Vertically adjusting mooring device

A mooring device for automatically adjusting the vertical position of a floating object relative to the water level. The present invention provides a vertically adjusting mooring device for a floating object, comprising a pair of cables, each cable comprising an upper end and a lower end; the pair of cables are connected vertically along opposite sides of a dock post, whereby the cables are positioned substantially near the dock post; at least one pulley; the pulley is rotatably coupled to one of the cables for vertical movement between the upper end and the lower end of the cables; and the pulley is fastened to the floating object such that the pulley moves vertically in contact with the cable as the floating object moves vertically. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the mooring device further comprises a spacer pulley to prevent the floating object from contacting the dock or cable when the floating object is moored on only one side. In a further alternative embodiment, the invention comprises a piling extender to increase the height of existing dock posts.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
This invention relates generally to a mooring device, and this invention 
specifically relates to a protective mooring device for hazardous weather 
and/or water conditions which allows a floating object to automatically 
adjust within the mooring attachment with changing water levels. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Extreme tidal changes are known to occur in waters throughout the world. 
The periodic rise and fall of the waters of the ocean and its inlets 
result from the attraction of the sun and moon. Flood waters, storms, and 
seasonal changes may also cause water level changes, not only in tidal 
bodies of water, but also in inland waters such as lakes, streams, and 
rivers. These changing water levels have always presented difficulties in 
mooring floating objects, such as boats, to a stationary land mass or 
artificial support. 
Boaters often experiment with the length of the mooring lines to allow for 
these water level changes. However, by maintaining slack in these lines to 
allow vertical movement, the floating object is now free to move 
horizontally. Horizontal movement inevitably leads to damage to the 
floating object or to the object to which it is moored, such as the dock 
or pier. 
Boaters often encounter differing tidal ranges from one geographic area to 
another, a factor which is needed to be taken into account when mooring. 
Other factors, although measurable and constant within a particular 
region, include the existence of "Spring Tides" and differing "flow rates" 
for bodies of water. 
An attempt to remedy this mooring problem is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 
5,138,965 to Culp and U.S. Pat. No. 5,014,638 to Ilves et al. each of 
which is incorporated herein by reference. Culp generally describes an 
improved water level compensation device for adjusting the vertical 
position of a floating object relative to a fixed land mass, comprising a 
first channel fixed to a land mass in a substantially vertical position 
with a carriage means movably retained within the channel and a second 
channel with a counterweight within to balance the weight of the carriage 
across a pulley. A coupling means, such as a trailer coupler, is affixed 
to a mounting plate affixed to the carriage for coupling the floating 
object relative to the fixed land mass. Ilves et al. generally describes a 
mooring construction having a fixed mount member on a boat, a vertically 
movable slider device on a dock post and a connecting unit, where the 
connecting unit includes a cylinder and piston to provide adjustability 
for the length of the connecting unit. 
One major disadvantage associated with the type of system described in Culp 
is that the interior of the channels is exposed to the water and marine 
life, and after a period of time, the channels will become encrusted with 
marine life and other debris which will interfere with the ability of the 
carriage and counter-weight to move up and down within the confines of the 
channel. A further disadvantage is that since the channel and 
counter-weight configuration contains a multitude of moving parts in 
complex arrangement, the mooring device is subject to constant malfunction 
and breakage. 
A similar disadvantage associated with the type of system described in 
Ilves et at. is that the vertical slider member having a tubular member 
mounted on a longer cylindrical guide is a complex system of 
interconnecting parts which, when any portion of the slider becomes 
encrusted with marine life or debris, the slider will no longer function. 
A further disadvantage of both of the above-described systems is that the 
coupler described in the invention requires additional hardware mounted on 
the floating object, such as a trailer ball, which is not standard marine 
hardware. 
Another type of mooring device is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,480,576 to 
Mills incorporated herein by reference. Mills generally describes a boat 
mooring arrangement in which a pair of cylindrical posts are affixed to 
the dock having carriage assemblies associated therewith comprising 
U-shaped collars having rollers which ride up and down the posts when the 
carriage assemblies are fastened to a boat when changes of water level are 
encountered. A major disadvantage of the system described in Mills is that 
in order to mount the posts, a tripod assembly is required to secure the 
posts to the dock. Such an assembly is oversized and cumbersome and 
requires a substantial amount of hardware in addition to the mooring site 
itself. 
