Boat Hull Protection System and Methods of Using Same

Abstract

A boat hull protection system for protecting boats from algae and other marine organisms while the boat is tied to a dock, wherein the boat hull protection system may comprise a frame, cable, and an adjustable liner.

Description

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The field of this application and any resulting patent relates to boat hull protection systems and methods of using same.

Background of the Invention

Boat owners that keep their boats in the water for any period of time may routinely need to address issues related to contaminants such as algae and other organisms growing on the hull of the boat. The term “algae” refers to many different types of organisms that are found in both freshwater and seawater. There are different species of algae that vary in size. Some are microscopic, unicellular organisms that grow in groups, and other species are much bigger in size, such as seaweed or giant kelp.

Algae may have adverse effects on boats. For example, algae may stain a boat if left in contact with the boat for extended periods. In environments where a boat may be left in a body of water rich in algae, the algae may also create a green ring around the entire boat at the water line. If this occurs, one option to remove the ring may entail removing the boat from the water and power washing it.

Under certain circumstances a boat may be tagged, meaning that the boat may not be allowed into another lake or body of water until it has been cleaned of algae. Tagging may occur as a result of other marine organisms that attach to boat hulls as well, such as barnacles, mussels, and marine plant life. Additionally, algae and other marine organisms may clog outboard motors, decrease a boat's performance and maneuverability, or increase drag which may result in a reduction in speed and an increase in fuel consumption. Under certain circumstances, such impairment in performance, maneuverability, speed, and/or fuel consumption may be significant. Further, if left untreated, algae and other marine organisms might lead to corrosion of a boat's hull or other components.

Various devices and methods have been proposed and utilized for protecting boat hulls from algae and other organisms in water, including some of the devices and methods in the references appearing on the face of this patent. However, those devices and methods lack all the steps or features of the devices and methods covered by any patent claims below.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

One or more specific embodiments disclosed herein includes a boat hull protection system for protecting boats from algae and other marine organisms, wherein the system may comprise a frame, a cable, and an adjustable liner, all of which may be connected to a dock or similar structure, or the system may be connected to the boat itself. In embodiments, the boat hull protection system may further comprise a gate system which may be raised or lowered through manual or automated means.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other embodiments for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent embodiments do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

As will be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art, any devices and methods covered by claims of the issued patent solve many of the problems that prior art devices and methods have failed to solve. Also, the devices and methods covered by at least some of the claims of this patent have benefits that could be surprising and unexpected to a person of ordinary skill in the art based on the prior art existing at the time of invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a frame of a boat hull protection system;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a frame of a boat hull protection system with a cable;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a frame of a boat hull protection system with a liner; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a boat hull protection system with a portion of a liner lowered at a tailgate section;

FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of an embodiment of a gate system of a boat hull protection system; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a rear view of an embodiment of a gate system of a boat hull protection system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A detailed description will now be provided. The purpose of this detailed description, which includes the drawings, is to satisfy the statutory requirements of 35 U.S.C. § 112. For example, the detailed description includes a description of the inventions defined by the claims and sufficient information that would enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the inventions. In the figures, like elements are generally indicated by like reference numerals regardless of the view or figure in which the elements appear. The figures are intended to assist the description and to provide a visual representation of certain aspects of the subject matter described herein. The figures are not all necessarily drawn to scale, nor do they show all the structural details of the systems, nor do they limit the scope of the claims.

Each of the appended claims defines a separate invention which, for infringement purposes, is recognized as including equivalents of the various elements or limitations specified in the claims. Depending on the context, all references below to the “invention” may in some cases refer to certain specific embodiments only. In other cases, it will be recognized that references to the “invention” will refer to the subject matter recited in one or more, but not necessarily all, of the claims. Each of the inventions will now be described in greater detail below, including specific embodiments, versions, and examples, but the inventions are not limited to these specific embodiments, versions, or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the inventions when the information in this patent is combined with available information and technology.

The drawings presented herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims. Rather, the drawings are intended to help enable one having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the claimed inventions. Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a specific embodiment, e.g., version or example, of a boat hull protection system is illustrated. These figures may show features which may be found in various specific embodiments, including the embodiments shown in this specification and those not shown.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a frame 100 of a boat hull protection system 90. In embodiments, the frame 100 may comprise dock section 102, port section 104, starboard section 106, and tailgate section 108.

