U.S. patent application number 09/925621 was filed with the patent office on 2002-03-07 for camper boat assembly.
Invention is credited to Burk, Terry, Erskine, Edward J., Giffin, Jeffery J., Lysne, Allen J., Mathewson, Michael, Owens, Kevin, Shearer, Robert R., Stancil, Kevin.
Application Number | 20020026891 09/925621 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46277992 |
Filed Date | 2002-03-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020026891 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Giffin, Jeffery J. ; et
al. |
March 7, 2002 |
Camper boat assembly
Abstract
A camper back assembly for attachment to a boat includes a
plurality of strut members having one end anchored to the boat,
with the end opposite ends of the strut members anchored to the
awning or boat structure. The length of the strut members is
greater than the linear distance between the anchor points on the
boat transom and the awning to provide a dome-like support for a
cover portion which is releaseably secured to the boat.
Inventors: |
Giffin, Jeffery J.; (Kohler,
WI) ; Lysne, Allen J.; (Owatoma, MN) ; Burk,
Terry; (Winter Springs, FL) ; Erskine, Edward J.;
(Benson, NY) ; Mathewson, Michael; (Elk River,
MN) ; Owens, Kevin; (Sanford, FL) ; Shearer,
Robert R.; (Ellenton, FL) ; Stancil, Kevin;
(Bradenton, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NIXON & VANDERHYE P.C.
8th Floor
1100 North Glebe Road
Arlington
VA
22201
US
|
Family ID: |
46277992 |
Appl. No.: |
09/925621 |
Filed: |
August 10, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09925621 |
Aug 10, 2001 |
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09374039 |
Aug 13, 1999 |
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6286449 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
114/361 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 15/44 20130101;
E04H 15/64 20130101; B63B 17/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
114/361 |
International
Class: |
B63B 017/00 |
Claims
1. A camper assembly arranged for attachment to a boat having
integral supporting structure extending thereacross between the
sides of the boat, the assembly including in combination: a
plurality of flexible strut members each having a first end
structurally arranged to be secured to a boat surface and a second
end opposite said first end structurally arranged to be secured to
the integral supporting structure of the boat, and wherein the
length of said strut members is greater than the linear distance
between the boat surface and the supporting structure securing
point to provide dome shaped, upwardly bowed strut members; and a
cover portion structurally arranged to be supported by said strut
members and structurally arranged to be releaseably secured to the
supporting structure and to the boat surface, to provide a dome
shaped camper assembly.
2. The camper assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said
plurality of said strut members include at least three strut
members.
3. The camper assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said
strut members are segmented, with the ends of each segment being
structurally arranged to nest with respect to one another.
4. The camper assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said
cover portion includes pockets which engage said first ends of said
strut members and which are structurally arranged to receive and
anchor said second end opposite the one end of said strut
members.
5. The camper assembly in accordance with claim 4, wherein said
pockets of said cover portion further include strap members which
are arranged to engage the boat surface to secure said first ends
of said strut members to the boat surface.
6. The camper assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said
cover portion includes windows therein made of a clear plastic
material.
7. A camper strut assembly frame arranged for attachment to a boat
having a windshield supporting structure extending thereacross,
said strut assembly frame including a plurality of flexible strut
members each having a first end arranged to be releaseably anchored
to a boat surface of the boat and a second end opposite said first
end structurally arranged to be secured to the windshield
supporting structure, and wherein the length of each of said strut
members is greater than the linear distance between the boat
surface and the windshield anchoring point to provide a dome
shaped, upwardly bowed strut assembly frame.
8. The camper assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said
cover portion is comprised of a water repellant material.
9. The camper assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said
cover portion includes a screen material portion which permits
ventilation of the dome shaped camper assembly.
10. The camper assembly in accordance with claim 1, further
including a bag member adapted to receive and store said plurality
of strut members and said cover portion.
11. The camper assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said
strut members are collapsible to permit storage of the camper
assembly in a bag.
12. A camper strut assembly frame arranged for attachment to a boat
having a supporting structure extending thereacross between the
sides of the boat, said strut assembly frame including a plurality
of flexible strut members each having a first end arranged to be
releaseably anchored to a boat surface of the boat and a second end
opposite said first end arranged to be secured to the supporting
structure, and wherein the length of each of said strut members is
greater than the linear distance between the boat surface and the
supporting structure anchoring point to provide a dome shaped,
upwardly bowed strut assembly frame.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of copending U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 09/374,039 filed Aug. 13, 1999, the
entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] (NOT APPLICABLE)
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates to a camper back boat assembly
which may be readily secured to a boat to protect the occupants
from inclement weather.
