AU2006213963A1 - A Fender for a Structure Adjacent a Body of Water - Google Patents

Description

A FENDER FOR A STRUCTURE ADJACENT A BODY OF WATER FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to fenders for structures that are adjacent bodies of water. In particular, the invention relates to fenders that are mounted on jetties, swimming pools and other structures having an edge adjacent a body of water to prevent personal injury or damage to watercraft caused by contact with the edge of the structure.

BACKGROUND

In relation to boats and other watercraft, it is a well-known problem that when a boat or other watercraft is moored to a jetty, or otherwise positioned near the jetty, swells, tides and other movements of the water can cause the watercraft to repeatedly contact the jetty. In many situations, this contact creates a significant impact or scraping, and this can cause damage to the hull or other parts of the watercraft. Furthermore, the problem is particularly pronounced when the watercraft is approaching or pulling alongside the jetty because the motion of the watercraft can increase the severity of the impact or scraping contact.

A number of methods are currently used to overcome this problem. In one commonly used method, impact absorbing devices such as hollow plastic containers or inflated buoys are attached to the end of a rope and are thrown over the side of the jetty, or over the side of the watercraft, to rest between the edge or surface of the jetty and the hull of the watercraft. In this way it is possible to prevent the edge of the jetty from contacting with the hull. However, this method has a number of disadvantages. For example, if the length of rope is not correct, then the impact absorbing device may hang too high or too low, and it therefore may not adequately prevent the hull from contacting with the jetty. Furthermore, it is possible to inadvertently neglect to throw such devices over the side as the watercraft pulls alongside the jetty, in which case the hull is left unprotected.

In another commonly used method, old or used motor vehicle tires (typically car or truck tires) are affixed to the edge or surface of the jetty. The tires are typically positioned in a line along the edge or surface of the jetty to thereby form a fender along the length of the jetty. However, because motor vehicle tires are round and have a hole in the centre, the fender created by a line of motor vehicle tires has many gaps through which the hull or other part of the watercraft may come into direct contact with the jetty causing damage. Furthermore, motor vehicle tires, and the means for affixing them to the jetty, are known to deteriorate with continued impact, submersion and exposure to the sun. Therefore, it can be necessary to regularly resecure and/or replace the tires.

A number of forms of more sophisticated jetty fenders are also known. For example, some such fenders comprise sections of extruded rubber-like polymer that are positioned vertically on posts that are spaced apart along the length of the jetty. These fenders typically have a convex surface which protrudes out from the jetty to prevent watercraft from contacting with the posts. There may also be a number of internal walls, supports or baffles integrally formed within the convex surface to provide the fender with the necessary impact absorbing properties. Whilst fenders of this kind overcome several of the disadvantages associated with the impact absorbing devices and tires described above, the long thick polymer extrusions and intricate internal supports can be quite complicated and expensive to manufacture. The polymer can also deteriorate and become brittle with age and continued exposure to the sun, and if this happens, the internal supports or baffles can break, whereupon the protection provided by the fender is compromised.

Other known jetty fenders comprise long woven polyester tubes into which is sewn an impact absorbing material. These are also quite complicated and expensive to manufacture.

It would therefore be advantageous if a fender for a jetty could be provided which is sturdy and long-lasting, and which is comparably cheap and simple to manufacture.

Referring now to other forms of structures that have an edge adjacent to a body of water and which are used to enable persons to access the water for recreational purposes, it is a further problem that people often injure themselves on the edge of the structure when entering or exiting the water, or when engaging in water sport. In many cases, this can lead to severe injuries including head, neck and spinal injuries, as well as bruises, cuts and grazes. Therefore, there would also be an advantage if a fender could be provided for an edge of a structure to prevent personal injury caused by tripping, falling or otherwise contacting with the edge of the structure. Again, such a fender would preferrrably be sturdy, long-lasting and comparably cheap and simple to manufacture.

Any reference herein to a piece of prior art or a prior art publication does not constitute an admission that any piece of prior art or any prior art publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION We have now found a fender that may at least partially ameliorate the above disadvantages or which may provide a useful or commercial choice.

According to a first aspect, the present invention resides in a fender for a structure that is adjacent a body of water, the fender comprising a resiliently deformable foam core and a polyurethane coating, characterised in that the fender includes a mounting for attaching the fender to a surface or edge of the structure to thereby prevent direct contact with the surface or edge of the structure.

It is envisaged that the fender of the present invention will typically be used on the edges of swimming pools, decking or boardwalks that provide access to rivers or canals, and jetties that service small to medium sized recreational, sporting and commercial watercraft. However, no particular limitation is meant thereby, and other applications for the fender are considered to fall within the scope of the invention.

