Abstract:
A frame for a top of a boat in accordance with the present invention can be moved into an deployed position with the aid of a biasing member such that the manual effort required is minimized. When the frame is in the deployed position a locking member may be engaged to hold the frame and top in the deployed position. When the locking member is disengaged, the frame may be manually collapsed into a stowed position in a controlled and safe manner.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/076,971, filed Nov. 7, 2014, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, herein, in its entirety, for all purposes. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to the field of water craft. More specifically, the present invention relates to articulating tops for water craft. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Boats can be equipped with some form of sun shade apparatus or other enclosure such as a top, canopy or bimini. Some tops can be moved between an extended, engaged, locked or radar position and a stowed, collapsed, unlocked or trailering position. Some tops are constructed out of tubular frames that articulate to at least two positions. Some such tops can be manually articulated to a desired position, while others utilize mechanical aids such as hydraulics or electric motors to power the apparatus into the desired position(s). 
         [0004]    The manual articulation of tops often require a significant effort to move the top into the desired position(s). One common method for manually articulating a top is to manually lift the top into the desired state, such as an extended position. Then, the top can be secured in position by latching or locking a frame member, such as a bow, arm or strut, such as to hardware that is attached to the water craft. Such manual articulation requires significant strength to raise the top into position, and dexterity and balance to secure the top in position. Such manual articulation can be unsafe if undertaken by a single person. 
         [0005]    Some tops have been designed such that they use gravity to pull the top into the stowed position when released from the extended position. However, when released, such tops violently collapse, which can injure someone in the path of the top, damage the top and/or the water craft or be noisy, potentially scaring away wildlife. Other tops may use powered mechanical systems to decrease or even eliminate the need for manual articulation. However, such powered tops are often cost prohibitive and may not be useable with all boat models, as such powered tops can require specific structural elements for mounting thereto and power. 
         [0006]    Therefore, there is need for a cost effective top that decreases the effort required to manually articulate the top. There is also a need for a top that can be manually articulated by one person without a sudden collapsing of the top and that can be securely stowed, such as for transportation and storage. 
         [0007]    It will be understood by those skilled in the art that one or more aspects of this invention can meet certain objectives, while one or more other aspects can lead to certain other objectives. Other objects, features, benefits and advantages of the present invention will be apparent in this summary and descriptions of the disclosed embodiment, and will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such objects, features, benefits and advantages will be apparent from the above as taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures and all reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is an elevation view of a frame in a deployed position. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an elevation view of the frame of  FIG. 1  in a collapsed position. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged elevation view of a portion of the frame of  FIG. 1  attached directly to a water craft. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged elevation view of a portion of the frame of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the frame of  FIG. 1  in a closed position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged perspective view of the locking member of the frame of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional elevation view of the locking member of  FIG. 3  in an opened position engaged to a structure. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional elevation view of the locking member of  FIG. 3  in an opened position. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional elevation view of the locking member of  FIG. 3  in an opened position. 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional elevation view of an alternative embodiment of a locking member engaged to a structure. 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional elevation view of an alternative embodiment of a locking member in a closed position. 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional elevation view of the bracket of  FIG. 11 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional elevation view of an alternative embodiment of a locking member in an opened position. 
           [0021]      FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional elevation view of an alternative embodiment of a locking member in a closed position. 
           [0022]      FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional elevation view of an alternative embodiment of a locking member in an opened position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    As seen in  FIG. 1 , a frame  10  for a marine top, canopy, bimini or other such structure is shown. The frame  10  shown in  FIG. 1  is generally comprised of tubular members that support a canvas or other suitable material (not shown) for providing shade or sheltering from the elements. For example, the frame  10  in  FIG. 1  includes a main or aft bow  12  that is pivotally connected to a secondary or bow bow  14 . One or more auxiliary bows  16 ,  18  can be pivotally connected to the main and secondary bows. The pivotal connections allow the frame  10  to collapse into a compact folded frame as seen in  FIG. 2 . Support members  20 , for example, one on the starboard side and one on the port side of the frame  10 , may also be used to support and keep the frame in the deployed and/or collapsed position. 
         [0024]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the support members  20  include a biasing member. The biasing member is shown in  FIG. 1  as a gas shock  22 , but could also include a mechanical or pneumatic spring, shock or damper. The gas shock  22  is connected at a first end to a first end of the strut or shaft  24 , such as by a threaded end of the rod being thread into a threaded hole in the strut, and is pivotally connected directly or indirectly, at its second end to the vehicle or structure such as a boat. 
