# US 10,370,217 B2 · Automatic watercraft cover and receiving system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,370,217 B2 - Document ID: US10370217B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/684,460 - Filed: 2017-08-23 - Published: 2019-02-28 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-23 - Assignees: Timpte Industries, Inc. - Applicants: Timpte Industries, Inc. - Inventors: Terry J. Bielfelt; Martin E. Ourada; Andrew F. Nickel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10370217B2 ## CPC - B65H 75/4481: {Arrangements or adaptations for driving the reel or the material (by a spring B65H75/48)} - B63B 17/02: Awnings {, including rigid weather protection structures, e.g. sunroofs; Tarpaulins; Accessories for awnings or tarpaulins} - B63B 35/34: Pontoons (floating bridges E01D15/14) - B63C 1/02: Floating docks ({externally attached cofferdams and the like B63B17/0018; } ship transporters with adjustable draught B63B35/42) - E02B 3/20: Equipment for shipping on coasts, in harbours or on other fixed marine structures, e.g. bollards (tying-up, anchoring B63B21/00, e.g. bollards for shipping B63B21/06; buoys B63B22/00 {; equipment specially adapted for use in locks or dry docks E02C1/10}) - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES - B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06) - B63C: LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS (floating nets, floating slipways, or the like for recovering aircraft from the water B63B35/52) - E02B: HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING (ship-lifting E02C; dredging E02F) ## Abstract The cover delivery device (e.g., for use in selectably covering a watercraft) can include a first mobile support assembly, a second mobile support assembly, a drive shaft, and a cover carrier mechanism. The first mobile support assembly is mounted to and configured for movement along a first rail. The second mobile support assembly is mounted to and configured for movement along a second rail, which is generally parallel to the first rail. The drive shaft extends between and is rotatably mounted to the first mobile support assembly and the second mobile support assembly. The cover carrier mechanism extends between and is rotatably mounted to the first mobile support assembly and the second mobile support assembly. The cover carrier mechanism is configured for selectably deploying a cover carried thereby, with the cover carrier mechanism being configured to respectively roll and unroll the cover relative thereto. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cover delivery device, comprising: a first mobile support assembly configured for movement along a first rail; a second mobile support assembly configured for movement along a second rail, the second rail being generally parallel to the first rail; and a cover carrier mechanism extending between and rotatably mounted to the first mobile support assembly and the second mobile support assembly, the cover carrier mechanism being configured for selectably deploying a cover carried thereby, the cover carrier mechanism being configured to respectively roll and unroll the cover relative thereto, wherein the first mobile support assembly and the second mobile support assembly respectively includes a corresponding support frame and a corresponding plurality of idler wheels, the corresponding support frame rotatably carrying the cover carrier mechanism, the corresponding plurality of idler wheels being configured to facilitate movement thereof relative to at least one of a corresponding first rail or a corresponding second rail. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cover delivery device of claim 1, wherein the first mobile support assembly, the second mobile support assembly, and the cover carrier mechanism are respectively configured to move with respect to one another so as to control a delivery of the cover relative to an expanse of a watercraft. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The cover delivery device of claim 2, wherein the first mobile support assembly, the second mobile support assembly, and the cover carrier mechanism are respectively configured to move with respect to one another so to feed the cover out over the expanse of the watercraft. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The cover delivery device of claim 2, wherein the first mobile support assembly, the second mobile support assembly, and the cover carrier mechanism are respectively configured to move with respect to one another so to retrieve the cover from the expanse of the watercraft. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The cover delivery device of claim 1, wherein the cover delivery device is configured for being mounted above a dock slip for receiving a watercraft, the cover carrier mechanism being configured for selectably deploying the cover carried thereby relative to the watercraft. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cover delivery device of claim 1, wherein the cover carrier mechanism defines a carrier middle and a pair of carrier ends, the carrier middle being located between the pair of carrier ends, the carrier middle being greater in diameter than the carrier ends. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The cover delivery device of claim 1, further comprising a slip clutch drive mounted to at least one of the first mobile support assembly or the second mobile support assembly, the slip clutch drive being operatively linked to the cover carrier mechanism. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The cover delivery device of claim 1, further comprising a rail drive mounted to at least one of the first mobile support assembly or the second mobile support assembly, the rail drive being configured to selectably move the one of the first mobile support assembly or the second mobile support assembly relative to the respective one of a first rail or a second rail. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The cover delivery device of claim 8, wherein the rail drive further includes a drive shaft operatively rotated by the rail drive motor, the drive shaft being configured for driving both the first mobile support assembly and the second mobile support assembly relative to a respective one of the first rail or the second rail. ### Claim 10 A cover delivery mechanism, comprising: a first rail; a second rail spaced apart from and generally parallel to the first rail; and a cover delivery device, comprising: a first mobile support assembly mounted to and configured for movement along the first rail; a second mobile support assembly mounted to and configured for movement along the second rail; and a cover carrier mechanism extending between and rotatably mounted to the first mobile support assembly and the second mobile support assembly, the cover carrier mechanism being configured for selectably deploying a cover carried thereby, the cover carrier mechanism being configured to respectively roll and unroll the cover relative thereto, wherein the first mobile support assembly and the second mobile support assembly respectively includes a corresponding support frame and a corresponding plurality of idler wheels, the corresponding support frame rotatably carrying the cover carrier mechanism, the corresponding plurality of idler wheels being configured to facilitate movement thereof relative to at least one of a corresponding first rail or a corresponding second rail. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The cover delivery mechanism of claim 10, wherein the first rail and the second rail are mounted at a height so as to be able to receive a watercraft therebelow, the cover carrier mechanism being configured to selectably deploy the cover carried thereby relative to the watercraft. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The cover delivery mechanism of claim 10, wherein at least one of the first mobile support assembly or the second mobile support assembly has at least one of a rail drive system or a cover carrier rotation drive associated therewith, the rail drive system being configured for promoting conveyance along at least one of the first rail or the second rail, the cover carrier rotation drive being configured for selectably winding or unwinding the cover. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The cover delivery mechanism of claim 12, wherein a rail drive system is provided, and the rail drive system includes a rail drive motor, a first drive wheel, and a drive transmission link, the drive transmission link being configured to operatively connect the rail drive motor to the first drive wheel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The cover delivery mechanism of claim 12, wherein the cover carrier rotation drive is provided, the cover carrier rotation drive comprising a slip-clutch drive. ### Claim 15 A watercraft docking system, comprising: a dock configured to be mounted over a body of water, the dock defining a dock slip, the dock slip configured to receive a watercraft therein; a support structure carried by the dock, the support structure configured to extend to a height above a given watercraft received in the dock slip; a first rail carried by the support structure; a second rail carried by the support structure, the second rail being spaced apart from and generally parallel to the first rail; and a cover delivery device, comprising: a first mobile support assembly mounted to and configured for movement along the first rail; a second mobile support assembly mounted to and configured for movement along the second rail; and a cover carrier mechanism extending between and rotatably mounted to the first mobile support assembly and the second mobile support assembly, the cover carrier mechanism being configured for selectably deploying a cover carried thereby relative to the watercraft, the cover carrier mechanism being configured to respectively roll and unroll the cover relative thereto, wherein the first mobile support assembly and the second mobile support assembly respectively includes a corresponding support frame and a corresponding plurality of idler wheels, the corresponding support frame rotatably carrying the cover carrier mechanism, the corresponding plurality of idler wheels being configured to facilitate movement thereof relative to at least one of a corresponding first rail or a corresponding second rail. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The watercraft docking system of claim 15, wherein the support structure further has a roof mounted thereto, the roof being configured to extend overtop of a given watercraft received in the dock slip. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The watercraft docking system of claim 15, wherein the first rail and the second rail are mounted at a height so as to be able to receive a watercraft therebelow, the cover carrier mechanism being configured to selectably deploy the cover carried thereby relative to the watercraft. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The watercraft docking system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the first mobile support assembly or the second mobile support assembly has at least one of a rail drive system or a cover carrier rotation drive associated therewith, the rail drive system being configured for promoting conveyance along at least one of the first rail or the second rail, the cover carrier rotation drive being configured for selectably winding or unwinding the cover. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The watercraft docking system of claim 18, wherein a rail drive system is provided, and the rail drive system includes a rail drive motor, a first drive wheel, and a drive transmission link, the drive transmission link being configured to operatively connect the rail drive motor to the first drive wheel.