US20070186835A1 - Dock line server - Google Patents
Dock line server Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20070186835A1 US20070186835A1 US11/355,437 US35543706A US2007186835A1 US 20070186835 A1 US20070186835 A1 US 20070186835A1 US 35543706 A US35543706 A US 35543706A US 2007186835 A1 US2007186835 A1 US 2007186835A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- line
- dock
- server
- prongs
- dock line
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 125000006850 spacer group Chemical group 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 238000003032 molecular docking Methods 0.000 abstract description 7
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 abstract description 2
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract description 2
- 239000003562 lightweight material Substances 0.000 abstract 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 7
- 238000007796 conventional method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000006378 damage Effects 0.000 description 2
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 208000027418 Wounds and injury Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 231100001261 hazardous Toxicity 0.000 description 1
- 208000014674 injury Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000009972 noncorrosive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING
- B63B21/00—Tying-up; Shifting, towing, or pushing equipment; Anchoring
- B63B21/54—Boat-hooks or the like, e.g. hooks detachably mounted to a pole
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING
- B63B21/00—Tying-up; Shifting, towing, or pushing equipment; Anchoring
- B63B21/04—Fastening or guiding equipment for chains, ropes, hawsers, or the like
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
- Emergency Lowering Means (AREA)
Abstract
A dock line server (1) attachable to a conventional line pole (3) for use in maintaining a loop (8) in a dock line (3) in a horizontal configuration to facilitate placement of the dock line over a mooring piling (9) or cleat when docking a boat. The frame of the server has a pair of prongs (5) which are connected at a proximal end (20) and spaced apart a predetermined distance to form an opening at a distal end (19). At least one pair of horseshoe-shaped clips (6) on top of each prong holds the dock line in a horizontal, open loop configuration during docking. A pair of spacers (7) on each prong may also be used to hold the middle of the loop in a fully open position. The dock line server is preferably hollow and made of lightweight material, such as aluminum.
Description
- This invention relates to boat line handling apparatuses and, more particularly, an apparatus that retains the end of a boat dock line in a loop to facilitate placing the line about a mooring piling or cleat while docking.
- During the process of docking a boat, especially when there is no one on the dock to assist, a loop in the dock line must be placed over a piling or cleat to secure the boat. The latter process is often difficult and hazardous, especially in windy or rough weather conditions. The difficulty in performing the task is primarily due to the problem of maintaining a loop in the line in the proper open configuration and horizontal orientation in relation to the mooring piling. The end of the dock line needs to be in a substantially open-loop configuration and horizontal orientation to be easily placed over a mooring piling or cleat.
- Conventionally, one method of securing a loop in the dock line to a piling is to throw or lasso it around the piling. Unfortunately, in order to lasso a line over a piling one usually must make several attempts often without success. Another conventional method of securing the mooring line to a piling is to hold the loop with a standard line pole and try to place it over the top of the mooring piling. However if the loop is not maintained in the proper horizontal orientation and open configuration, this method is often not successful either. Thus, due to the inefficiency and lack of success of using conventional methods to secure a dock line to the mooring piling, boats may be damaged or people injured during the docking process.
- Thus, a need exists for an apparatus which is capable of performing the docking line securing process in an efficient and safe manner.
- The prior art includes many inventions which attempt to resolve the above problem in the docking process discussed above, but none exactly like the present invention. The pertinent prior art known to the inventor at this time is as follows:
- The relevant prior art includes the following patents:
U.S. Pat. No. (U.S. unless stated otherwise) Inventor Issue Date 5,779,602 Trillo Sep. 1, 1998 5,669,748 Linskey, Jr. et al. Dec. 23, 1997 5,009,181 Upchurch Apr. 23, 1991 3,677,597 Stipek Jul. 18, 1972 4,635,986 Johns Jan. 13, 1987 5,116,260 Upchurch May 26, 1992 5,003,907 Roach et al. Apr. 2, 1991 3,945,335 Kratz Mar. 23, 1976 - The primary objects of the invention are to provide an apparatus that:
-
- holds a dock line in an open loop configuration for placement over a mooring piling;
- maintains a dock line loop in a horizontal orientation to allow easy positioning on a mooring piling;
- enables a person on board a boat to easily and quickly secure the lines to dock pilings without assistance from anyone on a dock;
- can be attached to and used with conventional telescoping line poles;
- reduces the likelihood of damage to boats, pilings or docks
- reduces the likelihood of injury to boaters from accidents due to personal contact with pilings and docks or from falling off a boat when attempting to secure the dock line to the mooring piling; reduces stress and humiliation caused by repeated attempts to dock boat in a safe, timely, and professional manner.
- enables a watercraft to be docked using fewer crew members due to more positive and faster control of dock lines.
- The present invention accomplishes the above and other objects by providing a dock line server having a frame consisting of a pair of prongs which are a spaced apart a predetermined distance sufficient to fit over and around a mooring piling. The prongs are open at a distal end and are connected together at a proximal end. The prongs have at least one holding clip on top of the distal end of each prong and at least one holding clip at the proximal end in order to hold a loop in a dock line in an open configuration and horizontal orientation. In order to further assist in maintaining the loop in an open configuration the prongs may also have at least one pair of spacers attached to the top of each prong between the distal end and proximal end. The dock line server of the present invention has a line pole attachment at the proximal end with a spring button to allow it to be attached conveniently to a telescoping line pole.
- The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention.
- In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which:
-
FIG. 1 is perspective view of the dock line server of the present invention in use; -
FIG. 2 is a side view of the dock line server of the present invention attached to a conventional telescoping line pole; -
FIG. 3 is a top view of the dock line server of the present invention by itself with a dock line shown in dotted fashion; and -
FIG. 4 is a distal end view of the dock line server of the present invention. - For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminology used in reference to the numbered components in the drawings is as follows:
1. invention (dock line server) 2. line pole 3. dock line 4. connector 5. prongs of server 6. distal end line- holding clips 7. line spacers 8. line loop 9. mooring piling 10. proximal end line holding clip 11. person 12. boat 13. water 14. prong end caps 15. spring button 16. pole grip 17. line loop knot 18. line pole attachment 19. distal end 20. proximal end - Referring First to
FIG. 1 , thedock line server 1 is shown attached to aconventional line pole 2 in use by aperson 11 on aboat 12 in thewater 13 while placing thedock line 3 on amooring piling 9. As further illustrated inFIG. 1 and in more detail inFIGS. 2, 3 , and 4, thedock line server 1 has twoprongs 5, which are connected at aproximal end 20 by aconnector 4. Theprongs 5 of server are spaced apart a sufficient predetermined distance to form an opening at adistal end 19 so that it fits around thepiling 9. Different sizes of the dock line server may be made depending on the width of the dock line and the pilings used to dock a boat which may vary with the size of the boat, that is, the larger the boat the larger the lines and the mooring pilings. - On the top side of each
prong 5 of thedock line server 1 is located at least one horseshoe-shaped clip 6 near thedistal end 19 and at least oneclip 10 at theproximal end 20 of theline loop knot 17 to hold adock line 3 in an open loop configuration. Furthermore, at least one pair ofspacers 7 may be located on the top side eachprong 5 intermediate thedistal end 19 andproximal end 20 to maintain an intermediate portion of theloop 8 in a fully open position. Thespacers 7 may be round pegs which extend upward a sufficient distance from the top of the prong, that distance being at least equal thickness of thedock line 3. - As shown in more detail in
FIGS. 2, 3 , and 4 theprongs 5 of thedock line server 1 are connected together at theproximal end 20 by aconnector 4 which in turn has aline pole attachment 18. Thepole attachment 18 may inserted into aconventional line pole 2 and secured in place by aspring button 15 located near the distal end of thepole 2. As shown inFIG. 2 , theconventional line pole 2 to which thedock line server 1 may be attached is preferably telescoping in nature with various telescoping lengths secured to each other at a desired length byspring buttons 15 at the ends of each pole section. Theconventional line pole 2 preferably has arubber grip 16 at the end for enabling thepole 2 to be held more firmly by aperson 11. Theprongs 5 of thedock line server 1 are preferably hollow and tubular and made of a lightweight non-corrosive metal, such as aluminum. - Although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail hereinabove, all improvements and modifications to this invention within the scope or equivalents of the claims are included as part of this invention.
