Abstract:
A split ring vessel mooring arrangement having floats thereon which may be installed on a post or piling over the top thereof or, in the case of the top being covered by a deck or other structure making access thereto impossible may be pivotally opened and wrapped around the post or piling and then re-secured together.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to the art of securing or mooring boats floating on a body of water to a piling or other type of post. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The securing or mooring a boat that is floating on a body of water to a fixed piling or other post at or adjacent to a dock or other structure has been a problem that a multitude of devices have attempted to solve over the many years of human history. Many of the prior devices have proven to be practical for limited types of fixed structures to which it is desired to moor the boat. However, due to the great variety of fixed strictures and the configuration thereof, there has not yet been provided a vessel mooring device that is adaptable for use in the two most common types of fixed structures. The first of the two most common fixed structure is one in which there is a post or piling that has a top portion that may rise above the water level and has no other structure prohibiting or preventing access to the top of the post or piling. The second of the two most common fixed structures is one in which there is a post or piling having a top portion above the surface of the water level but which also has other structure such as a dock, walkway, deck or the like on or adjacent to the top of the post or piling which prevents access to the top of the post or piling. 
     The devices previously proposed for mooring a vessel to a fixed post or piling for the situations wherein the top of the post or piling is accessible and where the top of the post or piling is inaccessible have not satisfactorily been able to provide such a mooring configuration in both situations. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vessel mooring device that allows a vessel to be secured to a post or piling in which the top of the post or piling is both accessible and inaccessible. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a vessel mooring device that allows a vessel to be secured to a post or piling in which the top of the post or piling is both accessible and inaccessible and which floats on the top of the water level. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a vessel mooring device that allows a vessel to be secured to a post or piling in which the top of the post or piling is both accessible and inaccessible and which is provided with float members thereon to keep the mooring device floating on the top of the water level even though the water level may rise or fall depending on, for example, tide action or other action effecting a change in the water level. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a vessel mooring device that allows a vessel to be secured to a post or piling in which the top of the post or piling is both accessible and inaccessible and which is provided with float members thereon to keep the mooring device floating on the top of the water level even though the water level may rise or fall depending on, for example, tide action or other action effecting a change in the water level and in which the float members are prevented from rubbing against the post or piling. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a vessel mooring device that allows a vessel to be secured to a post or piling which is economical to manufacture, easy to use and is of a relatively compact configuration. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The above and other objects of the present invention a re achieved, in a preferred embodiment thereof by providing a wire like body member, which may be tubular or solid having a first portion and a second portion. Each of the first portion and the second portion have a coupling end and a pivot end. The pivot end of said first portion is pivotally coupled to the pivot end of said second portion to allow relative pivotal movement of the first portion with respect to the second portion. A pivot pin, which may be, for example a double headed rivet configuration or any other desired configuration to allow such relative pivotal movement is utilized to couple the two pivotal ends together. In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the pivot ends of the first portion and the second portion are flattened and appropriate apertures are provided therethrough to allow insertion of the pivot pin. 
     The coupling end of said first portion is detachably mountable on the coupling end of the second portion to provide detachable coupling therebetween. For the condition of the coupling ends of the first portion and the second portion so coupled together, the body member defines a substantially ring like configuration having a center line, and the body member lies substantially in a plane. The coupling ends of the first and second portions may be flattened and apertures provided therein to allow insertion of a locking pin, which may be comprised of a nut and bolt to allow the detachable coupling therebetween. 
     Each of the first portion and second portion has a loop like section upstanding from the plane of the body member and intermediate the coupling end and the pivot end of each of the first portion and said second portion. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the loop like sections also extend outwardly from the plane of the body member away from the centerline thereof. A strap like member may be placed around each of the loop like sections in regions adjacent the other parts of the first portion and second portion to leave the upper part of the loop like sections free for access therethrough of a line or other securing device from a vessel. The loop like sections are in diametrically opposed relationship on the body member. 
     A plurality of float like members having a density less than that of water are provided on the body member and at least one of the plurality of float like members mounted on each of the first portion and the second portion of said body member. In preferred embodiments of the present invention one of the float like members is mounted on each of the first portion and second portion adjacent to the pivot ends and coupling ends of the body member. The float like members as so placed are spaced from the loop like sections of the body member. The float like members maintain the body member at the surface of the water despite the rising or falling of the surface of the water due to tides, wind or the like. The floats are sized and spaced substantially apart so that the body member and loop like section on one of the first portion and second portion is brought to bear against the post or piling for the condition of an outwardly directed force being applied to the loop like section of the other of the first portion and second portion and the floats are free of engagement with the post or piling. Such outwardly direct force may be caused by movement of a vessel attached to the loop like section on the other of the first portion and second portion. 
     The circumferential size of the ring like configuration of the body member for the condition of the first portion and second portion of the body member coupled together is selected to be such that there is adequate clearance between the body member and the floats thereon and the post or piling to prevent the floats from engaging the post or piling. Such engagement could damage or destroy one or more of the floats. 
     In operation, the body member is placed around the post or piling to which the vessel is to be moored. For the condition of the top of the post or piling being accessible, the body member may be just slipped thereover. For the condition wherein the top of the post or piling is not accessible, the coupling ends of the first portion and second portion of the body member are detached by removing the locking pin to allow the opening of the body member by the relative pivotal motion therebetween on the pivot pin. The open body member may then be inserted around the post or piling and the coupling ends of said first portion and said second portion are coupled together by insertion of the locking pin. 
     A vessel is connected to the loop like section on one of the first portion and the second portion of the body member by any suitable means such as a rope, a clevis or the like. As wind, tidal movement or the like tends to move the vessel away from the post or piling, an outwardly directed force is applied to the body member causing the other of the first portion and second portion of the body member to engage the post or piling thereby restraining the vessel from further movement. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       The above and other embodiments of the present invention my be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken together with the accompanying drawing wherein similar reference characters refer to similar elements throughout and in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a preferred embodiment of a vessel mooring arrangement of the present invention in the closed position thereof; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 1  of the present invention in the open position thereof; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view along the line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 1  of the present invention as installed on a post or piling; 
         FIG. 5  is a view along the line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates the flattened end of a first or second portion of a body member as shown in  FIG. 1  wherein the body member is solid; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates the flattened end of a first or second portion of a body member as shown in  FIG. 1  wherein the body member is tubular; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded view illustrating the coupling together of the coupling ends of the first and second body portions of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded view illustrating the coupling together of the pivot ends of the first and second body portions of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 10 and 11  are semi schematic views of a vessel moored according to the principals of the present invention; and, 
         FIGS. 12 and 13  are semi schematic views of a vessel moored according to the prior art. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawing, there is illustrated in  FIG. 1  a preferred embodiment, generally designated  10 , of a vessel mooring arrangement, or float tie, of the present invention. The vessel mooring arrangement  10  has a wire like body member  12 , which may be a solid or tubular, as described below, has a first portion  14  and a second portion  16 . The first portion  14  has a coupling end  18  and a pivot end  20 . The second portion  16  has a coupling end  22  which is detachably coupled to the coupling end  18  of the first portion by suitable structure so as to conveniently allow the removal thereof and such structure is indicated  26  and may be a pin, a nut and bolt or the like which allows the first end  22  of the second portion  16  to be detachably coupled to the first end  18  of the first portion  14 . 
     The second end  20  of the first portion  14  is pivotally coupled to the second end  24  of the second portion  16  for rotation about an axis  28  perpendicular to the plane of the paper in the directions indicated by the arrow  30  for the condition of the first end  18  of the first portion  14  detached. 
     A pivot pin  32  which may be, for example, a Pit Pin, or which may be a bolt and nut, a double headed rivet, or any other suitable structure pivotally couples the pivot ends  20  and  24  of the first and second portions  14  and  16 , respectively, in a loose fashion so as to allow full rotational movement as indicated by the double ended arrow  30  about the pivot pin  32 . 
     In the closed position as shown on  FIG. 1 , the embodiment  10  forms a substantially ring like structure having a centerline  33  and the body member  12  lies substantially in a plane except for the two hoop like sections  34  on first portion  14  and  36  on second portion  16  and the hoop like members  3  and  36  are upstanding from the plane defined by the body member  12  and also outwardly extending from the centerline  32  as described below in greater detail. In the preferred embodiments of the present invention the hoop like members  34  and  36  are intermediate the pivot ends and the coupling ends of the first and second body portions  14  and  16  and the pivot ends of the first and second body portions  14  and  16 . Since the first portion  14  and the second portion  16  of the body member  12  are identical, the embodiment  10  is thus economical to fabricate. In the event of damage to a float, the float may be easily replaced with a new float. 
