Patent Publication Number: US-2022219793-A1

Title: Resilient Bumper and Bumper System

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This specification relates to resilient bumpers and bumper systems. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Bumpers are used to absorb shock and prevent damage when two objects collide. In some cases, the bumper is mounted to a moving object. In other cases, the bumper is mounted to a stationary object. A bumper system can include multiple individual bumpers, for example, attached to a structure, such as a pier or a building. On impact, the bumper deforms to absorb a portion of the impact energy. In some cases, this deformation is substantially irreversible, for example, for car bumpers. In contrast, resilient bumpers return substantially to their original state and are designed for repeated impact. 
     SUMMARY 
     In general, this disclosure relates to a resilient bumper and bumper systems. 
     In one aspect, a resilient bumper includes an arc-shaped spring member that extends from a first end to a second end along a spring axis and includes an impact surface arranged between the first and second ends; and a support member that includes an attachment interface that extends in parallel to the spring axis of the spring member and is configured to releasably engage the first and second ends of the spring member. 
     Implementations may include one or more of the following features. 
     In some implementations, at least one of the first and second ends of the spring member are moveably mounted to the attachment interface, wherein a deflection of the spring member increases a distance between the first and second ends of the spring member along the spring axis. 
     In some implementations, the spring member includes a leaf spring including a spring steel, a fiber-reinforced material, a resin, a composite material, or a combination thereof. For example, the spring member can include a stacked leaf spring that includes a stack of arc-shaped spring leaves and one or more clamps to clamp the stack of spring leaves. In some implementations, each spring leaf includes a spring steel, a fiber-reinforced material, a resin, a composite material, or a combination thereof. In some implementations, the stacked leaf spring further including a flat bumper plate that forms the impact surface, wherein the clamp presses the bumper plate against the stack of spring leaves. 
     In some implementations, the first end of the spring member includes a first pair of rollers rotatably mounted to the first end of the spring member, and the second end of the spring member includes a second pair of rollers rotatably mounted to the second end of the spring member, wherein the first and second pair of rollers are configured to roll along a surface of the support member as the first and second ends move along the attachment interface. 
     In some implementations, the first end of the spring member includes a first sliding pin and the second end of the spring member includes a second sliding pin, the attachment interface includes a slot formed in a surface of the support member and configured to receive a shaft portion of each of the first and second sliding pins, and the first and second sliding pin each include a head portion connected to the shaft portion and having an outer diameter larger than a width of an opening of the slot. 
     In some implementations, the attachment interface includes one or more insertion openings that are sized to accommodate the head portion of the first and second sliding pins and communicate with the slot. In some implementations, the one or more insertion openings are offset laterally to the spring axis and connected to the slot by a respective connection portion. 
     In some implementations, the slot includes a first slot segment configured to receive the shaft portion of the first sliding pin and a second slot segment configured to receive the shaft portion of the second sliding pin, wherein the first and second slot segments are separate from one another. 
     In some implementations, the slot includes a hook portion that supports the first or the second sliding pin at a fixed vertical position along the spring axis. 
     In some implementations, the first and second pairs of rollers are received within the support member and configured to travel along an inner surface of the support member, wherein the attachment interface includes an opening through which the spring member extends. 
     In some implementations, the spring member includes a composite material and one or more optic fiber sensors embedded in the composite material, wherein the one or more optic fiber sensors are configured to detect the a load as the spring member deflects. 
     In some implementations, the support member includes one or more mounting holes for mounting the support member. 
     In another aspect, a bumper system includes a plurality of resilient bumpers, each resilient bumper including an arc-shaped spring member that extends from a first end to a second end along a spring axis and includes an impact surface arranged between the first and second ends, and a support member that includes an attachment interface that extends in parallel to the spring axis of the spring member and is configured to releasably engage the first and second ends of the spring member; and a frame to which the support member of each of the plurality of resilient bumpers is connected, such that the resilient bumpers are aligned along a frame axis substantially transverse to the spring axis of each resilient bumper. 
     Implementations may include one or more of the following features. 
     In some implementations, at least one of the first and second ends of the spring member are moveably mounted to the attachment interface, wherein a deflection of the spring member increases a distance between the first and second ends of the spring member along the spring axis. 
