Abstract:
A vertical, flexible, fiberglass pole extending vertically upward from a mooring buoy, the pole having a resilient line holder attached near to the top of the pole. Reflective tape is applied to the pole. The line holder retains a mooring line, which is secured at one end to a chain anchoring the mooring buoy. In an alternate embodiment, a resilient line holder is attached to a piling through a vinyl base. The hook is arranged vertically, but can rotate in a horizontal plane 180 degrees. A label of reflective tape is applied to the vinyl base for increased visibility, even during nighttime. The line holder retains a mooring line, which is secured at one end to a cleat attached to the piling, in a coil until removed when mooring.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is related to mooring devices, and more particularly to an apparatus which aids in the mooring of a boat at a mooring buoy or piling. 
     The usual mooring buoy or float has a ring to which a mooring cable or rope is attached. With this arrangement it is difficult to “pick up” the buoy or to attach a mooring rope to the buoy due to the tossing of the boat and the buoy. Another factor will be the boat&#39;s momentum at the time. It is difficult to judge distance so accurately that power or sails can be reduced sufficiently at such a time that the forward movement of the boat will be dissipated at the time it is alongside the buoy, especially in a wind. It is dangerous to pick up the buoy when the boat is moving even slowly as a heavy boat has much momentum and cannot be stopped by holding onto the buoy by the hand. Furthermore, in choppy water, it is difficult to hold the boat for a sufficient period of time to connect the mooring rope with the ring or other attachment devices of the buoy. It is also common for the operator of a boat to “lose” the mooring under the bow of the boat when he approaches within ten to fifteen feet. 
     In an area where finger piers are short in length and the rise and fall of the tide is less than four feet, a different system for mooring boats is used than the system used with a large rise and fall of the tide. In the former system, two pilings (Dolphins) are driven in eight or ten feet beyond the outer end of the boat. When landing, the crew must pick up both lines when passing by to keep the boat from striking the walkway. With a cross wind blowing, the boat blows to one side, usually coming in contact with a piling. It may be easy enough to lift a line off a hook attached to one pile, but very difficult to do the same when the other piling is six to eight feet beyond the reach of the helper. The standard prior art piling hook holding the coil of line is made of wood, steel or rigid plastic. Because of its configuration, the line cannot be pulled horizontally off the rigid hook or it will become snarled. Currently, the only way the line can be taken off the piling hook is to lift it vertically by hand. 
     Several prior art devices have attempted to address the problems of mooring a boat to a buoy by extending a pole above the buoy with a hooking means for receiving and snaring a line from the boat. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,921,500 and 1,801,729. However, the previously described mooring problems are not addressed by these patents. 
     Applicant has previously addressed some of the above problems encountered when mooring a boat at a boat dock. See, Applicant&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,134, “Docking Aid Apparatus”, Issued on May 28, 1996 (&#39;134 Patent), and incorporated herein by reference. However, to the best of Applicant&#39;s knowledge, the principles of the &#39;134 Patent have not been applied to mooring buoys or to pilings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a mooring aid. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved mooring aid which is simple and flexible in its use. 
     To attain this, the present invention, in one embodiment, provides a vertical, flexible, fiberglass pole extending vertically upward from a mooring buoy. The pole has a resilient line holder attached near to the top of the pole. Reflective tape is applied to the pole for increased visibility, even during night time. The line holder retains a mooring line, which is secured beneath the buoy, in a coil until removed when mooring. A deckhand reaches out from an approaching boat to grasp any part of the mooring line and, regardless, if there is still line left on the line holder, a horizontal pull will release the entire coil, down to where the other end of the mooring line is secured beneath the buoy. The free end of the mooring line is secured to the boat deck at a predetermined length that will automatically bring the boat to a halt and stop its forward momentum. The resiliency of the line holder prevents entanglement of the mooring line. A person single-handling a boat can reach out safely retrieving the mooring line and easily bringing the line back to the helmsman station, thereby eliminating the danger of running forward when he thinks the boat is on the mooring buoy. 
