Stowable bimini top

Abstract

Disclosed is a slide piece for a stowable bimini frame associable with a tower structure of a watercraft, the slide piece including a slide piece body portion, at least one frame association structure extending from the body portion, the at least one frame association structure being configured to slidingly associate the bimini frame with the slide piece body portion, and an affixing surface of the slide piece body portion, the affixing surface being positioned and configured for associating the slide piece body portion with the tower structure of the watercraft.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A slide piece for a stowable bimini frame associable with a tower structure of a watercraft, the slide piece comprising:
 a slide piece body portion;   at least one frame association structure extending from said body portion, said at least one frame association structure being configured to slidingly associate the bimini frame with said slide piece body portion; and   an affixing surface of said slide piece body portion, said affixing surface, being positioned and configured for associating said slide piece body portion with the tower structure of the watercraft.   
     
     
         2 . The slide piece of  claim 1 , further including at least one locking device configured to releasably lock the bimini frame against sliding relative to the slide piece body portion when the bimini frame is associated with said slide piece body portion via said at least one frame association structure. 
     
     
         3 . The slide piece of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one frame association structure is at least two u-shaped hoops affixed to said slide piece body portion. 
     
     
         4 . The slide piece of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one locking device is at least one cam locking device disposed in proximity to said at least one frame association structure. 
     
     
         5 . A stowable bimini frame associable with a tower structure of a watercraft, the bimini frame comprising:
 a first frame portion;   a second frame portion;   a hinge associating said first portion and said second portion, said second portion being foldable in a direction of said first portion via rotation about said hinge;   a slide piece in sliding association with said first frame portion via at least one frame association structure extending from said slide piece; and   an affixing surface of said slide piece, said affixing surface being positioned and configured for associating said slide piece with the tower structure of the watercraft.   
     
     
         6 . The bimini frame of  claim 5 , further including at least one locking device configured to releasably lock said first portion of against sliding relative to the slide piece. 
     
     
         7 . The bimini frame of  claim 5 , wherein said at least one frame association structure is at least two u-shaped hoops affixed to said slide piece. 
     
     
         8 . The bimini frame of  claim 6 , wherein said at least one locking device is at least one cam locking device disposed in proximity to said at least one frame association structure. 
     
     
         9 . The bimini frame of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of said first frame portion and said second frame portion are configured for attachment of a cover extending across at least one of said first frame portion and said second frame portion. 
     
     
         10 . A bimini top system for a watercraft, the system comprising:
 a tower structure extending the watercraft;   a stowable frame including a first frame portion and a second frame portion;   a hinge associating said first portion and said second portion, said second portion being foldable in a direction of said first portion via rotation about said hinge; and   a slide piece affixed to said tower structure and in sliding association with said first frame portion via at least one frame association structure extending from said slide piece;   wherein said sliding association allows said stowable frame to be configured between an openable position extended relatively away from said tower structure and a stowable position disposed in relative proximity to said tower structure via a sliding of the stowable frame relative to said slide piece and said tower structure to which said slide piece is affixed.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , further including at least one locking device configured to releasably lock said first portion of against sliding relative to the slide piece and said tower structure when said stowable frame is in said openable position or said stowable position. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said frame is converted from an openable position to an open position when said first frame portion and said second frame portion of said stowable frame are in a non-folded configuration. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said frame is converted from a stowable position to a stowed position when said first frame portion and said second frame portion of said stowable frame are in a folded configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said at least one frame association structure is at least two u-shaped hoops affixed to said slide piece. 
     
     
         15 . The bimini frame of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one locking device is at least one cam locking device disposed in proximity to said at least one frame association structure. 
     
     
         16 . The bimini frame of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of said stowable frame and said tower structure are configured for attachment of a cover extending across at least one of said stowable frame and said tower structure.