Patent Publication Number: US-5832857-A

Title: Fenders

Description:
This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/546,033, filed Oct. 20, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,560,312. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to protective fenders for various surfaces including watercraft and related surfaces. 
     2. Background of the Prior Art 
     The problems associated with current state of the art fenders for various watercraft and mooring and docking surfaces were fully explored in my U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/546,033, incorporated herein by reference, and will not be repeated herein. 
     However, I have discovered further needs and desirable features for watercraft fenders not addressed by the prior art devices. Specifically, different watercraft have various heights of gunwales relative to the water surface as well as various distances of fender attachment supports relative to the gunwale. Accordingly, various length adjustment straps are required in order to address these variations in distances. 
     Furthermore, fenders may need to be disposed either horizontally or vertically depending on the specific watercraft and the docking facilities. Accordingly, the fenders and attachment straps must be able to make such accommodations. 
     Still furthermore, long docking elements, such as piers, require additional options in compact storage of the fender designed for attachment to the element. 
     Therefore, watercraft fenders must be designed in order to address such needs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The fenders of the present invention address the aforementioned needs in the art. The present fenders provide for selectively adjustable straps that are removably attachable to the fender itself. The straps are attachable to the fender at one of a plurality of attachment points. The straps can be wrapped around a target surface and held in a closed loop therearound by various fastening means including cooperating hook and loop material (Velcro™), snaps, buckles, etc. 
     The fender may be either horizontally or vertically positioned with respect to the target surface. Furthermore, the straps may extend in any direction from the fender. These features greatly increase the utility of the fender in permitting flexibility of fender positioning and in permitting the straps to be secured to many surfaces irrespective of the surfaces&#39; relative orientation with respect to the fender. 
     The fenders may be used to protect any suitable surface including watercraft and related surfaces, delivery docking areas, and many others. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the fender disposed horizontally with removable hooks utilizing hook and loop attachment means. 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the fender disposed vertically utilizing buckle means. 
     FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the fender of the present invention with collapsing capability. 
     FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the fender partially folded. 
     FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view with alternate securement means for securing the fender in a folded condition. 
     FIG. 6 is a rear elevation view of the fender of the present invention with hook and loop attachment means on the attachment surface. 
     FIG. 7 is a rear elevation view of the fender of the present invention with snap fastener attachment means on the attachment surface. 
     Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings, it is seen that the fender of the present invention, generally denoted by reference numeral 10, is comprised of a relatively thin, wide, and elongate pad with a central core 12 of resilient material (preferably a closed cell foam material in order to obviate moisture absorption). Although the pad is relatively thin in comparison to many other fenders and bumpers, it is preferably of sufficient thickness as to provide good cushioning characteristics. 
     The central core 12 is completely enclosed within a thin flexible cover 14 which may be formed of any suitable material. Advantageously, the cover 14 is formed of a synthetic fabric material having good durability and resistance to ultraviolet light and other environmental hazards. A Nylon™ taffeta or heavy gauge of rip stop fabric has proven to be suitable for the present cover. 
     Flaps 16 of cover material extend outwardly beyond the body of the central core 12. One or more grommetted openings 18 are located on each flap 16 in corresponding position to the openings 18 located on the other flap 16. 
     The watercraft fender 10 has an outwardly facing engagement surface 20 and an opposing inwardly facing surface 22 (toward the watercraft or other attachment surface). The inwardly facing surface 22 may include some form of surface attachment means thereon, such as cooperating hook and loop material, registerable with a complementary, mating hook and loop material 22 installed on the outer surface of the target attachment area (e.g. the gunwale of a watercraft or pier) for providing removable attachment of the fender 10 thereon. Alternate attachment means may be provided such as snap fasteners 26 disposed on the inwardly facing surface 22 registerable with complementary mating snap fasteners installed on the outer surface of the target attachment area. The watercraft attachment means secures the fender 10 to the target attachment area such that the fender attachment line (defined by the fastener material) cannot move relative to the attachment surface. Thus, the fender 10 cannot float upward or be weighed downward to expose the target surface. The attachment means may be disposed in continuous length or in broken fashion. 
     As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, a strap 28 includes a J-hook 30 on one end and fastening means located on the opposing end. The fastening means are designed to permit the end of the strap 28 to be wrapped around a surface, such as a pier piling or watercraft handrail, and the strap 28 secured to itself via the fastening means to formed a closed loop therearound. The fastening means can include cooperating hook and loop 32 material, cooperating snap fasteners 34, buckle 36, and the like. Located on the medial portion of the strap 28 is a slide buckle (such as a Fastex™ buckle) 38 for selective length adjustment of the strap 28. A plurality of straps 28 are utilizable with the fender 10 of the present invention. 
     In order to utilize the fender 10 of the present invention, the fender 10 is positioned over the target attachment surface (such as the gunwale of a watercraft, a swim platform, the side of a pier, etc.) If utilized, the surface attachment means of the fender 10 are registered with and mated with the corresponding surface attachment means on the target attachment surface. Two or more straps 28 are utilized with the J-hook 30 of each strap 28 received within the grommetted opening 18. The opposing end of each strap 28 is wrapped around a desired securement object and the fastening means are registerable with and mated with each other, thereby securing the strap 28 around the securement object. The length of each strap is adjusted with the slide buckle 38, as needed. 
     By using J-hooks 30 on the ends of each strap 28 that are removably receivable within a grommetted opening 18 of the fender 10, the fender 10 may be positioned either horizontally or vertically as desired. Furthermore, the straps 28 may be extended either upwardly (or downwardly) or outwardly, either generally horizontally or sloped, from the positioned fender 10, as desired. More than two straps 28 may be utilized if desired. These features greatly increase the utility of the device 10. 
     In order to facilitate compact storage of the fender 10, the core material 12 and cover material 14 are divided into a plurality of substantially equal sized segments 40, as indicated by the division lines 42 shown in the cover material 14. This permits the fender 10 to be folded alternately back and forth to provide for the compact storage thereof. The straps 28 may be wrapped around or otherwise secured about the folded fender 10 for compact storage. 
     Alternately, the fender 10 may be divided into two substantially equal sized segments as indicated by division line 42. The fender may be folded in half for compact storage. Fastening means, such as cooperating hook and loop material 44 or cooperating snap fasteners 46 may be located on either end of the fender 10 and for registering and mating with one another for securing the fender 10 in folded configuration. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to an embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.