GB2415942A - V-shaped dock mooring bumper - Google Patents

Abstract

A dock mooring bumper that is a combined single-handed/assisted mooring system and dock bumper, that reliably protects the boat and dock from damage, requires minimal maintenance and requires no adjustment for different size boats. The inventive device generally comprises of a V shaped dock bumper 12 that is attached to the dock 24 with either bolts (25, Fig 5) or straps (29, Fig 5) and will accept the bow of a power or sail boat 28. The V shaped bumper may be made out of glow in the dark, tough marine grade vinyl, plastic, rubber or any suitable elastomeric or resilient material and can be filled with air or foam depending on the displacement weight of the boat. Attached to the bumper are two horizontal guide arms 19 with rollers 15 and 16 that rotate vertically along the arms and run the full length of the arm. Attached individually to each arm may be a vertical shaft (20, Fig 3) with multiple cushioned rotating rollers 21, which also act as floats. On top of each vertical shaft is a tall, flexible navigation marker 22 with a reflective ball 17 and 18 attached to the end.

Description

DOCK MOORING BUMPER

The present Invention relates to mooring a boat alongside a dock safely, single handed or with a less than able crew. The present Invention Is a combination of a dock bumper and an Improved mooring system, which allows boats of all shape, size and weight to moor safely against a dock. And In most cases the mooring system can be fixed without drilling the dock itself and requires no adjustment.

Individuals that operate both power and sail boats often find it difficult to moor their boat without assistance from either the crew or an individual on the dock side. Often In extreme conditions lack of help or mobility of the crew can result In damage to both the dock and the boat. When mooring a boat with a crew, there Is also an Inherent danger of crew members slipping between the boat and the dock when leaping between the two with a mooring rope.

Once off their mooring, most boats can be sailed single handed or with minimal crew, however due to the mooring difficulties upon their return, the ability of the Individual to take a boat out on their own, with limited crew or less able crew members is reduced.

Docks have been used for years as a mooring platform, usually floating with a planked walk way and hooks (cleats) to tie the boat up to it. Some docks have rubber fenders and dock bumpers to protect both the boat and the dock. The problem with dock design Is that there is no faalty to moor your boat single handed or make mooring easier In extreme conditions. When mooring a boat to a dock, you will either need the assistance of an individual on the dock or a crew member ready to leap of with a rope, or lasso a cleat. Existing dock bumpers If fitted, generally comprise of a cylinder shape device attached to the dock along prone contact areas because of this cylinder shape the boat Is prone to slipping off the bumper and onto the dock, damaging both the boat and the dock.

Some examples of mooring aids can be found and various patents exi* that illustrate such prior art, however the dock mooring bumper according to the present Invention substantially departs from these existing and conventional concepts and designs. And In so doing provides a combination of dock bumper and single handed/asssted mooring system, that is based around simple fender technology, doesn't rust or need maintaining and can be fitted without drilling or marking the dock In any way. It will also protect the front of the boat when mooring, which Is most vulnerable and prone to damage.

The present Invention provides a combined improved single handed/asssted mooring system and dock bumper, that reliably protects the boat and dock from damage, requires minimal maintenance and requires no adjustment for different size boats. The result is a boat docking system which Is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even Implied by any of the prior art, either alone or in any combination thereof.

To attain this, the present Invention generally comprises of a V shaped dock bumper that Is attached to the dock with either bolts or *raps and will accept the bow of a power or sail boat. The V shaped bumper Is made out of glow in the dark, tough marine grade vinyl, plastic, rubber or any suitable ela*omerc or resilient material and can be filled with air or foam depending on the displacement weight of the boat.

Attached to the bumper are two horizontal guide arms with rollers that rotate vertically along the arms and run the full length of the arm. Attached individually to each arm Is a vertical shaft with multiple cushioned rotating rollers, which also act as floats. On top of this vertical shaft Is a tall, flexible navgabon marker with a reflective ball attached to the end.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the features of the invention in order that the detailed descrpbon thereof may be better underwood, and In order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features to the Invention that will be described hereinafter.

In this respect, before explaining the Invention in detail, it Is underwood that the nvenbon is not limited In It's application to the details of the con*ruchon and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following descriptor or Illustrated in the drawings. The Invention Is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out In various ways. Also, is it to be underwood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purposes of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.

The present Invention provides an improved dock bumper that reliably protects the boat and dock from accidental damage when mooring.

It Is also an objective to allow single handed/assi*ed mooring of the boat In either the day or night and in extreme weather conditions.

It Is yet another obectve to be able to offer the option to fix the mooring system to the dock without the need of drilling or marking the dock In any way and requires minimal maintenance.

The present nvenbon will also require no adjustment to accommodate venous sizes and shapes of boat.

Other objectives and advantages of the present Inventor will become obvious to the reader and it is Intended that these objectives and advantages are within the scope of the present Invention.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objectives, this invention may be embodied In the form llu*rated In the accompanying drawings, attention being drawn to the fact however, that the drawings are llu*raUve only, and that changes may be made in the specific con*ruchon Illustrated and described.

Vanous other observes, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered In conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views: FIGURE 1 Is a top and side elevation of the present nvenbon.

FIGURE 2 Is a top view of the present nvenbon attached to the dock.

FIGURE 3 Is a side view of the present nvenbon attached to the dock.

