U.S. patent number 3,918,385 [Application Number 05/516,742] was granted by the patent office on 1975-11-11 for mooring device.
Invention is credited to Goerge T. Wallace.
United States Patent |
3,918,385 |
Wallace |
November 11, 1975 |
Mooring device
Abstract
A mooring device including an elongated pole member, an arm
member having an attached end pivotally connected to the pole
member near one end thereof and a free end spaced from the attached
end wherein the arm member is movable between a stowed position
adjacent and generally parallel to the pole member and an extended
position wherein the free end is disposed laterally from the pole
member, and rope supporting brackets on the arm member and the pole
member for temporarily supporting a rope.
Inventors: |
Wallace; Goerge T. (Royal Oak,
MI) |
Family
ID: |
24056901 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/516,742 |
Filed: |
October 21, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
114/230.25;
D8/372; D8/367; 114/221R; 294/119.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63B
21/54 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B63B
21/00 (20060101); B63B 21/54 (20060101); B63B
021/54 () |
Field of
Search: |
;114/230,221R
;119/151,153 ;294/19R,104 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Blix; Trygve M.
Assistant Examiner: Basinger; Sherman D.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: McGlynn and Milton
Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A mooring device comprising: a straight, elongated pole member
having a handle end and a free end, an arm member having an
attached end pivotally connected to said pole member near said free
end thereof and a second end spaced from said attached end wherein
said arm member is movable between a stowed position adjacent and
generally parallel to said pole member and an extended position
wherein said second end is disposed laterally from said pole member
and forms therewith an open bifurcation with said free end of said
pole member, and rope supporting means on said arm member and said
pole member for temporarily supporting a rope; said rope supporting
means on said pole member and said arm member all lying along a
straight line which generally parallels said pole member when said
arm member is in the stowed position.
2. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said arm member
includes an elongated cavity for receiving a portion of said pole
member in nesting relationship therewith when said arm member is in
the stowed position.
3. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said rope supporting
means includes a plurality of U-shaped brackets.
4. A device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said U-shaped brackets
are mounted adjacent the end of said pole member, adjacent said
free end of said arm member, and adjacent said attached end of said
arm member.
5. A device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said arm member
includes an elongated cavity for receiving a portion of said pole
member in nesting relationship therewith when said arm member is in
the stowed position.
6. A device as set forth in claim 5 including a hook member afixed
to the free end of said pole member.
7. A device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said pole member
includes extension means for extending the length thereof.
8. A device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said extention means
includes a plurality of telescopically related pole segments.
Description
This invention relates to a mooring device for aiding boatmen in
securing a line from their boat to a piling, mooring cleat, or the
like.
Devices of the general type referred to are particularly helpful to
boatmen since it is oftentimes difficult to position the mooring
lines of a boat around pilings, cleats, or other suitable mooring
objects. This is particularly so in rough seas where the ability of
even the most accurate boatman is taxed.
The most common method of accomplishing the task of mooring a
vessel is by throwing the looped end of the mooring line toward the
intended mooring object. This method, more often than not, ends in
failure since the target is missed thus requiring the boatman to
make one or more additional throwing attempts. Under some
circumstances, such as, when seas are rough, it is necessary to
effect securement of the vessel as quickly as possible to prevent
damage from striking against the dock or other objects. It is
desirable, therefore, to have a more dependable method of getting
the mooring line about a moving object.
Accordingly, a number of pole-like devices have been suggested
which permit the boatman to reach out with the mooring line toward
the intended mooring object. A device of this general type is shown
in the U.S. Patent to Palsson 2,811,127 issued October 29, 1957.
Devices of this sort greatly increase the ability of the boatman to
quickly and positively secure his vessel.
