Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention pertains to a mooring device and more particularly to an adjustable boat mooring device used to secure a boat to a dock, pier, or piling. 
     There are many devices in use for mooring a boat to a dock to prevent the boat from striking the dock. Generally, these devices are mounted to the dock or mounted between the dock and the boat. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,928,945 to Tebo, Jr. discloses a boat mooring standoff with the first end permanently mounted to the dock and the second end attached with a rope to a dockside mooring cleat on the boat. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,421 to Velarde discloses a boat mooring standoff used to attach a boat to a dock or a boat to another boat. The boat mooring standoff is secured by a flexible line that extends through the interior channel of the device. The first end of the flexible line is attached to the dockside mooring cleat on the boat and the second end of the flexible line is attached to the dock. 
     These devices are designed to utilize the dock to hold the boat in a fixed position away from the dock. These devices have very little flexibility and do not compensate for movement of the boat caused by large waves or tidal changes. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,789,033 to Doig, et al. discloses a boat mooring system with an arm assembly mounted to the dock and extending at a desired angle over the side of the boat. A mooring line is connected from the arm assembly to a dockside mooring cleat on the boat. 
     This device provides more flexibility to compensate for movement of the boat caused by large waves, but it is mounted on the dock and utilizes the dock to hold the boat in a fixed position away from the dock. 
     Limitations of prior art which utilize the dock to mount or attach a boat mooring standoff make it desirable to mount a boat mooring standoff on a boat to compensate for movement of the boat caused by large waves or tidal changes and to become a part of the boat instead of a part of the dock or an arm between the dock and the boat. It is also desirable to attach a boat mooring standoff to a boat using the boat mooring cleat on the side of the boat located furthest from the dock instead of attaching the boat mooring standoff to the boat mooring cleat on the side of the boat closest to the dock to provide more flexibility to the boat mooring standoff in order to compensate for movement of the boat caused by large waves and to insure the boat mooring standoff is firmly attached to the boat. In order to compensate for the difference in the distance between the dock, pier, or piling and the stern boat mooring cleat compared to the distance between the dock, pier, or piling and the bow boat mooring cleat, it is desirable to have a boat mooring standoff that is adjustable. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is an adjustable boat mooring standoff mounted on a boat instead of a dock which offers greater flexibility to the standoff because the standoff becomes a part of the boat instead of a part of the dock and moves with the boat as the boat is pushed toward the dock by large waves. A straight tee connected to the first end of the adjustable boat mooring standoff permits the standoff to be attached to a rope, chain or cable mounted vertically to a dock, pier or piling. Because the two in line outlets of the straight tee are installed in a vertical position, this enables the boat mooring standoff to compensate for movement of the boat caused by large waves or tidal changes. For users who desire to attach the adjustable boat mooring standoff directly to the dock, pier, or piling, two holes on the first end of the adjustable boat mooring standoff replace the straight tee. 
     The adjustable boat mooring standoff consists of one straight tee, one straight pipe, a dock mooring rope, and a mooring buoy, bumper, or fender or one straight pipe, a dock mooring rope, and a mooring buoy, bumper, or fender. The looped first end of the dock mooring rope is connected to the straight tee or attached to the dock, pier, or piling and the second end is extended through the interior channel of the adjustable boat mooring standoff and through the eye of a mooring buoy, bumper, or fender to a boat mooring cleat located on the side of the boat furthest from the dock, pier, or piling. The dock mooring rope pulls the mooring buoy, bumper, or fender against the exterior side of the boat closest to the dock, pier, or piling to insure the adjustable boat mooring standoff is firmly attached to the boat. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an elevation view of the adjustable boat mooring standoff during assembly depicting the main branch outlet of the straight tee connected to the first end of the straight pipe. 
         FIG. 2  is an elevation view of the adjustable boat mooring standoff during assembly depicting an access hole drilled on the center line of the straight pipe near the main branch outlet of the straight tee. 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of the adjustable boat mooring standoff during assembly depicting five buoy support holes drilled on the bottom center line of the straight pipe between the access hole near the main branch outlet of the straight tee and the second end of the straight pipe. 
         FIG. 4  is an elevation view of the adjustable boat mooring standoff during assembly depicting the looped first end of the first dock mooring rope placed over the main branch outlet of the straight tee. 
