Boat tethering and launching device

Abstract

A boat tethering and launching system and device including a first longitudinally extending length of tethering material having a first modulus of elasticity, the first length of tethering material having a first end and a second end; a second longitudinally extending length of tethering material having a second modulus of elasticity, the second length of tethering material having a first section, a second section, and a third section, the second end of the first length of tethering material being coupled to the first section of the second length of tethering material; a biasing member having a length that is shorter than that of the second section of the second longitudinally extending length of tethering material, the biasing member having a third modulus of elasticity; and wherein each of the first, second, and third moduli of elasticity have different values.

Claims

1. A boat tethering and launching system, comprising: a boat tethering and launching device, comprising: a first longitudinally extending length of tethering material having a first modulus of elasticity that is continuous along said first length of tethering material; the first longitudinally extending length of tethering material having a first end and a second end; a second longitudinally extending length of tethering material having a first end section secured to said second end of said first longitudinally extending length of tethering material, and a second middle section spacing a third end section opposite said first end section; said second longitudinally extending length of tethering material having at least a second modulus of elasticity in said first end section, said second middle section, and said third end section; said first modulus of elasticity of said first longitudinally extending length of tethering material being lower than said at least second modulus of elasticity of said second longitudinally extending length of tethering material in said first end section, said second middle section, and said third end section; said second middle section of said second longitudinally extending length of tethering material having a first length spacing an opposed first-second middle section end and a second-second middle section end thereof; a biasing member having a second length that is shorter than said first length of said second middle section of the second longitudinally extending length of tethering material; said biasing member having an opposed first biasing member end and a second biasing member end; said first biasing member end fixed to said first-second middle section end; said second biasing member end fixed to said second-second middle section end; the biasing member having a third modulus of elasticity; said third modulus of elasticity being less than both said first modulus of elasticity and said second modulus of elasticity; said biasing member biases said first end section to toward said third end section of said second longitudinally extending length of tethering material; said first longitudinally extending length of tethering material is a non-twisted braided rope; said second longitudinally extending length of tethering material is formed from nylon; and a tubular rigid housing that is open on a first end and closed on a second end and is configured to store said boat tethering and launching device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) A further understanding of the present disclosure can be obtained by reference to a preferred embodiment set forth in the illustrations of the accompanying drawings. Although the illustrated preferred embodiment is merely exemplary of methods, structures and compositions for carrying out the present disclosure, both the organization and method of the disclosure, in general, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, may be more easily understood by reference to the drawings and the following description. The drawings are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure, which is set forth with particularity in the claims as appended or as subsequently amended, but merely to clarify and exemplify the disclosure.

(2) For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, reference is now made to the following drawings in which:

(3) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a both tethering and launching system including a boat tethering device in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure as a boat is being launched from a trailer into a body of water as the boat tethering device is being deployed.

(4) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a boat tethering and launching system in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure shown in use and with the boat tethering device in a first condition.

(5) FIG. 3A is a front view of the boat tethering and launching system as shown in FIG. 2 with the boat tethering device in the first condition.

(6) FIG. 3B is a front view of the boat tethering and launching system of FIG. 1 with the boat tethering device shown in a second condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) As required, a detailed illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure is disclosed herein. However, techniques, systems, compositions and operating structures in accordance with the present disclosure may be embodied in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, forms and modes, some of which may be quite different from those in the disclosed embodiment. Consequently, the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merely representative, yet in that regard, they are deemed to afford the best embodiment for purposes of disclosure and to provide a basis for the claims herein, which define the scope of the present disclosure.

(8) Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments of the disclosure that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, same or similar reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts or steps. The drawings are in simplified form and are not to precise scale. For purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional terms, such as top, bottom, up, down, over, above, below, etc., or motional terms, such as forward, back, sideways, transverse, etc. may be used with respect to the drawings. These and similar directional terms should not be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure in any manner.

(9) A boat tethering and launching system and device will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1-3B.

(10) As shown in FIGS. 1-3B, a boat tethering and launching system 100 may include a boat tethering and launching device 120. The system 100 may also include a ramp 102 that is configured to be angled downward from the shoreline in a direction toward and into the water W such that when a boat B or other maritime vehicle is positioned on the ramp, the force of gravity imparts a force to the boat B that directs it toward and into the water W and away from the shoreline S.

(11) Advantageously and in contrast to the conventional art of mooring or tethering lines that have no give, that the launching device 120 may include a first longitudinally extending length of tethering material 122 and a second longitudinally extending length of tethering material 123. The first longitudinally extending length of tethering material 122 may include a first end that is configured to be secured to the ramp or another fixed point such as an upright brace 104 positioned relative to the shoreline S or other object. A second end 122E of the first longitudinally extending length of tethering material 122 may be secured or otherwise coupled to a second longitudinally extending length of tethering material 123.

(12) The second longitudinally extending length of tethering material 123 may include a plurality of sections including a first section 124 that is secured to the second end 122e of the first length of tethering material 122, a second section 126, and a third section 128 that may be secured to a bow cleat 130 or the like that is coupled to the boat B, for example, via hook that is coupled to the third section 128.

