Self-coiling apparatus

An apparatus, comprising:

• a rigid frame;
• a Bimini cover comprising:
• a first portion;
• and a flap assembly that is selectively configurable between a closed configuration and an open configuration in which an amount of shaded area under the Bimini cover is reduced;
• wherein the flap assembly comprises a flap of the Bimini cover, a coil spring configured to coil the flap when the coil spring is not in a fully extended position;
• and a stabilizing feature configured to selectively hold both the coil spring and the flap in a flap fully extended position.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a Bimini assembly, comprising a fixed portion and a retractable portion;
• a coil spring secured to the retractable portion and configured to urge the retractable portion to coil when the coil spring is not in a fully extended position;
• and
• a stabilizing feature configured to selectively hold the retractable portion in a retractable portion fully extended position;
• wherein the retractable portion comprises a Bimini flap of a Bimini cover;
• wherein the fixed portion comprises a remainder of the Bimini assembly;
• and
• wherein the stabilizing feature comprises a connection between the Bimini flap and the remainder of the Bimini assembly.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a Bimini assembly, comprising a fixed portion and a retractable portion;
• a coil spring secured to the retractable portion and configured to urge the retractable portion to coil when the coil spring is not in a fully extended position;
• and
• a stabilizing feature configured to selectively hold the retractable portion in a retractable portion fully extended position;
• wherein the retractable portion comprises a Bimini flap of a Bimini cover;
• wherein the coil spring comprises the stabilizing feature as part of a design of the coil spring that is configured to lock the coil spring in a coil spring fully extended position once the coil spring is fully extended and to unlock the coil spring from the coil spring fully extended position when the coil spring is forcefully collapsed;
• and
• wherein locking the coil spring into the coil spring fully extended position holds the Bimini flap in a Bimini flap fully extended position.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a Bimini assembly, comprising a fixed portion and a retractable portion;
• a coil spring secured to the retractable portion and configured to urge the retractable portion to coil when the coil spring is not in a fully extended position;
• and
• a stabilizing feature configured to selectively hold the retractable portion in a retractable portion fully extended position;
• wherein the coil spring is configured to form a coil of the retractable portion that moves from a tip end toward a base end as the coil spring coils the retractable portion;
• and
• the apparatus further comprising a second coil spring disposed parallel to the coil spring, set back from the tip end, and effective to aid the coil spring in coiling the retractable portion only once the coil reaches the second coil spring.