Abstract:
A convertible cover for pontoon boats comprises a fabric or cloth cover attached to a set of runners. The invention utilizes a track system on both sides of the boat with round runners. Sliding supports with three glide wheels each ride along these runners and match with an equal runner on the opposite side of the boat. The runners glide along a track guide system mounted onto the handrails of the pontoon boat. The cover glides along the track when manipulated by the user and enables the user to effectively and quickly cover the pontoon boat during storage or other times of inactivity. To remove the cover, it is simply pushed backwards where all supports and the tarp are stored at the rear. To deploy, it is simply pulled by a strap to completely and automatically cover the whole boat.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present invention was first described in U.S. Provisional Patent No. 60/748,309, filed on Dec. 8, 2005. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to protective covers for water vessels and, more particularly, to a manually-operated retractable cover assembly for protecting pontoon boats during non-operating conditions. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Boating remains one of the favorite pastimes and hobbies for many people. However, as anyone who has ever owned or maintained a boat can attest, they take a great deal of time and money. Much of this time is spent either deploying or removing covers on the boat during periods of non-use. Whether for long term winter storage, or short term storage lasting only a few days, the act of deploying a cover takes a good deal of time. In fact, many boaters skip the covers for short periods of time because they feel it is not simply worth it, which leads to premature aging of the boat and a corresponding decrease in value. Accordingly, there is a need for a means by which boat covers, specifically for pontoon boats can be quickly and easily deployed by one person, no matter how short the storage duration lasts. 
   Several attempts have been made in the past to develop a manually-operated retractable cover assembly for protecting pontoon boats during non-operating conditions. U.S. Pat. No. 6,260,505 in the name of Polidan discloses a cover system for a pontoon boat having a rail. The cover system includes a framework for receiving a flexible material cover thereon. The framework has hollow end fittings engageable to brackets. Each bracket has a “U”-shaped configuration with inwardly projected protuberances along lateral ends to grasp the underside of the rail. The bracket has a center section between two lateral sections and the center section has a vertically extending portion thereon configured for being received into an end fitting. Unfortunately, this prior art example requires the structure to be affixed to the rails of the pontoon boat in a manner that does not allow the canopy to be moved in a telescoping manner. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,139 in the name of King, et al discloses a boat canopy which can be removeably mounted onto the gunwales of a boat, and which can be adjusted forward and backward into various positions. The canopy comprises a canvas top and a plurality of bows which are assembled as one piece, a plurality of leg supports, a plurality of clamps which clamp onto the gunwales, and a plurality of quick-disconnect pins which allow for easy assembly and disassembly. Unfortunately, this prior art example rises to a distance above a boat that does not allow the boat to be maneuvered beneath structures with low openings. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,807 in the name of Lewis describes a lightweight, potentially expendable, temporary canopy assembly for small open type watercraft. The thin resilient battens are interconnected in the form of a bowed longitudinal ridge member having a plurality of shorter length, transversely disposed, longitudinally spaced, bowed rib members connected therewith, with the free ends of the battens, inserted through “D”-ring type attachment means provided on the inner periphery of the watercraft, while exerting frictional tension against the craft&#39;s gunwales areas. A flexible Nylon type cover comprised of selectively joinable half sections is used as the protective canopy. It uses preferably complementally mateable hooks and loops type manual fastener means, such as Velcro®-complemental fastener strips, to provide the selective attachment and detachment of the two halves over the bowed center ridge member, and also to detachably secure the canopy perimeter portions to the gunwale areas. The canopy half portions are adapted to be furled down from the center ridge and retained against the side gunwale areas by overlaid portions of a preexisting gunwale area peripherally extended safety line or cargo tie down rope. Unfortunately, this prior art example is not suitable for attachment to existing rails found on pontoon-type boats, and does not operate in a telescoping fashion. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,612 in the name of Elsholz discloses a portable shelter that provides protection for users of an individual float tube or a pontoon style kick board. The shelter comprises a covering having transparent front panels, transparent side and rear panels, and translucent or opaque lower front panels, side panels and rear panels. A flexible longitudinal rod and transverse rod maintain the dome-like configuration of the shelter. It is easily mounted on the top surface of the tube by using the straps and side straps and by inserting the transverse rod into side pockets that are in turn inserted between the handles and the tube. A rear strap and side straps further secure the shelter to the tube. The front flaps open to provide access for fishing, hunting, photography, and the like, or they may be zipped shut for protection from the elements and greater concealment. Unfortunately, this prior art example is designed for use with individual sized floatation devices, and is not suitable for attachment to pontoon sized boats. 
