US2912954A

US2912954A - Device for mooring boats

Info

Publication number: US2912954A
Application number: US732925A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jensen Frank Alan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1958-05-05
Filing date: 1958-05-05
Publication date: 1959-11-17
Anticipated expiration: 1976-11-17

Description

Nov. 17, 1959 A. JENSEN DEVICE FOR MOORING BOATS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 5, 1958 Nov. 17, 1959 F. A. JENSEN DEVICE FOR MOORING BOATS 3 Shegts-Sheet 2 Filed May 5, 1958 Nov. 17, 1959 F. A. JENSEN DEVICE FOR MOORING BOATS 3 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed May 5, 1958 United States Pate DEVICE FOR MOORING BOATS Frank Alan Jensen, Stratford-upon-Avon, England Application May 5,1958, Serial No. 732,925

11 Claims. (Cl. 114-230 The present invention relates to a new or improved device for use in mooring boats.

At present a normal type of mooring for a boat comprises an anchor engaging in the sea bottom, an anchor chain secured at one end to the anchor and at the other to an anchor line attached at its upper end to a buoy. The usual procedure in making fast a boat to a mooring of this type is to attemp to engage the anchor line beneath the buoy with a boat hook, this operation being performed by one of the boats crew stationed in the forward part of the boat, and to haul the anchor chain aboard by means of the anchor line subsequently securing the boat to the anchor chain.

The engagement of the anchor line often requires considerable skill and may be extremely difficult under adverse conditions such as in bad weather or when the crew consists only of a single individual who has also to act as helmsman, in which latter case it is necessary for this individual temporarily to leave the tiller in order to perform this operation whilst relying upon the boat staying on course.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a means whereby the anchor line may be more readily engaged and taken aboard, with reduced risk of the member of the crew concerned falling overboard so that it.becomes a comparatively simple matter to make the boat fast to a mooring even under bad weather conditions and in a case where the crew consists of a single individual.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

According to the invention I provide in a boat, a mooring device comprising a boom, mountable so as to project laterally of the boat above water level, a mooring line, a releasable hook device mounted on the boom for releasably engaging the mooring line at a position spaced from the boat and permitting the formation of a buoy receiving loop of line between the hook device and the boat partially in the water, and hook device control means for enabling the release of the mooring line from the hook device to be effected as desired, the loop then narrowing.

The invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 represents a side view of the forward part of a boat of moderate size at one stage in the making fast of the boat, the drawing including a part in chain lines indicating the position of the device and the boat at'a later stage,

Figure 2 represents a plan view' corresponding to Figure 1,

Figure 3 representsan elevation of part of the dew'ce I Figure 6 represents a plan view corresponding to Figure 5,

Figure 7 is a plan view showing a further device in accordance with my invention mounted on the fore part of a boat, and H Figure 8 is a view in the direction of the arrow 8 in Figure 7.

Referring first to that form of my invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 the mooring device is illustrated as being mounted on a boat 10 of moderate size, for example a yacht or cabin cruiser and the device includes a mooring line 11 which is in the form of a length of light chain which may, for example, be approximately 24 feet in length, the chain being composed of links made from rod wire 7 inch in diameter.

One end of the mooring line 11 is secured at 12 to the boat and the other end of the mooring line is secured at 13 to the boat a short distance to the rear. The ends of the mooring line 11 may be secured at any suitable positions adjacent to the edge of the boat but are preferably secured towards the forward end thereof and conveniently at or near that point where the deck is broadest as illustrated. If desired, the line may extend from'the

points

12 and 13, where it is secured, around a fairlead somewhat forward of the boom, this arrangement enabling the hauling in of the line to be more readily effected.