[0004] At the present time, camper back cover structures exist for
the attachment to power boats and other boats to enclose the rear
portion of the boat from inclement weather. These camper back
structures require a supporting hardware which is permanently
attached to the power boat to provide the support for the canvas
roof covering portion. However, when the prior art camper back
structures are not in use, the supporting hardware necessarily
remains permanently attached to the boat. Also, if it is desired to
remove the supporting hardware from the boat, the use of glass
fibers to repair the boat hull is required. Thus, existing camper
back cover structures are permanently mounted to the boat hull.
Also, the existing camper back structures, when not in use, either
obstruct the usage of the boat or require hinged mountings which
permits the supporting frame hardware to be collapsed to nest along
the sides and rear of the boat. Such nesting occupies significant
space and substantially reduces the useful space within the
boat.
[0005] Another disadvantage of existing camper back structures is
that they include significant multiple pieces of canvas which must
be rolled and stored within the boat. And, because existing camper
back structures require the supporting hardware to be permanently
attached to the boat, such structures provide an area which is
unsightly and provide supporting hardware which is noisy when the
boat is in use. Finally, existing permanent stainless steel
supporting structures lower and reduce the amount of headroom
available for the occupants in the boat.
[0006] Typical cover structures additionally have been primarily
limited to covering the back or transom of the boat, thereby
limiting potentially useful space. Moreover, existing cover
structures have not been suitable for other vehicles such as golf
carts and the like or for use independently as a stand-alone
unit.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is one object of the present invention to provide a
camper back assembly which is engageable with the back or transom
of a boat and the existing awning structure on the boat and which
does not require fixed anchoring mountings to the boat deck or
hull.
[0008] A further object of the present invention is to provide a
camper back assembly which is significantly less time consuming to
install to provide quicker protection from the elements than
existing camper back structures.
[0009] A further object of the present invention is a camper back
assembly which is less costly, which is easier to store and which
does not require permanent hardware to be affixed to a boat hull to
anchor the camper back assembly.
[0010] Still a further object of the present invention is a camper
back assembly which eliminates the need for permanent hardware for
attachment to the boat while providing increased headroom for the
occupants of the boat.
[0011] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
a camper back assembly which is releaseably mounted to the boat
transom and to the existing boat framework or awning structure.
[0012] Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide
a camper back assembly which is inexpensive, which contains less
parts and which is significantly easier to install to a boat and
remove from the boat than existing camper back assemblies.
[0013] The present invention relates to a camper back assembly
which is readily mountable to a boat hull to permit rapid
installation without the requirement of the use of mounting frames
or hardware permanently secured to the boat hull. The camper back
assembly of the present invention consists of a covering portion
which is structurally arranged to be releaseably secured to the
boat hull using the existing snap members that are present on the
boat hull.
[0014] The camper back assembly further includes a plurality of
flexible struts or frame members having one end releaseably secured
to the rear or transom of a boat by anchoring the one ends to the
covering portion secured to the boat hull and the ends of the strut
opposite the one end being releaseably secured to the existing
awning secured to the boat. Importantly, the length of the flexible
struts is greater than the planar distance between the anchor or
securing sites on the boat transom and awning structure. The
flexible struts form and define an arch or dome shell which
supports the covering portion to provide a protective shell or dome
over the covered area.
[0015] Preferably, the side and rear edges of the covering portion
are releaseably secured to the boat by snap members to provide the
protective shell or domed cover over the enclosed area. The front
edge of the covering portion is, preferably, releaseably secured to
the existing awning structure mounted to the boat to complete the
domed enclosure. The flexible struts may be disassembled to permit
portability of the camper back assembly. One advantage of the
camper back assembly in accordance with the present invention is
that the assembly affords significantly more standing headroom in
the boat than existing coverings, and this extra headroom permits
people to sit or stand in the back of the boat while the camper
back is mounted on the boat.