   None of the prior art particularly describes a manually-operated retractable cover assembly for protecting pontoon boats during non-operating conditions. Accordingly, there is a need for an assembly which provides such features while overcoming the above-noted shortcomings. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, it has been observed that there is need for a manually-operated retractable cover assembly for protecting pontoon boats during non-operating conditions. 
   A protective assembly for covering a pontoon boat includes a cover suitably sized and shaped for covering an entire top surface of the pontoon boat and a track guiding system secured to the top surface of the pontoon boat. Such a cover is operably coupled to the track guiding system, which is essential such that a user can readily adapt the cover between extended and retracted positions. The telescoping element of the cover allows a user to expose only that portion of the boat desired by selectively extending or retracting the cover as needed. The cover includes a plurality of sleeves concentrically positioned about the support poles respectively, and a flexible strap located on a leading edge of the cover, which is necessary for thereby enabling a user to advantageously manipulate the cover and the support poles along the track guides and into a desired position. Such sleeves run widthwise from side to side on a bottom surface of the cover and extend along an entire width of the pontoon boat, which is vital such that the cover encloses an entire top surface of the pontoon boat when in the extended position. 
   Such a track guiding system includes a plurality of track guides statically mounted to port and starboard handrails of the pontoon boat, and a plurality of runner assemblies slidably and telescopically adapted along the track guides when the cover is biased to the extended and retracted positions. Such runner assemblies remain spaced above the port and starboard handrails of the pontoon boat, which is important such that the cover is smoothly biased between extended and retracted positions without being impeded by the handrails. The runner assemblies maintain direct communication with the track guides, without the use of intervening elements, which is critical such that the cover is advantageously prohibited from undesirably oscillating along a travel path defined non-parallel to respective longitudinal lengths of the track guides respectively. Such prevention of undesirable oscillating allows the cover to be smoothly extended and retracted along the guide tracks without the cover bunching and twisting about the runner assemblies. 
   The track guide system further includes a plurality of track guide mounts directly coupled to the track guides and the port and starboard handrails respectively, without the use of intervening elements, and a plurality of runner stops directly coupled to opposed ends of the track guides, respectively, without the use of intervening elements. Such runner stops maintain the track guides statically attached to the port and starboard handrails respectively and prevent the runner assemblies from becoming undesirably disengaged from the track guides during extending and retracting procedures. Each of the track guides have linear longitudinal lengths extending parallel to the port and starboard handrails respectively, which is vital such that the cover extends along an entire length of the pontoon boat in the extended position. The track guide mounts are juxtaposed along the longitudinal length of the track guides and extend downwardly therefrom, which is crucial such that the track guide mounts do not interfere with the runner assemblies as the runner assemblies are linearly biased along the track guides. 
   Each of the runner assemblies includes a runner cover that has a triangular shape provided with opposed corners equidistantly spaced from a center thereof. A plurality of wheels is rotatably coupled to the opposed corners respectively, and a support pole is directly attached to a top one of the opposed corners, without the use of intervening elements. Each of the support poles has opposed ends directly coupled to a corresponding one of the runner assemblies, without the use of intervening elements, and are coextensively shaped and extend along an entire width of the pontoon boat. 
   First and second ones of the wheels are directly engaged with a bottom surface of the track guides and a third one of the wheels runs on top of the track guides respectively, without the use of intervening elements, which is vital such that the runner assemblies are advantageously prohibited from oscillating along a non-parallel direction to the track guide. This allows the runner assemblies to be smoothly biased along the track guides while the cover is retracted and extended respectively. Each of the runner assemblies further includes an anchoring clamp maintaining the cover at a substantially stable position with respect to the track guides. Such an anchoring clamp has a clamshell shape firmly clamping between an associated one of the track guides and the support poles respectively. 
