Universal cover

Abstract

A cover for an object, such as a boat, that can accommodate at least one optional feature of the object. The cover has at least one area that can be expanded to accommodate an optional feature of the object or collapsed if the object does not have an optional feature.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cover comprising:
 a base layer of material sized to cover at least a portion of an object, the base layer of material having a selectively openable slot formed therein;   an inner layer of material having a first end and a second end, the first end of the inner layer of material attached to an underside of the base layer of material on a first side of the slot and the second end of the inner layer of material attached to the underside of the base layer of material on a second side of the slot;   wherein the inner layer of material is configured such that when the cover is applied to an object and the slot is opened, the inner layer of material covers at least a portion of the object located in the opened slot.   
     
     
         2 . The cover of  claim 1 , wherein the inner layer of material is sized such that when the cover is applied to the object and the slot is opened, a structure of the object extends at least partially through the slot; and wherein the inner layer of material is configured such that when the structure of the object extends at least partially through the slot, the inner layer of material covers the structure and the inner layer of material extends at least partially through the slot and above the base layer of material. 
     
     
         3 . The cover of  claim 1 , further comprising a selectively closeable device attached to the base layer of material adjacent the slot such that the slot may be selectively opened and closed. 
     
     
         4 . The cover of  claim 3 , wherein the selectively closeable device is selected from a group consisting of snaps, buttons, zippers, hooks and loops, clips, straps, rings and ties. 
     
     
         5 . The cover of  claim 1 , wherein the slot is configured to open more at a first end of the slot than a second end of the slot. 
     
     
         6 . The cover of  claim 1 , further comprising a second layer of material located in the slot and attached to the base layer of material;
 the second layer of material is configured such that when the slot is opened, the second layer of material is stretched to cover the opened slot and the at least a portion of the object located in the opened slot.   
     
     
         7 . The cover of  claim 6 , wherein the inner layer of material is larger than the second layer of material when the slot is not opened and the inner layer of material is generally the same size as the second layer of material when the at least a portion of the object is located in the opened slot. 
     
     
         8 . The cover of  claim 7 , wherein the inner layer of material is not expanded when the slot is not opened and wherein the inner layer of material is expanded when the at least a portion of the object is located in the opened slot. 
     
     
         9 . The cover of  claim 6 , wherein the second layer of material is located above the inner layer of material. 
     
     
         10 . The cover of  claim 6 , wherein the second layer of material is configured to stretch more when the at least a portion of the object is located in the opened slot than when the slot is not opened.