Abstract:
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&#39;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.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/199,248 filed Aug. 24, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     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&#39;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. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an elevational front view of an apparatus for mooring a boat, according to the present invention, and is shown in a closed position. 
         FIG. 1   a  is an elevational left side view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 2  is an elevational front view of the clip part of the apparatus with the cable guide containing the central rod and cable. 
         FIG. 2   a  is a left elevational view of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 2   b  is a right elevational view of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 2   c  is a top plan view of the apparatus of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 3  is an elevational front view of the clip portion and an embodiment of a three sleeve attachment component for connecting the retractor lever of the invention. 
         FIG. 3   a  is a sectional view taken of the three-sleeve component taken along A-A of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 4   a  is a top pictorial view of the functional retractor lever of the primary embodiment shown in FIGS.  1 , 2 ,  2   b  and  2   c.    
         FIG. 4   b  is a top pictorial view of the functional retractor lever of the alternative embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3 and 3   a.    
         FIG. 5  is elevational view of an embodiment of the invention utilizing a triple function intermittent external rod system. 
     
    
    
     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 to  FIG. 1 , the illustrated mooring pendant apparatus  20  is comprised of the following portions: a clip  22 ; a central rod  24 ; a cable  26  that when pulled or released controls the clip  22 ; handles, both a fixed handle  28 , and a movable handle  30 ; a cable guide  32 ; and a displaced eyelet  34 . The pendant apparatus  20  facilitates the placement and removal of the clip  22  from a boat ring (not shown) or a mooring ball (not shown). The clip  22  connects to the boat ring and/or to a mooring ball through the medium of a mooring line  42  (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 apparatus  20  aids the boater in attaching the clip  22  to 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 clip  22  but 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 in  FIGS. 1 ,  2   a  to  2   c , the clip  22  is comprised of: a hook section  36  and an integral ring section  38  that has a central opening  40  in which the mooring line  42  may optionally be tied; a movable arm  44  for opening and closing a mouth  67  of the clip  22 ; access of rotation hole  46  defined in the ring  38  at a unique site for anchoring the functional retractor lever  48  which controls the motion of the movable arm  44 . The retractor lever  48  (best shown in  FIG. 4   a ) is comprised of: a looped section  50  connected to the pull cable  26  (discussed below); a pair of lower and upper arm sections, a left lower section  54  and a left upper section  56  and a right lower section  55  and a right upper section  57  each 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 section  58  for engaging the movable arm  44  when activation is required to open or shut the clip. The curvature is a critical concept as the functional contact section  58  will have a tendency to ride up on the front facing of the movable arm  44 . This curvature design allows the contact section  58  to trail the arm movement and therefore not override the extent of the movable arm  44  when it is in its most open position. It also serves as a safety mechanism because upon releasing the functional retractor lever  48 , the movable arm  44  is allowed to return to its closed position and the functional contact section  58  will lower itself to its original starting position. A leg section  68  extends in a downwardly direction and has at a distal end an extension piece  62  that frictionally fits with great bias into the axis of rotation hole  46 , therein creating a leveraging anchor for the retractor lever  48 . The movable arm  44  of the apparatus has an upper bridge section  64  that snap-locks into an attachment hook  66  on the hook section of the clip  22  to close it. An internal spring  49  creates the necessary tension to biasly hold the movable arm  44  in the closed position. The location for the access of rotation hole  46  was selected on the ring section  38  at a site as to not alter the clip&#39;s ability to function. The site herein was chosen to allow insertion of the extension piece  62  which creates an anchor for the retractor lever  48 . Since the movable arm  44  of the clip has an internal spring  45  located within it, holes could not be placed within its&#39; length. If such were done, then the clip would be destroyed and de-activated. 
     As previously stated, the leg section  68  of the retractor lever  48  has an extension piece  62  that is inserted into the access of rotation hole  46 . This is the point of rotation for the retractor lever  48 . When activated by pulling on the cable  26 , the curved functional contact section  58  engages the movable arm  44 , therein causing it to rotate inwards and thus opening the clip. By curving the functional contact section  58  the lower edge is placed in contact with the movable arm  44  and there is less chance of it coming too close to the end of the movable arm. The functional contact section  58  could also be straight rather than curved but curved is preferred thereby allowing the contact section  58  to go deeper. There is concern that when the mooring line  42  is attached at the ring section  38 , and not the displaced eyelet  34 , then the motion of the functional lever  48  could 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 on  FIG. 2   c.    