[0016] Additionally, the present invention provides a camper back
assembly which eliminates the need for a permanent framework to be
attached or anchored to the boat and permits the use of a camper
back assembly which is significantly less time consuming in
assembly, thereby providing quicker protection to the occupants
from inclement weather. Also, the camper back assembly in
accordance with the present invention may be readily stored within
a convenient carrying bag which permits significant savings of boat
storage space.
[0017] In an alternative strut support structure in accordance with
the present invention, the strut support structure utilizes an
auxiliary support rod member which is structurally arranged and
mounted to extend across the width of the boat under the awning
member. The strut support structure is readily affixed to the
existing canvas support framework or radar arch. The ends of the
flexible strut members are anchored to the auxiliary support rod
member and to the transom of the boat. The ends of the strut may be
anchored in pockets in the existing awning structure and in pockets
in the rear portion of the covering portion. The covering portion
is then secured to the boat in the same manner as the first
embodiment, as previously described.
[0018] The present invention consists of certain novel features and
structural details hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the
accompanied drawings, and specifically pointed out in the appended
claims, it being understood that various changes in the details may
be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the
advantages of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] These and other aspects and advantages of the present
invention will be described in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the camper back assembly
attached to a boat in accordance with the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the camper back
strut members secured to the transom of the boat and the awning for
supporting the camper back covering portion in accordance with the
present invention;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the camper back strut members
mounted for releasable attachment to the boat transom in accordance
with the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 4 illustrates the engagement of the upper ends of the
camper back strut members to the awning of a boat in accordance
with of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 5 is an view illustrating the anchoring of the lower
ends of the camper back strut members to the rear handrail portion
of a boat transom in accordance with the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 6 is an rear perspective view showing the anchoring of
the lower ends of the camper back strut members in pockets in the
strap members which are releaseably secured to the rear handrail of
a boat transom in accordance with the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the
interlocking and nesting of the camper back strut members in
accordance with the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the anchoring
of the lower ends of the camper back strut members to the boat
transom in accordance with the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the attachment of
the camper back strut members to an auxiliary support frame member
mounted to the awning support member in accordance with the present
invention;
[0029] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the anchoring
of the upper ends of the camper back strut members to the auxiliary
support frame member in accordance with the present invention;
[0030] FIG. 11 is an enlarged view illustrating the securing of the
cover portion by snap members to the boat hull in accordance with
the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 12 is an enlarged view illustrating the securing of the
cover portion by hook fastening members to the awning in accordance
with the present invention;
[0032] FIG. 13 is an enlarged view illustrating the securing of the
cover portion by a zipper member to the awning in accordance with
the present invention; and
[0033] FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating the engagement of
the camper back strut members with an awning member in accordance
with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0034] Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals have
been used throughout the several views to designate the same or
similar parts, the present invention is directed to a camper back
assembly 10 which is readily attachable to a boat deck or hull or
other structure. As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the camper back assembly 10
is comprised of a plurality of support strut or frame members 12
which are adapted to support a canvas or water repellant covering
portion 14. The covering portion 14, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 10,
is structurally arranged to be mounted to snaps 16 that exist on
the boat hull 11 to facilitate securing of the canvas covering 14
to the boat. In one embodiment of the present invention, the front
edge portion 14a of the cover portion 14 is adapted to be secured
to the bimini awning 18 which is fixedly secured by support members
19 to the radar arch or support frame 20 of a boat hull 11, as
shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4.
[0035] As shown in FIG. 4, the support struts 12 are anchored to
the rear edge 26 of the bimini awning 18 by resting in pockets 21
in the bimini awning 18. In FIG. 14, the support struts 12 are
anchored to the awning 18A by resting in pockets 21 therein, in the
same manner as shown in FIG. 4. In such an embodiment, the boat
hull 11 may not include a radar or support arch 20 but does include
awning support members 19. The rear edge 26 of the bimini awning 18
or awning 18A, preferably includes a zipper member 26 (FIG. 13)
which is structurally arranged to cooperate with and to engage a
corresponding zipper member 29 on the upper edge 14a of the
covering portion to secure the covering portion to the awning. In
an alternative embodiment, the rear edge 26 of the bimini awning 18
or awning 18A and the front edge 14a of the cover portion may
include cooperating hook and fastener members 32 (FIG. 12).
