Kayak cockpit cover - with interchangeable spray skirt waistband, dry top, and dry top with internal P.F.D.

Abstract

A cockpit cover (15) with interchangeable spray skirt waistband (41), drytop (60), and drytop with internal P.F.D. (70) is disclosed for covering a cockpit opening (19) of a kayak (16). The cockpit cover (15) includes a fabric portion (40) for spanning the cockpit opening (19), which has an elastic coaming seal (20) unitarily cast around it's outer perimeter in a one step manufacturing process for retaining the cover about the rim, or coaming (18), and to ensure a water tight direct pressure seal. The coaming seal (20) is cast to fit the coaming (18) and is unaffected by the depth of the notch (44) under the coaming (18). The coaming seal (20) includes an end (22), a curved portion (23), and a cast union (24) where the coaming seal (20) is cast to the fabric portion of the cockpit cover (40). A rigid cockpit cover pull handle (21) is unitarily cast into the coaming seal (20) in two places, which when pulled, removes a large section of the coaming seal (20) causing the entire seal (20) to pop off to allow the boater to exit the boat quickly and easily. A female reclosable profile strip (61b) is attached around a circular opening in the fabric portion of the cockpit cover (40) so as to effect a water tight seal when mated with a male reclosable profile strip (61a) which is attached around the bottom of a spray skirt waistband (41), the dry top (60), or the dry top with internal P.F.D. (70). A reclosable profile seal release handle (28) is connected to the male profile strip (61a) to facilitate separation of the two profile strips (61a & 61b). The dry top (60) has adjustable short sleeve cuff seals (62) to allow any boater a good fit, an adjustable waistband seal (67) on the bottom, and also employs the use of adjustable suspenders (64) which are attached to the inside of the dry top (60) to support the slack material in the body of the dry top (60) and to prevent formation of voids or pockets that trap water. The dry top with internal P.F.D. (70) utilizes P.F.D. sections (72) ergonomically arranged and bonded to the inside of the dry top (70) thereby gaining insulation value from the P.F.D., and eliminating the voids associated with current external P.F.D.s.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.