     A plurality of float members  38 ,  40 ,  42  and  44  are mounted on the body member  12  and each of the float members  38 ,  40 ,  42  and  44  are substantially identical. The float members  38 ,  40 ,  42  and  44  have a density less than the density of the water in which the embodiment  10  may be used and may be fabricated from wood, plastic such as polystyrene or polypropylene, or the like. Float  38  is adjacent the coupling end  18  of first body portion  14  and float  40  is adjacent the coupling end  22  of the second portion  16 . The float members  38 ,  40 ,  42  and  44  are generally tubular in shape and the body member  12  extends through a central aperture  46  ( FIG. 3 ) in each of the float members  38 ,  40 ,  42  and  44 . However, in some applications it may be desired to have the floats  38 ,  40 ,  42  and  44  mounted on the body member  12  other than through a central aperture  46 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the embodiment installed on a post or piling  48  or  50 . Post or piling  48  represents a post or piling having an outer diameter of about 6¾ inches and piling  52  represents a piling having an outer diameter of about 9 inches. Such dimensions for the post or piling  48 ,  50  are typical for the dimensions of such structures generally found in ocean/dock pilings. However, the embodiment  10  may be dimensioned to accommodate any size piling. 
     A boat or other type vessel that is floating on the water adjacent to, for example the post or piling  48 , 50  may be tied or other wise secured to the loop like portion  38  and may exert a force F indicated by the arrow  52  outwardly from the post or piling  48 ,  50 . As such force F is applied on the body member  12 , the embodiment  10  is pulled in the direction of the force F until the first body portion  14  in regions adjacent the hoop like section  34 , as indicated at  54  is against the post or piling  48 ,  50 . 
     The floats  38 ,  40 ,  42  and  44  are free if contact with the post or piling  48 ,  50  and the corner bends  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  and  12   d  keep the floats  38 ,  40 ,  42  and  44  from moving towards the hoop like sections  34 ,  38 . The floats  38 ,  40 ,  42  and  44  are solid in construction and thus are not susceptible to being punctured and filled with water and thus lose the flotation capability. Since the floats are on the surface of the water, the embodiment  10  floats up and down on the post or piling  48 , 50  with, for example, rising and falling tides for the condition of the force F at a minimum, no slack need be provided in the line connecting a vessel to the body member  12  as indicated by arrow  52 . As a result, vessels can be securely centered in narrow piling layouts and thus avoiding contact side pilings. The body member  12  and the pivot or pit pin  32  and coupling structure  26  are preferably fabricated from corrosion resistant material such a corrosion resistant steel. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates the loop like portion  34  of the first portion  14  of the body member  12  as viewed along the view line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1 . As shown on  FIG. 5 , the loop like portion  34  extends vertically upwardly from the plane  60  that is generally defined by the non-hoop like sections  34  and  36  of the first body portion  24  and second body portion  16 . A sleeve  62 , which may be fabricated from nylon or any other suitable material, is wrapped around the hoop like section  34  and spaced from the peak  34   a  of hoop like section  34 . It has been found that the sleeve  62  prevents a mooring line  64  which connects a vessel (not shown) to the body member  12  from sliding down the hoop like section  34  and into the water. As shown on  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the hoop like sections  34  and  36  extend outwardly by a distance D from the remainder of the first portion  14 . It has been found that with a mooring line  64  put into tension due to relative movement of the vessel with respect to post or piling  48 ,  50  ( FIG. 4 ) the force F is directed upwardly from the plane  60  and thereby causes the portion  54  ( FIG. 4 ) to engage the pier or piling  48 , 50  at an angle to the surface of the water and the body member  12  will not ride up the post or piling. For the condition of the force F at a minimum or non-existent, the entire embodiment  10  will float up and down the post or piling  48 ,  50  along with the vessel. 
     Since the body member  12  may be opened and closed as shown on  FIGS. 1 and 2 , mooring of a vessel to a post or piling  48 ,  50  may be accomplished even though there is structure, such as a deck or the like on the top of the post or piling  48 ,  50  barring a fixed ring like mooring device from being placed over the top of the post or piling  48 ,  50 . 
     The hoop like section  36  is fabricated similarly to the arrangement shown on  FIG. 5  of hoop like section  34  and sleeve  62 . 
