Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
BP Fide No. 6725-004
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Title: BOAT MooRING DEVICE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to mooring
devices for boats.
BACRGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Mooring of a boat at a dock or the like presents
a number of problems. The boat can be simply tied to the
dock by ropes. However, if the ropes are loose, the
effect of wave or wind action may cause the boat to bump
against the deck. This can result in damage to the boat
and/or to the dock. If the boat is tightly tied to the
dock, on the other hand, the boat cannot readily move to
accommodate variations in water level, at least without
the boat rubbing against the dock, again with potential
risk of damage. If the water is subject to tidal
fluctuations, this can be quite a serious problem and may
require the mooring ropes to be adjusted periodically
during the day. However, even on lakes or rivers not
subject to tidal fluctuations, water level changes caused
by the wake of passing boats, can cause quite a severe
rubbing action between the boat and the dock. On
waterways that are subject to heavy traffic, this in
itself is a significant problem.
The problem can be avoided by mooring the boat
to a mooring buoy offshore but this brings With it the
difficulty of getting into and out of the boat. For
example, it may be necessary to use a separate dinghy to
transport passengers between the moored boat and the
shore. Even then, the problem of accommodating water
level fluctuations remains.
An object of the present invention is to provide
an improved boat mooring device that addresses these
problems.
SU1~~3ARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a
boat mooring device which includes a mooring arm for
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extending between a boat and a mooring location, a base
for supporting the arm at the mooring location and means
coupling the arm to the base so as to permit pivotal
movement of the arm with respect to the base about both an
upright axis and a generally horizontaa axis. Movement of
the arm about the upright axis permits lateral swinging
movement of the arm, to accommodate movement of a moored
boat towards and away from the mooring location while
movement about the generally horizontal axis permits up
and down movement of the arm for accommodating up and down
movement of the boat. Spring means is provided for
normally maintaining the arm in a rest position about both
of the axes.
Normally, boat mooring devices of the type
provided by the invention will be used at least in pairs.
The devices will be installed on a dock or other
supporting surface so that the two mooring arms extend out
aver the water generally at right angles to the edge of
the dock or the like. The boat is moored to the outer
ends of the arms by ropes or other connectors.
The arms hold the boat away from the dock so
that the boat cannot hit or rub up and down against the
dock under the effect of wave or wind action. The arms
can move up and down to accommodate up and down movement
of the boat for example due to the wake of another boat
passing by. The arms can also accommodate water level
changes due to tidal effects, within limits, and depending
on the length of the arms.
To board the boat, it is merely necessary for
the person standing on the dock to reach out and pull on
one of the mooring arms. The arm will pivot laterally
about its upright axis, pulling the boat in towards the
dock and allowing passengers to board. When the arm is
released, the spring means will automatically move the arm
back towards its initial position, pushing the boat away
from the dock. The boat can then be untied or unhooked
from the arms. Depending on the design of the arms and
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the spring means, the arms may automatically retract
upwardly as the boat is untied, by pivoting about their
respective horizontal axes.
Conversely, when docking, the boat is manoeuvred
close to the dock and the passenger or passengers
disembark. A person standing on the dock pulls in each of
the mooring arms in turn and the boat is attached to the
relevant arm. When released, the arms return under the
influence of the spring means, and move the boat away from
the dock.
Preferably, a single coil spring such as a
tension spring is used to resist movement of the arm about
both the upright and generally horizontal axes. In a
preferred embodiment, the mooring arm has an outer end
provided with means for attaching a boat to the arm, and
an inner end, and the arm is coupled to the base at a
location intermediate its ends and closer to the inner end
than to the outer end. The coil spring extends between
the inner end of the arm and the base and normally
maintains the arm in its rest position. The spring is
then extended by downward movement of the outer end of the
arm or by lateral swinging movement of the arm from its
rest position, or both, so that the same spring can resist
up and down or lateral swinging movement of the arm or
both.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order that the invention may be more clearly
understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying
drawings which illustrate a particular preferred
3C embodiment of the invention by way of example, and in
which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a boat
moored at a dock using two mooring devices of the form
provided by the invention;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view in more detail of
one of the mooring devices shown in Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing
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the yoke assembly between the mooring arm and the base of
the device;
Fig. 4 comprises a perspective view denoted (a)
and side views (b) and (c) illustrating a modified form of
yoke assembly;
Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the spring means
of the device;
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an extension
stand that may be used with the device; and,
Fig. 7 shows, in Fig. 7(a) a side dock mounting
bracket and, in the views denoted (b) and (c) two
applications of the bracket of Fig. 7(a).
