Bimini and watercraft having a bimini

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12071202-B2
Application number	US-202117535859-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 26, 2021
Priority date	Nov 26, 2020
Publication date	Aug 27, 2024
Grant date	Aug 27, 2024

Abstract

A bimini has a collapsible frame having a first support and a second support pivotable about a first pivot axis, a top, a tensioner having a first arm pivotally connected to the first support about a second pivot axis and a second arm pivotally connected to the second support about a third pivot axis and to the first arm about a fourth pivot axis, and a tension adjuster for adjusting a distance between the second and third pivot axes. The tensioner has an unlocked position where the fourth pivot axis is on a first side of a plane containing the second and third pivot axes, and a locked position where the fourth pivot axis is on a second side of the plane. In the locked position, the collapsible frame is not movable from an extended configuration and to a collapsed configuration. A watercraft having the bimini is also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bimini comprising:
a collapsible frame selectively movable between a collapsed configuration and an extended configuration, the collapsible frame including:
a first support; and
a second support selectively pivotable relative to the first support about a first pivot axis,

a top extending between the first support and the second support;
a tensioner connected between the first support and the second support, the tensioner having at least a locked position and an unlocked position, the tensioner comprising:
a first arm pivotally connected to the first support about a second pivot axis, and
a second arm pivotally connected to the second support about a third pivot axis and pivotally connected to the first arm about a fourth pivot axis,

in the extended configuration of the collapsible frame and in the unlocked position of the tensioner, the fourth pivot axis being on a first side of a plane containing the second and third pivot axes, and the second support being pivotable relative to the first support about the first pivot axis;
in the extended configuration of the collapsible frame and in the locked position of the tensioner, the fourth pivot axis being on a second side of the plane containing the second and third pivot axes, and the second support being prevented from pivoting substantially relative to the first support about the first pivot axis for preventing the collapsible frame to move from the extended configuration to the collapsed configuration; and
a tension adjuster being operable to adjust a distance between the second and third pivot axes in the locked position of the tensioner.

2. The bimini of claim 1 , wherein one of the first and second arms defines a slot, a corresponding one of the second and third pivot axes of the one of the first and second arms being movable along the slot.

3. The bimini of claim 2 , wherein the one of the first and second arms defining the slot is the second arm.

4. The bimini of claim 1 , wherein the tension adjuster includes a translating member connected to one of the first and second arms, the translating member abutting a pivot member defining the corresponding one of the second and third pivot axes of the one of the first and second arms, and wherein translation of the translating member moves the pivot member relative to the one of the first and second arms to which the translating member is connected.

5. The bimini of claim 4 , wherein the translating member has a threaded surface engaging a corresponding threaded surface of the one of the first and second arms.

6. The bimini of claim 5 , where the translating member is a bolt.

7. The bimini of claim 1 , wherein the tensioner further includes a lock selectively locking the tensioner in the locked position.

8. The bimini of claim 7 , wherein the lock includes a tab extending from one of the first and second arms, the tab selectively hooking onto an other one of the first and second arms to lock the tensioner in the locked position.

9. The bimini of claim 1 , wherein one of the first and second arms has lateral members projecting downwardly, the lateral members preventing access to an other of the one of the first and second arms in the unlocked position.

10. The bimini of claim 1 , wherein one of the first and second arms substantially covers an other one of the first and second arms.

11. The bimini of claim 1 , wherein in the locked position, the second arm extends between the second and third pivot axes and the first arm extends between the third and fourth pivot axes.

12. The bimini of claim 1 , wherein in the collapsed configuration of the collapsible frame, the second arm is substantially parallel to a portion of at least one of the first and second supports.

13. The bimini of claim 1 , wherein in the collapsed configuration of the collapsible frame, the first arm is received in the second arm.

14. The bimini of claim 1 , wherein in the collapsed configuration of the collapsible frame, the second, third and fourth pivot axes are between the first and second supports.

15. The bimini of claim 1 , wherein:
the unlocked position is a first unlocked position;
the unlocked position having a second unlocked position;
in the extended configuration of the collapsible frame and in the locked position of the tensioner, the fourth pivot axis is between the second and third pivot axes;
in the extended configuration of the collapsible frame and in the first unlocked position of the tensioner, the fourth pivot axis is between the second and third pivot axes; and
in the collapsed configuration of the collapsible frame and in the second unlocked position of the tensioner, the second pivot axis is between the third and fourth pivot axes and the fourth pivot axis is on the second side of the plane containing the second and third pivot axes.

16. A watercraft comprising:
a hull;
a deck disposed on the hull; and
a bimini according to claim 1 , the bimini being connected to the deck.

17. The watercraft of claim 16 , wherein the first support is pivotally connected relative to the deck about a fifth pivot axis.

18. The watercraft of claim 17 , wherein:
the first support is pivotally connected to a side structure of the watercraft about the fifth pivot axis, and
in the collapsed configuration of the collapsible frame, the bimini selectively pivots with respect to the side structure between a generally upright position to a stowed position.

19. The watercraft of claim 18 , further comprising at least one stabilizer bar connected between the first support and the side structure in the extended configuration of the collapsible frame.

20. The watercraft of claim 16 , wherein:
in the collapsed configuration of the collapsible frame, the bimini selectively pivots with respect to the deck between a generally upright position and a stowed position.

Assignees

• Bombardier Recreational Products Inc

Inventors

• Morgan Garrett
• Giguere Kevin
• Doyon Guillaume
• Labbe Antoine

Classifications

• B63B2017/026

  Rigid awnings, or sunroofs · CPC title

• B63B17/02 Primary

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