     In some implementations, the bumper system includes a load panel that extends along the frame axis and covers the resilient bumpers, wherein each of the spring members of the plurality of resilient bumpers includes a flat bumper configured to engage the load panel. 
     In some implementations, each of the spring members includes a composite material and one or more optic fiber sensors embedded in the composite material, wherein the one or more optic fiber sensors are configured to detect the a load as the spring member. 
     In a further aspect, a marine structure includes a plurality of resilient bumpers, each resilient bumper including an arc-shaped spring member that extends from a first end to a second end along a spring axis and includes an impact surface arranged between the first and second ends, and a support member that includes an attachment interface that extends in parallel to the spring axis of the spring member and is configured to releasably engage the first and second ends of the spring member; and a frame to which the support member of each of the plurality of resilient bumpers is connected, such that the resilient bumpers are aligned along a frame axis substantially transverse to the spring axis of each resilient bumper, wherein the frame is configured to rest on the seabed. 
     The details of one or more implementations of the subject matter described in this specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the detailed description. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  shows a front perspective view of a resilient bumper according to one implementation. 
         FIG. 1B  shows a rear perspective view of the resilient bumper of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 2A to 2C  shows a rear view of different attachment interfaces. 
         FIG. 3  shows a front perspective view of a plurality of resilient bumpers according to one implementation. 
         FIG. 4  shows the resilient bumpers of  FIG. 3  integrated into a bumper system according to an implementation. 
         FIG. 5A  is a schematic illustration of an offshore platform and an implementation of a bumper system from the side. 
         FIG. 5B  shows a perspective view of the offshore platform in  FIG. 5A . 
         FIG. 6A  is a schematic illustration of a marine terminal that includes two breasting dolphins. 
         FIG. 6B  shows a perspective view of one of the breasting dolphins in  FIG. 6A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1A and 1B , an implementation of a resilient bumper  10  is shown. The resilient bumper  10  comprises a spring member  12  and a support member  14 . The spring member  12  is arc-shaped and includes an impact surface  15  at a crown of the arc. The impact surface  15  is the surface that comes into contact with, i.e., bumps or is bumped into, an object external to the bumper and deflects the spring member  12 . For example, the impact surface  15  can be equidistant to the spring member&#39;s first and second ends  16 ,  18 . The spring member  12  extends along a spring axis S between a first end  16  and a second end  18 . The support member  14  comprises an attachment interface or track  17  that extends in parallel to the spring axis S of the spring member  12  ( FIG. 1B ). The attachment interface is configured to releasably engage the first and second ends of the spring member to mount the spring member  12  to the support member  14 . In  FIG. 1A and 1B , the first and second ends  16 ,  18  of the spring member  12  are moveably mounted to the track  17  of the support member  14  such that a deflection of the spring member transverse to the spring axis S moves the first and the second ends  16 ,  18  relative to the support member  14 . 
     In some cases, the arc-shaped spring member  12  can comprise a leaf spring. A leaf spring is a curved strip of resilient material that is substantially longer than it is wide. In some cases, the arc-shaped spring member  12  includes a stacked leaf spring that comprises a stack of arc-shaped spring leaves  20  and one or more clamps  22  to clamp the stack of spring leaves  20 . For example, friction between the individual spring leaves  20  can provide a damping action as an object collides against the spring member  12 . Instead of the clamp  22 , the spring member  12  can also comprise U-bolts that maintain friction among the stack of spring leaves  20 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1A and 1B , the leaves  20  of the stacked leaf spring become progressively shorter along the spring axis S. However, the stacked leaf spring can also include leaves that have substantially the same length. The illustrated stacked leaf spring includes five individual spring leaves  20 . However, in other implementations, the number of leaves  20  can differ. As previously mentioned, the leaf spring can include a single leaf. Other implementations can include fewer or greater than five leaves depending on the forces to be absorbed by the bumper  10 . In some implementations, all of the springs leaves  20  are made of the same material. Example materials for spring leaves include spring steel, a fiber-reinforced material, a resin, a composite material, or a combination thereof The spring leaves  20  can be formed by 3D printing. In some cases, a stacked leaf spring can include spring leaves  20  made of different materials. 
     In addition to the curved spring leaves  20 , some stacked leaf springs include a flat bumper plate  24  arranged on the topmost leaf  20 . The bumper plate  24  includes an outer surface  26  that forms the bumper&#39;s impact surface  15 . For example, if the bumper plate  24  and the spring leaves  20  are viewed from the side, the center line of the flat outer surface  26  and the respective spring leaves meet at the crown of the spring leaves  20 . In some implementations, the bumper plate  24  can also include a curved inner surface that is shaped to mate with the curved spring leaves  20 . Accordingly, the bumper plate  24  can include two wedge portions  28  that transition between the flat outer surface  26  and the curved inner surface. As illustrated, the length of the bumper plate  24  along the spring axis S amounts to roughly half of the length of the spring member  12 . In some cases, the ratio of the length of the bumper plate  24  to the length of the spring member  12  can be greater or smaller, e.g., ⅓ or ⅔. Although the bumper plate  24  forms the impact surface  15  in the illustrated implementation, other implementations do not necessarily include a bumper plate  24 . Instead, the impact surface can be formed by the outer surface of the topmost leaf  20  at the crown of the arc, for example. 
     The first end  16  of the spring member  12  can include a first pair of rollers  30  that are rotatably mounted to the first end  16  of the spring member  12 . The second end  18  of the spring member  12  can include a second pair of rollers  32  that are rotatably mounted to the second end  18  of the spring member  12 . The first and second pair of rollers  30 ,  32  are configured to roll along a surface  34  of the support member  14  as the first and second ends  16 ,  18  of the spring member  12  move with respect to the support member  14 . In the illustrated implementation, the first and second pair of rollers  30 ,  32  roll along the top or outer surface  34  of the support member  14 . For example, the spring member  12  can include a loop  36  at each end. A bolt  38  can extend through the loop, transverse to the spring axis. A spacer  40  and each of the rollers  30 ,  32  can be rotatably mounted on the bolt  38 . The loop  36  can be formed integrally by one of the spring leaves  20 . Instead of a common bolt  38 , each roller can also be mounted by a separate bolt or pin. 
     In some implementations, the first and second ends  16 ,  18  of the spring member  12  are moveably mounted to a track  17  of the support member  14  to connect the spring member  12  and the support member  14 . The support member&#39;s track  17  can have various configurations that engage the first and second ends  16 ,  18  of the spring member  12  in different ways. For example, the first end  16  of the spring member  12  can include a first sliding pin  42  and the second end  20  of the spring member  12  can include a second sliding pin  44  ( FIG. 1B ). The track  17  can comprise a slot formed in the surface  34  of the support member  14  that is configured to receive a shaft portion of each of the first and second sliding pins  42 ,  44 . The first and second sliding pin  42 ,  44  can each comprise a head portion that is connected to the shaft portion and has an outer diameter larger than a width of an opening of the slot. The track  17  can also include one or more insertion openings  46  that are sized to accommodate the head portion of the first and second sliding pins  42 ,  44  and communicate with the slot. For example, the slot and the insertion openings  46  can form a keyhole shape. In some cases, the insertion opening  46  is directly connected to the slot and lies along the spring axis S, as shown at the bottom of  FIG. 1B . Alternatively, the insertion opening  46  can be offset from the spring axis S and connected to the slot by a connection portion  48 , as shown at the top of  FIG. 1B . For example, an offset insertion opening  46  may prevent the spring member  12  from disconnecting from the support member  14 . 
     In some cases, the slot can include a first slot segment  50  that receives the shaft portion of the first sliding pin  42  and a second slot segment  52  distinct from the first slot segment  50  that receives the shaft portion of the second sliding pin  44 . In such cases, one of the slot segments  50 ,  52  can include a hook portion at one end that supports the first or the second sliding pin  42 ,  44  at a fixed vertical position along the spring axis S. In  FIG. 1B , the first sliding pin  42  is located in the hook portion of the first slot segment  50  to hang the spring member  12  at its first end  16 . Alternatively, the spring member  12  can be supported in a similar manner by its second end  18 . Although the bumper  10  is illustrated with two slot segments  50 , other implementations can include one continuous slot. 
     The bumper  10  of  FIG. 1A and 1B  can be assembled by inserting the head portion second sliding pin  44  into the second slot segment&#39;s insertion opening  46 . The spring member  12  is pivoted about the second sliding pin  42  so that the head portion of the first sliding pin  42  enters the first slot segment&#39;s insertion opening  46 . The first sliding pin  42  is then moved along the connection portion  48  and into the first slot segment  50 . Thus, the bumper  10  of  FIG. 1A and 1B  can be easily assembled largely without the use of tools. 
