Abstract:
A hanger for attaching an end of a line into a cleat having an opening, the hanger having a length, a width, and a thickness, wherein the thickness and width are such that they may pass through the opening defined by the cleat and the length is greater than that of the opening, and a receiver formed on a hanger for securing the end of the line to the hanger, whereby upon passing the hanger lengthwise through the opening, the hanger is rotated to bring the length to bear on the walls of the opening preventing the hanger from passing back through the opening.

Description:
This Application claims the benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/260,009 filed Jan. 5, 2001. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In boating, lines are used for a variety of tasks including securing boats to a dock or to each other. To facilitate use of lines for these purposes, boats and docks are often provided with various members to which the line may be secured. The most common of these members is probably the cleat. Typically, a boat is provided with at least a pair of cleats at its fore and aft for securing the boat to a docking structure or other boat. The most common way of securing boats together or to a docking structure is to tie off the ends of a line to the respective cleats on the dock and boat. For this purpose, lines are often provided with loops at either end. These loops may be formed by the manufacturer or created by knotting each end of the line. Alternatively, the ends of each line may be tied to the cleat or wrapped in a lapping pattern around the cleat to hold the line fast. These tying or lapping procedures are often difficult to perform or unknown to amateur boaters. In poor weather conditions, such as heavy winds or storms, these procedures can be difficult for experienced boaters. 
     Another common use for lines is to hang fenders from the sides of the boat to prevent the boat from rubbing or impacting the sides of adjacent boats or docking structures. Ordinarily, fenders are hung over the side of the boat, but they are attached to the docking structure. As is well known, when a boat is docked, waves act against the boat driving it toward an adjacent boat or docking structure, while causing the boat to move vertically relative to these adjacent structures, potentially causing serious damage to the dock or the boat. The fenders are placed between the boat and the docking structure to act as a cushion and space the boat from the docking structure. To that end, elongated fenders that substantially extend downward the entire height of the boat extending above the surface of the water are hung periodically around the perimeter of the boat. These fenders are generally closed at each end forming a bladder that traps a pocket of air within the walls of the fender. The walls of the fender are typically made of rubber or other similar material capable of cyclically flexing and rebounding as the fender is compressed and released by the motion of the boat relative to the docking structure or adjacent boats. To facilitate attachment of the fender to the boat or docking structure, the fender typically has an integrally formed loop at one or both ends. Ordinarily, a rope, chain, or webbing, which for simplicity will be collectively referred to as a line, may be passed through or tied to the loop. The free end of the line is then typically used to secure the fender to the dock or boat. 
     Prior to the present invention, fenders were secured by tying the free end of the line to some member on the boat or dock. In most instances the free end was tied to a cleat. To secure the fender to the cleat the user had to pass the line through an opening within the cleat and tie the line in a knot. The tying of such a knot requires some skill or a fair amount of practice making it difficult and time consuming to secure the fender. 
     Adding to the difficulty of hanging these fenders, it may be necessary to secure them to the boat while the boat is in motion. Faced with the difficulty of untying the fender line, while the boat is in motion, some boaters simply leave the fenders hanging from the sides of the boat. Other boaters more commonly flip the fenders within the interior of the boat in an attempt to stow them. Depending on the location of suitable compartments for receiving the fenders, it may be necessary to untie the fender from the cleat to which it is secured before the fender can be properly stowed. In these instances, to properly stow the fender, the boater must untie the knot used to hang the fenders, and, then, upon returning to the dock, retie the fender to the side of the boat. It will be appreciated that while the boat is in operation or simply when the boat is pitching and rolling, this operation is difficult and somewhat time-consuming to perform with two hands. When particularly adverse conditions exist, such as storms, the generally two-handed process of tying a knot becomes extremely time consuming when one or both hands is intermittently needed to support or stabilize one&#39;s self. 
     Aside form the difficulties of securing the fender, tying the fender to a cleat on the boat or docking structure prevents one from tying a dock line. The line used to secure the fender often fills the space beneath the cleat&#39;s wings and occludes the central high of the cleat leaving no room for an additional line. Since the number of cleats on a boat or a docking structure is limited, boaters are often left with the choice of inadequately protecting their boat by using available cleats for the dock line only, or securing the fenders or dock line to less stable structures on the boat. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a simpler mechanism for attaching an end of a line to a cleat. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a mechanism for attaching the end of a line to a cleat such that the cleat may also be used to secure a dock line. 