   The low height of the cover while in use combined with the telescoping element of the assembly provides the unexpected benefits of allowing a user to move a covered boat beneath low hanging obstacles, and to expose only a selected portion of the top surface of a boat as desired, thereby overcoming prior art shortcomings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the convertible cover for pontoon boats  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the convertible cover for pontoon boats  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a close-up view of the track guide system  20  of the convertible cover for pontoon boats  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a close-up view of the sleeves  15  for the convertible cover for pontoon boats  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a close-up view of the runner assembly  30  of the convertible cover for pontoon boats  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
       FIG. 6  is a close-up view of the anchoring clamp  28  portion of the convertible cover for pontoon boats  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
   
       
       
         
             10  convertible cover for pontoon boats 
             11  boat 
             12  handrail 
             13  cover 
             14  strap 
             15  sleeves 
             16  tie downs 
             20  track guide system 
             21  track guide 
             26  track guide mount 
             27  runner stops 
             28  anchoring clamp 
             30  runner assembly 
             32  runner cover 
             33  wheel 
             34  cover support pole 
         
       
     
  
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 6 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
   The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
   The present invention describes an apparatus and method for a convertible covering device for pontoon boats  10  (herein described as the “apparatus”)  10  by providing a means to quickly and effectively cover a pontoon boat. The apparatus  10  comprises a fabric or cloth cover  13  attached to a set of runner assemblies  30  and, more particularly, runner assemblies  30  that glide along a track guide  21  mounted onto the handrails  12  of the pontoon boat  11 . The apparatus  10  when manipulated by the user provides quick and effective covering of said pontoon boat  11  as needed. The apparatus  10  is envisioned to be made up of materials that are both durable and resistant to corrosion resulting from exposure to salt water. The apparatus  10  can be easily reconfigured and manufactured to fit a variety of pontoon boats with differing lengths and widths. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The apparatus  10  comprises the cover  13 , runner assemblies  30 , track guides  21 , and track guide mounts  26 . The cover  13  comprises sleeves  15  and a strap  14 . The cover  13  is envisioned to be made of heavy-duty and weather-resistant materials, such as, but not limited to, vinyl, canvas, plastics, and the like. The cover  13  is further envisioned to be manufactured in a variety of sizes to fit most conventional pontoon boats  11 . The cover  13  is affixed to the aft of the boat  11  and held stationary via an anchoring clamp  28 . The sleeves  15  run widthwise from side to side on the bottom surface of the cover  13 . The strap  14  is envisioned to be located on the leading edge of the cover  13  and enables the user to manipulate the cover  13  along the track guides  21  and into the desired position. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. Illustrated herein is the cover  13  in a stored position at the aft end of the pontoon boat  11 . With the cover  13  in the stored position, two (2) or more tie downs  16  are used to secure the cover  13 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a close-up view of the track guide system  20  of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The track guide system  20  of the apparatus  10  is illustrated, comprising at least two (2) track guides  21 , support mounts  26 , runner stops  27 , runner assemblies  30 , and anchoring clamps  28 . The track guides  21  can be made of, but are not limited to, solid bar stock or hollow metal pipes to minimize the weight of the track system. The length of the track guides  21  can be easily customized and are envisioned to be at least as long as the handrails  12  of the boat  11  and are mounted on both port and starboard handrails  12  via the track guide mounts  26 . 
