Abstract:
This invention is mounted to a boat instead of a dock and consists of two straight tee fittings and three straight pipes or two straight tee fittings and two straight pipes and a mooring buoy extending from a point between the dock and the side of the boat closest to the dock to a point between the side of the boat closest to the dock and the side of the boat furthest from the dock. A dock mooring rope connected to the first tee fitting extends through the interior channel to a boat mooring cleat located on the side of the boat furthest from the dock. A straight pipe or a mooring buoy mounted vertically secures the device to the boat when the dock mooring rope is secured to a boat mooring cleat located on the side of the boat furthest from the dock. A rope, chain or cable mounted vertically to a dock, pier or piling and passed vertically through the first tee fitting allows the boat to move freely to compensate for movement caused by large waves or tidal changes while holding the boat away from the dock, pier, or piling.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention pertains to a mooring device and more particularly to a boat mooring device used to secure a boat to a dock, pier, or piling. 
     There are many devices in use for mooring a boat to a dock to prevent the boat from striking the dock. Generally, these devices are mounted to the dock or mounted between the dock and the boat. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,928,945 to Tebo, Jr. discloses a boat mooring standoff with the first end permanently mounted to the dock and the second end attached with a rope to a dockside mooring cleat on the boat. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,421 to Velarde discloses a boat mooring standoff used to attach a boat to a dock or a boat to another boat. The boat mooring standoff is secured by a flexible line that extends through the interior channel of the device. The first end of the flexible line is attached to the dockside mooring cleat on the boat and the second end of the flexible line is attached to the dock. 
     These devices are designed to utilize the dock to hold the boat in a fixed position away from the dock. These devices have very little flexibility and do not compensate for movement of the boat caused by large waves or tidal changes. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,789,033 to Doig, et al. discloses a boat mooring system with an arm assembly mounted to the dock and extending at a desired angle over the side of the boat. A mooring line is connected from the arm assembly to a dockside mooring cleat on the boat. 
     This device provides more flexibility to compensate for movement of the boat caused by large waves, but it is mounted on the dock and utilizes the dock to hold the boat in a fixed position away from the dock. 
     Limitations of prior art which utilize the dock to mount or attach a boat mooring standoff make it desirable to mount a boat mooring standoff on a boat to compensate for movement of the boat caused by large waves or tidal changes and to become a part of the boat instead of a part of the dock or an arm between the dock and the boat. It is also desirable to attach a boat mooring standoff to a boat using the boat mooring cleat on the side of the boat located furthest from the dock instead of attaching the boat mooring standoff to the boat mooring cleat on the side of the boat closest to the dock to provide more flexibility to the boat mooring standoff in order to compensate for movement of the boat caused by large waves and to insure the boat mooring standoff is firmly attached to the boat. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is a boat mooring standoff mounted on a boat instead of a dock which offers greater flexibility to the standoff because the standoff becomes a part of the boat instead of a part of the dock and moves with the boat as the boat is pushed toward the dock by large waves. A first straight tee connected to the first end of the boat mooring standoff permits the standoff to be attached to a rope, chain or cable mounted vertically to a dock, pier or piling. Because the two in line outlets of the first straight tee are installed in a vertical position, this enables the boat mooring standoff to compensate for movement of the boat caused by large waves or tidal changes. 
     The boat mooring standoff consists of two straight tee fittings and three straight pipes or two straight tee fittings and two straight pipes and a mooring buoy. The looped end of a dock mooring rope is connected to the first straight tee fitting and extended through the interior channel of the boat mooring standoff to a boat mooring cleat located on the side of the boat furthest from the dock. The dock mooring rope pulls the third straight pipe or the mooring buoy against the exterior side of the boat closest to the dock to insure the boat mooring standoff is firmly attached to the boat. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an elevation view of the boat mooring standoff during assembly depicting the main branch outlet of the first straight tee connected to the first end of the first straight pipe. 
         FIG. 2  is an elevation view of the boat mooring standoff during assembly depicting the second end of the first straight pipe connected to the first in line outlet of the second straight tee. 
         FIG. 3  is an elevation view of the boat mooring standoff during assembly depicting the first end of the second straight pipe connected to the second in line outlet of the second straight tee. 
         FIG. 4  is an elevation view of the boat mooring standoff during assembly depicting the first end of the third straight pipe connected to the main branch outlet of the second straight tee. 
