U.S. patent application number 11/677194 was filed with the patent office on 2008-08-21 for mooring strap.
Invention is credited to Rick E. Fernung.
Application Number | 20080196650 11/677194 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39705577 |
Filed Date | 2008-08-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080196650 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fernung; Rick E. |
August 21, 2008 |
Mooring Strap
Abstract
A mooring strap for vessels includes a first loop for engaging a
dock mounted cleat and a second loop for engaging a cleat on a
vessel. A strap extending from each of the two loops is
interconnected with a cam lock to permit drawing the two loops
toward one another to draw the vessel toward the dock and to secure
the vessel with the dock. A sleeve attendant each loop is slid
toward a loop engaged cleat to reduce the functional size of the
loop and thereby prevent the loop from becoming inadvertently
disengaged from the cleat. Upon release of the cam lock and drawing
the sleeves away from the respective engaged cleats, the mooring
strap may be disengaged from the cleats.
Inventors: |
Fernung; Rick E.; (Lake
Havasu City, AZ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
C. ROBERT VON HELLENS;CAHILL, VON HELLENS & GLAZER P.L.C.
155 PARK ONE,, 2141 E. HIGHLAND AVENUE
PHOENIX
AZ
85016
US
|
Family ID: |
39705577 |
Appl. No.: |
11/677194 |
Filed: |
February 21, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
114/230.24 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63B 21/00 20130101;
B63B 21/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
114/230.24 |
International
Class: |
B63B 21/00 20060101
B63B021/00 |
Claims
1. A mooring strap for mooring a vessel to a dock having a cleat
for such purpose, said mooring strap comprising in combination: a)
a first strap having a first loop at one end and a first free end;
b) a second strap having a second loop at one end and a second free
end; c) a cam lock for interconnecting said first free end and said
second free end to set the distance between said first and second
loops; d) a first sleeve slidably mounted at least in part along
said first loop to change the functional size of said first loop;
and, e) a second sleeve slidably mounted at least in part along
said second loop to change the functional size of said second
loop.
2. The mooring strap as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second
free end is a loop permanently attached to said cam lock.
3. The mooring strap as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first
free end is slidingly lockably engaged with said cam lock.
4. The mooring strap as set forth in claim 3 wherein said second
free end is a loop permanently attached to said cam lock.
5. The mooring strap as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and
second straps are of webbing material.
6. The mooring strap as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and
second straps are of rope.
7. A strap for adjustably drawing two elements toward one another,
said strap comprising in combination: a) a first strap having a
first loop at one end and a first free end; b) a second strap
having a second loop at one end and a second free end; c) a first
sleeve slidably engaged along said first loop to vary the
functional size of said first loop; d) a second sleeve slidably
engaged along said second loop to vary the functional size of said
second loop; and e) an adjustable retention device for engaging
said first and second free ends to adjust and set the distance
between said first and second loops.
8. The strap as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first free end is
fixedly attached to said retention device.
9. The strap as set forth in claim 7 wherein said second free end
is selectively lockedly attached to said retention device.
10. The strap as set forth in claim 9 wherein said first free end
is fixedly attached to said retention device.
11. The strap as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first and second
straps are of webbing material.
12. The strap as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first and second
straps are of rope material.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to mooring lines for vessels
and, more particularly, to a mooring strap having loops at the ends
with a lock mechanism to adjust the distance between the loops.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Since time immemorial, water borne vessels have been moored
to docks with lines engaging a cleat, or the like, on the vessel
and a cleat attached to the dock or a post formed as part of the
dock. When two vessels are moored adjacent one another, lines are
used to engage a cleat of one vessel with a cleat of another
vessel. Usually, fenders are deployed intermediate the vessel and
the dock or between two vessels to prevent abrading or damage
causing contact therebetween.
[0005] Sometimes a vessel is moored between two pairs of posts.
Again, lines are used to engage each post and a cleat or other
fixed elements on the vessel.
[0006] All of these pre-existing procedures for mooring a vessel
usually require readjustment of the respective lengths of the lines
by repeated disengagement and re-engagement of the respective cleat
and/or post. This procedure is time-consuming and may be enhanced
by having two seamen working together to secure an appropriate
length of line from the vessel.
[0007] Sometimes, the state of the water may suggest that a vessel
be loosely moored to accommodate movement of the vessel due to wind
and wave action. Again, the time-consuming readjustment of the
lines is necessary.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention relates to a mooring strap for a
vessel having loops at the opposed ends for engaging respective
cleats. A lock mechanism interconnects the strap extending from
each loop to permit adjustment of the distance between the loops. A
sleeve is slidably engaged with each loop to permit reducing the
functional length of the loop about a cleat to prevent inadvertent
disengagement of the loop from the cleat.
[0009] It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to
provide a mooring strap having loops at opposed ends and a lock
mechanism for adjusting and maintaining the distance between the
loops.
[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
quick release cam lock for adjustably engaging straps extending
from opposed loops of a mooring strap.
[0011] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
mooring strap having loops at opposed ends for engaging respective
cleats mounted on a vessel and a dock or other vessel.
