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. A boat deck comprising a horizontal deck floor surrounded by a vertical perimeter structure, the deck floor comprising an automated cover support comprising a pole adapted to be moved vertically through a hole in the deck floor between: an extended position above the deck floor, and an un-extended position below the deck floor with the pole retracted entirely into the hole in the deck floor.
2. The boat deck of claim 1 , wherein the automated cover support is adapted to receive a signal from an electronic actuator to cause the automated cover support to extend the pole vertically above the deck floor.
3. The boat deck of claim 2 , wherein the electronic actuator is a remote electronic actuator that comprises an electromagnetic signal generator and a transmitter.
4. The boat deck of claim 3 , wherein the remote electronic actuator comprises a key fob.
5. The boat deck of claim 1 , wherein the automated cover support comprises a linear actuator.
6. A boat comprising the boat deck of claim 1 .
7. The boat of claim 6 , comprising a boat battery, wherein the automated cover support comprises an electric motor that is wired to the boat battery.
8. The boat of claim 6 , wherein the automated cover support is adapted to receive a signal from an electronic actuator to cause the automated cover support to extend the pole vertically above the deck floor.
9. The boat of claim 8 , wherein the electronic actuator is a remote electronic actuator that comprises an electromagnetic signal generator and a transmitter.
10. The boat of claim 9 , wherein the remote electronic actuator comprises a key fob.
11. The boat deck of claim 1 , wherein the pole in the un-extended position is located below the deck floor.
12. The boat of claim 6 , wherein the pole in the un-extended position is located below the deck floor.
13. The boat deck of claim 1 , wherein the vertical perimeter structure comprises a gunnel or fencing.
14. The boat of claim 6 , wherein the vertical perimeter structure comprises a gunnel or fencing.
15. The boat deck of claim 3 , wherein the electromagnetic signal generator and transmitter generates and transmits a wireless signal.
16. The boat of claim 9 , wherein the electromagnetic signal generator and transmitter generates and transmits a wireless signal.
17. The boat of claim 6 , comprising a cover that comprises a cover perimeter secured to the vertical perimeter structure.
18. The boat of claim 17 , wherein in the extended position the pole contacts a lower surface of the cover at a location that causes an upper exterior surface of the cover to be angled in a downward direction from the location of the pole toward the cover perimeter at a starboard side of the boat, and to be angled in a downward direction from the location of the pole toward the cover perimeter at a port side of the boat.
19. A boat deck comprising an automated cover support comprising a pole adapted to be moved vertically through a hole in the deck between: an extended position above the deck, and an un-extended position below the deck with the pole retracted entirely into the hole in the deck, wherein the automated cover support is adapted to receive a signal from a remote electronic actuator to cause the automated cover support to extend the pole vertically above the deck, and wherein the remote electronic actuator comprises a key fob.
20. A boat comprising a boat deck that comprises an automated cover support comprising a pole adapted to be moved vertically through a hole in the deck between: an extended position above the deck, and an un-extended position below the deck with the pole retracted entirely into the hole in the deck, wherein the automated cover support is adapted to receive a signal from a remote electronic actuator to cause the automated cover support to extend the pole vertically above the deck, and wherein the remote electronic actuator comprises a key fob.