Mooring pendant apparatus

A mooring pendant apparatus for releasably coupling and decoupling a boat. The apparatus having a clip comprising hook and ring sections, with an opening therebetween defining a mouth. A spring loaded movable arm tension biased such that the mouth is kept closed, and it only opens upon activation by a boater pulling on a cable. A functional retractor arm for exerting a greater force on the movable arm than exerted by the internal spring such that the clip opens upon the boater pulling on a cable line. The mooring pendant apparatus operates as an extension of the boater's arm, and it can be utilized either by keeping the apparatus on the boat or leaving it connected to the mooring line and also to the mooring ball.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an apparatus for releasably coupling and decoupling a clip to facilitate mooring a boat. More specifically, the apparatus allows for easier attachment of a mooring line to the bow of a boat.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pleasure boats, such as yachts and small boats, are often moored to either a dock cleat or a mooring buoy. The mooring line is tied around the dock cleat or through a mooring ring on a buoy. Preferably the mooring line is tied to a ring or eye member that is found on the bow of the boat. Because of the difficulty in securing a mooring rope to a relatively remote eye member, such as one found on the bow of a boat, the boater often neglects this procedure and only ties the boat to the cleats on the top surface of the boat. The difficulty created in trying to tie the rope to the buoy ring may be just as hard because the boater must reach down for the buoy and then often must pull it up to tie the line. If the mooring line cannot be pulled up, due to factors such as weight or tension in its anchor line, a second person is usually required. The problem encountered in trying to tie a mooring rope to the ring on the bow of a boat is usually due to the awkward position in which most bow rings are located. Reaching over and trying to reach the bow ring may be very hazardous to a boater, especially in rough waters. An unassisted boater may even find it impossible to moor his boat. It may be especially difficult to attach and detach a tie line to a mooring buoy or a boat bow ring or eyelet, in situations where a boat is not small enough to permit the user to reach down and manually fasten or unfasten the clip. Also, tying the mooring line to cleats on the deck of the boat creates chafe which can weaken and eventually cause failure of the mooring line. And, with more boats being built with pop-up or pull-up cleats there is the problem of failure from the constant stress of the mooring line. When the freeboard is large, the boatsman must use a long boat hook or gaff to reach down and snag the mooring line and lift it up to height where he can manually snap or unsnap the clip from the buoy or bow eye member.

Remote control attachment assemblies are commercially available and such assemblies usually comprise a slide member designed to be attached to a conventional elongated boat hook and then the hook is retained in an open position. This enables the open hook to engage the eye member of the mooring buoy or bow ring. Such assemblies are often difficult to use. The present invention has found that the type of devices which are generally considered the easiest to operate are those employing a long rod which acts as an extension of the boater's arm and wherein the opening and closing of the clip by a remote means eases the burden of the procedure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the problems outlined above and provides a safe and convenient clip for docking a boat to a mooring structure with the aid of a mooring pendant apparatus. The apparatus releasably couples or decouples to an eyelet on the bow of the boat or to a buoy. The apparatus includes a clip that may open and close for attachment or release. The clip comprises an integral hook and ring which define a mouth therebetween. The hook section includes an attachment hook which accommodates a movable arm having an upper bridge section, which is biasly forced into the attachmet hook by an internal spring located in the movable arm and therein exerts a tension on the bridge section to keep the clip in a closed position. The ring section includes an access of rotation hole which provides an anchoring position for a functional retractor lever, which includes a pair of right and left lower and upper arm sections, the lower and upper arms forming a variable angular deviation in relationship to each other while maintaining the arms in a bowed position. The retractor lever also has a curved contact section that is in functional engagement with the movable arm, and a leg section extending downwardly and which has an extension piece located at a distal end that frictionally fits with great bias into the access of rotation hole of the ring section to create leverage for the retractor lever. A central rod has a first end connected to the ring section of the clip and an opposing end containing a displaced eyelet, which has an opening for connection to a mooring rope. A cable is attached to the retractor lever for activation of the apparatus. The cable passes through a cable guide and then is secured to movable handle and is then secured to a fixed handle wherein a boater may pull on the movable handle with sufficient force to overcome the locking tension placed by the internal spring on the movable arm, therein opening the clip, which may then be closed by releasing the pull on the cable.

