US3129688A

US3129688A - Self-storing mooring line installation

Info

Publication number: US3129688A
Application number: US174312A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert K Gerling
Original assignee: Outboard Marine Corp
Current assignee: Outboard Marine Corp
Priority date: 1962-02-19
Filing date: 1962-02-19
Publication date: 1964-04-21
Anticipated expiration: 1981-04-21

Description

April 21, 1964 A. E. BUcHHoLz sELF-sIoRING MooRING LINE INSTALLATION Filed Feb. 19, 1962 @ML MLM lrIafA/EYL United States Patent O 3,129,68S SELF-STORING MGRING LINE ENSTALLATION Albert E. Buchhoiz, deceased, late of Kenosha, Wis., by Robert K. Geriing, special administrator, Des Plaines, Ill., assigner to Outboard Marine Corporation, Waukegan, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 174,312 7 Claims. (Cl. 114-230) This invention relates generally to self-storing mooring lines for boats. More particularly, the invention relates to, and has for an object, the provision on a self-storing mooring line which is self-retracting into a given storage area or space, together with means preventing complete retraction of the mooring line into the storage area so as to retain easy accessibility of at least one end of the mooring line.

In the preferred construction the self-storing mooring line is housed in a recess in the hull of a boat and passes through an aperture or opening in the hull leading to the recess. The mooring line includes, adjacent its free end, an enlarged portion which is proportioned to prevent passage through the aperture. In the speciiically disclosed construction a ball or sphere is secured to the end of the mooring line.

The invention also makes provision whereby a single length of mooring line can be arranged for self-storage while also locating both ends of the line for easy accessibility to facilitate mooring of a boat to a dock or the like.

In general, the main object of the invention is the provision of an improved self-storing mooring line installation. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings of three embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a partially broken away perspective view illustrating a boat incorporating a self-storing mooring line embodying various of the features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic View of a mooring line arrangement similar to the arrangement incorporated in the boat shown in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic view of another embodiment of a mooring line arrangement incorporating various of the features of the invention; and

FIGURE 4 is a partial perspective View showing a boat moored to a pier with a mooring line in accordance with the invention.

The boat 11 shown in FIGURE 1 includes a supporting hull 13 incorporating a self-storing mooring line 15. The mooring line is normally housed in a storage space or recess 17 in an area under a portion of the side deck 19. Of course, various storage facilities can be employed.

The mooring line 15 can be carried by the hull 13 so as to make either one or both ends of the line available for securing the boat to a dock or pier 21. In FIGURES 1 and 2 there are shown arrangements by which both ends of a mooring line are available for mooring a boat.

More specifically, as shown in FIGURE l, the mooring line 15 passes through openings or apertures 23 in the hull 13 leading to the storage recess 17. Within the storage recess 17 the mooring line 15 is reversely trained around a pair of opposed pulleys 25 to provide three generally parallel runs 27, 29 and 31. Each of the pulleys 25 is secured to the boat hull 13 to effect retraction of the mooring line into the storage recess 17 by suitable means biasing one or both of the pulleys for relative movement in a direction which increases the length or" the runs 27, 29 and 31. In FIGURE l, such means comprises a pair of helical coil springs 33, while in FIGURE 2, a pair of elastic shock cords 35 are shown.

3,129,688 Patented Apr. 21, 1964 Complete withdrawal of the mooring line 15 from the storage recess, and complete retraction of the mooring line into the storage recess, are both prevented by means adjacent each end of the mooring line co-operating with the apertures 23 to prevent passage of the associated mooring line ends. Although various arrangements can be provided, each end of the mooring line 15 includes an enlarged portion 37 which, in the disclosed construction, is spherical in form and seats against one of the diametrically smaller apertures 23 to prevent passage therethrough of the associated end of the mooring line. In addition, the enlarged, ball shaped portions 37 also function as gripping elements to facilitate withdrawal of the mooring line 15 from the storage recess 17.

In FIGURE 3 there is shown diagrammatically an arrangement wherein only one end of a mooring line 41 is available for securing a boat to a pier or the like. Specifically, the mooring line 41 is I'ixed at one end to the hull 43 of a boat (not shown). The line 41 is self-storing by suitable means which, in the disclosed construction, includes a pulley 45 around which the line 41 is trained, and means in the form of a helical coil spring 47 urging the pulley 45 away from the point of lixation of the mooring line 41 to the hull 43. The mooring line 41 extends from the pulley 45 in a general direction away from the direction in which the pulley is urged and passes through an eye 49 on the hull 43. Carried by the free end of the mooring line and engaged by the eye 49 to prevent retraction of the free end of the mooring line through the eye, is an enlarged portion 51 inthe form of a diametrically larger ball. Thus, the free end of the mooring line is retained in easily accessible position.