An additional type of mooring device is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 
3,842,779 to Jaynes incorporated herein by reference. Jaynes generally 
describes a boat mooring device comprising a bow-shaped frame member with 
a cable attached thereto and with a slidable member supported of the cable 
and secured to a boat so that as the movement of the water causes the boat 
to move up and down, the slidable member will move correspondingly and 
prevent scuffing and damage to the boat. One major disadvantage associated 
with this type of system is that the bowed-shaped member is subject to 
high-stress and in time will bend, causing the cable to loosen and 
requiring replacement of the frame. Another disadvantage is that since the 
tubular member slidably supported on the cable is not equipped with any 
type of device for movement, it will have a tendency to bind due to 
friction or uneven stress points with every movement of the bow-shaped 
frame causing slackening of the cable. 
An additional major disadvantage in all of the above-mentioned systems is 
that the systems do not provide any additional strengthening or 
enhancements to the existing dock posts or mooring site, and actually can 
cause extra stress on the side of attachment. Another disadvantage is that 
all of these systems require a substantial amount of additional hardware 
to be installed and operate. A further disadvantage is that none of these 
systems are designed to allow the greatest clearance in limited space, as 
in finger piers where the slips are narrow. 
Another disadvantage is that none of the above-mentioned systems adequately 
address unpredictable severe natural conditions such as a possible change 
in factors such as "Spring Tides", nor do these systems address the 
collateral needs of environment, property, or public safety. Furthermore, 
none of these systems allow the maximum mooring height to be extended in 
the event conditions change. 
One possible solution to these problems is to provide a mooring device 
which compensates for the changing water levels without requiring a 
substantial amount of additional hardware and can be easily installed onto 
existing dock posts. 
Another possible solution to these problems is to provide a mooring device 
which does not interfere with the slip size by extending out over the 
water, nor does it interfere with the dock by extending onto the dock. 
Another possible solution to these problems is to provide a mooring device 
that actually strengthens the dock post, and does not stress one side or 
the other, even when attached to a floating object during hazardous water 
and wind conditions. 
Another possible solution to these problems is to provide a mooring device 
in which the vertical adjustment is not prone to failure due to marine 
growth or buildup and is easily serviced or replaceable when in need of 
repair. 
Another possible solution to these problems is to provide a mooring device 
which can be easily extended to provide greater vertical adjustment and 
necessary strength during extreme tidal conditions, as during turbulent 
weather conditions, or hurricane season. 
Thus, there has been a need in the art for a mooring device which 
compensates for the changing water levels which is economical, requires a 
minimal amount of additional hardware, and is easy to install onto 
existing dock posts, and in which the vertical adjustment mechanism, the 
only moving part, is not prone to failure due to marine growth or buildup 
and is easily replaceable without additional skill or training. 
There has been an additional need in the art for a mooring device which is 
compact such that it does not interfere with the slip size by extending 
out over the water, nor does it interfere with the dock by extending onto 
the dock, and it provides a symmetrical cable-like support to strengthen 
the dock post. 
There has been an additional need in the art for a mooring device which can 
be easily extended to provide greater vertical adjustment and greater 
protection during extreme wind, water, or tidal conditions. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention solves significant problems in the art by providing a 
vertically adjusting mooring device for a floating object with the ability 
to maintain placement and sustain protection during extreme wind and water 
conditions. 
Generally described, the present invention provides a vertically adjusting 
mooring device for a floating object comprising a pair of cables, each 
cable comprising an upper end and a lower end; means for connecting the 
pair of cables vertically along opposite sides of a dock post, whereby the 
cables are positioned substantially near the dock post; at least one 
pulley; means for rotatably coupling the pulley to one of the cables for 
vertical movement between the upper end and the lower end of the cables; 
and means for fastening the pulley to the floating object such that the 
pulley moves vertically in contact with the cable as the floating object 
moves vertically. 
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the dock post comprises a 
bottom end and a top end, the bottom end buried beneath the ground surface 
at a sufficient depth to support the dock post in a substantially vertical 
position. The upper end of each of the cables is connected to the dock 
post at a position above the surface of the water and the lower end of 
each of the cables is connected to the dock post at a position 
sufficiently above the ground surface to prevent the floating object from 
contacting the ground surface. 
