Abstract:
An apparatus for the temporary stowage of cables and lines which emanate from a docked vessel for obtaining power, cable TV and telephone reception, which apparatus may be permanently or temporarily mounted to a substrate such as a marina&#39;s decking. The apparatus includes a base to which is attached at least one and preferably up to four spaced springs, each of which is also mounted to an upper plate, from which a preferably flexible shaft extends in an upwardly direction. Mounted on the shaft is at least one cable and line receiving means for retaining the cables and lines therein. Cables for TV, telephone, and lines for fresh water and perhaps fuel can be stowed on the apparatus pending and during connections to such utilities.

Description:
[0001]    This invention pertains to an apparatus to be affixed either temporarily or permanently to a dock for receipt of a ship&#39;s electrical cable, water line, and other lines such that dock side power, television, and water sources among others can be accessed while the cables and lines are neatly retained during periods of connection to the sources of electricity, water and the T.V. cable.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    When a boat moors at a dock, for an extended period of time, it does so often not just to reload provisions, such as foodstuffs, containerized beverages, and naval stores, but also to obtain fresh water, and fuel the tank. Today&#39;s boat lovers have luxuries on board not available in yesteryear. Mention may be made of electricity, cable television, water and telephones not associated with ship to shore radio. When a boat is moored, the cables pertaining to the provision of cable TV, electrical power, and the hoses or lines for water or phone are all attached to a dockside vessel support system to continue the delivery of these utilities to the vessel. Other utilities that employ either an electrical cable or a flexible hose, may be employed for the delivery of other ship needed items as well.  
           [0003]    Normally these lines and cables are retained on shipboard in a coiled up fashion. No doubt the reader has seen rope coiled up on a ship&#39;s deck waiting to be thrown to a person who might fall overboard, or a downed water skier. The cables are kept coiled in like manner.  
           [0004]    Should the cables and hoses be left un-retained in a neat fashion, one or more of them could fall into the water, and perhaps cause an outage, or at least corrosion of the line which could interfere with satisfactory delivery of the TV or phone signal or of power for use on shipboard. As an alternative, injury could take place to passers-by walking near or even on cables and lines that may be laying around haphazard on the dock.  
           [0005]    When these cables and/or hoses (lines) are handed over in some fashion to docking personnel, if the cables and lines are left on their own, they can become tangled up and sometimes one or more of them can fall in the water, often creating a retrieval problem. On the other hand, if the cables and lines are merely piled on the dock helter-skelter, there is always the possibility of injury to passers-by, which could create a liability problem for the shipowner.  
           [0006]    While apparatuses for the stowage and support of cables and lines are known to the art none are portable such that they can be moved from location to location as the ship travels the seven seas.  
           [0007]    Thus reference can be made to the following U.S. patents which turned up during the course of a search:  
                                                           Blair   5,167,388   Issued Dec. 1, 1992           Korson   5,909,861   Jun. 8, 1999           Dvorachek   4,238,096   Dec. 9, 1980           Gunderson   2,978,217   Apr. 4, 1961                      
 
           [0008]    None of the above mentioned patents either alone or in combination discloses the invention set forth herein and which is the subject matter of the appended claims.  
           [0009]    The invention accordingly comprises the device possessing the features properties and the relation of components which are exemplified in the following detailed disclosure and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a first embodiment of this invention. The rear view is a mirror image thereof.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a right side elevational view of the dock line and cable holder of this invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment thereof.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of part of this invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is a side elevational of the base portion of the first embodiment.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the upper portion of this invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a variant of the upper portion of this invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 8 is a cutaway view of a variant of the upper portion of this invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 9 illustrates one mode of temporary mounting of this invention for use.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 10 is perspective view of a variant of a line and cable retention means of this invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 11 is an elevational view of an alternate version of the first embodiment.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 are side elevational views of several different cable and line retaining devices.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a lower cost embodiment of this invention, shown without a base.  