     The assembled resilient bumper  10  can be mounted by the support member  14  to another structure and used to absorb shock and prevent damage to the structure, as explained in more detail in reference to  FIG. 5A, 5B, 6A, and 6B . For this purpose, the support member  14  can include one or more mounting holes  54  ( FIG. 1A ). An object that collides with the bumper  10  will generally make contact with the impact surface  15  formed, for example, by the bumper plate  24 . The colliding object causes the spring member  12  to deflect inward towards the support member  14  in a direction transverse to the spring axis S, in the direction indicated by the arrow D in  FIG. 1B . 
     In some implementations, the first and second ends  16 ,  18  of the spring member  12  are not fixed in place, and one or both ends  16 ,  18  can move in response to the deflection of the spring member  12 . For example, referring to  FIG. 1B , a collision may cause the second sliding pin  44  to move downward along the second slot segment  52  while the first sliding pin  42  remains in the hook portion illustrated in  FIG. 1B . However, since the first sliding pin  42  is not fixedly attached to the first slot segment  50 , a subsequent collision may cause the first sliding pin  42  to move upward along the first slot segment  50  while the second sliding pin  44  moves along the second slot segment  52 . In both cases, since the first and second ends  16 ,  18  are moveably mounted to the support member  14 , the deflection of the spring member  12  causes the first and second ends  18  to move apart and increase a distance between the first and second ends  16 ,  18  along the spring axis S. Since the illustrated bumper  10  allows the spring member  12  and its ends  16 ,  18  to move relative to the support member  14 , the bumper  10  may be less prone to mechanical failure at the connection points between the spring member  12  and the support member  14  than, e.g., bolts or welded connections. 
     In  FIG. 2A to 2C , different configurations of attachment interfaces  17   a - 17   c  that form alternatives to track  17  in  FIG. 1A and 1B .  FIG. 2A  shows an attachment interface or track  17   a  with a first slot segment  50   a  and a second slot segment  52   a  that moveably mount the first and second ends of the spring member to the support member. The first slot segment  50   a  corresponds to the first slot segment  50  in  FIG. 1A and 1B . The second slot segment  52   a  has the same design as the first slot segment  50   a.  In other words, the second slot segment  52   a  includes an insertion opening  46   a  that is sized to accommodate the head portion of a sliding pin. The insertion opening  46   a  is connected to the slot by a connection portion  48   a.  Since the first and second ends of the spring member are not fixed in place, one or both ends of the spring member can move in response to the deflection of the spring member to absorb substantial levels of impact energy. 
       FIG. 2B  shows an attachment interface or track  17   b  with an attachment section  51   b  and a slot segment  52   b.  The slot segment  52   b  is similar to the slot segments  50   a,    52   a  in  FIG. 2A  and allows the second end of the spring member to move along the spring axis S. In contrast, the attachment section  51   b  includes an insertion opening  46   b  that is connected to a hook portion  53   b  that mounts the first end of the spring member to the support member at a fixed position along the spring axis S. Since one end of the spring member is fixed in place, only the end of the spring member mounted to the slot segment  52   b  can move in response to the deflection of the spring member. Thus, the track  17   b  of  FIG. 2B  is designed to absorb a moderate amount of impact energy, i.e., less impact energy than the track  17   a  of  FIG. 2A . Although the track  17   b  is shown with the attachment section  51   b  at the top and the slot segment  52   b  at the bottom, their positions may be reversed. 
       FIG. 2C  shows an attachment interface  17   c  that includes two attachment sections  51   c  that correspond to the attachment section  51   b  in  FIG. 2B . Each attachment section  51   c  includes an insertion opening  46   c  that is connected to a hook portion  53   c  that mounts the first end of the spring member to the support member at a fixed position along the spring axis S. Thus the attachment interface  17   c  is configured to releasably engage the first and second ends of the spring member to mount the spring member to the support member, but the ends of the spring member are not moveable relative to the support member  14 . Accordingly, the attachment interface  17   c  is designed to absorb the smallest amount of impact energy out of attachment interfaces  17   a - 17   c.  In this implementation, the spring member includes a suitably elastic material that allows the spring member to attach to the support member and deflect upon impact of the load. 
