Abstract:
A marine dock hitch which is designed to facilitate the quick and convenient attachment of a boat to a dock, facilitates locking of the boat to the dock to prevent theft of the boat, and provides a resilient connection between the boat and the dock to accommodate considerable elevation changes in the tide and wave action of a water body while the boat is attached to the dock. The marine dock hitch includes an elongated hitch bar having a hitch coupling provided on each end. One of the hitch couplings is removably attached to a hitch catch provided on the dock, and the other of the hitch couplings is removably attached to a hitch catch provided on the boat.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention generally relates to marine hitch devices for hitching a boat to a dock, and more particularly, to a marine dock hitch which provides a quick and convenient manner of hitching a boat to a dock. The marine dock hitch is capable of maintaining a secure connection between a boat and a dock throughout rising and falling tides in a water body. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   In recent years, boating has become an increasingly popular pastime in the United States. Millions of people each year use watercraft of various size and description to water ski, fish and cruise on a lake or other water body. Popular watercraft vary in size from the smaller jet skis and “waverunners” to larger ski boats and fishing boats, such as bay boats, which are designed for deep-sea fishing. 
   Other common pastimes which are frequently associated with boating include camping, hiking and picknicking. Many people enjoy spending the morning cruising, fishing or skiing on a lake or other water body in a watercraft, after which they dock the craft at a docking facility and have a picnic or go hiking on land, for example. Frequently, after a day of boating, the craft is docked overnight at a public or private docking facility. 
   Various techniques have been used to attach a boat to a lakeside or seaside dock. These techniques include relatively simple approaches, such as tying the boat to the dock and hanging tires over the edge of the boat to cushion and prevent damage to the boat. More sophisticated approaches include the use of a rope or ropes in conjunction with specially-designed plastic, rubber or inflatable bumpers to cushion the boat. In either method, one end of a rope is typically tied to or looped around a rail or other structure on the boat. One or both ends of the rope are tied to a structure on the dock. 
   The aforementioned approaches to docking a boat are attended by numerous disadvantages. First, suitable structures on the boat and dock must be identified prior to attaching the boat to the dock. In some cases, the boat may not include a suitable structure for secure attachment to the dock using ropes. Second, the rope or ropes which attach the boat to the dock need only be untied for thieves to steal the boat. Third, the wave action of the water body on which the boat floats may raise and lower the boat considerably. Consequently, the ropes may exert a considerable strain on the rails or other structure in the boat to which the ropes are tied. 
   There is therefore an established need for a marine dock hitch which provides a quick and convenient mechanism for removably attaching a boat to a docking facility; provides a mechanism for locking the boat to the docking facility to prevent theft of the boat; and accommodates considerable changes in the tides or wave action of a water body on which the boat floats. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a marine dock hitch which is designed to facilitate the quick and convenient attachment of a boat to a dock, facilitates locking of the boat to the dock to prevent theft of the boat, and provides a resilient connection between the boat and the dock to accommodate considerable elevation changes in the tide and wave action of a water body while the boat is attached to the dock. The marine dock hitch includes an elongated hitch bar having a hitch coupling provided on each end. One of the hitch couplings is removably attached to a hitch catch provided on the dock, and the other of the hitch couplings is removably attached to a hitch catch provided on the boat. 
   An object of the present invention is to provide a marine dock hitch which facilitates quick, convenient and secure connection between a boat and a dock. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a marine dock hitch that may be used to connect boats of various size and description to a docking facility. 
   Still another object of the present invention is to provide a marine dock hitch that is capable of locking a boat to a dock to prevent theft of the boat. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a marine dock hitch which is capable of accommodating the rising and falling tidal and wave action of a water body on which a boat floats to securely dock the boat to a docking facility. 
   A still further object of the present invention is to provide a marine dock hitch that maintains a docked boat at a safe distance from a dock to prevent striking of the boat against the dock during adverse weather conditions, strong winds and changing tides. 