(13) The second section 126 of the second longitudinally extending length of tethering material 123 is disposed between the first section 124 and the third section 128. The second section 126 is coupled to a biasing member 132 such that opposing ends of the second section 126 are biased towards one another when the device 120 is not in use or when an axial load is not being applied, the opposing ends of the second section 126 a distanced apart by a distance L1 (FIG. 2A). However, when a load is applied, the opposing ends of the section 126 can maximally be spaced apart by a distance L2 corresponding to the length of the section 126.

(14) Each of the first longitudinally extending length of tethering material, the second longitudinally extending length of tethering material, and the biasing members may have different moduli of elasticity such that they may have differing amounts of give or elasticity or stretchability when an axial force or a pulling force is applied at ends thereof. As can be appreciated, it is desirable that a material have the ability to stretch rather than to snap or break when a pulling force is applied.

(15) In an embodiment, the first longitudinally extending length of tethering material 122 may be formed from a rope material. The rope material of the first longitudinally extending length of tethering material 122 may be braided but may not be twisted such that the rope may very slightly stretch or lengthen when axial or pull forces are applied to ends thereof. In contrast, the second section 126 of the second longitudinally extending length of tethering material 123 may be formed from a nylon strap that has a high modulus of elasticity and resists being pulled or stretched. This is preferable as the biasing member 132 while having the ability to stretch may only be able to stretch so far prior to failing.

(16) When used, the boat B may be positioned on the ramp 102 in an inclined positioned relative to the water. Any mooring lines or other means securing the boat B to the ramp 102 preventing relative movement of the boat B with respect to the ramp 102 may be released such that gravity will urge the boat B to translate along the ramp 102 and toward the water. In an initial state, the ends of the second section 126 may be spaced apart a distance L1 (FIG. 2A) as the biasing member 132 urges the two ends toward one another and may be spaced a maximum distance L2 apart in a fully stretched out condition (FIG. 2B).

(17) When launching the boat B, the biasing member 132 may sufficiently resist being stretched such that the rate by which the boat B moves toward the water is controlled and not too quick. For safety, prior to the point at which the biasing member 132 might otherwise be stretched too far to the point of breaking, the second section 126 which may be formed from a nylon stretch that is both strong and lacking the ability to stretch would prevent the overstretching of the biasing member 132 and will also prevent the boat B from moving any further away from the shore S.

(18) Advantageously, the device 120 in addition to assisting in the launching of the boat B may also facilitate mooring the boat B. According to the present disclosure, there is provided a biasing member or shock absorber 132 which controls and inhibits the boat from moving without stopping the boat and a section 123 that won't stretch preventing the over-extension of the biasing member 132 past a predetermined length. When moored, the biasing member 132 urges the device 120 to a shorter distance but permits the boat B to go further out. In choppy waters, where a boat B may move closer to and farther from the shore S, the biasing member 132 may dampen the stopping of the boat B which might otherwise come to an abrupt stop with more conventional mooring lines. That is, more conventional mooring lines only have a slackened state which exerts no forces upon the moored boat or a taut state which stops the boat.

(19) A tubular housing 134 may be configured to store the boat tethering and launching device when not in use and may be secured to the ramp 102. Thus, when not in use, the device 120 may be conveniently stored.

(20) Referring once again to FIG. 1, deployment of the device 120 out from the tubular housing 134 may be accomplished automatically as the boat B is being launched from the ramp 102 into the water W as indicated by directional arrow X. As the boat B moves in direction X, the device 120 is urged out form the tubular housing 134 causing the first longitudinally extending length of tethering material 122 to move in the direction indicated by directional arrow X and the and a third section 128 to move in an opposing direction Y until the device 120 is fully deployed from the tube 134. Advantageously, the automatic deployment from the housing 134 inhibits snagging or knotting of the device 120 that might otherwise occur if a length of tethering material were merely kept in a pile and was not gradually released form a housing free from structures that might otherwise catch the tethering material.

(21) During use, it is recommended that your trailer has guide posts to hold your boat in position after launching. Alternatively, when not using guide posts, it may be recommended that the boat B be launched boat with a second person holding a dock line on the stern of the boat.

(22) The tubular housing 134 may include a throughholes extending through the lateral surface into its interior. Tie wraps may be inserted through those throughholes such that the tubular housing may be secured to the ramp or trailer 102 in the position shown in FIG. 1, for example. Preferably, the tubular housing 134 may be secured to the trailer 102 at a 45 to 60 degree angle pointing at the boat, as seen below.

(23) The launching device 120, may be secured at one end to the ramp 102 via hooks secured to opposing ends thereof and at the other end to the boat B, e.g., at the bow cleat of the boat B. Preferably, when launching the boat, a winch strap (not shown) if in use is detached. After having secured the launching device 120 to the boat B and to an object (e.g., a stationary object such as the ramp 102 with respect to the shore), the boat B may be launched. After launching the boat B, the launching device 120 may be used to tether or moor the boat B such that it functions as a dock line with a built in shock absorber by simply detaching the launch device 120 from the trailer and tying off on the cleat, which may be positioned on the dock or shoreline.

(24) Having described at least one of the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely exemplary and that the disclosure is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes, modifications, and adaptations may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure as defined in the appended claims. The scope of the disclosure, therefore, shall be defined solely by the following claims. Further, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that numerous changes may be made in such details without departing from the spirit and the principles of the disclosure. It should be appreciated that the present disclosure is capable of being embodied in other forms without departing from its essential characteristics.