Ships – Boats – boat component – or attachment – Protective cover or shield
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-03
2001-07-17
Avila, Stephen (Department: 3617)
Ships
Boats, boat component, or attachment
Protective cover or shield
Reexamination Certificate
active
06260505
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to the framework for a cover system on a pontoon boat.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known to provide canopy or cover systems to boats. Some of the cover systems for boats are used as a camouflage to provide a duck blind during hunting season. Other canopies or cover systems are used mainly to protect the interior of the boat from inclement weather. Most of the available cover systems are configured for installation on a typical boat. The cover and frame systems are not designed for use on a pontoon boat having a large flat surface area or on a pontoon boat having a railing system rather than sidewalls. Further, the cover systems of the prior art require extensive clamping mechanisms to secure the cover system to the boat. A clamping mechanism such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,456 issued to Steward requires a U-shaped bracket and an associated screw for engaging the sidewall of the boat. One disadvantage found with this type of cover system is that screws and brackets can be misplaced. In addition, the installation time is lengthened by having to manually tighten each screw into the appropriate bracket. Further, the cover system as disclosed in the prior art is not suitable for a pontoon boat wherein a pontoon boat has a railing system along an entire or partial perimeter of the pontoon boat, instead of sidewalls. The pontoon boat may also have a low deck rail along another portion of the pontoon boat. The lightweight railing system of the pontoon boat may not support the bracket and screw clamping means of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the intent of the present invention to address the aforementioned concerns. The present invention provides a cover system for a pontoon boat having a railing system extending above the floor of the pontoon boat and encompassing around at least most of the perimeter of the boat, wherein the railing system is defined by a pair of side rails and at least one end rail. The cover system comprises a frame system releasably attachable to the railing system at a plurality of locations. The frame system includes elongate members interconnected into a plurality of arched formations. The arch formations are connected by a traversely extending member. The elongate members have end portions that are permanently or releasably mountable into one end of individual hollow fittings. The cover system further provides attachment means grippingly securable to the railing system. The attachment means has a vertically extending portion slidably mountable into the other end of the individual hollow fittings. One feature of the attachment means includes a bracket that snap fits or clips onto the rail and remains secured on the rail until removal. The attachment means can slide along the rail for accurate positioning and then easily snaps off the rail for removal.
Another feature of the invention provides a means for extending the cover system over a decking area and including an elongate member angularly connected to one of the arched formations and extending to a deck rail having a lower height than the railing system. The elongate member extends to and is connected to a crossover bar which extends between two of the deck rails.
Other objects, advantages and applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description of the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2493833 (1950-01-01), Reynolds
patent: 3354892 (1967-11-01), Frieder
patent: 3399687 (1968-09-01), Frieder
patent: 4300253 (1981-11-01), Anderson
patent: 4671203 (1987-06-01), Sanburg
patent: 4979456 (1990-12-01), Steward
patent: 5070807 (1991-12-01), Lewis
patent: 5106931 (1992-04-01), Sagane et al.
patent: 5351847 (1994-10-01), Greenbaum
patent: 5520139 (1996-05-01), King et al.
patent: 5803007 (1998-09-01), Stevens
Avila Stephen
Midwest Pontoon Covers, Inc.
Young & Basile P.C.
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