[0036] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the lower end 12b of the support
strut members 12 may be adapted to be mounted to the boat transom
13 by a flexible member 22 which is adapted to engage a handrail 24
that is mounted on the transom of the boat 11. The flexible member
22 is mounted by a snap member 16 (FIG. 6) to the boat rail 24 and
includes a pocket portion 25 which is adapted to receive the lower
end 12b of the support members 12. Thus, the lower end 12b of the
support members is mounted by a flexible member 22 to the boat
railing of the transom of the boat and the upper end 12a of the
support or strut members 12 may be mounted within pocket 21 on the
bimini awning 18 or awning 18A. As partially shown in FIGS. 3 and
14, three support strut members 12 are mounted to the transom of
the boat and are arcuately positioned upwardly to engage the
pockets in the awnings 18 or 18A (FIGS. 2, 4 and 14).
[0037] One alternative embodiment for the mounting of the upper
ends 12a of the support strut members 12 to the pockets 21 in the
awnings include the utilization of an auxiliary support member 30,
which is mounted to the awning hardware 19, and which extends
across the width of the boat substantially under the rear edge of
the awning 18, the configuration as shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 10 is a
cross-sectional view illustrating that the auxiliary support member
30 includes openings 34 which are adapted to permit the upper end
12a of the strut members 12 to fit within the openings in the
auxiliary support member to thereby anchor the upper ends of the
strut members. In this embodiment of the present invention, the
upper edge 14a of the canvas covering 14 is also attached to the
trailing edge of the awning 18, as previously described. This
attachment may be made by a zipper members 28 and 29 (FIG. 13) or
by a hook and fastener members 32 (FIG. 12).
[0038] A further means of attachment of the upper edge of the
canvas covering 14 to the boat is the positioning of pockets 21, as
shown in FIG. 4, on the front inside surface 14a the covering 14.
The pockets 21 are adapted to receive the upper ends 12a of the
strut members 12 to anchor the same, as shown in FIG. 4. The edge
of the covering 14 is then attached directly to the radar arch or
arch support 20, by snap members 16, as shown in FIG. 2.
[0039] The lower edge 14b of the canvas covering 14 may also
include pockets 21 therein which receive and anchor the lower end
12b of the struts 12. The covering 14 is secured to the transom 13
by snap members 16, as shown in FIG. 8. Thus, the canvas covering
itself may provide the means for attachment of the struts to the
boat without the necessity of any supplemental hardware.
[0040] The camper back assembly 10 includes a plurality of windows
35 (FIG. 9) therein which permits the occupant of the boat to have
visibility out of the camper back assembly and also protects the
occupant of the boat from inclement weather. The windows are
preferably comprised of a flexible synthetic clear material with
the side windows also being comprised of a flexible clear windows.
However, it is within the scope of the present invention that the
windows may include a screen material which permits ventilation
through the camper back assembly.
[0041] As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 9, the support members 12 are
anchored at their upper ends 12a and at their lower ends 12b to
either the awning 18 or to the auxiliary support member 30. The
strut members 12 have a length greater than the planar distance
between the upper anchor pocket 21 and the lower pocket portion 21
associated with the boat transom. Such a structure results in an
outward arcuate dome support configuration by the strut members.
Thus, when the canvas covering is positioned over the struts and
attached to the transom and the sides and to the awning, the
subsequent dome-shaped camper back permits the occupants of the
boat to stand upright while being protected from inclement weather.
As shown in FIG. 2, the strut members 12 may be of any
predetermined length which determines the amount of arch necessary
to provide the desired clearance for the occupants of the boat
while simultaneously providing support for the canvas portion.
Also, the struts 12 may be segmented and be comprised of a
plurality of lengths which may be engaged to one another with one
end 36 of the strut member having a recess 37 and the adjoining end
38 having a projection 39 such that the struts interlock and nest
with one another, as shown in FIG. 7. Moreover, the struts 12 may
alternatively be attachable to the bow of the boat with a similar
configuration, thereby providing shelter and added use to
additional portions of the boat.
[0042] The present camper back assembly requires significantly less
time in assembling the camper back assembly to a boat. The entire
camper back assembly may be stored in a gym bag which permits
significant savings of boat storage space. Additionally, the
present camper back assembly is less costly, easier to store and
permits easy assembly without compromise to head-room of the
occupant during usage. Additionally, when the camper back assembly
is not attached to the boat, the occupants of the boat are free to
move about the boat without interference with permanent hardware
secured to the boat.
[0043] While the invention has been described in connection with
what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be
limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is
intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements
included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *