GB2209146A

GB2209146A - Mooring device

Info

Publication number: GB2209146A
Application number: GB8820479A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Henry Roberts
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-08-29
Filing date: 1988-08-30
Publication date: 1989-05-04
Anticipated expiration: 2008-08-30
Also published as: GB8820479D0; GB2209146B

Abstract

A mooring device (10, 10a, 10b, 60) is described which is particularly suitable for use with boats or like craft and which allows a mooring rope (30) to be readily attached to secure a boat to the mooring device (10, 10a, 10b, 60). The mooring device (10, 10a, 10b, 60) remains substantially in an upright position in all weather conditions and does not become entangled with pennant ropes (22) even in poor weather conditions. The mooring device (10, 10a, 10b, 60) is in the form of a float (12) which is located in a predetermined location and which has an upper portion (16, 16a, 16b, 24, 24a, 24b, 88) adapted to allow relatively easy attachment of a mooring rope (30). Embodiments of the invention are described with accompanying drawings. A mooring device comprises a float (12) which is located in a predetermined location by a chain 14 and which has an upwardly projecting post (16) with at least one outwardly extending projection (23) adapted to allow relatively easy engagement of a boat mooring rope. The mooring device remains substantially in an upright position in all weather conditions and does not become entangled with pennant ropes (22) even in poor weather conditions. Various embodiments of the invention are described which may also include a pick-up buoy 18 and a fender buoy 27 at the post head. <IMAGE>

Description

MOORING DEVICE The present invention relates to a mooring device and particularly, but not exclusively, to a mooring device for a boat or like craft.

A mooring device should satisfy a number of desirable criteria in addition to being easy to manufacture and relatively inexpensive. The mooring device should allow a mooring rope to be readily attached to the mooring device. The mooring device should remain in a substantially upright position in all weather conditions and the mooring device should not become entangled with a pennant rope, even in poor weather conditions. In addition, the mooring device should allow a boat or like craft to be fixedly secured to the mooring device.

With small boats manned by relatively inexperienced personnel, it is particularly difficult to provide a mooring arrangement which can be easily utilised by inexperienced boat operators, particularly in difficult sailing conditions, for example, in windy conditions or in conditions where difficult currents prevail.

An object of the present invention is to provide a mooring device which obviates or mitigates at least one of the aforementioned problems.

This is achieved by providing a mooring device in the form of a float which is fixedly located in a predetermined position and which has an upper portion adapted to allow relatively easy attachment of a mooring rope.

In a preferred embodiment an upwardly projecting post is mounted on the float, the post having outwardly extending projections for engaging a mooring rope to attach said boat to the mooring device. The float is coupled to a pick-up buoy by a pennant rope and chain.

The pick-up buoy is arranged to float in close proximity to the float and the pennant chain is fastened to a lever beneath the float to minimise the risk of the pennant rope being wound around the float. The pick-up buoy is used to secure the boat to the mooring device.

According to the present invention there is provided a mooring device for a boat or the like comprising a float adapted to be fixedly located in a predetermined mooring location; a post projecting upwardly from said float; and at least one projection extending outwardly from said post for engagement with a mooring rope or the like attached to a boat.

Preferably said mooring device is adapted to be coupled to a fixed mooring block or anchor by a mooring chain.

Preferably boat securing means is coupled to said mooring device whereby said boat may be removably secured to said mooring device. Conveniently said boat securing means is provided by a pick-up buoy coupled to said mooring device by a pennant rope.

Preferably said pennant rope is coupled to said mooring device by a pennant chain, said pennant chain weighing down said pennant rope and keeping said pick-up buoy in close proximity to said mooring device.

Alternatively said pennant rope is weighed down by a suitable ballast fitted at a position approximately half-way along the length of said pennant rope to keep said pick-up buoy in close proximity to said mooring device.

Preferably asid post has at least one projection defining with the post or float at least one gap dimensioned and proportioned to engage the mooring rope but not to engage the pennant rope.

Preferably said float is spherical. Advantageously said float is inflatable. Alternatively said float is made of polyurethene foam. Conveniently said polyurethene foam is enclosed within a fibreglass cover.

