Patent ID: 7472666

Claim:
A support frame for tarpaulin used for sheltering boats and other objects comprising: at least one horizontally positioned beam; each said beam consisting of at least one tube; said tube being defined as either a male tube or a female tube; the male tube, female tube configured and sized to allow for the male tube to slidingly insert into the female tube so as to create a sliding connection between the male/female tubes; the beam is supported by a plurality of posts which are also made out of slidingly connected tubes; the posts have an upper and a lower end and their lower end is frictionally inserted into a base by way of a base hole; angled posts are connected to the beam by way of dips; the angled posts rest on the side of the boat; a hub to allow for a post and a plurality of angled posts to connect thereto and be oriented a variable amount of degree to allow for an easy adjustment for a variety of possible sizes by way of flexible tentacles; the flexible tentacles consisting of two blocks joined together by way of a resiliently deformable tongue which allows for the blocks to be selectively angled relative to each other; couplings consisting of two blocks joined together by way of a resiliently deformable tongue which allows for the blocks to be selectively angled relative to each other; the blocks are frictionally inserted into post, angled post and beam and locked in position by way of a locking pin passing through insertion holes; the locking pin used for also locking two slidingly engaged tubes so that they are locked to a chosen length; the hub has a central hole to allow for frictional insertion of a top connector which is frictionally inserted onto the top part of a post; the clips open clamshell style so as the be attachable to the beam; clips configured and sized with ends that are insertable into male or female tubes, once the clips are closed; hooks located on the hub, the dip, the top connector and the locking pin and are used for passing stretchable tie downs.