Portable boat lounge and a method of attaching the portable boat lounge to the sides of a boat

Abstract

A portable boat lounge and a method of attaching are disclosed. The boat lounge includes a fabric having a length which spans across the beam of the boat. The fabric has a first end, with a pair of first hollow sleeves formed adjacent thereto, and a second end, with a plurality of second hollow sleeves formed adjacent thereto. The boat lounge further includes a pair of brackets each having first and second hooked ends. One of the hooked ends of one of the brackets is sized to slide through one of the first hollow sleeves and be attached to a side of the boat. One of the hooked ends on the other bracket is sized such that it can slide through one of the second hollow sleeves and be attached to an opposite side of the boat such that the fabric is held taut across the beam.

1 . A portable boat lounge for use on a boat having a beam extending between opposite sides, comprising:
 a) a fabric having a length and a width, said length being sufficient to span across said beam, said fabric having first and second ends and first and second side edges aligned perpendicular to said first and second ends, said fabric having a pair of first hollow sleeves formed adjacent to said first end, each of said pair of first hollow sleeves extending across said width, each being open at said first and second side edges and each having an equally dimensioned width measured parallel to said first and second side edges, and said fabric having a plurality of second hollow sleeves formed adjacent to said second end, each of said plurality of second hollow sleeves extending across said width, each being open at said first and second side edges and each having an equally dimensioned width measured parallel to said first and second side edges, and said width of each of said plurality of second hollow sleeves being greater than said width of each of said pair of first hollow sleeves; and   b) a pair of brackets each including an elongated member with first and second hooked ends, each of said pair of brackets having a length which is less than said width of said fabric, one of said hooked ends of one of said pair of brackets being sized to slide through one of said pair of first hollow sleeves and be releasably attached to a side of said boat, and one of said hooked ends of said other bracket being sized to slide through one of said plurality of second hollow sleeves and be releasably attached to an opposite side of said boat such that said fabric is held taut across said beam.   
   
   
       2 . The portable boat lounge of  claim 1  wherein said fabric has an upper planar surface and a lower planar surface, said upper surface is folded around and secured to said lower surface at both said first and second ends to form said pair of first hollow sleeves adjacent to said first end and said plurality of second hollow sleeves adjacent to said second end, and said width of each of said plurality of second hollow sleeves is at least twice said width of each of said pair of first hollow sleeves. 
   
   
       3 . The portable boat lounge of  claim 2  wherein upper surface is folded around and secured to said lower surface by thread. 
   
   
       4 . The portable boat lounge of  claim 1  wherein said fabric has a rectangular configuration and said width is constant along said length, and each of said pair of first hollow sleeves is formed adjacent to one another and each extends completely across said width. 
   
   
       5 . The portable boat lounge of  claim 1  wherein each of pair of brackets is identical in size and configuration and each is formed from steel. 
   
   
       6 . The portable boat lounge of  claim 5  wherein said first and second hooked ends of each of said pair of brackets is coated to prevent said first and second hooked ends from scratching said sides of said boat. 
   
   
       7 . The portable boat lounge of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of second hollow sleeves extend over at least about 25% of said length of said fabric. 
   
   
       8 . The portable boat lounge of  claim 1  wherein said pair of first hollow sleeves and said plurality of second hollow sleeves extend over at least about 35% of said length of said fabric. 
   
   
       9 . The portable boat lounge of  claim 1  wherein said fabric is a water resistance, cotton canvas with a dyed pigment finish. 
   
   
       10 . A portable boat lounge for use on a boat having a beam extending between opposite sides, comprising:
 a) a fabric having a length and a width, said length being sufficient to span across said beam, said fabric having first and second ends and first and second side edges aligned perpendicular to said first and second ends, said fabric having a pair of first hollow sleeves formed adjacent to said first end, each of said pair of first hollow sleeves extending across said width, each being open at said first and second side edges and each having an equally dimensioned width measured parallel to said first and second side edges, and said fabric having a plurality of second hollow sleeves formed adjacent to said second end, each of said plurality of second hollow sleeves extending across said width, each being open at said first and second side edges and each having an equally dimensioned width measured parallel to said first and second side edges, said width of each of said plurality of second hollow sleeves being at least twice said width of each of said pair of first hollow sleeves;   b) a pillow having an inflatable bladder encased in a cover, said cover having at least two oppositely aligned straps secured thereto, said two straps sized to wrap around a portion of said fabric and overlap one another, and each of said two straps having a terminal end with an attachment mechanism which can cooperate to releasably attached said pillow to said fabric; and   c) a pair of brackets each including an elongated member with first and second hooked ends, each of said pair of brackets having a length which is less than said width of said fabric, one of said hooked ends of one of said pair of brackets being sized to slide through one of said pair of first hollow sleeves and be releasably attached to a side of said boat, and one of said hooked ends of said other bracket being sized to slide through one of said plurality of second hollow sleeves and be releasably attached to an opposite side of said boat such that said fabric is held taut across said beam.   
   
   
       11 . The portable boat lounge of  claim 10  wherein said inflatable bladder can be inflated by pressurized air. 
   
   
       12 . The portable boat lounge of  claim 11  wherein said inflatable bladder has an outwardly extending valve stem with a valve therein, said valve permitting pressurized air to be inserted into and be released from said bladder. 
   
   
       13 . The portable boat lounge of  claim 12  wherein said valve stem includes a removable protective cap. 
   
   
       14 . The portable boat lounge of  claim 10  wherein said cover on said pillow is formed from the same material as said fabric. 
   
   
       15 . The portable boat lounge of  claim 14  wherein said cover is a water proof canvas having a dyed pigment finish. 
   
   
       16 . A method of attaching a portable boat lounge across the beam of a boat, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) forming a fabric having a length and a width, said length being sufficient to span across said beam, said fabric having first and second ends and first and second side edges aligned perpendicular to said first and second ends, said fabric having a pair of first hollow sleeves formed adjacent to said first end, each of said pair of first hollow sleeves extending across said width, each being open at said first and second side edges and each having an equally dimensioned width measured parallel to said first and second side edges, and said fabric having a plurality of second hollow sleeves formed adjacent to said second end, each of said plurality of second hollow sleeves extending across said width, each being open at said first and second side edges and each having an equally dimensioned width measured parallel to said first and second side edges, and said width of each of said plurality of second hollow sleeves being greater than said width of each of said pair of first hollow sleeves;   b) forming a pair of brackets each being an elongated member with first and second hooked ends, each of said pair of brackets having a length which is less than said width of said fabric;   c) sliding one of said hooked ends of one of said pair of brackets through one of said pair of first hollow sleeves;   d) sliding one of said hooked ends of said other bracket through one of said plurality of second hollow sleeves;   e) attaching said first and second hooked ends of one of said pair of brackets to a side of said boat; and   f) attaching said first and second hooked ends of said other bracket to an opposite side of said boat such that said fabric is held taut across said beam.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising gathering said fabric between said first and second hooked ends of one of said pair of brackets. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising gathering said fabric between said first and second hooked ends of said other pair of brackets. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising attaching a pillow to said fabric adjacent one of said first and second ends. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising:
 a) forming a pillow having an inflatable bladder encased in a cover, said cover having at least two oppositely aligned straps secured thereto, and each of said two straps having a terminal end with an attachment mechanism which can cooperate with said other attachment mechanism;   b) inflating said bladder with pressurized air;   c) wrapping said two straps around a portion of said fabric and overlapping said two straps to releasably attached said pillow to said fabric.