     In light of at least one of these objects the present invention provides a hanger for securing a line to a cleat, which has a pair of sidewalls lying in a plane defining an eye therebetween, the hanger including a body portion attachable to the line having a length greater than the eye, and a nose extending from the body portion such that it protrudes into the plane of the sidewalls. 
     The invention further provides a hanger used to fasten a line to a cleat having spaced sidewalls separated by a distance, the line hanger including a body portion having a length greater than the distance between the sidewalls and a width less than the distance between the sidewalls, and a receiver carried on the body portion adapted to secure the line to the body portion, whereby the hanger is insertable lengthwise between the sidewalls and whereby the length of the body prevents passage of the body through the cleat in a widthwise manner. 
     The present invention further provides a buckle assembly used in conjunction with a line passing through an opening in a fender to attach the fender to a cleat, the buckle assembly including a buckle having a receiver adapted to adjustably receive the line, wherein the buckle is larger than the opening, whereby an end of the line extending from the buckle passes through the opening to hang the fender from the cleat, and a graspable tab extending from the buckle. 
     The present invention further provides a fender hanging assembly used in conjunction with a line and a cleat having sidewalls spaced by a distance, the fender hanging assembly including a hanger supported on the line on one side of the fender, the hanger including a body portion having a length greater than the distance and a width less than the distance, whereby the body portion is insertable between the sidewalls in a lengthwise fashion, and a buckle assembly supported on the line on the other side of the fender relative to the line hanger, the buckle assembly including a buckle adapted to prevent the fender from moving farther from the line hanger, and a tab extending from the buckle, whereby the tab is graspable to move the fender. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hanger according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the hanger shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 2A is a top plan view of an alternative hanger; 
     FIG. 3 is a front side elevational view of the hanger shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3A is a front side elevational view of an alternative hanger; 
     FIG. 4 is a partially fragmented perspective view depicting a hanger according to the present invention used to hang a fender from a cleat; 
     FIG. 5 is a partially fragmented perspective view of a hanger according to the present invention depicting insertion of the hanger and line through an eye of a cleat; 
     FIG. 6 is a partially fragmented perspective view of a hanger according to the present invention depicting a hanger in an attached position having a line attached thereto holding a fender; 
     FIG. 7 is a partially fragmented perspective view depicting a fender attachment assembly according to the present invention including a buckle assembly and a hanger supported on a line passing through an opening in the fender, where the hanger is shown secured to a cleat on a boat, which in turn is shown secured to a dock by dock line tied to the cleat; and 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the area circled in FIG. 7 depicting further details of securement of the hanger and dock line to the cleat. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     For purposes of this description, a “line” includes any flexible member having a length including a rope, a string, a wire, webbing, plastic stripping, or a chain. 
     A traditional cleat encompasses a wooden, metal, or plastic fitting with two projecting horns around which a line may be made fast. The traditional cleat defines a central opening or eye beneath the horns. Traditional cleats may come in the form of retractable or so-called “pop-up” cleats that rest in a retracted position and may be manually extended, exposing the eye and sidewalls when their use is desired. Since the present invention interrelates with the sidewalls of the cleat, any pair of spaced sidewalls, such as those formed by a loop or a ring, a U-bracket attached to a surface, or a pair of rail supports are suitable, and, thus, for simplicity all of the above cleats and structures are collectively referred to as a “cleat” in the following description. 
     In similar fashion, an “eye” is an opening between spaced sidewalls. 
     With reference to FIGS. 1-5, one embodiment of a line hanger according to the present invention is shown and generally indicated by the numeral  10 . Hanger  10  may be a generally planar member, as shown, having a length  11  a width  12  and a thickness  13 . As shown in FIG. 5, the width  12  is generally less than the spacing between sidewalls  15  of the cleat C, such that the hanger  10  may be passed lengthwise through the eye  14  between sidewalls  15 . The length  11  of hanger  10  is generally larger than the spacing between sidewalls  15  such that once the hanger  10  is passed through the eye  14 , it may be rotated to a secured position (FIG.  6 ), to prevent the hanger  10  from retracting through eye  14 . Thus, it will be appreciated that, as long as these limitations are adhered to, the shape of the wing  10  is irrelevant to its proper function and thus, any form may be used to prevent the hanger  10  from retracting through the eye  14 . 
