Inflatable dinghy cover

Abstract

An easily inflated cover protecting occupants of a small vessel, preferably an inflatable dinghy, includes: (a) a flexible canopy comprised of a central canopy portion having side edges for contacting opposite sides of the vessel, a forward canopy portion having a lower edge for contacting a bow of the vessel, the forward canopy portion extending from one side of the central canopy portion, and an aft entrance portion connected to an opposite side of the central canopy portion; the aft entrance portion including an opening to an interior of the vessel; (b) a system of spaced-apart, flexible straps attachable across a bottom of the vessel for affixing the cover to the vessel, the strap system including a connector strap, the connector strap being detachably or permanently attached at its ends to two, opposite, lower edges of the canopy; and (c) at least one inflatable central support for supporting the canopy over the vessel interior, the inflatable support including an enclosed, inflatable support tube and an air valve in the support tube for inflating it; and wherein the inflatable support tube lies beneath and adjacent to a portion of the canopy, and the cover is removably attachable over the bow and sides of the vessel.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.