     
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]    The invention of this application pertains to an easy to use apparatus that may be mounted temporarily or permanently to a substrate such as wood, concrete, fiberglass or metal substrates decking at a public or private marina, and which in the alternative may also be moved from location to location if owned by the ship owner as may be desired.  
         [0024]    The apparatus of this invention includes a base to which is attached a spring mounted upper plate. A flexible mast protrudes upwardly from the base, and has attached to it, at least one cable and line receiving means. The apparatus can be temporarily mounted or permanently mounted to a marina&#39;s decking.  
         [0025]    This invention permits the lines and cables of a vessel to be stowed during periods of mooring, such that the cables and lines are maintained in an orderly fashion.  
         [0026]    It is a first object of this invention to provide a dock mountable portable, if desired, stowage apparatus for a ship&#39;s cables and lines.  
         [0027]    It is a second object to provide a cable and hose stowage apparatus that includes a flexible portion and as such is capable of moving with the tide and/or the wind, and as such will retain the cables and lines during ship movement.  
         [0028]    It is a third object to provide a spring loaded apparatus for the temporary stowage of a vessel&#39;s cables and hoses and to keep the cables and hoses out of the water.  
         [0029]    It is a fourth object to provide a cable stowage apparatus that can be mounted either permanently or short term to dock surfaces of various constructions.  
         [0030]    Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.  
         [0031]    The apparatus of this invention is seen to include a base for attachment either short term or long term to the surface of the dock. A spring mounted platform is disposed above the base, to permit the platform a certain amount of freedom of movement. An upstanding flexible pole centrally mounted to the platform, has at least one cable and hose retaining means attached at its distal end, the end distant from the mounted end. The retaining means may be split ring(s), U-shaped members, snap rings and the like, all of which will retain the cables and hoses out of the way and out of the water, during the times these cables and lines are connected to utility sources on the dock.  
         [0032]    For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0033]    The invention of this application is made up of 5 main components several of which have more than one embodiment or variants. As seen from the ground up, they are the base  15 , the spring section  16 , the platform  17 , the pole  18  and the cable &amp; line retainer portion  19 . See FIG. 1.  
         [0034]    In FIG. 1, a first embodiment  20  of this invention is seen. The base portion  15  of this embodiment is designated  21 . Base  21  includes a pair of spaced opposed L-shaped legs,  22 , each consisting of a horizontal section  23  and a vertical section  24 . The horizontal section of each of which  23  is mounted to the underside of a plate, designated lower plate  26 . While shown mounted spaced inwardly from the outer edges of plate  26 , legs  22 , may also be mounted at the outer edges of said plate  26 . The horizontal section  23 , of legs  22 , include a vertical through bore  43  for the receipt of a mounting bolt  44 , which in turn is adapted to pass through the decking of a dock, to be retained in place by bolt  45 . See also FIG. 2 for the location of horizontal section  23 . Base plate  26  has a plurality of through bores  27  equal to the number of springs to be mounted, which in this embodiment is  4 .  
         [0035]    Spaced from the plate  26  is the platform  17  which in this embodiment includes the  34 , the upper plate. A series of threaded bolts  28 , each having a washer  29  thereon passes through a bore  33  in plate  34  as well as through the bores  27  for securement by nuts  30 . Threaded bores  27  are spatially aligned with bores  33  such that the disposition of plate  34  relative to plate  26  is one of parallelism.  
         [0036]    A coil spring is disposed on each bolt and urges the platform  34  upwardly, such to retain this plate  34  in a spaced relationship with base plate  26 . Adjacent the distal end of each bolt at the upper surface of the base plate  26 , the lower end of a coil spring is welded to the plate, as denoted by weld pont  32 . The bolt however is not welded to the plate.  