FIGURE 3 also shows a modification, partially in dotted outline, wherein the mooring line 41 passes through two eyes or openings 49 and has, at each end, an enlarged portion 51, and wherein the pulley 45 is located between or intermediate the openings 49 and is urged away therefrom.

If desired, when mooring a boat, such as the disclosed boat 11 incorporating the mooring line 15, the mooring line can be secured to the pier 21 and also to a cleat 53, as shown in FIGURE 4, to limit shifting of the boat 11 relative to the pier 21.

Various of the features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. The combination of a boat hull having a pair of spaced openings, a mooring line extending from a storage area through both of said openings, a pair of pulleys, means for mounting said pulleys on said hull in said storage area and for urging said pulleys away from each other, said mooring line being trained around said pulleys to provide three generally parallel runs, and means on said mooring line at each end thereof for preventing retraction of said ends through said openings to the storage area.

2. A boat mooring installation including support means, a mooring line, means on said support means deiining a pair of openings through which said mooring line passes, a pair of pulleys, means for mounting said pulleys on said support means and for urging said pulleys in opposite directions away from each other, said pulleys having said mooring line trained therearound so as to provide three generally parallel line runs, and means on said mooring line adjacent each end thereof and outwardly of said openings proportioned for preventing passage thereof through said openings and affording means for easily gripping the ends of said mooring line.

3. A boat mooring installation including support means, a mooring line, means on said support means deiining a pair of openings through which said mooring line passes, a pair of pulleys having said mooring line trained therearound, means for mounting said pulleys on said support means and for urging said pulleys relative to each other so as to draw said line inwardly of said openings, and means on said mooring line adjacent each end thereof and outwardly of said openings proportioned for preventing passage thereof through said openings and affording means for easily gripping the ends of said mooring line.

4. The combination of a boat hull having a pair of openings, a mooring line free of fixed connection with said boat hull and extending through both of said openings, means biasing said line for retraction through said openings into a storage area, and means at each of the ends of said mooring line for preventing full retraction of said mooring line through said openings.

5. The combination of a boat hull, a mooring line, a storage recess on said hull for housing said mooring line, a pair of resilient means connected to said hull and to said mooring line and acting in opposite directions so as to urge the ends of said mooring line into said storage recess, and co-operating means on said hull and on said mooring line for preventing complete movement of said mooring line into said storage recess, said co-operating means including an enlarged portion at each end of said mooring line and means defining a pair of openings in said recess through which said mooring line passes, said openings being proportioned to prevent passage therethrough of said enlarged mooring line portions while permitting passage of the remainder of said mooring line.

6. A boat mooring installation including support means, means on said support means dening a pair of openings, a pulley, means mounting said pulley on said support means for movement of said pulley away from said openings, a mooring line extending through each of said openings, around said pulley, and otherwise free of lixed connection to said support means, and means on said mooring line adjacent each end thereof and outwardly of said openings proportioned for preventing passage thereof through said openings and affording means for easily gripping the ends of said mooring line.

7. A boat mooring installation including support means dening an opening on said support means, a pulley, a mooring line extending through said opening and trained around said pulley, means securing one end of said mooring line to said support means, means on said support means including a spring connected to said pulley and acting at all times to bias said pulley for linear movement so as to fully retract said line through said opening, and means at the other end of said mooring line for co-operation with said opening to prevent full retraction of said mooring line through said opening.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 664,210 Bryon Dec. 18, 1990 2,984,202 Lunde May 16, 1961 3,051,448 Pletta Aug. 28, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 123,005 Sweden Oct. 12, 1948

Claims

7. A BOAT MOORING INSTALLATION INCLUDING SUPPORT MEANS DEFINING AN OPENING ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS, A PULLEY, A MOORING LINE EXTENDING THROUGH SAID OPENING AND TRAINED AROUND SAID PULLEY, MEANS SECURING ONE END OF SAID MOORING LINE TO SAID SUPPORT MEANS, MEANS ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS INCLUDING A SPRING CONNECTED TO SAID PULLEY AND ACTING AT ALL TIMES TO BIAS SAID PULLEY FOR LINEAR MOVEMENT SO AS TO FULLY RETRACT SAID LINE THROUGH SAID OPENING, AND MEANS AT THE OTHER END OF SAID MOORING LINE FOR CO-OPERATION WITH SAID OPENING TO PREVENT FULL RETRACTION OF SAID MOORING LINE THROUGH SAID OPENING.