         [0025]    The strut  24  is pivotally connected at its second end to the frame  10  or a collapsible assembly, for example the main bow  12 . For example, the strut  24  may have a bore (not shown) formed in one end and a plastic hat-style washer (not shown) inserted in each side of the hole. A frame bracket is then secured to the main bow, such as by screws or bolts. The frame bracket has flanges sized to accept the strut with hat-style washers and each flange has a hole matching the hole in the hat-style washers such that mating shoulder bolts may be inserted through the holes in the frame bracket, hat-style washers and strut  24  to pivotally connect the strut to the main bow. When the frame  10  is moved from the collapsed position, the gas shock  22  is allowed to push the rod  26  further out which in turn pushes the strut  24  out of the tube  28  and causes the main bow  12  and frame  10  to move to its deployed position. When the frame  10  moved from its deployed position towards its collapsed position, the main bow  12  will push on the strut  24  causing the rod  26  to be pushed in or withdrawn further into the gas shock  22 . 
         [0026]    In one embodiment, the gas shock  22  could be designed to provide just less than the amount of force required to move the frame  10  from the collapsed position into the extended position such that only a small amount of additional force or effort is needed, for example by a person. Such force would also allow the frame  10  to be collapsed into the stowed position in a safe and controlled manner because the weight of the frame would only slightly overcome the force exerted by the gas shock  22 . Therefore, only a small amount of force is needed, for example by a person, to stop or slow the collapse of the frame  10 . In this embodiment, the gas shock  22  urges or biases the strut  24  to slide into the tube  28 . 
         [0027]    By way of another example, the gas shock  22  could be designed to provide a slightly greater force than needed to move the frame  10  from the collapsed position into the extended position such that only a small amount of additional force would be used, for example by a person, to stop or slow the articulation of the frame  10 . Such force would also allow the frame  10  to be collapsed into the stowed position in a safe and controlled manner because only a small amount of additional force or effort is used to overcome the force of the gas shock  22 . In this embodiment, the gas shock  22  urges or biases the strut  24  to slide out of the tube  28 . 
         [0028]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the gas shock  22  is housed within a tube, housing or shroud  28  and the tube slidable receives the strut  24 . At one end of the tube  28  is a bushing or collar  30 . In  FIG. 3 , the bushing  30  is located at least partially within the opening of the tube  28 . The bushing  30  can slidably receive the strut  24  and help guide the strut as it slides in and out of the tube  28 , such as, for example, by keeping the strut centered, providing a smooth surface for the strut to slide against and the preventing the strut from undesired racking or twisting. The bushing  30  could be attached to the tube  28  or the bushing could be integrally formed or made with the tube. 
         [0029]    The support member  20  is shown attached at its second end to a mounting bracket  32 . The second end of the gas shock  22  and/or the tube  28  can be attached directly to the marine vehicle or structure, e.g. a rail or fence, as seen in  FIG. 3 , or could be attached to another structure such as a mounting bracket  32  which is then attached to the marine vehicle or structure, as seen in  FIGS. 1-2 . For example, the tube  28  may have a bore (not shown) that matches a hole in the flanges (not shown) of the mounting bracket. Hat-style washers (not shown) are inserted into each side of the bore in the tube  28 . Mating shoulder bolts are inserted through the hat-style washers, the tube  28  and an eyelet threadingly connected to the gas shock  22  to pivotally connect the tube and gas shock to the mounting bracket  32 . The main bow  12  can also be pivotally attached to the mounting bracket  32 . 
         [0030]    Fixing or predetermining the relationship of the second ends of the main bow  12  and support member  20  can make installation easier because the proper relationship between the main bow and support member, e.g. angle formed by the main bow and mounting bracket  32  and distance between the second ends of the main bow and the support member, does not need to be determined or measured during installation. The proper relationship can also lead to increased safety and life of the frame  10  by, for example, inhibiting torqueing and proper distribution of the weight of the top on the main bow  12  and the support members  20 . Fixing or predetermining the relationship of the second ends of the main bow  12  and support member  20  also allows a single sized support member to be used for a variety of sized tops and frames by adjusting the size of the mounting bracket  32 . 
         [0031]    The support members  20  can also include a locking member lock the support member in the closed position, such as when the frame  10  is deployed, and/or the opened position, such as when the frame is collapsed. In  FIGS. 1-11, 13 , the locking member is a handle or lever that is pivotally connected to the strut  24 , such that the locking member is movable between opened and closed positions. For example, the handle  34  may have a bore (not shown) that matches a bore (not shown) in the strut  24  when the strut is within the handle as discussed further below. Mating shoulder bolts may be inserted through the two bores to pivotally mount the handle  34  to the strut  24  at one end of the handle. When the frame  10  is in its deployed position, the handle  34  is closed and generally in line with the support member  20  as seen in  FIG. 3 . The handle  34  includes a slot  36  that is sized and positioned to accept the strut  24  when the handle is closed seen most clearly in  FIG. 5 . When the frame  10  is collapsed, the handle is opened and is generally perpendicular to the support member  20  as seen in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0032]    When the frame  10  is in the deployed position and the handle  34  is in a first position or closed, as seen in  FIG. 4 , the bottom surface  38  of the handle contacts, jams or engages the top or contact surface  40  of the bushing  30  to prevent the strut  24  from being pulled or sliding further within the tube  28  from the weight of the frame  10  and/or the tensile force or pull of the gas shock  22 . When the handle is in the closed position, the frame  10  is fully deployed. Thereby, the handle  34  can be used to set the length and angle of the support member at which the frame  10  is fully deployed. 
