Abstract:
The invention is a guide to facilitate boat docking. The guide is a plate attached to the dock, angling away from the slip opening. Attached to the plate are rails which absorb energy and minimize friction when contact occurs while docking. Structural members attached to the plate allow its attachment to the dock, and support the plate against bending when boats contact the rails. Guides are typically attached to docks on each side of the slip, to facilitate docking with minimal effort, providing a wide opening which narrows as the boat enters the slip, directing the boat into the slip.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to boat docks and slips. More particularly, the invention relates to devices which are attached to or fabricated as part of a dock, to guide boats smoothly into slips with a minimum of effort and damage. 
     Watercraft of various types are often stored on the water, moored in a slip with docks in front of and to each side of the boat. This is particularly true of large boats, including houseboats, cabin cruisers, pontoon boats and other marine vessels, which have size sufficient to make floating storage easier than repeatedly launching and removing them from the water. Docking of smaller boats and personal watercraft is also common, although not always for extended storage; Docking of any watercraft may be for only a short period of time, to facilitate refueling or obtaining supplies, or loading and unloading passengers or cargo. In any case, docking of watercraft is a difficult procedure. 
     Often, the boat to be stored must be maneuvered in close quarters, in windy conditions or rough water. To further complicate the docking operation, the opening or slip, which the boat will occupy is only minimally larger than the boat, which it will receive. Additionally, most boats, which are docked or stored on the water, are large in terms of both volume and mass, so their ability to navigate in nimble fashion as required in such circumstances is severely inhibited, even when guided by extremely skilled drivers. Even small boats with relatively small mass are difficult to navigate in close quarters at low speeds because precise turning is most effective when the drive mechanism is engaged. 
     The difficulty of guiding a boat into a slip under such conditions often leads to mishaps, most often including damage to the docks which form the slip and to the boat itself. Such occurrences are very costly to repair, particularly due to the fact that the docks are most often floating well away from shore, and slips or components are not easily detached for repair work. Boats of significant size to which such occurrences are likely are also very costly to repair, and it is quite inconvenient to remove them from the water and have them transported to an appropriate location for repair. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Due to the difficult nature of smoothly guiding a boat into a docking slip, many.efforts to improve the process have been tried with varied results. 
     For general background material concerning this invention, the reader is referred to the following U.S. Patents, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for the material contained therein. This reference to these patents is not intended as an admission of &amp;quot;prior art&amp;quot; by the applicant, but is intended only as a reference to related information. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,900,946 discloses a boat fender which receives the thrust of a boat during berthing, or while the boat is tied to the dock. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,041,639 discloses a multiple boat anchorage, which allows docking of multiple boats about one buoy for saving space. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,084,517 discloses a dock attachment, which both yields and rotates to yieldably guide a boat into position, protecting the boat and the dock from impact. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,145,685 discloses a shock absorbing bumper for boats and docks having elongate bumpers which are supported by torque rods, and which swing in an arc when engaged by a boat. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,103,925 discloses a boat trailer having wings, which guide the boat convergently between longitudinal rails during high wind or wave conditions. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,702 discloses a boat dock slip having a series of guards, which extend at various points from the dock into the slip to guide and steady the boat relative to the dock. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,911,189 discloses a boat guide for use in or along slips, which utilize elongated upright tubular members, each about an axle, for absorbing the shock of a boat. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The present invention is a boat slip guide. In the preferred embodiment, the guides will be fabricated and attached to an existing dock. In other embodiments, guides may actually be manufactured as part of the dock. Generally, guides will be attached to docks on both sides of a slip, which direct the boat gently into the slip where the boat will be temporarily or permanently stored. 
     The guide or guides, when attached to, or manufactured as part of a dock, provide significant advantages in guiding watercraft smoothly into their mooring slips. 
     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a boat slip guide which guides the boat or marine vessel smoothly into the slip, even during inclement weather or other difficult docking conditions. 
     It is also an object of the invention to absorb energy when the guide and boat come into contact, to prevent damage to the guide, the boat, and the dock. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a boat slip guide which has a surface that extends at an angle beyond the end of the dock to guide the boat into the slip and absorb the energy of any impact which occurs as the boat is directed into the slip. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a boat slip guide, which requires minimal effort beyond the normal guidance of the watercraft to cause it to enter the slip gently and completely. 
     It is yet another object of the invention to provide a boat slip guide, which eases the difficulty of guiding a boat or marine vessel into a dock opening or slip during heavy winds or waves which frequently occur in a marine environment. 
    
    
     These, together with other objects of the invention, are achieved by the novel features of the boat slip guide provided throughout the specification and in the claims. Reference to the drawings and the detailed description of the invention will provide the reader with additional information regarding the invention, its intended uses and advantages over the prior art, and the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be clarified and additional objects will become apparent by reference to the detailed description and the drawings. Included as drawings are the following figures: 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a boat dock equipped with the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged isometric view of the end of a boat dock and the invention attached thereto. 
     FIG. 3 is an orthographic top view showing the invention attached to the end of a dock. 
     FIG. 4 is an orthographic side view of the invention, from the back side nearest the dock, wit e invention attached to the dock. 
     FIG. 5 is an orthographic projected view of the invention, looking directly at the front side of the angled plate portion of the invention. 
     FIG. 6 an isometric view of the back side of the invention, ready to be mounted to a dock. 
     FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the front side of the invention, ready to be mounted to a dock. 
     FIG. 8 is an orthographic top view showing an alternative embodiment of the invention attach d to both sides of the end of a dock. 
     FIG. 9 is an orthographic top view of additional alternative embodiments of the invention attached to both sides of the end of a dock. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention is a device for guiding watercraft gently into a boat dock or slip by correcting the direction of travel. This is accomplished by attaching to the dock an angled guide which directs the boat into the slip, preserving the boat and dock from direct impact damage. Problems of misalignment caused by heavy winds or waves, as well as the difficulty of steering boats precisely are therefore alleviated by the invention. The invention consists of a rigid plate, formed to angle outwardly from the dock ends, creating a funnel shape into which the front of the boat is directed. The guide generally extends upwardly and downwardly from the top surface of the dock, providing a large bearing surface to guide the boat into the slip. Attached to the angled plate are shock absorbing rails which are somewhat compliant, providing a means for absorbing impact or momentum from the boat upon contact. Structural members may be attached to the back surface of the plate, which facilitate attachment of the guide to the dock, and enhance the rigidity of the guide. The plate is generally made from steel, aluminum, or other rigid metals, although plastic or composite plates might also be formed which are suitable for the purpose. The shock absorbing rails are typically made of wood, plastic, composites, or similar materials. Such materials typically absorb energy without incurring significant damage, and reduce friction to allow sliding contact as the guide directs the boat into the slip. In the event that significant damage occurs to the rails, they are easily replaced without the entire dock or guide having to be replaced. Structural members attached to the backside of the plate may be made of metal, plastic, composites, or wood, or other durable structural materials. Generally, structural members are made from angle iron, steel or aluminum, due to their availability, price, and durability. The guide is assembled using standard fastening techniques, including welding, adhesives, and bolted joints, screws or other mechanical fasteners. Preferably, the shock absorbent materials are attached to the rigid plate using bolts, and the structural members are welded to the back of the plate, and to each other where they meet. Bolts or screws then attach the structural members to the dock surfaces. Additional description and details of the invention and the preferred embodiment of the invention will be described hereinafter. 
     FIG. 1 shows a portion of a dock  101  with a center slip area  103   b  for boat storage. Attached to the left  102   a  and right  102   b  ends of the dock  101  are left  201   a  and right  201   b  angled guides to aid the guiding of the boat into the slip area  103   b . On either side of dock ends  102   a  and  102   b  are additional slip areas  103   a  and  103   c . A typical dock would have many slips areas defined by the dock  101  and dock ends  102   a  and  102   b , although only one fully enclosed slip area  103   b  is shown for simplicity. A watercraft  104  is shown approaching the slip  103   b . Left  201  a and right  201   b  angled guides are positioned on dock ends  102   a  and  102   b  to guide watercraft  104  properly into slip  103   b . Water  105  surrounds the dock  101  and the watercraft  104 . 
     FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view including the end  102   a  of the dock  101  to which is attached the left angled guide  201   a . Included in this view are the individual components of the angled guide  201   a . These components include a rigid plate  301 , which conforms to the side surface  702  of the dock end  102   a , and angles outwardly to guide the watercraft  104  (shown in FIG. 1) into the slip  103   b . The plate  301  is formed with a bend  707  at the end surface  703  of the dock  101 , which allows attachment to the side surface  702  of the end  102   a  of the dock  101 . The plate  301  angles away from the slip  103   b , and an additional bend  708  allows two guides to be secured together when mounted for use in adjacent slip  103   a , as shown if FIGS. 8 and 9. The plate  301  then has three distinct planar surfaces. There are a side surface  704 , an angled surface  705 , and an extension surface  706 . Attached to the rigid plate  301  are several energy absorbing rails  302  which allow sliding contact with the boat  104  as it enters the slip  103   b . The energy absorbing rails  302  may be attached using adhesives or mechanical fasteners  504  which go through holes  404  in both plate  301  and rails  302 . The rigid plate  301 , which is attached to the dock  101 , typically extends above and below the top surface  701  of the dock  101 . Also part of the guide  201   a  are position markers  307  which extend above the rigid plate  301  to allow the driver to more easily ascertain the position of the watercraft  104  with respect to the angled guide  201   a . Position markers  307  typically have a slender shaft  309  with a larger visible object  310  at the top  311 , such as a ball, flag, cone, or other easily visible object. In the most preferred embodiment, the large objects  310  atop position marker  307  are flags, balls, or cones of a bright color. Marker guides  308  are attached to rigid plate  301 , preferably by welding. Typically, marker guides  308  have aligned holes  406 , which hold position markers  307  upright. 
