GB2225407A

GB2225407A - Boat fender

Info

Publication number: GB2225407A
Application number: GB8824704A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Pritchard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-10-21
Filing date: 1988-10-21
Publication date: 1990-05-30
Also published as: GB8824704D0

Abstract

A fender for a boat comprises a cylindrical member 10 having a convex surface 12 formed at one end thereof, a concave surface 11 formed at the other end thereof and an aperture or apertures formed therein to enable a cable or rope 15 to pass therethrough in use. The member 10 may be tubular and the apertures in the convex 12 and concave 11 surfaces are formed centrally therethrough and may have a tubular member (14, Fig. 1) located therebetween. The member 10 may be formed of flexible synthetic plastics material, such as polyvinylchloride, inflated to a predetermined pressure, or of foamed plastics material. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVED BOAT FENDER The invention relates to fenders for boats.

Fenders for the protection of the hulls of small boats when alongside piers, quays, etc., are normally suspended vertically over the side of the boat, spaced along the hull. When a boat comes alongside an irregular surface, such as a pier with vertical suspension members which stand out from the main surface, the normal fenders may locate between such members and be ineffective.

It is an object of the invention to obviate or mitigate this disadvantage.

According to the invention there is provided a fender for a boat which comprises a cylindrical member having a convex surface formed at one end thereof, having a concave surface formed at the other end thereof and an aperture or apertures formed therein to enable a cable or rope to pass therethrough; in use.

Preferably the member is tubular and the apertures in the convex and concave surfaces are formed centrally therethrough and may have a tubular member located therebetween.

The member may be formed of flexible synthetic plastics material, such as polyvinylchloride, inflated to a predetermined pressure.

The foregoing and further features of the invention may be more readily understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a fender, Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of two fenders of fig. 1, on reduced scale, located together for use, and Figs. 3 and 4 are plan views of mooring arrangements utilising a plurality of the fenders of fig. 1, again on reduced scale.

Referring firstly to figure 1 there is shown a fender comprising a cylindrical member 10 formed with a concave surface 11 at one end thereof and a convex surface 12 at the other-end thereof, the, radius of curvature of both surfaces 11 and 12 being substantially identical as indicated by "R". Central apertures 13 are formed in each of the surfaces 11 and 12 and rigid tubular member 14 is located therebetween. Preferably member 10 is formed of flexible P V C which is inflated to a required pressure depending upon the use of the fender. Alternatively, the member 10 may be formed as a solid member, for example, of a foamed plastics material with aperture 14 formed centrally therein.

Referring now to figure 2 there are shown two members 10 located juxtaposed threaded on a cable or rope 15. Figures 3 and 4 show boats 16 moored adjacent one another with a fender formed of a plurality of members 10 juxtaposed therebetween. In figure 3 such members are located between spaced fixed points A and B to enable the boats 16 to be anchored or moored thereadjacent and figure 4 shows a fender comprised of a number of members 10 suspended from one of the boats and conforming with its hull and a further boat anchored or moored thereadjacent.

With the arrangement as illustrated a fender can be provided extending along and conforming with the shape of the hull and yet storage of such fenders facilitated by this being provided as a number of separate parts which are hingeable between each other in view of the interconnecting surfaces 11 and 12. Although ideal for use in this fashion such separate fenders may still be vertically suspended if required. In addition a plurality of such fenders could be utlised to form a barrier for containing oil spillage in addition to their normal intended usage.

Although heretofore it has been stated that a plurality of fenders may be located on a cable or rope these could additionally be located on a rigid member, for example, when used to provide additional mooring space within a marina or when located over the side of a boat with an extensive straight side, so as to avoid any sagging which may occur with a large number of juxtaposed fenders.

Claims

1. A fender for a boat which comprises a cylindrical member having a convex surface formed at one end thereof having a concave surface formed at the other end thereof and an aperture or apertures formed therein to enable a cable or rope to pass therethrough; in use.

2. A fender as claimed in claim 1 wherein the member is tubular and the apertures in the convex and concave surfaces are formed centrally therethrough.

3. A fender as claimed in claim 2 wherein a further tubular member is located between the apertures in the convex and concave surfaces.

4. A fender as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein the cylindrical member is formed of flexible synthetic plastics material and is inflated to a predetermined pressure.

5. A fender as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cylinder member is formed of a foamed synthetic plastics material.

6. A fender substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing.