Patent Publication Number: US-9896163-B2

Title: Footing for boat cover support

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application, Ser. No. 61/390,704, filed on 7 Oct. 2010. The Provisional Patent Application is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety and is made a part hereof, including but not limited to those portions which specifically appear hereinafter. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to a footing for a support and, more particularly, to a support footing for a pole for holding up a tarp or cover, such as for a boat. 
     Boat tarps are used to protect boats from sun, rain, and animals between boat uses. The tarps are typically secured around the sides of the boat and tented in the middle through the use of one or more pole structures. One end of the pole sits on the boat deck and the opposing end lifts the boat tarp into a raised, tented position. The ends of the metal poles are often covered by simple rubber or plastic caps. While the caps protect the boat and/or tarp from the metal pole edges, poles are know to fall, such as due to wind impacting the tarp, leading to collection of water within the tarp and/or boat itself. Several mechanisms have been developed to connect, or otherwise limit slip of, the pole support with the tarp. There is an ongoing need for an improved base that holds the pole in position on the boat deck. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a footing structure for a support, such as a pole. The footing and the support are especially suited for use in supporting boat tarps, but are not intended to be so limited. The footing structure of this invention can be used with support structures of various size, shape, and function, such as with supports for tents or in other non-skid applications. 
     The general object of the invention can be attained, at least in part, through a footing for a support, comprising a base, a support receiver connected to the base, and a slit extending inwardly from an outer edge of the base. The base has an outer periphery, and the support receiver is positioned on the base within the outer periphery, such as centrally located, and the slit inwardly extends from the outer periphery, such as toward the support receiver. 
     The base and support receiver can be formed of a rigid polymer or other material, but is desirably formed of a flexible polymer material. Exemplary polymers include, without limitation, nylon, thermoplastic elastomers, polyolefins, polyurethane, thermoplastic vulcanizate, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, plastomers, polylactic acid, ploycarbonate, polyester, polyetherimide, polyethylene, polyphenylene ether, polyphthalamide, polypropylene, polystyrene, polysulfone, polyvinyl chloride, styrene-butadiene copolymer, polystyrene, silicone rubber, liquid silicone rubber, and combination thereof. The base and the support receiver can be integrally formed, such as molded as one piece from the same material. 
     The support receiver can include a recessed cup for receiving an end of the support pole. A rigid protective element can be disposed at the bottom of the recessed cup, such as to protect a softer, flexible material base from the end of the pole. 
     The recessed cup can include a recess in an inner wall of the recessed cup, wherein at least a portion of an edge of the protective element is disposed within the recess. 
     The slit can be radially positioned with respect to the base center and/or the support receiver. The slit desirably does not contact or intersect the support receiver, and can extend from the outer edge of the base a length of more than 25% of a radius of the base, and desirably a length of more than 50% of a radius of the base. 
     Other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the included drawings, and the description thereof. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of a footing according to one embodiment of this invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the footing according to  FIG. 1   
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a footing according to another embodiment of this invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a footing for a support, such as a support pole. The invention is described below with reference to a preferred use for supporting boat tarps, but is not intended to be so limited. The footing can be used with supports for other functions, such as tent poles, or covers for other vehicles. The footing of the invention can also be used to provide non-slip feet for items, such as tables, chairs, or other accessories. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  include a footing  20  according to one embodiment of this invention. The footing  20  includes a base  22  having an outer periphery  24  defined generally by outer edge  26 . The base  22  has a generally flat and/or planar bottom surface  25  and a parallel top surface  27 . Alternatively, the bottom surface can have a slight concave or rounded configuration, which can prevent cupping of the flexible base and/or provide suction on a flat surface. The bottom surface  25  can be generally smooth as shown, or include any known texture, such as for providing grip. 
     Various and alternative sizes, shapes, thicknesses, and configurations are available for the base according to this invention. In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the base  22  is generally circular, but could be other shapes including, without limitation, square, rectangular, oval, ovoid, triangular, or complex combinations of shapes, including symmetrical or asymmetrical configurations, depending on need. The diameter and thickness of the base can also vary depending on need. In one embodiment of the invention, the base has a diameter of about 3 to about 18 inches, more desirably about 6 to about 12 inches, and preferably about 8 to about 10 inches. 
     The footing includes a support receiver  30  connected to the base. The support receiver  30  functions to attach or otherwise secure the support, e.g., pole, to the base  22 . The support receiver  30  is centrally disposed on the base  22 , and is desirably integrally formed as one molded piece with the base  22 . Various and alternative sizes, shapes, and configurations are available for the support receiver, depending on need and the size, shape, and configuration of the pole to be supported. For example, the support receiver can include a female element or male element, for receiving or inserting, respectively, into a pole, and the support receiver can be threaded to coordinate with a threaded pole. 
     In one embodiment of this invention, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the support receiver  30  includes a recessed cup  32  for receiving an end of a pole. The recessed cup  32  includes an inner wall  34  that extends down toward a bottom end  35  of the cup  32 , which in this embodiment is the top surface  27  of the base  22 . The recessed cup  32 , and particularly the inner wall  34 , has a tubular configuration corresponding to a tubular shape of a pole to be fit therein. Desirably the recessed cup  32  will have an inner diameter equal to or slightly less than the outer diameter of the pole, thereby providing a friction fit to secure the pole to the footing  20 . 