The means for connecting the cables to the dock posts comprises a top 
connecting bracket and a bottom connecting bracket, wherein each of the 
lower cable ends is threaded through the bottom bracket on opposite sides 
and secured by a cable head, and wherein each of the upper cable ends is 
threaded through the top connecting bracket and secured by a nut threaded 
onto the upper cable end. 
The pulley comprises a housing, a roller mounted within the housing for 
engaging one of the pair of cables, a connecting link coupled to the 
housing for fastening the pulley to the floating object. The means for 
fastening the pulley to the floating object comprises a mooring line 
having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the mooring 
line is attached to the floating object and the second end of the mooring 
line attached to the connecting link of the pulley. 
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the dock post further 
comprises a piling extender attached to the top end of the dock post, 
whereby the piling extender increases the height of the dock post to a 
height greater than normal high tide level. The upper end of each of the 
cables is connected to the piling extender at a position above the surface 
of the water and the lower end of each of the cables is connected to the 
dock post at a position sufficiently above the ground surface to prevent 
the floating object from contacting the ground surface. 
In another alternative embodiment of the invention, the mooring device 
further comprises a spacer pulley comprising a housing, a roller mounted 
within the housing for engaging one of the pair of cables, a connecting 
bracket coupled to the housing for directly fastening the pulley to the 
floating object, whereby the spacer pulley creates a barrier between the 
floating object and the cable. 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a mooring 
device which compensates for the changing water levels comprising a pair 
of cables connected vertically along opposite sides of existing dock posts 
using minimal hardware. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a mooring device 
which does not interfere with the slip size by extending out over the 
water, nor does it interfere with the dock by extending onto the dock by 
using connecting brackets which secure the cables close to the dock post. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a mooring device 
that actually strengthens the dock post, and does not stress one side or 
the other by using a top connecting bracket and a bottom connecting 
bracket to connect a pair of cables, wherein each of the lower cable ends 
is threaded through the bottom bracket on opposite sides and secured by a 
cable head, and wherein each of the upper cable ends is threaded through 
the top connecting bracket and secured by a nut threaded onto the upper 
cable end. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a pulley system 
for vertical adjustment which inherently resists failure due to marine 
growth or buildup and is easily replaceable. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a mooring device 
which can be easily extended to provide greater vertical adjustment than 
with the existing dock posts by allowing the addition of piling extenders 
to the existing dock post and lengthening the cables of the mooring 
device. 
It is another object of an alternative embodiment of the present invention 
to provide the dock post with a piling extender attached to the top end of 
the dock post, whereby the piling extender increases the height of the 
dock post to a height greater than normal high tide level. The upper end 
of each of the cables is connected to the piling extender at a position 
above the surface of the water at a height greater than normal high tide 
level and the lower end of each of the cables is connected to the dock 
post at a position sufficiently above the ground surface to prevent the 
floating object from contacting the ground surface. 
It is another object of an alternative embodiment of the present invention 
to provide a spacer pulley comprising a housing, a roller mounted within 
the housing for engaging one of the pair of cables, a connecting bracket 
coupled to the housing for directly fastening the pulley to the floating 
object, whereby the spacer pulley creates a barrier between the floating 
object and the cable. 
Accordingly, it is a feature of the invention to prevent the floating 
object from contacting the ground surface by connecting the lower end of 
each of the cables to the dock post at a position sufficiently above the 
ground surface to protect the ground surface as well as the floating 
object. 
It is another feature of the invention to provide a pulley comprising a 
housing, a roller mounted within the housing for engaging one of the pair 
of cables, a connecting link coupled to the housing for fastening the 
pulley to the floating object, wherein a mooring line is attached between 
the floating object and the connecting link of the pulley. 
An advantage of the invention is that the pulleys move freely along the 
length of the cables, regardless of stresses and conditions of wind or 
water, allowing the position of the floating object to adjust vertically 
with the water level, but restricting horizontal movement. 
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention 
may be more clearly understood and appreciated from a review of the 
following detailed description of the disclosed embodiments and by 
reference to the appended drawings and claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring initially to FIG. 1 of the drawings, in which like numerals 
indicate like elements throughout the several views, in a preferred 
embodiment the mooring device of this invention is generally illustrated 
by reference numeral 1. The mooring device 1 is shown attached to a dock 
post 2 associated with an existing dock 3. The bottom end of the dock post 
2 is preferably buried beneath the seabed at a sufficient depth to support 
the dock post in a substantially vertical position. The top end of the 
dock post 2 extends above the water surface at a height equal to or 
greater than the highest expected tidal level. A floating object 5, such 
as a boat, buoy, floating dock, or the like, is moored to the mooring 
device 1 using mooring lines 4-d (FIG. 5) or other suitable mooring means, 
such as a cable, rope, or chain. 