Preferably a buoy is mounted at the top of said post to act as a fender for the mooring device.

Preferably said mooring chain is coupled to said float by a swivel arrangement which allows said float to rotate around the axis of said post and remain substantially upright.

Preferably said pennant chain is coupled to said mooring device by a lever to displace the end of the pennant chain from the post axis for minimising the likelihood of said pennant chain and rope becoming entangled with said float and mooring chain.

Preferably said swivel arrangement is coupled between the end of the lever at the post axis and the mooring chain.

Preferably said post is coupled to a rod disposed along the post axis, and extending beneath said float.

Preferably said float is held in place by plates coupled to the post and rod, said plates being disposed above and below said float.

Preferably said plates are prevented from moving rotationally to said float by locking means disposed on each plate for engaging with a respective recess in the ends of the float.

Alternatively, said rod is prevented from moving rotationally relative to said float by pressure exerted on said rod by said float.

These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in combination with the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a first embodiment of a mooring device, in use, in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic bird's eye view of a boat connected to the mooring device shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an exploded view of some of the parts of the mooring device shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an elevational view similar to Fig. 1 of a second embodiment of a mooring device in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a mooring device in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 6 is a side view of an upper part of the mooring device shown in Fig. 5 drawn to a larger scale;; Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the mooring device shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a sectional elevational view drawn to a larger scale of part of the mooring device shown in Fig.

5 taken along lines 8-8; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a mooring device, in use, in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 10 is a sectional elevational view of part of the mooring device shown in Fig. 9 drawn to a larger scale, and Pig. 11 shows a loop formed at the end of a mooring rope for use with the embodiments of the mooring device shown in Figs. 1 to 10.

Reference is firstly made to Fig. 1 of the drawings which is a perspective view of a first embodiment mooring device generally indicated by reference numeral 10 comprising a generally spherical, inflatable float 12 of approximately 2 feet diameter. The float 12 is fixedly located in a predetermined location by chain 14 which is connected to a mooring block or anchor (not shown). A postal6 extends upwardly from the float 12 and provides a means whereby a boat may be initially attached to the mooring device 10 as will be described.

A pick-up buoy 18 is connected to float 12 by a pennant chain 20 and pennant rope 22 and is arranged to float in close proximity to float 12. The pick-up buoy 18 provides a means whereby a boat may be securely attached to the mooring device 10 as will also be described. The pennant chain 20 is attached to mooring device 10 through a lever 21 which displaces the end of the pennant chain 20 from the axis of post 16. The length of the lever 21 limits the likelihood of the pennant rope 22 or pennant chain 20 becoming entangled with the post 16 in poor weather conditions because of the leverage resisting self-wrapping of the rope.

The post 16 has downwardly inclined projections 23 and tapered guard frame 24 mounted along its length for increasing the effective diameter of the post. This also minimises the likelihood of the buoy pennant being inadvertently wound around the post 16 which may otherwise prevent the buoy 18 being picked up by a boat. A loop of a mooring rope (as shown in Fig. 11) may engage projections 23 or lower ends of frame 24 to initially attach a boat to the mooring device 10 by dropping the mooring rope loop from the boat over the post. The gaps between projections 23 and a fibreglass plate 25 mounted on the float 12, or between the projections 23 and frame 24 are set to be approximately 18 mm which is smaller than the diameter of the pennant rope (25mm) so that the pennant rope 20 or pennant chain 22 cannot become entangled with the projections 23 or frame 24.The angles of these projections 23 are about 45 degrees plus or minus 5 degrees. This angle is sufficient to stop the mooring rope loop slipping off or having a tendency to jam. Also these projections 23 are not less than 5/8" diameter.

Reference is now also made to Fig. 2 which is a bird's eye diagrammatic view of a boat connected to mooring device 10. The float 12 is coupled to a mooring block or anchor 13 by chain 14, shown in broken outline. A loop of a mooring rope 30 shown in broken outline is thrown over post 16 as a boat 32 approaches or sails alongside the float 12. The loop of the mooring rope 30 is retained on post 16 by passing into the gap between projections 23 and frame 24 or the gap between the projections and plate 25.

In operation, as a boat 32 passes mooring device 10 the rope 30 is thrown over the post 16. The boat 32 loses speed quickly due to the pull of the mooring device. The boat turns round 1800 and the weight of the tensioned mooring chain 14 pulls the boat back towards the mooring device 10. The weight of the pennant chain 20 ensures that pick-up buoy 18 does not float too far away from mooring device 10 and a crew member picks up the buoy 18 and secures the boat 32 to the mooring device 10 by fastening pennant rope 20 to the boat 32.

A swivel joint 34 is coupled between mooring chain 14 and float 12. The swivel joint 34 allows the float 12 to rotate around the axis of post 16 in its moored location so that the float remains in a substantially upright position when water currents or wind move the float 12. Rotation of the float 12 and post 16 in bad weather conditions further helps to minimise the likelihood of pennant rope 22 becoming entangled with frame 20.

An anchor buoy 27 is mounted at the top of frame 24. This buoy 27 acts as a fender to prevent damage to the boat hull if the float 12 or frame 24 knocks against the boat hull in bad weather conditions.

Reference is now made to Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings where Fig. 3 is an exploded view of some of the parts of the mooring device 10. The post 16 comprises upper part 17 and lower part 19. Lower part 19 extends through float 12 and is coupled to upper part 17 through plate 25 as best seen in Fig. 1. Both upper part 17 and lower part 19 are held to the plate 25 by pegs which are not shown in the interest of clarity.

upper part 17 and lower part 19 are hollow to allow a rod 40 to be passed through the float 12. The threaded end 44 of rod 40 passes through upper part 17 and is fastened to upper part 17 by a nut 41. The threaded end 44 -and nut 41 are then overlaid with a layer of fibreglass to prevent corrosion. When the float 12 is inflated, pressure is exerted on lower part 19 by the float 12 such that friction prevents the post 16 from being rotated relative to the float 12.

A sacrificial anode 50 is mounted on rod 40 below lever 21 to minimise corrosion of rod 40 with respect to other metal parts attached to it. The swivel joint 34 (shown in Fig. 1) is coupled to the float 12 via the lower end of rod 40.

Reference is now made to Fig. 4 of the drawings which is an elevational view of a second embodiment of a mooring device in accordance with the present invention where like numerals refer to like parts with the suffix 'a' added. The mooring device 10a comprises a float 12 made of polyurethene foam enclosed within an outer 2-piece fibreglass cover. A post 16a extends upwardly from the float 12a and the post 16a has a tapered guard frame 24a mounted along its length. An anchor buoy 27a is mounted at the top of frame 24a for the same reasons as that described in Figs. 1-3.

Reference is now made to Figs. 5,6,7, and 8 of the drawings which show a third embodiment of a mooring device in accordance with the present invention where like numerals refer to like parts with the suffix 'b' added. The mooring device 10b is similar to that hereinbefore described and comprises a 2-piece polyurethene foam float 12b, post 16b and frame 24b Disposed above and below the float 12b are plates 36 and 38 of any suitable material such as metal which hold the float 12b together. The post 16b is hollow and receives the threaded end 44b of a rod 40b which pass through the float 12 and the covers to position plates 36,38 above and below the float 12b. Rod 40b is welded to plate 38. The post 16b is welded to upper plate 36 and ro 40b is secured to post 16b.When nut 42 (best seen in Fig. 3) is fastened onto threaded portion 44b of rod 40b. The nut 42 is surrounded by a fibreglass cover 45 which minimises corrosion of the nut 42 and locks it to prevent un-screwing. If the nut 42 require to be released the cover 45 may be burned off using a blow torch.

As best seen in Fig. 8 the upper and lower plates 36 and 38 are prevented from rotating relative to float 12b by locking pins 46 which are disposed in upper and lower recesses 48 of float 12b (only upper recesses 48 being shown). A blob of polyester putty is located in recesses 48 during assembly. After the putty has hardened the putty tends to retain pins 46 in position and prevent the rotation of the plates relative to float 12b and thus will create no angular slackness.

Reference is now made to Fig. 9 of the drawings which is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the mooring device, in use, in accordance with the present invention. A mooring device 60 comprises a float 62 of, for example, polyurethene foam enclosed within an outer cover 64 of fibreglass. Moulded to the outer cover 64 are upper and lower fixing plates 66 and 68 of any suitable material such as metal or wood.

