Abstract:
A boat protector is provided with padding on a front surface and is adapted to be secured to a piling or similar structure which is anticipated to contact a watercraft by positioning the padded side facing outward and wrapping securing straps around the piling or similar structure. The securing straps are provided with fastening means to adequately secure the protector to the piling or similar structure.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/868,808, filed Aug. 22, 2013, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a device attachable to a dock piling particularly suited for protecting docking watercraft. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a common practice to provide physical bumpers on piers, posts, docks, and other cylindrical surfaces where boats are positioned. Such bumpers provide protection for the watercraft against damage when they bump up against such objects. Unfortunately, over time, such bumpers deteriorate or become completely missing, leaving only the bare wood or steel present to contact the boat. In such instances the hard surface of the boat will hit it directly against the hard surface of the pier or dock, resulting in likely damage to the boat that is expensive to fix. Accordingly, there exists a need for means by which portable boat bumper surfaces can be provided, so as to afford protection against boat damage as described above. The development of the present invention fulfills this need. 
     The invention has a large center section with a plurality of securement straps. In an alternative embodiment, the outer ends of the straps are also provided with a weighting material such as sand to allow the straps to be thrown around the pier piling. The center surface, which actually contacts the watercraft, is provided with extra padding and protection. With the invention in place, watercraft such as small boats, personal water craft, jet skis, and the like, simply bounce off the invention without causing damage to the dock or the watercraft. 
     Prior art in this field consists of padding and protectors that secure to a side of a boat&#39;s hull. Other protector or are hung from a boat by a tethered rope. These provide some protection only is the position of the padding is in line with the piling. Securing the padding to the pilling is a better method to ensure that anything coming into contact with the piling abuts the padding. Piling bumpers do exist but these are permanently secured and are not transportable. The permanent securement aspect posed a disadvantage because often times these bumpers deteriorate. Furthermore, some pilings are not equipped with bumpers at all. A boat owner wants to have accessible a bumper or protector at all times when docking or mooring. It is an object of this invention to provide a means to easily and effectively add a protective bumper to a piling when docking or mooring a boat. It is a further objective of this invention to provide a means to easily transport the bumper device and attach/detach the device to virtually any piling at a user&#39;s discretion. It is a further objective of this invention to provide a means to personalize the device so that a user may express his interests while the device is in use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The device includes a center vertical padded section and four (4) horizontal strap portions also comprising padding. The center section is elongated and of a general rectangular shape but may comprise of other shapes to fit to various pilings. The straps protrude perpendicularly from the center section and are provided with fasteners at distal ends thereof. The straps are wrapped around a piling and secured onto each other via the fasteners. Once attached, the central section provides the buffer between the boat hull and piling so as to protect the hull from abrasion and impact against the piling. The central section is equipped with extra padding to ensure adequate protection. The straps are also padded but with less padding so as to enable easy manipulation of the straps. The device is encased in a resilient and durable material to resist abrasion. It is envisioned for this casing to come in a variety of colors and with indicia embedded for aesthetics. The device may be used as a semi-permanent barrier or it may be attached and detached each and every time a boat is docked or moored. 
     An alternative embodiment of the invention incorporates weighted strap portions for situations where a user is unable to adequately reach about the piling to properly secure the straps. In this embodiment, a user throws the weighted strap portions around a piling to catch the strap. The ends of the strap can then be fastened to each other to make a secure fit about the piling. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a docking and mooring boat protector  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an environmental view of the docking and mooring boat protector  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3 a    is a sectional view of a pad section  20  of the docking and mooring boat protector  10  along section line A-A (see  FIG. 1 ), according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3 b    is a sectional view of a second upper strap portion  30   b  of the docking and mooring boat protector  10  along section line B-B (see  FIG. 1 ), according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an alternate view having a weighted strap portions  150 , according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 5  is sectional view of a weighted strap portion  150  taken along section line C-C (see  FIG. 4 ), according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  boat protector 
               20  padded section 
               22  padding 
               24  cover 
               30   a  first upper strap 
               30   b  second upper strap 
               40   a  first lower strap 
               40   b  second lower strap 
               50  indicia 
               80   a  first fastener 
               80   b  second fastener 
               100  piling 
               105  dock structure 
               150  weighted strap 
               152  weight 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 3   b , and in terms of an alternate embodiment, herein depicted in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes a boat protector (herein described as the “device”)  10 , which provides a protective barrier system for installation upon a dock piling portion  100  of a dock structure  105 , and other similar features to protect watercraft against scratching and marking while docked. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of the device  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The device  10  includes a center vertical padded section  20  and four (4) horizontal strap portions  30   a ,  30   b ,  40   a ,  40   b  made up of rubber padding layers  22  being approximately one-half inch (½ in.) thick. The device  10  generally has an overall shape of the letter “I”. When laid flat, the device  10  measures approximately thirty-six (36) inches tall by approximately forty inches (40 in.) in width, having the center padded section  20  being approximately thirteen inches (13 in.) in width, thereby providing protection to a variety of differently sized boat hulls. However, it is understood that the device  10  may be introduced in a wide range of sizes which correspond to various round or polygonal-shaped pilings  100  and having various circumferential lengths. Additionally, one (1) embodiment of the device  10  provides weighted strap portions  150  to enable installation upon pilings  100  which a user is unable to reach around (see  FIGS. 4 and 5 ). 