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring first to Fig. 1, a boat 20 is shown
moored at a dock 22 by means of two mooring devices, each
of which is denoted by reference numeral 24. The two
devices are identical. As noted previously, the devices
will almost always be used in pairs although three, four
or even more of the mooring devices could be used for a
single boat if necessary.
Referring now to Fig. 2, the principal
components of the device are a mooring arm 26 fox
extending between the dock and the boat (see Fig. 1), a
base 28 for supporting the arm on the dock, a pivotal
coupling 30 between the base and the arm, and a tension
spring 32. The spring is shown enclosed in a protective
sleeve; in Fig. 5 (to be described), the spring and sleeve
are shown separately.
Arm 26 has inner and outer ends 26a and 26b
respectively and is coupled to the base 28 at a location
26c which is intermediate the two ends and closer to the
inner end 26a than to the outer end 26b. The length of
the arm and its particular configuration may vary
depending, for example, on the size and type of the boat
to be moored but the shape of the arm as seen in Fig. 2 is
preferred for relatively small pleasure boats (e.g. 700 Kg
in weight).
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It will be seen that the arm has portions
adjacent the inner and outer ends respectively that are
parallel to one another and that the end portions are
joined by an intermediate portion 26d that makes an obtuse
angle with each of the end portions. As will be described
in more detail later, the mooring device is designed so
that it will normally adopt a rest position under the
influence of spring 32. In that position, the end
portions of the arm are generally horizontal and the
intermediate portion is inclined upwardly from the base so
that the outer end of the arm is above the boat when it is
moored, as best seen in Fig. 1. The arms remain in their
respective rest positions or, preferably, retract upwardly
after the boat has been untied and driven away. The arms
should then be reasonably clear of obstructing either the
returning boat or ather traffic on the waterway. Base 28
should be relatively low and the arm outwardly of the base
should be reasonably accessible to a person standing on
the dock so that the arm can be pulled in to bring the
boat close to the dock.
In this particular embodiment, the arm comprises
a length of rectangular box section metal tubing formed to
the shape shown in the drawings and provided with
protective end caps (not shown).
Base 28 can comprise a length of similar tubing
with plates welded transversely across its respective
ends, forming a top plate 33 for receiving coupling 30 and
a base plate 34 designed to be bolted to a dock or other
support surface. The base would then have a fixed height.
Preferably, however, the base is adjustable in height and
comprises two rectangular section tubes 36 and 38 designed
to telescope one within the other. As shown in Fig. 2, an
inner one of these tubes, 38, extends upwardly from base
plate 34 and is provided with a series of vertically
spaced openings 40 that extend through the front and rear
faces of the tubing and are aligned with one another. The
outer tube 36 is vertically slidable on tube 38 and the
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top plate 33 is welded to the outer tube.
As best seen in Fig. 5, respective eye bolts 42
and 44 are provided at the opposite end of spring 32.
Referring back to Fig. 2, eye bolt 42 extends through a
pair of aligned openings in the front and rear faces of
the outer tube 36 and the projecting outer end portion of
the bolt is provided with a wing nut 46. In addition to
anchoring the spring, eye bolt 42 also serves to hold the
two tubes 36 and 38 in the appropriate relative vertical
positions with respect to one another. Thus, the bolt
extends through the appropriate one of the openings 40 in
the inner tube 38 also.
Preferably, the attachment point for the spring
to the base is fixed in relation to the coupling 30 so
15, that the spring rate does not change depending on the
height of the base. Fig. 2 shows one way of accomplishing
this but there are other possibilities. For example, in
another embodiment, it may be desirable to avoid using the
spring eye bolt to both attach the spring and as a bolt
between the two tubes. Thus, in an alternative
embodiment, the spring could be attached to the tube 36 in
the same fashion as is shown in Fig. 2 but above the top
of the inner tube 38, or the spring could be anchored to
a ring welded to the tube 36. A separate bolt or simply
a pin through the openings in the tubes could then be
used. The arrangement could also of course be reversed
with the outer tube on the base plate 34 and the inner
tube supporting the top plate 33. It would then be
necessary to attach the spring to the inner tube above the
outer tube, or to provide means for adjusting the spring
tension depending on the height of the base.