Although the desirability of carrying a mooring device of the type
suggested on board the vessel is generally conceded, it may be
impractical to do so. As is well known, due to limited storage
space on board, it is oftentimes necessary for the boatman to
forego the use of various pieces of equipment which he would
otherwise carry with him. Because of such space limitations, it is
highly desirable, if not absolutely required, that any mooring
device be readily suited for convenient storage. Many of the prior
art devices fail in this aspect and are, therefore,
impractical.
Accordingly, the instant invention provides a mooring device which
is capable of supporting the looped end of a mooring rope in a
generally horizontal and open condition to enable positive and
accurate positioning of the looped end over a piling, mooring
cleat, or the like. Moreover, the mooring device is capable of
collapsing into a substantially straight or continuous member which
may be easily stored in an out-of-the way location. In accordance
with the foregoing, the instant invention provides a mooring device
which includes an elongated pole member and an arm member having an
attached end pivotally connected to the pole member near one end
thereof and a free end spaced from the attached end wherein the arm
member is movable between a stowed position adjacent and generally
parallel to the pole member and an extended position wherein the
free end is disposed laterally from the pole member. The mooring
device also includes rope supporting means on the arm member and
the pole member for temporarily supporting a rope.
Other advantages of the present invention will be readly
appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to
the following detailed description when considered in connection
with the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is plan view of a mooring device constructed in accordance
with the instant invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view similiar to FIG. 1 showing the
relative position of members in the operative condition;
FIG. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken generally along
line 3--3 of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken generally along
line 4--4 of FIG. l.
Referring to the drawings, a mooring device constructed in
accordance with the instant invention is generally shown at 10.
The mooring device 10 includes an elongated pole member 12. In
order to accomplish the intended function of the instant invention,
the elongated pole member 12 is provided with an arm member 28
which, as will be hereinafter described, coacts with the pole
member to hold the loop of a mooring line in an open condition. The
arm member 28 includes an attached end 30 which is pivotally
connected to the pole member 12 near the outer or functional end
thereof and a free end 31 which is spaced from the attached end 30.
The pivotal connection between the arm member 28 and the pole
member 12 may be accomplished in any suitable manner. Preferably, a
pivot pin 32 is provided which extends through the arm member 28
and the pole member 12. As shown in FIG. 4, the pivot pin 32
includes a head 34 at one end and a threaded portion 36 at the
other end for receiving a threaded fastener 38. The pivot pin 32 is
inserted through aligned holes in the arm member 28 and pole member
12 to establish the pivotal connection.
Since the arm member 28 is pivotally connected to the pole member
12, it may be moved between an extended position, as shown in FIG.
2, and a retracted or stowed position, as shown in FIG. 1. In the
stowed position, the arm member is in close proximity to the pole
member 12 so that the mooring device 10 is substantially straight
or continuous. In other words, there are no major protrusions which
tend to make storage difficult. Moreover, it is pointed out that
when the arm member 28 is in the stowed position, the mooring
device 10 may be used as a boat hook or the like.
When it is desirable to employ the mooring device 10 for its
intended purpose, the free end 31 of the arm member 28 is swung
away from the pole member 12 by pivoting the arm member 28 from the
stowed position toward the extended position as will be more
clearly described hereinafter.
In order to increase the compactness of the mooring device 10 in
the stowed condition, the arm member 28 is formed so that it has a
U-shaped configuration when viewed in transverse cross-section.
That is, the arm member 28 includes an upper wall 42, a lower wall
44, and a connecting wall 46. Thus, an elongated cavity or recess
is formed in the arm member 28. The open side of the elongated
cavity or recess faces the pole member 12 such that a portion of
the pole member 12 is received in nesting relation with the arm
member 28 when in the stowed position as best shown in FIGS. 1 and
3.
