Retractable shade structure and associated methods

Abstract

A retractable shade structure is positionable and usable in covering relation to a boat. The shade structure includes a pair of generally parallel, substantially horizontal rails supportable above a surface of a body of water. A collapsible shade is suspended between the rails and is movable between an extended position wherein the shade covers at least a portion of the water body surface defined by the rails and a retracted position wherein the shade is folded upon itself to expose at least some of the water body surface portion. The movement of the shade is remotely controllable.

1 . A retractable shade structure for a boat comprising: 
 a pair of generally parallel, substantially horizontal, spaced-apart lateral rails supported above a surface of a body of water;    a collapsible shade suspended between the lateral rails and movable between an extended position wherein the shade covers at least a portion of the water body surface defined by the lateral rails and a retracted position wherein the shade is folded upon itself to expose at least some of the water body surface portion;    a drive mechanism affixed to the lateral rails and adjacent an outer edge of the shade for moving the shade between the extended and the retracted positions; and    means for controlling the drive mechanism.    
   
   
       2 . The retractable shade structure recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a second pair of generally parallel, substantially horizontal, spaced-apart rails comprising an inner rail and an outer rail, supported above the water body surface, the inner and the outer rail affixed at outer ends to outer ends of the lateral rails to form a substantially rectangular structure.  
   
   
       3 . The retractable shade structure recited in  claim 1 , wherein the drive mechanism comprises: 
 a drive shaft supported generally perpendicular to the lateral rails adjacent opposed lateral edges of the shade;    a motor positioned in rotatably driving relation to the drive shaft;    a pulley affixed to the drive shaft between the lateral rails; and    an elongated flexible loop member looped around the pulley and around a pulling member affixed adjacent the shade outer edge in substantially parallel relation to and between the lateral rails.    
   
   
       4 . The retractable shade structure recited in  claim 3 , wherein the pulley comprises a pair of pulleys, one positioned generally adjacent each of the lateral rails, and the loop member comprises a pair of loop members, one loop member looped around each pulley.  
   
   
       5 . The retractable shade structure recited in  claim 4 , wherein: 
 the shade comprises a flexible sheet, a plurality of spaced-apart ribs affixed to the sheet generally perpendicular to the lateral rails, and an outer sliding member affixed adjacent outer ends of each rib; and    the pair of lateral rails each comprises an inwardly facing track adapted to admit the outer sliding members and dimensioned to permit the sliding members to slide therewithin.    
   
   
       6 . The retractable shade structure recited in  claim 5 , further comprising an inner rail extending along the drive shaft and an outer rail connecting outer ends of the lateral rails, wherein: 
 the drive shaft is supported by the inner rail;    the ribs have an inner slide member having an aperture therethrough, the inner slide member positioned between the outer ends and above the sheet; and further comprising:    an elongated secondary support extending in slidable relation through the inner slide member apertures, the secondary support affixed at an inner end to the inner rail and at an outer end to the outer rail.    
   
   
       7 . The retractable shade structure recited in  claim 6 , wherein the inner slide members comprise pulley members.  
   
   
       8 . The retractable shade structure recited in  claim 3 , further comprising further comprising an inner rail extending along the drive shaft and a tensioning member comprising: 
 a substantially rigid connecting member positioned adjacent the pulley and having a top and a bottom aperture therein, each of the apertures positioned in surrounding relation to a respective top and bottom portion of the loop member; and    a biasing member having a top end affixed adjacent a bottom end of the connecting member and a bottom end affixed to the inner rail, for tensioning the loop member.    
   
   
       10 . A retractable shade structure for two boats comprising: 
 two generally parallel, substantially horizontal, spaced-apart lateral rails supported above a surface of a body of water;    an inner rail affixed in bridging relation to the lateral rails between outer ends thereof;    two collapsible shades suspended between the lateral rails, each of the shades having an inner edge adjacent the inner rail and extending in opposite directions toward the respective outer ends of the lateral rails, each of the shades separately movable between an extended position wherein the shade covers at least a portion of the water body surface defined by the lateral rails and a retracted position wherein the shade is folded upon itself to expose at least some of the water body surface portion;    a pair of drive mechanisms affixed to the inner rail and adjacent an outer edge of the respective shade for moving the respective shade between the extended and the retracted positions; and    means for controlling the drive mechanisms.    
   
   
       11 . The retractable shade structure recited in  claim 10 , further comprising a pair of generally parallel, substantially horizontal, spaced-apart rails comprising outer rails, supported above the water body surface, the inner and the outer rail affixed at outer ends to outer ends of the lateral rails to form a substantially rectangular structure.  
   
   
       12 . The retractable shade structure recited in  claim 10 , wherein the drive mechanism comprises: 
 a pair of drive shafts supported generally perpendicular to the lateral rails adjacent opposed lateral edges of the shade;    a pair of motors positioned in rotatably driving relation to the drive shaft;    a pair of pulleys affixed to the respective drive shaft between the lateral rails; and    a pair of elongated flexible loop members looped around the respective pulley and around a respective pulling member affixed adjacent the respective shade outer edge in substantially parallel relation to and between the lateral rails.    
   
   
       13 . A method of shading a marine craft comprising the steps of moving a collapsible shade along a pair of generally parallel, substantially horizontal, spaced-apart lateral rails supported above a surface of a body of water from a retracted position wherein the shade is folded upon itself to expose at least some of the water body surface portion to an extended position wherein the shade covers at least a portion of the water body surface defined by the lateral rails using a drive mechanism affixed to the lateral rails and adjacent an outer edge of the shade by controlling the drive mechanism remotely.