Patent classifications
E02B3/20
NIGHT-VISIBLE DOCK PILING CAPS
A glow-in-the-dark piling cap is described herein that uses glow-in-the-dark materials on a dock piling cap to make pilings to which the cap is installed visible at night without the maintenance hassles of electrical-based lighting. The cap provides typical protection for the piling from the elements as well as lighting to aid boaters and users of the structure associated with the piling to see the piling at night. The glow-in-the-dark substance can be coated on the piling cap or mixed into the plastic, resin, or other material used to make the cap. The use of glow-in-the-dark materials eliminates any need for maintenance. Thus, the glow-in-the-dark piling cap provides protection for the piling, and maintenance-free lighting to alert boaters and users of the structure associated with the piling to nighttime hazards.
NIGHT-VISIBLE DOCK PILING CAPS
A glow-in-the-dark piling cap is described herein that uses glow-in-the-dark materials on a dock piling cap to make pilings to which the cap is installed visible at night without the maintenance hassles of electrical-based lighting. The cap provides typical protection for the piling from the elements as well as lighting to aid boaters and users of the structure associated with the piling to see the piling at night. The glow-in-the-dark substance can be coated on the piling cap or mixed into the plastic, resin, or other material used to make the cap. The use of glow-in-the-dark materials eliminates any need for maintenance. Thus, the glow-in-the-dark piling cap provides protection for the piling, and maintenance-free lighting to alert boaters and users of the structure associated with the piling to nighttime hazards.
In-situ bollard tester
An in-situ bollard tester. The in-situ bollard tester may comprise: a frame, cable, and tensioner. The frame is preferably adapted to mount onto a pier or wharf and around a bollard to provide structural support for the cable and tensioner. The frame may comprise a rectangular frame, pair of hanging columns, pair of jacks and pair of legs. The pair of jacks are coupled near proximal corners of the rectangular frame and are vertically disposed. The hanging columns are coupled near distal corners of the rectangular frame. The pair of legs are coupled at the lower ends of the hanging columns and are disposed in a horizontal manner. The tensioner may be coupled above the rectangular frame. The cable may fasten to the bollard, and the tensioner may apply tension to the cable at various load angles in order to test the integrity of the bollard.
Lighted piling cap
A lighted piling cap that is preferably solar powered and which serves as a cap/marker for another water borne or water related structure. The device can serve as a nighttime marker to alert boaters of decks, docks, waterway obstructions, etc. that may not be visible during nighttime travels. The device includes a solar powered lighting element for nighttime visibility which can be a plurality of LED light bulbs. The outer enclosure can be constructed from a rugged and/or seaworthy material, to allow it to be able to preferably withstand the harsh environment of fresh and saltwater coastlines. The device preferably includes a sealed Lithium polymer battery, with flash, strobing and/or on modes and an automatic sunset on, sunrise off sensor.
Dock Management System
An apparatus manages a dock, a portion of which is disposed over a body of water, from a remote device. A control unit is disposed on the dock. A plurality of sensors is each in data communication with the control unit. Each of the plurality of sensors includes: an electric shock sensor; a water level sensor that senses a distance to the water from a predetermined location of the dock; and a theft detection circuit. A communication chipset is in data communication with the control unit. The control unit includes a processor that is programmed to transmit to the remote device via the communication chipset an indication of the following: a shock likelihood sensed by the electric shock sensor; a level detected by the water level sensor; and an alert when the theft detection circuit detects a likelihood of theft.
In-situ bollard tester
An in-situ bollard tester. The in-situ bollard tester may comprise: a frame, cable, and tensioner. The frame may mount onto a pier and around a bollard to provide structural support for the cable and tensioner. The frame may comprise a pair of base assemblies and a spreader bar. Each of the base assemblies may comprise a support frame and a cantilever arm, and the spreader bar may be coupled to the pair of base assemblies. A pair of jacks are coupled near proximal corners of the base assemblies. The tensioner may comprise a pair of hydraulic arms having first ends coupled near a proximal end of the base assemblies and a linear crossmember coupled to the second ends of the hydraulic arms. The cable may fasten to the bollard, and the tensioner may apply tension to the cable at various load angles in order to test the integrity of the bollard.
Security and debris barrier
A barrier for protecting a port, waterway, or off-shore structure is provided. The barrier has a front elongated pontoon which extends substantially the length of the barrier. A net assembly, provided either in sections, or as an elongated net, extends vertically upward from the front elongated pontoon and along the length of the front elongated pontoon. The net assembly is affixed to the front elongated pontoon with one or more net support beams. The front elongated pontoon is supported by a rear pontoon support structure, which may be a series of pontoons, each connected to the front elongated pontoon and spaced apart the length of the front elongated pontoon, or an elongated cylindrically shaped rear pontoon which extends substantially the length of the barrier. In some embodiments, a rear net section is attached to the rear pontoon support structure. In another embodiment of the invention, a barrier system for protecting a port, waterway, or off-shore structure is provided. The barrier system comprises two or more contiguous barrier units, one of which is a barrier according to the present invention that form a perimeter to protect the port, waterway, or off-shore structure and can additionally act as a debris barrier. In one embodiment, the barrier system forms a perimeter protecting a port or waterway. In another embodiment, the barrier system protects an off-shore structure.
Mounting bracket for use on boat docks
A mounting bracket (10) for mounting items (I) on a metal post (P) located on a boat dock (D). A support member (12) allows a user to position the bracket where an item is to be mounted on a post with a pair of clamps (14a, 14b) then being used to affix the item to the bracket. The support member has a set (13) of teeth (T) formed at each end (12e) which bite into, but do penetrate through, the post. When the clamps are attached to the support member, tightening down of the clamps causes the teeth to bite into the post to hold the mounting bracket securely in place, but this does not result in holes being made in the side of the post which might later result in corrosion.
Automatic watercraft cover and receiving system
The cover delivery device (e.g., for use in selectably covering a watercraft) can include a first mobile support assembly, a second mobile support assembly, a drive shaft, and a cover carrier mechanism. The first mobile support assembly is mounted to and configured for movement along a first rail. The second mobile support assembly is mounted to and configured for movement along a second rail, which is generally parallel to the first rail. The drive shaft extends between and is rotatably mounted to the first mobile support assembly and the second mobile support assembly. The cover carrier mechanism extends between and is rotatably mounted to the first mobile support assembly and the second mobile support assembly. The cover carrier mechanism is configured for selectably deploying a cover carried thereby, with the cover carrier mechanism being configured to respectively roll and unroll the cover relative thereto.
PRESENCE-BASED AUTOMATIC GATE OPERATION FOR MARINE BARRIERS AND GATE SYSTEMS
A system and method are provided for presence based automatic operation of a marine barrier gate for protecting a secured area. Embodiments include a system having RFID sensors outside and inside the secured area, and proximal the gate. A controller verifies that a user is authorized to enter the secured area when one or more of the RFID sensors communicate with a user identification unit carried by the user; opens the gate or causes the gate to remain open when the user's authorization to enter the secured area is verified; tracks a location of the user identification unit using the RFID sensors while the gate is open and the user is transiting the gate; and closes the gate when the RFID sensors are no longer in communication with the user identification unit.