     As noted above, the coupling ends  18  and  22  as well as the pivot ends  20  and  24  of first portion  14  and second portion  16  respectively are preferably flattened so as to facilitate the interconnections therebetween.  FIG. 6  illustrates the flattened coupling end  18  of first portion  14  wherein the first portion  14  is a solid wire like configuration. An aperture  70  is provided through the flattened end to allow insertion of the appropriate coupling, structure as described below. The coupling end  22  of second portion  16  and pivot ends  20  and  24  of the first portion  14  and second portion  16 , respectively, are fabricated in the same manner as shown on  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 7  shows the coupling end  18 ′ of a first portion  14 ′ of an embodiment  80  similar to embodiment  10  wherein the body member  12 ′ is fabricated from a tubular material such as corrosive resistant steel. 
       FIG. 8  is an exploded view showing the connection of the coupling end  18  of the first portion  14  to the coupling end  18  of the second portion  16  of the body member  12  by a nut  82  and bolt  84  extending through the apertures  70   
       FIG. 8  is an exploded view showing the connection of the coupling end  18  of the first portion  14  to the coupling end  18  of the second portion  16  of the body member  12  by a nut  82  and bolt  84  extending through the apertures  70   
       FIG. 9  is an exploded view showing the connection of the pivot end  20  of the first portion  14  to the pivot end  24  of the second portion  16  of the body member  12  by a pit pin  86 , or similar suitable headed pin structure extending through the apertures  70 . In preferred embodiments of the present invention the pit pin  86  is retained by a braided stainless steel wire as indicated by  87  extending from the pit pin  86  to the first portion  14 . 
       FIGS. 10 and 11  are semi schematic views of a vessel  100  moored according to the principals of the present invention. As shown on  FIG. 10 , there is depicted a top plan view of the vessel  100  moored by four vessel mooring arrangements or float ties  10  of the present invention as moored to pilings  102 . The pilings  102   a  and  102   b  on the port side  103  of the vessel  100 , may have decking  104  or similar dock structures indicted at  104  extending over the top of the pilings  102   a  and  102   b  as shown on  FIG. 10 , or the dock structures  104  may extend to the pilings  102   a  and  102   b  at some location between the tops  102   a ′ and  102   b ′ of the pilings  102   a  and  102   b  and the water level indicated at  105  upon which the vessel  100  is floating as shown at  104   b  on  FIG. 11 . The float ties  10  are connected to the vessel by lines  112 . 
     On the starboard side  107  of the vessel  100  the pilings  102   c  and  102   d  may have decking such as  104  or  104   b  or the pilings  102   b  and  102   d  may be free of such decking. 
     As shown on  FIG. 11 , which depicts an elevational view of the stern  109  of the vessel  100 , as moored to the pilings  102   b  and  102   d . With the float ties  10  encircling the pilings  102   b  and  102   d , as well as pilings  102   a  and  102   c , the vessel  100  and the float ties  10  may move freely up and down as the tide comes in and then recedes as indicted by the double ended arrow  113  As such, no strain or tension other than as placed thereon in the initial mooring is placed on the lines  112  by changing of the level of the tide and the relative position of the vessel  100  to the pilings  102   a ,  102   b ,  102   c  and  102   d  remain unchanged despite the changes in the level of the water  105  as changed by the tide. 
       FIGS. 12 and 13  illustrate an elevational view of the stern  126  of a vessel  120  floating in the water  140  having a water surface  142  at a high tide thereof ( FIG. 12 ) and low tide thereof (FIG.  13 ). The vessel is tied to the pilings  130   a  by line  132  and to the piling  130   b  by line  134 . The line  132  is attached to the vessel  120  by a cleat  150  on the starboard side  124  of the vessel  120  and extends to the piling  130   a  on the port side  122  of the vessel  120 . The line  134  is connected to a cleat  150  on the port side  122  of the vessel  120  and extends to the piling  130   b  on the starboard side  124  of the vessel  120 . At high tide as depicted on  FIG. 12 , the lines  132  and  134  will become slack and the vessel may abut against the piling  130   b  as shown on  FIG. 12  for a wind in the direction of the arrow  152  or against the piling  130   a  for a wind in the direction of the arrow  154 . 
     At low tide, as depicted on  FIG. 13 , the lines  132  and  134  tend to be strained and put into tension. As such, the lines  132  and  134  tend to tear out the cleats  150  at low tide positions of the water surface  142 . 
     In  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the pilings  130   a  and  130   b  are shown as unobstructed by a dock decking such as shown on  FIGS. 10 and 11  or the tops of the pilings  130  may be accessible as shown on  FIGS. 12 and 13 . 
     Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the various Figures of the drawing, it should be understood that such embodiments are by way of example only and merely illustrative of but a small number of the many possible specific embodiments which can represent applications of the principles of the present invention. Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the present invention as further defined in the appended claims.