     As previously stated, the pair of lower and upper arm sections, the left lower  54 , the left upper  56 , the right lower  55 , and the right upper  57 , 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 hole  46 . The lower sections  54  and  55  can 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 end  25  of the central rod  24  is preferably integrally attached to the ring  38  by welding, but other conventional means could be employed without infringing upon the integrity of the apparatus. The central rod  24  extends first through the cable guide  32 , then through the movable handle  30 , and through the fixed handle  28  and finally a second end  27  of the central rod  24  attaches to a displaced eyelet  34 . The displaced eyelet  34  having an opening  84  defined therein for tying a mooring rope/line  42 . For securing and controlling the cable  26 , the cable guide  32  is provided, wherein this cable guide  32  offers the least angulation for the pull of the retractor arm  48 . The guide  32  has a beveled conduit  78  for accepting the cable  26 , and the bevel edge of the conduit allows for a minimization of the resistance therein. There is also a channel  80  defined in the center section of the guide for accepting the central rod  24 , and multiple threaded holes  82  for insertion of inset screws (conventional screws therein not shown) to keep the guide attached to the rod. 
     The mooring line  42  referred to above is usually a strong and sturdy rope. While the instant invention prefers the mooring line to be connected to the displaced eyelet  34 , it can also be placed on the ring  38 , although on the ring  38  creates a tight fit, and subsequently making it rather difficult to control both the rope and the clip  22 . The present invention envisions using the displaced eyelet  34  to 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 apparatus  20  does 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 apparatus  20  is connected to the bow ring and serves as an extension of the user&#39;s arm. When the mooring line and apparatus  20  are kept in the boat, the connectivity is usually made to the displaced ring  34  and then the boater connects the apparatus  20  to 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 rod  24 , the pendant apparatus  20  can be used to retrieve the mooring line  42 . The length of the pendant apparatus  20  is a variable based on how much a boater can handle. Since it is an extension of one&#39;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 arm  44  is the active part of the clip  22 , as this is where the tension is created as a result of the internal spring  49 . This is the functional component of the clip, since by pulling the cable  26 , the mouth of the clip  22  opens, and by releasing the cable  26 , the mouth closes. 
     The ring  38  section of the clip  22  serves three functions. First, it can house the mooring line  42 , although our preferred housing site as previously stated, is at the displaced eyelet  34  site. Secondly, because a specific location was chosen on the ring  38  to place an access of rotation hole  46  (a location which will not possibly effect the integrity of the clip  22 ), 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 lever  48  for 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 opening  40  in the ring  38  to 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 section  64  of the movable arm  44  locking within the hook  66  of the clip  22 , the access of rotation hole  46  provides an anchor for the retractor lever  48  to activate the movable arm  44 . 
     The present invention preferably has the mooring line  42  tied to the displaced eyelet  34 . In this design the mooring line is thus displaced away from the clip  22  to avoid the tight spacing if it were tied to the ring  38  on the clip  22 , and also so that it cannot interfere with the function of the movable arm  44  or retractor arm  48 . 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 eyelet  34  may also include a plurality of rings, therein allowing for more than one mooring line to be connected. 
     The central rod  24  serves as an extension of one&#39;s arm, and may be of any length or diameter or geometric configuration as well. The handles, fixed  28  and movable  30 , require the channel  80  to be of a size and shape to accommodate the central rod  24 . 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 guide  32  which limits the un-wanted rotation of the cable line. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the cable  26  is maintained within the confines of the cable guide  32 , which helps to place it in a place where it is alongside the rod  24  and does this while the cable is being pulled inward and close to the central rod  24 . It is at this point wherein the cable has the most tension placed on it. A conduit  78  at the entrance of the cable guide is beveled to allieviate chafing. The cable enters the guide  32  and exits the guide such that it is held in close alignment with the central rod  24 . In the preferred embodiment the cable is exposed and only covered while in the conduit  78  and has its distal end affixed within the movable handle  30 . 
     The retractor lever  48  forms 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 arm  48  may be bent such that it is lowered it and therefore in closer proximity to the rod  24 , however the angular deviation is still a factor in the exertion necessary for the pull cable  26 . The contact section  58  of the retractor arm  48  maintains functional contact with the movable arm  44 . This provides the functional aspect of the invention, wherein when the cable  26  is pulled, it exerts a rotational force about the access of rotation hole  46 , thereby applying pressure on the movable arm  44  releasing it from the hook  66  and thus opening-up. The reverse of this action is such that upon releasing the pull on the movable handle  30 , the cable tension is lessened thereby closing the clip  22 . It is shown on  FIGS. 2 and 2   a , that the contact section  58  embraces both, the left and right arms of the retractor lever, and when activated the pull is evenly shared by both arms, because there isn&#39;t any deviation or deformation caused by an uneven pull. This is best achieved by controlling the angle formed by the upper  56 ,  57 , and lower arm sections  54 ,  55  of the retractor arm  48 . The angular deviation between the upper  56 ,  57 , and lower arm sections  54 ,  55  may be varied 
     The cable  26  can 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&#39;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 cable  26  is attached to the looped section  50  of the retractor arm  48  and is secured with a ferrule clip  76 . The cable  26  freely moves through the beveled conduit  78  of the cable guide  32 , without hindrance or resistance, and connects to the movable handle  30 , wherein it is secured internally. The distance between the fixed and movable handles is established by how much the movable handle  30  has to be pulled towards the fixed handle  28  in order to manipulate the movable arm  44  to completely open the mouth of the clip. Therefore, it is critical that the cable maintain its length without any elongation. 