     To help reduce the likelihood of the hanger  10  becoming dislodged from its secured position (FIG.  6 ), the hanger  10  may be made to at least partially seat within the eye  14 . To that end, hanger  10  may be provided with a nose  20  that at least partially projects into the plane of sidewalls  15 , for example at a position laterally outward of sidewalls  15  or into eye  14 , when the hanger  10  is in the secured position (FIG.  6 ). The nose  20  may be of any form that suitably projects as described and may include a downwardly extending member that creates a T-shaped hanger  10 . 
     In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, hanger  10  has a flattened nose  20  formed on a body portion  17  of hanger  10 . The flattened nose  20  has an edge  18  formed generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hanger  10 . The edge  18  is sized to fit within the eye  14  such that the nose  20  is at least partially seated therein (FIG.  6 ). Body portion  17  may include wing portions  16  extend rearwardly and outwardly from nose  20 . In the example shown, wings  16  that extend outward and rearward from edge  18  respectively in the lengthwise and widthwise directions such that wing edges  19  are swept back from the body portion  17  of hanger  10 . The wing edges  19  terminate in tips  21 ,  21  which are spanned at the rear of the hanger  10  by a trailing or second edge  22 . As shown in FIG. 2, edges  18  and  22  may be substantially parallel to each other. Wing edges  19  extend rearwardly from first edge  18 , at a generally acute angle α joining second edge  22  to form a hanger  10  having a generally truncated triangular shape. It will be appreciated that the edges  18 ,  19 , and  22  of hanger  10  do not need to be planar, as shown, but may be curved, stepped, or include interrupting recesses. For example, as shown in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2A, edges  18 ,  19  and  22  may be arcuate to form an elliptical hanger  10 . One such hanger, generally indicated by the numeral  110 , is shown as an example in FIGS. 2A and 3A with like parts on hanger  110 , referred to by the same numerals as those used with hanger  10 . As best shown in FIG. 2A, wing edges  119 , and edge  118  may be joined to form a continuous arcuate heading surface (FIG.  3 A). Nose  120  is arcuate and like the embodiment of FIG. 2 extends at least partially into the plane of sidewalls  15 , in this case into eye  14 , when in the secured position shown in FIG.  2 A. As previously mentioned, great variation in the form of the hanger  10  may be made without departing from its inventive scope. It will be understood that the hangers  10 ,  110  shown in FIGS. 1-3A are interchangeable and for simplicity, further reference, to either embodiment, will be made with the numerals associated with hanger  10 . 
     The dimensions of the hanger  10  are related to the dimensions of the cleat C and may be altered to accommodate cleats C of various size. For example, the dimensions of hanger  10  may be constructed relative to the distance A between side walls  15 . To prevent retraction of the hanger  10 , when its longitudinal axis is placed generally parallel to the plane joining the side walls  15 , the length of the hanger  10  is made greater than distance A. In the example shown in FIG. 2, dimension A is approximately 70% of the length  11 , or, in other words length  11  is about 140% of dimension A. As mentioned, the hanger  10  is shaped such that at least a portion of the nose  20  extends onto the plane of cleat C passing beyond the plane connecting the contact points CP on side walls  15  facing the hanger  10 , such that the nose  20  seats within the eye  14  to an extent. This extension improves the ability of the hanger  10  to resist lateral motion in the secured position (FIG.  6 ). Any amount of extension is suitable. For example, nose  20  may extend at least 10% of distance A. In terms of the body portion&#39;s length  11 , nose  20  may extend 10% of length  11 . In the example shown in FIG. 2A, the nose  20  extends perpendicularly into the plane joining sidewalls  15  approximately 14% of the distance A. As will be appreciated increasing the degree of extension improves the reliability of the hanger&#39;s seating within the eye. The degree of extension is limited somewhat by the effect that such extension has on the overall width  12  of the hanger  10 , as the hanger  10  must be inserted through the eye  14  of the cleat C. It will be appreciated that to maximize such extension, one may employ a recess in the rear surface  22  of the hanger  10  to maintain a suitable width  12 , such as, for example creating a boomerang-shaped hanger  10 . Similarly, while the hanger  10  may have a T-shape with wing portions  16  that have no slope. As mentioned, sweeping back i.e., sloping the wing portions  16  rearward of the plane connecting the contact points CP may also help to seat the nose  20  at least partially within the eye  14 . In the example shown in FIG. 2, the wing portions  16  are swept back approximately 45 degrees. It may be seen that nose  20  has a lateral dimension, which is more easily seen as edge  18  in the embodiment shown in FIG.  2 . This dimension may be of any size including a length of approximately 36% of the length  11  of body portion  12 , as shown in FIG. 2 for purposes of illustration only. 