   These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the attached drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which follow. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be further understood, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is an end view of a boat (in phantom) floating on a water body in high tide and attached to a dock (in phantom), with a preferred embodiment of the marine dock hitch of the present invention shown connecting the boat to the dock; 
       FIG. 2  is an end view of a boat (in phantom) floating on a water body in low tide and attached to a dock (in phantom), with the marine dock hitch of the present invention shown connecting the boat to the dock; 
       FIG. 3  is a front end view of a hitch coupling element of the marine dock hitch; 
       FIG. 4  is a side view, partially in section, of a hitch coupling on one end of the marine dock hitch; 
       FIG. 5  is a bottom exploded view, partially in section, of a hitch coupling on one end of the marine dock hitch; 
       FIG. 6  is a top view of a hitch catch mount and hitch catch used to attach one end of the marine dock hitch to a dock or boat; 
       FIG. 7  is a front view of a hitch catch mount and hitch catch (in solid lines), with a hitch coupling (in phantom) on one end of the marine dock hitch removably coupled to the hitch catch; 
       FIG. 8  is a side view of a hitch catch mount and hitch catch (in solid lines), with a hitch coupling (in phantom) on one end of the marine dock hitch removably coupled to the hitch catch; 
       FIG. 9  is a top view of a boat floating on a water body and connected to a dock using the marine dock hitch of the present invention, in conjunction with multiple ropes; 
       FIG. 10  is a top view of a boat floating on a water body and connected to a dock using the marine dock hitch of the present invention, with the boat in a board/unboard configuration; and 
       FIG. 11  is a top view of a towing boat connected to a towed boat using the marine dock hitch in a towing application of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Shown throughout the drawings, the present invention is generally directed towards a marine dock hitch that is capable of quickly, conveniently and securely connecting a boat to a dock while permitting locking of the boat to the dock and accommodating the rising and falling action of tides and waves in a water body on which the boat floats. 
   Referring initially to  FIGS. 1-8 , a preferred embodiment of the marine dock hitch of the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral  1 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the marine dock hitch  1  includes an elongated hitch bar  2 , which may be steel or aluminum square tubing, for example. A hitch coupling  8  and a hitch coupling  8   a , which may be substantially similar or identical in construction, are provided on respective ends of the hitch bar  2 . 
   In use of the marine dock hitch  1 , which will be hereinafter further described, the hitch coupling  8  engages a hitch catch  36  provided on a hitch catch mount  34  which is mounted on a dock  32 . The hitch coupling  8   a  engages a similar or identical hitch catch  36   a  provided on a hitch catch mount  34   a  which is mounted on a boat  30  floating on a water body  38 . The marine dock hitch  1  couples the boat  30  to the dock  32  while preventing inadvertent striking of the boat  30  against the dock  32  during high winds, adverse weather conditions and/or rising and falling tidal or wave action in the water body  38 , for example. 
   The hitch catch mount  34  and hitch catch  36  mounted on the dock  32  may be substantially similar or identical in construction with respect to the hitch catch mount  34   a  and hitch catch  36   a , respectively, mounted on the boat  30 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 6-8 , the hitch catch  36  extends upwardly from the hitch catch mount  34 . The hitch catch mount  34  may be provided with a rope groove  35  to facilitate the tying of a rope to and/or wrapping of a rope around the hitch catch mount  34 , as deemed necessary. 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the hitch catch mount  34  is mounted on the dock  32  ( FIG. 1 ) typically by extending multiple mount bolts  40  through respective bolt openings (not shown) provided in the hitch catch mount  34  and threading the mount bolts  34  into respective registering bolt openings (not shown), provided in the dock  32 . The hitch catch mount  34   a  may be mounted on the deck of the boat  30  in similar fashion. However, it is understood that the hitch catch mount  34  and hitch catch mount  34   a  may be mounted to the dock  34  and boat  30 , respectively, using any suitable alternative technique known to those skilled in the art. 
   Because the construction of the hitch coupling  8  and hitch coupling  8   a  may be substantially similar or identical, description of the hitch coupling  8  with respect to  FIGS. 3-8  herein below may apply as well to the hitch coupling  8   a . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the hitch coupling  8  includes an elongated housing  9 , which may be steel or aluminum, for example. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the housing  9  includes a housing interior  12 , the front end of which is shaped to define a generally spherical catch receptacle  10 . A generally curved or arcuate front housing notch  15  is provided in the bottom edge  9   a  of the housing  9 , at the front of the hitch coupling  8 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 . A generally curved or arcuate side housing notch  16  is likewise provided in the bottom edge  9   a  of the housing  9 , at both sides of the hitch coupling  8 , as shown in  FIGS. 3-5 . 
   Bolt receptacles  11  are provided on opposite sides of the housing  9  for purposes which will be hereinafter described. An elongated lock slot  13  (FIG.  5 ) extends through the upper surface  9   b  of the housing  9 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a pair of lock flanges  14  extends upwardly from the upper surface  9   b  of the housing  9 . A lock opening  14   a  extends through each of the lock flanges  14 , with the lock openings  14   a  of the respective lock flanges  14  disposed in registering relationship to each other. 
