Abstract:
A docking system to aid in docking a boat includes an elongate member that engages the dock and a distal end extending into the body of water away from the dock. A line having configured to attach to the beach or walkway is connected to a distal end of the elongate member. A first connecting assembly, including a first line that is releasably securable to the dock and a float secured to a distal portion of the first line, engages a distal portion of the elongate member. A second connecting assembly comprising a second line is releasably securable to the dock. At least two elongate floats are secured to the second line. The second connecting assembly is connected to the float of the first connecting assembly, and the second connecting assembly is longer than the first line.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 62/353,458, filed Jun. 22, 2016, which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Docking a boat can be one of the most stressful tasks you will perform, especially for new boaters. The boater needs to get the boat right up to the dock, but not too hard, to avoid any damage to the boat or to the dock. The approach to a dock will depend on the space available to dock, as well as wind and currents. 
         [0003]    Typically, the boater will deploy fenders and lines on the side of the boat that will be adjacent the dock. The boater will typically approach the dock at an angle, applying power intermittently to approach the dock at a slow, controlled speed. As the bow is nearing the dock, with the engine in neutral, the boater will turn the wheel away from the dock, then go forward at idle speed for a few seconds; then go back to neutral. The bow will turn more parallel to the dock. Momentum should then carry the boat towards the dock. A brief burst of reverse at idle speed may then be applied to stop the forward motion, and the prop wash should push the stern towards the dock. To successfully perform the docking, without damaging equipment, the boater must learn to use intermittent power to control the speed of the boat, and to turn at the proper time such that the boat ends up next to the dock If the boater turns too soon, the boat will not end up next to the dock If the boater turns too late, the bow may hit the dock before the watercraft turns. 
         [0004]    Many boaters will not undertake docking without having a second person on board to assist with the maneuver, for example, by leaping from the boat to the dock with a mooring line to either prevent the boat from impacting the dock, or to pull the boat towards the dock. Therefore, boaters are unable or unwilling to take the boat out by themselves, which can greatly limit the opportunities for boating. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  illustrates a docking system in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  illustrates the docking system shown in  FIG. 1 , as the boat is engaging the docking system; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  illustrates the docking system shown in  FIG. 1 , with the boat positioned at the dock; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  illustrates a second embodiment of a docking system in accordance with the present invention; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  illustrates the docking system a second embodiment, with the boat positioned at the dock. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    A first embodiment of a docking system  100  in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 , installed near a conventional dock  90  in position to be engaged by a boat  99  that will be moored at the dock  90 . In this embodiment a swing arm  102  is attached to, and extends away from, a shore or dock walkway  94  and into the body of water  94 . The swing arm  102  in this embodiment is configured to pivot or swing about its proximal end. The arm  102  may be temporarily attached to the shore or dock walkway  94 , for example, by lashing the swing arm  102  to the walkway  94 , e.g., at an attachment fixture, such as a post or a cleat  95 A. The distal end of the swing arm  102  is biased away from the dock  90  with an elastic or partially elastic line  104  that is secured to a second attachment fixture  95 B on the shore or dock walkway  94 . For example, the elastic line may comprise a conventional nautical line attached to a bungie-type of elastic member. Optionally, one or more elongate buoys or floats  3 A,  3 B are attached to the arm  102  to improve the visibility of the swing arm  102  and to maintain the swing arm  102  at or above the water surface. 
         [0012]    A first line  106  is secured at one end to a cleat  95 C on the dock  90  and extends towards a distal portion of the swing arm  102 . The first line  106  is secured to one or more floats or buoys  1 A,  1 B, and to a short line  108  to the swing arm  102 . In one embodiment a connector ring is provided for connecting the first line  106 , floats  1 A,  1 B, and short line  108 . In one embodiment the floats or buoys  1 A,  1 B are polymeric inflatable marker or mooring buoys. 
         [0013]    Another connecting assembly comprising a second line  110  that extends from the dock cleat  95 C towards the swing arm  102 , that engages two or more buoys or floats  2 A,  2 B, (connected serially), is also connected to the swing arm  102  through the short line  108 . The buoys or floats  2 A,  2 B in one embodiment are elongate twin-eye boat fenders. The combined length of the second line  110  and the floats  2 A,  2 B is preferably longer than the first line  106 , for reasons that will be apparent from the FIGURES. A third line  112  extends from the walkway cleat  95 A to the short line  108  and, may also engage the ring limiting the distance the floats  1 A,  1 B,  2 A,  2 B can travel away from the shore or walkway  94 . 
         [0014]    The operation of the docking system  100  will now be described, with reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , which show the boat  99  engaging the system  100 . The boat approaches the dock  90  and docking system  100 , generally as shown in  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 2 , as the boat  99  begins to engage the docking system it first passes over the first line  106 , which is thereby urged under the boat  99  pulling the floats  1 A  1 B against the bow of the boat  99 , on the side opposite the dock  90 , causing the swing arm  102 , which is biased outwardly by elastic line  104 , to pivot towards the dock  90 . As the boat  99  continues to move forward, the floats  1 A,  1 B move with the boat  99  and gently urge the bow towards the dock  90 . 
