Cover system for a boat

Abstract

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.

1 . A cover system for a boat, wherein the boat includes a floor, with side walls extending up from the floor around a perimeter of a protected area, the cover system comprising:
 a first cover having a perimeter that extends from one side wall, across the protected area, to an opposing side wall of the boat to provide a mooring cover for only part of the protected area;   a second cover assembly having a second cover and one or more cover supports for supporting the second cover, wherein the one or more cover supports allow the second cover to be moved between a raised position and a lowered position, wherein;
 in the lowered position, a perimeter of the second cover extends from one side wall, across the protected area, to an opposing side wall of the boat to provide a mooring cover for at least part of the protected area that is not covered by the first cover; and 
 in the raised position, the second cover is positioned sufficiently far above the floor to allow occupants of the boat to move about thereunder; 
   wherein the second cover assembly is movable between the lowered position and the raised position independent of the first cover.   
   
   
       2 . The cover system of  claim 1  wherein the one or more cover supports allow the second cover to be moved to a retracted position. 
   
   
       3 . The cover system of  claim 2  wherein, in the retracted position, the second cover is retracted but still suspended above the floor sufficiently far so that occupants of the boat can move about thereunder. 
   
   
       4 . The cover system of  claim 2  wherein, in the retracted position, the second cover is retracted and positioned adjacent a top of at least one of the side walls. 
   
   
       5 . The cover system of  claim 1  wherein the first cover is releasably secured to each of two opposing side walls of the boat. 
   
   
       6 . The cover system of  claim 5  wherein the first cover is releasably secured to each of two opposing side walls of the boat via one or more snaps. 
   
   
       7 . The cover system of  claim 5  wherein the first cover is releasably secured to each of two opposing side walls of the boat via one or more clips. 
   
   
       8 . The cover system of  claim 5  wherein the first cover is releasably secured to each of two opposing side walls of the boat via one or more hook and loop fasteners. 
   
   
       9 . The cover system of  claim 5  wherein the first cover is releasably secured to each of two opposing side walls of the boat via one or more zippers. 
   
   
       10 . The cover system of  claim 1  wherein the first cover is formed from a flexible tarp material. 
   
   
       11 . The cover system of  claim 1  wherein the second cover is formed by a flexible tarp material. 
   
   
       12 . The cover system of  claim 1  further comprising a cross support member that extends from one side wall, across the protected area, to an opposing side wall of the boat to provide support to the first cover. 
   
   
       13 . The cover system of  claim 1  wherein the first cover and the second cover overlap one another when the second cover is in the lowered position. 
   
   
       14 . A cover system for a boat, wherein the boat includes a floor, with side walls extending up from the floor around a perimeter of a protected area, the cover system comprising:
 a cover assembly having a flexible cover and one or more cover supports for supporting the flexible cover, wherein the one or more cover supports allow the flexible cover to be moved between a raised position and a lowered position, wherein;
 in the lowered position, a perimeter of the flexible cover extends from one side wall, across the protected area, to an opposing side wall of the boat to provide a mooring cover for at least part of the protected area; and 
 in the raised position, the flexible cover is positioned sufficiently far above the floor of the boat to allow occupants of the boat to move about thereunder; and 
   one or more flaps for extending between the flexible cover and each of two opposing side walls of the boat, wherein the one or more flaps are releasably securable to each of two opposing side walls of the boat, and wherein the one or more flaps have a sufficient length to extend between the flexible cover and each of two opposing side walls of the boat when the flexible cover is in the lowered position, but do not have a sufficient length to extend between the flexible cover and each of two opposing side walls of the boat when the flexible cover is in the raised position.   
   
   
       15 . The cover system of  claim 14  wherein the one or more cover supports allow the flexible cover to be moved to a retracted position. 
   
   
       16 . The cover system of  claim 14  wherein the one or more flaps can be folded up and secured relative to the flexible cover when the flexible cover is in the raised position. 
   
   
       17 . The cover system of  claim 14  wherein the one or more flaps can be folded up and secured relative to two opposing side walls of the boat when the flexible cover is in the raised position. 
   
   
       18 . A cover for a boat, wherein the boat includes a floor, with side walls extending up from the floor around a perimeter of a protected area, the cover comprising:
 a flexible cover having a perimeter;   one or more fasteners fixed relative to the flexible cover adjacent to at least part of the perimeter of the flexible cover, the one or more fasteners configured to secure the flexible cover such that the flexible cover extends from one side wall, across the protected area, to an opposing side wall of the boat to provide a mooring cover for only part of the protected area leaving the remaining part of the protected area unprotected; and   a support member for providing support to a portion of the flexible cover that extends from one side wall, across the protected area, to the opposing side wall of the boat.   
   
   
       19 . The cover of  claim 18  wherein the support member is configured to provide support to an edge of the flexible cover that extends from the one side wall, across the protected area, to the opposing side wall of the boat. 
   
   
       20 . The cover of  claim 19  wherein the support member extends from the one side wall, across the protected area, to the opposing side wall of the boat, and wherein the flexible cover is secured to the support member.