Abstract:
A watercraft bumper for a watercraft may include a sleeve to connect to a piling, the sleeve being detachably connected to the piling, the sleeve having a slit to open and close to detachably connect to the piling, the slit being in communication with a central aperture to cooperate with the piling, and the sleeve including a biasing device to open and close the slit.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is directed toward a device for protecting boats and similar watercraft at a dock from water damage due to the rising and lowering water levels. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    As is well known in the art, severe damage can be caused to boats and similar watercraft as a result of the changing water levels while positioned next to support pilings. A large amount of docks are located in water affected by the tides and/or affected by rising and dropping water due to other causes such as rains. This movement of the watercraft has a significant consequence of seriously damaging the watercraft which may cause expensive and time-consuming repairs. 
         [0003]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,072,022 discloses an apparatus for protecting a bridge pillar which comprises a protecting cylinder/sleeve adapted to be mounted outside said bridge pillar so as to surround the latter, a plurality of elastic connecting rods for interconnecting said bridge pillar and said protecting cylinder, said connecting rods being connected to said bridge pillar so that they may be pivoted in every direction; and a float mounted on or in said protecting cylinder/sleeve for floating it in water, in such a manner that at least half of said protecting cylinder is immersed in water. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,512,683 discloses a sleeve adapted to float in water and to surround a piling to protect the same from being lifted by ice including an outer corrugated casing which can be easily gripped by ice forming therearound. Within the casing is a layer of waterproof cementitious material followed by a layer of closed cell foam plastic. The innermost surface of the sleeve, which faces the piling, is a smooth even layer of polyethylene film. Should ice form in the annular space between the piling and the sleeve, the sleeve can easily slide up or down across the outer surface of the ice without moving the piling. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,471 discloses a resilient marine fender for protecting a boat from damage resulting from impact against a boat dock, piling or other marine structure including a fender body having an elongate bumper portion on one side of sufficient resiliency to cushion normal impact of the boat and mounting surface on the opposite side thereof of sufficiently frictional character with respect to the piling for generally non-slipping engagement therewith. Selectively engagable and disengagable strap means at the lateral sides of the fender body encircle the pilling for selectively securing the fender body to the piling such that the mounting surface is held in frictional facing contact against the piling. A number of elongate bumper portions can be disposed in side-by-side relation to one another on the fender body and a plurality of strap assemblies can be provided. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    A watercraft bumper for a watercraft may include a sleeve to connect to a piling, the sleeve being detachably connected to the piling, the sleeve having a slit to open and close to detachably connect to the piling, the slit being in communication with a central aperture to cooperate with the piling, and the sleeve including a biasing device to open and close the slit. 
         [0007]    The biasing device may include a spring device. 
         [0008]    The sleeve may include a casing. 
         [0009]    The casing may be filled with foam. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of the protective device and a piling of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the protective device in another position with the piling of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  illustrates a front view of the protective device and piling of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  illustrates a back view of the protective device and piling of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  illustrates a top view of the protective device of the present invention; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  illustrates a bottom view of the protective device of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    A protective barrier system installed on piers, docks, and other surfaces that automatically adjusts for varying water levels. The system that contacts the edge of the watercraft is always in the correct position as the watercraft moves up and down as well. The protective barrier is provided with a polyvinyl chloride covering, a foam interior which rests upon a buried steel coil flexible spring. The coil flexible spring ensures that the system returns to the normal starting position as the water levels return to a normal position in one embodiment. These features allow the barrier to adjust up and down by floating with the water. With the system in place, the watercraft contacts the system without causing damage to the dock or the watercraft. 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  illustrates the protective device  100 /water craft bumper to protect a watercraft from damage and to move between a first position and a second position in order to maintain a fixed relationship with the watercraft as the water level changes. The protective device  100  may be formed to float on a fluid such as water. Alternatively, the protective device  100  may include a biasing device  121  which forms a clamp to clamp the protective device  100  to the piling  109  to prevent the protective device  100  from moving with respect to the piling  109  as the water level changes. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  illustrates that the protective device  100  may be a discontinuous cylinder/sleeve and may include a vertical slit  103  and which may extend from the top surface  105  to the bottom surface  107  of the protective device  100 . The vertical slit  103  may be expandable in order to be placed over the a piling  109  which may be part of a dock and which may be a vertical tube. The vertical slit  105  may be defined by a pair of opposing side surfaces  111  which may connect the top surface  105  to the bottom surface  107  and may connect to the peripheral side surface  113 . The peripheral side surface  113  may connect to the side surfaces  111  and connect to the top surface  105  and the bottom surface  107 . In addition, the protective device  100  may include a central aperture  115  which may define an interior peripheral surface  117  which may cooperate with the outer surface of the piling  109  and which may connect to the top surface  105 , the bottom surface  107  and to the side surface  111 . 
         [0020]    The protective device  100  may be formed into a polyvinyl casing which may form a mold for receiving a foam material in order to provide a flotation device which may float on the surface of the water. The piling  109  forms a guide for the protective device allowing it to move up and down the piling  109  as the water level changes. Correspondingly, the watercraft moves up and down with the protective device  100  as the water level rises and lowers. 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  illustrates that the protective device  100  may be a discontinuous cylinder/sleeve and may include a vertical slit  103  and which may extend from the top surface  105  to the bottom surface  107  of the protective device  100 . The vertical slit  103  may be expandable in order to be placed over the piling  109  which may be part of a dock and which may be a vertical tube. The vertical slit  103  may be defined by a pair of opposing side surfaces  111  which may connect the top surface  105  to the bottom surface  107  and may connect to the peripheral side surface  113 . The peripheral side surface  113  may connect to the side surfaces  111  and connect to the top surface  105  and the bottom surface  107 . In addition, the protective device  100  may include a central aperture  115  which may define an interior peripheral surface  117  which may cooperate with the outer surface of the piling  109  and which may connect to the top surface  105 , the bottom surface  107  and to the side surface  111 . 
         [0022]    The protective device  100  may be formed into a polyvinyl casing which may form a mold for receiving a foam material in order to provide a flotation device which may float on the surface of the water. The piling  109  forms a guide for the protective device allowing it to move up and down the piling  109  as the water level changes. Correspondingly, the watercraft moves up and down with the protective device  100  as the water level rises and lowers. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  additionally illustrates a biasing device  121  which may be positioned within the interior of the protective device  100  and which may be a C shaped biasing device which may be formed from flexible spring steel or other biasing device material. The opening of the C shaped biasing device may cooperate with the vertical slit  103  to allow the vertical slit to be opened and closed around the piling  109  to mount the protective device  100  on the piling  109 . The biasing device  121  allows the vertical slit  103  to be opened, increasing the tension on the biasing device  121  to allow the protective device  100  to be placed over the piling  109 , and the biasing device  121  closes the vertical slit  103  around the piling. 
         [0024]    Alternatively, the protective device  100  may include a biasing device  121  which forms a clamp to clamp the protective device  100  to the piling  109  to prevent the protective device  100  from moving with respect to the piling  109  as the water level changes. 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  illustrates a front view of the protective device  100  and illustrates that the protective device  100  may be a discontinuous cylinder/sleeve and may include a vertical slit  103  and which may extend from the top surface  105  to the bottom surface  107  of the protective device  100 . The vertical slit  103  may be expandable in order to be placed over the piling  109  which may be part of a dock and which may be a vertical tube. The vertical slit  103  may be defined by a pair of opposing side surfaces  111  which may connect the top surface  105  to the bottom surface  107  and may connect to the peripheral side surface  113 . The peripheral side surface  113  may connect to the side surfaces  111  and connect to the top surface  105  and the bottom surface  107 . In addition, the protective device  100  may include a central aperture  115  which may define an interior peripheral surface  117  which may cooperate with the outer surface of the piling  109  and which may connect to the top surface  105 , the bottom surface  107  and to the side surface  111 . 
         [0026]    The protective device  100  may be formed into a polyvinyl casing which may form a mold for receiving a foam material in order to provide a flotation device which may float on the surface of the water. The piling  109  forms a guide for the protective device allowing it to move up and down the piling  109  as the water level changes. Correspondingly, the watercraft  300  moves up and down with the protective device  100  as the water level rises and lowers. 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  additionally illustrates a biasing device  121  which may be a C shaped biasing device which may be formed from flexible spring steel or other biasing device material. The opening of the C shaped biasing device may cooperate with the vertical slit  103  to allow the vertical slit to be opened and closed around the piling  109  to mount the protective device  100  on the piling  109 . The biasing device  121  allows the vertical slit  103  to be opened, increasing the tension on the biasing device  121  to allow the protective device  100  to be placed over the piling  109 , and the biasing device  121  closes the vertical slit  103  around the piling 
         [0028]      FIG. 4  illustrates a back view of the protective device  100  and illustrates that the protective device  100  may be a discontinuous cylinder/sleeve and may include a vertical slit  103  and which may extend from the top surface  105  to the bottom surface  107  of the protective device  100 . The vertical slit  103  may be expandable in order to be placed over the piling  109  which may be part of a dock and which may be a vertical tube. The vertical slit  103  may be defined by a pair of opposing side surfaces  111  which may connect the top surface  105  to the bottom surface  107  and may connect to the peripheral side surface  113 . The peripheral side surface  113  may connect to the side surfaces  111  and connect to the top surface  105  and the bottom surface  107 . In addition, the protective device  100  may include a central aperture  115  which may define an interior peripheral surface  117  which may cooperate with the outer surface of the piling  109  and which may connect to the top surface  105 , the bottom surface  107  and to the side surface  111 . 
         [0029]    The protective device  100  may be formed into a polyvinyl casing which may form a mold for receiving a foam material in order to provide a flotation device which may float on the surface of the water. The piling  109  forms a guide for the protective device allowing it to move up and down the piling  109  as the water level changes. Correspondingly, the watercraft  300  moves up and down with the protective device  100  as the water level rises and lowers. 
         [0030]      FIG. 3  additionally illustrates a biasing device  121  which may be a C shaped biasing device which may be formed from flexible spring steel or other biasing device material. The opening of the C shaped biasing device may cooperate with the vertical slit  103  to allow the vertical slit to be opened and closed around the piling  109  to mount the protective device  100  on the piling  109 . The biasing device  121  allows the vertical slit  103  to be opened, increasing the tension on the biasing device  121  to allow the protective device  100  to be placed over the piling  109 , and the biasing device  121  closes the vertical slit  103  around the piling. 
         [0031]      FIG. 5  illustrates a top view of the protective device  100  and illustrates the top surface  105 , the slit  103 , the piling  109 , the peripheral side surface  113  and the central aperture  115 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 6  illustrates a bottom view of the protective device  100  and illustrates the bottom surface  107 , the slit  103 , the piling  109 , the side surface  111 , the peripheral side surface  113  and the central aperture  115 . 
         [0033]    While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed.