Patent Publication Number: US-2015075416-A1

Title: Rope engaging docking device

Description:
This utility patent application is based on and claims the filing date benefit of U.S. provisional patent application (Application No. 61860211) filed on Jul. 30, 2013. 
    
    
     COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
     Notice is given that the following patent document contains original material subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile or digital download reproduction of all or part of the patent document, but otherwise reserves all copyrights. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention: 
     This invention relates to devices for securing a dock line from a boat to an out-of-reach dock cleat while standing on a boat. 
     2. Description of the Related Art: 
     When docking a boat, sometimes only one crew member is available for guiding the boat up to the dock and for attaching dock lines from the boat to the dock cleats. Sometimes, the crew member must jump from the boat to the dock which can be dangerous. While standing on the boat, some crew members can throw the dock line over the cleat and snag it, other crew members find this method unreliable. While attempting to connect the dock lines to the dock cleats, the crew member may be required to hold the sides of the hull away from the dock until all of the dock lines are attached and the protective bumpers are positioned properly. These tasks are especially difficult in rough water or in windy conditions. 
     A docking device is needed that makes it easier to attach a dock line to a dock cleat when standing on the boat. What is also needed is a docking device that can be used with a standard dock line that may have a bowline knot and loop formed on the end. What is also needed is a docking device that temporarily attaches to two rope segments that form a loop that partially droops or extends downward from the end of the device held enabling the crew member to easily extend the apex of the loop formed on the dock line around the dock cleat. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     These and other needs are met by a rope engaging docking device disclosed herein that includes an elongated pole with a fork member mounted on the elongated pole&#39;s distal end. The fork member is a yoke or u-shaped structure with a center hub and two, narrow spreader arms. The center hub is connected to the distal end of the elongated pole. The two spreader arms diverge from the center hub and their distal ends are spaced apart with a wide, central open space located between them. The spreader arms are approximately the same lengths so their distal ends are approximately equal distance on opposite sides of the elongated pole&#39;s longitudinal axis. In one embodiment, the longitudinal axis of each spreader arm is substantially parallel to the elongated pole&#39;s longitudinal axis. 
     Formed on the distal end of each spreader arm is a rope engaging slot. The longitudinal axis of each rope engaging slot is aligned with the spreader arm&#39;s longitudinal axis. In one embodiment, each rope engaging slot is V-shaped with side edges that converge towards the center hub. During use, two segments on the dock line are transversely aligned over the distal ends of the two spreader arms. The dock line is then pressed into the two slots which temporarily hold the two segments on the ends of the two spreader arms. During use, a relatively large loop is formed in the dock line. The two segments of the loops are attached to the slots formed on the two spreader arms and the apex of the loop extends downward from the fork member. In one embodiment, the loop is formed by a slip knot formed in the dock line. The crew member may then extend the fork member over a dock cleat and position the apex of the loop behind the dock cleat. The loop may be formed by tying a simple bowline knot or a running bowline knot on the dock line that allows the crew member to pull and tighten the loop around the dock cleat. 
     The elongated pole is made of aluminum, PVC or fiberglass and includes two telescopic sections that are adjustable in length or may include one fixed length section. The fork member may also be made of stainless steel, aluminum, PVC or fiberglass. In the preferred embodiment, the fork member is made of rigid material that withstands forces exerted on the fork member when the device is a guide pole when entering or leaving the dock. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  an illustration of the rope engaging docking device held by a crew member to attach a dock line to a dock cleat. 
         FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of the docking device. 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the docking device. 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the fork member. 
         FIG. 5  is an illustration showing the docking device holding a dock line, ready to loop it around the dock cleat. 
         FIG. 6  is an illustration showing the docking device with the dock line looped around a dock cleat. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
     The rope engaging docking device  10  is a tool for attaching a dock line  50  on a boat  100  to an out of reach dock cleat  92  commonly found near the edge of a dock  90  as shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the docking device  10  comprises a straight, lightweight tubular elongated pole  20  with a fork member  30  attached to the elongated pole&#39;s distal end  22 . The fork member  30  includes a center hub  31  and two spreaders arms  32 ,  38  which together form a yoke or U-shaped structure which opens in a direction opposite the elongated pole  12 . 
     As shown more clearly in  FIG. 4 , formed on the distal end of each spreader arm  32 ,  38  is a rope engaging slot  33 ,  39 , respectively, also opens in a direction opposite the elongated pole  20 . In the embodiment shown herein, the rope engaging slots  33 ,  39  are V-shaped and designed to receive and hold a side section  50 A,  50 B of the dock line  50 , respectively, extended transversely over the ends of the two spreader arms  32 ,  38 . When a dock line  50  is drawn firmly, the sections  50 A,  50 B of the dock line  50  are drawn firmly into the rope engaging slots  33 ,  39 , until the narrowing of the slots  33 ,  39  pinches it, that portion of the dock line  50  is attached and immobilized in relation to the docking device  10 . The dock line  50  remains immobilized until it is released by firmly pulling outward from the slots  33 ,  39 . It should be understood, however, that the rope engaging slots  33 ,  39 , are not limited to V-shaped slots and may have be other configurations that engage the dock line  50 . 