Reinforcing rods 70 and 72 extend between the upper and lower fixing plates 66 and 68 and are secured thereto by nuts 74 and 76 on either side of metal clamping plates 78, 80 (see Fig. 10). The outer clamping plate 80 is welded to a solid mooring bar 84. After being fitted the external securing nuts 76 and outer clamping plate 80 are overlaid with a layer of fibreglass in order to prevent corrosion.

The solid mooring bar 84 extends through the upper and lower fixing plates 66 and 68 so as to project above and below the float 62. The portion of the bar 84 which projects above the float 62 is contained within a first sleeve 86 secured to the upper plate 66 and an upper second sleeve 88 integral with and of lesser cross-sectional dimension than the lower first sleeve 86. At the location where the upper end of the bar 84 projects above the upper sleeve 88, the bar 84 projects above the upper sleeve 88, the bar 84 is welded to the sleeve 88. If desired, the upper portion of the interconnected mooring bar 84 and upper sleeve 88 can be covered by a protective tube 90 of, for example, synthetic plastics material, in order to prevent a boat hull being damaged or scratched if it should come into contact therewitXh.

Around the outer circumference of the upper sleeve 88 there are welded two sets of downwardly and outwardly angled prongs or projections 92, one set being spaced longitudinally along the sleeve 88 from the other set.

The projections 92 of the upper set are preferably also circumferentially spaced around the outer surface of the upper sleeve 88 relative to the projections 92 of the lower set.

The lower end of the mooring bar 84 extends below the float to terminate in a ring 94 welded to the mooring bar 84 on to which ring 94 a mooring chain 96 can be connected by means of a suitable shackle 98.

An upper mooring rope 100 can be connected through shackles 102 to the lower first sleeve 86 at the upper end of the float 62.

As illustrated in Fig. 11 a boat is provided with a mooring rope 104, the free end of which is spliced as at 106 to form a closed loop 108 surrounded by an outer sheath 110 of synthetic plastics material. A resilient or elastic sleeve 112 surrounds the spliced portion of the loop 108 and is slideable thereover in order to permit the size of the loop 108 to be varied as desired.

In order to effect mooring of the boat, the loop 108 which is maintained in its looped form by the synthetic plastics outer sheath 110, is easily looped over the upper portion of the mooring bar 84 of the mooring device releasably to engage one or more of the projections 92. Once engaged, the boat can be hauled in close to the mooring device and secured thereto in a similar manner to that hereinbefore described. The loop 108 can then be removed and stored on the boat for further use.

The mooring rope 104 with its associated loop 108 can either be stored randomly on the boat or can have a fixed location on the boat whereby it is readily accessible when required.

Through time, the mooring chain 96 connected to the ring 94 secured to the lower end of the mooring bar 84 will cause the ring 94 to wear and necessitate its replacement by another mooring bar 84 with a ring fitted thereon. When such replacement is necessary, the fibreglass layer covering the outer fixing nuts 76 and clamping plate 80 of the lower end of the device is first removed, the nuts 76 are released, and the welding connecting the upper end of the bar 84 to the upper sleeve 88 is removed, e.g. by cutting, and the bar 84, together with lower clamping plate 82 which is welded thereto, can then be withdrawn from the float 62. A replacement bar 84 is then fitted, the new bar is welded to the upper end of the upper sleeve 88, the nuts 76 are tightened and covered as before with a layer of fibreglass.

Various modifications can be made to the embodiments hereinbefore described without departing from the scope of the invention. The upwardly extending posts can have any form of projection suitable for catching a mooring loop or rope with hooks. The mooring rope could have a hook instead of a loop to catch the mooring.

Furthermore, the pennant rope may be weighed down by a suitable ballast fitted at approximately half length of the pennant rope and thus the need for the pennant chain can be eliminated. The float can be made of any suitable buoyant material such as polypropylene or cork and similarly in any suitable shape or size for example the float can be 1 foot to 3 feet in diameter. The loop of the mooring line can also be used as a safety harness for a "man overboard" situation. Also the loop rope assembly should be made from floating material or made to float. If the float used in any of the embodiments is small, the eye of lever may be directly welded on to the rod, thus allowing the stem of the lever to be omitted.

