Abstract:
This invention generally relates to convertible tops for boats. More specifically, this invention relates to a remotely operated, automatic lift system for Bimini tops for water craft that moves the top from its down or travel position all the way to its fully extended open or up position and back down with an intermediate stop at the Radar position optional.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   Field of Invention 
   This invention generally relates to convertible tops for boats. More specifically, this invention relates to a remotely operated, automatic lift system for Bimini tops for water craft that moves the top from its down or travel position all the way to fully extended open or up position and back down with an intermediate stop at the Radar position optional. 
   PRIOR ART 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,091,484 Means 1978 discloses a collapsible boat canopy with stowage beneath a lift-up seat (not powered). U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,752 Menne 1998 shows a Bimini sun top for a pontoon boat including square aluminum tubes and extruded aluminum fittings securing the top frame to the boat side rails (not powered). U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,104 Pollen 1998 shows a frame system for a Bimini cover for a watercraft deck (not powered). U.S. Pat. No. 6,260,505 Polidan 2001 demonstrates a pontoon boat cover system with an aluminum frame that has pivot brackets that snap onto frame rails. U.S. Pat. No. 6,672,241 Warfel 2004 shows a foldable frame for a boat cover that has latching members which latch the collapsed frame members together and to the boat for travel. Finally U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,477 Biedenwig 2001 does show a powered retractable Bimini top, but it only moves between a horizontal travel or bridge clearing attitude and the Radar position (leaning backward at approximately a 60 degree angle). It can have either a center lift strut or two outboard edge struts and can be driven by either electric motor or motors or other unspecified means. 
   Means, Menne, Pollen, Polidan and Warfel Utility Patents all are directed at manually operated, collapsible boat top frames and the way they fasten to the boat, lift, latch and travel not the powered system as will be described in the following specification. Biedenwig is the only collapsible boat top system that shows a powered lift and lower assist and it only provides that assist from the horizontal position close to the deck to the radar position. 
   The Bimini type of top is frequently used on pontoon or deck boats which are often used by boaters with diminished dexterity. For many older boaters raising the top from the Radar position to the fully upright position is a more difficult task than they can handle. Modern consumers are expecting that more of their previously manual tasks will be automated and this invention satisfies that expectation by providing a quick and simple automated convertible boat top lift. 
   SUMMARY 
   The Automatic Bimini Top will raise automatically from the DOWN (horizontal travel) position all the way to the fully OPEN position without a manual stage from the RADAR (angling upward and aft at approximately a sixty degree angle) position and return it to the RADAR or DOWN position by toggling a switch at the helm. 
   In a preferred embodiment the frame is comprised of a rear bar, a front bar and two short bars made from square, round or rectangular aluminum tubes that are formed into u-shaped boat width supports for a typical Bimini top. The front bar is pivotally mounted on the rear bar behind the pivotal attachment point where the rear bar is connected to the side rails of a boat and pivotally attached midway up these bars are shorter support bars which are pulled open by the unfolding of the top, supporting the middle of the top. 
   The Automatic Bimini Top apparatus has automatic lift and lower capabilities such that the top can be raised and lowered completely without a manual intervention, utilizing a pneumatic, hydraulic or electromechanical system for the main lift and lower functions and utilizing springs between the short bars and the front and rear bars for the spring collapse assist function. In the preferred embodiment there are lift actuators on both sides of the boat which are pivotally mounted to the side rails of the boat, to raise the top from the DOWN position to the RADAR position. To complete the raising from the RADAR position, actuators attached to the curved end of the rear bar and pivotally mounted midway up the front bar, retract their actuator rods, again on both sides of the boat. 

