UNIVERSAL AND RAPID COVERING SYSTEM

Abstract

A universal and rapid system suitable for covering boats or any other vehicle and object. The purpose is to realize a covering system which is practical, functional in the positioning phase and compact in storage, to overcome problems related to water stagnation and bad air circulation, and to get the advantage of waterproofing, of protection from atmospheric agents. The system comprises a cover (1), a coupling means (10) placed on it, a system for lifting (38) anchored to a support structure (39) wherein said cover (1) is connected to a sleeve (15). The system, in its several applications, diversifies itself for the various possible embodiments of the several elements constituting the system, for example for the type and shape of the cover, for the type of the sleeve, for the modalities of anchoring.

Claims

1- Universal and rapid covering system for boats and suitable for any other vehicle and object, comprising of a cover (1), a coupling means (10) placed on it, a system for lifting (38) anchored to a, fixed or mobile, support structure (39) which is external to the rest of the system and capable of ensuring a height greater than the object to be covered, characterized by the fact that the said cover (1) is connected to a sleeve (15) which by easily and quickly sliding on the cover (1) unfolds or extends over its total length, encasing the entire cover (1) and in the same way it folds or compacts above the cover (1) to allow its use, without hampering it, this connection is made through the coupling means (10) of the cover and the anchoring means (37) of the sleeve, the lower part of which is also used as section where the sleeve (15) collects itself when not used, while the upper part allows the connection with the system for lifting (38).

2- Universal and rapid covering system according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the said cover (1) comprises of a reinforcing fabric (6) along one or more ridge lines that can terminate on both ends with a hook (9).

3- Universal and rapid covering system according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the said cover (1) comprises of a water-repellent upper part (2) and a windproof, breathable and elastic lower part (3), with rope (7) and eyelets (5) or hinge or other type of anchor.

4- Universal and rapid covering system according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that the junction of the upper part (2) to the lower part (3) is interspersed with slots that allow a connection between the exterior and the inner part of the cover.

5- Universal and rapid covering system according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the said cover (1) is provided with a back opening (36) as to allow access to the object covered any time and without any difficulties.

6- Universal and rapid covering system according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the cover (1) is fasten to the object to be covered by means of spring clamps.

7- Universal and rapid covering system according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the said coupling means (10) of the cover comprises of a hook applied to the most suitable point of the reinforcing fabric (6), this hook (10) can coincide with one of the hooks (9).

8- Universal and rapid covering system according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the said coupling means (10) of the cover is positioned on the most suitable point of the cover (1) and comprises of two joints in the shape of discs (25, 26) with eyebolts (21) or with any other suitable element.

9- Universal and rapid covering system according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the said sleeve (15) is constituted of material made of fabric or of a series of rings (30) connected to each other and spaced with ropes (31, 32).

10- Universal and rapid covering system according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the said anchoring means (37) of the sleeve comprises of a disc (33) with a double eye (34, 35) eyebolt (14) or another suitable element.

11- Universal and rapid covering system according to claim 10, characterized by the fact that the lower part of the said anchoring means (37) of the sleeve comprises of a stretch of a rope (12) or a shock absorber of at least the equal length of the sleeve (15) in its retracted position, at the ends of which are positioned hooks (11, 13) to allow the connection on the one side to the coupling means (10) of the cover and on the other side to the lower eye (34) of the eyebolt (14) of the anchoring means (37) of the sleeve.

12- Universal and rapid covering system according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the said system for lifting (38) comprises of a hook (16), a rope (17), a pulley (18) and a device suitable for anchoring, lifting and pulling that is activated manually (22) or by mechanical (23) or electrical (24) means.

13- Universal and rapid covering system according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the said support structure (39) comprises of a rod (19) properly sized depending on the object to be covered and, therefore, depending on the cover (1) in order to obtain a high point for the attachment, and it can consist of a single element or of a various elements also telescopic and it is fixed to the ground or to any other suitable structure to support it (20), whether fixed or mobile.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0022] This and other features of the present invention will be clarified in the following description of a preferential form of embodiment, given as example, non-restrictive, with reference to the following figures, in which:

[0023] FIG. 1 is a side view of the present invention showing the covering system applied on a boat, according to an embodiment of the present invention

[0024] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the cover, according to a preferential embodiment of the present invention

[0025] FIG. 3 shows a portion of the system illustrating the lifting system and the support structure according to a preferential embodiment of the invention

[0026] FIG. 4 is a partial view of possible components suitable for anchoring, lifting and pulling, according to a preferential embodiment of the present invention

[0027] FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of a covering system's portion, according to a preferential embodiment of the present invention

[0028] FIG. 6 shows a possible sleeve for the cover

[0029] FIG. 7, 8 show various methods of application and of using of the invention on two types of vehicle

[0030] FIG. 9 shows a method of application and of using on an object

[0031] FIG. 10 shows a method of application and of using in which the cover is a camping tend

[0032] FIG. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 show an example of the system application, in its using stages, according to a preferential embodiment

[0033] The drawing figures are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of some parts have been increased for the sake of clarity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0034] The invention allows use and storage of a cover in simple and quick proceedings. Features and components of the invention in a preferential embodiment will be described according to the orientation of the boat (8) showed in FIG. 1. Thus, the directional terms such as front and rear will be referred to the orientation of the boat (8) in FIG. 1. In any case directional terms are indicative and just for the purpose of description and are not intended limiting.

[0035] In FIGS. 1 and 2 is illustrated a cover (1) preferably consisting of two different fabrics. The upper one (2) preferably water-resistant and the lower one (3) preferably windproof, breathable and elastic. Fabrics are preferably made of any suitable material, including cotton, nylon and polyester. Fabrics (2) and (3) are joined together by a rigid or elastic rope (7), passing through eyelets (5).

[0036] A reinforcing fabric (6), preferably a belt, is applied on the cover (1), in correspondence with the main ridge line, on the whose rear end is places a hook (9), to facilitate the anchoring of the cover (1), while on the front end is placed a hook, as coupling means (10) of the cover.

[0037] FIGS. 1 and 3 show the combination of cover (1), sleeve (15), system for lifting (38), and support structure (39). In particular the combination of the hook (10) of the cover (1) to the sleeve (15) takes place through the anchoring means (37) of the sleeve, which preferably comprises of a stretch of rope (12), two hooks (11, 13), a double eye (34, 35) eyebolt (14) and a disc (33). The system for lifting (38), in a preferential embodiment, comprises of a hook (16), a rope (17), a pulley (18) and an element suitable for anchoring and pulling (22) the rope (17). The support structure (39) of the system, in a preferential embodiment can be a rod (19), sustained by a suitable structure (20).

[0038] The hook (11) is preferably placed between the stretch of rope (12) and the rear hook (10) of the cover's belt. The stretch of rope (12) allows to obtain a proper place for the retraction of the sleeve (15), which is preferably made of fabric, while the cover (1) is in use. On the other end of the stretch of rope (12) is preferably placed another hook (13) in turn connected to the lower eye (34) of the eyebolt (14). The sleeve (15) is connected to the eyebolt (14), as described in FIG. 6. A rope (17) is connected to the upper eye (35) of the eyebolt (14), through another hook (16) suitable for lifting the structure. This rope (17), passes through a pulley (18) preferably placed on the summit of the rod (19), in order to support the entire system. The rod (19), besides, is placed on the boat (8) and sustained by a suitable structure (20), for example a fishing rod holder. One of the possible device for anchoring, lifting and pulling (22, 23 24) is placed on the rod (19), once the flaps of the cover (1) are brought outwards, the device, pulling the rope (17), allows to give the cover a shape and a height such as to prevent the water stagnation.

[0039] As showed in FIGS. 1 and 2, a rigid or elastic rope (7) is placed along the lower edge of the fabric (3), also via eyelets (5) to allow the fastening of the cover (1). Once the rope (7) is tight, it can be fastened to a cleat or to any point that allows a suitable anchor.

[0040] To store the cover (1) simply needs to let go the rope (7), remove the fastening and fold up flaps inwards. The sleeve (15) will slide downwards in order to make the cover (1) compact and allow an easy storage.

[0041] FIG. 2 shows that the cover is provided with a back opening (36) as to allow access to the object covered anytime and without any difficulties.

[0042] FIG. 3 shows the possibility of bracing the rod (19) in order to give more stability and safety to the invention.

[0043] FIG. 4 shows three possible systems for anchoring, lifting and pulling the cover, manual (22), mechanical (23) and electrical (24).

[0044] FIG. 5 shows a possible application to the cover (1). With purpose of reinforcing the fabric in the selected point for the coupling means (10) of the cover, adapted to lift, two discs are preferably placed, one disc (26) below the cover and the other disc (25) above it, preferably attached via a double eye eyebolt (21) and fixed with two nuts (27). The eye (28) on the upper end, allows an easy connection to the stretch of rope (12), preferably using a hook (11). It is possible to join a maneuvering rope to the lower eye (29).

[0045] FIG. 6 shows a possible embodiment of the sleeve (15) for the cover (1), consisting of a series of rings (30) connected to each other and preferably spaced by ropes (31, 32). The rings can be made in any suitable shape and material. The anchoring means (37) is connected to upper part of the sleeve, it preferably consists of a disc (33) with a double eye eyebolt (14), to the side edges of which are fastened the ropes (31, 32). The coupling means of the cover can be directly connected to the lower eye (34) through preferably a hook (11), while the upper eye (35) will be connected to the support system.

[0046] FIGS. 7, 8, 9 provided for purpose of illustration and are not intended to be exhaustive, show possible applications of the invention to vehicles and things. The cover (1), therefore, can have different shapes according to the type of vehicle or things for which it is intended.

[0047] As showed in FIG. 9, the cover could be directly fixed to any high stationary point, also a beam or a wall. This additional method of installation of the invention can be indicative, but not exhaustive.

[0048] FIG. 10 shows an example of application of the invention in which the cover is a camping tend.

[0049] Figures from 11 to 16 show an example of application of the invention in a preferential embodiment in its various stages of use, described below: starting from the cover (1) stored in the sleeve (15), FIG. 11, the first stage is to loosen the rope (17) in order to bring the sleeve (15) towards the bow of the boat, with the lower end of it facing the bow, while the cover (1) is compacted inside. The hook (9) of the cover (1), protruding from the lower end of the sleeve (15), is placed as much as possible on the bow and, when present, externally to the handrail, and then it is fastened by ropes, or anything suitable, to the cleats of the bow or to any other suitable element, FIG. 12. Afterwards the rope (17) is pulled, until the sleeve (15), with the cover (1) inside, will not be tighten, then it is fastened to the cleat (22) on the rod (19), FIG. 13. At this stage, the sleeve is slid along the cover, FIG. 14, folding and compacting up to its retractable position on the stretch of rope (12) above the cover (1), in order to not hamper the others deployment maneuvers of the release cover (1). At this point the flaps of the cover (1) are brought outwards, FIG. 15, the rope (7), placed, also via eyelets (5), on the lower perimeter of the lower part (3) of the cover (1), is pulled from the stern of the boat, in order to make the cover adhere to the boat as much as possible and then the rope is fastened, FIG. 16. If necessary, the rope (17) is adjusted to ensure the tension of the cover (1), also to prevent water stagnation. To store the cover (1) it will be simply necessary to retrace in reverse the stages listed above.