         FIG. 5  is an elevation view of the boat mooring standoff during assembly depicting a hole drilled on the center line of the first straight pipe near the second end of the first straight pipe and near the first in line outlet of the second straight tee. 
         FIG. 6  is an elevation view of the boat mooring standoff during assembly depicting the looped first end of the first dock mooring rope placed over the main branch outlet of the first straight tee. 
         FIG. 7  is an elevation view of the boat mooring standoff during assembly depicting the second end of the first dock mooring rope routed under the looped first end of the first dock mooring rope and through the hole on the center line of the first straight pipe and through the second end of the first straight pipe and through the first and second in line outlets of the second straight tee and through the first end of the second straight pipe and through the second straight pipe and out of the second end of the second straight pipe. 
         FIG. 8  is an elevation view of the boat mooring standoff during installation depicting the boat mooring standoff placed on the first side of the boat near the first stern mooring cleat with the third straight pipe positioned on the exterior of the first side of the boat and pointed down. 
         FIG. 9  is a plan view of the boat mooring standoff during installation depicting the looped first end of the second dock mooring rope placed over the second straight pipe and attached to the first stern mooring cleat. 
         FIG. 10  is an elevation view of the boat mooring standoff during installation depicting the second end of the first dock mooring rope routed around the second stern mooring cleat located on the second side of the boat opposite the first stern mooring cleat. 
         FIG. 11  is an elevation view of the boat mooring standoff during installation depicting the boat mooring standoff placed on the first side of the boat near the first bow mooring cleat with the third straight pipe positioned on the exterior of the first side of the boat and pointed down and the second end of the first dock mooring rope routed around the second bow mooring cleat located on the second side of the boat opposite the first bow mooring cleat. 
         FIG. 12  is an elevation view of the boat mooring standoff during assembly depicting the main branch outlet of the first straight tee connected to the first end of the first straight pipe. 
         FIG. 13  is an elevation view of the boat mooring standoff during assembly depicting the second end of the first straight pipe connected to the first in line outlet of the second straight tee. 
         FIG. 14  is an elevation view of the boat mooring standoff during assembly depicting the first end of the second straight pipe connected to the second in line outlet of the second straight tee. 
         FIG. 15  is an elevation view of the boat mooring standoff during assembly depicting a hole drilled on the center line of the first straight pipe near the second end of the first straight pipe and near the first in line outlet of the second straight tee. 
         FIG. 16  is an elevation view of the boat mooring standoff during assembly depicting the looped first end of the first dock mooring rope placed over the main branch outlet of the first straight tee. 
         FIG. 17  is an elevation view of the boat mooring standoff during assembly depicting the second end of the first dock mooring rope routed under the looped first end of the first dock mooring rope and through the hole on the center line of the first straight pipe and through the second end of the first straight pipe and through the first in line outlet of the second straight tee and out of the main branch outlet of the second straight tee and through the eye of the mooring buoy. 
         FIG. 18  is an elevation view of the boat mooring standoff during assembly depicting the second end of the first dock mooring rope routed through the main branch outlet of the second straight tee and through the second in line outlet of the second straight tee and through the first end of the second straight pipe and through the second straight pipe and out of the second end of the second straight pipe. 
         FIG. 19  is an elevation view of the boat mooring standoff during installation depicting the boat mooring standoff placed on the first side of the boat near the first stern mooring cleat with the mooring buoy positioned on the exterior of the first side of the boat and pointed down 
         FIG. 20  is a plan view of the boat mooring standoff during installation depicting the looped first end of the second dock mooring rope placed over the second straight pipe and attached to the first stern mooring cleat. 
         FIG. 21  is an elevation view of the boat mooring standoff during installation depicting the second end of the first dock mooring rope routed around the second stern mooring cleat located on the second side of the boat opposite the first stern mooring cleat. 
         FIG. 22  is an elevation view of the boat mooring standoff during installation depicting the boat mooring standoff placed on the first side of the boat near the first bow mooring cleat with the mooring buoy positioned on the exterior of the first side of the boat and pointed down and the second end of the first dock mooring rope routed around the second bow mooring cleat located on the second side of the boat opposite the first bow mooring cleat. 
