Vent for shrink wrap watercraft storage

Abstract

A vent for use with a film-wrapped watercraft includes a body having a piercing tip at a first end and a hood member at a second end. A guide member extends from the body to an area proximate the piercing tip. The guide member includes a positioning structure proximate the piercing tip. A vent member is positioned under the body. Apertures of the vent member are positioned between a lower edge of the vent member and the hood member. The positioning structure is configured to slidably engage a watercraft wrap and allow the piercing tip to pierce the watercraft wrap. The positioning structure and the piercing tip are configured to guide a portion of the watercraft wrap over the body and under the guide member and the positioning structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vent for use with a film-wrapped watercraft, the vent comprising:
 a body having a piercing tip at a first end and a hood member at a second end;   a guide member that extends from the body to an area proximate the piercing tip, wherein the guide member includes a positioning structure proximate the piercing tip; and   a vent member that is positioned under the body, wherein apertures of the vent member are positioned between a lower edge of the vent member and the hood member, wherein
 the positioning structure is configured to slidably engage a watercraft wrap and allow the piercing tip to pierce the watercraft wrap; and 
 the positioning structure and the piercing tip are configured to guide a portion of the watercraft wrap over the body and under the guide member and the positioning structure. 
   
     
     
         2 . The vent of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes angled edges that include a plurality of serrations. 
     
     
         3 . The vent of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes a material collection area proximate each of the opposing guide members. 
     
     
         4 . The vent of  claim 1 , wherein the guide member includes opposing first and second guide members that extend to the first end and support the positioning structure. 
     
     
         5 . The vent of  claim 1 , further comprising a spacing flange that extends downward from the body and defines an airspace that allows for airflow through the watercraft wrap when the body is inserted therethrough. 
     
     
         6 . The vent of  claim 1 , wherein the hood member defines a drip edge that prevents water from infiltrating toward the vent member. 
     
     
         7 . The vent of  claim 1 , wherein the vent member extends from the lower edge to an intermediate portion of the body. 
     
     
         8 . The vent of  claim 7 , wherein the hood member extends from the intermediate portion of the body to the second end. 
     
     
         9 . The vent of  claim 1 , wherein the positioning structure is a generally spheroid member that defines a positioning tip of the guide member. 
     
     
         10 . The vent of  claim 2 , wherein the positioning structure and the guide member at least partially surround a plurality of serrations that are defined within the body. 
     
     
         11 . A vent for use with a film-wrapped watercraft, the vent comprising:
 a body having a piercing tip at a first end and a hood member at a second end;   opposing guide members that extend from the body to a positioning structure that slidably engages an upper surface of a watercraft wrap, the opposing guide members and the positioning structure being a resilient structure that is selectively biased away from the piercing tip to promote engagement between the upper surface of the watercraft wrap and the piercing tip; and   a vent member that is positioned under the body, wherein apertures of the vent member are positioned between a lower edge of the vent member and the hood member, wherein
 when the body is inserted through the watercraft wrap, the positioning structure maintains the opposing guide members engaged with the upper surface of the watercraft wrap; and 
 the positioning structure and the piercing tip are configured to guide a portion of the watercraft wrap over the body, under the opposing guide members. 
   
     
     
         12 . The vent of  claim 11 , wherein the body includes angled edges that include a plurality of serrations, and wherein a material collection area is positioned proximate the plurality of serrations and the opposing guide member. 
     
     
         13 . The vent of  claim 11 , wherein the guide member includes opposing first and second guide members that extend to the first end and support the positioning structure, wherein the positioning structure and the opposing first and second guide members define the resilient structure that is selectively biased away from the piercing tip to define a piercing position. 
     
     
         14 . The vent of  claim 11 , further comprising a spacing flange that extends downward from the body and defines an airspace that allows for airflow through the watercraft wrap when the body is inserted therethrough. 
     
     
         15 . The vent of  claim 11 , wherein the hood member defines a drip edge that directs fluid away from the vent member. 
     
     
         16 . The vent of  claim 11 , wherein the vent member extends from the lower edge to an intermediate portion of the body, and wherein the hood member extends from the intermediate portion of the body to the second end. 
     
     
         17 . The vent of  claim 11 , wherein the positioning structure is a rounded member that defines a positioning tip of the guide member. 
     
     
         18 . The vent of  claim 17 , wherein the positioning tip and the guide member at least partially surround a plurality of serrations that are defined within the body. 
     
     
         19 . The vent of  claim 11 , wherein the body is defined by a primary curve and a secondary curve that form a hyperbolic paraboloid shape. 
     
     
         20 . A method for installing a vent within a watercraft wrap that extends around a portion of a watercraft;
 engaging a positioning structure against an upper surface of the watercraft wrap;   biasing the positioning structure away from a piercing tip of a body;   inserting the piercing tip of a body of said vent through a portion of said watercraft wrap; and   sliding the positioning structure against the upper surface and contemporaneously sliding the body linearly through the portion of said watercraft wrap to position the portion over the body and under opposing guide members, the opposing guide members extending at an angle from an area below the body to the positioning structure.