         [0033]    When it is desired to collapse the frame  10 , e.g. when towing a marine vehicle to which the frame is attached, the handle  34  can be disengaged from the bushing by pulling the handle and rotating the handle away from the support strut as seen in  FIGS. 7-9 . In this position, the handle  34  is in a second position or opened. When the handle  34  is in the open position, the strut  24  is not prevented from being pulled or sliding further within the tube  28  by the weight of the frame  10  and/or the tensile force or pull from the gas shock  22 . 
         [0034]    The handle  34  may also include a securing component to secure the frame  10  in a collapsed position. For example, as best seen in  FIG. 6 , the securing component is a socket  42  formed in the bottom of the slot  36 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 6-7 , the socket  42  is sized and shaped to selectively attach or fit over a structure, for example a deck button  44 . 
         [0035]    As seen in  FIG. 7 , a latch  46  is housed in and rotatably secured or pivotally connected to the handle  34 . At a first end of the latch  46  is a push button  48 . Between the push button  48  and the handle  34  is a spring  50  that urges the push button out of the handle. At the second end of the latch is a lip or flange  52 . The spring  50  also urges the lip  52  into the slot  36 . 
         [0036]    To secure the frame  10  in the collapsed position, the socket  42  of the handle  34  is slid over the deck button  44 . As the deck button  44  contacts the lip  52 , the force pushes the lip away from the deck button and thereby, moves the latch to rotate to allow the deck button to further enter the slot  36  through the socket  42 . Once the top of the deck button  44  moves past the lip  52 , the spring  50  will cause the latch to rotate towards engagement with the deck button such that the lip  52  slides under the top of the deck button to secure the handle  34  and, thereby, the frame  10  to the marine vehicle or structure to which the deck button is attached. This is the engaged position of the latch. Although the above example uses a deck button, the socket  42  and/or latch  46  could be sized and shaped to connect to a variety of structures. 
         [0037]    To release the frame from the deck button, for example, to move the frame to the deployed position, the push button  48  can be depressed causing the lip  52  to retreat from or disengage the deck button  44  and slot  36 . With the lip  52  out of the way, the handle  34  can be withdrawn from the deck button. This is the disengaged position of the latch. 
         [0038]    The handle  34  can also have a biasing member. For example, as seen in  FIGS. 6-7 , the handle includes a biasing member shown as a spring  54 . The spring  54  is wound, wrapped or positioned over the bolt that pivotally connects the strut  24  to the handle  34 . One end of the spring  54  is secured in a recess  56  formed in the back of the handle  34  and the other end of the spring is located in the strut  24 . The spring  54  urges or biases the handle towards the closed position. 
         [0039]    The contact surface  40  of the bushing  30  may also cooperate with the handle  34  and spring  54  to allow the handle to return to the closed position as the frame is being moved to the deployed position or to otherwise perform as a timing device. For example, as seen in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the contact surface  40  includes a raised edge  58 . The bottom surface  38  of the handle  34  includes an interference or protuberant  60 ,  62  at each the front and back of the bottom surface. 
         [0040]    When it is desired to move the frame  10  from the deployed position to the collapsed position, the handle  34  can be pulled away from the strut  24 . As the handle  34  is pulled away the raised edge  58  will ride along the bottom surface  38  of the handle until the raised edge reaches the rear interference  62  of the bottom surface. A slight increase in the amount of force used to pull the handle  34  forward may be required to cause the rear interference  62  to ride up, over and beyond or pass the raised edge  58 . In one embodiment, once the rear interference  62  is past the raised edge  58 , the handle  34  will be in the open position and the weight of the frame will push the strut  24  down into the tube  28  because the weight of the frame is slightly greater than the resistance provided by the gas shock  22 . As the strut  24  is pushed into the tube  28 , the spring  54  will urge the handle  34  to maintain contact with the raised edge  58 . The raised edge  58  will ride along the rear side  64  of the handle. As the strut  24  is being pushed into the tube  28 , the contact between the raised edge  58  and the rear side  64  of the handle will cause the handle to rotate away from the strut  24 . 
