BOAT MOORING DEVICE

DISPOSITIF D'AMARRAGE DE BATEAU

English Abstract

This invention relates to a shock absorbing docking spacer to space a tethered boat from dockside. It comprises an elongated body having two cylindrical sections moveable longitudinally of each other to define spacer length with one of said cylindrical sections being connectable to a boat and the other of said cylindrical sections being connectable to a dock. A resilient cord is connected at one of its ends to one of said cylindrical sections and at the other of its ends to the other of said cylindrical sections to be tensioned as the cylindrical sections move longitudinally of each other due to shock forces in use to reduce spacer length. The cord has a resilience as aforesaid to absorb shock forces on the boat that reduce the spacer length in use, and to reassert itself and restore spacer length when shock forces are removed.

French Abstract

Cette invention concerne un écarteur d'amarrage amortisseur pour écarter un bateau amarré du quai. Ce dispositif comprend un corps allongé ayant deux parties cylindriques séparables longitudinalement l'une de l'autre pour définir la longueur de l'écarteur, la première étant raccordable à un bateau et la deuxième, à un quai. L'une des extrémités d'une corde élastique est attachée à l'une des parties cylindriques et l'autre extrémité à la deuxième partie cylindrique pour être tendue lorsque les parties cylindriques bougent longitudinalement l'une par rapport à l'autre en raison des chocs pendant l'utilisation pour réduire la longueur de l'écarteur. La corde est élastique, afin d'amortir les chocs subis par le bateau qui réduisent la longueur de l'écarteur et de permettre à ce dernier de rependre sa longueur lorsque les forces qui s'exercent sur le bateau disparaissent.

Claims

Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege
is claimed
are defined as follows:
1. A shock absorbing docking spacer to space a tethered boat from dockside
comprising:
an elongated body having two cylindrical sections, the first of said two
cylindrical
sections having a diameter greater than the diameter of the second of said two
cylindrical
sections, said two cylindrical sections being movable longitudinally of each
other in
telescopic relationship to define spacer length, one of said cylindrical
sections being
connectable to a tethered boat and the other of said cylindrical sections
being connected
to a dock; there being a rod having a first end and a second end with the
first end of the
rod being fixedly mounted to the first cylindrical section and the second end
being a free
end which extends inwardly into the second cylindrical section when spacer
length is
reduced, there being a first cord-attachment means mounted on the second end
of the rod
which extends into the first cylinder; there being a plug fixedly mounted to
the second of
said two cylindrical sections, said plug having an opening through which said
rod extends
to permit movement of the second end of the rod and the cord-attachment means
within
the second cylindrical section when the two cylindrical sections move
longitudinally of
each other in telescopic relationship; a resilient cord connected to the plug
and to the
cord-attachment means to increase tension of the resilient cord as the
cylindrical sections
move longitudinally of each other to reduce spacer length; said resilient cord
having a
resilience as aforesaid to absorb shock forces between the tethered boat and
dockside in
use, and to reassert itself and restore spacer length when said shock forces
are removed.
2. A shock absorbing spacer to space a tethered boat from dockside as claimed
in claim 1
wherein more than one said resilient cord connected to the plug and to the
cord
attachment means as aforesaid.
3. A shock absorbing spacer to space a tethered boat from dockside as claimed
in claim 1
where there is provided a hooked end member on each end of the docking spacer
for
securing the device to a dockside and a tethered boat in use.
4. A shock absorbing docking spacer to space a tethered boat from dockside as
claimed in
claim 1 wherein there is provided a hooked end member formed with holes on
each end
of the docking spacer for rope securing the device to a dockside and a
tethered boat in
use.
5. A shock absorbing docking spacer to space a tethered boat from dockside as
claimed in
claim 1 wherein an o-ring is attached to the docking spacer for slideable
engagement
against the first of said cylindrical sections during use to dampen shock
experienced by
the device.

6. A shock absorbing docking spacer to space a tethered boat from dockside as
claimed in
claim 1 wherein a disc shaped member is attached to the docking spacer for
slideable
engagement against the first of said two cylindrical sections during use to
dampen shock
experienced by the device.
7. A shock absorbing docking spacer to space a tethered boat from dockside as
claimed in
claim 1 wherein the first cord-attachment means is a disc.

