Ships – Mooring device
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-10
2001-03-27
Avila, Stephen (Department: 3617)
Ships
Mooring device
C114S230150
Reexamination Certificate
active
06205944
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates, in general, to apparatus that assists a boat's operator to single-handedly mooring a boat to a dock. It relates more specifically to apparatus that is fixed to a docks post and automatically engages with a boat's rail as the boat is maneuvered into parallel relationship to the dock. This apparatus hooks onto the rail at the bow and functions to limit the distance to which the bow may tend to move away from the dock as a consequence of either wind or water currents.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Docking and mooring of boats, particularlly those of a length that may be of the order of twenty or more feet. While the boat operator will be successful in bringing the boat into close, adjacent parallel relationship to the dock and can moor the aft end to a dock post or to a mooring cleat on the dock, as a first step in the mooring operation, a problem is frequently encountered in accomplishing mooring of the bow. This problem is created by either wind or water currents that may exist at any particular time as they may result in the bow of the boat drifting away from the dock while the stern is being moored. In severe cases, the wind and water currents may cause the bow to drift a sufficient distance from the dock as to be out of reach of the operator.
A common technique to avoid this problem has been to have a second person available to either merely catch the bow and hold it or to also utilize a mooring line to secure the bow while the boat's operator is accomplishing mooring of the aft end. Another technique that is utilized is the boat's operator uses a long handled hook to reach a railing that may be positioned on the bow and pull the bow back to the dock. This technique is successful depending on the distance that the bow moves away from the dock and length of the available boat hook.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with this invention an apparatus is provided for automatically engaging the boat's rail when the operator is maneuvering into parallel relationship to the dock and resist drifting movement of the bow away from the dock. This apparatus includes a strut which is mounted on the dock to extend over the water and has a hook secured to it's outer end. This hook is normally disposed in a vertical position with it's upper end pivotally secured to the strut for swinging movement in a plane that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the strut. The hook is designed to engage with the boat's rail. It is adapted to slide over the rail as the boat is maneuvered into position adjacent to the dock. The strut is located at a vertical position which is above the rail with the hook's lower end below the rail whereby it will be caused to swing and slide over the rail. After the hook has passed over the rail, the lower end of the hook again swings to a vertical position. At this time, any movement of the bow may result to the rail becoming mechanically engaged with the hook.
A tension spring is disposed in the strut and mechanically interconnects the hook with a retaining element secured to a mounting structure attached to the dock. This spring enables the hook to be pulled outwardly from the strut in a situation where they wind/water currents are excessive causing the boat's bow to be displaced a greater than the distance which a person could reach and grab the boat's rail.
A strut support assembly is provided to enable removable positioning of the apparatus on a mooring post incorporated in a dock structure. The strut is secured at it's one end to this assembly. A first connecting element which consists of a length of chain is secured to the support assembly at a distance above the point of connection of the strut with it's opposite end secured to the strut at a point axially outward from the strut connection to the support assembly. This results in maintaining the strut in a horizontal position. A second connecting element that is greater than the first is also connected at it's one end to the support assembly closely adjacent that of the first connecting element with the opposite end connected to the outer end of the struts tension spring. It functions to limit the maximum extent to which the bow may move away from the dock.
These and other objects and advantages will become more clearly apparent from the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the apparatus and the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2552424 (1951-05-01), Gorman
patent: 2907294 (1959-10-01), Lawler
patent: 4817551 (1989-04-01), Matson
patent: 5499591 (1996-03-01), Chippas
Dempsey Dale E.
Dierksen Paul B.
Avila Stephen
Stebens Robert E.
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