     As discussed, the width  12  of hanger  10  is generally less than the distance A between the side walls  15 , such that the hanger  10  may be inserted lengthwise through the cleat C. For example, a hanger  10  having a width  12  of about 1.25 inches is suitable for a standard six inch or eight inch cleat C. While a six inch or eight inch cleat C is used as an example, it will be appreciated that the dimensions of the hanger  10  may be modified to accommodate different cleats C. For example, the length  11  of the hanger may be increased for cleats C having larger eyes  14 , to ensure contact between the hanger  10  and sidewalls  15  of cleat C, when hanger D is in the secured position. The width  12 , may be decreased to facilitate lengthwise insertion of the hanger  10  through smaller eyes  14 . When the eye  14  is a closed opening, such as in a traditional cleat, the thickness  13  may be reduced for smaller eyes to provide clearance for the hanger  10 . Similarly, thickness  13  may be adjusted to provide clearance for a separate dock line D attached to the same cleat C, such as when attaching a fender F and dock line L simultaneously to a cleat C, as shown in FIGS. 7-8. 
     For increased loads, the dimensions of the hanger  10  may be increased to accommodate the load, or reinforcing gussets may be incorporated at high stress points of the hanger  10 . Alternatively, different materials may be used to handle the loads placed upon the hanger  10 , during its operation. Suitable hanger materials include metal, wood, plastic, and other polymeric materials, and combinations thereof. When using materials that may scratch or otherwise mar the surfaces of the boat B or dock structure P with which the hanger  10  is associated, a suitable coating may be applied to hanger  10 . Aside from the foregoing considerations, the hanger  10  may be shaped to provide greater comfort to the user or facilitate its use. 
     Hanger  10  is generally used in conjunction with a line L, which may be tied or otherwise attached to hanger  10 . To facilitate attachment of line L to hanger  10 , hanger  10  may be provided with at least one receiver, generally referred to by the numeral  25 . Receiver  25  may be a clip, hook, loop, knob, or other structure to which the line L may be secured. Alternatively, receiver  25  may be an aperture formed within hanger  10 , having a size and shape suitable for receiving line L. For example, when line L is a length of webbing  26 , receiver  25  may take the form of a slot  27 , as shown. Slot  27  may be oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hanger  10 , or, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, substantially parallel to a portion of the first or second edges  18 ,  22 . To allow some movement of the line L on hanger  10 , receiver  25  may be of slightly greater dimension than the line L received therein. For example, when receiving one inch nylon webbing, slot  27  may have a length  28  (FIG. 6) of about 1.125 inches. As with the dimensions of hanger  10 , the dimension of receiver  25  may be adjusted to accommodate lines L of different sizes and shapes, or based on the loading conditions. 
     Receiver  25  may be located at any point on hanger  10  including the wing portions  16  or body portion  17 , and at any relative location therein. For example, as best shown in FIG. 2, slot  27  may be formed in body portion  17 . In this example, the center  29  of slot  27  is longitudinally centered and spaced relative to the second edge  22  by a distance such that, the slot  27  is off-center relative to the edges  18 ,  22  of body portion  17 , defining a first portion  17 ′ adjacent first edge  18 , of body portion  17  that is wider than a second portion  17 ″, adjacent second edge  22 , of body portion  17 . In the example of using a hanger  10  with a standard 6 inch or 8 inch cleat, the slot center  29  may be spaced from second edge  22  by a distance  30  of about 0.5 inches. Again, this dimension is provided for exemplary purposes and, as in previous examples, may be varied as desired without departing from the scope of this invention. 
     As shown in FIG. 4, to attach a line L to hanger  10 , line L may be threaded through slot  27  and secured to the hanger  10  such as by knotting, welding, sewing, adhering or other methods commonly used in the art. When using webbing  26 , the end  31  of webbing  26  may be threaded through slot  27  and guided back upon itself to form a loop  32 , which is held fast by stitching  33  (FIG.  4 ). As shown, loop  32  may wrap around the first portion  17 ′ of body portion  17  and be made somewhat loose to allow movement of the line L and hanger  10  relative to each other. 