     In some implementations, the spring member  12  can include a composite material and one or more optic fiber sensors embedded in the composite material. The optic fiber sensors can be used to detect the extent to which the spring member  12  deflects, and thus the load absorbed by the bumper  10 . Such information can be processed using machine learning techniques to predict, for example, maintenance intervals. 
     In the implementation illustrated in  FIG. 1A and 1B , the support member  14  has a rectangular cross section  56 , the first and second sliding pins  42 ,  44  are positioned inside of the cross-section  56  via the slot segments  50 ,  52 . In other implementations, the track does not include a slot or slot segments. For example, the support member  14  can form a U-shaped track, with the rollers  30 ,  32  received within the U-shaped cross-section. The arc-shaped portion of the spring member  12  can protrude from the opening of the U-shape and the first and second ends  16 ,  18  can still move apart on deflection in the previously described manner. An implementation with a U-shaped track may not necessarily include first and second sliding pins  42 ,  44 . 
     Other implementations may not necessarily include rollers  30 ,  32  that move across the outer surface of the support member  14 . For example, the support member  14  can have a circular, elliptical, or hexagonal shape that makes such rollers  30 ,  32  impractical. In this case, the first and second ends  16 ,  18  can be connected to a slot or slot segments by sliding pins that are similar to first and second sliding pins  42 ,  44 . Although the first and second sliding pins  42 ,  44  are relatively small in comparison to the size of the loops  36 , the size shown in the drawing is not necessarily representative. 
     Thus, the resilient bumper of the present disclosure acts as an elastic machine that undergoes deflection under the application of large loads and is designed to regain its original shape once the load is removed. As such, it serves as a shock absorber that reduces the amount of energy transmitted to the structure connected to the bumper by storing most of the impact energy as potential energy upon deflection during loading. The bumper can be installed individually or in series and thus provides a flexible and modular bumper design for different types of structures. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a plurality of resilient bumpers  10  is shown. The bumpers  10  are arranged at the same height and covered by a common load plate  100 . More specifically, the load plate  100  includes a plate portion  102  that transfers loads to the impact surface  15  of each resilient bumper  10 . In other words, the plate portion  102  forms a common impact surface for the plurality of bumpers  10 . For example, a rear surface of the plate portion  102  includes rectangular recesses that each engage a bumper plate  24  of a respective bumper  10 . Since the load plate  100  is attached to each of the bumpers  10 , the load from a colliding object can be evenly distributed across the bumpers  10 . For example, in the illustrated implementation, the plate portion  102  has approximately the same height as and covers the entire bumper plate  24  of each spring member  12 . However, the plate portion  102  is not necessarily attached to the individual bumpers  10 . In some cases, the plate portion  102  may merely rest upon the spring members  12  of the plurality of bumpers  10  instead of being attached to the impact surfaces of the individual bumpers  10 . 
     The load plate  100  includes two mounting sections  104  for mounting the plate portion  102 . For example, each mounting section  104  can be bent away from the plate portion  102  to increase the overall strength of the load plate  100 . Each mounting section  104  can be mounted to a pair of rods  106  that are connected to a mounting beam  108 . When an object collides with the plate portion  102 , the plate portion  102  can transfer force to each spring member  12  via its impact surface and cause the spring member  12  to deflect. At the same time, the mounting sections  104  can be configured to slide along the rods  106  such that the load plate  100  moves with the spring members  12  of the bumpers  10 . In other cases, the mounting sections  104  of the plate portion  102  are fixed to the frame. In this case, the plate portion  102  can deflect inward towards the spring members  12 . 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a bumper system  200 . In general, a bumper system  200  includes a plurality of bumpers  10  and a frame  202  to which the support member of each of the plurality of resilient bumpers is connected. The illustrated implementation of the bumper system  200  includes the optional load plate  100  shown in  FIG. 3 . The frame  202  can be a freestanding structure, but it can also be integrated into a larger structure, as shown in  FIG. 5A, 5B, 6A, and 6B . For example, the frame  202  can include a pair of cross bars  204  that extend through the respective top and bottom mounting holes  54  in each support member  14 . An individual support  206  can be arranged transverse to the cross bar  204  behind each support member  14  to provide further structural integrity. The mounting beams  108  of the load plate  100  can also extend transversely to and between the pair of cross bars  204 . 
