Portable Cover Structure

Abstract

A portable cover structure includes a pair of flexible poles that are disposed in a generally parallel fashion, and a sunscreen that is attached to the poles on opposed sides thereof, so that the sunscreen is stretched between the poles. One end of each bendable pole may be removably attached to a structure, such as a dock, and the other end of each pole is preferably connected to an adjustable strap or cord. The distal end of the strap or cord may be attached to a dock, a cleat or a boat, and may include a snap-fit mechanism for such removable attachment. The cover structure may alternate between a first position over a dock and a second position over a boat, as desired. When not in use, the portable cover structure may be disassembled and stored in a bag or container.

Claims

1. A portable cover structure comprising: a pair of flexible poles disposed in generally parallel relation, each pole having a first end and a second end; a sunscreen made of flexible material, wherein said sunscreen is attached to both poles and is stretched therebetween; wherein said first end of each pole is removably attachable to a mount that is adapted to be attached to a surface; wherein said second end of each pole includes a strap; said straps each having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of said strap is attached to a second end of a pole, and wherein said second end of said strap is adapted to be attached to a fixed surface.

2. The portable cover structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said poles are made from pole sections that may be assembled in longitudinal fashion to form said pole, and wherein said poles may be disassembled for storage and transport.

3. The portable cover structure set forth in claim 2, wherein said pole sections are connected to one another via an elastic cord.

4. The portable cover structure set forth in claim 1, further including a snap fit mechanism having a first portion and a second portion that are removably attachable to one another, and wherein said first portion of said snap-fit mechanism is attached to a distal end of said strap, and said second portion of said snap fit mechanism is attached to a fixed surface.

5. The portable cover structure set forth in claim 4, wherein said fixed surface is a dock.

6. The portable cover structure set forth in claim 4, wherein said fixed surface is a boat.

7. The portable cover structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said straps include adjustment means for adjusting a length of said strap in order to increase or reduce said length of said strap.

8. The portable cover structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said sunscreen is removably attached to said poles.

9. The portable cover structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said poles may be bent into a first position over a dock, so that said straps may be removably affixed to said dock, or may be bent into a second position over a boat moored to said dock, so that said straps may be removably affixed to a boat.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a portable cover structure that is removably affixed to a dock, wherein the cover structure includes a pair of flexible poles, a sunscreen attached to the flexible poles, and a pair of cords, each cord having a first end attached to a distal end of a flexible pole and the second end of the cord tied to a cleat on the dock;

[0027] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a portable cover structure that is removably affixed to a dock, wherein the cover structure includes a pair of flexible poles, a sunscreen attached to the flexible poles, and a pair of cords, each cord having a first end attached to a distal end of the flexible poles and the second end of the cord attached to a snap fit mechanism for a securement to a boat;

[0028] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a pair of portable cover structures that are removably affixed to a dock and a boat, wherein a first portable cover structure extends over a dock and a boat, wherein a first portable cover structures extends over a dock and the second portable cover structure extends outwardly, away from the dock, and extends over a boat;

[0029] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a snap-fit mechanism used to attach a cord to a boat or dock, wherein the cord is attached to one end of a pole that forms part of the portable cover structure; and

[0030] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a cord used to secure a portable cover structure to a cleat on a dock, pier, or the like.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] The present invention includes, in a first embodiment, a portable cover structure 10 includes a pair of flexible poles 12 disposed in generally parallel relation, wherein a flexible sunscreen 14 is attached to each pole and stretched therebetween, as shown in FIG. 1. The poles 12 may be of singular, unitary construction, or they may be formed by assembling multiple sections of poles together, similarly to tent poles. In one embodiment, the poles 12 may be disassembled into smaller sections that may be fitted together in longitudinal fashion, so that the length of each pole may be adjusted by adding or subtracting sections of the pole 12 to achieve the desired length. In another embodiment, the pole sections may be disassembled, but may be held together by an elastic cord that extends longitudinally through all of the pole sections for a particular pole, similarly to many tent poles that are commercially available today. The sunscreen 14 may be made from any suitable, flexible material, and the sunscreen 14 may be permanently attached to the poles 12, or may be removable therefrom.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 1, the poles 12 may be temporarily or permanently affixed to a dock 16 at one end (or on one side thereof, as desired), so that the other end extends over the dock 16 to provide shade and shelter over the dock 16. The free end of each pole 12 may include a strap or cord 18 that may be secured to the dock 16 in any suitable fashion. For example, the cord 18 may be attached to the end of the pole 12 at one end thereof, and the other end may be tied to a dock cleat 20 or other structure. Alternatively, the end of the cord may include a snap-fit mechanism 22 including a male portion 24 that removably mates with a mount 26 or socket that is affixed to the dock 16. In a preferred embodiment, when the cords 18 are attached to the dock 16, the poles 12 tend to bend into an arc, as shown, due to their flexible nature.

[0033] In a first embodiment, the portable cover structure 10 may be affixed to a dock 16, pier, or the like, so that the poles 12 are attached adjacent the edge thereof, so that the cover structure 10 may alternate between a position covering the dock 16, and a second position covering a boat 28, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Because the poles 12 are flexible, they may be bent so that the structure is bent over the dock 16, and the straps or cords 18 are attached to cleats 20 or quick-release mechanisms 22 on an opposed side of the dock 16 or pier from where the poles 12 are attached. In this position, the portable cover structure 10 provides shade over that portion of the dock 16.

[0034] Alternatively, the poles 12 of the portable cover structure 10 may be bent outwardly, so that the cover structure provides shade over a boat that is in the water and moored to the dock, as shown in FIG. 2. In this position, the poles 12 are affixed to the dock 16 (either in permanent fashion, or removably), and the cords or straps 18 at the distal end of the poles 12 are preferably affixed to a boat 28, either by removably securing them to cleats 20 or other structures on or affixed to the boat 28, or via a snap-fit mechanism 22, and example of which is shown in FIG. 4. In this way, the portable cover structure 10 may alternate between a position over the dock 16, and a second position over the boat 28, as desired, due to the flexible nature of the poles 12.

[0035] In another embodiment, two portable cover structures 10 may be employed, as shown in FIG. 3, wherein one cover structure 10 is positioned over the dock 16, and the second cover structure 10 is positioned over a boat 28 that is tied or otherwise temporarily secured to the dock 16. In this embodiment, it is contemplated that the two portable cover structures 10 may simply work independently of one another, or they may be connected to one another via connectors in order to provide additional stability during periods of high wind or inclement weather.

[0036] In a preferred embodiment, the straps or cords 18 may include adjustment means, such as an adjustable buckle or the like, so that they may be lengthened or shortened, as desired, in order to position the cover structure at a suitable height or orientation. The distal ends of the straps or cords 18 may include a snap-fit mechanism 22, as shown in FIG. 2. In this embodiment, the snap fit mechanism 22 includes a male member 24 having a generally circular portion at one end and an eye 30 on the other end for tying the cord or strap 18, and a mount 26 having a complementary female member, so that the male member 24 may be removably inserted into the female member, and a spring loaded latch maintains the connection between the male 24 and female 26 members of the snap-fit mechanism 22. A sliding button 32 may be used to release the spring loaded latch, so that the end of the cord or strap 18 may be removed therefrom. The female mount member 26 may be attached at any desired location on the dock 16 or on a boat 28, so that the straps or cords 18 of the portable cover structure 10 may be quickly and easily attached thereto, and removed therefrom, as desired. It is further contemplated that the cords or straps 18 may have elastic qualities, so that they stretch, or they may be inelastic.

[0037] The sunscreen 14 may be made from any suitable material, such as canvas, nylon, polyester, or any other suitable type of plastic, and should be capable of being rolled up or folded, as desired, for transport and storage purposes. Additionally, the sunscreen 14 may be opaque, translucent, or may be made from a clear or tinted polymeric material that preferably provides protection against ultraviolet rays. Optionally, the poles 12 may include lights or light strips, such as LED light strips, which may be battery operated, or may be plugged into an electrical outlet, USB port, or any other type of power source. The lights may be operated remotely, by a remote control, as desired.

[0038] Dock mounts 34 for the poles 12 may be installed on a dock 16, similarly to rod holder mounts, wherein each pole mount 34 defines a hole for receiving the bottom portion of the pole 12. These mounts 34 may also include a snap-fit mechanism that allows the poles 12 to be snapped into the mount 34, and which allows the poles 12 to be removed from the mounts 34 when not in use.

[0039] The portable cover structure 10 may be disassembled when not in use, and rolled up or folded for storage in a bag or other container, in the same manner as a tent is folded up or stuffed into a stuff sack, along with the poles 12 in a disassembled state.

[0040] In use, the portable cover structure 10 may be positioned over and removably affixed to a boat 28 while the boat 28 is moored to a dock 16 until a user wishes to run the boat. At that point, the user may detach the straps or cords 18 from the boat 28, bend the poles 12 in the opposite direction so that the portable cover structure 10 extends over the dock 16, and affix the straps or cords 18 to the dock, as described herein. After boating, the user may moor the boat 28 to the dock 16, detach the straps or cords 18 from the dock 16, bend the poles 12 outwardly over the boat 28, and then affix the straps or cords 18 to the boat 28, as shown.

[0041] Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein. All features disclosed in this specification may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.