# US 5,343,824 A · Removable cover for boats and other objects

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 5,343,824 A
- Document ID: US5343824A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/136,913
- Filed: 1993-10-18
- Granted: 1994-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 1993-10-18
- Inventors: Richard S. Floyd
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5343824A

## CPC

- B63B 17/02: Awnings {, including rigid weather protection structures, e.g. sunroofs; Tarpaulins; Accessories for awnings or tarpaulins}
- 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)

## Abstract

A fastening device for a canoe cover consists of a set of elongated, interlocking rails that frictionally engage and trap a cover that can be comprised of waterproof "spray skirt" material or nylon "pack" material. The cover, secured over the otherwise open top of a canoe, is a continuous covering, starboard to port and bow to stern, or includes coverings with seat openings, along the length of the hull. A stack of three rails comprise the preferred embodiment of the locking mechanism, with a rail base member fastening to the hull below and along the length of opposite and parallel gunwales; a rail locking member snaps on the base rail; and a rail cover having a plurality of T-node tracks similar to a mortise receives the male nodes or tenons extending outwardly from the locking member. The cover is stretched very tautly and held in a three-way lateral gripping action by the rail. The same rail system is used around the cockpit(s) to receive the spray skirt in a quick-release mechanism.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A detachable cover device for boats and other objects; said detachable cover device including:
A) a cover member formed of a piece of flexible sheet material having length and width dimensions sufficient to extend beyond the outer perimeters of the area to be covered;
B) an attachment means having an elongated locking rail for securing said cover member over the area to be covered; said elongated locking rail including:
a) a base component for mounting around the perimeter edges of the area to be covered; said base component having:
i) a flat undersurface for fitting flush against the surface to which it is to be mounted;
ii) opposite said flat surface, an outer face having an elongated U-shaped track defined by opposing side walls and extending the length of said rail; said U-shaped track having a plurality of apertures spaced apart along the bottom of said U-shaped track for receiving a selected fastener means therethrough;
b) a middle, locking rail having a first, rearwardly oriented face including a channel extending the length thereof for receiving said outer face of said base component securely therein; said middle locking rail further including a second, outwardly oriented face having a pair of spaced, parallel T-nodes extending outwardly therefrom, and an intermediate elongated channel defined by said parallel T-nodes;
c) an outer, cover rail having a flat outer face, and an inward face having spaced, parallel tracks for receiving said parallel T-nodes therein; said inward face further including a centrally oriented, enlarged T-node defined by and extending between, said parallel tracks, for engagement in said elongated channel on said second face of said middle, locking rail;
C) said cover member being gripped between the multiple interlocking surfaces of said middle and said outer rails; forming a substantially waterproof cover device for boats and other objects.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A detachable cover device according to claim 1, further including means for defining a cockpit area in a canoe; said means for defining a cockpit including:
A) a cockpit having a prescribed arcuate shape;
B) a cockpit ring including a quick-release means for holding a conventional spray skirt over said cockpit ring, such that the spray skirt may be quickly disengaged in the event of an emergency;
C) an interlocking rail means for attaching said cockpit ring to said cover member.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A detachable cover device according to claim 2 wherein said interlocking rail means includes:
A) said cockpit ring having an undersurface, and said undersurface having at least one female receiver formed therein;
B) an underlying locking ring, positioned underneath said cover member; said underlying ring having a first top face and a second bottom face; said top face including at least one male protrusion thereon for engagement into said female receiver in the undersurface of said cockpit ring;
whereby said cover member is engaged between said cockpit ring and said underlying locking ring; and the portion of said cover member within said cockpit ring is cut away to permit occupant ingress.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A detachable cover device according to claim 3 wherein said quick-release means for holding a spray skirt is comprised of:
A) said cockpit ring having an upwardly projecting hook member depending upwardly from said undersurface;
B) said projecting hook member having an open side facing outwardly from said cockpit, and said hook member receiving the outer edge of the spray skirt releasably thereover.