         FIG. 23  is an elevation view of the boat mooring standoff during use depicting the boat mooring standoff mounted on a boat which is moored to a piling using the boat mooring standoff attached to a rope encased in a PVC pipe and attached vertically to the piling. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     There are two methods to assemble the boat mooring standoff. The first method is to install a third straight pipe to the main branch outlet of the second straight tee to secure the boat mooring standoff to the boat. The second method is to install a mooring buoy to the main branch outlet of the second straight tee to secure the boat mooring standoff to the boat. The choice between using the third straight pipe or the mooring buoy is left to the user. Both methods will secure the boat mooring standoff to the boat. 
     This invention may be constructed using, PVC, molded composites, or metal. The following is a detailed description of how to assemble the boat mooring standoff using the third straight pipe: 
     The first step is to connect the first end of the first straight pipe to the main branch outlet of the first straight tee which is perpendicular to the first and second in line outlets of the tee. 
     The second step is to place the first straight tee and the first straight pipe on a flat surface with the first and second in line outlets and the main branch outlet of the first straight tee and the first straight pipe resting on the flat surface. 
     The third step is to place the second straight tee on the same flat surface with the first and second in line outlets and the main branch outlet of the second straight tee resting on the flat surface. 
     The fourth step is to connect the second end of the first straight pipe to the first in line outlet of the second straight tee while keeping all of the parts on the flat surface with the main branch outlet of the second straight tee parallel to the two in line outlets of the first straight tee. 
     The fifth step is to connect the first end of the second straight pipe to the second in line outlet of the second straight tee. 
     The sixth step is to connect the first end of the third straight pipe to the main branch outlet of the second straight tee. 
     The seventh step is to place the boat mooring standoff on a flat surface with the second end of the second straight pipe at the 12 o&#39;clock position and the first and second in line outlets of the first straight tee at the 6 o&#39;clock position and the third straight pipe pointed straight up. 
     The eighth step is to rotate the boat mooring standoff clockwise until the third straight pipe rests on the flat surface. 
     The ninth step is to locate a point on the center line of the first straight pipe near the second end of the first straight pipe and near the first in line outlet of the second straight tee. 
     The tenth step is to drill a hole on the center line of the first straight pipe near the second end of the first straight pipe and near the in line outlet of the second straight tee. 
     The eleventh step is to place the looped first end of the first dock mooring rope over the main branch outlet of the first straight tee. 
     The twelfth step is to guide the second end of the first dock mooring rope around the first and second in line outlets of the first straight tee. 
     The thirteenth step is to guide the second end of the first dock mooring rope between the looped first end of the first dock mooring rope and the main branch outlet of the first straight tee. 
     The fourteenth step is to insert the second end of the first dock mooring rope into the hole on the center line of the first straight pipe near the first in line outlet of the second straight tee. 
     The fifteenth step is to guide the second end of the first dock mooring rope through the second end of the first straight pipe and through the first and second in line outlets of the second straight tee and through the first end of the second straight pipe and through the second straight pipe and out of the second end of the second straight pipe. 
     The sixteenth step is to tug on the second end of the first dock mooring rope tightly to insure the looped first end of the first dock mooring rope is bound tightly around the main branch outlet of the first straight tee. 
     The following is a detailed description of how to install the boat mooring standoff with the third straight pipe to the stern of a boat. 
     The first step is to place the boat mooring standoff on the first side of the boat near the first stern mooring cleat with the third straight pipe positioned on the exterior of the first side of the boat and pointed down. 
     The second step is to place the looped first end of the second dock mooring rope over the second straight pipe near the first end of the second straight pipe. 
     The third step is to guide the second end of the second dock mooring rope around the first stern mooring cleat and to secure the second dock mooring rope to the cleat. This will restrict the forward and aft movement of the boat when the boat mooring standoff is in use. 
     The fourth step is to guide the second end of the first dock mooring rope around the second stern mooring cleat located on the second side of the boat opposite the first stern mooring cleat. Pull the first dock mooring rope tightly and secure it to the cleat. This forces the third straight pipe against the exterior of the first side of the boat and secures the boat mooring standoff firmly to the boat. 
     The following is a detailed description of how to install the boat mooring standoff with the third straight pipe to the bow of a boat. 
     The first step is to place the boat mooring standoff on the first side of the boat near the first bow mooring cleat with the third straight pipe positioned on the exterior of the first side of the boat and pointed down. 