     With line L secured to hanger  10 , the hanger  10  may be used to secure the line L to a cleat C attached to the surface  35  of a dock, boat or other structure. To hang line L from cleat C having a closed eye  14 , the hanger  10  is inserted lengthwise into the eye  14  of cleat C, in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 5, and passed through the eye  14 . Once the hanger  10  has cleared the far side  36  of the cleat C, it is rotated such that the first edge  18  of hanger  10  generally faces the far side  36  of the cleat C (FIG. 6 ). Then, as best shown in FIG. 6, the first edge  18  and/or wing edges  19  are brought into contact with the sidewalls  15  of eye  14  as by gravity or under tension placed on the line L. With the hanger  10  and cleat C so engaged, the hanger  10  holds the line L fast to the cleat C. 
     Securement and release of the hanger  10  to cleat C requires simple motions, namely insertion and rotation, which may be performed with one hand. As will be appreciated, knots typically used to secure a line to a cleat C involve more difficult motions that generally require two hands. 
     In one method for attaching hanger  10  to a cleat C, the hanger  10  is placed lengthwise in the palm of one&#39;s hand with the line L held adjacent to a face  37  of the hanger  10  (FIG.  5 ). The hanger  10  is held near one of the wing portions  16  below body portion  17 . (FIG.  4 A). So held the hanger  10  is inserted into eye  14  generally in the direction indicated by the arrow I in FIG.  5 . When performing this task with one hand, the user may release two fingers or a single finger and thumb to grasp the portion of hanger  10  extending through eye  14  and pull the remainder of the hanger  10  through the eye  14 . Alternatively, the user would insert the hanger  10  with one hand and use the other hand to pull the hanger  10  through eye  14  and rotate, the hanger  10  to the position generally shown in FIG. 6, such that, the length  11  of hanger  10  bears upon the side walls  15  of eye  14  preventing the hanger  10  from retracting through the eye  14 . As shown in FIG. 6, the swept back shape of edges  19  allows the nose  20  of hanger  10  to seat at least partially within eye  14  aiding in the ability of hanger  10  to resist forces that would tend to move hanger  10  sideways or cause it to rotate to a position where it could retract through eye  14 . 
     To release the hanger  10 , the user simply rotates the hanger  10  back to a position similar to that shown in FIG.  5  and passes or drops the hanger  10  lengthwise through eye  14  in a direction opposite arrow I. As will be appreciated, due to the tension on line L, it may be necessary to first pull on the hanger  10  to unseat it from within sidewalls  15  before rotating the hanger  10  to a release/insertion position shown in FIG.  5 . 
     As shown in FIG. 4, when hanger  10  is attached to one end of a line L having a fender F supported on line L , the hanger  10  may be used to hang fender F from a cleat C. As shown in FIG. 7, due to the thickness  13  of hanger  10 , a dock line D may be attached the same cleat C to which the hanger  10  is attached. In this way, a fender F and dock line D may be simultaneously attached to a single cleat C. 
     As shown in FIG. 4, a fender F may be fastened to line L using a buckle assembly  40 . As best shown in FIG. 10 buckle assembly  40  has a tab or loop  41  attached to a buckle  42  defining a first slot  43  and a second slot  44  separated by a cross member  45 . The line L may be passed upwardly through first slot  43  over cross member  45  and downwardly through second slot  44  and pulled tight to secure the buckle assembly  42  to line L. Buckle  42  is sized larger than an opening  46  on a fender F such that, the user may adjust the length  47  of line L between the cleat C and fender F, or in other words, adjust the vertical position at which the fender F hangs from a boat B or docking structure P. Preferably, buckle assembly  40  is secured to line L such that when drawn against fender F, the loop  41  extends generally outward from the fender F allowing the user to easily grasp the loop  41  and raise the fender F. When the buckle assembly  40  is used in conjunction with the hanger  10  to form a fender hanging assembly (FIG.  4 ), a user seated within boat B may grasp loop  41  to relieve tension on line L from fender F and with the loop  41  in hand, rotate hanger  10  and drop hanger  10  lengthwise through eye  14  to disengage the hanger  10  from cleat C with the same hand. At this point, since hanger  10  is larger than the opening in the fender F, the user may simply haul up the fender and hanger  10  by loop  41 . The single-handed operation leaves the user&#39;s other hand free to steady themselves or perform some other function. This operation may be performed, however, with two hands by taking tension off the hanger  10  with one hand and removing the hanger  10  with the other hand. 
     Thus, it should be evident that the hanger disclosed herein carries out at least one of the various objects of the invention set forth hereinabove and otherwise constitutes an advantageous contribution to the art. As may be apparent to persons skilled in the art, modifications can be made to the preferred embodiments disclosed herein without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of the invention being limited solely by the scope of the attached claims.