     FIG. 3 shows a top view of the end  102   a  of the dock  101 , with the guide  201   a  attached. In this view, the rigid plate  301  can be seen conforming to the side  702  of the dock end  102   a , and angling from the slip  103   b , providing a wider opening  106  for the watercraft  104  (shown in FIG. 1) than would occur if only the dock  101  were present. Attached to the plate  301  are energy absorbing rails  302 . On the backside  709  of the rigid plate  301  are structural members  303   a, b , and  c  which enhance the rigidity of the guide system  201   a  and allow it to be attached to the dock  101 . Extension member  303   a  is attached to the rigid plate  301  at a point farthest from the dock  101 , and is also attached to the bracing member  303   b . Bracing member  303   b  is also attached to the rigid plate  301 , and holes  402  in bracing member  303   b  allow attachment to the dock  101  using screws  502  or bolts. Attachment member  303   c  sits on the top surface  701  of the dock  101 , with holes  401  therein through which bolts or screws  501  are placed to secure the guide system  201   a  to the dock  101  top surface  701 . Attachment member  303   c  is also secured to the rigid plate  301 , typically by welding. Position markers  307  and screen  306  are also shown. Screen  306  sits on structural members  303   a  and  303   b , and may also be attached to rigid plate  301  and structural members  303   a  and  303   b  by welding. Screen  306  prevents objects or people from falling through the back of the angled guide  201   a.    
     FIG. 4 shows a partial view of the guide  201   a  looking at the backside  709  of the plate  301  while attached to the dock  101 . The rigid plate  301  has attached to it extension members  303   a  and attachment member  303   c , as well as bracing members  303   b  (shown in FIG.  3 ). Typically this attachment is accomplished through welding. Also attached to plate  301  are energy absorbing rails  302  (shown in FIG.  3 ). Holes  404  through the plate  301  and rails  302  allow bolts  504  and nuts  604  to attach energy absorbing rails  302  to the plate  301 . Position markers  307  are shown, inserted through holes  406  in marker guides  308 . Also shown in this view are holes  405  in the extension surface  706  of the plate  301  which allow left  201   a  and right  201   b  guides to be connected using bolts  505  and nuts  605 , or similar mechanical fasteners when both are attached to the end  102   a  of a dock  101 , as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. 
     FIG. 5 shows another view of the angled guide  201   a , looking squarely at the angled surface  705  of the rigid plate  301 . Energy absorbing rails  302  are attached to the angled surface  705  and side surface  704  of the rigid plate  301 . The rigid plate  301  extends above and below the top surface  701  of the dock  101 . Holes  404  for bolts  504  and nuts  604  (shown if FIG.  4 ), or screws which attach energy absorbing rails  302  to rigid plate  301  are also seen in this view. Position markers  307  are also illustrated in this view. Holes  405  for connecting adjacent pairs of angled guides  201   a  and  201   b  (as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9) are present in the rigid plate  301 . Holes  403  are also present in the plate  301  which allow for direct attachment of the plate  301  to the dock  101  using screws  503  or bolts. 
     FIG. 6 shows only the angled guide  201   a  from the back, ready for attachment to a dock  101 . Rigid plate  301  has attached to it energy absorbing rails  302 . Attachment member  303   c , extension members  303   a , and bracing members  303   b  are all attached to the rigid plate  301 . Holes  404  in the plate  301  and the energy absorbing rails  302  allow for bolts  504  and nuts  604 , or screws to attach the rails  302  to the plate  301 . Holes  401  in the attachment member  303   c  are also shown. Screws  501 , or similar mechanical hardware secure the angled guide  201   a  to a dock  101  through these holes  401 . Marker guides  308  are attached to rigid plate  301 , and hold position markers  307  upright. A screen  306  sits on top bracing member  303   b  and top extension member  303   a  to prevent objects, or people from falling through the space between the dock  101  and the rigid plate  301 . Holes  402  for screws  502 , or similar mechanical attachment of bracing member  303   b  to dock  101  are also shown in this view. 
     FIG. 7 shows only the angled guide  201   a  from the front, ready for attachment to a dock  101 . Rigid plate  301  has attached to it energy absorbing rails  302 . Attachment member  303   c , extension members  303   a , and bracing members  303   b  are all attached to the rigid plate  301 . Holes  404  in the rigid plate  301  and energy absorbing rails  302  allow for bolts  504  and nuts  604 , or similar mechanical hardware to attach the rails  302  to the rigid plate  301 . Holes  402  in the bracing members  303   b  are also shown. Screws  502  or similar mechanical hardware secure the angled guide  201   a  to a dock  101  through these holes  402 . Holes  403  in the rigid plate  301  are also shown in this view, which allow direct attachment of the rigid plate  301  to the dock  101  using screws  503 , if desired. Position markers  307  and screen  306  are also visible in this view. 
     FIG. 8 shows left  801   a  and right  801   c  angled guides attached to the end of a dock  101 . The dock end  102   a  divides two slips  103   a  and  103   b  and left guide  801   a  guides watercraft  104  into the right slip  103   b  and right guide  201  c guides watercraft  104  into the left slip  103   a . In this view, the rigid plates  301  can be seen conforming to the sides  702  of the dock end  102   a , and angling from the slips  103   b , providing a wider opening  106  for the watercraft  104  than would occur if only the dock  101  were present. Attached to the plates  301  are energy-absorbing rails  302 . On the backsides  709  of the rigid plates  301  are structural members  303   a ,  303   b , and  303   c , which enhance the rigidity of the guides  801   a  and  801   c , and allow them to be attached to the dock  101 . Extension members  303   a  are attached to the rigid plates  301  at a point near the bend  708  farthest from the dock  101 , and are attached to the bracing members  303   b . Bracing members  303   b  are also attached to the plates  301 , and holes  402  in bracing members  303   b  allow attachment of the guides  801   a  and  801   c  to the dock  101  using screws  502  or similar mechanical hardware. Attachment members  303   c  sit on the top surface  701  of the dock  101 , with holes  401  therein through which bolts or screws  501  are placed to secure the guides  801   a  and  801   c  to the dock  101 . Attachment member  303   c  is also secured to the rigid plates  301 . Position markers  307  are also shown in this view. 
     FIG. 9 shows alternative embodiments of left  901   a  and right  901   c  angled guides attached to the end  102   a  of a dock  101 . In this view, the rigid plates  301  can be seen conforming to the sides  702  of the dock  101 , and angling from the slips  103   a  and  103   b , providing a wider opening  106  for the watercraft  104  than would occur if only the dock  101  were present. Attached to the plates  301  are energy-absorbing rails  302 . Notably absent in these embodiments are the structural members  303   a, b , and  c  of the preferred embodiment angled guides  201   a  and  201   b , which normally allow them to be attached to the dock  101 . In this embodiment, the rigid plates  301  are attached directly to the dock  101  using screws  503  or other mechanical fasteners through holes  403 , which are visible in views  2 ,  5 ,  6 , and  7 . Structural rigidity is provided by the two rigid plates  301  being joined together using bolts  505  and nuts  605 , or other mechanical fasteners where they meet, furthest from the dock end  102   a . Bolts  505  or similar mechanical fasteners pass through holes  405  in each plate  301 , connecting plates  301  together. Alternatively, rigid plates  301  could be welded or otherwise attached to one another where they meet without holes and mechanical fasteners. Position markers  307  and marker guide  308  are also shown in this view, in a varied configuration. 
     A variety of materials and methods of manufacture are available for the various embodiments of the invention. The preferred embodiment of the invention utilizes formed plate steel for the rigid plate  301 , angle iron for the attachment  303   c , bracing  303   b , and extension  303   a  members, and a composite plastic material commonly available for decking for the energy absorbing rails  302 . The attachment  303   c , bracing  303   b , and extension members  303   a  are welded to the rigid plate  301  and to one another in the preferred embodiment, and the attachment of the rails  302  to the plate  301  and the attachment of the entire guide assembly  201   a  to the dock  101  is accomplished using bolts, nuts, and screws  501 - 505  and  604 - 605 . Although structural members  303   a  and  303   b  are shown at right angles to one another, a variety of angles might be used to accomplish the objectives of the invention, and could be substituted without departing from the concept of this invention. Similarly, only one structural member  303  might be used, or one set of structural members  303   a, b , and  c  including one bracing member  303   b  and one extension member  303   a . While angle iron is shown, flat or round bar stock might be used. In some cases, automotive shock absorbers or similar energy absorbing devices might be used as structural members  303   a, b , or  c , which would actively absorb energy. In such a case the rigid plate  301  would also be hinged where bends  707  and  708  have been illustrated in the figures to better allow active movement for energy absorption. Energy absorbing rails  302  illustrated in the figures may vary in number and position on the rigid plate  301  to accommodate a variety of watercraft  104  at the level they ride above the water  105 . Other materials, and joining and mounting methods known in the art may also be used to achieve the objects of the invention. 
     The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative of the current best mode of the invention known to the inventor at the time of filing the patent application, and not as restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All devices that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within the scope of this patent.