Abstract:
An inflatable fender system for protecting a watercraft from damaging contact with a permanent object, such as a dock, wharf, piling and rafted watercraft. Two elongated flexible substantially airtight tubular fenders are provided having a generally flat cross section when uninflated, rolled into a coil and stored at the stern of the watercraft. Each of the tubular fenders is independently extendable along a substantial portion of the length of the watercraft. A controlled air supply or AC or DC compressor on the watercraft is operably connected to each of the tubular fenders for independently selectively inflating and expanding the tubular fenders from the flat cross section during deployment. A hanger system, preferably including a plurality of hangers connectable in spaced relation between the watercraft and each of the tubular fenders support the tubular fenders during deployment to protect the side and gunnels of the watercraft.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable 
     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
     Not applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to physical damage protection devices for watercraft, and more particularly to an independently deployable, storable, inflatable fender or bumper system for protecting the sides of hulls of watercraft when coming in contact with docks, pilings and like fixed objects. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     With considerable expense incurred when purchasing watercraft, owners have resorted to various means for protecting the sides and hulls of their vessel when docking and while being tied to a dock, wharf, piling and the like. Damage can also occur to the rub rail and gunnel of the watercraft when tied to a dock or wharf from wind and wakes from passing watercraft. 
     In order to minimize such damage, owners have used buoyant bumper devices removably connectable to the watercraft and such other devices as described herebelow. Typically, these include foam or air-filled members used only when docking and are removed when the watercraft is under way. These devices require owners to manually place and remove them and are thereafter placed inside the watercraft, taking up space. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,970,980 to Eisner teaches an inflatable bumper system for watercraft comprising a plurality of inflatable bladders and an air compressor for inflating various bladders to be inflated depending on need. The bumper system of the &#39;980 patent is modular and adaptable to permit only the needed bumpers to inflate. A combined foam and inflatable collar assembly for watercraft is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,371,040 to Hemphill, et al. 
     An air bag system for vehicle bumpers is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,265 to Baber and U.S. Pat. No. 5,215,031 to Inman, et al. teaches inflatable bumpers mounted to the rigid hull of a boat with a mechanism for selectively inflating the bumpers. The first inflatable bumper mounted to the hull about the gunwale and a second inflatable bumper mounted at the waterline to keep the watercraft afloat. 
     Fujisawa, et al. teaches a multi-cell, air filled bag adapted for a dock fender in U.S. Pat. No. 4,055,136 and Fenton discloses an inflatable, weighted boat fender in U.S. Pat. No. 3,988,997. U.S. Pat. No. 4,296,705 to Uruta, et al. discloses a pneumatic marine fender comprised of a cylindrical barrel serving as a shock receiving face which is reinforced with cord layers for strength. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,435,122 to Skulnick discloses an inflatable boat fender in U.S. Pat. No. 6,435,122. U.S. Pat. No. 6,540,442 assigned to the Secretary of the Navy teaches a “smart” bumper system with a variably controllable valve responsive to impact conditions for use with large and small marine vessels. The bumper includes fiber-reinforced high strain-to-failure viscoelastic matrix material. 
     The present invention includes two elongated airtight tubular fenders, which are expandable when in use, and are retractable when uninflated and storable into a rolled configuration within the structure of the watercraft. The inflatable fender system of the present invention may be user deployed or automatically deployed, each side of the fender system being independently deployable as required. The deployed tubular fenders are supported in many embodiments by a plurality of hangers connected in spaced relation between the watercraft and the tubular fenders. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is directed to an inflatable fender system for protecting a watercraft from damaging contact with a permanent object, such as a dock, wharf, piling and rafted watercraft. Two elongated flexible substantially airtight tubular fenders are provided having a generally flat cross section when uninflated, rolled into a coil and stored at the stern of the watercraft. Each of the tubular fenders is independently extendable along a substantial portion of the length of the watercraft. A controlled air supply on the watercraft is operably connected to each of the tubular fenders for independently selectively inflating and expanding the tubular fenders from the flat cross section during deployment. A hanger system, preferably including a plurality of hangers connectable in spaced relation between the watercraft and each of the tubular fenders support the tubular fenders during deployment to protect the side and gunnels of the watercraft. 
     It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an inflatable fender system for protecting a watercraft from impact or abrasive damage when being positioned against a permanent object or another rafted watercraft. 
