Covering System

Abstract

The present invention concerns apparatus and methods for covering and uncovering a desired object. Particular embodiments include a covering system comprising: a cover operably connected to a plurality of translational members translationally positioned along a track; two or more hangers having a vertically extending portion and an outwardly extending portion, the track being operably attached to the outwardly extending portion; means for mounting hangers in a rotatable arrangement to a structure about a vertical axis. A further embodiment of the present invention includes a method for covering and uncovering a desired object, the steps including: mounting each of two or more hangers to a structure in a rotatable arrangement, the two or more hangers having a vertically extending portion and an outwardly extending portion; suspending a track from the outwardly extending portion of the two or more hangers; suspending a cover from the track, the cover being translatable along the track; rotating the two or more hangers between a covering position and a stored position, the covering position being arranged to position the track above an object to be covered, and the stored position being arranged to position the track to a side of the object to be covered.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A boat covering system for covering and uncovering a boat adjacent a dock comprising:
 a plurality of spaced apart hangers extending upwardly from the dock with each hanger comprised of a generally vertically extending base and an outward extension extending from the base at an angle relative to the base;   a plurality of spaced apart mounting arrangements that each receives and rotatively supports a corresponding one of the hangers, each mounting arrangement holding the vertically extending base in a fixed relationship relative to the dock allowing rotation of the hanger relative to the dock; and   wherein the hangers rotate relative to the dock between a boat covering position where a boat cover carried by the outward extension of each hanger overlies a boat next to the dock and a boat uncovering position where the boat cover carried by the outward extension of each hanger does not overlie the boat.   
     
     
         22 . The boat covering system of  claim 21  wherein each mounting arrangement comprises an immovably fixed first bracket that rotatively supports a corresponding one of the hangers. 
     
     
         23 . The boat covering system of  claim 22  wherein a bottom end of each hanger is rotatively supported by the first bracket of a corresponding mounting arrangement. 
     
     
         24 . The boat covering system of  claim 23  wherein the first bracket of each mounting arrangement is immovably fixed to part of the dock. 
     
     
         25 . The boat covering system of  claim 24  wherein the first bracket of each mounting arrangement is immovably fixed to a pylon of the dock. 
     
     
         26 . The boat covering system of  claim 23  wherein each mounting arrangement further comprises a second bracket spaced above the first bracket that encircles and rotatively supports the base of a corresponding hanger. 
     
     
         27 . The boat covering system of  claim 26  wherein the first bracket and second bracket of each mounting arrangement comprises a bearing. 
     
     
         28 . The boat covering system of  claim 21  further comprising an elongate generally horizontally extending track carrying a boat cover. 
     
     
         29 . The boat covering system of  claim 28  wherein the track further comprises a plurality of wheels movable relative to the track carrying the boat cover enabling the boat cover to translate relative to the track. 
     
     
         30 . The boat covering system of  claim 29  wherein the boat cover is suspended from the wheels of the track by a plurality of downwardly extending cover lines. 
     
     
         31 . A boat covering system for covering and uncovering a boat adjacent a dock comprising:
 a plurality of spaced apart hangers extending upwardly alongside the dock with each hanger comprised of a generally vertically extending base and an outward extension extending generally horizontally outwardly from the base at an angle relative to the base;   an elongate generally horizontally extending track pivotally connected to the hangers;   a boat cover suspended from the track; and   a plurality of spaced apart hanger mounting bracket arrangements rotatively supporting the generally vertically extending base of a corresponding hanger permitting rotation of the hanger relative to the dock; and   wherein rotation of the hangers relative to the dock moves the boat cover between a boat covering position removably covering the boat adjacent the dock and a boat uncovering position where the cover is removed from the boat and disposed adjacent the dock.   
     
     
         32 . The boat covering system of  claim 31  wherein each mounting bracket arrangement comprises an immovably fixed first bracket that rotatively supports a corresponding one of the hangers. 
     
     
         33 . The boat covering system of  claim 32  wherein a bottom end of each hanger is rotatively supported by the first bracket of a corresponding mounting arrangement. 
     
     
         34 . The boat covering system of  claim 33  wherein each mounting arrangement further comprises a second bracket spaced above the first bracket that encircles and rotatively supports the base of a corresponding hanger. 
     
     
         35 . The boat covering system of  claim 34  wherein the first bracket and second bracket of each mounting arrangement comprises a bearing. 
     
     
         36 . The boat covering system of  claim 34  wherein the first and second brackets of each mounting bracket arrangement is immovably fixed to part of the dock. 
     
     
         37 . The boat covering system of  claim 36  wherein the first and second brackets of each mounting bracket arrangement is immovably fixed to a pylon of the dock. 
     
     
         38 . A boat covering system for covering and uncovering a boat adjacent a dock comprising:
 a plurality of spaced apart hangers extending upwardly alongside the dock with each hanger comprised of a generally vertically extending base and an outward extension extending generally horizontally outwardly from the base at an angle relative to the base;   an elongate generally horizontally extending track pivotally connected to the hangers, the track comprised of a plurality of wheels movable relative to the track and having a plurality of downwardly extending cover lines;   a boat cover suspended from the track by the cover lines; and   a plurality of spaced apart hanger mounting bracket arrangements immovably fixed to part of the dock with each hanger mounting bracket arrangement comprising a lower bracket rotatively supporting a bottom end of the generally vertically extending base of a corresponding hanger and an upper bracket spaced from the lower bracket rotatively support part of the vertically extending base above the bottom end rotatively permitting rotation of each hanger relative to the dock; and   wherein rotation of the hangers relative to the dock moves the boat cover between a boat covering position removably covering the boat adjacent the dock and a boat uncovering position where the cover is removed from the boat and disposed adjacent the dock.   
     
     
         39 . The boat covering system of  claim 38  wherein the first and second brackets of each mounting bracket arrangement is immovably fixed to a pylon of the dock. 
     
     
         40 . The boat covering system of  claim 38  wherein the first and second brackets of each mounting bracket arrangement comprises a bearing.