         [0037]    Disposed upon each bolt  28  intermediate the plates  34  and  26  is a coil spring. As will be discussed infra in detail, each coil spring may be any of a barrel spring, a pyramidal spring or a cylindrical spring. Presently each spring will just be referred to a spring. Thus each spring  31  is welded into place at location  32  on the lower plate  26  adjacent the respective bore  27  for the pin  28  disposed through the respective spring. The springs may optionally be welded to the underside of the upper plate  34 . See FIGS. 1 and 2. The upper plate and the lower plate as well as the L-shaped legs may each be made of metal such as painted steel or anodized aluminum or of a suitable molded plastic such as nylon. Base  21  may also be formed as one piece if desired.  
         [0038]    A flexible rod  36  having an upper end and a lower end, of such material as stainless steel, graphite, Kevlar® material, or fibreglass, is fixedly mounted at its lower end in a bore  35  centrally located in plate  34 . This mounting may be by having the rod threaded into position, glued, welded or otherwise secured as may be appropriate for the material employed for both the rod and the upper plate  34 . Again see FIGS. 1 and 2.  
         [0039]    Disposed at the upper end of the rod  36  is a clamp  38  having at least one and as seen here, a pair of cable and line receiving means  39 , such as a ring  40 , or split ring  41 , each of which has an opening  40  through which the various cables and hoses may pass for temporary retention.  
         [0040]    Details of one type of clamp may be found in FIG. 4 to which reference is now made. Here the clamp  38  is seen to be formed of two mirror image portions  38 ′ each of which comprises an opposed hemispherical section,  38 A and  38 B, each of which hemispherical sections has a pair of oppositely extending wings  38 C. The pairs of wings are tightly joined by a bolt  57  which passes through a bore  58  and which bolt is secured by a nut  56 .  
         [0041]    Other means such as friction fit, and the use of a suitable adhesive are contemplated to attach this clamp or any other suitable clamp to the flexible rod.  
         [0042]    See in closeup in FIG. 4 is a split ring  41 . These are readily available in the marketplace and include a main portion  59  and a spring loaded inwardly moveable section  60 . FIG. 4 also illustrates the bolt  28  with washer  29  that passes through bore  27  at four locations on plate  34 .  
         [0043]    The discussion now turns to the second embodiment  50  seen in FIG. 3. Most aspects of this embodiment are the same as discussed with respect to the first embodiment. Therefore where appropriate like numbers represent like parts and such will merit little further discussion.  
         [0044]    The second embodiment does include a different base, namely a C-shaped base  51 .  
         [0045]    This base  51  includes a vertically disposed rectangular plate section  52  connected at its upper and lower ends to a pair of equi-dimensional horizontally disposed rectangular plate sections  53 ,  54 . Located adjacent each corner of the bottom of the two horizontal plates,  53  is a threaded through bore  46 . For receipt of a bolt  47 . Plate  52  may also include a pair or more of spaced side bores  55  also for mounting of the base  51  as may be desired.  
         [0046]    In order to have consistent nomenclature, it is noted that the plate  54  of the base  51  while in an upper position is designated the lower plate, since the springs are attached upwardly therefrom. It,  54 , has four bores  77  in spatial alignment with the threaded bores  33  of the upper plate. Thus the same mount means for the 4 coil springs  31  using threaded bolts  28  disposed through a washer  29  and the respective bore  33  of upper plate  34 , down into bores  77  by a nut  30  as per FIG. 5 can be carried out. The springs may be welded into place at location  31 , also as seen in closeup in FIG. 5.  
         [0047]    The mast  36  may be the same as previously discussed, or may further include a nose  72  for both cosmetic and aerodynamic purposes as shown in FIG. 7. The clamp for this embodiment may be clamp  38  or any other suitable clamp which includes cable and line retention means. Note that in FIG. 3, one split ring  41  and one standard ring  40  are employed as the cable and line receiving means.  