   It is envisioned that, multiple track guide sections  21  may be mounted where there are port or starboard side doors included as part of the handrail  12 . The track guide mounts  26  are envisioned to be anchored equidistantly along the track guide  21  at various distances, envisioned to be, approximately three (3) to four (4) feet. The track guide mounts  26  are affixed to the handrail  12  and the track guide  21  by attachment methods, such as, but not limited to, screws, bolts, rivets, and the like. The track guide mounts  26  are envisioned to be, but not limited to, an “Z”-shaped design and can be fabricated using such resilient material as, but not limited to, angle iron, stainless steel, or the like. The track guide mounts  26  are envisioned to be affixed to the track guide  21  using such attachment methods as, but not limited to, welds, screws, bolts, and the like. The track guide mounts  26  are further envisioned to be designed such that they do not interfere with the runner assemblies  30  as they move along the track guides  21 . At the extreme ends of the track guides  21  runner stops  27  are provided and mounted to the handrail  12  to prevent the runner assemblies  30  from being detached from the track guides  21 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a close-up view of the sleeves  15  portion of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The sleeves  15  run widthwise from side to side of the cover  13 . The sleeves  15  comprise a sewn-in type of construction with the sleeve  15  protruding from the bottom surface of the cover  13 . The sleeves  15  are envisioned to be made of, but not limited to, the same durable and lightweight material as the cover  13 . The sleeves  15  are further envisioned to be sized to receive the cover support poles  34 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a close-up view of the runner assembly  30  portion of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The viewing angle for  FIG. 5  is from the interior of the boat  11  looking outward, showing the configuration of the runner assembly  30 . The runner assembly comprises a runner cover  32 , three (3) wheels  33 , and cover support pole  34 . The runner cover  32  is envisioned to be triangular in shape with rounded corners and three (3) wheels  33  affixed in the corners of the runner cover  32  such that they may rotate freely. The wheels are envisioned such that two (2) wheels  33  run below the track guide  21  and a third wheel  33  runs on top of the track guide  21 . 
   The wheels  33  are further envisioned to capture the track guide  21  from the top and bottom in such a way as to control any relative motion not parallel to the track guide  21 . The wheels  33  are also envisioned to be sized large enough to engage the track guide  21  and bridge any gap between two (2) track guide sections  21  while in travel and also to ride over the track guide mounts  26  without interference or travel interruption. The wheels  33  are also envisioned to contain integral bearings to allow relatively frictionless rotation along the track guide  21 . 
   In one (1) corner of the runner assembly  30  is a cover support pole  34 ′ that supports the cover  13 . The cover support pole  34  is envisioned to be inserted into a female feature contained in the runner cover design  32 . The cover support pole  34  extends outward and when properly oriented, stands directly upward from the top corner of the runner cover  32  adjacent to the top wheel  33 . All the components of the runner assembly  30  including the cover support pole  34  are envisioned to be made of materials that are resilient, durable, lightweight, and resistant to corrosion resulting from exposure to salt water, and such. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a close-up view of the anchoring clamp  28  portion of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The anchoring clamp  28  provides a stationary end for the cover  13  during installation and storage at the aft end of the pontoon boat. The anchoring clamp  28  is envisioned to be of a clamshell design to act as a firm clamp between the track guide  21  and the cover support pole  34  in the aft position. 
   It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
   The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the apparatus  10 , it would be installed as indicated in  FIG. 1 . 
   The method of installing the apparatus  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: mounting the track guide mounts  26  by attaching to both the port and starboard handrails  12  at equidistant intervals; determining whether or not there are doors or other breaks in the handrail  12 , thereby determining the correct number and length of track guide sections  21  needed; sizing and attaching track guide sections  21  to the track guide mounts  26 ; rolling the runner assemblies  30  onto the track guide  21  taking care to insure proper orientation of the runner assemblies  30 ; mounting and installing the runner stops  27  at the fore and aft ends of the track guides  21 ; installing the anchoring clamps  28  at the aft end of the track guides  21 ; affixing the cover  13  to the stationary cover support pole  34  located at the aft of the pontoon boat using the sleeves  15  and anchoring clamps  28 ; affixing the cover  13  to the remaining cover support poles  34  via insertion into the sleeves  15 ; grasping the strap  14  and walking toward the fore of the boat  11 , allowing the runner assemblies  30  to roll among the track guides  21  and carry the cover  13  over the entire pontoon boat  11 . At this point the apparatus  10  is properly installed. 
   The method of uncovering the boat  11  and storing the apparatus  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: grasping the strap  14  and walking from the fore to the aft thereby allowing the runner assemblies  30 , the cover  13 , and the support poles  34  to travel down the track guide  21  to the stationary end of the apparatus  10  much like an automobile convertible cover; securing the cover  13  with tie-downs  16  to prevent the cover  13  from unwanted travel towards the fore of the boat  11 . 
   An alternative embodiment of the present invention  10  comprises an additional fabric skirt applied to the entire perimeter of the cover  13  to provide additional protection of the pontoon boat  11 . 
   The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.