Claims (7)
1. A dock line server attachable to a pole, said server comprising:
a frame having a pair of prongs spaced apart a predetermined distance to form an opening at a distal end, said prongs being connected at a proximal end;
at least one pair of line-holding clips on top of each prong near the distal end of each prong;
at least one pair of line-holding clips on the top near the proximal end of the prong; and
a pole attachment at the proximal end of the prongs.
2. The dock line server of claim 1 further comprising:
at least one pair of spacers between the distal and proximal ends on the top of the prongs.
3. The dock line server of claim 1 further comprising:
an attachment at the proximal end of the prongs for securing the server to a conventional telescoping line pole.
4. The dock line server of claim 2 further comprising:
an attachment at the proximal end of the prongs for securing the server to a conventional telescoping line pole.
5. The dock line server of claim 1 wherein the prongs are tubular.
6. The dock line server of claim 5 wherein the distal ends of the prongs are sealed by an end cap.
7. The dock line server of claim 2 wherein the spacers are comprised of round pegs extending vertically upward a distance in excess of the width of a boat line.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/355,437 US20070186835A1 (en) | 2006-02-16 | 2006-02-16 | Dock line server |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/355,437 US20070186835A1 (en) | 2006-02-16 | 2006-02-16 | Dock line server |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20070186835A1 true US20070186835A1 (en) | 2007-08-16 |
Family
ID=38367016
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/355,437 Abandoned US20070186835A1 (en) | 2006-02-16 | 2006-02-16 | Dock line server |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US20070186835A1 (en) |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
NL2002204C2 (en) * | 2008-11-12 | 2010-05-17 | Continental Label Holding B V | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR STORING A VESSEL. |
US20150075416A1 (en) * | 2013-07-30 | 2015-03-19 | Randall R. SALT | Rope engaging docking device |
US10562597B2 (en) * | 2018-05-22 | 2020-02-18 | Guy A. Lange | Clasping, Adjustable Length Boathook |
NL2022439B1 (en) * | 2019-01-24 | 2020-08-18 | Thr Marine B V | Mooring line positioning head for placing a mooring line around a bollard and method therefor |
WO2023272329A1 (en) * | 2021-06-30 | 2023-01-05 | Lemmel Johannes | Device for securing a boat to a buoy |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3841685A (en) * | 1973-02-01 | 1974-10-15 | A Kolodziej | Line handling device |
US6067942A (en) * | 1998-05-21 | 2000-05-30 | Fernandez; John Bernard | Fish lasso |
-
2006
- 2006-02-16 US US11/355,437 patent/US20070186835A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3841685A (en) * | 1973-02-01 | 1974-10-15 | A Kolodziej | Line handling device |
US6067942A (en) * | 1998-05-21 | 2000-05-30 | Fernandez; John Bernard | Fish lasso |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
NL2002204C2 (en) * | 2008-11-12 | 2010-05-17 | Continental Label Holding B V | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR STORING A VESSEL. |
US20100175605A1 (en) * | 2008-11-12 | 2010-07-15 | Continental Label Holding B.V. | Device and method for mooring a vessel |
US20150075416A1 (en) * | 2013-07-30 | 2015-03-19 | Randall R. SALT | Rope engaging docking device |
US10562597B2 (en) * | 2018-05-22 | 2020-02-18 | Guy A. Lange | Clasping, Adjustable Length Boathook |
NL2022439B1 (en) * | 2019-01-24 | 2020-08-18 | Thr Marine B V | Mooring line positioning head for placing a mooring line around a bollard and method therefor |
WO2023272329A1 (en) * | 2021-06-30 | 2023-01-05 | Lemmel Johannes | Device for securing a boat to a buoy |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |