Watercraft canopy

Abstract

A canopy covering for a watercraft to protect the watercraft from natural elements while allowing a substantial amount of light to be transmitted through the covering so as to not significantly adversely impact the marine habitat below the canopy by light reduction.

1 . A watercraft canopy for protecting a watercraft from environmental elements when located at a marine habitat, comprising: 
 a substantially translucent cover sized and constructed to protect the watercraft from environmental elements while allowing sufficient solar radiation of the sun to pass through the cover to not significantly adversely impact the marine habitat below the canopy by light reduction; and    a support structure configured to support the cover in position between the watercraft and the sun.    
   
   
       2 . The canopy according to  claim 1  wherein the cover comprises of a flexible, synthetic fabric.  
   
   
       3 . The canopy according to  claim 2  wherein the cover comprises of a polyester-based fabric.  
   
   
       4 . The canopy according to  claim 2  wherein the cover comprises of a polyethylene fabric.  
   
   
       5 . The canopy according to  claim 2  wherein the cover comprises of a polypropylene fabric.  
   
   
       6 . The canopy according to  claim 1  wherein the cover comprises of a semi-rigid plastic.  
   
   
       7 . The canopy according to  claim 1  wherein the cover is substantially opaque to ultraviolet radiation.  
   
   
       8 . The canopy according to  claim 7  wherein the cover includes a material substantially absorbing of ultraviolet radiation and substantially translucent to radiation other than ultraviolet radiation.  
   
   
       9 . The canopy according to  claim 1  wherein the support structure is a substantially rigid framework.  
   
   
       10 . The canopy according to  claim 1  for use with upright members, wherein the support structure includes a framework configured to be connected to and supported in position between the watercraft and the sun by the upright members.  
   
   
       11 . The canopy according to  claim 1  for use with upright members of a watercraft lift, wherein the support structure includes a framework configured to be connected to and supported in position between the watercraft and the sun by the upright members of the watercraft lift.  
   
   
       12 . The canopy according to  claim 1  for use with a dock, wherein the support structure includes upright members and a cover support framework attached to the upright members and positioning the cover between the watercraft and the sun.  
   
   
       13 . The canopy according to  claim 1  wherein the cover is substantially opaque to ultraviolet radiation in the range of 290 to 400 nanometers.  
   
   
       14 . The canopy according to  claim 1  wherein the cover comprises a material allowing at least 80% of the natural light impinging thereon to pass therethrough.  
   
   
       15 . The canopy according to  claim 1  wherein the cover comprises a material that in combination with the support structure permits natural light diffusion to the marine habitat below the cover to be at lest 90% when the cover is situated at least six feet above the marine habitat.  
   
   
       16 . The canopy according to  claim 1  wherein the cover comprises a material with a strength of at least ten pounds per square inch.  
   
   
       17 . A watercraft canopy for protecting a plurality of watercraft from environmental elements when in a multi-slip docking facility located at a marine habitat, comprising: 
 a substantially translucent cover sized and constructed to protect the plurality of watercraft from environmental elements while allowing sufficient solar radiation of the sun to pass through the cover to not significantly adversely impact the associated habitat below the canopy by light reduction; and    a support structure configured to support the cover in position between the plurality of watercraft and the sun.    
   
   
       18 . The canopy according to  claim 17  wherein the cover comprises of a flexible, synthetic fabric.  
   
   
       19 . The canopy according to  claim 17  wherein the cover is substantially opaque to ultraviolet radiation.  
   
   
       20 . The canopy according to  claim 19  wherein the cover includes a material absorbing of ultraviolet radiation and substantially translucent to radiation other than ultraviolet radiation.  
   
   
       21 . The canopy according to  claim 17  wherein the support structure is a substantially rigid framework.  
   
   
       22 . The canopy according to  claim 17  for use with upright members, wherein the support structure includes a framework configured to be connected to and supported in position between the plurality of watercraft and the sun by the upright members.  
   
   
       23 . The canopy according to  claim 17  wherein the support structure includes upright members configured to be attached to docks of the multi-lip docking facility and a cover support framework attached to the upright members and positioning the cover between the plurality of watercraft and the sun.  
   
   
       24 . The canopy according to  claim 17  wherein the cover is substantially opaque to ultraviolet radiation in the range of 290 to 400 nanometers.  
   
   
       25 . The canopy according to  claim 17  wherein the cover comprises a material allowing at least 80% of the natural light impinging thereon to pass therethrough.  
   
   
       26 . The canopy according to  claim 17  wherein the cover comprises a material that in combination with the support structure permits natural light diffusion to the marine habitat below the cover to be at lest 90% when the cover is situated at least six feet above the marine habitat.  
   
   
       27 . The canopy according to  claim 17  wherein the cover comprises a material with a strength of at least ten pounds per square inch.  
   
   
       28 . A watercraft canopy for protecting a watercraft from environmental elements when located at a marine habitat, comprising: 
 a substantially translucent top cover sized and constructed to protect the watercraft from environmental elements and allowing sufficient solar radiation of the sun to pass through the cover to not significantly adversely impact the marine habitat below the canopy by light reduction; and    a support structure supporting to support the cover in position at least six feet above the marine habitat and above the watercraft, the cover permitting natural light diffusion to the marine habitat below the cover to be at lest 90%.    
   
   
       29 . The canopy according to  claim 28  wherein the cover comprises of a flexible, synthetic fabric.  
   
   
       30 . The canopy according to  claim 28  wherein the cover is substantially opaque to ultraviolet radiation.  
   
   
       31 . The canopy according to  claim 30  wherein the cover is substantially translucent to radiation other than ultraviolet radiation.  
   
   
       32 . The canopy according to  claim 28  wherein the cover is substantially opaque to ultraviolet radiation in the range of 290 to 400 nanometers.  
   
   
       33 . The canopy according to  claim 28  wherein the support structure is a substantially rigid framework.  
   
   
       34 . The canopy according to  claim 28  wherein the support structure includes a plurality of upright members and a framework connected to and supported by the upright members.  
   
   
       35 . The canopy according to  claim 34  wherein the upright members are attached to at least one dock.  
   
   
       36 . The canopy according to  claim 28  wherein the cover comprises a material allowing at least 80% of the natural light impinging thereon to pass therethrough.  
   
   
       37 . The canopy according to  claim 28  wherein the cover comprises a material with a strength of at least ten pounds per square inch.