Abstract:
An anchor lock device for a vessel including a roller carriage having two sets of rollers positioned in a rectangular configuration thus forming a channel for guiding a rode. The anchor lock device further including a mounting system for attaching the anchor lock device to a vessel. The mounting system includes movable components for engaging the anchor lock device when use of the anchor is desired and for storing the anchor and rode when not in use.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to and incorporates herein by reference U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/506,880 filed on Jul. 12, 2011. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to an anchor lock device and, more particularly, to an anchor managing and mounting system for deploying and retracting an anchor as well as for securing, storing and transporting said anchor when not in use. 
         [0003]    A typical anchor is used to secure a vessel (such as a boat) to the bed of any body of water (such as a river, lake, ocean and the like), in order to prevent the vessel from drifting away from the desired location due to the wind, the current or because of the movement of other vessels. Typically, a vessel is attached to the anchor by a rode. When the anchor and rode are not in use, they are stored so that the boat may move freely once more. 
         [0004]    A variety of anchor systems are currently employed to facilitate the engagement and disengagement of the anchor. In its most simple embodiment, the anchor and rode are engaged by manually hoisting them from the vessel and disengaged by pulling them from the water into the vessel. In alternative embodiments, the use of a mechanical device, such as a winch or spool is employed to deploy and/or retract the anchor via the rode. Regardless of the type of anchor system used, attempts to engage and retrieve an anchor can be very time consuming and cumbersome because current devices designed for this purpose do not sufficiently manage the anchor and rode. Specifically, such devices may obstruct rode movement, causing the rode to become caught between different parts of the device, potentially weakening or damaging the rode. Such devices are simply designed for deploying and/or retracting the anchor and do not function to store and/or transport the anchor system. Furthermore, these devices are not designed to keep the rode compactly stored and to keep the anchor out of the way when it is not in use. These devices also fail to allow for accessible and efficient deployment of the anchor when its use is desired. 
         [0005]    Thus, it would be advantageous to develop an anchor managing system which includes a roller carriage for facilitating fluid movement of the rode as it is extended and retracted, as well as a mounting system which provides for convenient storage of the anchor system when it is not in use and which allows for efficient deployment of the anchor when its use it desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention is directed to an anchor lock device which provides a system for managing an anchor which is mechanically connected to the anchor lock device by a rode. The anchor lock device may include fixed or articulating support plates, and a frame supporting elongated rollers as guides for managing a rode when releasing and/or retrieving the rode. When the rode reaches the end, or apex of the anchor lock device, it then employs the weight of the boat anchor to force the rode over the last roller and toward a vertical drop into the roller carriage. The roller carriage is where the majority of the rope managing takes place and where the anchor is held securely when fully retrieved. 
         [0007]    The anchor lock device may be mounted to a vessel&#39;s deck via a fixed or articulating mounting base, in a stationary position or as multiple articulating parts. An articulating structure preferably provides selective rotational movement outward over the water when an anchor is deployed, or inward over/into the boat once the anchor has been fully retrieved and secured. The mounting system is designed to position the anchor over the edge of the vessel at a sufficient distance to provide sufficient clearance, such that the anchor may be freely raised and lowered, giving the anchor enough space to prevent it from hitting the side of the vessel. When the anchor lock device is in the engaged position, the roller guides and the weight and force of the anchor ensures that the rode travels up and down in a substantially vertical, unobstructed manner. When the anchor is fully retrieved, the mounting system may be used to place the anchor lock device in the disengaged or storage position. The resulting clearance provided by positioning the entire system inwardly lets the vessel maneuver freely through the water, giving it additional space to avoid a variety of obstacles and allowing protective coverings to fit as intended. The anchor lock system also preferably allows for standard boat covers to be fit on the boat. 
         [0008]    Specific advantages and features of the present assembly will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and the description of several illustrative embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates a side perspective view of one embodiment of an anchor lock device mounted to a vessel. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a roller carriage of the anchor lock device of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the roller carriage of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view of the roller carriage of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the roller carriage of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the roller carriage of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a mounting system of an anchor lock device of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the mounting system of  FIG. 7  as connected to a roller carriage, with the roller carriage positioned facing downward. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the mounting system of  FIG. 7  as connected to a roller carriage, with the roller carriage positioned facing upward. 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view of the mounting system of the anchor lock device of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a mounting system of an anchor lock device of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the mounting system of the anchor lock device of  FIG. 11  as connected to a roller carriage, with the roller carriage positioned facing upward. 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is a side elevation view of the mounting system of the anchor lock device of  FIG. 11  as connected to a roller carriage, with the roller carriage positioned facing upward. 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the mounting system of the anchor lock device of  FIG. 11  as connected to a roller carriage, with the roller carriage positioned facing upward. 