     The device  10  comprises a pad section  20 , a first upper strap  30   a , a second upper strap  30   b , a first lower strap  40   a , and a second lower strap  40   b . The upper straps  30   a ,  30   b  protrude outward in a perpendicular manner from opposing side edge portions of the center padded section  20  further comprising respective mating first fastener  80   a  and second fastener  80   b  portions having sufficient area to allow selective attachment around pilings  100  having various circumferences. In like manner the lower straps  40   a ,  40   b  extend outwardly from lower side edge portions of the padded section  20  and also comprise respective hook-and-loop fasteners  80   a ,  80   b . The hook-and-loop fasteners  80   a ,  80   b  are envisioned to be similar to VELCRO® and allow the device  10  to be secured around, and secured to the piling  100 . 
     The device  10  comprises a center padded section  20  having additional padding layers  22  for extra protection (see  FIG. 3 a   ). The padded section  20  is envisioned to provide various graphic indicia  50  such as sport team logos, college logos, corporate logos, or the like for increased visual appeal. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an environmental view of the device  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. A plurality of the devices  10  is illustrated here being applied to a plurality of respective piling portions  100  of a dock structure  105 . In use, the four (4) extending strap portions  30   a ,  30   b ,  40   a ,  40   b  wrap around the piling  100  and are attached to each other via integral hook-and-loop fasteners  80   a ,  80   b . The device  10  may be left in place upon piling  100  on a semi-permanent basis, or could be installed and removed each time a watercraft is present at the dock  105 . With the device  10  in place, watercraft such as small boats, personal water craft, jet skis, and the like, simply deflect from the device  10  without causing damage to the dock  105  or to the watercraft. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 a  and 3 b   , sectional views of the padded section  20  and the second upper strap  30   b  portions, respectively, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The device  10  comprises at least one (1) thickness of a padding layer  22  made using foamed or solid neoprene rubber sheet or equivalent resilient and durable material, forming the padded section  20  and the straps  30   a ,  30   b ,  40   a ,  40   b . The straps  30   a ,  30   b ,  40   a ,  40   b  are envisioned to comprise a single padding layer  22  while the center padded section  20  is envisioned to comprises a plurality of bonded padding layers  22  preferably being adhesively bonded together or otherwise joined together to provide extra shock absorption due to anticipated contact with a watercraft, three (3) layers being shown here for illustration sake. The padded section  20  and strap portions  30   a ,  30   b ,  40   a ,  40  are collectively enclosed within a cover  24  also envisioned to be adhesively bonded to the padded layers  22  and sealed along edge portions using common plastic joining methods such as RF welding, heat sealing, and the like. The cover  24  is envisioned to be made of sealed and waterproof materials such as extruded vinyl sheet, a rubberized textile material, or the like. The cover  24  is also envisioned being introduced in various colors and patterns, and having various displayed indicia  50  based upon a user&#39;s preference. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , perspective and sectional views of an alternate weighted strap embodiment  150  of the present invention, are disclosed. It is envisioned that another embodiment of the device  10  providing similar construction and external appearance may comprise alternate weighted strap portions  150  having internal weights  152  embedded within the padding layer  22 . Said weights  152  are envisioned to be made using materials such as sand, metal shot, metal plates, or the like, to allow said straps  150  to be thrown around the piling  100  and caught by a user when being installed upon pilings  100  being awkwardly positioned or being too large to reach around. 
     It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the device  10 , it would be installed as indicated in  FIG. 2 , or alternately in  FIG. 4 . 
     The method of installing and utilizing the device  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: procuring at least one (1) device  10  having a desired color and indicia  50 ; positioning a rear surface of the padded section  20  against a portion of a piling  100  or similar structure which is anticipated to contact a watercraft; connecting the upper straps  30   a ,  30   b  tightly around said piling  100  by attaching the hook-and-loop fasteners  80   a ,  80   b ; connecting the lower straps  40   a ,  40   b  tightly around said piling  100  by attaching the hook-and-loop fasteners  80   a ,  80   b ; installing any additional units of the device  10  upon other pilings  100  based upon a particular watercraft and dock structure  105 ; and, benefiting from protection of one&#39;s watercraft from scratching, scraping, and other possible damage resulting from contact with a dock structure  105 , afforded a user of the present invention  10 . 
     An alternate embodiment of the present invention  10  comprises weighted strap portions  150  having embedded weights  152 . The weighted straps  150  would be especially useful in an event that the device  10  is being installed upon large piling  100  which is impossible for the user to reach around. The weighted embodiment  150  may be installed by the user by throwing the weighted strap portions  150  around the piling  100  and subsequently catching said weighted straps  150 , and attaching the fastener portions  80   a ,  80   b  tightly around said piling  100 . 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.