FIGURE 4 Is an exploded diagram of the horizontal guide arm locking retainer and vertical roller.

FIGURE 5 shows alternative fixing methods.

FIGURE 6 shows an alternative option for smaller boats that don't require the guide arms.

FIGURE 7 shows the present nvenbon holding a boat against the dock.

With reference to the attached drawings, the present invention Will now be described. Similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the various views. Figure 1 through figure 7 illustrate a boat mooring system and dock bumper 10, which comprises of a V shaped bumper 12 made out of glow In the dark, tough marine grade vinyl, plastic, rubber or any suitable elastomeric or resilient material and can be filled with air or foam depending on the displacement weight of the boat. Molded directly and seamlessly Into the V shaped bumper 12 Is two hard plastic locking retainers 23 and two hard plastic fixing brackets 14. The V shaped bumper 12 Is attached to the dock 24 with either straps that locate into molded grooves 13 or with bolts 25 that fix through brackets 14. Attached to the bumper by the way of hard plastic locking retainer 23 are two horizontal metal guide arms 19 with rollers 16 and 15 that rotate vertically along the arms and run the entire length of the guide arm. Roller 16 is coloured red and roller 15 Is coloured green. Attached Individually to the end of guide arms 19 are two vertical shafts 20 with cushioned horizontally rotating rollers 21 which also act as floats. On top of these vertical shafts 20 are tall flexible navgabon markers 22 with a reflexive ball 17 and 18 attached to the end. Reflective ball 17 is coloured green and reflective ball 18 Is coloured red.

As best shown in figure 4 of the drawings, the guide arm 19 passes through the hole that forms part of the hard plastic locking retainer 23 and goes directly through the entire depth of the bumper 12. Once located In the hole the arm 19 Is preferably pushed Into the Hard plastic locking retainer 23 and a washer 26 and locking nut 27 hold it In place. As also shown In figure 4, the vertical shaft 20 passes through the vertical cushioned rollers 21. The cushioned rollers 21 rotate horizontally along the shaft 20.

As best shown In figure 6 of the drawings, the dock bumper 12 can also be adjusted for smaller vessels, elimnabng the need of the arm guides 19. The tall flexible navigation markers 22 with the reflective ball 17 and 18 attached to the end preferably fit directly Into the hard plastic locking retainer 23, passing through the entire depth of the bumper 12 and held In place with a washer 26 and locking nut 27.

As best shown In figure 5 the user fixes the dock bumper 12 to the dock 24 using either straps 29 that locate into the moulded grooves 13 or drills the dock 24 and fixes with bolts 25. Once In place it requires no adjustment and Is ready for Immediate use.

As best shown In figure 7, the user operating the boat 28 positions the front of the boat 28 between the two navigation markers 22 ensuring the red ball 18 Is on the left of the boat 28 and the green ball 17 is on the right of the boat 28, In line with standard marine navgabon principles. Once the boat 28 Is engaged with the dock bumper 12 and is pushing against the bumper 12 the user leaves the motor Idling and engaged In forward gear. Depending on which side the dock Is located the user then applies either left or right rudder 30 (steer) to bring either the left or right of the back of the boat 28, Into contact with the dock walkway 31, cushioned by the boat fenders 32. The boat 28 Is now held in this position by dock bumper 12. The user can now exit the boat 28 and tie the boat adjacent to the walkway 31 and dock 24 without the assistance of another Individual. Once the boat 28 Is tied securely to the walkway 31 and dock 24, the user can disengage forward gear, turn off the motor and let the boat 28 be held by the mooring ropes. Any necessary adjustments can now be made to the ropes to ensure a secure mooring.

As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present nvenbon, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.

With respect to the above descnpton then, it Is to be revised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the Invention, to include varabons In size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled In the art, and all equivalent relationships to those Illustrated In the drawings and described In the spec'ficabon are Intended to be encompassed by the present nvenbon.

Therefor, the foregoing is considered as Illustrative only of the pnncples of the Invention. further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled In the art, it Is not desired to limit the nvenbon to the exact construction an operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims (7)

1. A V shaped dock mooring bumper that is fixed to the dock with bolts or *raps and has two horizontal guide arms, complete with rollers and two tall vertical navigation markers, coloured green and red in line with standard marine buoyage principles.

2. A dock mooring bumper as claimed In claim 1 that has the option to be fixed to the dock without the need of doing holes in the dock or marking the dock In anyway.

3. A dock mooring bumper as claimed In claim 1 and claim 2 that Is moulded in glow in the dark, tough marine grade vinyl, plastic, rubber or any suitable elastomeric or resilient material and can be filled with air or foam depending on the displacement weight of the boat

4. A dock mooring bumper as claimed In claim 3 that has two horizontal guide arms with rollers that rotate vertically along the arms and run the full length of the arm, coloured in green and red to help the user navigate the boat Into the dock mooring bumper.

5. A dock mooring bumper as claimed In claim 4 that has a vertical shaft with multiple cushioned rotating rollers, which is attached to the end of each guide arm and which also a* as floats.

6. A dock mooring bumper as claimed In claim 5 which has a tall, flexible navigation marker attached to each vertical roller shaft, with a reflexive ball attached to the end coloured In red and green to correspond with the horizontal rollers.

7. A dock mooring bumper as claimed In any proceeding claim that requires no adjustment for different size boats and requires minimal maintenance.