UNIVERSAL DOCK AND WATERCRAFT PROTECTION SYSTEM

Abstract

A dock and boat protection system includes a flexible sheet, fasteners, and a plurality of colinearly aligned marine fenders. The sheet has an envelope portion sized to at-least-partially surround fenders when conformed there-around, and an edge portion extending from the envelope portion and configured to engage a dock, wherein the edge portion is secured to the dock by the fasteners.

Claims

1. A dock and boat protection system comprising a flexible sheet and fasteners: the sheet comprising an envelope portion sized to at-least-partially surround elongate cushioning when conformed there-around, and an edge portion extending from the envelope portion and configured to engage a dock, wherein the edge portion is secured to the dock by the fasteners.

2. The dock and boat protection system of claim 1 wherein the edge portion comprises top, bottom, and end edges extending from the envelope portion and configured to engage the dock, wherein the top and bottom edges are horizontally secured to the dock by the fasteners to encase the elongate cushioning longitudinally, and the end edges are secured to the dock to encase opposite longitudinal ends of the elongate cushioning.

3. The dock and boat protection system of claim 2 wherein the envelope portion is sized to at-least-partially surround the elongate cushioning comprising cylindrical elongate cushioning, and wherein the horizontally-secured top and bottom edges encase the cylindrical elongate cushioning longitudinally, by at least partially surrounding the cylindrical elongate cushioning when conformed there-around.

4. The dock and boat protection system of claim 3 wherein the envelope portion is sized to at-least-partially surround the cylindrical elongate cushioning comprising a plurality of co-linear cylindrical cushions when conformed there-around.

5. The dock and boat protection system of claim 4 wherein the envelope portion and the top and bottom edges are adapted to fold inwardly and outwardly between the co-linear cylindrical cushions to conform to internal and external dock corners, respectively.

6. The dock and boat protection system of claim 3 wherein the top and bottom edges are secured to the dock above the cylindrical elongate cushioning.

7. The dock and boat protection system of claim 3 wherein the top edge is secured to the dock above the cylindrical elongate cushioning and the bottom edge is secured to the dock below the cylindrical elongate cushioning.

8. A dock and boat protection system comprising a flexible sheet, fasteners, elongate cushioning: the sheet comprising an envelope portion sized to at-least-partially surround the elongate cushioning when conformed there-around, and an edge portion extending from the envelope portion and configured to engage a dock, wherein the edge portion is secured to the dock by the fasteners.

9. The dock and boat protection system of claim 8 wherein the edge portion comprises top, bottom, and end edges extending from the envelope portion and configured to engage the dock, wherein the top and bottom edges are horizontally secured to the dock by the fasteners to encase the elongate cushioning longitudinally, and the end edges are secured to the dock to encase opposite longitudinal ends of the elongate cushioning.

10. The dock and boat protection system of claim 9 wherein the elongate cushioning is cylindrical elongate cushioning.

11. The dock and boat protection system of claim 10 wherein the cylindrical elongate cushioning comprises a plurality of co-linear cylindrical cushions.

12. The dock and boat protection system of claim 11 wherein the envelope portion and the top and bottom edges are adapted to fold inwardly and outwardly between the co-linear cylindrical cushions to conform to internal and external dock corners, respectively.

13. The dock and boat protection system of claim 10 wherein the top and bottom edges are secured to the dock above the cylindrical elongate cushioning.

14. The dock and boat protection system of claim 10 wherein the top edge is secured to the dock above the cylindrical elongate cushioning and the bottom edge is secured to the dock below the cylindrical elongate cushioning.

115. A dock and boat protection system comprising a flexible sheet, fasteners, and one or more marine fenders: the sheet comprising an envelope portion sized to at-least-partially surround the one or more marine fenders when conformed there-around, and an edge portion extending from the envelope portion and configured to engage a dock, wherein the edge portion is secured to the dock by the fasteners.

16. The dock and boat protection system of claim 15 wherein the edge portion comprises top, bottom, and end edges extending from the envelope portion and configured to engage the dock, wherein the top and bottom edges are horizontally secured to the dock by the fasteners to encase the one or more marine fenders longitudinally, and the end edges are secured to the dock to encase opposite longitudinal ends of the one or more marine fenders.

17. The dock and boat protection system of claim 16 wherein the one or more marine fenders comprises a plurality of co-linear marine fenders.

18. The dock and boat protection system of claim 17 wherein the envelope portion and the top and bottom edges are adapted to fold inwardly and outwardly between the co-linear marine fenders to conform to internal and external dock corners, respectively.

19. The dock and boat protection system of claim 16 wherein the top and bottom edges are secured to the dock above the one or more marine fenders.

20. The dock and boat protection system of claim 16 wherein the top edge is secured to the dock above the cylindrical elongate cushioning and the bottom edge is secured to the dock below the one or more marine fenders.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] FIG. 1 is perspective view of an end of a side of a rectangular dock employing a protector according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0007] FIG. 2 is perspective view of an L-shaped dock employing the protector FIG. 1;

[0008] FIG. 3 is perspective view of a round-ended dock employing the protector of FIG. 1;

[0009] FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C are a sequential series of perspective views of the assembly of the protector of FIG. 1 to a length of dock;

[0010] FIG. 5 is a cross-section through various boats tied to a dock employing the protector of FIG. 1;

[0011] FIG. 6 is a cross-section through various boats tied to a dock employing a protector according to a second exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0012] FIG. 7 is a collection of exemplary dimension drawings for the fabric panels of the first and second exemplary protector of FIGS. 1 and 6;

[0013] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a dock employing protectors according to a third exemplary embodiment of the invention; and

[0014] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of various prior art marine fenders which may be employed in the protectors of FIG. 1, 6, or 8; and

[0015] FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view through one of the protectors of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Referring first to FIG. 9, various prior art marine fenders 500 are shown. These are typically inflated flexible vinyl vessels that serve as cushions and have means for affixing lines thereto so that the fenders may be tied to or hung from a boat or dock. While these are relatively inexpensive and have long been proven capable of providing adequate and reliable protection to both docks and boats, their securement and displacement is cumbersome, and needs to be re-arranged at the dock according to the particular boat being docked there-at or re-arranged at the boat according to the particular dock it is docking at.

