Safe remotely operated single operator personal boat mooring system

• US 6,508,190 B1
• Filed: 09/27/2000
• Issued: 01/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daniel Norton
• Original Assignee: Daniel Norton
• Inventors: Norton, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): AVILA, STEPHEN P
• Application Number:
  US09/670,948
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 114/221.R, 114/230.2, 114/230.1, 114/230.26
• US Class Current: 114/230.2
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 21/54 Boat-hooks or the like , e.g. hooks detachably mounted to a pole

Abstract

A remotely operable device that enables one person to quickly attach and release a boat to and from a mooring. The device is retractable to allow for a safe and non-obstructive state while the boat is under way. A mooring buoy with a tall vertical rigid rod is targeted by a catcher at the end of a telescopic arm that is aimed by remote control at the rod on the buoy, and automatically locks with the rod upon contact with a bi-directional latch in the catcher. Guide rails extend from either side of the catcher to form a “V” to quickly enable the catcher to lock on to the rod. A mooring line can then be extended. To get the boat under way, the mooring line is reeled in, pulling the boat close. Then the remote controlled latch releases the rod. These operations can be performed by cables controllable from the cockpit of a boat or by radio or infra-red control links for controlling electronically actuated motors, latches or springs.

Claims

1. A system for enabling, if desired, a single boat operator to attach and release a personal boat from a mooring comprising in combination:

(a) a mooring means having a rigid, substantially vertical elongated member along with

(b) an arm member mechanically coupled to said personal boat having a mooring member catching means at a terminal portion of said arm for coupling and decoupling said arm to and from said rigid, substantially vertical elongated member of the mooring means;

(c) aiming means mounted upon said personal boat for aiming said arm at said vertical elongated member until said catching means engages the rigid, substantially vertical elongated member of said mooring means upon said personal boat approaching said mooring member;

(d) mooring line deployment means for deploying a mooring line between said mooring member catching means and said boat to enable said boat to back away a substantial distance from said mooring means while being coupled thereto; and

(e) actuation means for remotely actuating said catching means causing it to decouple from the vertical elongated member of said mooring means upon departure of the boat from said mooring means.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said arm member is telescopic to get it out of the way when said small boat is under way.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said arm member is hollow and contains a portion of said mooring line attached to said catching means.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 1 including guide means extending from said mooring member catching means for guiding said vertical elongated member of said mooring means into a central portion of said catching means, thereby readily enabling quick and easy mooring of said boat, even in rough water.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein said guide means comprises a pair of elongated guide members extending away from opposite sides of said catching means.

6. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said pair of elongated guide members are oriented to form a “

V”

pointing in the direction of the boat.

7. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said rigid, substantially vertical elongated member is coupled to a buoy via a funnel clamp.

8. The combination set forth in claim 1 including an upper restraining member extending across an upper portion of said substantially vertical elongated member.

9. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said rigid, substantially vertical elongated member is coupled to a buoy via a funnel clamp.

10. A system for enabling, if desired, a single person boat operator to attach and release a personal boat from a mooring comprising in combination:

(a) a mooring means having a rigid, substantially vertical elongated member along with

(b) an arm member mechanically mounted upon a deck portion of said personal boat having a mooring member catching means at a terminal portion of said arm for coupling and decoupling said arm to and from said rigid, substantially vertical elongated member of the mooring means;

(c) guide means extending from either side of said mooring member catching means and oriented to form a “

V”

for guiding said vertical elongated member of said mooring means into a central portion of said catching means, thereby readily enabling quick and easy mooring of said boat, even in rough water;

(d) remote control aiming means mounted upon said personal boat for aiming said arm at said vertical elongated member until said catching means engages the rigid, substantially vertical elongated member of said mooring means upon said personal boat approaching said mooring member;

(e) mooring line deployment means for deploying a mooring line between said mooring member catching means and said boat to enable said boat to back away a substantial distance from said mooring means while being coupled thereto; and

(f) actuation means for remotely actuating said catching means causing it to decouple from the vertical elongated member of said mooring means upon departure of the boat from said mooring means.

11. The combination as set forth in claim 10 wherein said arm member is telescopic and contains a portion of said mooring line attached to said catching means.

12. Method of enabling if desired a one person operation of attaching and releasing a personal boat from a mooring comprising the steps of:

(a-1) providing a mooring means having a substantially vertical elongated member along with

(a-2) an arm mechanically mounted upon said personal boat having a mooring member catching mechanism upon a portion of said arm for coupling and decoupling said arm to and from said substantially vertical elongated member of the mooring means;

(b) upon said boat approaching the mooring means, aiming said arm at said vertical elongated member until said catching mechanism engages the vertical elongated member of said mooring means; and

(c) upon departing from said mooring means, remotely actuating said catching mechanism causing it to decouple from the vertical elongated member of said mooring means and

(d) deploying a mooring line between said mooring member catching mechanism and said boat to enable said boat to back away a substantial distance from said mooring means while being coupled thereto via said mooring line.

13. The method of claim 12 including aiming said arm at said vertical elongated member by remote control of said arm.

14. A system for enabling, if desired, a single boat operator to attach and release a personal boat from a mooring comprising in combination:

(a) a mooring means having a rigid, substantially vertical elongated member and

(b) an arm member mechanically coupled to said personal boat having a mooring member catching means for coupling and decoupling said arm to and from said rigid, substantially vertical elongated member of the mooring means; and

(c) actuation means for remotely actuating said catching means causing it to decouple from the vertical elongated member of said mooring means upon departure of the boat from said mooring means and

(d) guide means extending from said mooring member catching means for guiding said substantially vertical elongated member of said mooring means into a central portion of said catching means, thereby readily enabling quick mooring of said boat, even in rough water.

15. The combination set forth in claim 14 wherein said guide means comprises a pair of elongated guide members extending away from opposite sides of said catching means.

16. The combination set forth in claim 15 wherein said pair of elongated guide members are oriented to form a “

V”

pointing in the direction of the boat.

17. The combination set forth in claim 15 including means for folding said pair of elongated guide members folded inwardly so that they do not get in the way when said boat is underway.

18. The combination set forth in claim 14 including an upper restraining member extending across an upper portion of said rigid substantially vertical elongated member.

20. The combination as set forth in claim 14 including deployment means for deploying a mooring line between said mooring member catching means and said boat to enable said boat to back away a substantial distance from said mooring means while being coupled thereto.

19. A system for enabling, if desired, a single boat operator to attach and release a personal boat from a mooring comprising in combination:

(a) a mooring means having a rigid, substantially vertical elongated member and

(b) an arm member mechanically coupled to said personal boat having a mooring member catching means for coupling and decoupling said arm to and from said rigid, substantially vertical elongated member of the mooring means; and

(c) actuation means for remotely actuating said catching means causing it to decouple from the vertical elongated member of said mooring means upon departure of the boat from said mooring means and

(d) deployment means for deploying a mooring line between said mooring member catching means and said boat to enable said boat to back away a substantial distance from said mooring means while being coupled thereto.