         [0041]    In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 7-9 , the raised edge  58  will ride the rear side  64  of the handle  34  until the raised edge reaches a depression  66  formed in the rear side  64  of the handle  34  and at least a portion of the remainder of the contact surface  40  contacts the stop surface  68  near the first end of the handle, as seen in  FIG. 7 . In this configuration, the handle  34  is in a third position or fully opened and can be placed onto the deck button  44 . In the third position, the interaction between the handle  34  and bushing  30  prevents the strut  24  from sliding further into the tube  28  and defines the amount the strut my slide within the tube. As seen in  FIGS. 2 and 7-9 , as the strut  24  slides into the tube  28 , the handle  34  will be rotated further and further out of alignment with the strut, until the handle reaches the third position, wherein the handle is generally perpendicular to the strut. 
         [0042]    When it is desired to move the frame  10  to the deployed position, the push button  48  can be depressed to release the deck button  44 . Once the deck button  44  is past the lip  52  and the frame is moved towards the deployed position, the strut  24  will be withdrawn from the tube  28 . As the strut  24  is withdrawn, the raised edge  58  will be withdrawn from the depression  66  and the spring  54  will cause the handle to maintain contact with the raised edge. The raised edge  58  will then ride along the rear side  64  of the handle  34 , as seen in  FIGS. 8-9 , until it slides around the rear interference  62 , the strut  24  enters the slot  36  and the bottom surface  38  contacts the contact surface  40 , as seen in  FIG. 4 . This returns the handle to the closed position. The bottom surface  38  of the handle  34  can also include a front or second interference  60 , to prevent the handle from being over rotated by the spring  54  thereby defining the maximum amount the spring may bias the handle. 
         [0043]    The profile of the rear side  64  of the handle  34  and contact surface  40  of the bushing  30  can be shaped and sized to accomplish many features, functions and benefits, as can the bottom surface  38 , depression  66  and stop surface  68 . For example, the rear side  64  could have a depression at a location other than the end of the handle  34  or have an increased slope if it is not desired to have as much of the strut  24  withdrawn from the tube  28  when the frame  10  is in the collapsed position. 
         [0044]    Another embodiment of a securing component is shown in  FIG. 10 . At the bottom surface  38  of the handle  34  is a bracket  70 . The bracket  70  is sized and shaped so as to be able to connect to or clip or snap onto a structure such as a rail or fence  72 . 
         [0045]    Another embodiment of a locking member for locking the support member  20 ′ in the engaged position is shown in  FIGS. 11, 13 . As seen in  FIGS. 11, 13 , the locking member includes a lever  74  that is pivotally connected to and resides partially within the strut  24 . A spring  76  is located between the bottom end of the lever  74  and the strut  24  to urge the bottom end of the lever out of the surface of the strut. 
         [0046]    To move the frame  10  from an deployed position towards the collapsed position, the bottom portion of the lever must be pressed in towards the strut  24 , against the force from the spring  76 , such that the lever  74  and strut  24  can fit within the bushing  30  and be slid down into the tube  28  as seen in  FIG. 13 . When the frame is moved from the collapsed position towards the deployed position, and the strut  24  is sufficiently extended out of the tube  28 , the spring  76  will urge the lever out of the strut  24 . Once the lever  74  is out of the strut  24 , the bottom or jam surface  78  of the lever will rest against the contact surface  40  of the bushing  30  to maintain the frame  10  in the deployed position and prevent the strut from being pushed down into the tube  28 . The support member  20 ′ could also include a bracket  80 , such as an ‘H’ bracket, similar to that described above with regards to the bracket  70  shown in  FIG. 10  to allow the frame  10  to be able to be secured in the collapsed position, such as to a rail or fence. 
         [0047]    Another embodiment of a locking member for locking the support member  20 ″ in the engaged position is shown in  FIGS. 14-15 . As seen in  FIGS. 14-15 , the locking member includes a spring locking pin  82  that is within the strut  24 . When the frame  10  is moved from the collapsed position towards the deployed position, and the strut  24  is sufficiently extended out of the tube  28 , a hole  84  will no longer be blocked by the bushing  30  or the tube  28  such that the pin  86  of the spring locking pin  82  will be urged out of the hole. Once the pin  86  is out of the strut  24 , the pin will rest against the contact surface  40  of the bushing  30  to maintain the frame  10  in the deployed position and prevent the strut from being pushed down into the tube  28  as seen in  FIG. 14 . When it is desired to move the frame  10  from the deployed position to the collapsed position, the pin  86  of the spring locking pin  82  can be pushed into the strut  24  so that the strut is free to be withdrawn into the tube  28  as seen in  FIG. 15 . The support member  20 ″ could also include a bracket  80  as previously described. 
         [0048]    Although the invention has been herein described in what is perceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments set forth above. For example, although the support member is described as being used in a frame for a marine top, the support member could be used in a variety of applications including different collapsible structures. Rather, it is recognized that modifications may be made by one of skill in the art of the invention without departing from the spirit or intent of the invention and, therefore, the invention is to be taken as including all reasonable equivalents to the subject matter of the appended claims and the description of the invention herein.