Ships – Mother ship – floating landing platform – and harbor – Floating boat dock
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-20
2001-01-23
Sotelo, Jesus D. (Department: 3617)
Ships
Mother ship, floating landing platform, and harbor
Floating boat dock
C114S230100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176195
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a boat dock assist assembly which substantially eases docking of a boat.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As anyone who has driven a boat will appreciate, the docking of the boat can be quite awkward. This is particularly true for large sized boats and/or boats which are manned by only one person.
Currently, there are available different types of boat docking assists. One such assist includes a frame having an open region to receive the bow of a boat. Elastic straps are suspended across the open region to gradually slow the speed of the boat as it enters the frame.
Although having some benefit, the above type of construction also suffers from some drawbacks. For example, if the straps are too tight, they can easily snap under the weight of the boat and if they are made too loose they don't have the desired slowing effect on the boat. In addition, over time, elastic straps tend to weaken, losing their effectiveness and/or completely breaking down.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention provides a boat dock assist assembly which is simple in construction while being extremely efficient in operation. More particularly, the boat dock assist assembly of the present invention comprises a frame which has a generally V-shaped mouth which is truncated by a rubber tire supported by the frame.
Unlike prior art constructions, no adjustments are necessary for proper tensioning of the system but rather the natural resiliency of the tire provides a long lasting impact absorbing surface against which the bow of a boat is guided by the V-shaping of the frame mouth.
According to an aspect of the invention, the frame is supported by floats so that it is self supporting in a body of water. It can either be free floating as its own dock or it can be secured to a fixed dock.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4284026 (1981-08-01), Martinson et al.
patent: 4727820 (1988-03-01), Klaus
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