In embodiments, dock section 102 may comprise main horizontal member 110, central vertical member 112, port vertical member 114, and starboard vertical member 116. In embodiments, central vertical member 112 may be attached to main horizontal member 110 by employing tee fitting 118. Further, in embodiments, port vertical member 114 may be attached to main horizontal member 110 by employing three-way elbow fitting 120, and starboard vertical member 116 may be attached to main horizontal member 110 by employing three-way elbow fitting 122.

In embodiments, port section 104 may comprise port horizontal member 124 and a plurality of vertical members 126. In embodiments, port horizontal member 124 of port section 104 may be connected to main horizontal member 110 of dock section 102 by three-way elbow fitting 120, as shown in FIG. 1. Further, in embodiments vertical members 126 may each be connected to port horizontal member 124 by employing tee fitting 128.

In embodiments, starboard section 106 may comprise starboard horizontal member 130 and a plurality of vertical members 132. In embodiments, starboard horizontal member 130 of starboard section 106 may be connected to port horizontal member 110 of dock section 102 by three-way elbow fitting 122, as shown in FIG. 1. Further, in embodiments, vertical members 132 may each be connected the starboard horizontal member 130 by employing tee fitting 134.

In embodiments, tailgate section 108 may comprise port vertical member 136 and starboard vertical member 138. In embodiments, port vertical member 136 may be connected to elbow fitting 140 as shown in FIG. 1. In embodiments, elbow fitting 140 may also be connected to one end of port horizontal member 124. Further, in embodiments starboard vertical member 138 may be connected to elbow fitting 142 as shown in FIG. 1. In embodiments, elbow fitting 142 may also be connected to one end of starboard horizontal member 124.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of frame 100 of the boat hull protection system 90 positioned in proximity to a dock. In embodiments, frame 100 may formed form a material which allows frame 100 to float on top of the surface of a body of water, as shown. In embodiments, central vertical member 112, port vertical member 114, starboard vertical member 116, vertical members 126, vertical members 132, port vertical member 136, and starboard vertical member 138 may be provided with apertures 144. In embodiments, apertures 144 may be drilled into these members in such a way that liner cable 146 may be threaded from starboard vertical member 138, through vertical members 132, through starboard vertical member 116, through central vertical member 112, through port vertical member 114, through vertical members 126, and to port vertical member 136. Further, in embodiments where frame 100 may be installed into a body of water, the vertical location of apertures 144 may be made at about the same elevation from the water so that liner cable 146 is roughly parallel to the surface of the water. However, in embodiments, the elevation of liner cable 146 may not be exactly or even approximately parallel to the surface of the water. For example, in embodiments, liner cable 146 may angle upwards from vertical members 132 and vertical members 126 in order to reach the taller starboard vertical member 138 and the taller port vertical member 136, respectively, as shown in FIG. 3. Further, in embodiments the various members may comprise a cap 220, as seen in FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of frame 100 of boat hull protection system 90 with liner 200. Liner 200 may be formed to comprise any suitable size and shape which allows liner 200 to be secured about at least a portion of frame 100, and in embodiments, liner 200 may be configured to be replaceable. For example, in embodiments, liner 200 may comprise a size adequate to fit around the bottom and sides of frame 100, as shown in FIG. 3. Further, in embodiments, liner 200 may comprise a plurality of eyelets 202 along the perimeter edges of liner 200. In such embodiments, liner cable 146 may be threaded through eyelets 202. Alternatively, in such embodiments, liner cable 146 may be connected to eyelets 202 by use of zip ties 204 or any other appropriate fastening device. Additionally, in embodiments, lines 206 may be attached to liner cable 146 at various points around frame 100, whereas the other ends of the lines 206 may be attached to a dock or similar structure. Liner 200 may be formed from a material suitable for marine applications. In embodiments, the material from which liner 200 is formed may include anti-algae or algae-resistant chemicals, materials, or properties, or liner 200 may be partially or fully coated with anti-algae or algae-resistant chemicals or materials.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of boat hull protection system 90 with a portion of liner 200 lowered at tailgate section 108. In this orientation, the hull protection system 90 may be positioned to receive a boat 208 (not illustrated) into slip 210 formed by frame 100, liner 200, and liner cable 146 of boat hull protection system 90. In embodiments, once boat 208 has entered slip 210, the portion of liner 200 at tailgate section 108 may be raised so that liner 200 may contain the boat 208 as well as water, which has been separated from the main body of water. This separation of the water in which the boat 208 sits and the main body of water may isolate the boat 208 from algae and other marine organisms.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate an embodiment of gate system 300 of boat hull protection system 90, with FIG. 5 illustrating a side view of gate system 300 and FIG. 6 illustrating a rear view of gate system 300. In an embodiment, boat hull protection system 90 may be configured to include gate system 300, which may enable a portion of liner 200 located about tailgate 108 to be manually raised or lowered, thereby enclosing or opening a perimeter portion of slip 210. In embodiments, gate system 300 may comprise gate member 302, one or more gate cables 304, one or more upper gate connections 306, and one or more lower gate connections 308.