         FIG. 5  is an elevation view of the adjustable boat mooring standoff during assembly depicting the second end of the first dock mooring rope routed under the looped first end of the first dock mooring rope and through the access hole on the center line of the straight pipe and through the interior of the straight pipe and out of the second buoy support hole on the bottom center line of the straight pipe and through the eye of the mooring buoy. 
         FIG. 6  is an elevation view of the adjustable boat mooring standoff during assembly depicting the second end of the first dock mooring rope routed back through the second buoy support hole on the bottom center line of the straight pipe and through the interior of the straight pipe and out of the second end of the straight pipe. 
         FIG. 7  is an elevation view of the adjustable boat mooring standoff during installation depicting the adjustable boat mooring standoff placed on the first side of the boat near the first stern mooring cleat with the mooring buoy positioned on the exterior of the first side of the boat and pointed down. 
         FIG. 8  is a plan view of the adjustable boat mooring standoff during installation depicting the looped first end of the second dock mooring rope placed over the straight pipe and attached to the first stern mooring cleat. 
         FIG. 9  is an elevation view of the adjustable boat mooring standoff during installation depicting the second end of the first dock mooring rope routed around the second stern mooring cleat located on the second side of the boat opposite the first stern mooring cleat. 
         FIG. 10  is an elevation view of the adjustable boat mooring standoff during installation depicting the adjustable boat mooring standoff placed on the first side of the boat near the first bow mooring cleat with the mooring buoy positioned on the exterior of the first side of the boat and pointed down and the second end of the first dock mooring rope routed around the second bow mooring cleat located on the second side of the boat opposite the first bow mooring cleat. 
         FIG. 11  is an elevation view of the adjustable boat mooring standoff during use depicting the adjustable boat mooring standoff mounted on a boat which is moored to a piling using the adjustable boat mooring standoff attached to a rope encased in a PVC pipe and attached vertically to the piling. 
         FIG. 12  is a plan view of the adjustable boat mooring standoff during assembly depicting the straight pipe. 
         FIG. 13  is a plan view of the adjustable boat mooring standoff during assembly depicting an attachment hole drilled on the bottom center line of the straight pipe near the first end of the straight pipe. 
         FIG. 14  is a plan view of the adjustable boat mooring standoff during assembly depicting five buoy support holes drilled on the bottom center line of the straight pipe between the attachment hole and the second end of the straight pipe. 
         FIG. 15  is a plan view of the adjustable boat mooring standoff during assembly depicting an attachment hole drilled on the top center line of the straight pipe near the first end of the straight pipe. 
         FIG. 16  is an elevation view of the adjustable boat mooring standoff during assembly depicting the second end of the first dock mooring rope routed through the attachment hole on the top center line of the straight pipe and through the interior of the straight pipe and out of the second buoy support hole on the bottom center line of the straight pipe and through the eye of the mooring buoy. 
         FIG. 17  is an elevation view of the adjustable boat mooring standoff during assembly depicting the second end of the first dock mooring rope routed back through the second buoy support hole on the bottom center line of the straight pipe and through the interior of the straight pipe and out of the second end of the straight pipe. 
         FIG. 18  is an elevation view of the adjustable boat mooring standoff during installation depicting the adjustable boat mooring standoff placed on the first side of the boat near the first stern mooring cleat with the mooring buoy positioned on the exterior of the first side of the boat and pointed down 
         FIG. 19  is a plan view of the adjustable boat mooring standoff during installation depicting the looped first end of the second dock mooring rope placed over the straight pipe and attached to the first stern mooring cleat. 
         FIG. 20  is an elevation view of the adjustable boat mooring standoff during installation depicting the second end of the first dock mooring rope routed around the second stern mooring cleat located on the second side of the boat opposite the first stern mooring cleat. 
         FIG. 21  is an elevation view of the adjustable boat mooring standoff during installation depicting the adjustable boat mooring standoff placed on the first side of the boat near the first bow mooring cleat with the mooring buoy positioned on the exterior of the first side of the boat and pointed down and the second end of the first dock mooring rope routed around the second bow mooring cleat located on the second side of the boat opposite the first bow mooring cleat. 
         FIG. 22  is an elevation view of the adjustable boat mooring standoff during use depicting the adjustable boat mooring standoff mounted on a boat which is moored to a floating dock using the adjustable boat mooring standoff attached to a dock cleat. 