         [0048]    In FIG. 7, a telescoping rod  66  is seen. It may be made of the same material as rod  36  or of other materials suitable for such purpose. Upper section  68  is seen to nest into lower section  67  and when extended is retained in position by a pair of conventional spring loaded buttons  69  which are releasably engageable to bores  70  of the outer section  67 . Such extension and retraction telescopic disposition means are found in camera tripod legs and are deemed conventional. In FIG. 7 the same clamp  38  as previously disclosed may be employed.  
         [0049]    In FIG. 8, an alternate configuration for the rod, now designated  73  is seen. This rod  73  is tapered rather than being of uniform cross section. Here a tapered opening clamp  78  having a cross section at the top of the opening smaller than the cross section at the bottom of the opening is employed. A screw or applied boss  74  keeps clamp  78  from rising upwardly off the rod  73 . Clamp  78  may also be adhesed into place. This clamp also includes two cable and line receiving means  79  and  79 ′, one of which is a mere ring, the other of which is a split ring as previously described. These are, however, integral and fixed into and form part of the clamp  78 .  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 8 illustrates a mode of temporary mounting of the apparatus of this invention to the wooden decking  99  of a marina. Thus a pair of conventional C-clamps  86  can hold the base  51  such as C base  51  to the decking. Only one the conventional C clamps is shown in this figure.  
         [0051]    It is also to be seen that the cable and line receiving means need not be of a ring configuration. A shape such as a cup hook  80  upon which the cables and lines may rest may also be employed. These may be attached directly to the rod, as shown in FIG. 10 as by threaded engagement or welding, or gluing as may be appropriate; or indirectly attached as part of a clamp.  
         [0052]    The discussion now moves to FIG. 11. Here a C-shaped clamp  51  is seen to be in position for mounting onto a dock surface such as 2×6″ boards using mounting bolts  47 . In this embodiment however, rather than use 4 springs, a single barrel shaped spring is employed. Barrel coil spring  81  is welded at weld point  32  to the upper section of the C-shaped base  51 , and to the plate  34  constituting the platform. A central unseen threaded bore in plate  34  receives the lower threaded end  85 T of a flexible shaft  85  therein. Shaft  85  also has a threaded end at its upwardly disposed end, for engagement in the female threaded central section  89  of bracket  88 . A pair of opposed wings  90  emanate from the central section  89 , each of which has a horizontal throughbore  91 , and each of which through bores  91  carries a spring loaded clip ring  92 . A typical cable or line is seen disposed through said clip ring  92 .  
         [0053]    In FIG. 12, a metal cap is seen to be threadedly engaged to an optionally tapered flexible fibreglass shaft  96 . A circular threaded cap  95 , is threadedly engaged to the threads  96 T of said shaft  96 . An Allen screw,  94  ensures a tight engagement to the threads  96 T. A pair of opposed linearly spaced open rings are welded at weld points  32  to the cap  95 . The openings of said open rings face in opposite directions and as such cables and lines can either be passed through the openings from one end, such as is illustrated by the disposition of cable  100 . A cable can also be dropped down between the rings and then rotated 90 degrees to be retained within the spaced opposed open rings  93 .  
         [0054]    In FIG. 13 a tapered flexible rod  96 ′—to differentiate it from the non-threaded shaft of FIG. 12—is seen to have a metal cap  97  glued or otherwise attached thereto. A single open loop ring  98  with an upwardly positioned opening is welded thereto for retention of cables and lines.  
         [0055]    In FIG. 14 there is shown a lower cost version of this invention suitable primarily for smaller vessels in the 20 to 50 feet or so in length. This embodiment  200  has a lower base  226  of a rectangular configuration, similar to base  26  and is made preferably of stainless steel, though galvanized steel or even polycarbonate plastic may be employed. Typical dimensions for lower base  226  are 6 inches×6 inches. Base plate  226  includes mounting bores  243  adjacent each corner, through which bolts may be placed for attachment to a wood deck. A trio of springs  231 , which may be either of the barrel type configuration, discussed previously or standard cylindrical coil springs, are welded in place, upright, at their lower ends in a triangular configuration to lower base  226  at weld points  232 . The upper ends of these  3  springs may be placed through a trio of bores  237  for securement as by welding at weld points  248  or such spring may have a cap nut or other fastener attached thereto for retention. A suitable spring for this embodiment  200 , would be a 3″ long, 1″ in diameter, close wound stainless steel coil spring.  