     Still another object of this invention is to utilize economically manufactured airtight flexible tubular material utilized in fabricating fire hoses or the manufacture of iflatable boat materials such as PVC, hypalon, or EPDM rubber may be used for manufacturing an inflatable fender system for protecting the sides of a watercraft. 
     Yet another object of this invention is to provide an inflatable fender system which is easily rollable or coiled into a compact unit when deflated for storage aboard the watercraft. 
     Still another object of this invention is to provide an inflatable system for protecting a watercraft from contact damage against fixed or permanent objects which is easily deployable from a coiled or rolled uninflated configuration into a readily inflatable deployed orientation either manually or through the utilization of power winches. 
     Yet another object of this invention is to provide an inflatable fender system for protecting watercraft which is completely stored out of sight when not in use. 
     In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a typical power yacht showing one embodiment of the system deployed along the port or left side of the hull. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the fly bridge control station showing the pressure monitoring gauges and switches of the system. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the basic components of the system. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the system deployed along the hull of a catamaran. 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of the invention deployed along the sides of the hull of a tugboat. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the invention deployed along both sides of a high performance pleasure craft. 
         FIG. 7  is a side elevation view of another embodiment of the invention deployed along the sides of the hull of a typical cabin cruiser. 
         FIG. 8  is a simplified top plan view of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 10  is a side elevation view of another embodiment of the invention being deployed against the side hull of a cabin cruiser from the water. 
         FIG. 11  is an enlarged simplified perspective view of the bow area of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is an enlarged perspective view of a detachable lock and peg for conveniently securing the upper end of a flexible rope embodiment of a hanger of the system. 
         FIG. 13  is a side elevation view of another embodiment of the invention deployable along a rail attached to the side of the hull. 
         FIG. 14  is an enlargement of the bow winch of  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 15  is an enlarged perspective view of the stern area of  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 16  is a side simplified perspective view of the bow area of  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 17  is a simplified view of another embodiment of the invention deployed on either side of the hull of a pleasure craft. 
         FIG. 18  is an enlarged perspective view of the foredeck area of the watercraft of  FIG. 17  showing the uninflated tubular fender being deployed. 
         FIG. 19  is an enlarged view of the handle portion attached to the forwardly end of the uninflated tubular fender of  FIG. 18 . 
         FIG. 20  is a perspective view of the rear or stern end of one of the tubular fenders of the system of  FIG. 17 . 
         FIG. 21  is a top plan view of the detachable handle of  FIG. 18 . 
         FIG. 22  is a side elevation view of  FIG. 21  showing one end of the hanger secured in position. 
         FIG. 23  is a perspective view of another watercraft showing another embodiment of the invention being deployed along the edge of the deck area. 
         FIG. 24  is another perspective view of  FIG. 23  showing the system after being deployed 
         FIG. 25  is an enlarged view of the inflated tubular fender and hanger attached thereto of  FIG. 24 . 
         FIG. 26  is a perspective view of the storage compartment of  FIG. 23 . 
         FIG. 27  is a simplified side elevation schematic view of the storage compartment of  FIG. 23  showing the uninflated coiled tubular fender positioned therein when stored. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, and firstly to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a pleasure yacht equipped with the invention is shown generally at numeral A. The invention in this embodiment is shown generally at numeral  10  and includes two elongated inflatable airtight tubular fenders  12 , preferably formed of fiber reinforced E.P.D.M. rubber covered tubular fire hose material such as that used in fire hose installations or material such as PVC or hypalon used in the manufacture of inflatable boats. This stock tubular material is available as utilized in this invention under the trade name ARGUS fire hose as supplied by Kidde Fire fighting located in Exton, Pa., the dimensions of which are in the range of 3″ to 12″ in diameter having a wall thickness in the range of ⅛″. 
     Shown deployed on the port side of the watercraft A, one of the tubular fenders  12  has been inflated and hung along the length of and just below the rub rail or gunnel C by a series of spaced apart flexible elongated hangers  18  which support the inflated tubular fender  12  from the bow to the corner of stern E of the watercraft A. These hangers  18  are releasibly attachable to mounting brackets  20  attached onto the deck D. 
