Abstract:
A canopy covering for a watercraft to protect the watercraft from natural elements while allowing a substantial amount of light to be transmitted through the covering so as to not significantly adversely impact the marine habitat below the canopy by light reduction.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     In recent years, the necessity of avoiding impacts to the natural environment has resulted in the enactment of environmental legislation on the part of Federal and State governments to enhance the quality of the environment by reducing and/or eliminating activities that cause environmentally adverse effects. This has resulted in the exertion of regulatory pressures on those engaged in potentially environmentally impacting activities to avoid actions that may cause adverse impacts to endangered or protected flora, fauna and associated habitat. These pressures have, in turn, brought about the development of a substantial body of environment enhancing, protecting, and impact-minimizing technology. A typical example of a recent, relatively simple device of such technology includes U.S. Pat. No. 6,474,907, which discloses an environmentally compatible archway for road building that is meant to avoid harmful alterations, disruption, or destruction of fish habitat. Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 6,718,890 discloses an underwater seagrass seeding apparatus that addresses problems caused by the loss of seagrass habitat.  
         [0002]     More specifically, extensive protection of species listed as endangered under the Federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 has led to significant innovations addressing issues presented by these laws. U.S. Pat. No. 6,652,189, for example, discloses a method for creating a migratory fish bypass channel with natural features for allowing endangered and other anadromous fish to by-pass dams and other obstacles. U.S. Pat. No. 6,571,906 likewise discloses a sound mitigation system and method to reduce the transmission of acoustic output from explosions underwater, mitigating the effects of the explosions on marine mammals and endangered, threatened, or protected species.  
         [0003]     In the field of watercraft canopies, prior art regarding the use of such canopies to protect watercraft from natural elements such as rain and sunlight is well known. A watercraft that is not covered may be subject to damage and degradation and rainwater may enter the watercraft, damaging the interior and potentially overburdening the craft to the point of sinking it: Ultraviolet radiation in the range of 290-400 nM is known to cause a boat&#39;s exterior and interior surface paint and materials to degrade. A canopy avoids or minimizes this damage by creating a barrier between the elements, including ultraviolet radiation, and the watercraft. U.S. Pat. No. 2,698,629 to Hall, discloses a portable vehicle shelter with a frame over which is disposed a cover formed of duck, canvas, or other material. U.S. Pat. No. 3,083,540 to Smith discloses a portable boatlift and a movable roof that is adapted for hydraulically operation using a covering material such as canvas. U.S. Pat. No. 4,019,212 to Downer discloses a boat cover apparatus that is on a lift assembly. U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,901 to Mitchell discloses a cover for floating boat docks using precut, coated, fiber canvases and vertical and horizontal support elements.  
         [0004]     Prior art, however, does not address recent environmental concerns regarding the use of light-blocking coverings over near-shore marine environments. Such structures have the disadvantage of blocking a substantial amount of available sunlight, thereby causing shading of such light in regard to the waters below. What&#39;s more, unlike the moveable watercraft that the canopy covers, these canopies continue to block light when the watercraft and other under-canopy structures are removed or absent, causing permanent shading impacts. The prior art thus provides the desired protection to the watercraft, but avoids unwanted adverse environmental impacts affecting vegetation growth and fish and wildlife behavior due to the blockage of sunlight.  
         [0005]     Environmental impacts from near-shore shading include changing growth patterns and growth ability of vegetation that forms the foundation of the pre-existing ecosystem beneath the canopy and detrimental promotion of non-indigenous vegetation growth. Studies prepared by the University of Washington School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences have indicated that light reduction due to the shading impacts of overwater structures in certain cases causes available light levels to fall below threshold amounts for the photosynthesis of diatoms, benthic algae, eelgrass and associated epiphytes, and other autotrophs—which provide an important foundation for estuarine and nearshore marine food webs supporting juvenile salmon and other fishes in estuarine and nearshore marine environments. Also, predatory behavior of fauna may be altered by canopy shading, causing endangered species such as salmon and/or their habitat to be at greater risk. Indeed, federal regulatory agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service, and NOAA Fisheries—National Marine Fisheries Service, as well as multiple State and local regulatory agencies, have advocated for the decreased use of over-water structures which block significant light and the use of traditional canopies in certain over-water watercraft mooring areas has accordingly been prohibited.  
         [0006]     Thus, there is a need in the art for a watercraft canopy capable of protecting watercraft from the harmful effects of rain and other environmental hazards—but which allows a substantial amount of light to pass through the canopy, thereby reducing or eliminating the adverse environmental impacts that would otherwise be caused by light blockage. Specifically, such a canopy avoids the adverse environmental impacts caused by the prior art while providing the desired watercraft protection from natural elements. In addition, and due to these environmental attributes, such a canopy will be significantly more likely than prior art to comply with increasingly strict environmental rules and regulations regarding the installation and use of such canopies, thus allowing the user an over-water canopy option that may otherwise be unavailable. The canopy should also provide an aesthetic benefit avoiding conflicting color schemes in regard to its surroundings. The canopy should be economical by requiring minimal maintenance, be simple to install, and be removable for off-season storage. It should also be flexible in use in that it may cover one watercraft or multiple boatlifts in various moorage situations.  