FIGS. 1 through 3 illustrate various water levels encountered by mooring 
devices. FIG. 1 shows the operation of the mooring device during high 
tide. FIG. 2 illustrates the operation of the mooring device during spring 
tides. Finally, FIG. 3 shows the operation of the mooring device during a 
storm surge. 
The mooring device 1 comprises a pair of cables 1-b running vertically 
along opposite sides of the dock post 2 and secured to the dock post 2 
above the water's surface and beneath. In a preferred embodiment of the 
invention, the upper ends of the cables 1-b are secured at the top of the 
dock post 2, at a position greater than the maximum storm surge or flood 
water level for the particular region. The lower ends of the cables 1-b 
are secured at a sufficient position above the seabed to prevent the 
floating object 5 from contacting the seabed during extreme low-tides or 
during turbulent conditions when wave action creates extremely shallow 
points. The lower ends of the cables 1-b usually remain beneath the water 
surface. 
As shown in FIG. 1, the preferred mooring position of the invention 
includes four dock posts 2 each with a mooring device 1. The dock posts 2 
are positioned in the four corners of a substantially rectangular area, 
such as a boat slip, such that the floating object 5 can be moored within 
this boat slip with mooring lines 4-d attached to each mooring device 1. 
The boat slip should conform to proper dock or vessel ratios when moored. 
FIG. 4 shows a top view of this preferred mooring position, with the 
floating object 5 located within the boat slip. One end of each mooring 
line 4-d is secured to the floating object 5 by means of a cleat, hook, or 
any other established tie-off hardware installed within the industry. The 
opposite end of each mooring line 4-d is connected to one of the pair of 
cables 1-b secured to each dock post 2. Although FIG. 4 illustrates the 
preferred mooring arrangement of the invention, a plurality of mooring 
arrangements using various numbers of dock posts 2 with mooring devices 1 
are contemplated, and are discussed in more detail below with reference to 
the alternative embodiments of the invention. 
Turning now to FIGS. 5 through 8, the preferred means for securing the 
cables 1-b to the dock post 2 are illustrated. A bottom cable bracket 1-a 
is attached to the dock post 2 at a position above the seabed. (FIGS. 5 
and 6). The bottom cable bracket 1-a holds the bottom ends of the pair of 
cables 1-b on opposite sides of the dock post 2. The cables 1-b are held 
sufficiently close to the dock post 2 so as to not extend in the way of 
the dock 3 or the boat slip area. In a preferred embodiment, bottom cable 
heads are located on each of the bottom ends of the pair of cables 1-b 
respectively to prevent the pair of cables 1-b from slipping through the 
bottom cable bracket 1-a. 
The top cable bracket 1-a is attached near the top end of the dock post 2 
at a position greater than or equal to the maximum expected high-tide 
water level for the particular region or possible condition. (FIGS. 7 and 
8). The threaded top ends of the cables 1-b are inserted through the top 
cable bracket 1-a and secured by tensioning bolts 1-c. The tensioning 
bolts 1-c are used to adjust the tension of the cables 1-b , while holding 
the top ends of the cables 1-b in place. The cables 1-b provide added 
strength to the dock post 2 when tightened on both sides. The use of the 
cables 1-b on both sides prevents added stress toward only one side. The 
cables 1-b are positioned close to the dock post 2 to allow a compact, 
thus strengthening, mooring means, without interfering with the dock area 
or slip area. 
Turning now to FIGS. 9 and 10, a pulley 4-a of the preferred embodiment of 
the mooring device with respect to one of the cables 1-b is shown. Prior 
to securing the cable 1-b to the top cable bracket 1-a, the cable 1-b is 
inserted through the pulley 4-a. The pulley 4-a is designed to ride up and 
down the length of the cable 1-b between the two cable brackets 1-a , 1-a 
. The cable 1-b rides along a roller within the pulley bracket 4-b to ease 
vertical movement. The pulley bracket 4-b is attached to the mooring line 
4-d by means of a connecting link 4-c. The connecting link 4-c may consist 
of a ring, hook, quick-release locking ring, or other suitable linking 
means to connect the mooring line 4-d to the pulley bracket 4-b. 