An embodiment of the invention utilizes a three sleeved attachment for placement over the movable arm, the attachment having a large inner sleeve friction-fitted over the movable arm and two smaller sleeves integrally connected on opposing sides of the attachment. There is no access of rotation hole in this embodiment. The functional retractor lever is secured to the clip by a pair of leg sections abruptly extending downward, each leg section friction-fitted into one of the smaller sleeves of the attachment. An external rod is connected to both the hook and ring sections of the clip, preferably by welding. The boater activates this embodiment in similar fashion to the preferred embodiment which is by pulling on the cable.

Another embodiment of the invention employs an innovative intermittent triple function external rod system having means for connecting a first end of the rod to both, the hook and ring sections of the clip. The system is made up of three intermittent sections, a first section for stabilizing both the mooring line and the cable, a second section serving as a connector between the first section, and a third section for stabilizing the mooring line and cable while providing a gripping handle for the boater. This embodiment uses a pull ball to activate the cable line to open and close the mouth of the clip.

While many other materials may be used, the clip, the rods and displaced ring of the mooring pendant apparatus are preferably formed out of stainless steel or brass and also may be cast or forged. When not cast the rods are integrally connected to the clip by welding. The cable is preferably formed from aircraft cable or polyvinylchloride coated steel in order to cope with the harsh conditions of water and weather. The displaced eyelet may be expanded to include multiple eyelets, of various configuration arrangements and shapes, for attachment of multiple mooring ropes, and may be affixed to the mooring line or may be connected at the time of use, thus keeping it on board the boat as opposed to keeping it connected to the mooring line and mooring ball.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the Figures. Some terms used in the description and the appended claims are defined below.

Referring toFIG. 1, the illustrated mooring pendant apparatus20is comprised of the following portions: a clip22; a central rod24; a cable26that when pulled or released controls the clip22; handles, both a fixed handle28, and a movable handle30; a cable guide32; and a displaced eyelet34. The pendant apparatus20facilitates the placement and removal of the clip22from a boat ring (not shown) or a mooring ball (not shown). The clip22connects to the boat ring and/or to a mooring ball through the medium of a mooring line42(typically a rope) for the proper securing of the watercraft while in the water. The boater may opt to keep the apparatus onboard and connect to the mooring line, depending on the connectivity design chosen for that particular mooring line. The present apparatus20aids the boater in attaching the clip22to the boat ring/eyelet that is located on the bow of the boat, and which is often in a very precarious place to reach. In the boating industry, the design and location of boat rings were carefully engineered for function, and not convenience, therein they are usually placed for an attachment site which is closer to the surface of the water. This design inherently reduces stress by lowering the center of gravity and rotation and by utilizating the framework of the boat itself to handle stress. The use of the present invention not only helps the boater with the ease of placement and removal of the clip22but also aids in the proper stabilization of the boat when moored.

The present invention uses one of the more common commercially available clips and then alters it in a most novel manner. As best illustrated inFIGS. 1,2ato2c, the clip22is comprised of: a hook section36and an integral ring section38that has a central opening40in which the mooring line42may optionally be tied; a movable arm44for opening and closing a mouth67of the clip22; access of rotation hole46defined in the ring38at a unique site for anchoring the functional retractor lever48which controls the motion of the movable arm44. The retractor lever48(best shown inFIG. 4a) is comprised of: a looped section50connected to the pull cable26(discussed below); a pair of lower and upper arm sections, a left lower section54and a left upper section56and a right lower section55and a right upper section57each of which forms an angular deviation in relationship to each other, and it is important to note that these angular deviations can be varied. There is included a curved functional contact section58for engaging the movable arm44when activation is required to open or shut the clip. The curvature is a critical concept as the functional contact section58will have a tendency to ride up on the front facing of the movable arm44. This curvature design allows the contact section58to trail the arm movement and therefore not override the extent of the movable arm44when it is in its most open position. It also serves as a safety mechanism because upon releasing the functional retractor lever48, the movable arm44is allowed to return to its closed position and the functional contact section58will lower itself to its original starting position. A leg section68extends in a downwardly direction and has at a distal end an extension piece62that frictionally fits with great bias into the axis of rotation hole46, therein creating a leveraging anchor for the retractor lever48. The movable arm44of the apparatus has an upper bridge section64that snap-locks into an attachment hook66on the hook section of the clip22to close it. An internal spring49creates the necessary tension to biasly hold the movable arm44in the closed position. The location for the access of rotation hole46was selected on the ring section38at a site as to not alter the clip's ability to function. The site herein was chosen to allow insertion of the extension piece62which creates an anchor for the retractor lever48. Since the movable arm44of the clip has an internal spring45located within it, holes could not be placed within its' length. If such were done, then the clip would be destroyed and de-activated.

