GB2212206A

GB2212206A - Boat hook

Info

Publication number: GB2212206A
Application number: GB8821533A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Henry Roberts
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-11-12
Filing date: 1988-09-14
Publication date: 1989-07-19
Anticipated expiration: 2008-09-14
Also published as: GB8726498D0; GB8821533D0; GB2212206B

Abstract

An improved boat hook (10) is described which is located at the side of a boat hull (12), and which is designed to prevent a loop of rope (30) or the like from being inadvertently disconnected. The boat hook (10) is adapted to receive a thimble (30) located at the end of a rope (14), and has curved portions (32, 34) which restrict and/or prevent upward movement of the thimble (30) to prevent release of the rope from the hook (10) even in severe weather conditions. <IMAGE>

Description

BOAT HOOK The present invention relates to a boat hook and particularly, but not exclusively, to a boat hook for use with ropes for securing a boat in a desired position.

A device for securing ropes holding a boat in a desired position should satisfy a number of desirable criteria in addition to being relatively inexpensive, easy to manufacture and to attach to the boat. Firstly, the device should enable a firm attachment of a rope so that the boat remains secured in variable weather conditions.

Also, the rope should be able to be quickly attached or released from the device. The rope should also be disposed to avoid contact with the boat surface to minimise the possibility of chafing of the rope which is generally the most common source of rope breakage, especially with plastic ropes.

Existing securing devices are usually based on a cleat upon which the securing ropes are generally wound in a conventional "figure of eight". These cleats are usually located on the deck of the boat and the securing rope is fed over the gunwales or edge of the deck and passes through a securing ring at the pulpit at the front of the boat. This arrangement facilitates considerable chafing of the rope leading to rope breakage. In addition, the boat may require to be modified to receive cleats or 'Samson' posts used to locate the ropes and these can be expensive and difficult to install. The ropes are usually tied in knots and are also not easily attached and released from the cleats and thus quick tie up and cast off is often impractical. Finally, the ropes attached to the cleats usually lie across the deck in the pulpit region providing a potential tripping hazard.

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

This is achieved by providing an improved boat hook which is located at the side of a boat hull, and which is designed to prevent a loop of rope or the like from being inadvertently disconnected. The boat hook is adapted to receive a thimble located at the end of a rope, and has curved portions which restrict and/or prevent upward movement of the thimble to prevent release of the rope from the hook even in severe weather conditions.

In one embodiment of the invention the boat hook is generally 'U' shaped, and the base of the 'U' acts as a support for the rope thimble. A shorter leg of the 'U' is coupled, via a plate, to the hull at the bow and the other leg is curved out of the plane of the 'U' to create a discontinuity or 'resistance point' to restrict or prevent the rope thimble 'riding up' the leg of the 'U' and thus becoming detached from the hook.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a boat hook adapted to be coupled to a boat, said boat hook comprising, a first portion adapted to be disposed adjacent a surface on said boat, a second portion coupled to, and spaced from the first portion for receiving a securing means, the second portion being shaped to provide restriction means for restricting movement of the securing means past said restriction means to retain said securing means on said hook.

Preferably, said first portion is coupled to said hull via a plate mounted on said hull by attachment means.

Conveniently, said attachment means are provided by a nut and bolt arrangement through said plate and said hull.

Alternatively, said attachment means may be provided by rivets holding said first portion and plate to said hull.

Preferably, there are a plurality of said restriction means disposed and spaced apart on said second portion.

Alternatively, there is a single restriction means on said second portion. Preferably also, the first and second portions form respective first and second legs of a generally 'U'-shaped hook, the second leg being longer than the first leg with the free ends of said legs being upstanding.

Preferably the or each restriction means is a curved portion of said second leg, the curvature of said restriction means being such as to engage said securing means when 'riding up' said leg and to create a resistance against movement of said securing means to minimise such 'riding up' movement.

Preferably said first portion is formed by a plate and a spigot and said second portion is a hook element which engages with said spigot. Conveniently said hook element is a rod having a top part having a plurality of coils to define said plurality of restriction points.

Conveniently said boat hook element is a rod having a top part having a single curved portion to define a single restriction point.

Preferably, said hook is coupled to the bow of said boat. Alternatively, said hook is coupled to the stern or sides of said boat.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of manufacturing a boat hook, said method comprising the steps of: obtaining a generally oval and planar link; cutting through the link in at least one position, and bending the chain link about an axis to create a curved path out of the plane of the link.

The method preferably includes the step of making a second cut and removing a portion of the link to define a generally U-shaped hook.

These and other aspects of the 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 an embodiment of a boat hook according to the invention attached to the bow of a boat shown moored to a mooring device; Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the boat hook shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the boat hook shown with the rope removed for clarity; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of an alternative embodiment of boat hook; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the hook shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a third embodiment of a boat hook.

Reference is made firstly to Fig. 1 which is a diagrammatic view of the hook, in use, with a boat and mooring. A boat hook, generally indicated by reference numeral 10, is shown mounted at the bow on the side 11 of a boat 12. The boat hook 10 has secured thereto a rope 14 which secures the boat 12 to a mooring 16. The boat hook 10 secures the rope 14 and hence the boat 12 to the mooring 16 and retains the boat securely in various weather conditions, because of the hook design as described below.

Reference is now made to Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings which show the boat hook 10 in greater detail. As best seen in Fig. 3, the boat hook 10 is of a general 'U' shape and is made from marine grade stainless steel by cutting a chain link and removing a portion to define first and second legs 20 and 22 respectively which are spaced apart by a integral curved section 24 which supports rope 14 as seen in Fig. 2.