     In the illustrated implementation, the frame  202 , the support members  14 , and the mounting beams  108  can be assembled once to form a permanent structure. The plate portion  102  can be removed and the individual spring members  12  can be replaced. For example, if one of the spring members  12  breaks, the plate portion  102  can be removed and a new spring member  12  can be mounted to the corresponding support member  14  in the previously described manner. After the broken spring member  12  is replaced, the plate potion  102  of the load plate  100  can be reattached to the rods  106  and mounting beams  108  to restore the bumper system  200  to its working condition. 
     Although the implementations illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4  include a load plate  100 , other implementations of the bumper system  200  can include a plurality of resilient bumpers  10  that are mounted to a frame  202  without a common load plate  100 . In some situations, it may be desirable that the spring members  12  deflect individually as opposed to the load being distributed across all of the spring members  12 . 
     Both in implementations with and without a load plate  100 , the spring members  12  can include optic fiber sensors that detect the deflection and load applied to the spring members  12 . Such information can be collected and aggregated for maintenance purposes or to ensure that the bumper system  200  has a sufficient number of bumpers  10  to absorb the loads that result when foreign objects collide with the bumper system  200 . 
       FIG. 5A, 5B, 6A, and 6B  show two examples of the bumper system  200  in use in a marine setting. More specifically,  FIG. 5A and 5B  show an offshore platform  300  that includes one or more decks  302 , a support structure  304 , and a boat landing  306 . The decks  302  are arranged above sea level and support equipment that is omitted from the drawing. The support structure  304  comprises welded steel tubular members that form beams and columns that support the decks  302 . In the illustrated example, four columns  308  extend from the seabed to the decks  302  and are connected by several reinforcing beams  310 . The boat landing  306  is arranged at sea level and is designed to protect the offshore platform  300  from collision with ships. For this purpose, the boat landing  306  includes a bumper system  200 . The bumper system&#39;s frame  202  and the platform&#39;s support structure  304  can share common components, such as the columns  308 . Since the bumper system  200  protects the offshore platform  300  from collisions with ships and other vessels, smaller tubular members can be used to form the support structure  304 . In addition to preventing general damage from vessels, the bumper system  200  may even allow a larger type of vessel to land at the boat landing  306  than the offshore platform  300  would otherwise be able to accommodate. 
       FIG. 6A and 6B  show a further implementation in which the bumper system  200  of the present disclosure is incorporated into a marine terminal. A marine terminal  400  can include a pier  402  and one or more breasting dolphins  404 . A breasting dolphin is a marine structure for berthing and mooring a vessel V along the pier  402 . The purpose of a breasting dolphin  404  is to absorb impact from the vessel V and to prevent the vessel from coming into contact with the pier  402 . By absorbing some of the berthing loads, breasting dolphins allow large vessels to berth at much smaller pier structures. Breasting dolphins  404  can also serve as mooring points that prevent the vessel V from moving in a longitudinal direction. 
     Similarly to the boat landing in  FIG. 5A and 5B , the breasting dolphin  404  comprises a bumper system  200  positioned at sea level, i.e., at the location at which the vessel V is likely to come into contact with the breasting dolphin  404 . Unlike the implementations shown in  FIG. 3, 4, 5A, and 5B , the bumper system  200  of  FIG. 6A and 6B  only has three resilient bumpers. However, depending on the application, the bumper system  200  for the breasting dolphin  404  can be adapted to include a larger number of resilient bumpers. 
     In addition to the boat landing and the breasting dolphin shown in  FIG. 5A, 5B, 6A, and 6B , the resilient bumper  10  and the bumper system  200  can also be used in fixed jackets, floating systems, ports, and naval bases, for example. The resilient bumpers and the bumper system of the present disclosure can be flexibly adapted to a specific pier, structure, or vessel and do not depend on a large contact area along the longitudinal length of the vessel. 
     The above description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the disclosed subject matter, and is provided in the context of one or more particular implementations. Various modifications to the disclosed implementations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined in this disclosure may be applied to other implementations and applications without departing from scope of the disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the described or illustrated implementations, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed in this disclosure.