Watercraft docking systems and methods of their operation
First Claim
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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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for securing a watercraft to a dock includes a first sensor for automatically detecting a securing point to which to dock the watercraft, an extendable arm with a cable inside, the cable having a proximal end for mounting to the watercraft, and a grasping element mounted to a distal end of the cable and configured to reversibly engage the securing point. A method for securing a watercraft to a dock includes automatically detecting a securing point on the dock, extending an arm from the watercraft toward the securing point, wherein the arm houses a cable having a proximal end mounted to the watercraft, and reversibly engaging the securing point using a grasping element mounted to a distal end of the arm.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system for securing a watercraft to a dock, the system comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for securing a watercraft to a dock, the method comprising:
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automatically detecting, by a first hardware sensor and a processor executing a set of cleat recognition instructions, a securing point on the dock; extending a hollow extendable arm from the watercraft toward the securing point, wherein the hollow extendable arm houses a cable inside, wherein the cable has a proximal end secured to a reel, and wherein the extending includes unwinding the cable from the reel; and engaging the securing point using a grasping element mounted to a distal end of the cable, 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 monitors a state of the beam, and wherein the engaging comprises; detecting that the beam has been broken; and initiating an action that causes the rigid gate to move into the second bore. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium containing an executable program for securing a watercraft to a dock, where the program performs steps of:
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automatically detecting, by executing a set of cleat recognition instructions, a securing point on the dock; extending a hollow extendable arm from the watercraft toward the securing point, wherein the hollow extendable arm houses a cable inside, wherein the cable has a proximal end secured to a reel, and wherein the extending includes unwinding the cable from the reel; and engaging the securing point using a grasping element mounted to a distal end of the cable, 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 monitors a state of the beam, and wherein the engaging comprises; detecting that the beam has been broken; and initiating an action that causes the rigid gate to move into the second bore. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification