U.S. patent application number 16/946277 was filed with the patent office on 2021-12-16 for wire frame fender hook for yachts.
The applicant listed for this patent is Charles Gould. Invention is credited to Charles Gould.
Application Number | 20210387705 16/946277 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005523756 |
Filed Date | 2021-12-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210387705 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gould; Charles |
December 16, 2021 |
Wire Frame Fender Hook for Yachts
Abstract
A fender hook created from a single continuous rigid metal wire
that is formed to create a fender hook frame with rail hook,
integrated mounting eyelets and an integrated fairlead. The wire
frame fender hook provides an easy and convenient method to suspend
objects such as from a yacht railing.
Inventors: |
Gould; Charles; (Woodbury,
MN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Gould; Charles |
Woodbury |
MN |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005523756 |
Appl. No.: |
16/946277 |
Filed: |
June 13, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63B 59/02 20130101;
B63B 21/08 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B63B 59/02 20060101
B63B059/02; B63B 21/08 20060101 B63B021/08 |
Claims
1. A fender hook for suspending an object from a yacht or boating
vessel railing, comprising a single continuous rigid metal wire
formed with an upper portion configured as a hook shape to wrap
around a vessel railing, a central portion configured with a
plurality of eyelets to affix attachments, a lower region
configured as a fairlead for line containment.
2. A fender hook of claim 1 comprising a biased camming cleat
affixed to the eyelets.
3. A fender hook of claim 1 comprising a jam cleat affixed to the
eyelets.
4. A fender hook of claim 1 comprising a horn cleat affixed to the
eyelets.
5. A fender hook of claim 1 comprising a metal wire with cross
sectional diameter not less than 0.10 inch and not greater than
0.50 inch.
6. A fender hook of claim 1 comprising a resilient non-marking
coating covering all or partial surfaces.
7. A fender hook of claim 1, wherein said rigid continuous wire
further comprises stainless steel.
8. A fender hook of claim 1, wherein said rigid continuous wire
further comprises aluminum.
9. A fender hook of claim 1, wherein said resilient, non-marking
coating further comprises a UV resistant polymer coating.
10. A fender hook for suspending an object from a yacht or boating
vessel railing, comprising a single rigid continuous metal wire
formed with an upper portion configured as a hook shape to wrap
around a vessel railing and a lower region configured with a
plurality of eyelets to affix attachments.
11. A fender hook of claim 10 comprising a biased camming cleat
affixed to the eyelets.
12. A fender hook of claim 10 comprising a jam cleat affixed to the
eyelets.
13. A fender hook of claim 10 comprising a horn cleat affixed to
the eyelets.
14. A fender hook of claim 10 comprising a metal wire with cross
sectional diameter not less than 0.10 inch and not greater than
0.50 inch.
15. A fender hook of claim 10 comprising a resilient non-marking
coating covering all or partial surfaces.
16. A fender hook of claim 10, wherein said rigid continuous wire
further comprises stainless steel.
17. A fender hook of claim 10, wherein said rigid continuous wire
further comprises aluminum.
18. A fender hook of claim 10, wherein said resilient, non-marking
coating further comprises a UV resistant polymer coating.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention herein pertains to marine accessories
generally and particularly pertains to a fender hook constructed of
a rigid wire frame for attachment of a rope to securely hold a boat
fender alongside a nautical vessel.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART AND OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION
[0002] When an object, such as boat fender, is suspended by a rope
attached to a yacht railing, guard rail, guard wires, etc., it is
usual to tie a rope at a length to suspend the object at the
desired height. In many cases, it is necessary to adjust the rope
length with many attempts to tie the rope such that the object is
suspended at exactly the desired height. For some purposes, it may
be desired to adjust the length of rope between the object and the
knotted rope quite frequently.
[0003] One example of a situation where frequent adjustments of
height are required is that of boat fenders. Boat fenders are used
to protect the hulls of yachts from damage caused by contacting
other boats or docks. Boat fenders are often suspended from a
horizontal rail of a yacht and positioned along the yacht sides to
protect the yacht hull from damage when approaching a dock or other
structure. Frequently the boat fenders will be untied and brought
inboard when not required for use, then redeployed as needed.
[0004] Fender hooks simplify the attachment of the ropes to the
yacht rail, such that the user can relocate the fender hook
laterally along the rail or easily adjust the boat fender line
length by means of attachment to the fender hook rope cleat.
[0005] Current fender hook solutions comprise metal sheets that are
cut and formed into curved shapes whereby cleat mechanisms, bails,
and fairleads are affixed to the bracket with fasteners. These
metal fender hook assembles are typically coated with non-marking
polymer or wrapped with protective fabrics, such as leather, sheep
skin or fabric webbing.
[0006] Once mounted on a yacht rail, current fender hook solutions
require an anti-detachment mechanism to prevent the fender hook
from detaching from the yacht rail, such as by using locking pins
or re-closeable fasteners.
[0007] The current fender hook solutions noted above are costly to
produce due to the multiple parts needed and the added cost of
assembly labor time required to facilitate a completed
assembly.
[0008] The objective of this invention is to create a lower cost to
manufacture fender hook comprised of a single continuous rigid wire
fender hook frame with an integrated fairlead and mounting eyelets
for attachment of a rope cleat and with a hook geometry that
creates an anti-detaching arrangement where-by the fender hook is
retained from dislodging from the yacht rail when a rope is
installed.