           [0023]      FIG. 15  is an exploded perspective view of the mounting system of the anchor lock device of  FIG. 11 . 
       
    
    
       [0024]    It should be understood that the present drawings are not necessarily to scale and that the embodiments disclosed herein are sometimes illustrated by fragmentary views. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should also be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein. Like numbers utilized throughout the various figures designate like or similar parts or structure. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    Referring now to the drawings, more particularly by reference numbers,  FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of the anchor lock device  10  constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. The present anchor lock device  10  is configured for managing the engagement and/or the disengagement of an anchor  12 , as well as the deployment and retrieval of the anchor  12 . The anchor  12  is preferably mechanically connected to the anchor lock device  10  by a rode  14 . The rode  14  may be made of any suitable material, including but not limited to, a rope, a chain, a cable, a wire and the like. The anchor lock device  10  may include a roller carriage  16  for facilitating the fluid movement of the rode  14  as anchor  12  is deployed and/or retrieved. The anchor lock device  10  may further include a mounting system  18  for securing the anchor lock device  10  to a vessel  20 . The mounting system  18  may be designed to provide convenient storage of the anchor  12  and the rode  14  when not in use and to allow for efficient deployment of said anchor  12  when its use it desired. 
         [0026]    The mounting system  18  is further preferably designed to position the anchor  12  over the edge of the vessel  20  at a sufficient distance to provide the desired clearance, such that the anchor  12  may be freely raised and lowered, giving the anchor enough space to prevent it from hitting the side of the vessel  20 . When the anchor lock device  10  is in the engaged (or outward) position, the roller guides and the weight and force of the anchor  12  ensures that the rode  14  travels up and down in a substantially vertical, unobstructed manner When the anchor is fully retrieved, the mounting system  18  may be used to place the anchor lock device  10  in the disengaged or storage position. The resulting clearance provided by positioning the entire system inwardly lets the vessel  20  maneuver freely through the water, giving it additional space to avoid a variety of obstacles (including other vessels, docks, trailers, etc.) and allowing protective coverings to fit as intended. 
         [0027]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 2-6 , the roller carriage  16  is designed to facilitate unobstructed movement of the rode  14  as it is deployed and/or retracted. The roller carriage  16  includes a frame  22  for supporting a plurality of rollers  24 . The rollers  24  design to cooperate with each other, rotating to promote the movement of the rode  14  as the anchor  12  is deployed and/or retrieved. In one embodiment, the rollers  24  may each include a bearing  28  as well as a roller cap  30  (shown in  FIG. 6 ) secured to at least one end of each of the rollers  24 . The bearings  28  and the roller caps  30  provide structural support to the frame  22  and rollers  24 . The frame  22  may further include a plurality of brackets  26 , and as shown in  FIGS. 2-6 , each bracket  26  forms a side wall of the roller carriage  16 . An end of each of the individual bearings  28  may extend through an opening in a corresponding roller cap  30 , allowing each bearing  28  to be received by a bracket opening  32  (shown in  FIG. 6 ) within each bracket  26  and movably secured therein via a bolt  34 . In alternative embodiments, the rollers  24  may be secured within the frame  22  by any mechanism which allows for the rotational movement of said rollers  24 . 
         [0028]    In one embodiment, a first pair of rollers  24 A may be spaced apart and positioned above a second pair of rollers  24 B which are also spaced apart. The first pair of rollers  24 A are preferably aligned such that their longitudinal axes are perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the second pair of rollers  24 B, such that the two sets of rollers  24 A and  24 B form a channel  36  therebetween for receiving and guiding the rode  14 . This configuration of rollers  24  facilitates the unobstructed movement of the rode  14  regardless of the angle and/or direction it is being moved through the channel  36 , preventing the rode  14  from contacting parts that may cause damage and eliminating any area where the rode  14  may become lodged as it is being released and/or retrieved. Furthermore, the rollers  24  may be adequately spaced and/or sized to accept the upper throat of a variety of anchors  12 . 
         [0029]      FIGS. 7-10  illustrate one embodiment of the mounting system  18 A which includes a base plate  38  for securing the anchor lock device  10  to a vessel  20 . The base plate  38  may attach the anchor lock device  10  to the vessel by any conventional attachment process, including but not limited to the use of bolts, hinges, welding, direct attachment and the like. In alternative embodiments, it is envisioned that the base plate  38  may be integrated into the structure of the vessel  20 , thus being secured to the vessel  20  by unitary construction. The base plate  38  may further include a pair of support plates  40 , positioned generally parallel with respect to each other and positioned generally perpendicular with respect to the base plate  38 . Each support plate  40 A and  40 B may include an arced channel  42  for receiving a rotating guide pin  44 . 
         [0030]    Further, each support plate  40 A and  40 B is operably attached to a corresponding rotatable arm  46 A and  46 B respectively, via an axis pin  48 , the connection between the support plates  40  and the rotatable arms  46  designed for allowing the rotatable arms  46  to hingedly rotate forward over the edge of vessel  20  for positioning of the anchor  12  when in use and for hingedly rotating back and up over the vessel  20  for providing storage thereof when such use is not in use. The rotating guide pin  44  moves within the arched channel  42 , synchronizing the movement of the rotatable arms  46 A and  46 B, allowing for both upward and rearward/inward rotation. The rotatable arms  46 A,  46 B may each further include a pair of carriage members  50  which serve to fixedly attach the roller carriage  16  to the mounting system  18 A. The mounting system  18 A may further include a pair of guide rollers  52  which are positioned substantially parallel to each other between the rotatable arms  46 , and above the roller carriage  16 . The guide rollers  52  are designed to cooperate with each other, rotating to allow the movement of the rode  14  as the anchor  12  is raised and/or lowered. In one embodiment, the guide rollers  52  may each include a bearing  28  as well as a roller cap  30  secured to each end of each of the guide rollers  52 , the bearings  28  and the roller caps  30  for providing structural support thereto. In one embodiment, a rode guide  54  may be positioned between, in front of or in back of the guide rollers  52  to assist in directing and positioning the rode  14 . 
         [0031]      FIGS. 11-15  illustrate yet another embodiment of the mounting system  18 B which includes a pair of support arms  56 , positioned generally parallel with respect to each other for securing the anchor lock device  10  to the vessel  20 . The support arms  56  may attach the anchor lock device  10  to the vessel  20  by any conventional attachment process, including but not limited to the use of bolts, hinges, welding, direct attachment and the like. In alternative embodiments, it is envisioned that the support arms  56  may be integrated into the structure of the vessel  20 , thus being secured to the vessel  20  by unitary construction. Vessel  20  may include a winch, as shown in  FIG. 14 . Each support arm  56 A and  56 B is operably attached to a corresponding rotatable arm  46 C and  46 D respectively, via an axis pin  48  such that the connection between the support arms  56  and the rotatable arms  46  is designed for positioning of the anchor  12  when in use and for providing storage when such use is not required. A stopping pin  49  may be included to prevent further forward rotation past a predetermined position. The axis pin  48  serves to synchronize the movement of the rotatable arms  46 A and  46 B, allowing for upward rotation of the anchor lock device  10 . The rotatable arms  46 A,  46 B may each further include a pair of carriage members  50  which serve to fixedly attach the roller carriage  16  to the mounting system  18 B. The mounting system  18 B may further include a pair of guide rollers  52  which are positioned substantially parallel to each other between the rotatable arms  46 . The guide rollers  52  are designed to cooperate with each other, rotating to promote the movement of the rode  14  as the anchor  12  is raised and/or lowered. In one embodiment, the guide rollers  52  may each include a bearing  28  as well as a roller cap  30  secured to each end of each of the guide rollers  52 ; the bearings  28  and the roller caps  30  for providing structural support thereto. 
         [0032]    Thus, there has been shown and described an embodiment of a novel anchor lock device. As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications and applications, or equivalents thereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. The terms “having” and “including” and similar terms as used in the foregoing specification are used in the sense of “optional” or “may include” and not as “required.” Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the present invention will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.