In any event, in the illustrated embodiment, the
eye bolt at the opposite end of the spring 32 merely
extends through openings in the inner end portion of arm
26 and is provided at its outer end with a nut 48. A
selection of holes can be provided in the arm to permit
adjustment of the position of eye bolt 44. For example,
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holes for accommodating to other possible positions of the
eye bolt ~4 are indicated at 50.
Adjacent its outer end 26b, arm 26 is provided
with a further eye bolt, denoted 52, which is held in
place by a nut 54. Eye bolt 52 provides an attachment
point for a mooring rope or cable 56 provided with a quick
release clasp 58 at its outer end.
As noted previously, arm 26 is coupled to base
28 so as to permit pivotal movement of the arm with
respect to the base about both an upright axis and about
a generally horizontal axis. In Fig. 2, the upright axis
is generally indicated at A and the horizontal axis at B.
It will be appreciated that pivotal movement about axis A
allows the arm to swing laterally to accommodate movement
of a moored boat towards and away from the dock, as
indicated by the arrows A' in Figs. 1 and 2. Such
movement, in either angular direction, will of course
result in spring 32 being extended, resisting the
movement. The arm can also move about the horizontal axis
B in response to up and down movement of the boat, as
indicated by the arrows B' in Figs. 1 and 2. Again, such
movement will result in spring 32 being extended,
resisting the movement. At the same time, a person
standing on the dock (Fig. 1) can simply grasp one of the
arms and pull it towards the dock, bringing the part of
the boat that is attached to the arm close to the dock,
for boarding purposes. When the arm is released, it will
automatically return the boat to the former position clear
of the dock.
Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the
yoke assembly 30 between the base 28 and the arm 26. In
Fig. 3, part only of arm 26 has been shown. Also visible
is part of the outer tubular member 36 of the base 28 and
the plate 33 at the top of that member.
Arm 26 is embraced by a yoke 60 that is
pivotally coupled to the arm by a bolt 62. Bolt 62
defines the generally horizontal axis B (Fig. 2). The
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yoke 60 itself is coupled to the base 28 by a bolt 64 that
defines the upright axis A (Fig. 2). It will be seen that
bolt 64 extends through an opening in the base of the yoke
60 and through a corresponding opening in the top plate 33
on the base tube 36. A self-locking nut 66 is welded to
the underside of top plate 33 and receives the bolt 64.
Suitable washers 68 are provided between the yoke and top
plate and below the head of the nut.
Bolt 62 extends through respective bushes 70
fitted into aligned openings 72 in the side walls of arm
26. Bolt 62 is fitted with a self-locking nut 74.
To summarize, lateral swinging motion of the arm
26 is permitted by turning of yoke 60 on bolt 64, while up
and down movement of arm 26 is permitted by pivotal
movement of the arm on bolt 62 (with bushes 70 in
between).
In the embodiment just described, lateral
swinging movement of arm 26 is cushioned by spring 32.
Fig. 4 illustrates a modified form of yoke assembly which
is designed to permit the arm to be locked against such
movement, thereby positively preventing the boat being
driven against the dock in exceptionally high winds or
other adverse weather conditions. Fig. 4(a) is an
exploded perspective view of the yoke assembly while Figs.
4(b) and (c) are assembled views showing locked and
unlocked positions respectively.
Referring first to Fig. 4(a), yoke 60 is
provided with a lateral extension plate 74 that projects
outwardly from the base of the yoke and overlies a
somewhat similar plate 75 forming a top plate of the base
28. Corresponding openings 76 and 77 are provided in the
respective plates for receiving a locking pin 78 that can
be engaged in both of the openings for locking the yoke
with respect to the base, as shown in Fig. 4(b).