The mooring device 10 further includes rope supporting means 48 on
the arm member 28 and the pole member 12 for temporarily supporting
a rope 50. The rope supporting means 48 comprise a plurality of
U-shaped brackets which are secured to the respective members by
suitable fasteners 52 or, in the case of the rope supporting means
48 at the attached end 30 of the arm member 28, The pivot pin 32 is
employed to secure the U-shaped bracket in place. Preferably, three
U-shaped rope supporting means 48 are employed. One of the U-shaped
brackets 48 is mounted adjacent the end of the pole member 12,
another U-shaped bracket 48 is mounted adjacent the free end 31 of
the arm member 28 while, as suggested above, another U-shaped
bracket 48 is mounted at the attached end 30 of the arm member
28.
In order to increase the utility of the mooring device 10, a
standard boat hook 14 may be attached to one end of the pole member
12. This permits the use of the mooring device for other purposes
when the arm member 28 is in the stowed position. The boat hook 14
includes a hooked portion 16 for hooking and manipulating a line or
other objects and also includes a straight portion 18 for engaging
a dock or vessel. A handle portion 20 is provided at the opposite
end of the pole member 12 from boat hook 14. The handle portion 20
of course is designed to be gripped by the boatman when using the
mooring device 10.
The pole member 12 may be of one length, or may be capable of
extension to provide a number of lengths. As shown in FIG. 1, a
plurality of telescopically related sections 22 and 24 are provided
for increasing the length of the pole member 12. The telescopic
portions 22 and 24 include locking devices 26 of any suitable
design for locking the telescopic portions between the retracted or
extended positions. As an alternate method of extending the length
of the pole member 12, separate pole member extension sections (not
shown) may be provided. In other words, the pole member 12 may be
provided with one or more detachable extension members which may be
attached to the end of the pole member 12 when desired.
Normally, the arm member 28 is disposed in a stowed position
adjacent and generally parallel to the pole member 12, as shown in
FIG. 1. When it is desirable to secure the boat to a stationary
object, such as the piling 54 shown in FIG. 2, the arm member 28 is
pivoted to an extended position wherein the free end 31 is disposed
laterally from the pole member 12 as shown in FIG. 2. In other
words, in the extended position, the arm member 28 and the pole
member 12 cooperate to form a forked or Y-shaped bifurcated end.
The looped end of a rope 50 is then placed in the U-shaped brackets
48 of the rope supporting means so that the looped end is in a
relatively horizontal and open condition. The boatman may then
reach out with the mooring device 10 and position the loop over the
piling 54. A quick downward movement of the mooring device 10
disengages the loop of the rope 50 from the U-shaped brackets 48
and permits the looped end to settle over the piling 54. It is
particularly noted that, since the forked or bifurcated end of the
mooring device 10 is open, the loop may be moved down around the
piling 54 and the mooring device may be subsequently disengaged and
drawn away from the piling 54. In other words, the piling or cleat
may be centered between the arm member 28 and the cooperating
portion of the pole member 12 to insure anchoring of the rope. Once
the rope is disengaged from the brackets 48 the mooring device may
be drawn away as the piling or cleat moves out through the open end
of the bifurcation.
When use of the mooring device 10 is finished, the arm member 28 is
moved back to the stowed position by pivoting the arm 28 about the
pivot pin 32 and the adjacent portion of the pole member 12 is
received in the elongated channel of the arm member 28. The mooring
device may now be easily and conveniently stored. That is, since
the mooring device is generally straight or continuous when
collapsed, a relatively narrow space may be used for storing
it.
Another feature of the instant invention is that the head 56 of the
fastener 52, which secures the U-shaped bracket 48 to the free end
31 of the arm member 28, aids in maintaining the arm member 28 in
the stowed position. Specifically, the head 56 engages the outer
surface of the pole member 12 causing the upper wall 42 of the arm
member 28 to flex slightly outwardly. Due to the resilient nature
of the arm member 28 the head 56 forcefully engages the pole
member. In this manner, a releasable connection is established
between the arm member 28 and the pole member 12. The releasable
connection avoids inadvertent swinging of the arm member 28 toward
the extended position.
The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it
is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is
intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of
limitation.
Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present
invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is,
therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended
claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as
specifically described.
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