     An airtight fitting  14  is secured into each end of the tubular fender  12  and is in airtight communication via air hose  16  with an air pump supply system  30  shown in  FIG. 3 . These fittings  14  are available under the trademark HAND-TITE from Peterson Products Co. of Fredonia, Wis. or similar from Osburn Associates, Inc. of Logan, Ohio. An air pump  32  is utilized along with an accumulator  34  supplying desired low-pressure high-volume air via the air conduit  16 . An air pressure/flow control module  22  mounted into the dash panel C shown in  FIG. 2  both regulates air flow and pressure into and out of each of the tubular fenders  12  by control switches  26  and  28  as well as providing a pressure monitor gauge  24 , again for each of the tubular fenders  12 . Typical air pressure required to properly inflate each of these tubular fenders is in the range of up to 20 psi and therefore leakage and high pressure risks are substantially reduced with this arrangement. 
     An important aspect of this invention is that each of the tubular fenders  12  is easily deployed as the watercraft A approaches a dock, wharf or another watercraft for mooring or docking. In one of the manners described herebelow, the tubular fenders  12  are deployed along the outside of the length of the gunnel B either inflated or uninflated, secured through hangers  18  and deck attaching members  20  into the position shown either before or after inflation has occurred. The substantial resiliency of the pressurized and inflated tubular fenders  12  is substantial and will resist rupture and any impact damage to the hull by serving as an intermediate contact with the dock, a wharf, pilings, rafting against another vessel and the like. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4 to 6 , the adaptability of the invention to various other styles and types of watercraft is there demonstrated. In  FIG. 4 , a sailing catamaran F includes the fender system  40  having inflated tubular fenders  42  releasably deployed along the length of the sides of each of the hulls for dockage damage protection both while docking occurs and while being tied to a dock, wharf, piling or the like. In  FIG. 5 , a tugboat H is shown equipped with the invention  44  wherein the elongated inflatable airtight tubular fenders  46  shown deployed and inflated, protect the sides and hulls of this vessel H. A smaller pleasure craft K shown in  FIG. 6  may also be equipped with the manually deployable embodiment  48  of this invention wherein the uninflated tubular fenders  50  are releasibly positioned along and just below one or both of the gunnels L, after which inflation thereof results in a completely protected damaging contact with a dock, piling, wharf, other rafted vessel and the like. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 7 to 9 , one broad concept of the invention is there shown generally at numeral  52  and which includes two elongated inflatable tubular fenders  54  hung in operative position along the sides of the hull N of vessel M. In this embodiment or aspect  52  of the invention, each of the tubular fenders  54  is joined at the bow at  62  with a suitable connector as each of the ends of each of the tubular fenders  54  have been sealingly capped by a suitable plug tightly fitted and cemented or clamped in place within the distal rounded ends of each of the tubular fenders  54 . Each of the elongated hangers  56  is attached by flexible reinforcing rings  58  formed of an S.S. band or of a fabric material similar to that of each of the tubular fenders  54  as previously described. The hangers  56  are attached to the deck P in adjustable fashion so that vertical placement in the direction of the arrows in  FIG. 7  may be accomplished. 
     Deployment of each of the tubular fenders  54  is from bins or storage bins  60   r  and  60   l  each positioned at the corresponding corners of the stern of the vessel M in a coiled or rolled up configuration when the tubular fenders  54  are uninflated. The material previously described for fabricating these tubular fenders  54  has a natural relaxed flattened configuration which greatly facilitates the invention by quickly self-deflating each fender  54  and allowing each of the tubular fenders  54  to be rolled up for storage within bins  60   r  and  60   l . Deployment of each of the uninflated tubular fenders  54  up to the connection  62  is done in the direction of the arrows in  FIG. 9  from the bins  60   r  and  60   l  manually until the full length of each of the hangers  56  is extended either prior to or after inflating of the tubular fenders  54 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 10 to 12 , another embodiment of the invention is there shown generally at  64  and includes elongated tubular fenders  66  constructed as previously described. End fittings  82  are also shown absent the air conduit connection to the air pump supply system for clarity. In this embodiment  64 , each of the tubular fenders  66  is initially deployed into the water after being air pressurized to maintain buoyancy. The connector  82  at the bow or forwardly end of the watercraft Q may be connected together as seen in  FIG. 11 , after which a bow winch or pulley mechanism  84  acting on a flexible rope  86  will lift the front portion of the connected tubular fenders  66  in the direction of the arrow. The remainder of the elongated hangers  70  are then manually shortened in the direction of those arrows to lift each of the tubular fenders  66  upwardly to the in-use position against the side of the hull of vessel Q. 