         [0015]    The second line  110  is longer than the first line  106 , and is therefore initially relatively slack. As the boat  99  continues forward the bow of the boat  99  engages one or more of the floats  2 A,  2 B causing the second line  110  to become taut. The floats  2 A,  2 B capture the prow of the boat  99  and works together with the first line  106  to urge the boat  99  closer to the dock  90 , and to impede the forward motion of the boat  99 . As the floats  2 A,  2 B are urged forward by the boat  99 , the line  110  swings inwardly toward the dock  90 , aiding in correctly positioning the boat  99 . The impeding force provided by the floats  2 A,  2 B allows the operator to apply a sensible amount of power to the engine(s) to swing the stern end of the boat  99  towards the dock  90 . The system  100  therefore permits a single user to easily dock the boat  99 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , without requiring assistance from a passenger or others on the dock  90 . 
         [0016]    When the boat  99  is backed away from the dock, the third line  112  secures the float assembly, limiting the distance the floats can move (upwardly, in  FIG. 3 ). The elastically coupled line  104  urges the swing arm  102  away from the dock  90 , maintaining the vacated docking system  100  in position to receive the boat  99  on its return. 
         [0017]    A second embodiment of a docking system  200  in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The docking system  200  is similar to the docking system shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , with an elongate arm  202  spaced away from the dock  90  and extending into the water, a first line  206  extending between the elongate arm  202  and the dock with the floats  1 A,  1 B attached near the distal end, and configured to slide under the bow of the boat  99  during docking, and a second line  210  with floats  2 A,  2 B, and  2 C that capture the bow of the boat  99 . For brevity and clarity, the aspects of the system already described above will not be repeated. It will be appreciated that in both of the docking systems  100  and  200  the second line  110 ,  210  with the associated buoys or floats are configured to engage the bow of the boat  99  to impede, prevent, and/or stop the forward motion of the boat  99 , even when, for example, using engine power to urge the stern end of the boat  99  towards the dock. 
         [0018]    The second embodiment differs from the system  100  in that the elongate arm  202  is installed at a generally fixed orientation in the body of water, and the lines  206 ,  210  (with connected floats) extending between the dock  90  and the elongate arm  202  are biased towards the elongate arm by a weight or anchor  209  connected to a line that extends through a passageway, eyehole or pulley in the elongate member  202 . The stopping buoys or floats  2 A,  2 B,  2 C are also configured to provide greater stopping power. 
         [0019]    In the docking system  200  shown in  FIG. 4 , the buoys or floats  2 A,  2 B,  2 C that comprise a portion of the second line  210  are configured to provide improved holding power over the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 , for example, to accommodate larger watercraft and/or to guard against an operator&#39;s use of too much engine power during docking. 
         [0020]    The bows of different boats may have different shapes. For example, a bow may be “plumb,” sharply “raked,” or a “spoon” bow. Different buoy configurations  2 A,  2 B,  2 C may be more suitable for one type of hull. For example, a bow shape referred to as “spoon” type bow will benefit from a third buoy  2 C, which provides better stopping affect, as described below. 
         [0021]    In the docking system  200  shown in  FIG. 4  the first line  206  may be provided with one or more weights  207  along its length, such that the line  206  is partially submerged prior to engaging the boat  99  to prevent the first line from snagging on the bow and facilitate its passage under the bow, to pull the floats or buoys  1 A,  1 B toward the boat  99 . 
         [0022]    In the docking system  200  the elongate arm  202  is secured to the walkway  94  at its proximal end and with a third line  204  that does not elastically bias to elongate arm  202  towards an open position, but rather secures the arm  202  at a desired orientation in the water. The first and second lines  206 ,  210  are secured to a third line  214  that slidably extends through a passageway on the arm  202 , for example, through an eyehole screw or pulley. The third line  214  is secured to a weight, for example, a mushroom anchor  209  such that the first line  206  (and buoys or floats  1 A,  1 B) are biased towards the elongate arm  202 , in position to receive the boat  99  for docking. 
         [0023]    A particular advantage of some embodiments of the present docking system is that the system  100 ,  200  is portable, and readily installable. To install the docking system  100 , for example, the user may simply carry the portable system  100  to the desired location. The floats  3 A,  3 B are attached (or pre-attached) to the arm  102 , and the lines  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110 , and  112  are attached to the arm  102 . A proximal end of the arm  102  is lashed a shore or dock walkway  94 , for example, by lashing it to the cleat  95 A, with the arm  102  extending out into the water, and lines  106  and  110  attached to the dock, for example, at the cleat  95 C. The lines  104 ,  112  are attached to the walkway  94 , for example, at the cleats  95 A  95 B, and the system  100  is ready for use. In other embodiments, with obvious modifications, the systems  100 ,  200  may be quasi-permanently installed. 
         [0024]    While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.