Description

CA 02315895 2007-11-22
Description
This invention relates to a shock absorbing spacer for spacing a tethered boat
from a dock
so that shock forces such as those caused by waves, wind, rising water and the
like will
be prevented from causing the boat to collide with the dock.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Devices for the purpose of shock absorption and spacing have been used in
association
with boats for as long as there have been boats and there has always, as well,
been a
search for a better device.
The most simple and common device used is the simple soft plastic or rope
bumper that
is suspended over the side of the boat to hang between the dock and the boat
for spacing
the two apart. The bumper will always have its use but it is not an efficient
spacer for a
boat with a fine finish. In the case of a fine finish, surface damage to the
boat's hull is
inevitable.
Further to the simple bumper, the telescoping shock absorber type of spacer
has been
tried in many forms but prior constructions of this type are not in general
use. The
constructions available use shock absorbing features which rely on metal
springs. They
have not proved to be satisfactory for marine use. They are not rugged enough
for
exposure to water and weather encountered in boating conditions and do not
satisfactorily
soften impact forces.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to is an improved spacer of the telescopic type. The
essence of the
improvement is the avoidance of metal spring means of shock absorption, while
still
incorporating simple and inexpensive component parts. The invention employs a
resilient
length of cord to absorb shock. The cord is not affected by the wet conditions
of boating
and the unit has the ruggedness long sought after in the telescopic type of
shock absorber.
The construction is simple, rugged and inexpensive to make. It is easy to use
and
effectively protects a tethered boat from the harm of being dashed against the
side of a
dock by shock forces of wind, waves and rising water levels.
It is an object of this invention to provide a docking spacer of the
telescoping type that
performs better under the adverse moisture conditions of boating.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a docking spacer that is
simple to
manufacture and easy to maintain.

CA 02315895 2007-11-22
It is a further object to provide a docking spacer that inexpensive.
With these and other objects in view an boat spacer according to one aspect of
this
invention comprises a shock absorbing docking spacer to space a tethered boat
from
dockside. It comprises an elongated body having two tubular sections moveable
longitudinally of each other to defme spacer length, one of said sections
being
connectable to a boat and the other of said sections being connectable to a
dock; a
resilient cord connected at one of its ends to one of said sections and at the
other of its
ends to the other of said sections to be tensioned as the sections move
longitudinally of
each other due to shock forces in use to reduce spacer length, said cord
having a
resilience as aforesaid to absorb shock forces on the boat that reduce the
spacer length in
use, and to reassert itself and restore spacer length when shock forces are
removed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be clearly understood after reference to the drawings read
in
conjunction with the drawings. In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of the preferred embodiment of this
invention;
FIG. 2 is the illustration of FIG. I showing in phantom the telescopic
arrangement of the
two tubular sections of the preferred embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a partial longitudinal cross-section of the preferred embodiment
showing the
resilient cord in tension;
FIG. 4 is partial longitudinal cross-section of the preferred embodiment
showing the
resilient cord not in tension;
FIG. 5 is partial longitudinal cross-section of a further embodiment showing
the use of an
o-ring to enhance shock absorption;
FIG. 6 is a partial longitudinal cross-section of a further embodiment showing
the use of
a disk with a re-enforced outer edge portion to enhance shock absorption;
FIG. 7 is a sectional illustration of the preferred embodiment showing how the
end piece
is mounted to the device;
FIG. 8 is a sectional illustration showing how the device can be secured to a
dock or boat;
FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are schematic illustrations showing how the device can be
used for a
docked boat;
FIGS. 11 and 12 are schematic illustrations showing how the device can still
maintain its
effectiveness in different tide situations.

