Apparatus including vehicle, console and molded canopy

• US 7,506,604 B1
• Filed: 06/12/2007
• Issued: 03/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Marine Polymer Design, LLC
• Original Assignee: Marine Polymer Design, LLC
• Inventors: Smith, Luther Thomas, Forbes, Edward Ernest, Cooper, William Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Olson; Lars A
• Application Number:
  US11/761,684
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 114/343, 114/361, 296/102, 296/103, 296/104, 296/105, 296/211, 296/214, 296/215, 296/37.7
• US Class Current: 114/361
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 17/02 Awnings , including rigid weather protection structures, e.g. sunroofs; Tarpaulins; Accessories for awnings or tarpaulins

Abstract

An apparatus including: a vehicle; a console attached to the vehicle; and an integrally formed, internally supported, molded canopy attached to the vehicle. In various embodiments, the apparatus further includes a frame attached to the vehicle for supporting the canopy and the canopy may include an internal electrical system.

Claims

1. A canopy for a marine vessel comprising:

(a) an outer skin having a top layer and a bottom layer, the bottom layer forming an integrally molded outer wall of a marine equipment compartment;

(b) an inner wall of the marine equipment compartment inside the outer wall and spaced apart from the outer wall, the inner wall defining an opening visible from below the canopy for displaying marine equipment; and

(c) foam support between the inner wall and the top layer of the outer skin and between the inner wall and the outer wall of the marine equipment compartment.

2. The canopy according to claim 1 wherein the inner wall of the marine equipment compartment is integrally molded with the outer wall.

3. The canopy according to claim 2 wherein the foam support extends from the inner wall of the marine equipment compartment to the top layer of the outer skin.

4. The canopy according to claim 3 wherein the foam support extends from the inner wall to the outer wall of the marine equipment compartment.

5. The canopy according to claim 4 wherein the outer wall forms at least a portion of the bottom of the canopy.

6. The canopy according to claim 1, wherein the inner wall comprises an interior top wall, an interior bottom wall and opposing interior side walls of the compartment.

7. The canopy according to claim 6 wherein the interior top, bottom and side walls of the inner wall are integrally molded with each other.

8. The canopy according to claim 6 wherein the inner wall comprises an interior back wall of the compartment.

9. The canopy according to claim 1 in combination with the marine vessel.

10. A molded canopy for a marine vessel comprising:

(a) an outer skin having a top layer and a bottom layer wherein the bottom layer forms an integrally molded marine equipment compartment including an inner wall inside an outer wall spaced apart from the outer wall, the outer wall providing a bottom surface of the canopy and the inner wall defining an opening visible from below the canopy for displaying marine equipment; and

(b) foam support within the outer skin between the top and bottom layers and between the inner and outer walls of the marine equipment compartment, the foam support substantially filling the space between the inner and outer walls of the marine equipment compartment.

11. The canopy according to claim 10 wherein the top layer and bottom layer are connected by a pair of opposing lateral sides forming opposing lateral sides of the canopy, and a rearward side forming a rearward side of the canopy.

12. The canopy according to claim 11 wherein the foam support extends from one opposing lateral side to the other and from the forward to the rearward side of the canopy.

13. The canopy according to claim 10 further comprising a plurality of supports molded in to extend within the outer skin at least partially surrounded by the foam support, the plurality of supports for suspending equipment within the foam support layer.

14. The canopy according to claim 10 wherein the inner wall comprises an interior top wall above an interior bottom wall of the compartment and wherein the foam support extends below the interior bottom wall of the compartment.

15. The canopy according to claim 14 wherein the inner wall comprises opposing interior side walls of the compartment.