     The second step is to guide the second end of the first dock mooring rope around the second bow mooring cleat located on the second side of the boat opposite the first bow mooring cleat. Pull the first dock mooring rope tightly and secure it to the cleat. This forces the third straight pipe against the exterior of the first side of the boat and secures the boat mooring standoff firmly to the boat. 
     The following is a detailed description of how to assemble the boat mooring standoff using the mooring buoy: 
     The first step is to connect the first end of the first straight pipe to the main branch outlet of the first straight tee which is perpendicular to the first and second in line outlets of the tee. 
     The second step is to place the first straight tee and the first straight pipe on a flat surface with the first and second in line outlets and the main branch outlet of the first straight tee and the first straight pipe resting on the flat surface. 
     The third step is to place the second straight tee on the same flat surface with the first and second in line outlets and the main branch outlet of the second straight tee resting on the flat surface. 
     The fourth step is to connect the second end of the first straight pipe to the first in line outlet of the second straight tee while keeping all of the parts on the flat surface with the main branch outlet of the second straight tee parallel to the two in line outlets of the first straight tee. 
     The fifth step is to connect the first end of the second straight pipe to the second in line outlet of the second straight tee. 
     The sixth step is to place the boat mooring standoff on a flat surface with the second end of the second straight pipe at the 12 o&#39;clock position and the first and second in line outlets of the first straight tee at the 6 o&#39;clock position and the main branch outlet of the second straight tee pointed straight up. 
     The seventh step is to rotate the boat mooring standoff clockwise until the main branch outlet of the second straight tee rests on the flat surface. 
     The eighth step is to locate a point on the center line of the first straight pipe near the second end of the first straight pipe and near the first in line outlet of the second straight tee. 
     The ninth step is to drill a hole on the center line of the first straight pipe near the second end of the first straight pipe and near the in line outlet of the second straight tee. 
     The tenth step is to place the looped first end of the first dock mooring rope over the main branch outlet of the first straight tee. 
     The eleventh step is to guide the second end of the first dock mooring rope around the first and second in line outlets of the first straight tee. 
     The twelfth step is to guide the second end of the first dock mooring rope between the looped first end of the first dock mooring rope and the main branch outlet of the first straight tee. 
     The thirteenth step is to insert the second end of the first dock mooring rope into the hole on the center line of the first straight pipe near the first in line outlet of the second straight tee. 
     The fourteenth step is to guide the second end of the first dock mooring rope through the second end of the first straight pipe and through the first in line outlet of the second straight tee and out of the main branch outlet of the second straight tee and through the eye of the mooring buoy. 
     The fifteenth step is to guide the second end of the first dock mooring rope through the main branch outlet of the second straight tee and through the second in line outlet of the second straight tee and through the first end of the second straight pipe and through the second straight pipe and out of the second end of the second straight pipe. 
     The sixteenth step is to tug on the second end of the first dock mooring rope tightly to insure the looped first end of the first dock mooring rope is bound tightly around the main branch outlet of the first straight tee. 
     The following is a detailed description of how to install the boat mooring standoff with the mooring buoy to the stern of a boat: 
     The first step is to position the boat mooring standoff on the first side of the boat near the first stern mooring cleat with the mooring buoy positioned on the outside of the boat and pointed down. 
     The second step is to position the looped first end of the second dock mooring rope over the second straight pipe near the first end of the second straight pipe. 
     The third step is to guide the second end of the second dock mooring rope around the first stern mooring cleat and to secure the second dock mooring rope to the cleat. This will restrict the forward and aft movement of the boat when the boat mooring standoff is in use. 
     The fourth step is to guide the second end of the first dock mooring rope around the second stern mooring cleat. Pull tightly on the first dock mooring rope and secure it to the cleat. This forces the mooring buoy against the exterior of the first side of the boat and secures the boat mooring standoff firmly to the boat. 
     The following is a detailed description of how to install the boat mooring standoff with the mooring buoy to the bow of a boat: 
     The first step is to position the boat mooring standoff on the first side of the boat near the first bow mooring cleat with the mooring buoy positioned on the outside of the boat and pointed down. 
     The second step is to guide the second end of the first dock mooring rope around the second bow mooring cleat. Pull tightly on the first dock mooring rope and secure it to the cleat. This forces the mooring buoy against the exterior of the first side of the boat and secures the boat mooring standoff firmly to the boat. 
     Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to  FIG. 1 , the main branch outlet  1  of the first straight tee  2  is connected to the first end  3  of the first straight pipe  4 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the second end  5  of the first straight pipe  4  is connected to the first in line outlet  6  of the second straight tee  7 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the first end  8  of the second straight pipe  9  is connected to the second in line outlet  10  of the second straight tee  7 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the first end  11  of the third straight pipe  12  is connected to the main branch outlet  13  of the second straight tee  7 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a hole  14  is drilled on the center line of the first straight pipe  4  near the second end  5  of the first straight pipe  4  near the first in line outlet  6  of the second straight tee  7 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the looped first end  15  of the first dock mooring rope  16  is placed around the main branch outlet  1  of the first straight tee  2 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the second end  17  of the first dock mooring rope  16  is routed under the looped first end  15  of the first dock mooring rope  16  and through hole  14  on the center line of the first straight pipe  4 . The second end  17  of the first dock mooring rope  16  extends through the second end  5  of the first straight pipe  4  and through the first in line outlet  6  and the second in line outlet  10  of the second straight tee  7  and through the first end  8  of the second straight pipe  9  and through the second straight pipe  9  and out of the second end  18  of the second straight pipe  9 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the boat mooring standoff  19  is positioned on the first side  20  near the first stern mooring cleat  21  with the third straight pipe  12  on the exterior of the first side  20  and pointed down. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the looped first end  22  of the second dock mooring rope  23  is positioned around the second straight pipe  9  and secured to the first stern mooring cleat  21 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , the second end  17  of the first dock mooring rope  16  is secured to the second stern mooring cleat  24  located on the second side  25  opposite the first stern mooring cleat  21 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , the boat mooring standoff  19  is positioned on the first side  20  near the first bow mooring cleat  27  with the third straight pipe  12  on the exterior of the first side  20  and pointed down. The second end  17  of the first dock mooring rope  16  is secured to the second bow mooring cleat  26  located on the second side  25  opposite the first bow mooring cleat  27 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , the main branch outlet  1  of the first straight tee  2  is connected to the first end  3  of the first straight pipe  4 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , the second end  5  of the first straight pipe  4  is connected to the first in line outlet  6  of the second straight tee  7 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 14 , the first end  8  of the second straight pipe  9  is connected to the second in line outlet  10  of the second straight tee  7 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 15 , a hole  14  is drilled on the center line of the first straight pipe  4  near the second end  5  of the first straight pipe  4  and near the first in line outlet  6  of the second straight tee  7 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 16 , the looped first end  15  of the first dock mooring rope  16  is placed around the main branch outlet  1  of the first straight tee  2 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 17 , the second end  17  of the first dock mooring rope  16  is routed under the looped first end  15  of the first dock mooring rope  16  and through hole  14  on the center line of the first straight pipe  4  and through the second end  5  of the first straight pipe  4  and through the first in line outlet  6  of the second straight tee  7  and out of the main branch outlet  13  of the second straight tee  7  and through the eye  28  of the mooring buoy  29 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 18 , the second end  17  of the first dock mooring rope  16  extends through the main branch outlet  13  of the second straight tee  7  and through the second in line outlet  10  of the second straight tee  7  and through the first end  8  of the second straight pipe  9  and through the second straight pipe  9  and out of the second end  18  of the second straight pipe  9 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 19 , the boat mooring standoff  19  is positioned on the first side  20  near the first stern mooring cleat  21  with the mooring buoy  29  on the exterior of the first side  20  and pointed down. 
     Referring to  FIG. 20 , the looped first end  22  of the second dock mooring rope  23  is positioned around the second straight pipe  9  and secured to the first stern mooring cleat  21 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 21 , the second end  17  of the first dock mooring rope  16  is secured to the second stern mooring cleat  24  located on the second side  25  opposite the first stern mooring cleat  21 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 22 , the boat mooring standoff  19  is positioned on the first side  20  with mooring buoy  29  on the exterior of the first side  20  and pointed down. The second end  17  of the first dock mooring rope  16  is secured to the second bow mooring cleat  26  located on the second side  25  opposite the first bow mooring cleat  27 . 
       FIG. 23  shows boat  30  moored to piling  31  using the boat mooring standoff  19  which is attached to rope  32  encased in PVC pipe  33  and attached vertically to piling  31 .