For example, the fender may be used on jetties that service industrial watercraft.

The fender of the present invention will typically comprise elongate fender portions adapted to extend along the length of each of the surfaces or edges of the structure.

Each elongate portion may be formed from a single fender segment, or alternatively a series of fender segments may be assembled in a line to form the elongate portion.

For convenience, the word "fender" is used herein to refer to an elongate fender portion, whether formed from a single segment or multiple segments.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, one or more of the long edges of the fender may protrude outwardly from the edge or surface of the structure to abut with the hull or other part of an adjacent watercraft, or to prevent a person from contacting the edge of the structure (for example in the event of a fall). In particularly preferred embodiments, these protruding edges may have a substantially convex shape. The protruding edges may also have a vertically raised portion or portions that form a lip or lips of the fender. Each lip is preferably smooth and rounded, and may extend vertically proud of the upper edge or surface of the structure in order to help define the edge or surface in poor visibility conditions. The lip or lips may also provide a small barrier to help prevent objects from accidentally rolling or sliding off the edge of the structure.

The fender may further comprise corner portions adapted to extend around corners in the edge or surface of the structure, and the corner portions may have similar protruding edges and vertically raised lips to the elongate portions.

It will be clearly understood that although preferred embodiment of the invention have been described having a number of features of shape such as protruding edges and vertically raised lips, no particular limitation is meant in relation to the shape of the fender and any other shape known by the person skilled in the art to be suitable may be used. For example, if the structure has a curved edge or surface, the fender may have a correspondingly curved shape. Also, in some embodiments the fender may extend from beneath the edge or surface of the structure.

As described above, the fender of the present invention has a core made from resiliently deformable foam. In preferred embodiments, the foam core may be substantially homogeneous through its entire thickness (ie having an entirely filled in cross-section with no cavities or openings therein other than those that exist inherently in the foam) so that the fender comprises a thick member protruding outwardly from the edge or surface of the structure. However, in an alternative embodiments, the core may also be partially hollow. The core may also be formed from a single piece of foam, or multiple pieces.

The foam core is to be deformable so as to provide impact absorbency to protect people against injury (for example in the event of a fall), and to protect the hull and other parts of watercraft against impact damage. However, the foam should also have a stiffness so that, upon impact, the person or hull of the watercraft does not compress the core so much that the person or hull impacts with the hard edge or surface of the structure through the compressed core. The core should also be resilient so that it returns to its original shape after deforming under impact. In preferred embodiments, the core may be substantially memoryless (in the sense that it should retain its original shape and should not become permanently indented or compressed with repeated impact). Preferably, the foam from which the core is made will be lightweight to enable easy handling, and it should be easily formable with the desired shape. Foams of this kind will be well known to the person skilled in the art. For example, dense, closed cell polyolefin foams including polyethylene foams may be suitable.

The fender of the present invention also has a polyurethane coating. It is envisaged that the thickness of the coating may be quite small (ie thin) compared with the thickness of the core such that the shape of the fender may be substantially determined by the shape of the core. In other words, the coating may increase the thickness of the fender by only a small amount compared with the thickness of the core alone. However, it will be understood that a thick polyurethane coating may also be used without derogating from the present invention.

In preferred embodiments, the coating may be created by applying a liquid chemical composition or compositions directly to the surface of the core, and the liquid chemical composition or compositions applied to the foam core may react to form the polyurethane coating. In particularly preferred embodiments, the liquid chemical composition(s) may be applied in the form of a spray. Hence, the liquid chemical composition(s) may be sprayed directly onto the core to react thereon forming the polyurethane coating. However, other means for applying the liquid chemical composition may also be used, for example painting, moulding or dipping.

The polyurethane coating may have a slightly textured finish to prevent the fender from becoming excessively slippery when wet. However, the texturing of the coating should not be so course as to graze the skin of a person or cause wear or abrasion to

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the hull of a watercraft. The polyurethane coating may also be brightly coloured so as to enable the fender (and therefore the structure) to be seen in poor visibility conditions.

The fender of the present invention further comprises a mounting for attaching the fender to a surface or edge of the structure. In preferred embodiments, the mounting may comprise a sculpted edge or edges of the fender. The sculpted edge or edges may be shaped so as to conform closely with the edge or surface of the structure. Even more preferably, the edge or edges may be sculpted so as to adjoin smoothly with the structure so that attachment of the fender to the structure does not create any significant ridges or other projections which may be unsightly and which may form a tripping hazard. The fender may be attachable to the structure by way of mechanical fasteners such as screws or bolts, and the fender may have apertures therein for receiving such fasteners. However, other methods for attaching the fender to the structure may also be used, including gluing, strapping and the like.

According to a second aspect, the present invention resides in a method for producing a fender of the kind described above comprising the steps of producing the foam core with an appropriate shape, and applying a liquid chemical composition or compositions directly to the surface of the foam core, whereby the liquid composition or compositions reacts thereon to form the polyurethane coating.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the present fender will now be described with reference to the following drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a segment of a fender in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 shows a comer portion of a fender in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional sample of the resiliently deformable foam core.

BEST MODE Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a fender segment 10. In use, if the structure has an edge that is longer than segment 10 then a plurality of segments may be attached in a line to the edge of the structure with each segment abutting with an adjacent segment on one or both sides thereof, to thereby form a continuous elongate fender for that edge. Alternatively, the length of the segment 10 may be increased so that one segment (longer than the one shown) forms the fender for the whole edge.

In the embodiment shown, segment 10 has a thick and substantially reverse "D" shaped cross-section. The curved edge of the forms a curved outer surface 12 and upper lip 14 of the fender, and the straight edge of the forms a back edge 16 of the fender that abuts with a vertically oriented and outwardly facing edge or surface of the structure (not shown). Segment 10 also comprises a shoulder 18 extending inwardly from the top of back edge 16, which is adapted to rest on top of the edge or surface of the structure when the fender is installed.

Shoulder 18 has an inwardly decreasing thickness so that when the fender is attached to the structure, any raised portions of upper lip 14 blends quite smoothly with the deck or upper surface of the structure. Shoulder 18 also contains several throughbores 20 into which screws or bolts may be inserted to secure segment 10 to the structure.

Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown a corner portion 22 of a fender. Corner portion 22 comprises two segments 24 and 26, both of which have substantially the same cross-sectional shape as segment 10 described above, but which are integrally connected to each other to form a right angle, thus giving corner portion 22 a right angled elbow-like shape.

It can be seen from Figures 1 and 2 that the external surfaces of the fender formed by the polyurethane coating have a slightly lumpy texture. This can help to prevent the fender from becoming slippery when it is wet. However, it will also be appreciated that the texturing is not course and therefore will not graze the skin or cause abrasion or scraping to the hull or other parts of watercraft when they come into contact with the fender.

8 Figure 3 shows a cross section of the inner core of closed cell polyolefin foam.

It should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications can be made to the embodiment described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (13)

1. 2. A fender according to claim 1 wherein the fender comprises elongate fender portions adapted to extend along the length of each of the surfaces or edges of the structure.
2. 3. A fender according to either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein one or more of the long edges of the fender may protrude outwardly from the edge or surface of the structure to abut with the hull or other part of an adjacent watercraft, or to prevent a person from contacting the edge of the structure.
3. 4. A fender according to claim 3 wherein the protruding edges have a substantially convex shape. A fender according to either claim 3 or claim 4 wherein protruding edges have a vertically raised portion or portions that form a lip or lips of the fender.
4. 6. A fender according to claim 5 wherein each lip is smooth and rounded, and extends vertically proud of the upper edge or surface of the structure in order to define the edge or surface in poor visibility conditions.
5. 7. A fender according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the fender further comprises comer portions adapted to extend around corners in the edge or surface of the structure.
6. 8. A fender according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the resiliently deformable foam core is a dense, closed cell polyolefin foam including polyethylene foams. I
7. 9. A fender according to claim 8 wherein the foam is a polyethylene foam. A fender according to any one of claims 7 to 9 wherein the polyurethane coating is created by applying a liquid chemical composition or compositions directly to the surface of the core, and wherein the liquid chemical composition or compositions applied to the foam core may react to form the polyurethane coating.
8. 11. A fender according to claim 10 wherein the liquid chemical composition(s) is applied in the form of a spray.
9. 12. A fender according to any one of claims 7 to 11 wherein the polyurethane coating has a slightly textured finish to prevent the fender from becoming excessively slippery when wet.
10. 13. A fender according to any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein the mounting comprises a sculpted edge or edges of the fender.
11. 14. A fender according to claim 13 wherein the sculpted edge or edges are shaped so as to conform closely with the edge or surface of the structure. A fender according to claim 14 wherein the edge or edges are sculpted so as to adjoin smoothly with the structure whereby attachment of the fender to the structure does not create any significant ridges or other projections which may be unsightly and which may form a tripping hazard.
12. 16. A fender according to any one of claims 1 to 15 wherein the fender is mounted on the edges of swimming pools, decking or boardwalks that provide access to rivers or canals, and jetties that service small to medium sized recreational, sporting and commercial watercraft.
13. 17. A fender substantially as hereinabove described with reference to the accompanying drawings.