Auto tensioner for cover

Abstract

A tensioning mechanism is associated with a tension member. The tensioning mechanism includes a housing and at least one webbing roller rotatably mounted within the housing. The at least one webbing roller is connectable to at least one end of the tension member. An electric motor is operably coupled to the at least one webbing roller. The electric motor is operable to drive the at least one webbing roller to adjust a tension of the tension member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tensioning mechanism associated with a tension member, the tensioning mechanism comprising:
 a housing;   at least one webbing roller rotatably mounted within the housing, the at least one webbing roller being connectable to at least one end of the tension member; and   an electric motor operably coupled to the at least one webbing roller, wherein the electric motor is operable to drive the at least one webbing roller to adjust a tension of the tension member.   
     
     
         2 . The tensioning mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one webbing roller is a single webbing roller. 
     
     
         3 . The tensioning mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein the single webbing roller is operable to adjust the tension of a single end of the tension member. 
     
     
         4 . The tensioning mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein the single webbing roller is operable to adjust the tension of both a first end and a second end of the tension member. 
     
     
         5 . The tensioning mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one webbing roller includes a first webbing roller and a second webbing roller. 
     
     
         6 . The tensioning mechanism of  claim 5 , wherein the first webbing roller is operable to apply a first tension to a first end of the tension member and the second webbing roller is operable to apply a second tension to a second end of the tension member. 
     
     
         7 . The tensioning mechanism of  claim 6 , wherein both the first webbing roller and the second webbing roller are operably coupled to the electric motor such that the first webbing roller and the second webbing roller are rotatable simultaneously. 
     
     
         8 . The tensioning mechanism of  claim 1 , further comprising a transmission device, the transmission device being operably coupled to the electric motor and to the at least one webbing roller, wherein the transmission device is operable to transmit rotation of the electric motor to the at least one webbing roller. 
     
     
         9 . The tensioning mechanism of  claim 8 , wherein the transmission device includes a gear train. 
     
     
         10 . The tensioning mechanism of  claim 9 , wherein the gear train further comprises:
 a pinion, the pinion being rotatably coupled to the electric motor; and   at least one intermediate gear, the at least one intermediate gear being positioned between the pinion and the at least one webbing roller.   
     
     
         11 . The tensioning mechanism of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one webbing roller further comprises a first webbing roller and a second webbing roller, wherein the first webbing roller is intermeshed with and driven by the at least one intermediate gear and the second webbing roller is intermeshed with and driven by the first webbing roller. 
     
     
         12 . The tensioning mechanism of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one webbing roller further comprises a first webbing roller and a second webbing roller, wherein the first webbing roller is intermeshed with and driven by the at least one intermediate gear and the second webbing roller is intermeshed with and driven by the at least one intermediate gear separately from the first webbing roller. 
     
     
         13 . The tensioning mechanism of  claim 1 , further comprising a power source operably coupled to the electric motor. 
     
     
         14 . The tensioning mechanism of  claim 13 , wherein the power source is rechargeable and further comprising a solar panel associated with the power source. 
     
     
         15 . The tensioning mechanism of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller operable to:
 receive a signal from a user device, the user device being located remotely from the tensioning mechanism; and   energize the electric motor in response to the signal.   
     
     
         16 . The tensioning mechanism of  claim 15 , further comprising at least one sensor operably coupled to the controller, the at least one sensor being operable to monitor one or more parameters of the tensioning mechanism, the controller being operable to control operation of the electric motor in response to the one or more parameters being monitored by the at least one sensor. 
     
     
         17 . A method of installing a cover comprising:
 providing the cover, the cover being in a loosened configuration;   positioning the cover about a watercraft; and   automatically operating a tensioning mechanism to transform the cover from the loosened configuration to a tightened configuration.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising sending a signal from a user device to a controller associated with the tensioning mechanism, wherein the tensioning mechanism is automatically operated to transform the cover to the tightened configuration in response to the signal. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the user device is a mobile device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising automatically operating the tensioning mechanism to transform the cover from the tightened configuration to the loosened configuration.