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A cover system for a boat that can be articulated between a lowered covering position, to provide some level of protection to the interior of the boat when the boat is not in use, and one or more other positions. The one or more other positions may include, for example, a raised covering position, a

A cover system for a boat that can be articulated between a lowered covering position, to provide some level of protection to the interior of the boat when the boat is not in use, and one or more other positions. The one or more other positions may include, for example, a raised covering position, a raised retracted position, a lowered retracted position, and/or any other suitable position, as desired.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A cover system for a boat, the cover system comprising: a flexible cover; a front support configured to be rotatable coupled to the boat, the front support for supporting a front part of the flexible cover; a rear support configured to be rotatable coupled to the boat, the re

What is claimed is: 1. A cover system for a boat, the cover system comprising: a flexible cover; a front support configured to be rotatable coupled to the boat, the front support for supporting a front part of the flexible cover; a rear support configured to be rotatable coupled to the boat, the rear support for supporting a rear part of the flexible cover; the front support and the rear support each configured to be rotated to a lowered covering position, wherein in the lowered covering position, the front support and the rear support provide a tension to at least a portion of the flexible cover that extends therebetween, and the tensioned flexible cover is configured to provide a mooring cover to at least part of a protected area of the boat; the front support and/or the rear support is/are configured to be rotated toward the other to a retracted position, wherein in the retracted position, the front support and the rear support release the tension in at least a portion of the flexible cover that extends therebetween; and wherein the front support and the rear support are each configured to be rotated to a raised covering position, wherein in the raised covering position, the front support and the rear support collectively suspend the flexible cover above the boat sufficiently far so that occupants of the boat can move about thereunder, and wherein in the raised covering position, the front support and the rear support provide a tension to at least a portion of the flexible cover that extends therebetween. 2. The cover system of claim 1 wherein: the front support includes a first end that is configured to be rotatable coupled to the boat, and a second end; the second support includes a first end that is configured to be rotatable coupled to the boat, and a second end; and wherein in the retracted position, the second end of the front support and a second end of the rear support are positioned adjacent one another, and the flexible cover is collapsed near the adjacent second ends of the front and rear supports. 3. The cover system of claim 2 further comprising a boot, wherein the boot is configured to be placed over the flexible cover and the adjacent second ends of the front and rear supports in the retracted position. 4. The cover system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the front support and the rear support move between a contracted shortened position and an expanded lengthened position. 5. The cover system of claim 4, wherein at least one of the front support and the rear support telescope between the contracted shortened position and the expanded lengthened position. 6. The cover system of claim 4, wherein at least one of the front support and the rear support are in the contracted shortened position when in the lowered covering position, and in the expanded lengthened position when in the raised covering position. 7. The cover system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the front support and the rear support translate horizontally relative to the boat when moved between the lowered covering position and the raised covering position. 8. The cover system of claim 1, wherein the front support is configured to rotate about a first rotation axis, and the second support is configured to rotate about a second rotation axis, wherein the first rotation axis is offset relative to the second rotation axis. 9. The cover system of claim 1, wherein the front support is configured to rotate about a first rotation axis, and the second support is configured to rotate about a second rotation axis, wherein the first rotation axis is aligned with the second rotation axis. 10. The cover system of claim 1 wherein the front support and/or the rear support are configured to articulate between a lowered retracted position and a raised retracted position. 11. A cover system for a boat, the cover system comprising: a flexible cover; a front support configured to be rotatable coupled to the boat, the front support for supporting a front part of the flexible cover; a rear support configured to be rotatable coupled to the boat, the rear support for supporting a rear part of the flexible cover; the front support and the rear support each configured to be rotated to a lowered covering position, wherein in the lowered covering position, the front support and the rear support provide a tension to at least a portion of the flexible cover that extends therebetween and the tensioned flexible cover is configured to provide a mooring cover to at least part of a protected area of the boat; the front support and the rear support are each configured to be rotated to a raised covering position from the lowered covering position, with the front support rotating in a first direction and the rear support rotating in a second opposite direction; and wherein in the raised covering position, the front support and the rear support suspend the flexible cover above the boat sufficiently far so that occupants of the boat can move about thereunder, and wherein in the raised covering position, the front support and the rear support provide a tension to at least a portion of the flexible cover that extends therebetween. 12. The cover system of claim 11 wherein the front support and/or the rear support are configured to be rotated toward the other to a retracted position, wherein in the retracted position, the front support and the rear support release the tension in the flexible cover that was imparted by the front and rear supports in the raised covering position. 13. The cover system of claim 12 wherein the front support and/or the rear support are configured to articulate between a lowered retracted position and a raised retracted position. 14. The cover system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the front support and the rear support move between a contracted shortened position and an expanded lengthened position. 15. The cover system of claim 14, wherein at least one of the front support and the rear support telescope between the contracted shortened position and the expanded lengthened position. 