Abstract:
A boat propeller cover ( 10 ) has a housing (20) that surrounds the propeller while affixed to the propeller shaft, and provides a protective case for the propeller when it is removed from the shaft.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The field of the invention is boats.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Substantially all boats have propellers. When a boat is not in use, the propellers can be either left on the boat or removed and stored separately. In both these instances, the propellers need to be protected for at least two reasons. First, the propeller blades are sharp and may cut someone. Second, the propeller blades may become damaged if they are not protected when not in use.  
         [0003]     Additionally, propellers are often carried from place to place. One reason may be to have several different types and sizes of propellers to accommodate changing boating conditions. Because propellers that are being carried can be damaged, and the blades can cut people, a carrying case for boat propellers is needed that also provides a protection function.  
         [0004]     Three general types of boat propeller covers are known. The first type includes individual covers that fit over each of the blades of a propeller. However, this type of cover does not eliminate the dangers associated with propellers because the individual blade covers can easily be lost or misplaced, defeating the whole purpose of the cover. Furthermore, the covered propeller does not make it much easier to carry because this type of cover does not immobilize the moving parts of the propeller.  
         [0005]     The second type of cover is a simple box-type cover that encloses the propeller. I-or example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,345 to Adams, Jr. (September 1993) teaches a cover that is made of a non-flexible material. Although this type of cover protects against the dangers associated with exposed sharp blades, carrying the propeller is difficult because the non-flexible material makes this type of cover is difficult to grasp and hold. This is especially true when the cover encloses a large propeller. Also, the shape of this type of cover may be unwieldy.  
         [0006]     The third type of propeller cover is a complex box-type cover with additional protruding pockets. U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,064 to Morton (November 2000), for example, teaches a propeller cover that includes a flexible sleeve into which buoyant material is placed. The pockets may have various advantages, but they make the even more difficult and unwieldy to carry.  
         [0007]     Thus, there is still a need for a propeller cover that (1) protects the blades both when the propeller is connected to the drive shaft and when the propeller is being carried; and (2) is relatively easy to carry.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The present invention is directed to a boat propeller cover having a housing that surrounds the propeller while it is affixed to the shaft, functions as a protective carrying case for the propeller when it is detached from the shaft, and has carrying handles that ease transport of the propeller.  
         [0009]     With respect to the housing, the size and dimension can vary according to the size and dimension of the propeller. It is preferred, however, that the housing snugly encloses the propeller. The housing is preferably made of a closed cell fabric, but can be made of any suitable material. A pocket may advantageously be included inside the housing.  
         [0010]     Preferred housings have an opening that is configurable between a open and closed conformation. When the opening is in the open conformation, the opening is large enough to allow the cover to be placed around the propeller. When the opening is in the closed conformation, the opening is large enough to fit snugly over the drive shaft. Velcro® or other closure mechanisms can be used to adjust the size of the opening.  
         [0011]     The handles are preferably long enough to carry easily and comfortably, which in most cases, would be greater than 6 inches. The handles are made of a flexible fabric or any other suitable material that is easily grasped and comfortable to carry. It is advantageous that the handles are positioned on either side of the opening so that the propeller cover is balanced.  
         [0012]     Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a propeller cover, in which the opening is in a open conformation.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the propeller cover of  FIG. 1 , in which the opening is in a closed conformation.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the propeller cover of  FIG. 1  installed on a boat propeller. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]      FIG. 1  generally depicts a propeller cover  10  having a housing  20 , a space  30  sized and dimensioned to receive a propeller, and handles  40  and  40 A. The housing  20  has an opening  50  that is configurable between a open and closed conformation so that in the open conformation the cover fits around a propeller, and in the closed conformation, the opening fits snugly around a drive shaft. Each of these is discussed in detail below.  
         [0017]     Housing  20  may be made of any suitable material that is durable, water-resistant, strong, rust proof, or light-weight. For example, the housing  20  can advantageously comprise closed cell fabric, but may be made of any other suitable material including flexible material, flexible plastic, heavy plastic, wood, or aluminum.  
         [0018]     Housing  20  is preferably a truncated cone because it easily receives and snugly encloses a propeller and that can easily be carried, but all practical shapes are contemplated. The size and dimensions of the housing  20  can vary according to the size and dimension of the propeller. Different covers  10  will comprise different shapes, sizes, and dimensions corresponding to various propeller shapes and sizes. Structurally, the housing  20  may comprise different portions that have been coupled together or a single portion.  
         [0019]     Since the housing  20  defines the space  30 , the size, shape, and dimension of the space  30  will vary according to the housing  20 . In a preferred embodiment, the space  30  is shaped as a truncated cone that snugly encloses a propeller. The space  30  is typically between 1 square foot and 3 square feet to accommodate small and fairly large propellers.  