         FIG. 23  is an elevation view of the adjustable boat mooring standoff during use depicting the adjustable boat mooring standoff mounted on a boat which is moored to a floating dock using the adjustable boat mooring standoff attached to a dock post. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     There are two methods to assemble the adjustable boat mooring standoff. The first method is to install a straight tee to the first end of the straight pipe to secure the boat mooring standoff to the dock, pier, or piling. The second method is to drill two attachment holes near the first end of the straight pipe to secure the boat mooring standoff to the dock, pier, or piling. The choice to use the straight tee or the two attachment holes depends on whether or not there is a need to compensate for tidal changes. Both methods will secure the adjustable boat mooring standoff to the dock, pier, or piling. 
     This invention may be constructed using PVC, molded composites, or metal. The following is a detailed description of how to assemble the adjustable boat mooring standoff using the straight tee: 
     The first step is to connect the first end of the straight pipe to the main branch outlet of the straight tee which is perpendicular to the first and second in line outlets of the tee. 
     The second step is to place the straight tee and the straight pipe on a flat surface with the first and second in line outlets and the main branch outlet of the straight tee and the straight pipe resting on the flat surface. 
     The third step is to locate a point on the center line of the straight pipe near the main branch outlet of the straight tee. 
     The fourth step is to drill an access hole on the center line of the straight pipe near the main branch outlet of the straight tee. 
     The fifth step is to rotate the straight tee and the straight pipe 90° so that the two in line outlets of the straight tee are perpendicular to the flat surface. 
     The sixth step is to locate five points with equal spacing along the bottom center line of the straight pipe between the access hole and the second end of the straight pipe. 
     The seventh step is to drill five buoy support holes along the bottom center line of the straight pipe between the access hole and the second end of the straight pipe. The buoy support holes allow the position of the mooring buoy, bumper, or fender to be adjusted and the number of holes varies depending on the length of the straight pipe. 
     The eighth step is to place the looped first end of the first dock mooring rope over the main branch outlet of the straight tee. 
     The ninth step is to guide the second end of the first dock mooring rope around the first and second in line outlets of the straight tee. 
     The tenth step is to guide the second end of the first dock mooring rope between the looped first end of the first dock mooring rope and the main branch outlet of the straight tee. 
     The eleventh step is to insert the second end of the first dock mooring rope into the access hole on the center line of the straight pipe near the main branch outlet of the straight tee. 
     The twelfth step is to guide the second end of the first dock mooring rope through the interior of the straight pipe and out of one of the five buoy support holes located along the bottom center line of the straight pipe and through the eye of the mooring buoy, bumper, or fender. The buoy support hole selected determines the distance between the boat and the dock, pier, or piling. In this example, the second buoy support hole is used. 
     The thirteenth step is to guide the second end of the first dock mooring rope back through the second buoy support hole located on the bottom center line of the straight pipe and through the interior of the straight pipe and out of the second end of the straight pipe. 
     The fourteenth step is to tug on the second end of the first dock mooring rope tightly to insure the looped first end of the first dock mooring rope is bound tightly around the main branch outlet of the straight tee. 
     The following is a detailed description of how to install the adjustable boat mooring standoff with the straight tee to the stern of a boat: 
     The first step is to place the adjustable boat mooring standoff on the first side of the boat near the first stern mooring cleat with the mooring buoy, bumper, or fender positioned on the exterior of the first side of the boat and pointed down. 
     The second step is to place the looped first end of the second dock mooring rope over the straight pipe between the mooring buoy, bumper, or fender and the second end of the straight pipe. 
     The third step is to guide the second end of the second dock mooring rope around the first stern mooring cleat and to secure the second dock mooring rope to the cleat. This restricts the forward and aft movement of the boat when the adjustable boat mooring standoff is in use. 
     The fourth step is to guide the second end of the first dock mooring rope around the second stern mooring cleat located on the second side of the boat opposite the first stern mooring cleat. Pull the first dock mooring rope tightly and secure it to the cleat. This forces the mooring buoy, bumper, or fender against the exterior of the first side of the boat and secures the adjustable boat mooring standoff firmly to the boat. 
     The following is a detailed description of how to install the adjustable boat mooring standoff with the straight tee to the bow of a boat: 
     The first step is to place the adjustable boat mooring standoff on the first side of the boat near the first bow mooring cleat with the mooring buoy, bumper, or fender positioned on the exterior of the first side of the boat and pointed down. 