[0012] Still another object of the present invention is to provide
a sleeve attendant each cleat engaging loop of a mooring strap to
reduce the functional length of the loop and snug the loop about
the respective cleat.
[0013] A further object of the present invention is to provide a
pair of straps having a loop at one end and a cam lock for engaging
the other ends of the straps.
[0014] A yet further object of the present invention is to provide
an easy to use and easily stowable mooring strap.
[0015] A still further object of the present invention is to
provide a method for rapidly and adjustably moor a vessel to a dock
or other vessel.
[0016] These and other objects of the present invention will become
apparent to those skilled in the art as the description thereof
proceeds.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The present invention will be described with greater
specificity and clarity with reference to the following drawings,
in which:
[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates my mooring strap interconnecting a vessel
with a dock;
[0019] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of my mooring strap;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 3-3, as
shown in FIG. 2;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a partial view showing a sleeve translated toward
a cleat; and
[0022] FIG. 5 illustrates a section of a line or rope useable as a
substitute for the strap illustrated.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0023] Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a representative
dock 10 supported upon posts 12 anchored in the bottom below water
14. A conventional cleat 16 is attached to dock 10. The cleat may
be attached to a board 18 of the dock or other robust member of the
dock to serve an anchoring function for a moored vessel.
[0024] A water borne vessel 30, which may be a motorboat, sailboat,
rowboat, etc. usually includes a number of cleats mounted on the
deck of the vessel or upon the gunwhale. As shown in FIG. 1, cleat
32 is mounted upon gunwhale 34. These cleats may be used for any of
a number of purposes, depending upon the type of vessel involved.
Usually, one or more cleats are mounted on the deck or the gunwhale
of the vessel to permit mooring of the vessel to a dock, other
vessel, buoy or post extending from the water. Sometimes these
cleats are also used to secure the line for an anchor.
[0025] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a mooring strap 40 is used to moor
vessel 30 to dock 10. The mooring strap engages cleat 32 of the
vessel and with cleat 16 on the dock. It is understood that the
tensile strength of the mooring strap is sufficient to accommodate
the expected loads as a function of the size of the vessel and
expected loads due to wind and wave action.
[0026] Referring jointly to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, further details of
mooring strap 40 will be described. The mooring strap includes a
pair of straps 42, 44. A loop 46 is disposed at one end of strap
42. Free end 48 of strap 42 is lockedly engaged with a conventional
cam lock 50, as particularly shown in FIG. 3. The cam lock includes
a thumb operated ratchet 52 having teeth 54 engaging the surface of
the free end and urging it against bracket or anvil 56. Any tension
applied to strap 42 at loop 46 will cause the ratchet to more
securely bind free end 48 against the anvil and prevent
slippage.
[0027] Strap 44 includes a loop 60 at one end. A further loop 62,
may encircle a cross member 64 of cam lock 50. A retention
device(s) may be employed to secure either loop 62 or a free end of
strap 44 to the retention device.
[0028] In operation, one of loops 46, 60 such as loop 46 shown in
FIG. 4, engages a cleat as, such as cleat 16. To permit lateral
movement of the vessel fore and aft as well as forward and away
from the dock, it is critical that loop 46 not become inadvertently
disengaged from the cleat as a result of such movement. To prevent
such disengagement, a sleeve 70 encircling the strap and loop is
slid toward the cleat to reduce the functional size of loop 46 to a
size close to the girth of the upright element 72 (see also FIG. 1)
of the cleat, as representatively shown in FIG. 4. Thereby, the
functional size of loop 46 cannot extend to either of the opposed
ends of the cleat and thereby result in disengagement of the loop
from the cleat.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 2, a further sleeve 80 is juxtaposed with
loop 60 of strap 44 to selectively reduce the functional size of
this loop. As shown in FIG. 1, loop 60 may be used to engage cleat
32 of vessel 30 in the same manner as loop 46 engages cleat 16
mounted on dock 10.
[0030] Once the loops have been engaged with their respective
cleats (or other anchoring elements), free end 48 of strap 42 is
drawn to cause cam lock 50 to tighten mooring strap 40 between the
two engaged elements.
[0031] To release mooring strap 40, ratchet 52 of cam lock 50 is
rotated manually to permit disengagement between the ratchet and
free end 48 of strap 42 and thereby loosen the mooring strap
between the two engaged elements. Thereafter, sleeves 70 and 80 are
slid away from their respective loops to increase the functional
size of each of the loops and permit disengagement of the loops
from a mooring element, such as the cleats illustrated.
[0032] FIG. 5 illustrates a representative length of line or rope
of the type commonly used on recreational vessels. The purpose for
this illustration is to indicate that mooring strap 40 may be made
from a line or rope instead of being made from a strap. A cam lock,
as shown, or other locking device may be used that is better suited
to lockingly engage the free ends of the straps, ropes or
combination thereof.
[0033] Even though the material of the straps used for mooring
strap 40 may be of any width, thickness or tensile strength, such
straps are usually quite flexible. This flexibility permits rolling
of the strap about the cam lock into a disk-like configuration that
is easily stowable on a vessel. For those less inclined to stow the
mooring strap in a ship-shape configuration, it may be simply
stuffed in a bag or other place of stowage.
* * * * *