Fender Hook Rope Anchor

Improvements in a rope securing anchor for a boat fender that provides a versatile rope securing system to secure a boat to a dock or other location. The fender hook rope anchor can be quickly installed or removed from a boat fender and the rope can be quickly adjusted for the rope position within the fender hook rope anchor. The rope anchor has an open hook with a flexible tension finger that is easily installed and removed over the fender of a boat. A user can place the fender hook rope anchor where needed and quickly removed when not needed. There is an opening where a rope can pass and be secured using a one-way spring loaded and releasable cam. A user can quickly pass a rope through the opening to secure a line, and can pull the line out of the rope anchor when not needed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

PRIOR ART

U.S. Pat. No. 4,280,435 issued on Jul. 28, 1981 to Donald W. Loomis and is titled One Piece Anchor for Adjustable Tethering a Rope Suspended Boat Fender. This patent discloses a novel one-piece anchor is described for adjustably tethering a rope suspended boat fender against the side of a boat so that the boat fender will be appropriately positioned with respect to the level of a dock against which the boat may be moored. In the preferred embodiment, the novel anchor comprises a substantially elongate member of uniform thickness, with a number of apertures, one end of which is differentiated into a hook, and the other end of which is rounded. While this patent discloses an adjustable rope tether, the tether does not have a one-way rope lock.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,143,708 issued on May 12, 2006 to William J, Cimino and is titled Boat Fender Mounting Device. This patent discloses boat fender mounting device having a planar member with a slot defined therein for receipt and retention of a rail/cable and at least one rope aperture for receipt and retention of the first end of a rope for supporting a boat fender at its second end at a desired height against the hull of a boat. This patent also does not disclose a one-way rope lock.

U.S. Published application No. 20110132249 was published on Sep. 6, 2011 to Robert W. Loisel Jr, and is titled Boat Fender Positioning Process. This publication discloses a method for adjustably positioning a boat fender on the side of a boat utilizes a flexible strap having a plurality of openings therein having a boat fender rope threaded therethrough. The boat fender rope can be quickly moved through the openings in the strap to raise or lower the boat fender to lock the boat fender in place on the side of the boat. This publication also does not disclose a one-way rope lock.

U.S. Published application No. 20020162494 was published on Jul. 11, 2002 to Steven Skulnick and is titled Recessed Line Holder for a Boat Fender. This publication discloses a boat fender with a recessed line holder to permit an individual to adjust the positioning of the boat fender to a desired length. The recessed line holder is flush with the outer surface of the boat fender to create a smooth outer surface. The recessed line holder has a bridge under which a rope is inserted through a passage. The rope may then be tied off or secured to another fender. While this publication does not disclose does not have a one-way rope lock.

What is needed is a fender hook rope anchor that can be quickly installed and removed on a fender and includes a one-way rope cam to hold the rope in position on the fender hook. The fender hook rope anchor disclosed in this document provides the solution.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Boats require a variety of rope connections to hold a boat against a dock or in position in the water. Ropes are also used to on the deck and on fenders. Most solutions provide an apparatus where the rope is threaded, looped knotted or otherwise secured. While this secures the rope it limits the ability to tighten the rope and also the ability to quickly release the rope from the fender of the boat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the fender hook rope anchor to provide a versatile rope securing system to secure a boat to a dock or other location. The fender hook rope anchor can be quickly installed or removed from the fender of a boat and also allows for quick adjustment of the rope position within the fender hook rope anchor.

It is an object of the fender hook rope anchor to have an open hook that is quickly and easily installed and removed over the fender of a boat. This allows the user to place the fender hook rope anchor where needed for use and quickly removed when not needed.

It is another object of the fender hook rope anchor for the fender hook to include a flexible finger. The flexible finger provides some retention of the fender hook to prevent the fender hook from becoming dislodged from wave motion but can be manually lifted to pull the fender hook rope anchor off of the fender of the boat.

It is another object of the fender hook rope anchor to have an opening where a rope can pass and be secured. A user can quickly pass a rope through the opening to secure a line and can pull the line out of the rope anchor when not needed.

It is still another object of the fender hook rope anchor for the rope anchor to have a one-way locking mechanism. A user can pull the rope from one direction to tighten the rope and the rope will remain in position until released. The locking mechanism is a spring-loaded cam that prevents rope movement of the rope against the cam.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While this technology is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail several specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the technology and is not intended to limit the technology to the embodiments illustrated. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the technology. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and/or “including,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. It will be understood that like or analogous elements and/or components, referred to herein, may be identified throughout the drawings with like reference characters.

ITEM NUMBERS AND DESCRIPTION

FIG.1shows a top perspective view of a fender hook rope anchor20in an environment of use with line18passing into a line or rope inlet21and through the lower housing20. The lever of the locking tab40rotates99on the pivot43in the lower housing24to engage and disengage teeth (not shown in this figure) onto the line18. Force of the lever creates a one-way grip on the line18. When the line18is pulled88in one direction, the line18can slide under the teeth. When the line18is pulled in the opposite direction, the teeth will be pulled into the line18to prevent movement of the line18.

The lower housing24is secured to an upper housing with a tab45that engages in a keyhole59and is further secured with fasteners50that pass though a front plate25into the bottom of the vertical member61.

The upper portion of the fender hook rope anchor20has a vertical member61that transitions with a step to a back member65. The back member65has a locking finger70in an opening62that is configured to engage at least partially around a fender19. The back member65is connected to a top63and a front lip64that is configured to extend at least partially around the fender19or tube.

FIG.2shows a front view of the fender hook rope anchor20andFIG.3is a cross-sectional view taken from3-3inFIG.2. Starting with the locking tab40on a lever41that pivots on the pivot43. A spring (not shown) connects into spring hole44to bias the lever41to rotate99the locking tab40onto a line or rope (shown inFIG.1) so the teeth42of the locking tab40will brake movement of the line or rope that passes from the line inlet21through the line outlet22near a rounded front nose26. When a user will push98down on the locking tab40, the locking tab40will be lifted from the rope or line thereby allowing the rope or line to be fed into the housing or moved freely through the housing. The housing has a stop to limit rotation of the locking tab40. At the side of the housing opposing the locking tab40is a fender hook component that is secured, clamped or sandwiched into one side of the line locking housing.

The fender hook component joins to the line securing components with the vertical member61connecting on a tab45in a keyhole59that passes through a vertical member61. A clearance saddle46exists under the vertical member61with tapered sides66. The front plate25also connects to the rope line anchor with fastener(s)50, but could also be glued, heat staked or joined with other means. Above the front plate25is a knee67bend that sits on a ledge69that limits movement of the fender hook portion on the line anchor portion. Above the vertical member61is an opening where a locking finger70passes therethrough. The locking finger70flexes from the top63portion of the fender hook in the opening62to retain the fender hook on a fender or tube as previously shown. The front lip64is configured to wrap over at least a portion of the fender or tube as previously shown.

FIG.4is a top view of the fender hook rope anchor20. This view looks through the line inlet21where the teeth42of the locking tab40are visible at the top portion of the view. The lever41is shown as a rotated cross-section and as a line drawing where the rope or line can freely pass through without interacting with the teeth42. These teeth42grip into a rope or line (not shown) to allow the rope to pass through the fender hook rope anchor20when pulled on one direction and prevents free movement of the rope or line when it is pulled in the opposite direction. At the lower portion of the view the fender connection portion is shown with the opening(s)62on both sides of the fender hook rope anchor20. The vertical member61is shown extending into the view with the underside of the top63of the fender hook portion. The front lip64is shown extending up from the top63.

FIG.5is a bottom perspective view of the fender hook rope anchor20andFIG.6is a perspective cross-section of the key engaged in the keyway keyhole59. The lever of the locking tab40rotates in the lower housing24to engage and disengage teeth (not shown in this figure) onto a rope or line18(not shown). The lower housing24is secured to an upper housing with a tab45that engages in a keyhole59and is further secured with fasteners50that passes through a front plate25into the bottom of the vertical member61with tapered sides66after a knee67bend.

The upper portion of the fender hook rope anchor20has a vertical member61that transitions with a step to a back member62. The back member62has a locking finger70that is configured to engage at least partially around a fender19. The back member62is connected to a top63and a front lip64that is configured to extend at least partially around a fender or tube (not shown). The locking finger with the bend clearance openings60are visible in this figure where the bend clearance openings terminate in the top63of the fender hook portion. This allows the majority of the bending and flexing to occur along the length of the locking finger70and into the top63of the housing so the fender is at least partially retained between the front lip64, top63and the back65.

FromFIG.6the keyhole59opening shows where the circular body of the tab45can pass through the opening68and slide along the ledge71to secure the underside of the tab45undercut48in the ledge71.

Thus, specific embodiments of a fender hook rope anchor have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.