The mooring device further includes a boom 14 in the form of a cylindrical wooden rod. If desired the boom may be formed from other material but is preferably of light weight so that it can be easily handled. The boom 14' may, for example, be about 6 feet long and its inner end is so adapted as to enable the boom to be mounted so as to project laterally of the boat abovewater level as illustrated. The boom mounting device is'shown in Figures 3 and 4 and comprises a pair of

blocks

15 and 16 secured to the deck of the boat at laterally spaced positions. The block 15 forms a rest carrying the Weight of the device and engaging a part of the boom 14 spaced from the inner end. The other block 16 forms a thrust member overlying a part of the boom 14 nearer the inner end thereof. The block 16 is provided with a slot 17 assisting in the mounting of the boom and the block 15 is provided with a recess 18"fixing the block 16 and adapted to receive a projecting block 19 secured to the underside of the boom, these co-acting formations on' the boom and mounting device preventing inadvertent removal of the boom from the mounting device. It will be appreciated that when it is desired to remove the boom from the mounting device the outer part thereof may be raised thus removing the projecting block 19 from the recess 18 and enabling the boom to be movedoutwardly at the same time removing the inner end of the boom from the slot 17.

The mooring device further comprises a releasable hook device on the boom adjacent to the outer end thereof. This device comprises a pivoted hook 20 mounted in a vertical slot or sheath 21, the mouth of the hook being presented towards the side of the boat as seen in Figure 3. The hook is pivoted at 22 and provided with an upwardly extending shank 23. Hook device control means are provided in the form of a hook control cord 24 secured at one end to the shank 23 and extending longitudinally of the boom 14 on the upper side thereof, the cord 24 passing through an eyelet 25 attached near the inner end of the boom, the cord then extending rearwardly of the boat as seen in Figure 2. The hook 20 is normally held in th'eposition shown by means of a spring actuated plunger 26 mounted in a covered re-, cess in the boom. and acting on the shank-23' 'of the hook.

The terminal part of the hook 20 normally projects into a recess 27 formed in the underside of the boom,

the, recess. being somewhat broader than the slot or sheath 21 with which, it is in communication, this slot or sheath being only slightly broader than the hook 20. In Figure 3 the device is shown in its assembled position with he hook ZOengaging a link 28 ot the mooring line 11, the link projecting into the recess 27. V lhen the cord 24-is pulled the hook pivots against the action. of the spring actuatedplunger 26 and the link engaging part thereof is withdrawn from the recess 27 into the slot or sheath 21. The link 2% is unable to follow this part of the hook into the slot or sheath and is thus positively released from the hook device.

To facilitate operation of thehook device the cord 24 extends rearwardly of the boom and may terminate at a position adjacent to the tiller or wheelhouse (not shown) where it canconveniently, be operated by the helmsman whilst at this post.

In use the link 28 of :themooring, line 11 is first engaged with the hook member before the boornis mount ed in position. The. boom is then mounted asshown, the forward part of theline 11 extending towards the outerend of the boom frorn it Position of attachment 12 and the remainder of the line terminating at.13 is loosely stowed on the deckadjacent to the boom.

On approaching the mooring buoy 29 this latter part of the line is cast overboard and drops into the water forming a buoy receiving loop 30 which, on passage of the boat through the water approximates to. the shape illustrated. When the boomhas passed over the top of the buoy and the relative positions of the buoy and the mooring device are substantially as shown in Figures 1 and 2 the hook control cord 24 is pulled and the link 28 of the line is thus released so that the line is then free apart from its being secured to .the boat at the

positions

12 and 13. Owing to the weight of the line and the movement of the boat the loop 30 narrows and eventually the two sides of the loop come closely adjacent to one another, theend of the loop becoming retentively engagedabout the anchor line 31 beneath the buoy 29. This engagement takes place when the .boat has moved somewhat further forwardand the relativepositions of the boat, the buoy and line 11 are shown in Figures 1 and 2 by the chain lines. In cases .where the line passes round a fairlead forward of the boom the action is similar, the line then acting asif it were secured to the, boat at the fairlead.

'I have observed that in practice. when the line is en: gaged by .the hook device as .illustratedin the full lines in Figures .1 and 2 that part of the loop 30 tends to lie close to the surface, but that upon release of the line from the hookdevice the line immediately begins to sink, the sides of the loop moving together and the anchor line finally being engaged some little distance below the buoy. i

A particular advantage of the invention as applied to cabin cruisers or other boats provided with engines, is that as soon as the mooring buoy is observed to be within the buoy receiving loop 30 the forward movement of the boat'may'be checked by setting the engine to the astern position and thereafter. the engine may be switched 01f, thus allowing ample time for the helnisman to move to a position where he can haul in the trailing loop after its engagement with the anchor line.

The danger of the boat colliding with other boats moored in the vicinity is thereby appreciably reduced as is also the danger which initially occurs when proce dure through the 'helm srnan having to leaveahis post whilstthei engine is switched on.

Atter securing the line to the boom initially the whole operation can, if necessary, be performed by the helmsman without leaving. his postso that he can continue tokeep the boat accurately on course in comingralongside the. buoy.

I have found that a mooring line in the form of a length of chain having. the dimensions previously referred to is particularly advantageous in that it is heavy enough to form the required buoy receiving loop at or just below the surface of the water when engaged by the hook device and is sufiiciently flexible when released from the boom to close tightly about the anchor line 31, the links of the chain gripping the anchor line in a particularly effective manner.

An alternative form of mooring device in accordance with my invention is shown in Figures 5 and 6. The device is shown as mounted on a boat 32 and includes a mooring line 33 similar to the mooring line 11 previously described. The device also includes a boom 34 similar to the boom 14, the boom 34 being mounted on a mounting device comprising a'rest35 in the form of a bracket secured to the deck of the boat and provided with a recess at its upper edge, and a thrust member comprising a bracket 36 provided with a vertical slot closed at its upper end. The boom is provided with an inner end cap 38 having a slot 39*engaging with the bracket 36 and preventing inadvertent removal ofi-the boom from the mounting device.

The mooring device also comprises a releasablehook device mounted on a carriage 40movable longitudinally of the boom 34 between a position adjacent to the boat and a position. spaced from the boat, the carriage being shown in an intermediate position. The carriage comprises a sleeve having a cylindrical bore slightly larger than the diameter of the boom so as to allow its free movement longitudinally of the boom.- Carriagemoving means are provided in the form of. a first line 41 extend ing directly from the carriage to the boat and a second line 42 extending from thecarriage 40 to the outer end of the boom and around. areturn member which is in the form of an outer end cap 43 provided with a hole 4 of smoothly curved path, the second line then extending back to the'boat, both-lines beingaccessible from the boat. The first and second carriage moving lines 41 and 42 are integrally connected at their inner ends vand pass through a hole 45 in the inner end cap 38 this hole being of similar shape to the hole .44 in'the outer end cap 43. It will be appreciated from this description that with the aid of these lines the carriage 40 can be moved to any desired position along the boom34.

Carriage securing means are provided for frictionally engaging at least one of the carriage moving lines, these carriage securing means comprising formations 46 on the rest 35 around which the line concerned or both lines may be twisted in the manner illustrated in Figures 5 and 6.

The releasable hook device on the carriage 40 comprises a sheath 47 in the form of two triangular plates parallel with one another, and a hook 48 pivoted with the aid of pivot pin 4-9 to the sheath 47. The book 48 has a terminal portion 50 which normally projects from the sheath 47 but is capable of being withdrawn into the sheath 47 when the hook 418 is pivoted anti-clockwise as viewed in Figure 5 as by; means of the hook control cord 51 secured to the hook. The terminal portion of the hook may. engage the link 52 of the mooring line 33 as illustrated, the line being released when the cord 51 is pulled. The inner end of the cord 51 passes through a hole in a lug 53 formed integrally with the inner end cap 38.

In use the boom is first mounted on the boat in the manner described and illustrated and the carriage, 40 is moved to a position accessible from the boat whereupon the link 52 is hooked on to the terminal portionSt) of the hook 418, The carriage is thenmoved to its. outer position in abutment with the outer end cap 43 and issecured at this position by the engagement between the first or second carriage moving lines or both of these lines with the formations 46. The line 33 is in all respects similar to the line 11, being secured to the side of the boat 32 in the same manner as the line 11 is secured to the boat 10.

The subsequent operation of'the device is similar to resin bonded fibre glass, this latter substance being particularly resistant to corrosion such as might otherwise occur in the presence of water, particularly sea water. A further device in accordance with my invention is illustrated diagrammatically in Figures 7 and 8, the device being shown as mounted on the fore part 54 of a boat. The device includes a boom which comprises an upper member 55 and lower member 56 connected together at one end and connected to an upright 57 at the other end. The boom may conveniently be forme from wooden rods or from light metal tubes.

The boom is permanently mounted by means-of mounting device on the boat, this mounting device com: prising a bearing block 58 housing the lower end of the upright 57 and acting as a thrust bearing, the device also including support lines 59 pivotally connected to the upright adjacent to the upper member 55 of the boom.

The mooring device also includes a mooring line 60 forming a buoy receiving loop and passing by way-of fairlead 61 to the power operated winch 62. The mooring line 60 is releasably secured to the free end of the boom by either of the devices described with reference to Figures 1 to 6. The operating means are not shown in Figures 7 and 8 and it is to be understood that if the hook device is mounted on a carriage similar to that numbered 40 the carriage would be adapted to run longitudinally of the lower member 56 of the boom.

In use the boom is swung into a position parallel with the side of the boat and the mooring line is secured to the hook device. The boom is then swung outwardly to its operating position as illustrated, this being effected either by operation of the winch 62 or by suitable manoeuvring of the guide lines 63 which are secured adjacent to the free end of the boom to the boat. The buoy receiving loop is formed as before and the mooring line released from the end of the boom at the desired moment. The winch 62 is then put into operation and the loop of the mooring line is reduced in size so as to bring the anchor line into an accessible position, the boom being swung back to its stowed position parallel with the side of the boat by means of the guide lines 63. The power operated winch 62 may be replaced by a hand operated winch.

What I then claim is:

1. In a boat, a mooring device comprising a boom, mountable so as to project laterally of the boat above water level, a mooring line, a releasable hook device mounted on the boom for releasably engaging the mooring line at a position spaced from the boat and permitting the formation of a buoy receiving loop of line between the hook device and the boat partially in the water, and hook device control means for enabling the release of the mooring line from the hook device to be effected as desired, the loop then narrowing.

2. In a boat, a mooring device comprising a boom, a boom mounting device on the boat comprising a rest engageable with a part of the boom spaced from the inner end thereof, and a thrust member for overlying a part of the boom nearer to the inner end thereof than that part engageable with the rest, co-acting formations on the boom and mounting device preventing inadvertent removal of the boom from the mounting device, the boom when mounted projecting laterally of the boat above water level, a mooring line, a releasable hook device mounted on the boom for releasably engaging themooring line ing line from the hook device to be effected as desired,

the loop then narrowing.

3. In a boat, a mooring device comprising a boom, mountable so as to project laterally of the boat above the water level, a mooring line, a pivoted hook on the boom for releasably engaging the mooring line at a position spaced from the boat and permitting the formation of a buoy receiving loop of line between the hook and the boat partially in the water, and a hook control cord extending from the hook longitudinally of the boom to a position accessible from the boat for enabling the release of the mooring line from the hook to be effected as desired from .the boat, the loop then narrowing.

4. In aboat, a mooring device comprising. a boom, mountable so as to project laterally of the boat above water level, a mooring line, a releasable hook device mounted on the boom for releasably engaging the moor ing line at a position spaced from the boat and permitting the formation of a buoy receiving loop of line between the hook device and the boat partially in the water, the hook device comprising a hook with a terminal line engaging part, and a hook receiving sheath, the mooring device including hook device control means for causing relative movement between the hook and sheath-for enabling positive release of the mooring line to be effected as desired, the loop then narrowing.