     In another embodiment of the invention a resilient line holder is attached to a piling by means of a vinyl base. The hook is arranged vertically, but can rotate in a horizontal plane 180 degrees. A label of reflective tape is applied to the vinyl base for increased visibility, even during nighttime. The line holder retains a mooring line, which is secured at one end to a cleat attached to the piling, in a coil until removed when mooring. A deckhand reaches out from an approaching boat to grasp any part of the mooring line and, regardless, if there is still line left on the line holder, a horizontal pull will release the entire coil, down to where the other end of the mooring line is secured to the piling cleat. The free end of the mooring line is secured to the boat deck at a predetermined length that will automatically bring the boat to a halt and stop its forward momentum. The resiliency of the line holder prevents entanglement of the mooring line. A person single-handling a boat can reach out safely retrieving the mooring line and easily bringing the line back to the helmsman station. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an arrangement constituting the invention for mooring a boat. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the invention embodiment shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a close up view of the line holder portion of the invention embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention installed on a piling adjacent to a finger pier. 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the base shown in FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 8 is a top view of the base. 
     FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of the base unit and line holder. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like elements are indicated by like reference numerals, there is shown inventions embodiments incorporating devices to assist in mooring a boat  2 . In one embodiment, the invention  1  is comprised of a vertical, straight, five foot length, fiberglass pole  10  with a line holder  20  attached thereto, said pole being attached to a mooring buoy  40 . The length of the pole  10  may be extended or shortened, depending upon the need. Fiberglass is used as the material of choice because it is flexible, and, if struck while mooring, will bend without breaking. Fiberglass is also nearly impervious to weather conditions. Other materials having these same characteristics may be substituted for fiberglass. The pole  10  has a top end  11  and a bottom end  12 . The pole bottom end  12  is fixedly attached to the mooring buoy  40 . The line holder  20  is attached to the pole  10  approximately ten inches below the pole top end  11 . 
     The mooring buoy  40  is generally round, buoyant, and may have a ball-shape with a diameter of approximately fifteen inches or more depending on the weight of the mooring chain  55 . It may be hollow or made out of a rigid, lightweight plastic material such as polystyrene sold under the Styrofoam trademark. When placed into water  5 , the buoy  40  will have a buoyancy which generally adapts it to being half in and half out of the water  5 . The buoy  40  has a top  41  defined as that point vertically highest out of calm water, and has a bottom  42  defined as that point vertically deepest in calm water  5 . The buoy  40  has a vertical central axis defined by the buoy top  41  and bottom  42 . The mooring buoy  40  has a ⅝ inch diameter hole  43  drilled along its vertical central axis. 
     The mooring buoy vertical central axis  43  has a threaded galvanized rod  50  inserted therein. The rod  50  has a top end  51  and a bottom end  52 , both ends reaching the mooring buoy top  41  and bottom  42 , respectively. The rod top end  51  has a hollow cylindrical collar element  53  fixedly attached thereto. The collar element  53  is adapted to receiving the bottom end  12  of the fiberglass pole  10 . The rod bottom end  52  terminates in a threaded galvanized ⅝ inch ring  54 . A heavy mooring chain  55  is attached to the ring  54 . The weight of the chain  55  serves as a counterbalance to the fiberglass pole  10 . The unattached end  56  of the chain  55  is anchored to the bottom  6  beneath the water  5 . 
     In a second embodiment of the invention  7  shown in FIG. 3, the rod bottom end  52  extends approximately eighteen inches below the mooring buoy bottom  42 . The portion  57  of the rod  50  extending below the mooring buoy bottom  42  acts as a,lever to keep the invention  7  vertically erect. As in the first embodiment 1 of the invention, the rod bottom end  52  terminates in a threaded ⅝ inch galvanized ring  54 . A ⅜ inch or greater diameter chain  55  is attached to the ring  54  and anchored to the bottom  6  beneath the water  5 . 
     The line holder  20  is attached to the pole  10  approximately ten inches below the pole top end  11 . The line holder  20  has an upper neck portion  21  and a hook-shaped lower portion  22 . The line holder  20  is comprised of {fraction (5/16)} inch diameter, size AWG4 600 volt, black, electrical wire. The wire is comprised of soft annealed stranded copper conductor encased in PVC insulation, which in turn is encased in a nylon jacket. The line holder  20  is strong enough to hold a mooring line  30  but flexible enough to release the line  30  when a pulling pressure is applied to the line  30 . Being black, the line holder  20  is UV resistant to sun exposure. The line holder  20  also has excellent abrasion, chemical, gasoline and oil resistance. It has excellent resistance to most chemicals, solvents or fumes. As stated above, the line holder lower portion  22  is bent into the general shape of a hook. The type of wire used in the line holder  20  has a “memory” which retains its bent configuration nearly indefinitely. The line holder  20  is secured to the pole  10  by means of stainless steel wire  25 , or equivalent, wrapped about the neck  21  of the line holder  20 . An eight inch length of shrinkable polyolefin tubing  26  is positioned over the wire-wrapped line holder neck  21  and pole  10  and shrunk tight by a heat gun. The resiliency of the invention line holder  20  and its ability to return substantially to its original shape provide the unique and novel characteristic of this invention  1 . 