The operation of the mooring device 1 is hereafter described with respect 
to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. When a floating object 5, such as a boat, is to be 
moored, the floating object 5 is positioned between three or more dock 
posts 2, preferably two or more dock posts 2 on each side of the floating 
object 5, with one fore and one aft of the floating object 5. Alternate 
arrangements, such as using more or less than four dock posts for mooring 
a floating object is also contemplated, for instance, using three dock 
posts 2 located in a triangular relationship. The floating object 5, may 
be positioned nearer one side for ease of entry and exit. One end of each 
of the mooring lines 4-d is attached to a corresponding connecting link 
4-c of the pulley bracket 4-b on each of the dock posts 2. The other end 
of each of the mooring lines 4-d is attached to the floating object 5 in 
standard maritime practices without slack in the lines 4-d. When the tide 
rises, the floating object will rise correspondingly with the water level. 
The mooring lines 4-d connected to the pulley bracket 4-b, will cause the 
pulleys 4-a to move vertically along the cables 1-b. When the tide lowers, 
the floating object 5 will lower with the water level. The mooring lines 
4-d will remain connected to the pulley bracket 4-b which ride down the 
cables 1-b with the water level. The mooring device 1 allows the floating 
object 5 to remain attached to the dock posts 2 without regard for storm 
or tidal surge conditions, inclusive of wind. 
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, FIGS. 11 through 13 show 
piling extenders 7 attached to the upper ends of the dock posts 2 in order 
to extend the height of the dock posts 2 when used with the invention. In 
some situations, the height of an existing dock post 2 may be less than 
the maximum highest water level for the particular region or condition. 
The piling extenders 7 would increase the height of the existing dock post 
2 to allow for the hazardous weather conditions. During certain seasons 
such as hurricane or monsoon season, it may be desirable to readily extend 
the dock posts 2 and seek out the mooring device 1 when storm surges may 
cause high-tide levels to be greater than usual and wind conditions become 
hazardous. 
FIG. 12 shows the piling extenders 7 attached to the top of an existing 
dock post 2. The top end of the piling extender 7 includes a bracket 
portion eliminating the need for the bracket (FIG. 13). The threaded upper 
ends of the cables 1-b are inserted through the bracket portion of the 
piling extender and secured by tensioning bolts 1-c. The tensioning bolts 
1-c are used to adjust the tension of the cables 1-b, while holding the 
upper ends of the cables 1-b in place. The cables 1-b provide added 
strength to the piling extender 7 and dock post 2 when tightened on both 
sides. The use of the cables 1-b on both sides prevents added stress 
toward only one side. 
FIGS. 14 through 16 show the use of a spacer pulley 6 on one of the cables 
1-b in an alternative embodiment of the mooring device according to the 
invention. Although the preferred mooring position includes three or more 
dock posts 2 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, situations may arise when only 
two posts 2 are available. In order to prevent the floating object 5 from 
drifting into the cables 1-b, dock posts 2 or dock 3 when one side of the 
floating object 5 is moored with the pulleys 4-a as described above with 
respect to FIGS. 9 and 10 to only two dock posts, a spacer pulley 6 is 
positioned between the floating object 5 and each of the cables 1-b 
forming a channeled barrier. One end of the spacer pulley 6-a is connected 
to the floating object 5 by a connecting means 6-b such as a clamp, 
bracket, or the like. FIG. 15 shows a top view of the connecting means 6-b 
attached to the floating object 5. The floating object 5 is positioned 
such that the cable 1- b is in contact with the spacer pulley 6-a on the 
outside away from the floating object 5. The spacer pulley 6-a and the 
cable pulley 4-a are free to move vertically the length of the cable, 
while preventing the floating object 5 from contacting the cables, dock 
posts, or dock. FIG. 16 is a top view showing the spacer pulley 6-a in 
relation to the cable and the cable pulley 4-a. The mooring line connected 
to the cable pulley 4-a is tightened to keep the spacer pulley 6-a in 
contact with the cable. The spacer pulley 6-a creates a barrier between 
the floating object and the cable, preventing damage to the dock, and 
restricting horizontal movement. 
Accordingly, it will be understood that the preferred embodiment and 
alternative embodiment of the present invention have been disclosed by way 
of example and that other modifications and alterations may occur to those 
skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the 
appended claims.