Watercraft Propeller Safety Cover

Abstract

A watercraft propeller safety cover includes a cover sleeve designed to fit around a watercraft propeller to protect persons from being cut by sharp edges of a watercraft propeller, and a securing structure designed to releasably secure the cover sleeve to a watercraft propeller.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A watercraft propeller safety cover comprising:
 a cover sleeve configured to fit around a watercraft propeller to protect persons from being cut by sharp edges of a watercraft propeller; and   a securing structure configured to releasably secure said cover sleeve to a watercraft propeller.   
     
     
         2 . The watercraft propeller safety cover of  claim 1 , wherein said securing structure comprises a strap assembly configured to wrap around a shaft of a watercraft propeller. 
     
     
         3 . The watercraft propeller safety cover of  claim 2 , wherein said strap assembly comprises a first strap of hook material and a second strap of loop material configured to matingly engage with one another. 
     
     
         4 . The watercraft propeller safety cover of  claim 2 , wherein said securing structure comprises a flexible sheath, wherein said flexible sheath comprises a body portion enclosing said cover sleeve and a neck portion extending from said body portion and configured to be collapsed and gathered around a shaft of a watercraft propeller by said strap assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The watercraft propeller safety cover of  claim 4 , wherein said neck portion has a maximum diameter greater than an outer diameter of a watercraft propeller to permit insertion of a watercraft propeller into said cover sleeve. 
     
     
         6 . The watercraft propeller safety cover of  claim 4 , wherein said cover sleeve is permanently attached to said body portion of said flexible sheath. 
     
     
         7 . The watercraft propeller safety cover of  claim 4 , wherein said flexible sheath comprises a tear-resistant material. 
     
     
         8 . The watercraft propeller safety cover of  claim 1 , wherein said cover sleeve comprises a solid material. 
     
     
         9 . The watercraft propeller safety cover of  claim 8 , wherein said solid material comprises a hard foam. 
     
     
         10 . The watercraft propeller safety cover of  claim 1 , wherein said cover sleeve comprises a waterproof material. 
     
     
         11 . The watercraft propeller safety cover of  claim 1 , wherein said cover sleeve is cylindrical. 
     
     
         12 . The watercraft propeller safety cover of  claim 1 , wherein said cover sleeve comprises a closed end and an open end. 
     
     
         13 . A method of protecting persons in water from being cut by sharp edges of a watercraft propeller using the watercraft propeller safety cover of  claim 1 , comprising:
 placing said cover sleeve around a watercraft propeller; and   releasably securing said cover sleeve to the watercraft propeller with said securing assembly.   
     
     
         14 . A watercraft propeller safety cover comprising:
 a cover sleeve configured to fit around a watercraft propeller to protect persons from being cut by sharp edges of a watercraft propeller, wherein:
 said cover sleeve comprises a solid material, 
 said cover sleeve comprises a waterproof material, 
 said cover sleeve is cylindrical; and 
   a securing structure configured to releasably secure said cover sleeve to a watercraft propeller, wherein:
 said securing structure comprises a strap assembly configured to wrap around a shaft of a watercraft propeller, 
 said securing structure comprises a flexible sheath, wherein said flexible sheath comprises a body portion enclosing said cover sleeve and a neck portion extending from said body portion and configured to be collapsed and gathered around a shaft of a watercraft propeller by said strap assembly, 
 said neck portion has a maximum diameter greater than an outer diameter of a watercraft propeller to permit insertion of a watercraft propeller into said cover sleeve, 
 said flexible sheath comprises a tear-resistant material. 
   
     
     
         15 . The watercraft propeller safety cover of  claim 14 , wherein said solid material comprises a hard foam, and said cover sleeve comprises a closed end and an open end. 
     
     
         16 . The watercraft propeller safety cover of  claim 14 , wherein said strap assembly comprises a first strap of hook material and a second strap of loop material configured to matingly engage with one another. 
     
     
         17 . The watercraft propeller safety cover of  claim 14 , wherein said cover sleeve is permanently attached to said body portion of said flexible sheath.