[0009] The novel use of a single continuous rigid metal wire as the
fender hook frame, with integral fairlead and mounting eyelets,
reduces the cost of manufacturing due to less labor time needed for
assembly and reduces the number of mechanisms needed to complete
the assembly. The geometry of the wire frame creates a novel
anti-detaching arrangement when the rope is normally threaded
through the fairlead and secured to the fender hook rope cleat with
fender at opposite end, thus reducing the risk of the fender hook
becoming dislodged from a yacht rail during use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The aforesaid and other objectives are realized by providing
a fender hook created from a single continuous rigid metal wire
that is formed to create a frame with a hook shape, integrated
mounting eyelets and an integrated fairlead. The fender hook
provides an easy and convenient method to suspend objects from
yacht railings.
[0011] According to the invention, the fender hook comprises a one
piece rigid continuous metal wire formed into a frame with an upper
portion configured as a hook shape to wrap around a vessel railing
or guard wire, a central portion configured with a plurality of
eyelets to affix attachments, and a lower region configured as an
integrated fairlead for the attachment line. The wire frame
geometry creates an anti-detaching arrangement when the rope is
normally threaded through the fairlead and secured to the fender
hook rope cleat with fender at opposite end, this reducing the risk
of the fender hook becoming dislodged from a yacht railing.
[0012] Various other objectives and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as a
more detailed description is set forth below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of the preferred
embodiment of a fender hook according to the instant invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 pictures a front perspective view of the fender hook
of FIG. 1 as removed from the yacht rail;
[0015] FIG. 3 depicts a side perspective view of the fender hook of
FIG. 2;
[0016] FIG. 4 demonstrates a front perspective view of the fender
hook wire frame of FIG. 2 with preferred mounting eyelets and
fairlead;
[0017] FIG. 5 demonstrates a side perspective view of the fender
hook wire frame of FIG. 2 with preferred mounting eyelets and
fairlead;
[0018] FIG. 6 depicts a front perspective view of the fender hook
wire frame of FIG. 2 with alternative mounting eyelets;
[0019] FIG. 7 depicts a front perspective view of the fender hook
of FIG. 1 with alternative rope camming cleat attachment;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT AND OPERATION OF
THE INVENTION
[0020] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the
invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the
drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the
invention, and not meant as a limitation of the invention. For
example, features illustrated or described as part of one
embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield still a
third embodiment. It is intended that the present invention include
these and other modifications and variations.
[0021] For a better understanding of the invention and its
operation, turning now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-3 and 7 illustrate
the preferred embodiment of fender hook 10 including the wire frame
11 that serves as the substrate for the protective coating 12 and
rope cleat 13', 13. As demonstrated in FIG. 1, fender hook 10 with
the components described above may be assembled and deployed about
any substrate to which a user may wish to affix it to, for example
railing 14 common around the periphery of nautical vessels. In use,
fender hook 10 is positioned on a substrate such as railing 14. A
line such as a rope 15 fastened, connected, or otherwise attached
to fender 16 passes through integral fairlead 17 and is engaged
with rope cleat 13, 13', thereby securing the position of fender 16
relative to the surface which is being protected by boat fender 16,
for example the hull of a nautical vessel (not shown).
[0022] As demonstrated in FIG. 2, wire frame 11 is preferably
formed from a single continuous rigid metal wire defining a
somewhat hook shape with a length of approximately eight inches
(20.3 centimeters) and a width of approximately three inches (7.6
centimeters), although other lengths, widths, and shapes are
considered within the scope of the instant invention, depending on
the specific needs and desires of the ultimate user. A metal wire
material in the nature of stainless steel or aluminum, each coated
partially or entirely with protective non-marking material 12, is
most preferred although such materials are not to be construed as a
limitation on the scope of the instant invention. The single
continuous metal wire is formed into a frame with mounting eyelets
18, 18' at each terminal end of the wire, which serves as the
mounting location for the rope cleat 13, 13'. The shape of the wire
frame 11 is purposeful to include an integrated fairlead 17 which
creates an anti-detaching arrangement where-by the fender hook 10
is retained from dislodging from the yacht rail 14 or guide wire
when rope 15 is installed.
[0023] Cleat 13 as shown in FIGS. 1-3 is preferably a biased,
single member rotary cam cleat 13 mounted to the wire frame eyelets
18, 18' and held in place with fastener 19 such as a nut. Cleat 13'
as shown in FIG. 7 is an alternate rope camming cleat whereby a
biased two member rotary cam 20 is utilized and fastened to a
mounting plate 21 with mounting plate 21 fastened to the wire frame
eyelets 18, 18' and held in place with fastener 19 such as a nut.
In use, rope cleat 13, 13' is biased in a rotational manner, such
that when rope 15 is inserted into cleat 13, 13' and illustrated in
FIG. 1, the cleat 13, 13' frictionally engages the exterior surface
of rope 15 due to the downward force from the object weight. In the
event the positioning of boat fender 16 need be adjusted, a user
may pull rope 15 upwards, overcoming the bias of biasing cleat 13,
13' releasing the frictional engagement of cleat 13, 13' from the
surface of rope 15 upwards, and permitting the unencumbered passage
of rope 15. As the desired position is reached, the user
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