As previously stated, the leg section68of the retractor lever48has an extension piece62that is inserted into the access of rotation hole46. This is the point of rotation for the retractor lever48. When activated by pulling on the cable26, the curved functional contact section58engages the movable arm44, therein causing it to rotate inwards and thus opening the clip. By curving the functional contact section58the lower edge is placed in contact with the movable arm44and there is less chance of it coming too close to the end of the movable arm. The functional contact section58could also be straight rather than curved but curved is preferred thereby allowing the contact section58to go deeper. There is concern that when the mooring line42is attached at the ring section38, and not the displaced eyelet34, then the motion of the functional lever48could interfere with the mooring line. To overcome this potential problem, the functional lever is designed such that the left and right upper and lower arm sections are bowed outwards in respect to each other therefore avoiding any such contact. This concept is shown onFIG. 2c.

As previously stated, the pair of lower and upper arm sections, the left lower54, the left upper56, the right lower55, and the right upper57, form a variable angular deviation in relationship to each other, but it is not a definitive angle, it may be varied. The angle of curvature is somewhat due to the center of rotation around the access of rotation hole46. The lower sections54and55can be lowered further by bending the line of demarcation between the lower and upper sections, or one could curve the upper sections, which would subsequently bring the lower sections closer to the center of the clip.

A first end25of the central rod24is preferably integrally attached to the ring38by welding, but other conventional means could be employed without infringing upon the integrity of the apparatus. The central rod24extends first through the cable guide32, then through the movable handle30, and through the fixed handle28and finally a second end27of the central rod24attaches to a displaced eyelet34. The displaced eyelet34having an opening84defined therein for tying a mooring rope/line42. For securing and controlling the cable26, the cable guide32is provided, wherein this cable guide32offers the least angulation for the pull of the retractor arm48. The guide32has a beveled conduit78for accepting the cable26, and the bevel edge of the conduit allows for a minimization of the resistance therein. There is also a channel80defined in the center section of the guide for accepting the central rod24, and multiple threaded holes82for insertion of inset screws (conventional screws therein not shown) to keep the guide attached to the rod.

The mooring line42referred to above is usually a strong and sturdy rope. While the instant invention prefers the mooring line to be connected to the displaced eyelet34, it can also be placed on the ring38, although on the ring38creates a tight fit, and subsequently making it rather difficult to control both the rope and the clip22. The present invention envisions using the displaced eyelet34to affix the mooring line and yet still having the ability to consider the floating of the apparatus when it is not connected to the bow ring on the boat. If the mooring pendant apparatus20does not float, then it needs to be placed on or near the mooring ball rather than risk having it sink. When in use the mooring pendant apparatus20is connected to the bow ring and serves as an extension of the user's arm. When the mooring line and apparatus20are kept in the boat, the connectivity is usually made to the displaced ring34and then the boater connects the apparatus20to the bow ring. A second line is usually connected to one or more of the cleats on the boat and depending on the length of the central rod24, the pendant apparatus20can be used to retrieve the mooring line42. The length of the pendant apparatus20is a variable based on how much a boater can handle. Since it is an extension of one's arm, reaching and securing the line to the bow ring is made slightly easier, provided that the apparatus is kept within a reasonable weight.

As described already, the movable arm44is the active part of the clip22, as this is where the tension is created as a result of the internal spring49. This is the functional component of the clip, since by pulling the cable26, the mouth of the clip22opens, and by releasing the cable26, the mouth closes.

The ring38section of the clip22serves three functions. First, it can house the mooring line42, although our preferred housing site as previously stated, is at the displaced eyelet34site. Secondly, because a specific location was chosen on the ring38to place an access of rotation hole46(a location which will not possibly effect the integrity of the clip22), the open ring structure is hopefully maintained because it allows for connection to the mooring line, and yet still is in contact with the retractor lever48for easy opening and closing. If the apparatus is cast, and the center area of the ring section is subsequently filled solid, such that there would be no central opening40in the ring38to tie the mooring rope, then the inventive concept still will exist as long as the ring shape is maintained. And thirdly, the importance of the ring structure is that when a tension is created resulting in the bridge section64of the movable arm44locking within the hook66of the clip22, the access of rotation hole46provides an anchor for the retractor lever48to activate the movable arm44.

