Abstract:
A fastener cover capable of covering exposed studs on a boat contains a padded portion having a top surface and a bottom surface and at least one socket sized to couple to an exposed stud. The socket is located on the bottom surface of the padded portion, so that when the fastener cover is attached to the exposed stud, the stud is covered by the padded portion.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is generally related to covers, and more particularly is related to a fastener cover. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   When a boat  100  is not in use, boat covers  102  are often used to protect passenger areas of the boat from exposure to the elements, as shown in  FIG. 1A . The boat covers  102  generally attach to a perimeter of the hull  104  and provide a barrier between the interior of the hull  104  and the outside environment. During use of the boat  100 , the boat cover  102  is removed and stored for later use as shown in  FIG. 1B . After use of the boat  100 , the boat cover  102  is put back in place. 
   The boat cover  102  couples to the hull  104  of the boat  100  with fasteners  106 , typically around the perimeter of the hull  104  or regions covered by the boat cover  102  (i.e., the bow or stern portion). A variety of fasteners  106  can be used to attach the boat cover  102  to the hull  104  of the boat  100 . One example is a snap fastener  200  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The snap fastener  200  allows the user to easily snap or unsnap the boat cover  102  to the hull  104  of the boat  100 . The snap fastener  200  has a stud  202  coupled to the hull  104  by a screw, rivet, or bolt. A socket  204  is coupled to the boat cover  102  by a cap  206 . Of course, the socket  204  and cap  206  may be one piece. The socket  204  fits over the stud  202  and is pressed down onto the stud  202 . The snap fastener  200  provides a friction fit that holds the socket  204  to the stud  202 . 
   Another example of a fastener  106  used to couple a boat cover  102  to the hull  104  of the boat  100  is an eyelet fastener  300 .  FIG. 3A  is an elevation view and  FIG. 3B  is a top view of the eyelet fastener  300 . The eyelet fastener  300  has a stud  302  with a head  304  that is broader than the body  306  of the stud  302 . The boat cover  102  has several eyelets  308  around the perimeter of the boat cover  102 . Each eyelet  308  has an eyelet opening  310  that is sized to be specially positioned in order to fit over the head  304  of the stud  302 . When the eyelet  308  is positioned over the head  304  of the stud  302  and on the body  306  of the stud  302 , the eyelet  308  is secured to the stud  302  and prevented from slipping over the broader head  304  of the stud  302 . 
   The fasteners  106  used to couple the boat cover  102  to the hull  104  are not limited to the two examples discussed above. A variety of other types of fasteners  106  can be used. However, the fasteners  106  used to couple boat covers  102  to their respective hulls  104  often leave the stud  202 ,  302  of the fastener  106  exposed when the boat cover  102  is not in place. This can produce a hazard to individuals on or near the boat. Accidental contact with the studs  202 ,  302  can cause abrasions, cuts, and bruises. Additionally, clothing and inflatable water toys can be ripped or punctured by the studs  202 ,  302 . 
   Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In one aspect, the invention features a fastener cover used to cover exposed studs on a boat, thereby protecting individuals near or on the boat from any potential injury that may be caused by brushing against an exposed stud. The fastener cover contains a padded portion having a top surface and a bottom surface and at least one socket sized to couple to an exposed stud, where the socket is located on the bottom surface of the padded portion, so that when the fastener cover is attached to the exposed stud, the stud is covered by the padded portion. 
   Other features and advantages of the present invention will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
       FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a boat with a boat cover on the bow of the boat. 
       FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of a boat without the boat cover. 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of a snap fastener. 
       FIG. 3A  is a side elevation view of an eyelet fastener. 
       FIG. 3B  is a top planar view of the eyelet fastener. 
       FIG. 4A  is a side elevation view of a fastener cover utilizing snap fasteners. 
       FIG. 4B  is a side elevation view of a fastener cover utilizing eyelet fasteners. 
       FIG. 4C  is a side elevation view of the fastener cover utilizing snap fasteners uncoupled from studs. 