16. The cover system of claim 14, wherein at least one of the front support and the rear support are in the contracted shortened position when in the lowered covering position, and in the expanded lengthened position when in the raised covering position. 17. The cover system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the front support and the rear support translate horizontally relative to the boat when moved between the lowered covering position and the raised covering position. 18. The cover system of claim 11, wherein the front support is configured to rotate about a first rotation axis, and the second support is configured to rotate about a second rotation axis, wherein the first rotation axis is offset relative to the second rotation axis. 19. The cover system of claim 11, wherein the front support is configured to rotate about a first rotation axis, and the second support is configured to rotate about a second rotation axis, wherein the first rotation axis is aligned with the second rotation axis. 20. A cover system for a boat having a length, the cover system comprising: a flexible cover; an articulating support structure configured to be secured to a boat for supporting the flexible cover, wherein the articulating support structure is movable to at least three separate positions including: a lowered covering position for providing a mooring cover to at least part of a protected area of the boat, wherein in the lowered covering position, the articulating support structure imparts a tension to at least part of the flexible cover in a lengthwise direction of the boat; a raised covering position for suspending the flexible cover above the boat sufficiently far so that occupants of the boat can move about thereunder, wherein in the raised covering position, the articulating support structure imparts a tension to at least part of the flexible cover in a lengthwise direction of the boat; and a retracted position, wherein in the retracted position, the flexible cover is collapsed adjacent to at least part of the articulating support structure. 21. The cover system of claim 20 wherein the articulating support structure is movable to at least two retracted positions including a raised retracted position and a lowered retracted position. 22. A cover system for a boat, the cover system comprising: a flexible cover; a front support configured to be rotatable coupled to the boat, the front support for supporting a front part of the flexible cover; a rear support configured to be rotatable coupled to the boat, the rear support for supporting a rear part of the flexible cover; the front support and the rear support configured to be rotated in opposite relative directions to move the flexible cover in a vertical or substantially vertical direction between a lowered covering position and a raised covering position; and wherein in the lowered covering position, the flexible cover is configured to provide a mooring cover to at least part of a protected area of the boat, and in the raised covering position, the flexible cover is suspended above the boat sufficiently far so that occupants of the boat can move about thereunder. 23. The cover system of claim 22 wherein the front support is configured to rotate about a first rotation axis adjacent the boat, and the rear support is configured to rotate about a second rotation axis adjacent the boat, wherein the first rotation axis is offset relative to the second rotation axis. 24. The cover system of claim 22 wherein the front support is configured to rotate about a first rotation axis adjacent the boat, and the rear support is configured to rotate about a second rotation axis adjacent the boat, wherein the first rotation axis is aligned with the second rotation axis. 25. The cover system of claim 22 wherein the front support is configured to rotate about a first rotation axis adjacent the boat, and the rear support is configured to rotate about a second rotation axis adjacent the boat, wherein the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis are at fixed positions relative to the boat. 26. The cover system of claim 22 wherein the front support is configured to rotate about a first rotation axis adjacent the boat, and the rear support is configured to rotate about a second rotation axis adjacent the boat, wherein at least one of the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis also translates in a lengthwise direction relative to the boat when the flexible cover is moved between a lowered covering position and a raised covering position. 27. A cover system for a boat, the cover system comprising: a flexible cover; a front support having a first end configured to be rotatable coupled to the boat and a second end for supporting a front part of the flexible cover; a rear support having a first end configured to be rotatable coupled to the boat and a second end for supporting a rear part of the flexible cover; the front support and the rear support configured to create a tension to at least a portion of the flexible cover that extends therebetween; and the front support and the rear support rotate about their first ends in opposite relative directions when moving the flexible cover between a lowered covering position and a raised covering position, and wherein the tensioned flexible cover keeps the second ends of the front support and rear support at a relatively constant spacing when moving the between the lowered covering position and the raised covering position. 28. The cover system of claim 27 wherein the front support includes a front cover support member and a front cross-support member, wherein the front cross-support member is rotatably coupled to the front cover support member and is biased toward the front cover support member. 29. The cover system of claim 28 wherein the tensioned flexible cover engages the front cross-support member in the lowered covering position and the raised covering position and works against the bias. 30. The cover system of claim 29 wherein the front cross-support member rotates in an opposite relative direction relative to the front support when moving the flexible cover between the lowered covering position and the raised covering position. 31. The cover system of claim 30 wherein the rear support includes rear cover support member and a rear cross-support member, wherein the rear cross-support member is rotatably coupled to the rear cover support member and is biased toward the rear cover support member. 32. The cover system of claim 31 wherein the tensioned flexible cover engages the rear cross-support member in the lowered covering position and the raised covering position and works against the bias. 33. The cover system of claim 32 wherein the rear cross-support member rotates in an opposite relative direction relative to the rear support when moving the flexible cover between the lowered covering position and the raised covering position. 34. The cover system of claim 27 wherein the tensioned flexible cover is configured to provide a mooring cover to at least part of a protected area of the boat when the flexible cover is in the lowered covering position. 35. The cover system of claim 34 wherein, in the raised covering position, the tensioned flexible cover is configured to be suspended above the boat sufficiently far so that occupants of the boat can move about thereunder.