An anti-backflow plumbing fitting (10) includes an annular body (12) which bounds an interior area (20). The body includes a body outlet (28) and a plurality of cup portions (40) each of which includes an inlet opening (46). An annular body side wall (22) includes at least one radially extending side wall air gap (36). Each cup portion further includes a pair of angularly disposed cup air gaps (54). An inlet end wall (30) includes a plurality of body flow inlets (52) which are each associated with a respective cup portion. Each body flow inlet underlies a respective cup portion and is elongated in aligned relation with each cup air gap, to enable liquid to flow from the respective inlet opening of a cup portion into the interior area. The inlet end wall is sloped and includes a plurality of drain holes (66, 68) therein. A plurality of vanes (60) extend in the interior area intermediate of immediately adjacent body flow inlets.

The present invention is a blocking device where a block with a handle is attached to a wire and the wire is attached to a spring attached to a boat, dock, or barge. Multiple blocking devices are positioned on a boat, dock, or barge. When a person falls in the water the block is thrown in the water to prevent the person from being crushed. The block also may be in a holder.

A docking system has vertical rails and brackets for securing to a lock wall. A floating structure has a series of aluminium tubes each extending through multiple resilient buoyant element. Carriages on the tubes engage the rails, the carriages allowing the floating structure to rise and fall on the vertical rails according to water level. Bollards extend inwardly to the dock wall at spaces of several meters. A boat such as a leisure barge can enter a lock without need to tie to the dock, the floating structure protecting the barge as it rises with rising water level. It therefore allows safer and simpler passage of craft through locks, especially leisure craft manned by inexperienced people.

A docking system has vertical rails and brackets for securing to a lock wall. A floating structure has a series of aluminium tubes each extending through multiple resilient buoyant element. Carriages on the tubes engage the rails, the carriages allowing the floating structure to rise and fall on the vertical rails according to water level. Bollards extend inwardly to the dock wall at spaces of several meters. A boat such as a leisure barge can enter a lock without need to tie to the dock, the floating structure protecting the barge as it rises with rising water level. It therefore allows safer and simpler passage of craft through locks, especially leisure craft manned by inexperienced people.