US2390986A - Boat cover - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 18 1945. v F. D. BURNS BOAT COVER Filed July 22, 1944 Patented Dec. is, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE BOAT COVER Frank D. Burns, Muskegon, Mich.

Application July 22, 1944, Serial No. 546,140

9 Claims.

This invention relates to boat covers and more particularly to removable covers of canvas or the like for small boats such as lifeboats, sail boats, etc.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a boat cover which may be easily and quickly installed and removed and which may be stored in a small space when not in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a boat cover which isV supported above the boat when in use without the necessity for supporting frame parts extending from side to side or from end to end of the boat.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a boat cover which is capable of contraction and expansion while remaining tight at all times to prevent the formation of water pockets.

A still further object is to provide a boat cover in which the central cover portion is resiliently held elevated above the top of the boat.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in Which- Figure 1 is a perspective View of a boat covered according to the invention with parts of the cover broken away;

Figure 2 is a partial section of the cover on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; and

Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views of alternative forms of supporting members. Y

The cover as shown in Figure 1, is adapted to cover a small skiif or the like, having a hull II] provided with one or more transversely extending seats II. The top of the hull is open as shown, and terminates in an upper edge I2 which may be beaded or ared, if desired.

The cover comprises a sheet of canvas or like flexible material I3 of a size and shape to fit over the top of a boat with its edge portion shown at I4, extending partially over the sides of the boat. At one or more points in the edge of the cover, tie cords I may be provided to draw the edge of the cover tightly against the sides of the boat to secure the periphery of the cover thereto. In the case of a boat having a flared or beaded edge, it will be understood that the edge portion I4 of the cover extends over the beaded or ilared portion and is drawn tight beneath it by the tie cords I5 so that the cover is held securely in place.

In the central part of the cover preferably on the inner side thereof, a pocket is provided formed by a separate sheet I6 of canvas or the like stitched around its edges to the main cover sheet I3. This pocket is relatively short and narrow compared to the dimensions of the cover, preferably being in approximately the proportions indicated in Figure 1. A stiffening member in the form of a Wooden plank or the like I1 is secured in the pocket and carries a fastening member shown as a hook I8 projecting toward the inside of the boat. v

In order to hold the central part of the cover elevated a resilient supporting member is provided acting between the central part of the boat and the stiffening member I1. As shown in Figures 1 and 2 the supporting member comprises a vcoil spring I9 formed at its lower end with a hook portion 2I to hook over the edge of the central seat I I to secure the spring thereto. The upper end of the spring is adapted to t over the hook I8 which may, if preferred, be hooked into one or more of the top coils of the spring.

With this construction the cover may easily be installed by connecting the lower end of the spring to the central spring in the boat, connecting the upper end of the spring to the hook I8, drawing the cover over the edges of the boat and fastening the tie cords I5. With the cover installed in this manner, any expansion or contraction due to humidity or temperature changes is readily accommodated by the spring which maintains the cover tight at all times so that no water pockets Will form therein. To remove the cover, the tie cords I5 may be loosened and the spring I9 may be detached from the seat. The cover may easily be folded into a small package for ready storage in the boat.

Instead of the coil spring I9, various other types of resilient supporting members may be employed. One such member is shown in Figure 3 comprising an elongated spring Wire 22 bent in a general U-shape with hook portions 23 at its ends to hook over the seat II. In use, the hook I8 on the cover may be hooked over the upstanding central part of the spring to hold the cover in pla-ce in substantially the same manner as the coil spring I9.

An alternative form of supporting member is shown in Figure 4 comprising a clamp portion 24 adapted to t over the edge of the seat I I and to be secured thereto by a screw 25. An angular arm 2B extends up from the clamp portion at an acute angle to the seat and is formed at its upper end with an eye 21 to receive the hook I8. A member of this type provides sufficient resiliency for ordinary purposes and can be formed of metal, wood 0r other materials.

.While several embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail herein, it will be understood that these are illustrative only and are =not intended as a definition of the `scope of the invention, reference being had for that purpose to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A boat cover comprising a flexible sheet adapted to overlie a boat and to be fastened at its edge portion to the boat, and resilient means engaging the cover in its central portion and adapted to engage a central part of the boat to hold the central portion of the cover elevated.

2. A boat cover comprising a flexible sheet adapted to overlie a boat and to be fastened at its edge portion to the boat, a stiffening member carried by the central part of the cover which is substantially shorter and narrower than the boat, and a support engageable at its lower end with the boat in a central part thereof and at its upper end engageable with the stiffening member to hold the stiilening member and the central part of the cover elevated.

3. A boat cover comprising a exible sheet adapted to overlie a boat and to be fastened at its edge portion to the boat, a stiffening inember carried by the central part of the cover which is substantially shorter and narrower than the boat, and a spring member engaging the central part of the boatl at its lower end and engaging the stiffening member at its upper end to hold the stiifening member and the central part of the cover elevated.

4. A boat cover comprising a. flexible sheet adapted to overlie a boat and to be fastened at its edge portion to the boat, a stiffening member carried by the central part of the cover which is substantially shorter and narrower than the boat,

and an elongated bent spring member formed at its ends with hook portions to hook over a central seat in the boat with its central part extending above the seat to engage the stitening member and hold it elevated.

6. A boat cover comprising a flexible sheet adapted to overlie a boat and to be fastened at its edge portion to the boat, a stiffening member carried by the central part of the cover which is substantially shorter and narrower than the boat. and an elongated supporting member having a clamp at one end to clamp to a central seat in the boat, the supporting member extending at an angle above the seat and engaging the stiffening member and hold it elevated.

-7. A boat cover comprising a flexible sheet adapted to overlie a boat and to be fastened at its edge portion to the boat, a stiiening member carried by the central part of the cover which is substantially shorter and narrower th-an the boatI a hook carried by the stiilening` member and projecting downward therefrom when the cover is installed on a boat, and a supporting member connectable at one end to the central part of the boat and at its other end to said hook to hold the cover elevated.

8. A boat covercomprising a. flexible sheet adapted to overlie a boat with its edge portions extending partially over the sides of the boat, cords connected to the edges of the sheet to fasten its edge portions around the upper edge of the boat, and a resilient supporting member engaging the central part of the boat; and the central part of the sheet to hold the central part of the sheet elevated.

-9. A boat cover comprising a flexible sheet adapted to overlie a boat with its edge portions extending partially over the sides of the boat, cords connected to the edges of the sheet to fasten its edge portions around the upper edge of the boat; the central part of the sheet being formed with a pocket which is small relative to the size of the sheet, a at stiiening member in the pocket, and a resilient supportingmember engaging the central part of the boat and the stifening member to hold the stift'ening member and the central part of the sheet elevated.

FRANK D. BURNS.

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