Patent Abstract:
A boat fender with a recessed line holder to permit an individual to adjust the positioning of the boat fender to a desired length. The recessed line holder is flush with the outer surface of the boat fender to create a smooth outer surface. The recessed line holder has a bridge under which a rope is inserted through a passage. The rope may then be tied off or secured to another fender.

Full Description:
[0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/802,981 pending. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to a recessed line holder for a boat fender. More specifically, the recessed line holder provides a passage through which a line is fed. Once the line has been fed through the line holder, the line is secured to position the boat fender at a desired location.  
           [0004]    2. Background Art  
           [0005]    When a boat is being docked, it is common to position several fenders along the side of the boat so that the fenders are positioned between the side of the hull of the boat and the dock to cushion any impact. Quite commonly these fenders are elongate cylindrical members that are connected at one or both ends to a rope that in turn is tied or attached by tying the rope around the railing of the boat. The ropes used to secure the fender are usually fed through either a grommet or other hook on the fender.  
           [0006]    Various structures have been used as boat fenders, especially for absorbing impact and protecting the boat following docking contact. Such bumpers or fenders commonly assume the configuration of cylinders or rollers and are commonly suspended by lines along the sides of the boat hull. The fenders are principally designed to absorb impact although they have some braking action from frictional contact of the elastomeric material with the docking structure.  
           [0007]    Any device or system that is used on a boat should also be reliable, easily stowable (if it is to be stowed) and also convenient to mount or dismount (or connect or disconnect) if that is part of the function of the device. Further, nautical devices should be easy to use and function as intended.  
           [0008]    In some instances the grommet or passage, through which the rope is inserted, is located on a tab or periphery surface connected to the fender itself. This tab or periphery surface is subject to potential damage while in storage or actual use of the fender. Since the tab is formed outside the perimeter of the main fender, it may not be manufactured to withstand higher stresses involved with the fender&#39;s usage.  
           [0009]    Still other fenders have grooves circumventing the perimeter of the structure wherein a rope is wrapped around the fender and a piling of a dock or bulkhead. However, these fenders may become dislodged from the ropes that bind the fender to the dock or bulkhead. Thus, the fender may fall into the water. Similarly, these fenders are difficult to properly position, especially when considering changing tides. These fenders also pose a potential problem with docks that do not have pilings in which to secure such devices.  
           [0010]    There is a need for an improved boat fender that provides a means for reliably securing the fender in a position to protect the boat. The fender must also facilitate repositioning in accordance with changing conditions.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    The present invention provides an improved boat fender that reliable protects a boat from damage by a docking structure and centers on the pole or piling of the docking structure.  
           [0012]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a boat fender with an outer surface designed to enhance its centering ability with respect to a pole or piling. It is also the object of this invention to prevent slipping out of position and away from the pole or piling while moored to a dock by using a recessed line holder to secure the fender to a line.  
           [0013]    The invention achieves the above-stated objectives by providing a bumper structure for a floating vessel, containing an elongated resilient member having a first end and a second end along a longitudinal direction. The resilient member having an outer surface defining a circumference circumscribing the longitudinal direction and at least one recessed line holder positioned on at least one of the circumference circumscribing the longitudinal direction, the first end, and the second end. The recessed line holder is substantially contained within said circumference.  
           [0014]    The recessed line holder includes a nook formed from the outer surface depressing inward toward a geometric center of the bumper structure, wherein a first side and a second side are formed along the nook and a bridge connecting the first and second sides such that a passage is formed between a bottom surface of the bridge and the nook.  
           [0015]    It is yet another object of the invention to provide a boat fender or bumper that is either inflatable or non-inflatable.  
           [0016]    It is yet another object of the invention to provide a boat fender or bumper that may be made of at least one of PVC (e.g., 30 oz., 42 oz.), rubber, foam, or any suitable elastomeric or resilient material.  
           [0017]    These and other objectives will be achieved with reference to the following drawings and associated description. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 is a top view of the boat fender according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 is a partial view of the recessed line holder of the boat fender of FIG. 1.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 is a profile view along line  3 - 3  of FIG. 2 showing the long axis of a passageway formed between the bridge and the nook.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4 is a profile view along line  4 - 4  of FIG. 2 showing the short axis of a passageway formed between the bridge and the nook.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 5 is a profile view of an alternate embodiment showing the recessed line holder and the boat fender as a solid object.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 6 is a profile view of yet another embodiment showing the bridge as a solid structure in combination with a hollow, inflatable boat fender.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0024]    With reference to the attached drawings, the present invention will now be described in the environment of usage for the boat fender of this invention.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of this invention whereby the boat bumper or fender  10  comprises a first end  12 , and a second end  14  with a main body portion  16  extending along a longitudinal length from the first end  12  to the second end  14 . Recessed line guides  18  are located in the main body portion  16  along a surface to facilitate the use of a line  19  in securing the boat fender  10  to a pole or boat (not shown). A plurality of recessed line guides  18  may be formed anywhere on the boat fender  10 . In the preferred embodiment as best seen in FIG. 1, the recessed line guides  18  are located on a top surface of the main body portion  16 . However, it is important to note that one skilled in the art may similarly place the recessed line guides on bottom surface or the back surface of the main body portion  16 . This would allow the boat fender  10  to be suspended in any number of positions to best protect the boat from damage.  
         [0026]    The boat fender shown is FIG. 1 is an irregular shape, it should be appreciated that the shape of the boat fender is not an essential element of the invention. The boat fender may be completely circular, or any other shape desired by an individual. Thus the shape as illustrated in the Figures should not be considered as limiting when viewing the invention as a whole.  
         [0027]    Even further, the recessed line guides may also be formed on the first end  12  and second end  14  as well, or may be formed to suspend the fender in either a vertical or horizontal position. Recessed line guides formed on the first and second ends  12 ,  14  would allow the boat fender to hang suspended with the longitudinal length in the vertical direction.  
         [0028]    The recessed line guides  18  will now be described with reference to FIGS.  2 - 4 .  
         [0029]    FIGS.  2 - 4  show a line or rope  19  engaging the recessed line guide  18  of FIG. 1. The line  19  is passed under a bridge  20  formed from the main body portion  16 . The recessed line guide  18  begins where the outer surface  22  of the main body portion  16  depresses inward toward the geometric center of the main body portion  16  to form a nook  24  in the bottom of the recessed line guide  18 . The nook  24  is made from the same material as that of the boat fender  10 . Centered approximately in the middle and above the nook is the bridge  20 . The bridge  20  is also formed from the same material as that of the entire boat fender  10 . The top surface  22   a  of the bridge  20  is flush with the outer surface  22  of the main body portion  16 . This allows the entire boat fender  10  to have a smooth external surface. This arrangement minimizes the necessary space for the boat fender  10  to be stored when not in use and also limits extraneous appendages that may be damaged over time.  
         [0030]    The boat fender  10  is formed of materials adequate to endure the rigors and hazards associated with docking structures. The boat fender  10  is preferably a resilient plastic substance; however, any material that exhibits the qualities necessary to withstand the rigors associated with use of the boat fender  10  may also be employed, such as elastomeric materials. The boat fender  10  may be inflatable through a valve positioned on body of the boat fender  10 . The exact positioning of the valve is not critical to the invention. Those skilled in the art can determine the positioning of the valve depending on specific needs.  
         [0031]    If the boat fender  10  is inflatable, they the boat fender  10  has an interior chamber  30  as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. In this instance, the bridge  20  also has a chamber  32  that is openly connected with the interior chamber  30  of the boat fender so that fluid can freely flow therebetween. When the boat fender is inflated, air (or other fluid) fills the interior chamber  30  and then flows into the chamber  32  of the bridge. When the boat fender  10  is deflated, the air is forced out of the interior chamber  30  and chamber  32  to reduce the profile of the boat fender  10 .  
         [0032]    In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the boat fender  10  is made from an elastomeric material. In this instance, the interior of the boat fender  10  is filled with the material. The bridge  200  is constructed from the same material as that of the boat fender  10 . A rope  190  is then capable of being inserted through the recessed line holder  180  as shown in the figure.  
         [0033]    In FIG. 6, yet another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. Here, the boat fender  300  has a recessed line holder  380  that includes a bridge  320  formed as a solid mass. The boat fender  300  has a hollow chamber  300  in order to allow the fender  300  making the fender inflatable. The bridge  320  is formed from the same material as that of the fender  300 .  
         [0034]    Although the present invention has been shown and described with references to several preferred embodiments, it will be understood that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the material of the present invention may be varied and selected according to the environment and usage envisioned for the particular boat and its environment. The fender may be inflatable or non-inflatable. In addition, the specific materials used to form the boat fender  10  may be selected from any material having sufficient resiliency and deformability, such as PVC (e.g., 30 oz. core mill or 42 oz. core mill), rubber, plastic, foam, etc. The recessed line holder may be constructed as a solid bridge, i.e., without a chamber, while the boat fender is made with an interior chamber thus rendering the boat fender as inflatable.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1