The present invention preferably has the mooring line42tied to the displaced eyelet34. In this design the mooring line is thus displaced away from the clip22to avoid the tight spacing if it were tied to the ring38on the clip22, and also so that it cannot interfere with the function of the movable arm44or retractor arm48. This design also displaces the weight of the mooring line to an area further back, thus creating better leverage. While any geometric configuration or arrangement for the displaced eyelet ring may be used, such as a pear shaped design which could offer more room for the mooring line, or a large oval or large triangular form, the line angles must be round to avoid chafing when the mooring line is in motion. As previously stated, the displaced eyelet34may also include a plurality of rings, therein allowing for more than one mooring line to be connected.

The central rod24serves as an extension of one's arm, and may be of any length or diameter or geometric configuration as well. The handles, fixed28and movable30, require the channel80to be of a size and shape to accommodate the central rod24. When a circular cross-sectional rod is used there may be a tendency for the movable handle to rotate on the rod. For this reason a preferred embodiment can have a hexagonal or oval shaped central rod, and the rod may also have curvatures, without taking away any of the inventive concepts. It is the location of the cable guide32which limits the un-wanted rotation of the cable line.

As illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, the cable26is maintained within the confines of the cable guide32, which helps to place it in a place where it is alongside the rod24and does this while the cable is being pulled inward and close to the central rod24. It is at this point wherein the cable has the most tension placed on it. A conduit78at the entrance of the cable guide is beveled to allieviate chafing. The cable enters the guide32and exits the guide such that it is held in close alignment with the central rod24. In the preferred embodiment the cable is exposed and only covered while in the conduit78and has its distal end affixed within the movable handle30.

The retractor lever48forms part of a unique design of the present invention. As previously cited, it has two arm sections that are bowed in relationship to each other. The retractor arm48may be bent such that it is lowered it and therefore in closer proximity to the rod24, however the angular deviation is still a factor in the exertion necessary for the pull cable26. The contact section58of the retractor arm48maintains functional contact with the movable arm44. This provides the functional aspect of the invention, wherein when the cable26is pulled, it exerts a rotational force about the access of rotation hole46, thereby applying pressure on the movable arm44releasing it from the hook66and thus opening-up. The reverse of this action is such that upon releasing the pull on the movable handle30, the cable tension is lessened thereby closing the clip22. It is shown onFIGS. 2 and 2a, that the contact section58embraces both, the left and right arms of the retractor lever, and when activated the pull is evenly shared by both arms, because there isn't any deviation or deformation caused by an uneven pull. This is best achieved by controlling the angle formed by the upper56,57, and lower arm sections54,55of the retractor arm48. The angular deviation between the upper56,57, and lower arm sections54,55may be varied

The cable26can be made of any material having the strength and capability to handle salt water, to minimize elongation under wet conditions, as well as handling the effects of warm or cold temperatures. Materials may include rope or aircraft cable, but any wire, cable or rope may be substituted provided it can cope with the harsh environment without any elongation problems. Aircraft cable is preferred for the present invention for it has shown excellent controlled elongation under wet conditions. If stainless steel is used, it is better if coated so that it is not be abrasive to the system or to the grasp of the user's hands. Lack of elongation is critical as any elongation of the cable would affect the distance in which the movable arm opens and closes, as the distance of the movable handle pull is essentially measured. As previously stated, the cable26is attached to the looped section50of the retractor arm48and is secured with a ferrule clip76. The cable26freely moves through the beveled conduit78of the cable guide32, without hindrance or resistance, and connects to the movable handle30, wherein it is secured internally. The distance between the fixed and movable handles is established by how much the movable handle30has to be pulled towards the fixed handle28in order to manipulate the movable arm44to completely open the mouth of the clip. Therefore, it is critical that the cable maintain its length without any elongation.

The fixed handle28has a central elevated portion which contains a plurality of threaded holes82(preferably four) for insertion of a like number of inset screws (not shown) which connect the fixed handle28to the central rod24, and they are hidden and non-abrasive to the user. These inset screws preferably will be covered by either rubber or plastic caps to protect them from the elements. Both the fixed, and movable handles28,30, and the cable guide32were designed such that their convex outermost parts act as bumpers when the hull is in a flax tide, and therein allow the system to come into contact with the bow of the boat. The fixed handle28functions to eliminate the need of the user to grasp and pull the movable handle30as well as the central rod24as a point of fixation. The present invention allows for a finger and hand grasp rather than just a hand grasp that may not be totally comfortable. Another benefit of the fixed handle28is not just in providing comfort, but it also allows the user to finger hold the clip22in the open position and therein approach the bow ring from different angles and individual preferences. The center channel80is defined in the cable guide32, movable handle30and fixed handle28though the channel80defined in the movable handle30is slightly larger than the channel80defined in the fixed handle28or the cable guide32. This allows it to have an ease of movement on the pull cable as varying temperatures may have an effect on handle materials such as plastics, metals or rubber. It is preferred that the handles and guides be molded in half sections and then joined together around the central rod24. The fixed handle28and the movable handle30, have the same basic parts, except that the inset screws of the fixed handle28secure it integrally to the central rod24. The movable handle30, which is designed to slide along the central rod24also has an extension31in its top side to limit any possible warble of the handle once the pull is initiated. The set screws, as used with both the cable guide32and fixed handle28, have the function of securing each of them to the central rod24, while the set screws used in the movable handle30are mainly utilized for fixating the two halves of the handle and are not to make it integral with the central rod24.

