Side shade assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11858591-B2
Application number	US-202117386909-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 28, 2021
Priority date	May 3, 2021
Publication date	Jan 2, 2024
Grant date	Jan 2, 2024

Abstract

A boat includes a bow and a stern, a deck between the bow and the stern, a longitudinal centerline extending from the bow to the stern dividing the deck into a port side and a starboard side, and a side shade assembly attached to the boat on one of the port side of the deck and the starboard side of the deck. The side shade assembly includes a frame and a side shade cover supported by the frame such that the side shade cover extends outboard beyond the deck in a direction away from the longitudinal centerline.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A boat comprising:
a bow and a stern;
a deck between the bow and the stern;
a longitudinal centerline extending from the bow to the stern dividing the deck into a port side and a starboard side;
a hull that surrounds the deck, the hull including a port gunwale and a starboard gunwale;
a top shade cover disposed directly above at least a portion of the deck and supported by a port side vertical support attached to the port gunwale and a starboard side vertical support is attached to the starboard gunwale; and
a side shade assembly attached to the boat on one of the port side of the deck or the starboard side of the deck, the side shade assembly including a frame and a side shade cover supported by the frame such that the side shade cover extends outboard beyond the deck in a direction away from the longitudinal centerline,
wherein the frame includes a strut having a first end and a second end, the first end of the strut being configured to attach to the side shade cover, the second end of the strut being configured to attach to one of the deck, the hull, the port gunwale, the starboard gunwale, the port side vertical support, or the starboard side vertical support, wherein the strut provides tension to the side shade cover while the side shade cover extends outboard, and
wherein the strut is removably attached to at least one of (i) the side shade cover by the first end of the strut being removably attached to the side shade cover or (ii) the boat by the second end of the strut being removably attached to the one of the deck, the hull, the port gunwale, the starboard gunwale, the port side vertical support, or the starboard side vertical support.

2. The boat of claim 1 , wherein the side shade cover is configurable to extend beyond the deck at a downward angle relative to the deck, the downward angle relative to the deck being from 25° to 75°.

3. The boat of claim 1 , wherein the side shade assembly is a first side shade assembly, the boat further comprising a second side shade assembly attached to the boat on an opposite side of the deck from the first side shade assembly, the second side shade assembly including another frame and another side shade cover supported by the other frame to extend outboard beyond the deck in another direction away from the longitudinal centerline.

4. The boat of claim 1 , wherein the top shade cover is one of a canvas bimini or a hard top.

5. The boat of claim 1 , wherein the side shade cover is attached to the top shade cover.

6. The boat of claim 5 , wherein the side shade cover includes an inboard edge and an outboard edge, and
wherein the side shade cover is removably attached to the top shade cover by a fastener that couples the inboard edge of the side shade cover to the outboard edge of the top shade cover.

7. The boat of claim 1 , further comprising a tower that supports the top shade cover, the tower including the port side vertical support and the starboard side vertical support.

8. The boat of claim 7 , wherein the frame is attached to one of the deck, the hull, the port gunwale, the starboard gunwale, the port side vertical support, or the starboard side vertical support.

9. The boat of claim 7 , further comprising at least one cleat mounted to one of the deck, the hull, the port gunwale, the starboard gunwale, or the tower, wherein the side shade assembly includes at least one strap having a first end and a second end, the first end of the strap being attached to one of the side shade cover or the frame, the second end of the strap being attached to the cleat, and the strap being configurable to secure the side shade cover at a fixed position relative to the deck.

10. The boat of claim 1 , wherein the strut further has a hook at the first end and the side shade cover includes a hole, the strut being removably attached to the side shade cover by the hook engaging with the hole.

11. The boat of claim 1 , wherein the strut further has a hook at the second end and the one of the deck, the hull, the port gunwale, the starboard gunwale, the port side vertical support, or the starboard side vertical support includes a loop, the strut being attached to the one of the deck, the hull, the port gunwale, the starboard gunwale, the port side vertical support, or the starboard side vertical support by the hook engaging with the loop.

12. The boat of claim 1 , wherein the strut includes a joint that is configured to allow the strut to move between at least a first position and a second position, the strut provides tension to the side shade cover when the joint is in the first position, and the strut does not provide tension to the side shade cover when the joint is in the second position.

13. The boat of claim 1 , wherein the strut is a first strut, wherein the frame further includes at least a second strut having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second strut being configured to attach to the side shade cover, the second end of the second strut being configured to attach to one of the deck, the hull, the port gunwale, the starboard gunwale, the port side vertical support, or the starboard side vertical support, wherein the second strut provides tension to the side shade cover while the side shade cover extends outboard.

14. A shade assembly for a boat having a deck, comprising:
a top shade frame that is capable of attaching to the boat, the top shade frame including a port side vertical support capable of attaching to a port side of the boat and a starboard side vertical support capable of attaching to a starboard of the boat;
a top shade cover supported by the top shade frame and disposed directly above at least a portion of the deck of the boat when the top shade frame is attached to the boat; and
a side shade cover supported by a side shade frame, the side shade cover being attached to the top shade such that the side shade cover extends outboard in a direction away from the top shade cover when the top shade frame is attached to the boat, the side shade frame including:
a center support strut having a first end and a second end, the first end of the center support strut being configured to attach to the side shade cover, the second end of the center support strut being capable of attaching to one of the boat, the port side vertical support, or the starboard side vertical support, wherein the center support strut provides tension to the side shade cover while the side shade cover extends outboard; and
at least one lateral strut attached to the center support strut and the side shade cover, the lateral strut being configured to provide tension to the side shade cover for extending in one of an aft direction of the boat or a forward direction of the boat.

15. The shade assembly of claim 14 , wherein the side shade cover includes an inboard edge and an outboard edge, and wherein the side shade cover is removably attached to the top shade cover by a fastener that couples the inboard edge of the side shade cover to the outboard edge of the top shade cover.

16. The shade assembly of claim 14 , wherein the side shade cover is configurable to extend outboard at an angle relative to the top shade cover, the angle relative to the top shade cover being from 25° to 75°.

17. A boat comprising:
a bow and a stern;
a deck between the bow and the stern;
a longitudinal centerline extending from the bow to the stern dividing the deck into a port side and a starboard side;
a hull that surrounds the deck, the hull including a port gunwale and a starboard gunwale;
a top shade cover disposed directly above at least a p

Assignees

• Mastercraft Boat Co Llc
• Apex Canvas Co Llc

Inventors

• Ekern David F
• Lynema Chad A
• Hamilton Iii Joseph
• Broncatello Jon
• Campbell Gary W

Classifications

• B63B17/02 Primary

  Awnings {, including rigid weather protection structures, e.g. sunroofs; Tarpaulins; Accessories for awnings or tarpaulins} · CPC title

• B63B2017/026

  Rigid awnings, or sunroofs · CPC title