CA 02315895 2007-11-22
The illustrations are not to scale.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings, the numeral 10 generally refers to a boat tethered to a dock
generally
indicated by numeral 12 by means of a tether rope 14. (Ropes are not shown in
FIGS. 11
and 12, but it is intended that this device be used in combination with rope
securement.)
The tether rope 14 extend from dock brackets 16 to boat brackets 18 according
to a
normal boating tether practice.
Telescopic spacers generally indicated by the numeral 24 selectively extend
between boat
'brackets 18 and dock brackets 16 to keep the boat spaced from the dock
according to user
preference and requirements as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10.
The construction of the preferred embodiment of the spacer, generally
indicated by the
numeral 24, is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings. The embodiment of
the
invention there shown has a body formed from two telescoping cylinders 30 and
32 each
having a hooked end member 34 and 36 respectively for locking with a typical
dock or
boat bracket, such as that shown in FIG. 8, and numbered 38. The end members
36 and
38 can be secured to the cylinders in any number of ways. The inventor has
found it
effective to use threaded screws 39 to achieve this end.
FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 show the interior of the telescoping sections of the spacer
24. Section 30
has a rod 42 anchored to its end as at 34 in FIG. 2 and in FIG.7. As shown in
FIG. 7 the
rod 42 is threadedly secured to end member 34. A disk 46 is threadedly secured
to the
free end of rod 42. The free end of section 32 retains a plug 50 through which
the rod 42
extends. A resilient cords 54 is wound through holes in the disk 46 with its
free ends
being tied in knots at 51 and 53 for securement to plug 50. A force against a
tethered and
spaced boat that drives the boat towards the dock telescopes the cylinders 30
and 32
inwardly and separates the disc 46 and plug 50 to tension the cord 54 as shown
in FIG. 3.
When the forces abate the cords 54 reassert themselves to assume their normal
untensioned condition and return to the cylinders outwardly as shown in FIG.
4.
The resilience of the cords, the size of the cylinders, the specification of
the road are all
designed for the boat and anticipated shock forces and'can be altered to suit
the particular
circumstances required. Also the number of cords used can be increased. In the
embodiment shown, only one cord is used, but further winding of the cord or
the adding
of another cord is possible to increase the possible shock absorption of the
device. Cords
that are resilient and suitable are readily available off the shelf and are
commonly
referred to as bungee cords or shock cords. The inventor has reduced his
invention
successfully to practice by using tubes made from poly vinyl chloride having a
length of
2.5 feet, wall thickness of 3/16 inches, a diameter of 23/8 inches for the
outer tube and a
diameter of 115/16 inches for the inner tube and two cords with a thickness of
3/8" and a
length of 26", each wound once around the end disc. The cords used were
standard
rubber-nylon composition of the type generally manufactured and sold as
"bungee" or
"shock" cords. The rod, made of stainless steel, had a length of 30" and a
diameter in

CA 02315895 2007-11-22
cross section of 3/8". The device so produced was able to effectively singley
provide
shock absorption for a power boat of 22 feet length and 4000 lbs. weight in
normal
docking conditions. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the
specification can
be changed to suit particular purposes or anticipated environmental conditions
or
availability of materials. For instance, the rods could be just as easily made
from
aluminum.
Also, modifications such as a rubber o-ring 51 secured to the rod 42 near the
rod's end or
a rubber disc member 53 having a fortified outer rim portion 55 which, in each
case,
slideably engages with the inner surface of the smaller cylinder 32 as the
cord 54 is
tensioned to further dampen shock in use. The o-ring 51 and the disc member 53
are
secured to the rod 42 by threaded washers and nuts.
In use the spacers are set up as illustrated and the tether -rope is pulled
taut so as to take
up any slack in the cylinders as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 as the cord 54 is
untensioned or
slightly tensioned. Any conventional manner of securement can be used. The
inventor has
found it effective to used hooked end members 36 formed with holes 70 to
facilitate tying
with rope 14. Variations to the design of the end members may be used as well,
but by
using end members that lend themselves to conventional securement, the need
for
structural modifications to either the boat or the dock to use this device is
not required. In
severe conditions, more than one device can be easily utilized as illustrated
in FIG. 10,
again without structural modification to either the boat or the dock.
Once set up, in the even that there should occur a substantial force against
the boat that
tends to drive it towards the dock, the spacer will telescope inwardly to
tension the cord
54 to the limit of the cords resilience for that force. The shock cord 54 is
designed to
bottom out and prevent further inward telescoping at a force somewhat greater
than that
expected.
Embodiments of the invention other than the one illustrated will be apparent
to those
skilled in the art. For example, aluminum can be used instead of stainless
steel for the
rod. Similarily, more than one cord can be used. The body only needs two
sections on
any form that are moveable longitudinally of each other to rig the resilient
cord to space a
boat according to the invention. Other modifications will be apparent to those
skilled in
the art.
*~~*~

Representative Drawing