   
     DRAWINGS 
     In order that the invention may be more fully understood it will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the Automatic Bimini Top mounted on an illustrative pontoon boat in the up or OPEN position. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the Automatic Bimini Top mounted on an illustrative pontoon boat in the RADAR position with the illustrative top cased in an illustrative travel boot. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the Automatic Bimini Top mounted on an illustrative pontoon boat in the DOWN or travel position with the illustrative top cased in an illustrative travel boot. 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of Automatic Bimini Top in the OPEN position. 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of Automatic Bimini Top in the RADAR position. 
       FIG. 6  is a side view of Automatic Bimini Top in the DOWN position. 
       FIG. 7  is a partial expanded side view showing a torsion spring assist in tension in the OPEN position and front bar actuator mount. 
       FIG. 8  is a partial expanded side view showing all four Bimini top support bars and their assist springs in the RADAR position along with the rear actuator mount. 
       FIG. 9  is a partial expanded side view showing the rear actuator pivot mount to the side rail of an illustrative pontoon boat. 
       FIG. 10  is a partial expanded side view showing the attachment of the front and rear bars, the mounting of the front actuator to the rear bar and the pivotal mounting of the rear bar to the side rail of the illustrative pontoon boat when the top is in the OPEN position. 
       FIG. 11  is a partial expanded side view showing the engagement of the front and rear bars, the mounting of the front actuator to the rear bar and the pivotal mounting of the rear bar to the side rail of an illustrative pontoon boat when the top is in the RADAR position. 
       FIG. 12  is a partial expanded side view showing the engagement of the front and rear bars, the mounting of the front actuator to the rear bar and the mounting of the rear bar to the side rail of a pontoon boat when the top is in the DOWN position. 
       FIG. 13  is a top view showing a three position toggle switch. 
       FIG. 14  is a side view of a pivot pin 
   

   REFERENCE NUMERALS 
   
       
       
         
             15 —Automatic Bimini Top 
             16 —front bar 
             18 —front bar mid-pivot 
             20 —front bar top pivot 
             22 —front short bar 
             24 —torsion assist spring 
             26 —front actuator 
             28 —front actuator bottom pivot 
             30 —rear bar 
             32 —rear short bar 
             34 —front actuator rod 
             36 —rear bar bottom pivot 
             38 —front bar bottom pivot 
             40 —typical pontoon boat 
             42 —typical Bimini Top 
             44 —toggle switch 
             46 —rear front actuator rod 
             48 —rear actuator 
             50 —rear bar mid-pivot 
             52 —rear bar top pivot 
             54 —rear actuator floating pivot 
             56 —pivot pin 
             58 —travel boot 
         
       
     
