Variable tension fastening system for vehicle covers

Abstract

According to the present invention, there is provided a variable tension fastener for attaching, and tensioning, a cover over a vehicle. The two piece fastening system includes a first member for attachment to a peripheral portion of a vehicle and a second member for attachment to a cover, one of the members comprising a loop, and the other of the members comprising a hinged lever pivotal about a pivot and including a male member for extending through the loop and having a series of transverse recesses spaced sequentially from a pivot for selective engagement with the loop, where pivoting of the lever about the pivot, to a closed position, tensions the cover and attaches the cover to the vehicle.

1 . A variable tension fastener for attaching, and tensioning, a cover over a vehicle, comprising a first member for attachment to a peripheral portion of a vehicle and a second member for attachment to a cover; one of said members comprising a female member; the other of said members comprising a hinged lever pivotal about a pivot and including a male member for extending through said female member and having a series of transverse recesses spaced sequentially from said pivot for selective engagement with said female member; pivoting of said lever about said pivot, to a closed position, tensions said cover and attaches said cover to said vehicle.  
   
   
       2 . A fastener as claimed in  claim 1 , said first member including independent means for attaching said first member to said vehicle.  
   
   
       3 . A fastener as claimed in  claim 1 , said first member including means for releasably attaching said first member to existing attachment means on said vehicle.  
   
   
       4 . A fastener as claimed in  claim 3 , including a female member on said first member for releasable attachment to a male member on said vehicle.  
   
   
       5 . A fastener as claimed in  claim 1 , said second member including independent means for attaching said second member to said cover.  
   
   
       6 . A fastener as claimed in  claim 1 , said second member including means for releasably attaching said second member to said cover.  
   
   
       7 . A fastener as claimed in  claim 6 , including a male member on said second member for releasable attachment to a female member on said cover.  
   
   
       8 . A fastener as claimed in  claim 1 , including locking means for locking said lever in said closed position.  
   
   
       9 . A fastener as claimed in  claim 8 , said locking means comprising a male formation on one of said first and second members for releasable engagement with a female formation with the other of said first and second members.  
   
   
       10 . A fastener as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said vehicle comprises a boat.  
   
   
       11 . A boat cover having a plurality of attachment members positioned around the periphery, each attachment member including a loop; 
 a plurality of attaching and tensioning members attached to a boat, positioned for cooperation with said attachment members on the cover, each attaching and tensioning member comprising a lever pivotal about a pivot and including a male member for extending through said loop of an attachment member of the cover, said male member having a series of transverse recesses spaced sequentially from said pivot for selective engagement with said loop;    pivoting of each of said levers about said pivots, to closed positions, attaching said cover to said boat and tensioning said cover.    
   
   
       12 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 11 , including means for releasably attaching said attachment members to existing fasteners on said cover.  
   
   
       13 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 12 , including means for releasably attaching said attaching and tensioning members to existing fasteners on said boat.  
   
   
       14 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 11 , including locking means on said attaching and tensioning members for releasably locking said levers in said closed position.  
   
   
       15 . In combination a boat and a boat cover, said boat including a plurality of first members attached to said boat, each first member including a loop; said cover including a plurality of second members attached to and spaced around said cover for engagement with said first members on said boat, each of said second members comprising a lever pivoted about a pivot and including a male member for extending through a loop of a corresponding first member, said male member having a series of transverse recesses spaced sequentially from said pivot for selective engagement with a loop; pivoting of said lever about said pivots to a closed position tensioning said cover and attaching said cover to said boat.  
   
   
       16 . The combination of  claim 15 , said first members attached to existing fasteners on said boat and said second members attached to existing fasteners on said cover.