     The ends of the spreader arms  32 ,  38  are narrow and partially pointed enabling the crew member  80  to use one spreader arm  32  or  38  o snag the dock line  50  when wrapped around a dock cleat  92 . 
     During use, a large loop  54  is formed in the dock line  50  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The two side sections  50 A,  50 B of the dock line  50  that form the loop  54  are disposed transversely over the slots  33 ,  39 . The apex  55  of the loop  54  droops and hangs down in the open center area  36  formed in between the two spreader arms  32 ,  38  at least 4 to 12 inches. In one embodiment, the loop  54  may be formed one end of the dock line  50  by tying a slip knot  56  in the dock line  50 . In another embodiment, one end of the dock line  50  extends downward from one spreader arm  32  or  38  and then upward to the opposite spreader arm  32  or  38 . The end of the dock line  50  is then extended up the elongated pole  20  to the crew member  80  and manually held. A continuous loop  54  is formed on the dock line  50  with the apex  55  extending below the fork member  30 . 
     With the dock line  50  configured as described above and attached to the fork member  30 , the crew member  80  holds the dock line  50  and the proximal end  21  of the elongated pole  20  and extends the fork member  30  outward. The apex  55  of the loop  54  extends below the fork member  30 . The crew member  80  then manipulates the proximal end  23  of the elongated pole  20  so the apex  55  of the loop  54  encircles the dock cleat  92  as shown in  FIG. 1 . When the loop  54  has encircled the dock cleat  92 , the crew member  80  draws the fork member  30  and dock line  50  rearward and away from the cleat  92  until the loop  54  closes and tightens around the cleat  92 . While holding tension on the dock line  50 , the crew member  80  continues to draw the elongated pole  20  away until the fork member  30  releases the loop  54 . The crew member  80  continues to pull the dock line  50  and apply tension causing the loop  54  to finish closing around the dock cleat  92 . With one end of the dock line  50  attached to the dock cleat  92 , the crew member  80  attaches the other end of the dock line  50  to the boat  100 . 
     To release the dock line  50  from the cleat  92 , the crew member  80  loosely grips the dock line  50  and manipulates the elongated pole  20  so one or both spreader arms  32 ,  38  draw the loop  54  away from the cleat  92  and re-opens the loop  54 . The crew member  80  then places the spreader arms  32 ,  38  over the dock line  50  and tugs on the dock line  50  to pull the dock line  50  into one of the slots  33 ,  39  on the spreader arms  32 ,  38 , respectively. The loop  54  on the dock line  50  does not have to be snagged by one of the slots  33 ,  39 . The crew member  80  then lifts the elongated pole  20  with the dock line  50  in its control to draw the loop  54  over and away from the dock cleat  92 . 
     In an alternative application of the docking device  10 , both of the ends of the dock line  50  are continuous with the loop  54 , and can be held by the crew member  80 . This allows the crew member  80  to control both legs of the loop  54  around the cleat  92  created when the docking device  10  is pulled away from the dock line  50 . 
     The elongated pole  20  is tubular approximately 1 to 2 inches in diameter. It is made of aluminum, PVC or fiberglass and includes two telescopic sections  24 ,  26  adjustable in length and each section  24 ,  26  is approximately  72  to  96  inches in length allowing the elongated pole  20  to extend approximate 120 to 140 inches. A lock nut  29  is attached to the elongated pole  20  to lock the two sections  24 ,  26  in a fixed location. It should be understood, however that the elongated pole  20  may be one fixed length section. 
     The fork member  30  is approximately 8 to 12 inch in length and 6 to 20 inches in width. Each spreader arm  32 ,  38  is approximately 4 to 12 inches in length and 6 to 24 inches apart. The front openings of the rope engaging slots  33 ,  39  are approximately ¾ to 1½ inches wide and the slots  33 ,  39  are approximately 2 to 4 inches in length. The fork member  30  is made of stainless steel, aluminum, PVC or fiberglass. In the preferred embodiment, the fork member  30  is made of rigid material that withstands forces exerted on the fork member  30  when the device  10  is a guide pole when entering or leaving the dock  90 . 
     Also disclosed is a method for connecting a dock line  50  on a boat  100  to a dock cleat  92  while standing on the boat  100 , comprising the following steps: 
     a. while positioned on a boat, selecting a rope engaging docking device that includes an elongated pole  20  with opposite proximal and distal ends and a longitudinal axis, and a fork member mounted on said distal end of said elongated pole  20 , said fork member includes a center hub  31  that attaches to said distal end of said elongated pole  20  and two spreader arms  32 ,  38  each with a rope engaging slot  33 ,  39 , respectively, formed on its distal end, said spreader arms  32 ,  38  being configured to extend outward on opposite sides of said center hub  31 ; 
     b. extending a dock line  50  transversely over said fork member  30  and between said rope engaging slots  33 ,  39 , said dock line  50  forming a loop with a lower apex and to side sections, said lower apex be disposed below said fork member and said side sections being temporarily attached to said rope engaging slots  33 ,  39 ; 
     c. gripping said elongated pole  20  near said proximal end and extending said fork member  30  over a dock cleat  92  so the section of dock line  50  that extends downward between said spreader arms  32 ,  38  is positioned behind said dock cleat  92 ; 
     d. pulling said dock line  50  to tighten said dock line  50  round said dock cleat  92 ; and, 
     e. removing said rope engaging slots  33 ,  39  from said dock line  50 . 
     In compliance with the statute, the invention described has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, since the means and construction shown comprises the preferred embodiments for putting the invention into effect. The invention is therefore claimed in its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the amended claims, appropriately interpreted under the doctrine of equivalents.