In embodiments, all or a portion of gate member 302 may be secured to or within a portion of liner 200 located in proximity to tailgate 108. For example, gate member 302 may be secured to or within an edge of liner 200 such that when gate member 302 is raised above the surface of the body of water into which boat hull protection system may be installed, gate member 302 may raise liner 200 such that slip 210 formed by liner 200 may separate an interior volume of slip 210 from the body of water. Similarly, when gate member 302 is lowered below the surface of the body of water, gate member 302 may lower liner 200 such that the interior volume of slip 210 may be able to communicate with the body of water. In this manner, lowering gate member 302 below the surface of the body of water may allow boat 208 to enter or leave the interior volume of slip 210, while raising gate member 302 may segregate a boat 208 from the body of water when boat 208 is located within slip 210. In embodiments, the material from which gate member 302 may be formed may be selected so as to prevent gate member 302 from floating on the surface of the body of water.

In embodiments, gate cable 304 may comprise a length, and may be secured to gate member 302. In an embodiment, a first end of a first gate cable 304 may be secured to a port end of gate member 302, and a second end of the first gate cable 304 may be secured to a portion of liner 210 located about a port side of boat hull protection system 90. Similarly, a first end of a second gate cable 304 may be secured to a starboard end of gate member 302, and a second end of the second gate cable 304 may be secured to a portion of liner 210 located about a starboard side of boat hull protection system 90. In an alternate embodiment, a single gate cable 304 may extend through a central bore of gate member 302, with a first end of gate cable 304 secured to a portion of liner 210 located about a port side of boat hull protection system 90, and a second end of gate cable 304 secured to a portion of liner 210 located about a starboard side of boat hull protection system 90. In embodiments, the location where an end of gate cable 304 may be secured to liner 210, on either port or starboard sides of liner 210, may correspond to location D illustrated in FIG. 5.

In embodiments, one or more upper gate connections 306 may be provided at port vertical member 136, and one or more upper gate connections 306 may be provided at starboard vertical member 138. Similarly, one or more lower gate connections 308 may be provided at port vertical member 136, and one or more upper gate connections 308 may be provided at starboard vertical member 138. In an alternate embodiment seen in FIG. 6, upper gate connections 306 may be located on a vertical structure 400 of a dock or other similar structure located adjacent to boat hull protection system 90. In embodiments, relative to the surface of the body of water into which boat hull protection system 90 may be installed, the one or more upper gate connections 306 may be located above the one or more lower gate connections 308. For example, upper gate connections 306 may be positioned about a location corresponding to point A on FIGS. 5 and 6, while lower gate connections 306 may be positioned about a location corresponding to point B on FIGS. 5 and 6.

In embodiments, gate system 300 may allow gate member 302 to be raised or lowered by adjusting the point of connection of a central portion of the one or more gate cables 304 between the upper gate connections 306 and the lower gate connections 308, respectively. In embodiments, the length of the one or more gate cables 304, or the location of the one or more lower gate connections 308, may be selected in order to allow gate member 302 to be lowered into the body of water into which boat hull protection system 90 may be installed when a portion of the one or more gate cables 304 may be secured to the lower gate connections 308. In embodiments, gate member 302 may thus be lowered into the body of water to a depth sufficient to allow boat 208 to enter or leave slip 210 without interference, for example gate member 302 may be lowered into the body of water to a depth of one to five feet. Similarly, the length of the one or more gate cables 304, or the location of upper gate connections 306, may be selected in order to allow gate member 302 to be raised above the surface of the body of water a sufficient distance so as to segregate slip 210 from the body of water, thereby segregating boat 208 from the body of water as can be seen in FIG. 5.

In embodiments, boat hull protection system 90 may be provided with alternative means of raising or lowering gate system 300. For example, gate system 300 may be raised or lowered manually, by manually adjusting the connection points of the one or more gate cables 304 between upper gate connections 306 and lower gate connections 308. In an alternate embodiment, boat hull protection system may be provided with automated means of raising or lowering gate system 300, for example boat hull protection system 90 may be provide with an electric motor which may be employed to raise or lower gate system 300.

In embodiments, boat hull protection system 90 may be provided with means of removing water from slip 210 when gate system 300 is in a raised configuration. For example, boat hull protection system 90 may be configured with a pump system which may be operated to remove water from slip 210 and return the removed water to the body of water into which boat hull protection system 90 may be installed. In such embodiments, boat 208, when positioned within slip 210 for extended periods, may be better protection from detrimental effects of algae or other marine contaminants since water which may collect in slip 210 may be removed from slip 210.

The embodiments of boat hull protection system 90 described herein may offer a number of advantages over alternate systems or methods of protecting a hull of a boat from the detrimental effects of short- or long-term exposure to algae or other microorganisms. For example, boat hull protection system 90 may present significant cost advantages to alternate systems, for example traditional boat lifts. Additionally, the serviceable life of boat hull protection system 90 may be extended by simply replacing liner 200 if liner 200 were to become damaged or in circumstances where a surface of liner 200 may be partially or fully covered with an undesirable amount of algae or other microorganisms. Further, the overall design of boat hull protection system 90, or the selection of materials from which frame 100 may be formed may allow boat hull protection system 90 to be more readily transported from one location to another on a body of water, or from one body of water to another, in comparison to traditional boat lifts, which often require a crane or other device to be relocated.

Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations may be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A boat hull protection system, comprising: a frame;a liner cable; andan adjustable liner.

2. The boat hull protection system of claim 1, wherein the frame is formed from a material which allows the frame to float on a surface of a body of water into which the boat hull protection system is installed.

3. The boat hull protection system of claim 1, further comprising a gate system.

4. The boat hull protection system of claim 3, wherein an enclosed slip is formed within the boat hull protection system when the gate system is in a raised configuration.

5. The boat hull protection system of claim 3, wherein a boat may enter or leave a slip of the boat hull protection system when the gate system is in a lowered configuration.

6. The boat hull protection system of claim 1, wherein the adjustable liner comprises an anti-algae, or algae-resistant materials.

7. The boat hull protection system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the adjustable liner is coated with an anti-algae or algae-resistant material.

8. The boat hull protection system of claim 1, wherein the adjustable liner is replaceable.

9. A gate system for a boat hull protection system, comprising: a gate member secured to a portion of an adjustable liner of a boat hull protection system;one or more gate cables; andone or more gate connection points located about the boat hull protection system;wherein the gate member is configured to be raised or lowered by adjusting a configuration of the one or more gate cables in relation to the one or more gate connection points, thereby enclosing or opening a slip of the boat hull protection system.

10. The gate system of claim 9, wherein at least one of the one or more gate connection points is located on a structure located adjacent to the boat hull protection system.

11. The gate system of claim 9, wherein the gate member is raised or lowered by manually.

12. The gate system of claim 9, wherein the gate member is raised or lowered based upon operation of an electric motor.

13. A method of protecting a hull of a boat from contaminants present in a body of water, comprising: installing a boat hull protection system in a body of water, the boat hull protection system comprising: a framea liner cable; andan adjustable liner;lowering a gate system of the boat hull protection system;positioning a boat within a slip formed by the boat hull protection system; andraising the gate system, thereby segregating the boat from the body of water.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising operating a pump to remove water from the slip.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising replacing the adjustable liner.