GB2381845A

GB2381845A - A marine vessel fendering system

Info

Publication number: GB2381845A
Application number: GB0127041A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lorna Anne Robson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-11-09
Filing date: 2001-11-09
Publication date: 2003-05-14
Anticipated expiration: 2021-11-09
Also published as: GB2381845B; GB0127041D0

Abstract

A fendering system for marine vessels includes a housing 1, 1a for attachment to the stem or side of a boat 2, and at least one envelope 4 within the housing which can be deployed and/or expanded so as to extend over a major part of the stem or side of the boat respectively. Means are also provided for causing the deployment and/or expansion of the envelope(s), so it can be used as a fender, and subsequently contracted for storage.

Description

MARINE VESSEL FENDERING SYSTEM The present invention relates to a fendering system for use with marine vessels such as yachts, motor cruisers and motorboats, whereby the vessel is protected against damage that can be caused when docking, or rafting.

Conventional fenders are sealed tubes or spheres, which are usually made of plastics and filled with air, via a one-way valve. They are available in different sizes to suit the size of the boat on which they are used. Small fenders are not useful with larger boats, because they are not large enough to provide any useful protection. On the contrary, a large fender would be too cumbersome for small craft. These fenders are not intended to be inflated, prior to use, since they are filled with a certain amount of air, during manufacture, which enables the fender to respond resiliently in use, i. e. to cushion any impact between the craft and another object. Whilst they are simple in construction and hence less expensive to manufacture, conventional fenders have the following disadvantages : (a) They need to be deployed manually before the craft comes alongside a jetty, pontoon or other craft. This involves tying the fenders onto the side on which contact is expected.

(b) Several fenders need to be attached in this way, especially alongside, because the craft can swing, even when moored fore and aft, whereby different parts of the hull can come into contact with say, a concrete jetty. On approaching a jetty, bow contact is likely, so the fender needs to be placed correctly. On leaving a mooring, the lines are singled up, so stern contact is then likely. Fenders therefore need to be attached in advance and sometimes moved.

(c) In the case of single handed operation, there may be no time to leave the helm to attach the fenders (which is one of the main reasons for crew).

(d) A series of fenders fitted to the port side, when they are needed on the starboard side, would need to be undone and re-attached.

(e) It can be dangerous and difficult to handle them in bad weather (f) They are not aesthetically pleasing, especially when they are of different sizes and shapes, and have become scuffed and dirty through use.

(g) They require a large amount of storage space on-board and need to be readily accessible The present invention seeks to solve at least some of the above mentioned problems.

According to the invention, a fendering system comprises: a housing for attachment to the stern or side of a boat, at least one envelope within the housing which can be expanded so as to extend over a major part of the stern or side of the boat; and means for causing expansion of the envelope, whereby it can be deployed as a fender, and contracted, whereby it can be stowed.

Generally speaking, such a system can be used to moor a boat either stem to, or alongside. For a stern mooring, the housing is attached to the boat so that it extends transversely of the transom or bathing platform, whereby the envelope, such as an elongate inflatable tube, acts as a horizontal fender. The tube can protrude from the housing, when required, e. g. by inflating it with

air. For port or starboard mooring, the housing can be mounted just below deck level and so as to extend along most of the side, whereby several envelopes, such as elongate tubes, can be deployed, in cascade, i. e. so that they hang down the side of the boat like a blind. Several tubes are preferred to take account of variations in height between the point of contact between the boat and say, a jetty. These tubes can be inflated, after being deployed to form a shorter or longer drop, thereby providing suitable fender protection.

The housing can either be fixed, or retractably mounted so as to be extended ready for use. In the latter case, it can be a recessed retractable housing, which can be extended outwardly from the hull, for example, by drive means, so that the envelopes, e. g. inflatable tubes, can then be deployed by unwinding them from a roll, or dropping them from nested positions, so that they can then be inflated. After use, they can be deflated and pulled back into the housing, so that a cover flap can be slid or otherwise closed to cover the opening. The cover flap could include several connected slats which extend over the opening (similar to an old-fashioned writing desk), where the hull is curved, or where the housing is mounted along the curved top edge of the hull. In any event, the cover flap or flaps would be tight fitting and sealed too prevent water from entering. The housing can be designed to compliment the design of the boat.

According to one embodiment, the envelopes are high strength plastics tubes, which are interconnected pneumatically so that an air supply, such as an onboard compressor, can be operated to cause inflation, either after they have been deployed, or during deployment. Preferably, the means for causing inflation can also cause deflation to assist stowage. Preferably, the envelopes are supported in the housing in such a way as to enable them to be lowered and/or raised, as required, prior to, or following, inflation/deflation. They could be stored in a roll, or nested, so that a mechanical system, for

example, one with a cord or cords attached to the upper parts of the tubes and with a pulley or winch system, can be used to haul the cords to store the deflated tubes. The tubes could also be filled with air from a cylinder and then vented to deflate them. Alternatively, a liquid, such as water, may be used as the filling material and then drained. When used like a roman blind the lowest envelope can be weighted to assist deployment by gravity.

