Abstract:
An anchor protector attaches to a protruding stock of a boat anchor and minimizes damage from impact with the protruding stock. The anchor protector is buoyant and can accommodate the protruding stock of various diameters.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Many anchors used for recreational boating comprise a stock, i.e. a horizontal bar at the crown to which two large flat surfaces with sharp ends (flukes) are attached. The stock is hinged so the flukes can orient toward the bottom (and on some designs may be adjusted for an optimal angle depending on the bottom type.) The flukes are designed to penetrate the bottom and bury the anchor. Once buried, the anchor develops a sufficient amount of resistance. 
         [0002]    The stock ends are exposed and protrude from the sides of the anchor. Impact with the stock can cause damage to the boat, property, and injuries to persons. 
         [0003]    It is desirable to have means to cover the protruding ends of the stock to prevent or minimize the damage. Conventionally, a number of makeshift means is employed to cover the stock, such as attaching tennis balls and the like to the stock. Such makeshift means are inconvenient, easily lost and do not stay buoyant if dropped in the water. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, there is need for the means to cover the protruding ends of the stock that does not fall off the ends of the stock and remains buoyant in the water. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The anchor protector of this invention satisfies this need. The anchor protector attaches to a protruding stock of a boat anchor and minimizes damage from impact with the protruding stock. The anchor protector is buoyant and can accommodate the protruding stock of various diameters. The anchor protector comprises a conical impact absorber having a neck portion with a sleeve adapted for receiving the protruding stock and removably attaching the anchor protector to the protruding stock by way of a force of friction. The diameter of the sleeve can be made to accommodate various sizes of the stock. The impact absorber has an airtight cavity that provides positive buoyancy for the anchor protector. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of the anchor protector according to this invention, attached to a stock. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a fluke-type boat anchor with two anchor protectors according to this invention attached to protruding ends of the stock. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The preferred embodiment of this invention will be better understood in reference to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . The same numerals refer to the same elements in both  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . 
         [0009]    Viewing now  FIG. 1 , it shows a cross-sectional view of the anchor protector attached to a stock. Numeral  10  indicates an anchor protector. Numeral  20  indicates a stock. 
         [0010]    Anchor protector  10  comprises of a conical impact absorber indicated by numeral  11 . Impact absorber  11  is formed from a plastic material. In the preferred embodiment, impact absorber  11  is formed from high impact polystyrene. High impact polystyrene is relatively light weight and strong to withstand impact that the boat anchor may encounter with the boat or other objects. At the same time, high impact polystyrene provides adequate protection to persons and property from the impact with protruding ends of the stock. Impact absorber  11  can be made by molding or extrusion. Conical shape of impact absorber  11  provides strength to combat forces of impact between anchor and other objects. 
         [0011]    Impact absorber  11  comprises a base end indicated by numeral  11   a  and an apex end indicated by numeral  11   b . Base end  11   a  terminates in base indicated by numeral  11   c . Base  11   c  is substantially planar. 
         [0012]    Numeral  12  indicates a cylindrical neck. Neck  12  extends outwardly from apex end  11   b , terminating in a cap indicated by numeral  13 . Cap  13  is substantially planar and is opposite to apex end  11   b . Neck  12  is formed from a plastic material integrally with impact absorber  11 . In the preferred embodiment, neck  12  is formed from high impact polystyrene. 
         [0013]    Numeral  14  indicates a sleeve. Sleeve  14  extends inwardly from cap  13  along the longitudinal axis of impact absorber  11 . Sleeve  14  is adapted for receiving stock  20  and removably attaching anchor protector  10  to stock  20  by way of a force of friction. 
         [0014]    The diameter of sleeve  14  can be made to accommodate various sizes of stock  20 . Popular sizes for stock are ¾″, ⅞″, 1″, 1⅛″, 13/32″, ⅝″. The diameter of sleeve  14  must be slightly larger than the diameter of stock  20  while keeping stock  20  tightly engaged, by force of friction, inside sleeve  14 . 
         [0015]    Anchor protector  10  has positive buoyancy. In the preferred embodiment, the positive buoyancy is achieved by an airtight cavity indicated by numeral  15 . Airtight cavity  15  is formed inside impact absorber  11 . 
         [0016]    Viewing now  FIG. 2 , two anchor protectors  10  are attached to each protruding end of stock  20 , thereby minimizing damage from impact with stock  20 . 
         [0017]    While the present invention has been described and defined by reference to the preferred embodiment of the invention, such reference does not imply a limitation on the invention, and no such limitation is to be inferred. The invention is capable of considerable modification, alteration, and equivalents in form and function, as will occur to those ordinarily skilled and knowledgeable in the pertinent arts. The depicted and described preferred embodiment of the invention is exemplary only, and is not exhaustive of the scope of the invention. Consequently, the invention is intended to be limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims, giving full cognizance to equivalents in all respects.