  
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings which represent and illustrate Automatic Bimini Top  15 . Automatic Bimini Top  15  can be utilized with pneumatic, hydraulic or electromechanical lift mechanisms. For illustrative purposes, a electro-mechanisal system with actuators and front actuator rods is shown in the drawings. 
   Turning to  FIG. 1 , in a perspective view, Automatic Bimini Top  15  is shown in its OPEN position. Typical Bimini top  42  in its fully open position and typical pontoon boat  40  are shown in phantom lines for illustrative purposes and form no part of this claimed invention. Toggle switch  44  is shown in an approximate location but could be mounted in any convenient location.  FIG. 2  shows Automatic Bimini Top  15  in its RADAR position and  FIG. 3  shows Automatic Bimini Top  15  in its DOWN position, both in perspective views where top  42  is encased in travel boot  58 , also shown in phantom lines and forming no part of this invention. 
   FIGS.  4 , 5  and  6  show side views of Automatic Bimini Top  15  in the three above mentioned positions from the left side of typical pontoon boat  40 . The right side views are mirror images of the left side views and both sides have a matching set of springs and lift mechanisms. 
     FIG. 4  shows expanded side views  7  and  10  in the OPEN position. It also discloses rear bar  30  with rear short bar  32  and front bar  16  pivotally attached to it with front short bar  22  pivotally connected to front bar  16 . These boat width bars are formed from square, round or rectangular aluminum tubing and the u-shapes are deep enough to provide walk-under clearance when in the OPEN position. All of the pivot brackets are u-shaped aluminum devices with standing sidewalls with sufficient space between them to slip fit the bars, the distal ends of the actuator rods and the proximal ends of the actuators that need to be pivotally attached. The side walls have aligned transverse holes that match with through holes in the bars or distal ends of the attaching shafts. These holes are sufficient in diameter to allow for insertion of conventional pivot pins  56 . The brackets are mounted to the side rails of the watercraft or to the front and rear bars with conventional attachment techniques, such as screws. This view also shows the proximal end of front actuator  26  mounted to end of rear bar  30  and the distal end of rear actuator  48  pivotally attached to the side rail of a typical pontoon boat shown in phantom lines. Rear actuator rod  46  is shown in its fully extended state. 
     FIG. 5  shows expanded side views  8 ,  9  and  11  in the RADAR position. This view shows front actuator rod  34  extended which has forced Automatic Bimini Top  15  into its RADAR position. 
     FIG. 6  shows expanded side view  12  in the DOWN position where rear actuator rod  46  has retracted pulling the collapsed assembly down parallel with the deck of the boat. 
     FIG. 7  shows a 10× partial side view of torsion assist springs  24  under tension between front bar  16  and front short bar  22  pulling them radially together, pivoting about front bar top pivot  20  from the fully open position. Torsion assist springs  24  are shown here but any conventional compression, air or gas springs could be utilized. Front actuator rod  34  is shown retracting into front actuator  26  and pivotally attached to front bar  16  at front bar mid-pivot  18 . 
     FIG. 8  shows a 10× partial side view of bars  16 ,  22 ,  30  and  32  in their RADAR state with all four torsion assist springs  24  in their contracted state. This view also shows rear bar top pivot  52  which pivotally connects rear bar  30  and rear short bar  32  and rear piston  46  pivotally attached to rear bar  30  at rear bar mid-pivot  50 . 
     FIG. 9  shows the top of rear actuator  48  pivotally mounted to the side rail for typical pontoon boat  40  at rear actuator floating pivot  54 . The proximal end of rear actuator  48  is allowed to swing freely as rear actuator rod  46  is retracted into rear actuator  48 . 
     FIG. 10  is a 10× partial side view showing the curve or bend in the bottom of rear bar  30  and how it is pivotally mounted to the side rail of typical pontoon boat  40  at rear bar bottom pivot  36  when Automatic Bimini Top  15  is in its OPEN position. It also shows front bar  16  pivotally mounted to rear bar  30  at front bar bottom pivot  38 . This view also shows the pivotal mounting of front actuator  26  to the end of rear bar  30  at front actuator bottom pivot  28 . 
     FIG. 11  is a 10× partial side view of the same area when Automatic Bimini Top  15  is in the RADAR position. In this RADAR position, rear actuator rod  46  is still extended and the bottom of the foot of rear bar  30  is still in contact with the top of the side rail of typical pontoon boat  40 . 
     FIG. 12  is a 10× partial side view of the same area when Automatic Bimini Top  15  is in the DOWN or parallel to the deck position. Rear actuator  48  has now retracted rear actuator rod  46 , causing rear bar  30  to rock back around rear bar bottom pivot  36  allowing Automatic Bimini Top  15  to be completely lowered for passing under low bridges or stowed for trailer travel. 
     FIG. 13  shows a typical three position (OPEN, RADAR and DOWN) rocker switch which can be mounted in any convenient location. 
   When a boater travels his boat  40 , typically the top frame is collapsed down and is parallel to the deck and the folded top  42  is wrapped or contained in a travel case or boot  58 . When a boat with the Automatic Bimini Top  15  is unloaded into the water, switch  44  is toggled from the DOWN position to the RADAR position. This causes rear actuators  48  located on both sides of the boat to extend their rear actuator rods  46  upward pivoting the whole frame assembly upwards to the RADAR position, approximately sixty degrees about the rear bar bottom pivots  36  which are attached to the side rails of the boat. The ends of rear bar  30  are bent upward at approximately sixty degrees and are pivotally mounted to the side rails above the sixty degree bends at rear bar bottom pivot  36 . The forward extensions from pivot  36  are forced to lay parallel and coincident with the top of the side rails and act as a stop when the frame is rotated up to its RADAR position. If top  42  is required to be raised to its OPEN position for shade or protection from inclement weather, boot  58  is removed from folded top  42 . Switch  44  is toggled to the OPEN position causing front actuators  26  mounted on both ends of rear bar  30  to retract, pulling front bar  16  pivotally forward, allowing fabric pockets in top  42  encasing the tops of short front bar  22 , short rear bar  32 , front bar  16  and rear bar  30  or other standard attachment means to pull short bars  22  and  32  away from the front bar  16  and rear bar  30  respectively, creating a four bar support under a typical Bimini top  42 . 
   When top  42  is to be returned to the RADAR position for optimum running, switch  44  is toggled back to the RADAR position which causes front actuators  26  to extend their actuator rods  34 , rotating front bar  16  backward. The short bars collapse parallel to each other with the aid of torsion assist springs  24 . When boat  40  is again to be trailered or if boat  42  needs to go under a low clearance bridge, switch  44  is toggled to the DOWN position and rear actuators rods  46  are both retracted, pivoting the whole frame assembly back to parallel with the deck. 
   The preceding descriptions are for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of this invention. One skilled in these fabrication arts will see many options for materials, driver systems, springs and controls combinations that fit within the scope of this invention. The scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims rather than by the specific examples given.