   As further shown in  FIGS. 3-5 , each of the hitch couplings  8  and  8   a  typically includes a lock handle  18 . The lock handle  18  includes an elongated handle shaft  19 , the lower end of which terminates in a lock flange  20 , as shown in FIG.  5 . The lock flange  20  includes a central flange slot  21 . In assembly, the handle shaft  19  of the lock handle  18  is inserted through the lock slot  13 , with the lock flange  20  positioned inside the catch receptacle  10 . A shoulder bolt  28  is extended through the aligned bolt receptacles  11  on the housing  9 , and through a registering bolt opening (not shown) which extends through the lock flange  20 . The shoulder bolt  28  is secured typically with a nut (not shown) to pivotally mount the lock handle  18  in the housing interior  12 . 
   In use of the marine dock hitch  1  as hereinafter further described, the lock handle  18  is pivotal between an “unlock” position, in which the lock flange  20  extends downwardly from the catch receptacle  10 , and a “lock” position, in which the lock flange  20  is disposed in a raised position in the catch receptacle  10 . When the lock handle  18  is in the “unlock” position, the handle shaft  19  extends above the registering lock openings  14   a  in the lock flanges  14 . Conversely, when the lock handle  18  is in the “lock” position, the handle shaft  19  is positioned between the lock flanges  14 , with the aligned lock openings  14   a  registering with a lock opening (not shown) extending through the handle shaft  19 . 
   When the lock handle  18  is in the “unlock” position, the lock flange  20  clears the bottom opening of the catch receptacle  10  such that the hitch coupling  8  can be lowered in place onto the hitch catch  36 . The lock handle  18  is then pivoted to the “lock” position such that the flange opening  21  of the lock flange  20  receives a hitch catch shaft  37  ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ) and the lock flange  20  engages the base of the hitch catch  36 . A padlock or other locking mechanism (not shown) may be extended through the registering lock openings  14   a  in the adjacent lock flanges  14 , and through the registering lock opening (not shown) provided in the handle shaft  19  of the lock handle  18 , to lock the hitch coupling  8  on the hitch catch  36 . 
   A coupling arm  24 , which may be aluminum or steel square tubing, for example, extends from the rear end of the housing  9  of both the hitch coupling  8  and the hitch coupling  8   a . Multiple, spaced-apart bolt openings  25  extend laterally through the coupling arm  24 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the hitch bar  2  typically has a hollow hitch bar interior  3 . Accordingly, in assembly of the marine dock hitch  1 , the coupling arm  24  of the hitch coupling  8  is inserted in the hitch bar interior  3  at one end of the hitch bar  2 , whereas the coupling arm  24  of the hitch coupling  8   a  is inserted in the hitch bar interior  3  at the opposite end of the hitch bar  2 . 
   As further shown in  FIG. 4 , multiple bolt openings  4  extend laterally through the hitch bar  2  and correspond to the positions of the respective bolt openings  25  in the coupling arm  24 . After the coupling arm  24  is inserted in the hitch bar interior  3  of the hitch bar  2 , a pair of interiorly-threaded bolt receptacles  5  ( FIG. 5 ) is typically extended through the respective bolt openings  4  in the hitch bar  2  and through the registering bolt openings  25  in the coupling arm  24 . Mount bolts  5   a  are threaded into the respective bolt receptacles  5  to removably mount the hitch couplings  8  and  8   a  on the hitch bar  2 . It is understood that the hitch couplings  8 ,  8   a  may be removably mounted on the respective ends of the hitch bar  2  using any suitable alternative technique known by those skilled in the art, or may be fixedly mounted on the hitch bar  2 , as desired. 
