the slide rail  24  toward the leftmost position shown in  FIG. 4 . In this position, the canopy is brought forward to engage with the top trim  18  of the windshield frame. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , an attachment clip  48  is secured to the canopy  14  via the canopy trim  16 . The attachment clip  48  includes a hook  50  that is pivotally attached to a hook lever  52 , which in turn may be pivotally attached to a supporting bracket  54  via a latching bracket  53 . At least one attachment clip  48  is mounted to the canopy trim  16  for securing the canvas  14  to the top trim  18  of the boat windshield, although in a preferred embodiment, two spaced attachment clips  48  are used. Obviously, the size of the boat may dictate the number of clips necessary to adequately secure the canopy to the top trim  18  of the windshield frame. 
     An attachment post  56  is appropriately mounted to the windshield frame for each attachment clip  48  on the canopy. With reference to  FIG. 5 , when the canopy is opened to its extended position, as noted above, the canopy trim  16  does not sit flush against the top trim  18  of the boat windshield. Using the lever  52 , the user manually positions the hook  50  over the attachment post  56  then pivots the lever  52  upward via the latching bracket  53  to secure the canopy. This latching operation is repeated for each of the attachment clips  48  on the canopy  14 . Of course, alternative latching structures may be suitable for securing the canopy trim  16  to the windshield frame top trim  18 . 
     With this construction, a convertible boat top can be provided for a boat that is easily opened and closed and can be readily stowed to an unobtrusive storage position. Additionally, the convertible boat top can be provided as a kit to adapt an existing boat. 
     While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.