The tubes can be suspended on guide wires which could pass either through, or behind the tubes, and which could be extended automatically when the system was deployed, i. e. with weight assisted pull-out of the tubes until enough had been deployed to act as a fender. The guide wires could then be locked. An electrical winch could be used to retract the guide wires so as to pull the tubes back into the housing, after they had been deflated, e. g. by using the compressor, in reverse, as a vacuum pump. Each tube could be connected separately to the inflating means to enable each to be separately inflated. A control could be included which is linked to the length of the guide wires and to a control in the cockpit, so that the correct number of tubes are inflated. The lowermost tube would normally be inflated in all circumstances and one or more others as required to create the correct fender height. In a more simplified, lower cost version, only one tube (or several interconnected tubes with no depth adjustment) could be deployed and its height varied by adjusting the length of the guide wires.

The system can be fitted as the boat is built, or retrofitted by using a selfcontained housing that can be attached to the side of the boat. In the former case, the system would be designed to be fully integrated with the hull design and with all necessary ancillaries. In the latter case, the pumps, controls, etc could be fitted at convenient places within the hull.

While the tubes can be expanded by air, water or some other fluid could be used instead.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a boat with the fendering system stored; Figure 2 is a side elevation of a boat with the fendering system deployed; Figure 3 is a front elevation of the boat with the fendering system deployed on one side only ; Figure 4 is a front elevation of the boat with the fendering system deployed on one side for rafting to a second boat and on the other side for mooring to a pontoon.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the side tendering system includes a housing (1), attached to the side of a boat (2), just below the deck (3) and extending over a major part of the boat length. In a stored phase of operation (Fig. 1), a series of envelopes (4a-4d), shown in Fig. 2, are stored in the housing (1). However, in the deployed phase of operation, (Fig. 2), the envelopes (4a-4d) are deployed so as to hang down the side of the boat. The housing (1) can be either fixed so that the envelopes can be deployed immediately, or it can be retractably mounted, so that it can be extended before deployment. It can also have a removable cover. In any event, the housing (1) provides a watertight module for storing the envelopes (4a-4d) when they are not required. The housing (1) is located high up on the side of the hull of the boat, so as to provide more scope for deployment. For example, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, all of the envelopes (4) have been deployed so as to provide tendering for the boat against a low pontoon (5). However, if the boat were

moored alongside a higher jetty for example, fewer envelopes (4) would need to be deployed, because contact would then be made between the boat and the jetty at a higher level (above the surface of the water).

Fig. 4 shows a situation where boat (2a) is moored to pontoon (5) and boat (2b) is rafted up to boat (2a), whereby the fendering systems are deployed on both sides of the boat (2a).

Besides providing side fendering, the invention can also be used to provide stem fendering, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Here, the housing (1a) is attached to the transom (6) (or bathing platform, not shown) so that it extends transversely. This does not provide the advantage of variable height fendering, but this is not so critical with stem mooring. If this were the case, the side fendering system could be modified for use at the stem to provide the advantage of height adjustment.

As shown in the drawings, the side fendering system includes a series of envelopes (4), for example inflatable, high strength plastics tubes, which can be folded, nested or otherwise collapsed so that they can be stored within the housing (1). Such tubes can be interconnected pneumatically and also connected to a compressor so that they can be inflated. A non-retum valve, not shown, can be employed to prevent deflation, when used as the fender.

Also, the compressor or other form of air pump can be used, in a reverse mode, to deflate the envelopes when they need to be returned to storage.

Suitable air pumps can be driven from the engine.

The number of tubes stored in the housing depends on the type of boat and the depth over the side and general fendering requirements. However, this would be known to those skilled in the art. The first or lowermost tube (4a) is preferably weighted, along its lower edge (4e), to assist deployment, by gravity. The tubes (4) can be mechanically linked by cords (7) which extend through apertures in the tops of the tubes and are secured, at the lowest end,

to the bottom tube (4a) and at the upper end to some means (not shown) for hauling the cord inboard to withdraw the deflated envelopes into the housing (1) for storage. This can include a pulley or winch system of known construction.

With the stern mounted system, it is only necessary to inflate a single tube (4f) so that it protrudes from the housing (1b) to provide the buffer against the jetty. It can also be deflated so as to withdraw it for storage.

The outermost envelope in either the side or stem fendering systems can act as the outer cover of the housing, or the envelopes could be withdrawn so that the housing can be otherwise closed by a suitable cover.