In addition, the plate mounted above the float of the first embodiment may be dished or dome-shaped.

Advantages associated with the present invention include a mooring device which is easily assembled and manufactured and which is relatively inexpensive. The mooring device can be used by inexperienced personnel and in difficult sea conditions, a mooring rope being readily attached to the mooring device. The mooring device remains in a substantially upright position which in combination with the lever and the increased effective diameter of the post minimises the likelihood of entanglement between the post and pennant rope, even in poor weather conditions. A boat can be fixedly secured in a position in close proximity to the mooring device.

The mooring may be initially attached while the boat is still coasting at a sufficient speed to provide full steerability. The boat can thus be aimed at the mooring and any directional deviations can be corrected. The buoy can be picked up at any point along the side of the boat, this is of particular advantage to a single hander. The buoy can be picked up almost effortlessly as the boat is pulled back towards the float. The mooring can be picked up by a boat under sail only, the manoeuvre ending with the boat facing into the wind, with sails flapping. The mooring device may be used in a location where there is a limited amount of room for manoeuvre. The material and dimensions of the float and buoy minimise scratches and abrasions on the boat hull.

A suitable soft abrasion resistant material may be bonded to the buoy if slight abrasions occur. So far however, tests have shown that this is not necessary.

Claims

1. A mooring device for a boat or the like comprising a float adapted to be fixedly located in a predetermined mooring location, a post projecting upwardly from said float, and at least one projection extending outwardly from said post for engagement with a mooring rope or the like attached to a boat.

2. A mooring device as claimed in claim 1 which is adapted to be coupled to a fixed mooring block or anchor by a mooring chain.

3. A mooring device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein securing means is coupled to said mooring device whereby said boat may be removably secured to said mooring device.

4. A mooring device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said securing means is provided by a pick-up buoy coupled to said mooring device by a pennant rope.

5. A rooring device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said pennant rope is coupled to said mooring device by a pennant chain, said pennant chain weighing down said pennant rope and keeping said pick-up buoy in close proximity to said mooring device.

6. A mooring device as claimed in claim 4 wherein said pennant rope is weighed down by a suitable ballast fitted at a position approximately half-way along the length of said pennant rope to keep said pick-up buoy in close proximity to said mooring device.

7. A mooring device as claimed in claims 4 to 6 wherein said post has at least one projection defining with the post or float at least one gap dimensioned and proportioned to engage the mooring rope but not to engage the pennant rope.

8. A mooring device as claimed in any preceeding claim wherein said float is spherical.

9. A mooring device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said float is inflatable.

10. A mooring device as claimed in claims 1 to 8 wherein said float is made of polyurethene foam.

11. A mooring device as claimed in claim 10 wherein said polyurethene foam is enclosed within a fibreglass cover.

12. A mooring device as claimed in any preceding claim whereIn a buoy is mounted at the top of said post to act as a fender for the mooring device.

13. A mooring device as claimed in claims 2 to 12 whereIn said mooring chain is coupled to said float by a swivel arrangement which allows said float to rotate around the axis of said post and remain substantially upright.

14. A mooring device as claimed in claim 5 or in claims 7 to 13 wherein said pennant chain is coupled to said mooring device by a lever to displace the end of the pennart chain from the post axis for minimising the likelihood of said pennant chain and rope becoming entangled with said float and mooring chain.

15. A mooring device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said post is coupled to a rod disposed along the post axis, and extending beneath said float.

16. A mooring device as claimed in claim 15 wherein said float is held in place by plates coupled to the post and rod, said plates being disposed above and below said float.

17. A mooring device as claimed in claim 16 wherein said plates are prevented from moving rotationally relative to said float by locking means disposed on each plate for engaging with a respective recess in the ends of the float.

18. A mooring device as claimed in claim 15 wherein said rod is prevented from moving rotationally relative to si float by pressure exerted on said rod by said float.

19. A mooring device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 3, or Fig 4, or Figs. 5 to 8, or Figs. 9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings.