Patent Abstract:
Docking system for securing a craft to a dock or slip using a single line secured to the middle cleat of the boat. The system includes a mounting system, a docking car assembly slideably mounted on the mounting system; at least one bumper mounted on the docking car assembly; a biasing system which urges the docking car assembly is a first direction on the mounting system; and a docking line connected to the docking car assembly, a docking line connected to said docking car assembly, wherein when a force is placed on the docking line, the docking car is urged in a direction opposite to the first direction. Adjustable bumpers are provided which prevent the craft from rotating about the point of attachment.

Full Description:
This is a new utility application which claims benefit of Provisional Application No. 61/225,577, filed Jul. 15, 2009, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in this application. 
    
    
     The present invention relates to a boat docking system. More specifically, the invention relates to a breast point docking system designed primarily for securing 30 to 90 foot pleasure boats to a dock or slip, using a single line secured to the middle cleat present on almost all powerboats and many sailboats. The single line is secured to a bumper system that can rise and fall with the tides, and adjustable bumpers prevent the craft from rotating about the point of attachment. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Most pleasure craft in the size range of 30-90 feet are docked alongside a quay, or are secured in a slip. For securing a boat to a quay, four lines are typically required—a bowline, a stern line, and two spring lines, fore and aft. The bow and stern lines hold the craft to the dock, and the spring lines prevent it from moving fore and aft. One or more bumpers are usually needed to prevent chafing against the dock, and each bumper is held in place by one or two lines. A disadvantage with bumpers is that they are bulky and require extra storage space on the craft to avoid them moving around while underway. 
     Securing a boat in a standard slip typically requires five lines—two bowlines, two stern lines, and one spring line. Bumpers are not normally required, although they may be employed depending on the size and layout of the slip. 
     If the craft has a crew, which is normally the case for significantly larger boats, docking is ordinarily not a problem for the owners of the boat. The crew takes care of it, and the owners are not concerned about maneuvering the boat or how much time it takes to secure the boat. 
     For yachts in the 30 to 65-90 foot range, many owners wish to operate the craft by themselves. They may employ a captain in certain circumstances, but they usually enjoy the actual boat operation themselves. They may take pleasure from the navigation and steering; they may wish the privacy that comes from not having a crew; they may regard the expense and management of a crew as burdensome; or some part or all of the above. In many instances, the owners of such yachts are couples, typically husband and wife, and it is not unusual of the husband to assume the role of captain and the wife first mate. When the yacht is underway, typically no major issues arise, as the captain usually assumes responsibility for the navigation and operation of the boat and, if the boat is equipped with an autopilot, most of the steering is accomplished automatically. However, docking the boat can be challenging, where the captain is fully occupied positioning the vessel, and the mate assumes responsibility for setting the lines and securing the vessel. Tension between the captain and his mate is not uncommon during these procedures, and can spoil what has otherwise been a pleasant voyage. 
     A need exists for a docking system which eliminates or reduces the time and skill required for crew members to position a vessel on docking. The present invention seeks to satisfy that need. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a docking system which makes it possible to secure a craft typically in the 30 to 90 foot range to a dock or slip using a single line secured to the middle cleat present on almost all powerboats and many sailboats. The single line is secured to a bumper arrangement that can rise and fall with the tides. Adjustable bumpers are provided which prevent the craft from rotating about the point of attachment. 
     In one embodiment, there is provided a docking system comprising a mounting system; a docking car assembly slideably mounted on said mounting system; at least one bumper mounted on said docking car assembly; a biasing system which urges the docking car assembly in a first direction on the mounting system; and a docking line connected to the docking car assembly, wherein when a force is placed on the docking line, the docking car is urged in a direction opposite to the first direction. 
     In another embodiment, there is provided a docking assembly suitable for mounting on a dock or quay, comprising a docking system as defined above, and first and second bumper carrying devices positionable on a dock or quay on either side of the docking system and spaced from the docking system by a distance such that when a craft is secured to the docking system and bumpers on the bumper carrying devices are in contact with the craft, rotation of the craft about the docking system is prevented. 
     In a further embodiment, there is provided a method for docking a craft at a dock or quay, comprising bringing a craft alongside a docking assembly which includes a docking system as defined above and first and second bumper carrying devices positioned on the dock or quay on either side of the docking system, hitching the docking line to a center cleat of the craft, pulling on the docking line to draw the craft into contact with bumpers on the docking system, cleating the docking line, and moving the bumper carrying devices to bring the bumpers carried by the bumper carrying devices into contact with the craft on either side of the docking system. 
     The system of the present invention is known as a breast point system. This arises from the expression “breast line” which a nautical term for a dock line that is perpendicular to the side of a boat, or that secures a boat to a piling by the center cleat. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of one embodiment of the docking system of the invention, as viewed from the water, mounted to a pylon; 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the docking system of  FIG. 1  with the docking line omitted; 
         FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  are side views of the docking system of  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 3   c  is a partial plan view of the docking system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of a second embodiment of the docking system of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view of the embodiment of  FIG. 4  with the bumpers removed; 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view of the docking system of the invention when employed in a boat slip; 
         FIG. 7  is a plan view of the docking system of the invention as used on a quay; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of a tripod bumper carrying device the of the invention; 
         FIG. 9   a  is a plan view of the in-dock track employed in the invention, and  FIG. 9   b  is a view from the end of the track; 
         FIG. 10  is a view of the tripod bumper carrying device as viewed from the water. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown a first embodiment of a docking system which includes a docking car assembly  2  having a docking car  4  provided with two bumpers  6 , 8  mounted to a support member  10 . The support member has a front face  12  and a rear face  14 . Mounting rings  16  and  18  are provided on the rear face  14  of the support member  10 , and are generally positioned so as to be in alignment with the bumpers  6 , 8 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . Typically four mounting rings are provided, two vertically one above the other behind bumper  6  and two vertically one above the other behind bumper  8  ( FIG. 3   a ). 
     The docking system  2  further comprises a mounting system including a mounting plate  20  having a front face  22  and a rear face  24 . The rear face  24  is provided with an attachment bracket  26  for mounting the mounting plate  20  to a support, such as a pylon  28 . The front face  22  of the mounting plate  20  is provided with longitudinally extending rod members  30 , 32  which are spaced apart from each other by the same distance as the mounting rings  16 , 18  so as to permit the mounting rings of the docking car assembly to be slidably mounted on the rods  30 , 32  of the mounting system. 
     Each mounting rod member is provided with a biasing system for urging the rings  16 , 18  upwardly on the rods  30 ,  32 . This biasing system may be in the form of springs  34 , 36 , each of which is retained on the respective rod member by stop members  38 , 40 . The internal diameter of the mounting rings  16  and  18  and the external diameter of the rod members  30 , 32  are such that the rings may be slideably engaged on the rod members but with a small amount of play to reduce rattle. The springs  34 , 36  serve to urge the docking car  4  upwardly for ease of access when docking and to reduce downward looping of dock line  48 . 
     The support member  10  is further provided on the front face  12  with gripping means such as handles  42 , 44 ,  46  to allow a crew member on a boat to take hold of the docking car  4 , irrespective of the tide level. This permits the crew member to pull the docking car  4  downwards against the biasing effect of the springs to allow the person to grab the dock line  48  mounted on hook  52 . 
     The support member  10  is provided with two apertures  50 , 88  through which the line  48  extends, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . A guide member such as, for example, pulleys  96 , 98  are mounted on the rear face  14  of the support member  10  and behind each aperture  50 , 88 , over which the line  48  passes, as shown in  FIG. 3   b.    
     The line  48  may be provided at one end with a loop  90  to allow the line to be easily attached to and removed from hook  52 . The other end of the line  48  may be provided with a ball  94  or other enlarged region to allow the line to be grabbed, and also to prevent the line  48  from disappearing back though the aperture  88 . 
     A jam cleat  92  is provided on the front face  12  of the support member  10  to secure the line  48  as it is pulled though the aperture  88 , and to prevent it from going back through the aperture  88 . A permanent cleat  58  may also be provided on the front face  12  as a further point of securing the line  48 . 
     The rods  30 , 32  are provided at their upper ends with stop members  54 , 56 . These stop members prevent disengagement of the docking car  4  from the rods  30 , 32 . 
       FIG. 3   a  illustrates the system of  FIG. 1  from the side. A boat  60  is shown secured to the docking system by line  48  tied to the middle cleat  62  of the boat.  FIG. 3   b  is a partial side view showing the pulleys  96 , 98  mounted to the rear face  14  of the support member  10 .  FIG. 3   c  is a partial plan view showing the jam cleat  92  mounted on the front face  12  of the support member  10  and generally opposite the pulley  96 . 
     Vertical movement of the docking car  4  on the rods  30 , 32  is permitted as the tide rises and falls. The docking system is designed such that the distance between the stop members  54 , 56  at the top of the rods and the bottom of the rods is greater than the difference between low and high tide to allow for maximum vertical movement of the docking car  4  between low and high tide. 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate an alternative embodiment of the docking system of the invention in which the biasing means for urging the docking car  4  in an upward direction comprises a weighted pulley system. This biasing system includes pulleys  64 , 66  rotatably mounted on each rod  30 , 32 , and a counter-weight  68 , 70  connected to the support member  10  via a connecting line  72 , 74  which extends from the counterweight around a groove provided in the pulley circumference to attachment points  76 , 78  on the support member  10 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates the use of the docking system of the invention in a boat slip. In this arrangement, finger  84  of the slip extends to a pylon  28  where the docking system  2  of the invention is mounted, and to which the center cleat  62  of the boat  60  can be hitched. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates in plan view a system of  FIG. 1  as employed on a dock  100 . Once the boat  60  is secured to the docking system  2 , rotational movement of the boat about the docking system is prevented by a moveable bumper system which permits bumpers disposed on either side of the docking system  2  to be moved towards and away from the boat. An embodiment of such a moveable bumper system is illustrated in  FIG. 7 , which shows first and second bumper carrying devices  102 , 104  disposed on either side of the docking car  4  and each mounted on an in-dock track  106 , 108  recessed into the dock  100 . Bumpers  110 , 112  are provided on the bumper carrying devices  102 , 104 . Typically, the bumpers  110 , 112  are spaced about 10 feet on either side of the docking car  4 . 
     Movement of the bumper carrying devices  102 , 104  towards the boat brings bumpers  110 , 112  into contact with the boat  60  to prevent rotation of the boat about the docking system  2 . Typically, one bumper is present on each bumper carrying device, but more than one bumper may be used, if desired. 
       FIG. 8  is side view of a tripod bumper carrying device of the invention, comprising a frame including outrigger members  110  having a wheel  134  connected to a lower end of each outrigger member. The upper end of each outrigger member is connected to a sloping central member  112 . The lower end of the sloping member  112  is connected to a foot  114  which is configured to slideably engage with the in-dock track  106 . Movement along the in-dock track  106  is facilitated by lifting and then pulling or pushing the device using the handle  116 . 
     A carrying unit  118  is mounted on the frame at the opposite end to the foot  114 . The carrying unit  118  is provided with upper and lower tracks  120 , 122  on which the moveable bumpers  110 , 112  are mounted. The tracks  120 , 122  also permit lateral sideways adjustment of the bumper(s). 
     As an alternative (not shown), in the situation where there is no pylon situated close to the dock, the docking car  4  may be mounted on its own tripod bumper carrying device, and will be moveable towards and away from the boat in the same way as are the outer tripod bumper carrying devices with the bumpers  110 , 112 . In this instance, three in-dock tracks will be present, with the docking car  2  mounted to the horizontal tracks  120 , 122  of center tripod bumper carrying device. As with the bumpers mounted on the tracks  120 , 122 , sideways lateral adjustment of the docking car  4  on the tracks  120 , 122  can be effected, if desired. 
       FIG. 9   a  is a plan view of an in-dock track  106  employed in the invention.  FIG. 9   b  is a view of the track from the end. The track  106  includes keeper members  124  positioned longitudinally along the length of the track and defining spaces  132  which extend a distance longitudinally which is slightly longer than the length of the foot  114 . A hole  126  is located in the base of the track between each of the keeper members  124 . The hole  126  is for receiving a fastening pin  130  mounted to the foot  114 , by passing the pin through the hole  128  in the foot and into a respective hole  126  in the base of the track, to thereby fix the foot in a desired position once the bumpers are in position either against the side of the boat or back on the dock when not in use. 
     A bumper carrying device  102  may be removed from the track  106  by pulling the pin  130  out of the holes  126  and  128 , sliding the bumper carrying device along the track  106  to align the foot  114  with a space  132  between the keepers, and lifting the foot out of the track using the handle  116 . The bumper carrying device can then be removed from the dock area or relocated on a different track by lifting the foot  114  clear of the ground using handle  116  and rolling the device on the wheels  134 . 
       FIG. 10  is an end view of the tripod bumper carrying device of the invention as viewed from the water. The outrigger members  110  extend outwardly at an angle of about 60-70 degrees to stabilize the tripod against tipping. 
     The docking system of the invention may be provided with a shore-power outlet  144  and water hose connection  142 , as are typically found in boat slips and docks. A light  140  may also be provided to illuminate the docking system at night. 
     In use when docking, as the boat  60  comes alongside the docking system  2 , the mate grabs one of the handles  42 - 46 , removes the line  48  from the hook  52  and ties the line to the center cleat  62  of the boat. This secures the boat to the docking system. The mate then grabs the ball  94  at the other end of the line  48  and pulls on the line  48 . This causes the line  48  to move around the pulleys  96 , 98  and out of the aperture  88 , and urges the docking car  4  to move downwards on the rods  16 , 18  against the effect of biasing system  34 , 36 . As the boat  60  is drawn into contact with the bumpers  6 , 8 , the line  48  may be temporarily cleated in the jam cleat  92  until the tripod bumper carrying devices  102 , 104  are located in position. This is achieved by lifting the tripod bumper carrying devices by the handles  116  and moving them towards the boat with the foot sliding in the track. When the bumpers come into contact with the boat, the foot  114  is adjusted to a position where the pin  130  can be inserted though hole  128  in the foot into a respective hole  126  to prevent further movement in the track. Both the moveable bumpers and the docking car can be moved a few feet towards or away from the boat along the respective in-dock tracks for fine tuning adjustments. Once all bumpers are finally positioned against the boat, the line  46  may be hitched to the permanent cleat  58  to fully secure the boat to the docking system. 
     The system described above is designed for concrete or wooden docks with the boat tied alongside. The system may also be employed in slips, or for fastening the car to wood or concrete pilings instead of horizontal docks. 
     Piling mounts may place docking car and/or the bumpers in fixed position, either directly in front of piling or offset to one side or the other. Piling mounting may also contain horizontal tracks, so the docking car and/or the bumpers may be adjusted from side to side. 
     It will not be necessary in most cases, but a version of the piling mount could have tracks similar to in-dock tracks, so that the docking car could be adjusted outward from the piling. This would require two tracks, one on each side of the piling. Different versions could be adjustable both from side to side and closer or further from the piling, or either or neither. 
     A less expensive version will be available for slip owners that know exactly where the docking car needs to be, as in the case where the installation is for a single dock and single boat. This version would simply mount the docking car and bumpers to the dock or to pilings, and would dispense with the in-dock tracks. This version will be available with or without horizontal tracks for side-to-side adjustment. 
     While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4