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Watercraft docking systems and methods of their operation

  • US 10,053,193 B2
  • Filed: 06/26/2014
  • Issued: 08/21/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A system for securing a watercraft to a dock, the system comprising:

  • a first hardware sensor for automatically detecting a securing point to which to dock the watercraft;

    a hollow extendable arm for mounting to the watercraft;

    a cable housed inside the hollow extendable arm and having a proximal end secured to a reel, such that the cable is unwound from the reel by extension of the hollow extendable arm; and

    a grasping element mounted to a distal end of the cable and configured to engage the securing point, wherein the grasping element comprises;

    a first end connected to the distal end of the cable;

    a second end positioned opposite the first end;

    a bay defined between the first end and the second end;

    a rigid gate that is moveable between the first end and the second end to create a secure loop that reversibly locks the securing point within the bay;

    a first bore formed in the first end for housing the rigid gate;

    a second bore formed in the second end for reversibly engaging the rigid gate, wherein the rigid gate fully retracts into the first bore when the secure loop is not in use;

    a beam projection means installed in the grasping element for projecting a beam; and

    a second hardware sensor installed in the grasping element, wherein the second hardware sensor indicates, in response to detecting when the beam is broken, that an action should be initiated to move the rigid gate into the second bore.

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