     The fixed handle  28  has a central elevated portion which contains a plurality of threaded holes  82  (preferably four) for insertion of a like number of inset screws (not shown) which connect the fixed handle  28  to the central rod  24 , 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 handles  28 ,  30 , and the cable guide  32  were 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 handle  28  functions to eliminate the need of the user to grasp and pull the movable handle  30  as well as the central rod  24  as 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 handle  28  is not just in providing comfort, but it also allows the user to finger hold the clip  22  in the open position and therein approach the bow ring from different angles and individual preferences. The center channel  80  is defined in the cable guide  32 , movable handle  30  and fixed handle  28  though the channel  80  defined in the movable handle  30  is slightly larger than the channel  80  defined in the fixed handle  28  or the cable guide  32 . 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 rod  24 . The fixed handle  28  and the movable handle  30 , have the same basic parts, except that the inset screws of the fixed handle  28  secure it integrally to the central rod  24 . The movable handle  30 , which is designed to slide along the central rod  24  also has an extension  31  in 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 guide  32  and fixed handle  28 , have the function of securing each of them to the central rod  24 , while the set screws used in the movable handle  30  are mainly utilized for fixating the two halves of the handle and are not to make it integral with the central rod  24 . 
       FIG. 3  depicts a mooring pendant apparatus  120  that illustrates an alternative system for securing a retractor lever  148  to activate a movable arm  144 . Attaching a mooring line  142  to 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 rod  124  which is connected integrally at both the neck and ring sections  123 ,  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 spring  149  within the clip  122  does not allow for the placement of holes in the movable arm  144 , the retractor lever  148  is alternatively attached to the movable arm  144  by means of a three-sleeve component  133  which is friction fitted over the movable arm  144 . A cross-section of the component  133  taken along line A-A of  FIG. 3  is shown on  FIG. 3   a . In operation, the component  133  can be placed at any site of the movable arm  144 , 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 attachment  133  became loose, it would still be functional. The attachment component  133  contains a large inner sleeve  137  which is slipped over for a friction fit with the movable arm  144 . There are two adjacent smaller sleeves  139  connected to the larger sleeve  137  creating a single unit. These smaller sleeves  139  house the left and right legs  141 ,  143  of the retractor lever  148 , best shown in  FIG. 4   b .  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  depict the subtle change between the two retractor levers,  48  and  148 . The angles of the sleeves  137 ,  139  are also maintained parallel to the movable arm  144 . Conceivably, it is possible to have the sleeves further forward or further backward of the movable arm  144  and 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 lever  148  and the left and right legs  141 ,  143 , of the retractor lever  148  are very abrupt, because this type of acute angle was found to reduce stress and create an effortless and maximum pull on the movable arm  144 . This embodiment can be completed with an elongated cable guide  132  and a movable handle in the form of a pull ball  130 . Not shown in this  FIG. 4  is a fixed handle but that can be one of the plastic handles previously discussed or the mooring line  142  and external rod  124  can be gripped together. 
       FIG. 5  describes an embodiment wherein a mooring pendant apparatus  220  utilizes an innovative intermittent triple function external rod system  224 . The means for connecting the external rod  224  to the neck and clip sections  223 ,  222 , are the same as shown in  FIG. 3  and preferably welded therein. The actual mechanism in which the movable arm  244  is activated by the retractor lever  248  does not vary from the primary embodiment shown in  FIGS. 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 rod  224  to control and activate the apparatus. The intermittent triple function external rod  224  starts on one side of the mooring line  242  and crosses over it when approaching a first stabilization section  225 . In the first stabilization section  225  the cable  226  is contained in a channel  278  having inlet and outlet beveled edges. This first stabilization section  225  also rigidly stabilizes the mooring line  242 . A connector section  227  provides for the connection between the first stabilization section  225  and a second stabilization section  229 . The second stabilization section  229  also serves as a gripping handle. It is quickly apparent that the lengths of the three sections  225 ,  227 , and  229  are 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&#39;s arm. Also shown in  FIG. 5  is a pull ball  230  which is affixed to the cable  226  to ease the task of pulling on the cable. The pull ball  230  would be preferably made from a plastic or rubber material and convention methods can be used to attach it to the cable  226 . Upon the clip  222  being secured to the bow ring of the boat or the mooring ring, the clip  222  is then closed by releasing tension on the cable  226 . When returning to use the boat, the user grabs the ball  230 , starts the initial pull wherein the clip  222  opens 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.