       FIG. 4D  is a side elevation view of the fastener cover utilizing eyelet fasteners uncoupled from the studs. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a boat with the fastener covers installed. 
       FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of the fastener cover displaying a second exemplary construction of the padded portion. 
       FIG. 7  is a side elevation view of the fastener cover according to a second exemplary embodiment for mounting the fastener cover. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring to  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B,  4 C, and  4 D, the present invention provides a fastener cover  402  that may be coupled to studs  202 ,  302  located on a boat  100  when a boat cover  102  is not fastened to the studs  202 ,  302 . The fastener cover  402  protects individuals, such as passengers, that are near or on the boat from contacting the studs  202 ,  302 . The present disclosure provides the fastener cover  402  coupled to the studs  202 ,  302  on the hull  104  of the boat  100 . It should be noted, however, that the studs  202 ,  302  may be located at different locations on the boat. The fastener cover  402  provides a padded surface to protect boat passengers from contact with the studs  202 ,  302 . Specifically, the padded surface of the fastener cover  402  provides a surface that passengers can rest against without being scratched or poked by the studs  202 ,  302 . 
   It should be noted that while the present description provides for use of the fastener cover  402  on a boat, the fastener cover  402  may be used on other vehicles or objects where a stud  202 ,  302  is left exposed after removal of a cover. 
     FIG. 4A  is a side elevation view of the fastener cover  402  coupled to studs  202  and  FIG. 4C  is a side elevation view of the fastener cover  402  uncoupled from the studs  202 . Referring to  FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4C , the fastener cover  402  has a padded portion  404  coupled to one or more sockets  204 . The sockets  204  are sized to couple to the studs  202  on the hull  104  of the boat  100 . The padded portion  404 , according to a first exemplary embodiment, is made of a semi-rigid foam, rubber, or other material. The padded portion  404  has a top surface  406  and a bottom surface  408 . The top surface  406  provides a smooth, soft surface for contact with passengers of the boat  100 . As an example, the top surface  406  may be fabricated from weather treated leather, vinyl, or plastic. An edge of the padded portion  404  can be rounded to prevent ropes and clothing from catching to the padded portion  404 . The bottom surface  408  has one or more sockets  204  coupled to the bottom surface  408  for allowing a stud  202  to fit therein. 
   The sockets  204  can be coupled to the bottom surface  408  of the padded portion  404  by using a variety of methods. For example, the sockets  204  can be riveted to the bottom surface  408 . The sockets  204  can also be coupled to the bottom surface  408  with glue or an adhesive. In addition, a cap (not shown) specifically made for the socket  204  can be used to couple the padded portion  404  to the socket  204 . The above-described methods of coupling the socket  204  to the padded portion  404  are exemplary. A variety of other methods can be used and are within the scope of the invention. 
   When the user of the boat  100  is finished using the boat  100 , the boat user typically prepares the boat  100  for storage or road travel. During such preparation, the user may remove the fastener cover  402 . During removal of the fastener cover  402 , the boat user unsnaps the sockets  204  of the fastener cover  402  from the studs  202  on the hull  104  of the boat  100 . Specifically, the boat user pulls the sockets  204  away from the studs  202  on the hull  104 , thereby unsnapping the fastener cover  402  from the boat  100 . 
   The sockets  204  displayed in  FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4C  are snap fastener  200  type sockets  204 , however, a variety of other couplings can be used with the fastener covers  402 . For example, as is illustrated by  FIG. 4B  and  FIG. 4D , eyelet fasteners  300  can be used with the fastener cover  402  to couple the fastener cover  402  to a hull  104  that uses eyelet fasteners  300  to couple the boat cover  102  to the hull  104  of the boat  100 . Referring to  FIG. 4D , the eyelets  308  can be coupled to the bottom surface  408  of the padded portion  404  similar to the sockets  204 , as discussed above. 
   If eyelet fasteners  300  are used, as shown in  FIG. 4B  and  FIG. 4D , the boat user positions the eyelet opening  310  to fit over the head  304  of the studs  302  on the hull  104 . Once the fastener covers  402  are removed from the hull  104 , the fastener covers  402  can be stored for later use. The boat cover  102  can then be installed on the boat  100  by coupling the eyelets  308  on the boat cover  102  to the studs  302  on the hull  104  of the boat  100 . 
   The fastener cover  402  is not limited to using snap fasteners  200  or eyelet fasteners  300 . A variety of different types of fasteners  106  can be used to couple the fastener cover  402 , each of which is within the scope of the invention. 
     FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the boat  100  with the fastener covers  402  installed on the hull  104  of the boat  100 . The fastener covers  402  can be constructed in a variety of shapes. The fastener covers  402 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , have a rounded top profile, however, the fastener covers  402  can have a variety of profiles. For example, the fastener covers  402  can have a rectangular profile. The fastener cover  402  can be used to couple to one stud  202 ,  302  or multiple studs  202 ,  302  on the hull  104  of the boat  100 . 
   The fastener cover  402  can also be designed to have a variety of shapes that do not obstruct access to a variety of other equipment attached to the hull  104  of the boat  100 . For example, the fastener cover  402  can be designed to allow access to cleats  502  or deck hand rails (not shown) on the hull  104  of the boat  100 . The fastener covers  402  can also be designed to allow visibility of marine travel lights  504 . The fastener cover  402  can be shaped to provide an aesthetically pleasing look for the boat  100 . In addition, a single fastener cover  402  may be provided that is capable of coupling to all studs  202 ,  302  on the boat  100 . In such an embodiment, the fastener cover  402  may be elongated and have a shape similar to that of a semi-circle, or, if studs  202 ,  302  are located around the entire boat, the fastener cover  402  may be elongated and have a shape similar to that of an oval. 
   The shape of the fastener covers  402  is not limited to the shapes discussed above. A variety of fastener cover  402  shapes can be used and are within the scope of the invention. The fastener covers  402  are also not limited to being located in the bow of the boat  100 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . The fastener covers  402  can also be used on studs  202 ,  302  that may be located on the stern of the boat  100 , if a boat cover  102  is capable of attaching to the stern of the boat  100  via rear located studs  202 ,  302 . Such rear located studs  202 ,  302  are located on the boat  100  for allowing the boat cover  102  to attached to the rear located studs  202 ,  302  and cover a rear portion of the boat  100 . 
     FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of the fastener cover  402  displaying a second exemplary construction of the padded portion  404 . According to the second exemplary construction, the fastener cover  402  has a top surface  406  made of a sheet of vinyl, leather, fabric, outdoor carpet, or other material. A bottom surface  408  also is made of a similar sheet of material. Sockets  204 , eyelets  308 , or other fasteners are coupled to the bottom surface  408  as discussed above. A padding material  602  is sandwiched between the top surface  406  and bottom surface  408 . The padding material  602  can be a variety of materials, for example, but not limited to, foam, rubber pad, batting, upholstery filler, or other padded material. The materials of the top surface  406  and bottom surface  408  are coupled together around the perimeter of the fastener cover  402 . Stitching  604  can be used to couple the top surface  406  and the bottom surface  408 . In addition, staples or other coupling methods can be used couple the material of the top surface  406  and bottom surface  408 . 
     FIG. 7  is a side elevation view of the fastener cover  402  according to a second exemplary embodiment for mounting the fastener cover  402 . According to the second exemplary embodiment for mounting the fastener cover  402 , the sockets  204  or eyelets  308  ( FIG. 7  shows the sockets) can be mounted within the padded portion  404 . The second exemplary embodiment for mounting the fastener cover  402  to the padded portion  404  allows the bottom surface  408  of the padded portion  404  to rest snuggly against the hull  104  of the boat  100 . The socket  204  or eyelet  308  is not limited to being coupled to the padded portion  404  as discussed above. The socket  204  can be coupled partially within or on the bottom surface  408  of the padded portion  404 . 
   It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present invention, particularly, are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present invention and protected by the following claims.