         [0056]    Disposed upright in the center of the equilateral triangular upper plate  234  is a tubular shaft holder  237 . This too is preferably made of stainless steel and is welded into position in an upright disposition. Shaft  236 &#39;s lower end is friction fit into the shaft holder  237 , by the use of close tolerances for the two elements, as is readily understood.  
         [0057]    Ring mount  239  comprising a tubular member is crimped at one end and welded to conventional split ring  240  at that end. The open end of the ring mount  237  is friction fit onto shaft  236 &#39;s upper end. Shaft  236  is preferably made of fibreglass, while the split ring and its mount  237  are preferably stainless steel due to exposure to water and in some instances salt. This single split ring serves as the cable and line receiving means of this embodiment.  
         [0058]    While shown as being of uniform thickness, such as ⅝ inch in thickness, a tapered shaft may be employed equally well.  
       Conclusion  
       [0059]    When a ship drops anchor or pulls along side the deck of a marina, the lines and cables are dropped from the ship, and placed in the apparatus of this invention&#39;s cable and line receiver means, for ultimate connection to sources of water, telephone, cable TV and the like which all have stubs located nearby for easy connection. Use of the apparatus of this invention, keeps the lines and cables out of the water to avoid possible interruptions of service, and helps avoid accidents by keeping them handy but out of the way. By having the upstanding rod range from about 3 feet to 8 feet tall, either fixedly or adjustably, the longest of lines and cables can be accommodated.  
         [0060]    As noted supra, any of three different configurations may be employed, cylindrical, barrel, or pyramidal. A cylindrical spring, would provide uniform flex all thought the coils, and could cause the mast or rod to bend too much such that its tip might touch the ground which could cause the retained lines or hoses to come loose from the retainment. A pyramidal spring, is easier to flex at the beginning and as the flex continues, the spring becomes stiffer, due to the greater diameter of the coil at the bottom thereof. The barrel shape in one sense is the preferred shape spring to be employed with this invention, because its section of maximum resistance is in the middle rather than at the bottom, and as such it keeps the rod more upright after any initial flex, but the cost per spring is higher. The conical spring is the least costly.  
         [0061]    When employing either type of base, one can attach the apparatus permanently using bolts that go through a substrate and the base. In the alternative bolts may be used for a temporary disposition, in that they may not pass through the substrate deck, but may only be tightened to provide a friction fit, thus making the apparatus portable. The use of a pair of “C” clamps accomplishes the same desired result of portability for the C base unit. Indeed on some substrates, oppositely facing hook and loop closures may be adhesively attached to the substrate and to the underside of the base for temporary mounting.  
         [0062]    By having the upper plate spring mounted, and the upstanding rod, flexible, it is seen that movement of the vessel due to tides, high winds or even personnel movement on smaller vessels will have little or no effect upon the retention capability of the apparatus for the cables and lines, prior to and during any extended hookup period, while the vessel is moored. By providing for means for the temporary disposition of the apparatus, boat captains can be certain that their lines and cables are not damaged even when docking at the crudest of facilities, as they can take the cable and line holder of this invention with them from port to port, slip to slip.  
         [0063]    A non-tapered rod is seen to be preferred to a rod or shaft that is of a tapered width, as excess flexibility is obtained from the utter. Fibreglass forms the best flexible shaft. If ABS, or PVC is used for non-flexible shafts, all flex would be limited to the movement of the springs, and none to the shaft itself, which could result in a cracking of the shaft. In the last discussed embodiment, the base may be truly triangular or the corners can be chamfered for both aesthetic and safety reasons.  
         [0064]    Since certain changes may be made in the described apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.