5. In a boat, a mooring device comprising a boom, mountable so as to project laterally of the boat above water level, a mooring line, a pivoted hook on the boom for releasably engaging the mooring line at a position spaced from the boat and permitting the formation of a buoy receiving loop of line between the hook and the boat partially in the water, the hook having a terminal line engaging part, a hook sheath being provided for receiving said part on pivotal movement of the hook, and a hook control cord extending from the hook longitudinally of the boom to a position accessible from the boat for enabling said pivotal movement of the hook and consequent release of the mooring line from the hook to be effected as desired from the boat, the loop then narrowmg.

6. In a boat, a mooring device comprising a boom, mountable so as to project laterally of the boat above water level, a mooring line, a carriage movable longitudinally of the boom between a position adjacent to the boat and a position spaced from the boat, carriage moving means and carriage securing means both operable from the boat, a releasable hook device mounted on the carriage for releasably engaging the mooring line and accessible from the boat when the carriage is adjacent to the boat, and when at a position spaced from the boat permitting the formation of a buoy receiving loop of line between the hook device and the boat partially in the water, and hook device control means for enabling the release of the mooring line from the hook device to be effected as desired when the carriage is spaced from the boat, the loop then narrowing.

7. In a boat, a mooring device comprising a boom, mountable so as to project laterally of the boat above water level, a mooring line, a carriage movable longitudinally of the boom between a position adjacment to the boat and a position spaced from the boat, a first carriage moving line extending directly from the carriage to the boat and a second carriage moving line, a return member on the boom spaced from the boat, the second carriage moving line extending from the carriage around the return member to the boat, both carriage moving lines being accessible from the boat, carriage securing means accessible from the boat for frictionally engaging at least one of the carriage moving lines, a releasable hook device mounted on the boom for releasably engaging the mooring line and accessible from the .boat when the carriage is adjacent to the boat, and when at a position spaced from the boat permitting the formation of a buoy receiving .loop of line between the hook device and the boat partially in the water, and hook device control means for enabling the release of the mooring line from the hook device to be efiected as desired when the carriage is spaced from the .boat, the loop then narrowing.

8. In a boat, a mooring device comprising a boom, aboom mounting device enabling the boom to .be mounted so as to project laterally of the boat above water level, a mooring line, secured at each end to :the boat adjacent to the boom mounting device, a releasable hook device mounted onthe boom vfor releasably engaging the mooring line at aposition spaced from the boat and permitting the formation of a buoy receiving loop of line between the hook device and the boatipart'ially in the water, and hook device control means for enabling the release of the mooring line from the hook device to be ettected vas desired, the loop then narrowing.

9. In a boat, a mooring device comprising ,a boom, a boom mounting device on the boat, the boom and device being pivotally connected enabling the boom to be swung from a stowed position such that it projects laterally of the boat above water level, a mooring line, a releasable hook device mounted on the boom for releasably engaging the mooring line at a position spaced from the boat and permitting the formation of a buoy receiving loop of line between the hook device and the boat partially 'in the water when the boom is in its operating position, and hook device control means for enabling the release of the mooring line from the hook device to be efiected as desired, the'loop then narrowing.

10. A mooring device for .a boat, comprising a boom, amooring line, a releasable hook device mounted on the boom forlreleasably engaging the mooring line and permitting the formation of a buoy receiving loop of line from the boom, and hook device control means for enabling the release of the mooring line from the hook device to be effected as'desired, the loop then narrowing.

11. A mooring device for a boat, comprising a boom, a boom mounting device comprising a rest engageable with a'par t 'of'theboom spaced from the inner end thereof, and a thrust member for overlying a part of the boom nearer to the inner end thereof than that part engageable with the rest, co-acting formations on the boom and mounting device preventing inadvertent removal of the boom from the mounting device, a mooring line, a releasable hook device mounted on the boom for releasably engaging the mooringTline at a position spaced from the mounting device and permitting the formation of a buoy receiving loop of line from the hook device, and hook device control means for enabling the release of the mooring line from the hook device to be effected as desired, the loop thenznarrowing.

References Cited in'the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 653,021 Hamilton. July 3, 1900 1,536,701 Buckingham et a1 a May 5, 1925 2,347,718 Terry May 2, 1944 'FGREIGN PATENTS 1,073,558 France Mar. 24, :1954