Bimini tops for watercrafts

• US 8,757,185 B1
• Filed: 11/08/2013
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adventure Canopies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Matthew D. Muzzio
• Inventors: Muzzio, Matthew D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hawk, Noah Chandler
• Application Number:
  US14/075,492
• Time in Patent Office: 228 Days
• Field of Search: 135/88.01, 43 1- 3, 114/361
• US Class Current: 135/88.01
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 17/02 Awnings , including rigid weather protection structures, e.g. sunroofs; Tarpaulins; Accessories for awnings or tarpaulins

Abstract

A stable rigid frame canopy being collapsible, adjustable, and capable of providing full body coverage without restricting a user'"'"'s ability to enter, exit, and row a small watercraft. The canopy includes an outer support frame, and inner transverse support frame, and a canopy cover. The outer support frame has a cross frame design to increase stability. The inner transverse support frame can be longitudinally adjustable to alter the shaded region.

Claims

1. A canopy apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

an outer support frame having a first elongate outer support member and a second elongate outer support member, each of said first and second outer support members having two (2) distinct points of connection with said vehicle to form four (4) distinct points of connection between said canopy apparatus and said vehicle, said first and second outer support members having longitudinal extents that are oblique to each other;

an off-center intersection or crossing point between said first outer support member and said second outer support member, said first and second outer support members being secured to one another at a spaced distance above their corresponding points of connection to said vehicle;

a resilient cross connector that secures said first elongate outer support member and said second elongate outer support member to each other at said intersection or crossing point, said cross connector having a first channel that receives said first elongate outer support member and a second channel that receives said second elongate outer support member, said first channel and said second channel having an inherent bias toward being disposed in parallel relation to each other, said second channel capable of twisting relative to said first channel such that said first and second elongate outer support members can be positioned oblique to one another, said second channel having a length shorter than a length of said first channel;

an inner transverse frame extending between said first and second outer support members at a position proximal to an apex of said canopy apparatus with said intersection or crossing point being distal to said apex of said canopy apparatus, said inner transverse frame coupling said first outer support member to said second outer support member; and

a canopy cover capable of attachment to said outer support frame.

2. A canopy apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising:

said outer support members further including interconnected longitudinal members formed of a resilient material.

3. A canopy apparatus as in claim 2, further comprising:

a slip connector that secures two (2) of said interconnected longitudinal members to one another.

4. A canopy apparatus as in claim 3, further comprising:

said longitudinal members having a hollow cross-section and said slip connectors also having a hollow cross-section;

a shock cord disposed through said hollow cross-sections of said longitudinal members and said slip connectors of each of said outer support members, said shock cord being secured to each end of said each outer support member and having a length shorter than or equal to a length of said each outer support member when there is no tension force on said shock cord.

5. A canopy apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising:

said inner transverse frame further including tee connectors on each end of said inner transverse frame securing said each end of said inner transverse frame to each respective outer support member.

6. A canopy apparatus as in claim 5, further comprising:

said inner transverse frame further including interconnected inner transverse support members formed of a resilient material.

7. A canopy apparatus as in claim 6, further comprising:

a slip connector that secures two (2) of said interconnected inner transverse support members to one another.

8. A canopy apparatus as in claim 7, further comprising:

said transverse support members having a hollow cross-section and said slip connectors also having a hollow cross-section;

a shock cord disposed through said hollow cross-sections of said transverse support members and said slip connectors of each of said inner transverse frame, said shock cord being secured to each end of said inner transverse frame and having a length shorter than or equal to a length of said inner transverse frame when there is no tension force on said shock cord.

9. A canopy apparatus as in claim 5, further comprising:

said tee connectors further including a base channel and an inwardly extending channel, said base channel communicating with said outer support members and having a cross-section large enough to allow said tee connectors to slide longitudinally along said outer support members, said inwardly extending channel communicating with said inner transverse frame,

wherein sliding opposing tee connectors along said first and second outer support members changes an arc of said canopy cover.

10. A canopy apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising:

a cross connector communicating with said first and second outer support members and securing said first and second outer support members in an oblique orientation with respect to each other at said intersection or crossing point.

11. A canopy apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising:

four (4) receptacles secured to said vehicle, said receptacles corresponding to said four (4) distinct points of connection between said canopy apparatus and said vehicle, said first and second outer support members each having a first end and a second end that are secured to said four (4) receptacles.

12. A canopy apparatus as in claim 11, further comprising:

said first end of said first and second outer support members having a first roughly cylindrical, semi-malleable head,

said second end of said first and second outer support members having a second roughly cylindrical, semi-malleable head,

wherein each of said first and second heads of said first and second outer support members are inserted into and secured within each of said four (4) receptacles.

13. A canopy apparatus as in claim 12, further comprising:

said first and second heads being formed of a material having a density less than water.

14. A canopy apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising:

an additional intersection or crossing point between said first outer support member and said second outer support member at a position substantially opposite from said intersection or crossing point, said first and second outer support members being secured to one another at an additional spaced distance above their corresponding points of connection to said vehicle.

15. A canopy apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising:

said outer support frame having a longitudinal axis that is parallel to a path of travel of said vehicle or parallel to a longitudinal extent of said vehicle.

16. A canopy apparatus for a kayak or similar small watercraft, comprising:

an outer support frame having a first elongate outer support member and a second elongate outer support member, each of said first and second outer support members having two (2) distinct points of connection with said watercraft to form four (4) distinct points of connection between said canopy apparatus and said watercraft, said first and second outer support members having longitudinal extents that are oblique to each other, said outer support frame having a longitudinal axis that is parallel to a path of travel of said watercraft and parallel to a longitudinal extent of said watercraft, said outer support members further including interconnected longitudinal members formed of a resilient material, said longitudinal members having a hollow cross-section;

a longitudinal slip connector that secures two (2) of said interconnected longitudinal members to one another, said slip connectors also having a hollow cross-section;

a shock cord disposed through said hollow cross-sections of said longitudinal members and said slip connectors of each of said outer support members, said shock cord being secured to each end of said each outer support member and having a length shorter than or equal to a length of said each outer support member when there is no tension force on said shock cord;

four (4) receptacles secured to said watercraft, said receptacles corresponding to said four (4) distinct points of connection between said canopy apparatus and said watercraft,

said first and second outer support members each having a first end and a second end,

said first end of said first and second outer support members having a first roughly cylindrical, semi-malleable head,

said second end of said first and second outer support members having a second roughly cylindrical, semi-malleable head, wherein each of said first and second heads of said first and second outer support members are inserted into and secured within each of said four (4) receptacles, said first and second heads being formed of a material having a density less than water,

a first intersection or crossing point between said first outer support member and said second outer support member, said first and second outer support members being secured to one another at a first spaced distance above their corresponding points of connection to said watercraft;

a second intersection or crossing point between said first outer support member and said second outer support member at a position substantially opposite from said intersection or crossing point, said first and second outer support members being secured to one another at a second spaced distance above their corresponding points of connection to said watercraft;

a cross connector communicating with said first and second outer support members and securing said first and second outer support members in an oblique orientation with respect to each other at said first and second intersection or crossing points;

three (3) inner transverse frames extending between said first and second outer support members, said inner transverse frames coupling said first outer support member to said second outer support member, said three (3) inner transverse frames formed of a resilient material,

a tee connector on each end of a centermost inner transverse frame, said tee connector securing said each end of said centermost inner transverse frame to each respective outer support member, said tee connector further including a base channel and an inwardly extending channel, said base channel communicating with said outer support members and having a cross-section large enough to allow said tee connectors to slide longitudinally along said outer support members, said inwardly extending channel communicating with said centermost inner transverse frame, wherein sliding opposing tee connectors along said first and second outer support members changes an arc of said canopy cover; and

a flexible canopy cover attached to said outer support frame and disposed in overlying relation to said inner transverse frames.

17. A canopy apparatus for vehicle, comprising:

an outer support frame having a first elongate outer support member and a second elongate outer support member, each of said first and second outer support members having two (2) distinct points of connection with said watercraft to form four (4) distinct points of connection between said canopy apparatus and said watercraft, said first and second outer support members having longitudinal extents that are oblique to each other, said outer support frame having a longitudinal axis that is parallel to a path of travel of said watercraft and parallel to a longitudinal extent of said watercraft, said outer support members further including interconnected longitudinal members formed of a resilient material, said longitudinal members having a hollow cross-section;

a longitudinal slip connector that secures two (2) of said interconnected longitudinal members to one another, said slip connectors also having a hollow cross-section;

a shock cord disposed through said hollow cross-sections of said longitudinal members and said slip connectors of each of said outer support members, said shock cord being secured to each end of said each outer support member and having a length shorter than or equal to a length of said each outer support member when there is no tension force on said shock cord;

four (4) receptacles secured to said watercraft, said receptacles corresponding to said four (4) distinct points of connection between said canopy apparatus and said watercraft,

said first and second outer support members each having a first end and a second end,

said first end of said first and second outer support members having a first roughly cylindrical, semi-malleable head,

said second end of said first and second outer support members having a second roughly cylindrical, semi-malleable head, wherein each of said first and second heads of said first and second outer support members are inserted into and secured within each of said four (4) receptacles, said first and second heads being formed of a material having a density less than water;

a first intersection or crossing point between said first outer support member and said second outer support member, said first and second outer support members being secured to one another at a first spaced distance above their corresponding points of connection to said watercraft;

a second intersection or crossing point between said first outer support member and said second outer support member at a position substantially opposite from said intersection or crossing point, said first and second outer support members being secured to one another at a second spaced distance above their corresponding points of connection to said watercraft;

a cross connector communicating with said first and second outer support members and securing said first and second outer support members in an oblique orientation with respect to each other at said first and second intersection or crossing points;

a transverse frame extending between said first and second outer support members, said inner transverse frame coupling said first outer support member to said second outer support member, said inner transverse frame formed of a resilient material,

a tee connector on each end of said inner transverse frame, said tee connector securing said each end of said inner transverse frame to each respective outer support member, said tee connector further including a base channel and an inwardly extending channel, said base channel communicating with said outer support members and having a cross-section large enough to allow said tee connectors to slide longitudinally along said outer support members, said inwardly extending channel communicating with said centermost inner transverse frame, wherein sliding opposing tee connectors along said first and second outer support members changes an arc of said canopy cover, and

a flexible canopy cover attached to said outer support frame and disposed in overlying relation to said inner transverse frame.