   Referring next to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  7 - 9  and  10 , in application the marine dock hitch  1  may be used to couple a boat  30  to a dock  32 , typically in conjunction with one or multiple ropes  42 , as illustrated in FIG.  9 . Accordingly, the hitch coupling  8  of the marine dock hitch  1  is initially coupled to the hitch catch  36  provided on the hitch catch mount  34 . With the lock handle  18  ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ) in the “unlock” position, this is accomplished by initially lowering the housing  9  of the hitch coupling  8  over the hitch catch  36 , such that the hitch catch  36  extends upwardly into the catch receptacle  10  ( FIG. 5 ) inside the housing  9 , as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . Next, the lock handle  18  is manipulated to the “lock” position, wherein the handle shaft  19  is pushed downwardly to extend between the lock flanges  14  and the lock flange  20  is raised to engage the base of the hitch catch  36 . A padlock (not shown) may then be extended through the lock openings  14   a  of the respective lock flanges  14 , to lock the hitch coupling  8  on the hitch catch  36 . The hitch coupling  8   a  of the marine dock hitch  1  is then coupled to the hitch catch  36   a  on the hitch catch mount  34   a  on the boat  30 , in similar fashion, to couple the boat  30  to the dock  32 . 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , after the marine dock hitch  1  is locked in place as heretofore described, the boat  30  may be positioned adjacent to the dock  32  for boarding and unboarding or embarking and disembarking of the boat  30 . A rope or ropes  42  may be used to additionally secure the boat  30  adjacent to the dock  32  during loading and unloading. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the hitch couplings  8 ,  8   a  pivot with respect to the respective hitch catches  36 ,  36   a  to which they are attached to permit positioning of the boat  30  adjacent to the dock  32 . 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the boat  30 , coupled to the dock  32  using the marine dock hitch  1 , may be stabilized in a position away from the dock  32  to prevent inadvertent striking of the boat  30  against the dock  32  during high winds, adverse weather conditions and/or rising and falling tidal and wave action of the water body  38 , for example. This may be accomplished by tying one end of a rope  42  to a hitch catch mount  34   a  or other element on the boat  30  which is located to one side of the marine dock hitch  1 ; extending the rope  42  around a hitch catch mount  34  or other element on the dock  32 ; extending the rope  42  around the hitch catch mount  34   a  having the hitch catch  36   a  to which the hitch coupling  8   a  of the marine dock hitch  1  is coupled; extending the rope  42  around a second hitch catch mount  34  or other element on the dock  32 ; and tying the rope  42  to a hitch catch mount  34   a  provided on the boat  30 , on the opposite side of the marine dock hitch  1 . However, it is understood that the rope configuration of  FIG. 9  is exemplary and that a variety of other rope configurations may be used to stabilize the boat  30  with respect to the dock  32 . 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in which the rope  42  shown in  FIG. 9  has been omitted for clarity, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the marine dock hitch  1  is capable of accommodating rising and falling tidal and wave action of a water body  38  on which the boat  30  floats. For example, in  FIG. 1 , the water body  38  is at a high level, whereas in  FIG. 2 , the water body  38  is at a low level. Due to the curved front housing notch  15  ( FIGS. 3 and 5 ) and side housing notches  16  ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ) in the housing  9  of each of the hitch couplings  8 ,  8   a , the hitch couplings  8 ,  8   a  are capable of maintaining a secure and yet resilient connection with the respective hitch catches  36 ,  36   a  during the rising and falling tidal and wave action. 
   An alternative application of the marine dock hitch  1  is shown in  FIG. 11 , wherein the marine dock hitch  1  connects a first boat  30  to a second boat  44  for towing of the second boat  44  by the first boat  30 . Accordingly, the hitch coupling  8  of the marine dock hitch  1  is coupled to the hitch catch  36  on the towed boat  44 , and the opposite hitch coupling  8   a  of the marine dock hitch  1  is coupled to the hitch catch  36   a  on the towing boat  30 . Due to the capability of the hitch couplings  8 ,  8   a  to pivot in both a horizontal plane and a vertical plane with respect to the respective hitch catches  36 ,  36   a  to which they are coupled, the marine dock hitch  1  provides a secure and yet resilient connection between the boats  30 ,  44  throughout the towing operation. 
   Referring again to  FIG. 9 , when it is desired to uncouple the boat  30  from the dock  32  for an excursion in the boat  30 , for example, the ropes  42  are untied from the respective hitch catch mounts  34   a  on the boat  30  and unwound from the hitch catch mounts  34  on the dock  32 ; the hitch coupling  8  is removed from the hitch catch  36  on the dock  32  by unlocking the lock handle  18  ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ) and manipulating the lock handle  18  to the “open” position; and the hitch coupling  8  is lifted from the hitch catch  36 . The hitch coupling  8   a  may remain attached to the hitch catch  36   a  on the boat  30 , in which case the hitch bar  2  can be pivoted to rest on the deck of the boat  30 . Alternatively, the hitch coupling  8   a  can be unlocked and removed from the hitch catch  36   a  on the boat  30 , in which case the hitch coupling  8  may remain attached to the hitch catch  36  on the dock  32 . 
   While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications can be made in the invention and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.