     In these invention embodiments three strips  13  of reflective tape may be attached to the pole  10  at various desired locations along the pole  10 . The tape  13  is especially helpful at night in providing a boat operator an excellent reference point to determine the location of the mooring buoy  40 . A unique reference marker  14  may be attached to the top  11  of the pole  10 . In these embodiments of the invention  1 ,  7 , a colored ball  14  may be attached to the pole top  11  with a stainless steels crew, glue, or other attaching means. The ball  14  may be of various colors and patterns to assist a boat operator in identifying his particular buoy  40 . 
     The mooring (or spring) line  30  is attached at one end  31  to a link  58  in the mooring buoy chain  55  or to the buoy ring  54  beneath the buoy  40 . The line&#39;s other end  32  is a free end. The remainder of the mooring line  30  may be coiled and hung on the invention line holder  20 . Alternatively, the mooring line free end  32  may have a loop  34  formed therein for engaging the line holder  20 . The mooring line  30  may also have a buoyant element  33  attached near to the mooring line free end  32 . The buoyant element  33  provides a means for grasping the mooring line  30  if the line  30  should fall from the line holder  20 . 
     As the boat  2  approaches the mooring buoy  40 , bow  3  first, a deckhand reaches out from the boat side  4  to grasp any part of the mooring line  30  the deckhand can reach. A horizontal pull will release the unattached portion of the coiled mooring line  30  from the line holder  20 . The flexible nature of the line holder  20  eliminates entanglements often experienced with prior art devices. The mooring line free end  32  is then secured on the boat deck at a desired length. 
     In a third embodiment 8 of the invention, the line holder  20  is attached to a piling  60  by means of a base unit  70 . See FIGS. 5-8. Each base unit  70  is adapted from a bumper known as a dock guard. The base unit  70  is made from vinyl and has an elongated, vertical, generally half-cylindrical shaped body  79 . The base unit  70  has a vertical top  71  and vertical bottom  72  and a longitudinal axis extending from top  71  to bottom  72 . The base unit interior  73  has four elongated channels  74  formed therein, each channel  74  opening to and extending from the base unit top  71  to the base unit bottom  72 . The base unit  70  has two elongated, flat, vertical sides  75  extending from top  71  to bottom  72 . Each base unit  70  is attached to a piling  60  by means of fasteners  76 . On wood pilings six fasteners  76  may be used, three to a side  75 . A regular galvanized roofing nail with a large head is appropriate or a #10 stainless screw with a finish washer. For concrete or metal piles, two nylon straps will hold the base unit to the piling very well. 
     The line holder  20  is inserted into a base unit channel  74 . The line holder upper neck portion  21  is inserted into a channel  74 , through the base unit bottom end  72  up to and through the base unit top  71 . The line holder hooked lower portion  22  extends below the base unit  70 . The top  23  of the line holder  20  is bent at ninety degrees to the line holder upper neck portion  21  thereby preventing the line holder  20  from slipping down through the base unit  70 . The line holder  20  may rotate 180 degrees within a base unit channel  74 . If a boat  2  comes in contact with the base unit  70 , it will not harm it as the base unit  70  will act like a marine bumper. If any part of the boat  2  becomes entangled with the line holder  20 , it will release when the line holder  20  rotates or bends. For night landings, a label of reflective tape  77  is applied to the base unit exterior surface  78 . 
     A cleat  61  may be attached to the piling  60  between the base unit  70  and the piling top  62 . See FIG.  6 . The mooring line  30  is attached at one end  31  to the cleat  61 . The remainder of the mooring line  30  may be coiled and hung on the invention line holder  20 . As the boat  2  approaches the pilings  60  a deckhand reaches out from the boat side  4  to grasp any part of the mooring line  30  the deckhand can reach. A horizontal pull will release the unattached portion of the coiled mooring line  30 . The flexible nature of the line holder  20  nearly eliminates entanglements often experienced with prior art devices. The mooring line free end  32  is then secured on the boat deck at a desired length. If there is no cleat  61 , one line end  31  may be tied about the piling. See FIG.  5 . 
     It is understood that the above-described embodiment is merely illustrative of the application. Other embodiments may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.