[0017] Referring next to FIGS. 4A through 4C, the assembly of a plurality of fenders 500 into a length of dock/watercraft protector 100 is shown. Besides the fenders, the protector includes a length of flexible sheet 102 and fasteners 104. In FIG. 4A, the sheet is affixed linearly along the dock 600 and affixed along top edge 106 by a plurality of evenly spaced fasteners 104. Holes 112 for the fasteners may be provided, drilled by the end user, or made by screwing the fasteners through the sheet and into the dock. As shown in FIG. 4B, the lower edge 108 of the sheet is then rolled up around the plurality of fenders and secured to the dock adjacent the top edge. A single line of fasteners may secure each of the top and bottom edges to the dock, or the same line of fasteners may secure both the top and bottom edges. In FIG. 4C, the end edges 110 of the sheet have lastly been secured to the dock by fasteners 104 to enclose the fenders therein.

[0018] FIG. 1 shows protector 100 affixed to a linear dock 620. FIG. 2 shows protector 100 affixed along the contours of an L-shaped dock 630. FIG. 3 shows protector 100 affixed around the end of a rounded dock 640.

[0019] FIG. 5 shows the relationship of various boats 602A, 602B, and 602C and a typical dock 600 which has been fitted with the protector 100 as was shown in FIGS. 4A-4C. Note that because the protector positions its internal fenders 500 in a disposition that protrudes signification outwardly from the dock, the fender is capable of interfacing with the boat regardless of its height or the slope of its bow.

[0020] The sheet material may be provided in a roll and cut to the desired length therefrom, or it may be provided in a variety of pre-selected lengths, such as shown in FIG. 7. The length L to which it is cut or provided is preferably six to ten inches longer than some multiple of the length of the plurality fenders to allow for the ends 110 of the sheet to extend beyond each end of the plurality of fenders and be fastened to the dock as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4C. For instance, if the fenders are each eighteen inches long and a protector approximately six feet long is desired, four fenders would be used. Those would have a length of four multiples of the eighteen inches . . . or six feet . . . so the sheet would be from seventy-eight to ninety-two inches long.

[0021] The height H of the sheet should be six to ten inches taller that the circumference of the fenders being used to allow the top and bottom edges to extend above the fenders and be fastened to the dock as shown. For instance, if the fenders are six inches in diameter, their circumferences would be approximately nineteen inches and height H should be twenty-four to twenty-nine inches.

[0022] When assembled, such as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 5 the protector provides a suitable cushioning between virtually any boat and the dock, which draws on the established cushioning capability and reliability and the low cost of the prior art marine fenders without requiring the burdensome repositioning of the fenders for each new boat that may wish to tie to the dock.

[0023] FIG. 6 shows the relationship of the boats and the dock 600 which has instead been fitted with an alternative protector 200 which may be within the invention. In this version, sheet 202 would have the same length (L in FIG. 7) and thickness (T in FIG. 7), but would have a height (H in FIG. 7) of approximately four to ten inches taller that the circumference of the fenders being used to allow the top and bottom edges to extend above and below the fenders and be fastened to the dock as shown. Such a version would be easier to affix to the dock by first affixing the lower edge 208 to the dock, cupping the sheet upwards, placing the fenders within the cupped sheet, then affixing the upper edge 206 of the sheet to the dock.

[0024] The sheets may be of such materials as fabric, rubber, or plastic, so long as it is sufficient tear and abrasion resistant for the purpose, but is preferably made of Waterproof UV-protected PVC tarpaulin. The preferred thickness T is 0.55 mm. While the fenders shown in FIG. 9 are most common and economical, and therefore preferred, the system may be easily adapted for use with other cushioning means, including other types of fenders, cushions, foam rubber, etc.

[0025] A unique feature of the invention is that the cushioning may be made into any approximate length, so it adapts to docks of all lengths. And the system my fit around external dock corners or into internal dock corners, as shown in FIG. 2, or wrapped around rounded dock ends, as shown in FIG. 3, so that it is truly universal and adaptable to any sized or shaped dock, swim raft, etc.

[0026] Referring next to FIG. 8, a third embodiment 300 is provided for protecting boats and a dock at the dock's upright posts or pilings. FIG. 10 shows the affixing method of sheet 302 to post 604. In this embodiment, the long edges are vertical side edges 306 and the short edges are top and bottom horizontal edges 310. The vertical edges and bottom end of the sheet are initially secured to the post to form an envelope. Several fenders are then dropped into the envelope. The top end of the envelop may then be closed and secured . . . or may be left open. The horizontal dimension of the sheet (H in FIG. 7) is approximately eight to twelve inches wider that the circumference of the fenders being used to allow the side edges to extend from fenders and be fastened to the posts as shown.

[0027] While the forgoing provides several exemplary embodiments which are meant to demonstrate key aspects and advantages of the invention, it should be understood that the invention is not meant to be limited thereto. The invention should be limited only by the following claims, including all equivalents thereto.