Ships – Boats – boat component – or attachment – Protective cover or shield
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-06
2001-04-03
Avila, Stephen (Department: 3617)
Ships
Boats, boat component, or attachment
Protective cover or shield
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209477
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a retractable top for a boat, and more particularly to an remotely activated, power retractable bimini top for a pontoon boat.
2. Description of the Related Art
The unused bimini top usually has an angled “radar” position in which it is folded but propped up by means of a pair of struts. The top comprises a plurality of connected U-shaped support members, at least one of which is pivotally attached at its ends to rails on opposite sides of the boat. From the radar position the top is forwardly-extended into its unfolded position to provide shelter from sun or rain. Because some lakes have low bridges, covered boat lifts, boat houses or other overhead obstructions below which pontoon boats pass, typical bimini tops are temporarily retracted from their radar position into a substantially horizontal position. Pins which connect the supporting struts to one of the U-shaped support members of the top are removed, thereby allowing the top to be manually lowered to a substantially horizontal position. The struts, which are also pivotally attached to the boat rails, are also rotated into a substantially horizontal position. Once the overhead obstruction is cleared, the bimini top is then manually returned to its radar position by raising the U-shaped members and reconnecting the struts to the U-shaped member with the pins.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention, in one form thereof, is a power retractable bimini top such as by an electric motor, a hydraulic mechanism or a motor over hydraulic mechanism. The top includes a gear rack on each of the rear struts which is engaged with a pinion gear driven by an electric motor. The boat operator merely activates a dashboard-mounted switch to actuate the motors, which causes the struts to move axially downward, thereby rotating the top downward from its radar position into a substantially horizontal position. The top is restored to its radar position by reversing the motors with the switch.
In one form, the present invention provides a boat comprising a retractable top, at least one strut and an electrically driven device. The strut has a first end attached to the retractable top, the strut having a first position in which the top is raised and a second position in which the top is retracted. The electrically driven device is mounted on the boat and coupled to the strut. The strut is moved between its first and second positions by the electrically driven device, whereby the top is electrically raised and lowered.
In a preferred form of the present invention, the boat comprises a retractable top pivotally attached to the boat, a pair of struts, and a pair of electrically driven devices attached to opposite sides of the boat. The retractable top has first and second positions. Each of the struts includes a gear rack and a first end attached to the top. Each of the electrically driven devices includes a pinion gear engaging a respective gear rack and a reversible electric motor driving the pinion gear. The retractable top is reversibly retracted from its first position to its second position.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3285258 (1966-11-01), Hage et al.
patent: 3285259 (1966-11-01), Hale
patent: 3371672 (1968-03-01), Hale et al.
patent: 3823431 (1974-07-01), Miller
patent: 3906563 (1975-09-01), Bramhall
patent: 4926782 (1990-05-01), Lacy
patent: 4951594 (1990-08-01), Feikema
patent: 5044298 (1991-09-01), Pepper et al.
patent: 5303667 (1994-04-01), Zirkelbach et al.
patent: 5697320 (1997-12-01), Murray
patent: 5706752 (1998-01-01), Menne, Jr. et al.
patent: 5803104 (1998-09-01), Pollen
Avila Stephen
Baker & Daniels
Harris Kayot, Inc.
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