     The second step is to guide the second end of the first dock mooring rope around the second bow mooring cleat located on the second side of the boat opposite the first bow mooring cleat. Pull the first dock mooring rope tightly and secure it to the cleat. This forces the mooring buoy, bumper, or fender against the exterior of the first side of the boat and secures the adjustable boat mooring standoff firmly to the boat. 
     The following is a detailed description of how to assemble the adjustable boat mooring standoff using the two attachment holes: 
     The first step is to place the straight pipe on a flat surface. 
     The second step is to locate a point on the bottom center line of the straight pipe near the first end of the straight pipe. 
     The third step is to drill an attachment hole on the bottom center line of the straight pipe near the first end of the straight pipe. 
     The fourth step is to locate five points with equal spacing along the bottom center line of the straight pipe between the attachment hole and the second end of the straight pipe. 
     The fifth step is to drill five buoy support holes along the bottom center line of the straight pipe between the attachment hole and the second end of the straight pipe. The buoy support holes allow the position of the mooring buoy, bumper, or fender to be adjusted and the number of holes varies depending on the length of the straight pipe. 
     The sixth step is to rotate the straight pipe 180° so that all of the holes are resting on the flat surface. 
     The seventh step is to locate a point on the top center line of the straight pipe near the first end of the straight pipe and opposite the attachment hole on the bottom center line of the straight pipe. 
     The eighth step is to drill an attachment hole on the top center line of the straight pipe near the first end of the straight pipe and opposite the attachment hole on the bottom center line of the straight pipe. 
     The ninth step is to insert the second end of the first dock mooring rope into one of the two attachment holes near the first end of the straight pipe. Use the top attachment hole when attaching the looped first end of the first dock mooring rope to a dock post and use the bottom attachment hole when attaching the looped first end of the first dock mooring rope to a dock cleat. 
     The tenth step is to guide the second end of the first dock mooring rope through the interior of the straight pipe and out of one of the five buoy support holes located along the bottom center line of the straight pipe and through the eye of the mooring buoy, bumper, or fender. The buoy support hole selected determines the distance between the boat and the dock, pier, or piling. In this example, the second buoy support hole is used. 
     The eleventh step is to guide the second end of the first dock mooring rope back through the second buoy support hole located on the bottom center line of the straight pipe and through the interior of the straight pipe and out of the second end of the straight pipe. 
     The following is a detailed description of how to install the adjustable boat mooring standoff with the two attachment holes to the stern of a boat: 
     The first step is to position the adjustable boat mooring standoff on the first side of the boat near the first stern mooring cleat with the mooring buoy, bumper, or fender positioned on the outside of the boat and pointed down. 
     The second step is to place the looped first end of the second dock mooring rope over the straight pipe between the mooring buoy, bumper, or fender and the second end of the straight pipe. 
     The third step is to guide the second end of the second dock mooring rope around the first stern mooring cleat and to secure the second dock mooring rope to the cleat. This restricts the forward and aft movement of the boat when the adjustable boat mooring standoff is in use. 
     The fourth step is to guide the second end of the first dock mooring rope around the second stern mooring cleat located on the second side of the boat opposite the first stern mooring cleat. Pull the first dock mooring rope tightly and secure it to the cleat. This forces the mooring buoy, bumper, or fender against the exterior of the first side of the boat and secures the adjustable boat mooring standoff firmly to the boat. 
     The following is a detailed description of how to install the adjustable boat mooring standoff with the two attachment holes to the bow of a boat: 
     The first step is to place the adjustable boat mooring standoff on the first side of the boat near the first bow mooring cleat with the mooring buoy, bumper, or fender positioned on the exterior of the first side of the boat and pointed down. 
     The second step is to guide the second end of the first dock mooring rope around the second bow mooring cleat located on the second side of the boat opposite the first bow mooring cleat. Pull the first dock mooring rope tightly and secure it to the cleat. This forces the mooring buoy, bumper, or fender against the exterior of the first side of the boat and secures the adjustable boat mooring standoff firmly to the boat. 
     Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to  FIG. 1 , the main branch outlet  1  of the straight tee  2  is connected to the first end  3  of the straight pipe  4 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , an access hole  5  is drilled on the center line of the straight pipe  4  near the main branch outlet  1  of the straight tee  2 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , five buoy support holes,  6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  9 , and  10 , are drilled on the bottom center line of the straight pipe  4  between the access hole  5  near the main branch outlet  1  of the straight tee  2  and the second end  11  of the straight pipe  4 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the looped first end  12  of the first dock mooring rope  13  is placed around the main branch outlet  1  of the straight tee  2 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the second end  14  of the first dock mooring rope  13  is routed under the looped first end  12  of the first dock mooring rope  13  and through the access hole  5  on the center line of the straight pipe  4 . The second end  14  of the first dock mooring rope  13  extends through the interior of the straight pipe  4  and out of the second buoy support hole  7  on the bottom center line of the straight pipe  4  and through the eye  15  of the mooring buoy  16 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the second end  14  of the first dock mooring rope  13  extends back through the second buoy support hole  7  on the bottom center line of the straight pipe  4  and through the interior of the straight pipe  4  and out of the second end  11  of the straight pipe  4 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the adjustable boat mooring standoff  17  is positioned on the first side  18  near the first stern mooring cleat  19  with the mooring buoy  16  on the exterior of the first side  18  and pointed down. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the looped first end  20  of the second dock mooring rope  21  is positioned around the straight pipe  4  and secured to the first stern mooring cleat  19 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the second end  14  of the first dock mooring rope  13  is secured to the second stern mooring cleat  22  located on the second side  23  opposite the first stern mooring cleat  19 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , the adjustable boat mooring standoff  17  is positioned on the first side  18  near the first bow mooring cleat  24  with the mooring buoy  16  on the exterior of the first side  18  and pointed down. The second end  14  of the first dock mooring rope  13  is secured to the second bow mooring cleat  25  located on the second side  26  opposite the first bow mooring cleat  24 . 
       FIG. 11  shows the boat  27  moored to the piling  28  using the adjustable boat mooring standoff  17  which is attached to the rope  29  encased in the PVC pipe  30  and attached vertically to the piling  28 . 
       FIG. 12  shows the first straight pipe  4 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , an attachment hole  31  is drilled on the bottom center line of the straight pipe  4  near the first end  3  of the straight pipe  4 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 14 , five buoy support holes,  6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  9 , and  10 , are drilled on the bottom center line of the straight pipe  4  between the attachment hole  31  and the second end  11  of the straight pipe  4 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 15 , an attachment hole  32  is drilled on the top center line of the straight pipe  4  near the first end  3  of the straight pipe  4 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 16 , the second end  14  of the first dock mooring rope  13  is routed through the attachment hole  32  on the top center line of the straight pipe  4 . The second end  14  of the first dock mooring rope  13  extends through the interior of the straight pipe  4  and out of the second buoy support hole  7  on the bottom center line of the straight pipe  4  and through the eye  15  of the mooring buoy  16 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 17 , the second end  14  of the first dock mooring rope  13  extends back through the second buoy support hole  7  on the bottom center line of the straight pipe  4  and through the interior of the straight pipe  4  and out of the second end  11  of the straight pipe  4 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 18 , the adjustable boat mooring standoff  17  is positioned on the first side  18  near the first stern mooring cleat  19  with the mooring buoy  16  on the exterior of the first side  18  and pointed down. 
     Referring to  FIG. 19 , the looped first end  20  of the second dock mooring rope  21  is positioned around the straight pipe  4  and secured to the first stern mooring cleat  19 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 20 , the second end  14  of the first dock mooring rope  13  is secured to the second stern mooring cleat  22  located on the second side  23  opposite the first stern mooring cleat  19 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 21 , the adjustable boat mooring standoff  17  is positioned on the first side  18  near the first bow mooring cleat  24  with the mooring buoy  16  on the exterior of the first side  18  and pointed down. The second end  14  of the first dock mooring rope  13  is secured to the second bow mooring cleat  25  located on the second side  26  opposite the first bow mooring cleat  24 . 
       FIG. 22  shows a boat  27  moored to a floating dock  33  using the adjustable boat mooring standoff  17  which is attached to a dock mooring cleat  34 . 
       FIG. 23  shows a boat  27  moored to a floating dock  33  using the adjustable boat mooring standoff  17  which is attached to a dock post  35 .

Technology Category: 7