Boat docking aid

• US 6,928,945 B1
• Filed: 05/18/2004
• Issued: 08/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald W. Tebo Jr
• Original Assignee: Donald W. Tebo Jr
• Inventors: Tebo, Donald W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swinehart, Ed
• Application Number:
  US10/847,569
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 114/218, 114/221.R, 114/230.15, 119/802, 119/803, 43/87
• US Class Current: 114/230.15
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 21/00 Tying-up; Shifting, towing, or pushing equipment; Anchoring of buoys B63B22/04; dynamic anchoring B63H25/00 ; equipment for shipping on coasts, in harbours or on other fixed marine structures, e.g. for landing purposes, E02B
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 21/54 Boat-hooks or the like , e.g. hooks detachably mounted to a pole

Abstract

A boat docking aid in the form of a mooring apparatus (100) includes a handle assembly (110), a flexible member (120) coupled to the handle assembly and a clamp assembly (130) coupled to the handle assembly. The handle assembly includes a longitudinally displaceable slider (114) mounted on the handle member. The slider is freely displaceable toward one end (1126) of the handle member and releasably engaged with the handle member against displacement toward the opposing end (1128). The flexible member forms a loop (124) with opposing ends (122) disposed in overlapping relationship and coupled to the slider for displacement therewith. The loop changes in size in correspondence with the displacement of the slider. The clamp assembly includes a passage (134, 134′) through which a mooring line (30) is passed, the mooring line being freely displaceable in one direction, but releasably locked against displacement in an opposing direction.

Claims

1. An apparatus for mooring a boat, comprising:

a longitudinally extended handle member having an opening adjacent a distal end thereof;

a slider longitudinally displaceably mounted on said handle member, said slider being freely displaceable toward a proximal end of said handle member and releasably engaged with said handle member against displacement toward said distal end;

a flexible member having opposing ends disposed in overlapping relationship to form a loop, said overlapped opposing ends being passed through said opening and being coupled to said slider for displacement therewith, said loop being reduced in size in correspondence with said slider being displaced toward said proximal end;

a mooring line extending from the boat; and

a clamp coupled to said slider, said clamp having at least one first engaging member for releasably engaging said mooring line.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said handle member has a bore extending longitudinally from said opening and a longitudinally extended slotted opening formed through a wall of said handle member, said slotted opening being in open communication with said bore.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said slider includes a slider body at least partially encompassing a circumferential portion of said handle member, and an anchor disposed in said bore and coupled to said opposing ends of said flexible member and said slider body.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said slider includes at least one second engaging member pivotally coupled to said slider body for releasable engagement of said handle member responsive to displacement of said slider in said direction toward said distal end.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said handle member includes a plurality of teeth formed in at least one surface thereof for said releasable engagement by said second engaging member.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said slider includes a pair of second engaging members each pivotally coupled to said slider body in spaced relationship for respective releasable engagement with said plurality of teeth formed on corresponding surfaces of said handle member.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said clamp has a passage formed therethrough for receiving the mooring line therein, said at least one first engaging member being biased to extend into said passage for contacting the mooring line.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said passage has a U-shaped contour with respective entrance and exit openings disposed on one side of said clamp.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said clamp includes a roller rotatably disposed in said U-shaped passage, the mooring line passing over said roller for reducing resistance to displacement thereof within said U-shaped passage.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said clamp has a passage formed therethrough for receiving the mooring line therein and a pair of said first engaging member disposed on opposing sides of said passage, each of said engaging members being biased to extend into said passage for contacting the mooring line.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said second engaging member has a camming surface formed on a distal portion thereof for passing over said teeth responsive to said slider being displaced toward said proximal end of said handle member, and engaging a respective tooth against said displacement of said slider toward said distal end of said handle member.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said second engaging member has a manually displaceable portion spaced from said pivotal coupling of said second engaging member, said camming surface being displaced out of engagement with said respective tooth responsive to displacement of said manually displaceable portion by a user.

13. An apparatus for mooring a boat, comprising:

a handle assembly having a first member and a displaceable second member coupled to said first member, said second member being freely displaceable toward a first end of said first member and releasably engaged with said first member against displacement toward an opposing second end of said first member,

a flexible member having opposing ends disposed in overlapping relationship to form a loop, said overlapped opposing ends being coupled to said second member for displacement therewith, said loop being changed in size responsive to said second member being displaced relative to said first member;

a mooring line extending from the boat; and

,

a clamp coupled to said handle assembly, said clamp having at least one first engaging member for releasably engaging said mooring line.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein said clamp is coupled to said second member for displacement therewith.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein said clamp has a passage formed therethrough for receiving the mooring line therein, said at least one first engaging member being biased to extend into said passage for contacting the mooring line.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said passage has a U-shaped contour with respective entrance and exit openings disposed on one side of said clamp.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein said clamp includes a roller rotatably disposed in said U-shaped passage, the mooring line passing over said roller for reducing resistance to displacement thereof within said U-passage.

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein said first member includes a plurality of teeth formed in at least one surface thereof and said second member includes at least one second engaging member pivotally coupled to said second member for respective releasable engagement with said teeth of said first member.

19. The apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein said second engaging member has a camming surface formed on a distal portion thereof for passing over said teeth responsive to said second member being displaced toward said first end of said first member, and engaging a respective tooth against said displacement of said second member toward said second end of said first member.

20. The apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein said second engaging member has a manually displaceable portion spaced from said pivotal coupling of said second engaging member, said camming surface being displaced out of engagement with said respective tooth responsive to displacement of said manually displaceable portion by a user.

21. An apparatus for mooring a boat, comprising:

a longitudinally extended handle;

a flexible member having opposing ends coupled to said handle to form a loop extending from a first end of said handle for engaging at least a portion of a structure;

a mooring line extending from the boat; and

,

a clamp coupled to said handle, said clamp having a passage formed therethrough for receiving said mooring line therein, said clamp having at least one mooring line engaging member that releasably engages said mooring line within said passage.

22. The apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein said passage has a U-shaped contour with respective entrance and exit openings disposed on one side of said clamp.

23. The apparatus as recited in claim 22, wherein said clamp includes a roller rotatably disposed in said U-shaped passage, the mooring line passing over said roller for reducing resistance to displacement thereof within said U-passage.

24. The apparatus as recited in claim 21, further comprising a displaceable member mounted on said handle and having said opposing ends of said flexible member coupled thereto, said handle including a plurality of teeth formed in at least one surface thereof and said displaceable member includes at least one handle engaging member pivotally coupled to said displaceable member for respective releasable engagement with said teeth of said handle.

25. The apparatus as recited in claim 24, wherein said handle engaging member has a camming surface formed on a distal portion thereof for passing over said teeth responsive to said displaceable member being displaced toward a second end of said handle, and engaging a respective tooth against said displacement of said displaceable member toward said first end of said handle.

26. The apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein said handle engaging member has a manually displaceable portion spaced from said pivotal coupling of said handle engaging member, said camming surface being displaced out of engagement with said respective tooth responsive to displacement of said manually displaceable portion by a user.

27. The apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein said opposing ends of said flexible member are coupled to a displaceable member displaceably mounted to said handle.

28. The apparatus as recited in claim 27, wherein said clamp is coupled to said displaceable member for displacement therewith.