     A unique attaching arrangement in the form of a key cut metal plate lock  72  and peg  76  is utilized in this embodiment of the invention. The flexible rope  70  is fed through the eye  78  of peg  76  after it has been releasably attached to the lock or base  74  and knotted at  88  at a point along the length of the rope  70  as desired for proper height positioning of each of the inflated tubular fenders  66 . This lock and peg arrangement is available under the trademark TAYLOR MADE identified as a FENDER LOCK &amp; PEG. Thus, the uniqueness of this embodiment  64  is the relative ease of deployment of each of the tubular fenders  66  into the water in inflated configuration, after which the lifting of each of the inflated tubular fenders  66  is easily effected manually by a deck hand. 
     A more sophisticated embodiment of the invention is shown generally at numeral  90  in  FIGS. 13 to 16 . This embodiment  90  uses inflatable tubular fenders  92  as previously described but also utilizes an elongated traveler track  94  secured against the side of the hull and substantially coextensive with the length thereof. Cars are attached to bands  106  which slide freely along the length of each tubular fender  92  to facilitate deployment and retraction. These traveler tracks  94  and cars (not shown) are readily available from sailboat supply stores under the trademarks HARKEN AND LEWMAR. The uninflated tubular fenders  92  are stored in wound or reeled configuration on upright power reels  102  located at each corner of the stern of the vessel S. 
     When deployed, a bow winch  100  in operative engagement with the elongated flexible cables  96  attached to an airtight fitting  98  secured into the forwardly end of each of the tubular fenders  92  is operated to draw each of the tubular fenders  92  forwardly along track  94 . To retract these tubular fenders  92 , a power stern winch and reel  102  secured for rotation about an upright axis within each corner of the stern of the vessel S may be optionally provided so as to retract the tubular fenders  92  into a reeled up and stored uninflated configuration completely out of sight ready for redeployment at a later time. 
     Still another embodiment of the invention is shown in schematic simplified form in  FIGS. 17 to 22 . In this embodiment, the outstretched inflated or uninflated tubular fenders  112  of this system  110  associated with vessel T are first dragged forwardly from the stern where the uninflated tubular fenders  112  are stored in coiled or rolled up configuration along deck V to the bow of the watercraft T. A detachable handle  120  may be releasably attached to the forwardly end of the uninflated tubular fender  112  by band  122  as seen in  FIGS. 19 and 21 . 
     The band  122  is structured so as to be releasable laterally so as to avoid the need for being pulled over the cylindrical airtight end plug  114  permanently secured into the forwardly end of each of the tubular fenders  112 . The rear plug  116  is adapted to sealably interact with the air supply tubular fender  118  and to securely interengage with one of the flexible hangers  126 . When deployed atop the deck V and properly inflated, after each of the elongated hangers  126  are secured to a handrail U, each of the inflated tubular fenders  112  is then tossed over the handrail U and hangingly supported against the side of the hull as previously described. 
     Another aspect of the invention is generally shown at numeral  140  in  FIGS. 23 to 27  attached to watercraft W. In this embodiment  140 , each of the elongated tubular fenders  142  are stored in uninflated rolled up configuration within a storage bin  150  best seen in  FIGS. 26 and 27  built into the deck Y of the vessel W adjacent each stern corner Z thereof. The storage bin  150  includes a hatch  154  which is pivotally openable to the rear as shown by the arrow in  FIGS. 23 and 26  whereupon the uninflated tubular fenders  142  may be rolled forwardly along the deck of the watercraft W fully toward or fully to the bow of the watercraft W. After being properly inflated, the tubular fenders  142  are deployed over the hand rail X and held in the vertical position against the hull of the watercraft W by flexible hangers or ropes  146  secured around each of the inflated tubular fenders  142 , the height being adjustable by the proper movement of end portions  148  with respect to locking collar  156 . Although this embodiment is also manually deployable and storable by one or more deck hands, the ease and simplicity of deployment and restorage of this system is to be appreciated. 
     While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in what are conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be afforded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent apparatus and articles.