As best seen in Fig. 4(a), pin 78 is generally
L-shaped. The pin has a vertical limb 78(a) that is
engageable in the openings 76 and 77 in the two plates,
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and a horizontal limb 78b by which the pin can be
manipulated. The vertical limb of the pin is provided
with a fixed washer 79 at a spacing below the top end of
the limb and with transverse projections 80 at a spacing
below the washer. The locking pin is fitted to the top
plate 75 of base 78 so that the vertical limb 78a of the
pin extends through opening 77 in plate 75 with washer 79
above plate 75 and the projections 80 below the plate. A
compression spring 81 extends between plate 75 and the
captive washer 79 so that the pin is biassed upwardly by
the spring. The opening 77 in plate 75 is provided. with
a pair of lateral slots 77a which can accommodate the
projections 80 on the vertical limb 78a of pin 78.
Accordingly, if pin 78 is turned so that the projections
80 enter the slots 77a, the pin i,s displaced upwardly by
the compression spring 81 and will engage in the opening
76 in plate 74 (assuming that yoke 60 is in an appropriate
angular orientation with respect to base 28). Yoke 60
and, with it, arm 26 are then locked against lateral
turning with respect to the base 28. This locked
condition is illustrated in Fig. 4(b).
Conversely, pin 78 can be displaced downwardly
by means of limb 78b, and the pin turned so that the
projections 80 no longer register with the slots 77a in
the base top plate 75. Pin 78 is then held so 'that its
upper end is below the yoke extension plate 74, allowing
the yoke to turn freely with respect to the base.
Fig. 5 shows spring 32 and it will be seen that
the spring is essentially a conventional helical coil
spring designed to work in tension. Integral loops 32a
and 32b at the ends of the spring accept the eye bolts 42
and 44. In the assembled mooring device, the spring is
covered by a sleeve 82 having ties 84 at its ends by which
the sleeve is secured to the loops at the ends of the
spring. The sleeve in effect provides a shield against
anything becoming trapped between the coils of the spring
as they open and close when the mooring device is in use.
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Fig. 6 shows a telescopic extension stand 86
that may be used to increase the overall height of the
mooring device. Stand 86 comprises telescoping
rectangular members 88 and 90, fitted with respective end
plates 92 and 94. Member 88 is provided with a
longitudinally extending series of aligned openings 96
that can be matched with a pair of similar openings 98 in
member 90 for receiving a bolt or pin (not shown) to fix
the height of the stand. Top plate 92 is designed to
match the base plate 34 of base 28 (Fig. 2), while plate
94 is designed to be bolted to a dock or other support
surface. In other words, the extension stand 86 is
designed to be interposed between the dock and base plate
34 of the mooring device. The two plates 34 and 92 are
bolted together through matching holes.
Fig. 7 shows a side dock mounting bracket 100
that can be used in conjunction with boat mooring device,
with or without the extension stand 86, to mount the
mooring device on the side of a dock or other support, as
shown in Fig. 7(b) or (c). It will be seen that bracket
100 has a vertical limb 102 and a horizontal limb 104.
Vertical limb 102 has a series of plain openings 106 fox
receiving bolts 108 for securing the bracket to a vertical
face member 110 of a dock 22 as seen in Fig. 7(b) and (c).
The horizontal limb 104 of bracket 100 has a series of
similar openings 112 but in this case, each opening has
associated therewith a captive nut 114 at the underside of
the limb for receiving a bolt introduced through the
opening from the top, so that either the base plate 94 of
extension stand 86 or base plate 34 of the mooring device
itself can be bolted to the bracket. Fig. 7(b) and (c)
show that the bracket 100 can be secured to the dock in
either of two overhanging positions, above the dock (b) or
outwardly of the dock (c).
It will of course be appreciated that the
preceding description relates to a particular preferred
embodiment of the invention only and that many
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modifications are possible within the broad scope of the
invention. Some of those modifications have been
specifically indicated previously and others will be
apparent to a person skilled in the art. It should be
noted in particular that, while it is preferred to use a
single spring (as spring 32) to restrict both horizontal
swinging movement of the mooring arms and up and down
movement of the arms, separate springs could be used
within the broad scope of the invention. For example,
individual torsion springs could be used to cushion
movement of the mooring arm about the respective axes A
and B.
