Patent ID: 7302902
Filing Date: 2007-12-04
Classification: B63B

Abstract:
1. An inflatable mooring station adapted for attachment to a fixed or floating structure, and designed for holding a water craft in a generally stationary position on a body of water, said mooring station comprising: a buoyant, inflatable body having a height dimension sufficient to extend said body at least two feet above a surface of the water; said body comprising an elongated base and a plurality of spaced-apart elongated fingers formed perpendicular to said base, each finger having a proximal and distal end and opposing parallel side walls extending outwardly from said base, such that adjacent fingers cooperate with said base to form a three-sided docking area including a front wall and opposing perpendicularly disposed side walls for receiving a water craft, and wherein each of said plurality of fingers has a length greater than 50% of a length of said base; said base and said plurality of fingers having respective substantially flat top surfaces, said top surfaces collectively defining a substantially flat deck for supporting users maneuvering to and from the water craft; at least one station handle centrally located on respective top surfaces of said plurality of fingers, and each station handle having opposite ends attached to said finger, and defining a hand opening for receiving a hand of a user; at least one line tie located on said inflatable body, and defining an anchor point for attaching one end of an anchor line to said inflatable body, whereby an opposite end of the anchor line extends to and secures said inflatable body to the structure; and a flexible cord secured to respective station handles of adjacent fingers, and adapted for engaging and retaining the water craft in said docking area.