The first leg 20 provides a means by which the hook is fastened to the boat sides 12. The first shorter leg 20 is welded to a marine grade stainless steel plate 26 and to the boat side 12 by a nut and bolt arrangement 28 at two positions 29 on the plate. The second leg 22 is parallel with leg 20 at its lower portion 30 and then it leads to a curved portion 32 which, in turn, leads to upper leg portion 34 which is angled to lower portion 30.

As best seen in Fig. 3, portion 34 is integral with a shorter curved portion 36 which terminates at a position spaced from the free end of leg 20 to define a space on the boat hook 10 for receiving an anchoring rope as will be described.

The rope 14 for use with the hook 10 terminates in a rope thimble 30 which is attached to bow hook 10 as best seen in Fig. 2 by looping the thimble over the second leg 22 so that it engages, and is supported by, the curved section 24.

In operation, the loop is unlikely to be pushed up because of the known difficulty in pushing a flexible rope. However, should the rope become stiff for any reason, for example, due to ice , the thimble 30 may be forced upwards relative to the second leg 22. The curved portions 32 and 36 act to restrict the thimble movement and minimise the likelihood of the rope being detached by acting as 'resistance elements' because they are engaged by the thimble and tend to cause the thimble to be retained in the position shown in Fig. 2. The resistance provided by the first curved portion 32 should be sufficient to achieve this effect in most conditions and the second curved portion provides further resistance in the event the thimble is moved past portion 34.

Reference is now made to Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings which depicts an alternative embodiment of a boat hook.

The boat hook, generally indicated by reference numeral 40, comprises in marine grade stainless steel hook element 42 which is coupled to a spigot 44 which, in turn is welded to a marine grade stainless steel plate 46. Plate 46 can be fastened to the boat as aforedescribed by a nut and bolt arrangement at two positions 48 on the plate.

The hook element 42 is formed from a rod of circular cross-section and has a straight portion 50 which engages the spigot 44 which leads to an upper coiled portion 52 which has one or more helical turns, as best seen in fig.

5. The gap 54 between successive turns is sufficient to allow a rope with a spiced thimble as shown in Fig. 2 to pass through.

In operation, should the thimble be pushed up relative to the hook the turns of the top portion 52 act against thimble movement by acting as 'resistance elements'. The frictional resistance provided by the curved portion 56 of the first turn should be sufficient to achieve this effect in most conditions. However, second curved portion 58 provides further resistance in the event that the thimble is moved past portion 56.

Reference is now made to Fig. 6 of the drawings which depicts a third embodiment of a boat hook, which is somewhat similar to the Fig. 1 embodiment and like numerals refer to like parts with the suffix 'a' added.

The only difference is that the top portion 52a is not coiled but has a single curved portion 56a which acts as a resistance element to restrict upward movement of a thimble.

Several modifications can be made to the embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the boat hook could be directly attached to the sides of the boat or to the pulpit at a suitable load bearing location, or the boat hook could be attached to a wall of a dock for similar operation of another hook on the other end of the rope. The boat hook could be used to moor neighbouring boats together and may also be used to tow disabled boats in bad sea conditions. The boat hook could have any number of curved portions to facilitate retention of the rope and its shape could of course be other than a general U-shape hook.

Advantages associated with the embodiments are that the hook forms a firm anchorage for a rope in various sea conditions; no knots are necessary and the rope is easily attached and released for quick tie up and cast off, and the wear on the rope due to chafing is minimised. No 'Samson posts' require to be fitted to the boat which can reduce boat manufacturers costs and the foredeck is left free, and the hook or hooks could be made part of a complete bow fitting during manufacture. Also, if the boat hooks are fitted to both port and starboard sides of bow the boat can be moored on either side.

Claims

1. A boat hook adapted to be coupled to a boat, said boat hook comprising, a first portion adapted to be disposed adjacent a surface on said boat, a second portion coupled to, and spaced from the first portion for receiving a securing means, the second portion being shaped to provide restriction means for restricting movement of the securing means past said restriction means to retain said securing means on said hook.

2. A boat hook as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first portion is coupled to said hull via a plate mounted on said hull by attachment means.

3. A boat hook as claimed in claim 2 wherein said attachment means are provided by a nut and bolt arrangement through said plate and said hull.

4. A boat hook as claimed in claim 2 wherein said attachment means may be provided by rivets holding said first portion and plate to said hull.

5. A boat hook as claimed in any preceding claim wherein there are a plurality of said restriction means disposed and spaced apart on said second portion.

6. A boat hook as claimed in any preceding claim wherein there is a single restriction means on said second portion.

7. A boat hook as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first and second portions form respective first and second legs of a generally 'U'-shaped hook, the second leg being longer than the first leg with the free ends of said legs being upstanding.

8. A boat hook as claimed in claim 7 wherein the or each restriction means is a curved portion of said second leg, the curvature of said restriction means being such as to engage said securing means when 'riding up' said leg and to create a resistance against movement of said securing means to minimise such 'riding up' movement.

9. A boat hook as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said first position is formed by a plate and a spigot and said second portion is a hook element which engages with said spigot.

10. A boat hook as claimed in claims 10 wherein said hook element is a rod having a top part having a plurality of coils to define said plurality of restriction points.

11. A boat hook as claimed in claim 10 wherein said hook element is a rod having a top part having a single curved portion to define a single restriction point.

12. A method of manufacturing a boat hook, said method comprising the steps of: obtaining a generally oval and planar link; cutting through the link in at least one position, and bending the chain link about an axis to create a curved path out of the plane of the link.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12 including the step of the step of making a second cut and removing a portion of the link to define a generally U-shaped hook.

14. A boat hook substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs 1 to 3 or to Figs. 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

15. A method of making a boat hook substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3, or Figs. 4 and 5, or to Fig. 6 of the accompanying drawings.