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The invention generally relates to an apparatus and method for covering a watercraft while allowing a substantial amount of light to be transmitted through the covering. More particularly, it relates to a substantially translucent, environmental-impact minimizing canopy for watercraft.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     This summary of the invention section is intended to introduce the reader to aspects of the invention and is not a complete description of the invention. Particular aspects of the invention are pointed out in other sections herein below and the invention is set forth in appended claims, which alone demarcate its scope.  
         [0009]     The present invention provides a watercraft canopy in the form of a substantially translucent cover supported by a semi-rigid framework capable of protecting watercraft from natural elements while allowing a significant amount of sunlight to pass through the canopy. The cover is supported over the watercraft by a metal framework or some other method whereby the cover is semi-rigidly positioned between the sun and the watercraft. The cover will preferably be substantially flexible, and may include a UV-absorbing or reflecting material, the extent of absorption or reflection being selectable according to the intended use, providing protection from UV radiation in the range of 290 to 400 nM. Materials of construction are preferably such that deterioration in a marine environment is significantly reduced. A synthetic, durable material is thus preferably utilized.  
         [0010]     The design of the canopy is such that it is able to fit a wide range of boatlifts and other mooring facilities. The canopy may be used to cover a single watercraft, or to cover very large mooring facilities constituting several hundred slips. The canopy protects the covered watercraft from rain, other natural elements, and in certain embodiments, from ultraviolet radiation, while sufficient light passes through the canopy to avoid adverse environmental impacts to marine vegetation and wildlife that would otherwise occur if a light-blocking canopy were used. The canopy also will, due to its limited environmental impacts, generally comply with environmental regulations and will thus be usable in many situations where traditional canopies will not be permissible. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)  
       [0011]     The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are schematic, and not to scale, wherein:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a front-end view of the canopy according to the present invention positioned on a watercraft lift.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a front-end view of the canopy of the present invention positioned on a dock rather than a watercraft lift.  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the canopy of  FIG. 1  positioned on the watercraft lift.  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a partially assembled canopy framework of one embodiment of the canopy of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a spider casting and some of the metal tubes which partially form the canopy framework of  FIG. 4 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the canopy according to the present invention positioned on a watercraft lift.  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the cover of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 8  is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the cover of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 9  is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the cover of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]     This section illustrates aspects of the invention, and points out certain preferred embodiments of these aspects. This section is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather to inform and teach the person of skill in the art who will come to appreciate more fully other aspects, equivalents, and possibilities presented by the invention, and hence the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims, which alone limit its scope.  
         [0022]      FIG. 1  shows one embodiment of a watercraft canopy  104  according to the present invention, which includes a thin, flexible, substantially translucent cover  100 . The watercraft canopy  104  allows a substantial amount of sunlight to pass through the canopy  104  while also providing protection of a subject watercraft  103  therebelow from the elements. The flexible, substantially translucent cover  100  is positioned between the sun and the watercraft  103  to provide protection from the elements. The cover  100 , made rigid or semi-rigid by an interior framework as described below, is supported by upright members  101 , which in turn may be connected to a watercraft lift  102 , such as the watercraft lift by Hey, U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,264, incorporated herein by reference and shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  3 , and  6 .  
         [0023]     The cover  100  may be a substantially translucent material approximately {fraction (1/16)}″ thick such as that produced by Snyder Manufacturing, Inc. under the trademark PRV 1444-K Klearspan. One skilled in the art will appreciate that similarly performing materials are available from other manufacturers as well. The cover  100  may consist of a synthetic polyester-based fabric, polyethylene, polypropylene or some other similar material and may be laminated with transparent fluorine, polyvinyl chloride or fiberglass and polyvinyl chloride for durability, although other materials may also be used. The cover is preferably flexible for ease of shipping, handling and installation, but may be rigid.  
         [0024]     The cover  100  may include a material that substantially absorbs and/or reflects incident radiation in the range of 290 to 400 nM. Such a cover  100  may be of a character to allow a thin UV protective film or material to be impregnated, applied or attached, with the UV protective film or material having UV absorbing or reflecting properties. As an alternative to a UV coating on one or both sides of the cover  100 , a separate sheet of plastic with UV absorbing, reflecting, or other protecting qualities could be placed over or otherwise adjacent to the cover  100 . The optional ultraviolet absorbing or reflecting film or material may consist of hindered amine light stabilizers, benzoxazinones, or benzophenones, or coatings using 2-hydroxybenzonphenones, oxalanilides, 2-hydroxyphenylbenzotriazoles and 2-hydroxy-phenyltriazines, as well as other similar materials. These materials may be applied to the cover  100  by being impregnated in a thin sheet of plastic such as a polyester sold under the trademark MYLAR.RTM. by E.I. DuPont de Menours and Company, Inc. The sheet can then be affixed to the cover  100  with an adhesive. Alternatively, the adhesive impregnated with the additive may be used by itself as a coating on the surface of the cover. Having the additive in the separate sheet, removable from the flexible cover may provide an advantage in that the UV protective sheet may be replaced when the ultraviolet radiation blocking effects of the additive cease.  
         [0025]      FIG. 2  discloses an alternative embodiment wherein the substantially translucent watercraft canopy  104  is supported by upright members  101  that are in turn connected to a dock  201  for additional support. The canopy  104  thereby provides the desired protection from the elements while allowing a significant amount of sunlight to penetrate into the waterbody, thereby minimizing potentially adverse environmental impacts. One skilled in the art will further understand that the canopy  104  could be connected to numerous types of structures for support and the desired affect of protecting the watercraft and/or other structures would be achieved.  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention, similar to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , but including a lateral brace  300  that provides additional support and rigidity by connecting the canopy  104  to the upright member  101 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 4  shows the partially constructed framework  403  used to support the canopy  104  in a preferred embodiment. The cover  100  (not shown in  FIG. 4 ) is supported and made relatively rigid by the framework  403  which comprise metal tubes including twelve interior tubes  400 , two opposite end tubes  401 , and two opposite side tubes  402  in the illustrated embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 5 , these tubes  400 ,  401  and  402  are joined together by connectors, such as the illustrated metal spider casting  500 , and with a central beam  502  form the framework  403 . The tubes, generally constructed of aluminum due its lightweight and its ability to resist corrosion. The framework is generally, but not limited to, peaked, hip-roofed, or rounded shapes and generally will be sloped to allow for water drainage. One skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous different methods and means for creating a suitable framework are available and could include spanning the cover over piers, pilings, or other in-water structures.  
         [0028]     The tubes  400 ,  401  and  402  of the framework  403  are connected together by inserting into their open ends tube penetrating posts of a connector, such as the spider casting  500  shown in  FIG. 5 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5  for the five interior tubes  400  at one end of the framework  403 , the spider casting  500  has five posts that are inserted into the open ends of the five interior tubes with a removable cross-pin  501  to prevent their unintentional disconnection. The spider casting  500  has another post that is inserted into the open end of the central beam  502  with a removable cross-pin  503  to prevent their unintentional disconnection. A similar spider casting is used to connect together the interior tubes  400  and the other end of the central beam  502  at the opposite end of the framework  403 . The frame may be welded together for additional strength.  
         [0029]      FIG. 6  discloses a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the canopy  104  of the present invention positioned on the watercraft lift  102 . The cover  100  of the canopy  104  is substantially transparent and is supported and made substantially rigid by its connection to the relatively rigid framework  403 . The cover  100  is generally attached to the framework using elastic cord or rope to further secure the canopy and to allow easy removal for cleaning and replacement. The tubes  400 ,  401  and  402 , and the central beam  502  of the framework  403  are connected together using connectors as described above or in any other effective manner such as by welding. The canopy  104  is supported by the four upright members  101  which may in turn be connected to the watercraft lift  102 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 7  illustrates a fragmentary, cross sectional view of a substantially translucent material  700  used as one cover material for the cover  100  of the present invention. The material  700  is produced by Snyder Manufacturing, Inc. under the trademark PRV 1444-K Klearspan. The material  700  allows approximately 80% of the impinging natural light to pass from one side of the material to the other. Light diffusion to the water below the canopy  104  is at least 90% when the canopy is situated at least six feet above the water using a 9 feet by 30 feet canopy. Existing habitat, such as phytoplankton, freshwater macrophytes and eelgrass, is typically adversely affected when water surface irradiance drops below 20%. The material is approximately {fraction (1/16)}th inches thick withstands downward and lateral forces of at least 10 pounds per square inch.  
         [0031]     The material  700  may also comprise a synthetic polyester-based fabric, polyethylene, polypropylene or some other similar material and may be laminated with transparent fluorine, polyvinyl chloride or fiberglass and polyvinyl chloride for durability, although other materials may also be used.  
         [0032]      FIG. 8  illustrates a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of a substantially translucent material  800  used as another cover material for the cover  100  of the present invention. The material  800  comprises a laminate of two layers or laminae  802  and  803 . Each of the lamina  802 ,  803 , for example, may be sheet of synthetic, substantially translucent material as described above, with a layer  804  of ultraviolet blocking material sandwiched between them. Laminae  802  and  803  can be attached together with heat and/or pressure, or using an adhesive with which UV protective material is compounded. One or both of the laminae  802  and  803  may also include the ultraviolet absorbing additives discussed above. Alternatively, the additive could be compounded directly into one or both laminae  802  and  803 , or can be applied using one or both polymeric layer and adhesive layer (not shown in  FIG. 8 ) as discussed above.  
         [0033]      FIG. 9  illustrates a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of a substantially translucent material  900  used as another cover material for the cover  100  of the present invention. In this embodiment, a UV protective material  901  could be applied as a coating to the top and/or bottom sides of a substrate material  902 .  
         [0034]     The foregoing description provides an enabling disclosure of the invention, which is not limited by the description but only by the scope of the appended claims. All those other aspects of the invention that will become apparent to a person of skill in the art, who has read the foregoing, are within the scope of the invention.