FIG. 3depicts a mooring pendant apparatus120that illustrates an alternative system for securing a retractor lever148to activate a movable arm144. Attaching a mooring line142to a ring section has been discussed above, but this embodiment allows for an attachment of the mooring line that can be easily controlled by an external rod124which is connected integrally at both the neck and ring sections123,138, of the clip. This attachment is generally done by welding but could also be cast as a single unit. Since the origination of the inner spring149within the clip122does not allow for the placement of holes in the movable arm144, the retractor lever148is alternatively attached to the movable arm144by means of a three-sleeve component133which is friction fitted over the movable arm144. A cross-section of the component133taken along line A-A ofFIG. 3is shown onFIG. 3a. In operation, the component133can be placed at any site of the movable arm144, but preferably it is placed in parallel and at a lower section of the movable arm. This may be done for a variety of reasons, the most important being that if the attachment133became loose, it would still be functional. The attachment component133contains a large inner sleeve137which is slipped over for a friction fit with the movable arm144. There are two adjacent smaller sleeves139connected to the larger sleeve137creating a single unit. These smaller sleeves139house the left and right legs141,143of the retractor lever148, best shown inFIG. 4b.FIGS. 4aand4bdepict the subtle change between the two retractor levers,48and148. The angles of the sleeves137,139are also maintained parallel to the movable arm144. Conceivably, it is possible to have the sleeves further forward or further backward of the movable arm144and with minor alterations function nearly as well. Methods such as placing a bend at the bottom of the small sleeves or inserting a pin to keep the legs from slipping (although not shown) may be used. The angles created between the arm sections of the retractor lever148and the left and right legs141,143, of the retractor lever148are very abrupt, because this type of acute angle was found to reduce stress and create an effortless and maximum pull on the movable arm144. This embodiment can be completed with an elongated cable guide132and a movable handle in the form of a pull ball130. Not shown in thisFIG. 4is a fixed handle but that can be one of the plastic handles previously discussed or the mooring line142and external rod124can be gripped together.

FIG. 5describes an embodiment wherein a mooring pendant apparatus220utilizes an innovative intermittent triple function external rod system224. The means for connecting the external rod224to the neck and clip sections223,222, are the same as shown inFIG. 3and preferably welded therein. The actual mechanism in which the movable arm244is activated by the retractor lever248does not vary from the primary embodiment shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, therein this needs not to be re-iterated here. The innovative aspect of this embodiment lies in the concept of the intermittent triple function external rod224to control and activate the apparatus. The intermittent triple function external rod224starts on one side of the mooring line242and crosses over it when approaching a first stabilization section225. In the first stabilization section225the cable226is contained in a channel278having inlet and outlet beveled edges. This first stabilization section225also rigidly stabilizes the mooring line242. A connector section227provides for the connection between the first stabilization section225and a second stabilization section229. The second stabilization section229also serves as a gripping handle. It is quickly apparent that the lengths of the three sections225,227, and229are indeterminant and will depend upon personal choice while keeping within constraints of weight and the ability to control, as this embodiment also is designed to be an extension of the boater's arm. Also shown inFIG. 5is a pull ball230which is affixed to the cable226to ease the task of pulling on the cable. The pull ball230would be preferably made from a plastic or rubber material and convention methods can be used to attach it to the cable226. Upon the clip222being secured to the bow ring of the boat or the mooring ring, the clip222is then closed by releasing tension on the cable226. When returning to use the boat, the user grabs the ball230, starts the initial pull wherein the clip222opens and the apparatus is free from the boat ring.

While it is apparent that the illustrative embodiments of the invention herein disclosed fulfill the objectives stated above, it will be appreciated that numerous modifications and other embodiments may be devised by those skilled in the art. Therefore, it will be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and embodiments which come within the spirit and scope of the present invention. It is anticipated that the apparatus has a variety of uses outside of watercraft uses.