Multi-modal marine craft cover

Abstract

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a multi-modal marine craft cover (MMMCC). In an illustrative example, the MMMCC may, for example, include arms rotatably coupled to a cover at one end and to a watercraft at an opposite end. The MMMCC may, for example, be operable between at least a cover mode and a stowage mode. In the cover mode, the arms may, for example, extend upward by at least 90 degrees, from a longitudinal axis of the watercraft, to support the cover over a cockpit. In the stowage mode, for example, the arms may be rotated forward and a fore end of the cover coupled to the bow such that the cover is coupled to and disposed over the watercraft from a fore end of the cockpit to the bow. Various embodiments may advantageously provide selective protection of users during operation, and the watercraft such as during travel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multi-modal marine craft cover comprising:
 a plurality of arms rotatably coupled to a cover at a distal end of each arm such that when the proximal end of each arm is rotatably coupled to a boat, the plurality of arms and the cover are operable between at least a cover mode and a stowage mode,   wherein:
 in the cover mode, the arms extend upward by at least 90 degrees, from a longitudinal axis extending through a bow of the boat, and the arms support the cover over at least a cockpit; and, 
 in the stowage mode, the arms are rotated forward and a fore end of the cover couples to the bow such that the cover is coupled to and disposed over a region of the boat extending from a windshield of the boat to the bow; and, 
   a tow coupling member disposed at a distal end of the plurality of arms and configured to couple to a water ski such that the water ski is towed by at least one of the plurality of arms.   
     
     
         2 . The multi-modal marine craft cover of  claim 1 , further configured to operate into a second cover mode, in which the arms extend upward by less than 90 degrees from the longitudinal axis extending through the bow of the boat, and the arms support the cover offset longitudinally forward of at least a portion of the cockpit. 
     
     
         3 . The multi-modal marine craft cover of  claim 1 , wherein the stowage mode further comprises a locked mode such that, when the plurality of arms and the cover are operated into the stowage mode, and at least one locking member is operated, then the cover is mechanically coupled at least to a distal end of the bow of the boat. 
     
     
         4 . The multi-modal marine craft cover of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of arms includes an electronic actuating system configured to selectively operate the plurality of arms between at least the stowage made and the cover mode. 
     
     
         5 . The multi-modal marine craft cover of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of arms is a first plurality of arms,   the cover is a first cover, and   further comprising a second cover attached to a second plurality of arms rotatably coupled to the second cover at a distal end of each arm such that, when a proximal end of each arm is rotatably coupled to the boat, then the second cover is selectively operable between the cover mode and the stowage mode,   wherein:
 in the cover mode, the second plurality of arms extend upward from a longitudinal axis extending through a bow of the boat, and the second plurality of arms support the second cover in a position longitudinally offset from and overlapping the first cover by less than 50% of a length of the second cover; and 
 in the stowage mode, the second plurality of arms are rotated rearward such that the cover is disposed over a region of the boat extending rearwards from the windshield of the boat. 
   
     
     
         6 . The multi-modal marine craft cover of  claim 5 , further configured to be selectively operated into a second cover mode, wherein, in the second cover mode, the second plurality of arms support the second cover in a position overlapping the first cover by at least 50% of the length of the second cover. 
     
     
         7 . A multi-modal marine craft cover comprising:
 a plurality of arms rotatably coupled to a cover at a distal end of each arm such that when the proximal end of each arm is rotatably coupled to a watercraft, the plurality of arms and the cover are operable between at least a cover mode and a stowage mode,   wherein:
 in the cover mode, the arms extend upward by at least 90 degrees, from a longitudinal axis extending through a bow of the boat, and the arms support the cover over at least a cockpit; and, 
 in the stowage mode, the arms are rotated forward and a fore end of the cover couples to the bow such that the cover is coupled to and disposed over a region of the watercraft extending from a at least a fore end of the cockpit to the bow. 
   