The housing and/or envelope (s) can be designed so as to compliment the design of the boat.

The fendering system can be controlled from the helm of the boat with the aid of suitable drive means. For example housing (1) can be made ready by opening a cover or causing the housing to extend into an open position. The first tube (4a) of the side fendering system is then inflated by switching on an engine driven pump, so that the tube extends out of the housing (1). If more tubes are required, they are inflated, in turn, so that they hang vertically, similar to a roller blind. The weighted edge (4e) along the bottom of the first tube assists deployment, so that the tubes hang vertically down over the side of the boat. Once the required number of tubes have been inflated, the air pump then continues to inflate the tubes until a desired working pressure is reached, at which stage a non-return valve (not shown) is connected so as to seal the fendering system in its fully deployed state. The rear fendering system only requires its single tube to be inflated horizontally.

When the boat has cast off, the tubes in the side fendering system need only be deflated, by withdrawing air with the pump from the tubes, to collapse them

to a minimum size, when a mechanical system attached to the cords (i. e. of the blind) are hauled up in order to pull the deflated tubes back into the housing (1). The housing can then be closed or retracted. At the stem, it is only necessary to deflate the transverse tube which then moves back into its housing.

The side fendering system preferably comprises a series of individually inflated, parallel tubes 5, not necessarily of the same length, which are suitably mechanically and pneumatically coupled together. One of these tubes can be of clear plastic which, when deployed, is located adjacent to the portholes 7 in order to pass light. High strength plastic or other material, of the same colour as the side of the boat can be used for the other tubes.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A fendering system comprising: a housing for attachment to the stern or side of a boat, at least one envelope within the housing which can be expanded so as to extend over a major part of the stern or side of the boat; and means for causing expansion of the envelope, whereby it can be deployed as a fender, and contracted, whereby it can be stowed.
2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the housing is provided with means for attachment to the stern of the boat, so that the envelope can protrude from the housing, when expanded, to act as the fender.
3. A system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the envelope comprises an elongate inflatable tube for extending transversely of said stern.
4. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the housing is provided with means for attachment to the side of the boat, so that one or more envelopes can be deployed to act as the fender.
5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the envelopes are suspended from the housing, when deployed, and can then be expanded.
6 A system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the envelopes can be expanded serially or simultaneously
7. A system according to any of claims 4-6, including means for deploying the envelopes sequentially so as to adjust the size of the fender.

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8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the lowest envelope is weighted to assist deployment by gravity.
9. A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the housing is provided with means for being either fixedly mounted, or retractably mounted to the hull of the boat.
10. A system according to any preceding claim including drive means for deploying and returning the envelopes, and/or for extending and retracting the housing from a storage position to an extended position outwardly from the hull of the boat.
11. A system according to claim 10, including means for storing the envelopes in a roll, or in nested positions within the housing.
12. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the envelopes are inflatable tubes which are interconnected pneumatically.
13. A system according to any preceding claim, including means to cause inflation to act as the fender, and deflation to assist stowage.
14. A system according to any of claims 1-10, wherein the envelopes can be filled with water or some other fluid and emptied.
15. A fendering system substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings

15. A boat including the system according to any preceding claim.

16. A fendering system substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS 1. A fendering system comprising: a housing for attachment to the stern or side of a boat, at least one envelope within the housing which can be suspended from the housing when deployed, and which can then be expanded so as to extend over a major part of the stern or side of the boat ; and means for causing expansion of the envelope, whereby it can be deployed as a fender, and contracted, whereby it can be stowed.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the housing is provided with means for attachment to the stern of the boat, so that the envelope can protrude from the housing, when expanded, to act as the fender.

3. A system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the envelope comprises an elongate inflatable tube for extending transversely of said stern.

4. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the housing is provided with means for attachment to the side of the boat, so that one or more envelopes can be deployed to act as the fender.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the envelopes can be expanded serially or simultaneously.

6. A system according to claims 4 or 5, including means for deploying the envelopes sequentially so as to adjust the size of the fender

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7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the lowest envelope is weighted to assist deployment by gravity.

8. A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the housing is provided with means for being either fixedly mounted, or retractably mounted to the hull of the boat.

9. A system according to any preceding claim including drive means for deploying and returning the envelopes, and/or for extending and retracting the housing from a storage position to an extended position outwardly from the hull of the boat.

10. A system according to claim 9, including means for storing the envelopes in a roll, or in nested positions within the housing.

11. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the envelopes are inflatable tubes which are interconnected pneumatically.

12. A system according to any preceding claim, including means to cause inflation to act as the fender, and deflation to assist stowage.

13. A system according to any of claims 1-9, wherein the envelopes can be filled with water or some other fluid and emptied.

14. A boat including the system according to any preceding claim.