     In one embodiment of this invention, the support  20  includes a protective element  40  disposed within the recessed cup  32 . The protective element  40  provides a protective layer between the material of the bottom end of the recessed cup  32  and the pole end, to reduce or eliminate wear on the footing  20  from the metal pole end. The protective element  40  is desirably a rigid material, such as hard plastic or metal. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the protective element  40  can be embodied as a metal circle or washer pressed or molded into the recessed cup  32  after molding the footing  20 . 
     In one embodiment of this invention, the recessed cup  32  includes a recessed groove  36  in the inner wall  34  of the recessed cup. The groove  36  desirably encircles the bottom surface of recessed cup  32 . A portion of the edge of the protective element  40  is disposed within the groove  36 , thereby securing the protective element  40  in place. In the particular embodiment as shown in  FIG. 2 , the placement of the protective element  40  has an added benefit of covering molding holes  42 , which can result due to injection molding techniques. 
     The base  22  and support receiver  32  can be formed separately and attached together, such as by mechanical or adhesive attachment, but are desirably integrally formed as one-piece, such as through plastic molding techniques. The base  22  and the support receiver  32  can be formed of various materials, including rigid and/or flexible polymers. Exemplary polymers include, without limitation, nylon, thermoplastic elastomers, polyolefins, polyurethane, thermoplastic vulcanizate, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, plastomers, polylactic acid, ploycarbonate, polyester, polyetherimide, polyethylene, polyphenylene ether, polyphthalamide, polypropylene, polystyrene, polysulfone, polyvinyl chloride, styrene-butadiene copolymer, polystyrene, silicone rubber, liquid silicone rubber, and combination thereof. Various fillers or colorants can optionally be added as desired and/or depending on need for functional and/or decorative purposes. 
     The footing  20  can desirably be molded from a flexible polymer material. In one embodiment of this invention, the flexible polymer material desirably has a Shore A hardness of up to about 80, and desirably about 20 to 60. The flexible polymer material of one embodiment of this invention also desirably has a higher coefficient of friction, such as at least 0.30, desirably about or greater than about 0.50, more desirably about or greater than about 0.75, and more desirably about or greater than 1.0, with materials such as plastic, fiberglass, metal, and/or gelcoat (e.g., epoxy or polyester resin) surfaces, thereby providing additional non-slip grip with the underlying surface. Forming the footing from a flexible material also can provide additional grip to the underlying surface due to vacuum forces between the flexible base and underlying surface. Providing a slightly pre-curved, concave, or domed structure for the base instead of a planar structure can also provided increased vacuum force grip. 
     The footing  20  further includes a slit  50  extending within the base  22 , from a top surface  27  to a bottom surface  25 . The slit  50  is disposed radially with respect to the support receiver  32 , but desirably is not in contact with the support receiver  32 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the slit  50  extends from the outer periphery  24  of the base  22  toward, and stopping short of, the support receiver  32 , thereby providing a “lilly pad” configuration. Various sizes, shapes, numbers, and configurations are available for the slit in the base of this invention. In one embodiment of this invention, the slit has a length of more than 25% of a radius of the base  22 , and desirably a length of more than 50% of a radius of the base  22 , such as at or more than about 75% of a radius of the base  22 . In another embodiment, the slit  50  tapers from the outer periphery to an end  54 , at which the slit  50  has a width of about 0.01 to about 0.25 inch, and more desirably from about 0.06 to about 0.13 inch. The slit  50  allows for additional functionality and flexibility during use. For example, the slit allows the footing  20  to be placed closer to objects on the surface, such as boat sidewalls, seats, motor boxes, or surface variations, by allowing the base  22  to lift on one side. More than one slit can be used to further promote this benefit. The slit  50  also can facilitate releasing any vacuum grip on the underlying surface, such as by tilting or pulling the pole in a direction toward the slit  50 . The slit  50  can also provide the base with a bending ability that allows the footing  20  to be additionally or alternatively used at the top end of the support pole, in contact with the boat tarp. 
       FIG. 3  shows a footing  60  according to another embodiment of this invention. The footing  60  has a base  62  and support receiver  70  having the general configuration discussed above, plus additional and optional features. For example the base  62  includes a circumferential ridge  64  extending downward from the bottom surface and adjacent the outer periphery  66  of the base  62 . The support receiver  70  includes a plurality of inwardly oriented, parallel ribs  72  extending from the inner surface  74 . One or more of the ribs  72  can be provided to increase the grip on the pole end within the support receiver  70 . 
     The invention provides an economical, adaptable footing for a support pole. The footing is easily molded and attachable to a support pole to provide a stable grip to surfaces such as fiberglass floors of boats. The footing can be made from a flexible, non-marking material that can adapt to variations in the underlying surface, while still providing a friction grip to the surface. 
     The invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element, part, step, component, or ingredient which is not specifically disclosed herein. 
     While in the foregoing detailed description this invention has been described in relation to certain preferred embodiments thereof, and many details have been set forth for purposes of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is susceptible to additional embodiments and that certain of the details described herein can be varied considerably without departing from the basic principles of the invention.