     
     
         8 . The multi-modal marine craft cover of  claim 7 , further comprising a tow coupling member disposed at a distal end of the plurality of arms and configured to couple to a water ski such that the water ski is towed by at least one of the plurality of arms. 
     
     
         9 . The multi-modal marine craft cover of  claim 7 , wherein, in the stowage mode, the region of the watercraft extends from at least a windshield at the fore end of the cockpit to the bow, such that the cover is disposed over the windshield. 
     
     
         10 . The multi-modal marine craft cover of  claim 7 , further configured to operate into a second cover mode, in which the arms extend upward by less than 90 degrees from the longitudinal axis extending through the bow of the watercraft, and the arms support the cover offset longitudinally forward of at least a portion of the cockpit. 
     
     
         11 . The multi-modal marine craft cover of  claim 7 , wherein the stowage mode further comprises a locked mode such that, when the plurality of arms and the cover are operated into the stowage mode, and at least one locking member is operated, then the cover is mechanically coupled at least to a distal end of the bow of the watercraft. 
     
     
         12 . The multi-modal marine craft cover of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of arms includes an electronic actuating system configured to selectively operate the plurality of arms between at least the stowage made and the cover mode. 
     
     
         13 . The multi-modal marine craft cover of  claim 7 , further comprising the watercraft, wherein the watercraft is a pontoon boat. 
     
     
         14 . The multi-modal craft cover of  claim 7 , further comprising the watercraft, wherein, the watercraft is a bowrider boat. 
     
     
         15 . The multi-modal marine craft cover of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the plurality of arms is a first plurality of arms,   the cover is a first cover, and   further comprising a second cover attached to a second plurality of arms rotatably coupled to the second cover at a distal end of each arm such that, when a proximal end of each arm is rotatably coupled to the watercraft, then the second cover is selectively operable between the cover mode and the stowage mode,   wherein:
 in the cover mode, the second plurality of arms extend upward from a longitudinal axis extending through a bow of the watercraft, and the second plurality of arms support the second cover in a position longitudinally offset from and overlapping the first cover by less than 50% of a length of the second cover; and 
 in the stowage mode, the second plurality of arms are rotated rearward such that the cover is disposed over a region of the watercraft extending rearwards from the windshield of the watercraft. 
   
     
     
         16 . The multi-modal marine craft cover of  claim 15 , further configured to be selectively operated into a second cover mode, wherein, in the second cover mode, the second plurality of arms support the second cover in a position overlapping the first cover by at least 50% of the length of the second cover. 
     
     
         17 . The multi-modal marine craft cover of  claim 9 , further comprising an extendable cover, the extendable cover comprising:
 a flexible cover; and,   a coupling member   wherein:
 in the cover mode, the flexible cover is stored in a compacted state; and, 
 in the deployed mode, when the flexible cover is extended from the compacted state and the coupling member is operated, then the flexible cover extends over at least an otherwise uncovered region of the watercraft, and the coupling member couples the flexible cover to retain it in the deployed mode. 
   
     
     
         18 . The multi-modal marine craft cover of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of arms are mechanically coupled by at least one cross-member. 
     
     
         19 . The multi-modal marine craft cover of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of arms and the at least one cross-member are a unitary structure configured as a radar arch, and wherein the cover is at least partially rotatably coupled to the plurality of arms via the at least one cross-member. 
     
     
         20 . A multi-modal marine craft cover comprising:
 means for rotatably coupling a cover to a watercraft, wherein the cover and the means for rotatably coupling the cover are operable between at least a cover mode and a stowage mode,   wherein:
 in the cover mode, the means for rotatably coupling the cover are operated rearward such that the means for rotatably coupling the cover support the cover vertically offset upwards from and disposed over at least a driver region of a cockpit; and, 
 in the stowage mode, the means for rotatably coupling the cover are operated forward and a fore end of the cover couples to the bow such that the cover is coupled to and disposed over a region of the watercraft extending from a at least a fore end of the cockpit to the bow.