         [0020]     The handles  40  and  40 A can be made of any material so long as it is water resistant, comfortable to hold, and easy to grasp, including flexible fabric, flexible plastic, cord, and leather. It is preferred that the handles  40  and  40 A are a length greater than 6 inches to ease carrying. Furthermore, the handles  40  and  40 A can be identical to one another, or can be different sizes to accommodate different ways of carrying the cover  10 . It is also contemplated that the handles  40  and  40 A are coupled to the housing  20  in any number of places and positions to facilitate carrying and balancing the cover. In especially preferred embodiments, the handles  40  and  40 A are made of gore-tex®, identical to one another, 6-8 inches in length, positioned on opposite sides of the opening  50  so that the cover is balanced, and each handle  40  and  40 A is coupled in two positions, 4 inches apart.  
         [0021]     The opening  50  is configurable to at least two conformations. In the open conformation, the opening  50  is large enough to slip over a boat propeller. A typical boat propeller is larger than 8 inches in diameter. The opening  50  can comprise any shape or size depending on the shape and size of the housing  20 . There can be one or several openings  50  positioned in any manner, including equidistant from each other or skewed to create a flap, so long as the positions facilitate placing the propeller in the space  30 . When the housing  20  is a truncated cone, it is preferable that two openings  50  reach the base of the cone and are located equidistant from each other.  
         [0022]     The closure mechanisms  52 ,  52 A,  54 , and  54 A are coupled to the housing  20  in such a manner as to extend the opening  50 . To function properly, the closure mechanisms  52 ,  52 A,  54 , and  54 A are coupled to the housing  20  next to the opening  50 . The closure mechanisms can be placed in various positions so long as they prevent the propeller in space  30  from falling out. Furthermore, the closure mechanisms  52 ,  52 A,  54 , and  54 A are preferably Velcro®, but may be any type including clasping mechanisms, any type of interlocking fasteners, hooks, buttons, zippers, or snaps. In a preferred embodiment, the closure mechanisms  52  and  54  are coupled to the housing  20  opposite closure mechanisms  52 A and  54 A so that closure mechanisms  52  and  52 A mate and  54  and  54 A mate.  
         [0023]     The opening  50  in the open conformation is formed when the closure mechanisms  52 ,  52 A,  54 , and  54 A are not mating with each other.  
         [0024]     The pocket  60  may be placed either on the interior or exterior portion of the housing  20 . The pocket  60  may be any size but is preferred to be large enough to conveniently carry any screws, nuts, and small tools that are required to affix a propeller to a boat. The pocket  60  can also contain a flap or other closing mechanism to keep the contents from falling out. For manufacturing convenience, the pocket  60  can comprise the same material as the housing  20 , but may be any suitable material.  
         [0025]      FIG. 2  depicts a propeller cover  10  having a housing  20 , a space sized and dimensioned to receive a propeller  30 , handles  40  and  40 A, and an opening  50  in the closed conformation.  
         [0026]     In a preferred embodiment, the closure mechanism  52  and  54  are interlocking hooks and the closure mechanism  52 A and  54 A are interlocking loops such that the closure mechanism  52  and  52 A mate with each other, and  54  and  54 A mate with each other.  
         [0027]     The opening  50  in the closed conformation is formed when closure mechanism  52  and  52 A mate with each other, and  54  and  54 A mate with each other, thus closing a portion of the opening  50 . The opening  50  in the closed conformation is any suitable size, but is preferably sized to fit snugly around a propeller shaft. As used herein, the term “closed conformation” does not mean completely closed or closed off.  
         [0028]      FIG. 3  depicts a propeller cover  10  positioned over a propeller  70 , and a securing mechanism  80 . The propeller  70  comprises a shaft portion  72  and a propeller portion  74 .  
         [0029]     The securing mechanism  80  is preferably a bungee cord, but may be substituted with any suitable material including rope, leather, wire, plastic, fabric, and rubber so long as it is strong, durable, and light-weight. The securing mechanism  80  functions to secure the propeller cover  10  in place and keep the handles  40 ,  40 A from getting tangled.  
         [0030]     The propeller cover  10  encloses the propeller portion  74 , and the opening  50  in the closed conformation fits snugly around the shaft portion  72 . With the propeller cover  10  properly enclosing the propeller portion  72 , the first end of the securing mechanism  80  is attached to handle  40  and the second end of the securing mechanism  80  is attached to handle  40 A. The securing mechanism  80  is stretched over the motor  90  to secure the propeller cover  10  in place.  
         [0031]     Thus, specific embodiments and applications of compositions for a boat propeller cover have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described arc possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced.