Automated cover support and method
View Patent ↗The invention relates to devices, systems, and methods that involve automatically lifting a boat cover above an interior of the boat.
1. An automated cover support comprising:
a base,
a pole supported by the base and extendable from the base,
a linear actuator adapted to cause the pole to extend from the base,
a remote electronic actuator capable of communicating with the linear actuator to cause the linear actuator to extend the pole from the base.
2. The cover support of claim 1 wherein:
the remote electronic actuator comprises an electromagnetic signal generator and a transmitter, and
the cover support comprises an electronic receiver that receives an electromagnetic signal from the remote electronic actuator, and the electromagnetic signal causes the linear actuator to extend the pole from the base.
3. The cover support of claim 1 wherein the remote electronic actuator comprises a key fob.
4. The cover support of claim 1 wherein the linear actuator comprises an electric motor and a power source.
5. The cover support of claim 4 wherein the power source is a battery.
6. The cover support of claim 1 wherein the base has a fixed size.
7. The cover support of claim 1 wherein the base is expandable in size.
8. A boat comprising:
an interior,
a cover located over the interior, and
an automated cover support comprising:
a pole supported by a linear actuator that is adapted to cause the pole to extend from the base,
a remote electronic actuator that can communicate with the linear actuator to cause the linear actuator to extend the pole from the base.
9. The boat of claim 8 wherein:
the remote electronic actuator comprises an electromagnetic signal generator and a transmitter, and
the cover support comprises an electronic receiver that is adapted to receive an electromagnetic signal from the remote electronic actuator, and to cause the linear actuator to extend the pole.
10. The boat of claim 9 wherein the remote electronic actuator comprises a key fob.
11. The boat of claim 8 wherein the automated cover support comprises a base that is supported by a deck of the interior, and the linear actuator is supported by the base.
12. The boat of claim 11 wherein the base is movable relative to the interior.
13. The boat of claim 11 wherein the base has a fixed size.
14. The boat of claim 11 wherein the base is expandable in size.
15. The boat of claim 8 wherein the linear actuator comprises an electric motor and a power source.
16. The boat of claim 15 wherein the power source is a battery.
17. The boat of claim 8 wherein the automated cover support comprises a base that is built into a deck of the boat, and the pole in an un-extended position is located below the deck.
18. The boat of claim 17 wherein the automated cover support is wired to a boat battery.