SHOCK ABSORBING DOCKING SPACER WITH FLUID COMPRESSION BUFFERING
First Claim
1. A shock absorbing docking spacer for securing a water borne vessel relative to a mooring structure while allowing buffered movement of the vessel relative to the mooring structure, the docking spacer comprising;
- an elongated body having first and second sections moveable longitudinally of each other in telescopic relationship to define a variable effective length to the body, one of the sections being adapted to being attached to a vessel while the other of the sections is adapted to being attached to a mooring structure, a fluid containing airtight bag mounted within the first section, and the bag being compressed against a force of fluid within the bag when ambient conditions force the first and second sections relatively toward one another whereby pressure within the bag buffers movement of the first and second sections toward one another.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A shock absorbing docking spacer for connecting a vessel to a mooring structure and which includes first and second sections relatively telescopically movable longitudinally relative to one another so as to define a variable effective overall length for the docking spacer and wherein one section contains an airtight air bag and the air bag is connected to the other section such that as the first and second sections move relatively inwardly relative to one another the air bag provides a buffer for absorbing impact forces between the first and second sections brought about by ambient conditions.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A shock absorbing docking spacer for securing a water borne vessel relative to a mooring structure while allowing buffered movement of the vessel relative to the mooring structure, the docking spacer comprising;
- an elongated body having first and second sections moveable longitudinally of each other in telescopic relationship to define a variable effective length to the body, one of the sections being adapted to being attached to a vessel while the other of the sections is adapted to being attached to a mooring structure, a fluid containing airtight bag mounted within the first section, and the bag being compressed against a force of fluid within the bag when ambient conditions force the first and second sections relatively toward one another whereby pressure within the bag buffers movement of the first and second sections toward one another.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A shock absorbing docking spacer for separating a vessel from a mooring structure comprising an elongated body having first and second sections, the second section being reciprocally movable within the first section such that the body has a variable effective length, one of the sections is adapted to be attached to a vessel while another of the other sections is adapted to being attached to a mooring structure;
- a fluid-containing airtight bag disposed within the first section and being attached to the second section, the first section having a proximal end wall and a hollow interior in which a forward portion of the second section slides, and the second section having a forward distal wall which advances toward the proximal end wall upon force urging the vessel toward the docking spacer.
- View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
Specification