DOCK LINE MANAGEMENT APPARATUS

Abstract

A dock line management device is provided. The dock line management device includes a tube which is rotatable about at least one axis and which is hollow for receiving a dock line.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to docking a watercraft, and more specifically to dock lines and apparatus therefor.

A dock line maintains a watercraft such as a boat in place at a dock. When a boater is ready to dock a boat, a dock line must be grabbed and connected to the boat to keep the boat secured to the dock. Dock lines are often merely lying on a dock or a hook may be used. This is at best inconvenient, and may result in a dangerous situation because it may require someone from the boat to climb onto a dock without the boat being secured.

The embodiments of the present invention allow easier access to a dock line from a boat and provide flexibility of the location of the dock line for different mooring points or for different size boats.

An embodiment of the present invention is a dock line management device that includes a rotatable base, an adjustable length tube connected to the rotatable base, and a strut connected to the tube. The tube includes an outer tube member and an inner tube member. The inner tube member is attached to the outer tube member by a clamp.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a method of using a dock line management apparatus. The method steps include providing a dock line management apparatus that includes a rotatable base, an adjustable length tube connected to the rotatable base, and a strut connected to the tube; threading rope through the tube so that it extends from a distal end of the tube; grabbing the rope and moving the rope, thereby moving the tube rotationally and/or vertically; and securing the rope to an object.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dock line management apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the dock line management apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the dock line management apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the dock line management apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5a is a top plan view of the base of the dock line management apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5b is a cross sectional view of the base taken along line V-V in FIG. 5a.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the mounting cleat of the dock line management apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7a is an elevational view of the outer end piece of the dock line management apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7b is a cross sectional view of the outer end piece taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 7a.

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of a clamp collar of the dock line management apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9a is an elevational view of the inner end piece of the dock line management apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9b is a cross sectional view of the inner end piece taken along line IX-IX of FIG. 9a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-4 show the general structure of a dock line management apparatus 10. The apparatus 10 generally includes a base 12, a strut 14, and a tube 16. The base 12 is connected to both the strut 14 and the tube 16, as described in more detail below.

The base 12, shown in detail in FIGS. 5a and 5b, includes a mounting plate 18. The mounting plate 18 is preferably made of a rigid metal, such as anodized aluminum. The mounting plate 18 preferably has a plurality of apertures 20 therein. The apertures 20 may be used with fasteners such as screws to mount the apparatus 10 to a dock or other fixed structure. The mounting plate 18 has a thickness x and further has a central opening 21 therein. A rotating member 22 is connected to the mounting plate 18. The rotating member 22 has a thickness y and is preferably circular, but may be any desired shape.

A rotating dowel 24 is attached to the rotating member 22, preferably by a bolt 25, and is inserted into the central opening 21 of the mounting plate 18. A washer 27, preferably of brass or other rigid and smooth material, is disposed between the mounting plate 18 and the rotating member 22. The rotating dowel 24, along with the washer 27, allow the rotating member 22 to smoothly rotate relative to the mounting plate 18. The rotating member 22 further includes a plurality of holes 26 therein for mounting other components of the apparatus 10 to the base 12. The thicknesses x and y are preferably equal to each other, but may be different as long as the apparatus 10 remains stable and the rotating member 22 is able to rotate. Such components allow rotation of the tube about a substantially vertical axis where the dowel 24 is located and about a substantially horizontal axis, as discussed in more detail below.

The strut 14 is configured to damper the vertical, or substantially vertical, movement of the tube 16. The strut 14 may be any usable strut, but preferably includes a gas spring 28. A mounting cleat 30 is attached to the rotating member 22, by use of the holes 26, or alternatively by another fixed attachment method such as welding. The mounting cleat 30 is U-shaped with a base 31 and generally triangular side walls 32 (see FIG. 6). The mounting cleat 30 is preferably made of a rigid material such as stainless steel. The mounting cleat 30 preferably includes a raised flap 34 in which is an aperture 36 for receiving a shoulder bolt. The shoulder bolt is used to attach the gas spring 28 to the mounting cleat 30 via the raised flap 34. Each wall 32 includes a connection hole 38 for connection to the tube 16. The strut 14 supports the tube 16 and controls the angle at which a dock line 1 is disposed. The strut 14 is in a compressed state when the tube 16 is moved downwardly, and is preferably made of a resistant, rigid material such as stainless steel.

The tube 16 includes two main components, an outer tube 40 and an inner tube 42. The outer tube 40 is a long, hollow cylindrical tube preferably made of fiberglass. An outer end piece 44 is attached to the proximal end of the outer tube 40, preferably by an adhesive such as an epoxy. The outer end piece is shown in detail in FIGS. 7a and 7b. The outer end piece 44 is preferably of a molded plastic and is generally cylindrical in shape. The outer end piece 44 has a hollow interior 46 and an opening 47 at the proximal end. The hollow interior 46 is defined by an outer wall 48 which has two sections. A first section 50, located at a proximal end of the outer end piece 44, has a larger outer diameter than a second section 52. The intersection of the first section 50 and the second section 52 creates a shoulder 54. The shoulder 54 abuts the proximal edge of the outer tube 40. Extending outwardly from the first section 50 in the radial direction is an attachment member 56, which is primarily semi-circular in shape and has a bolt hole 58 therein. The bolt hole 58 is used to attach the outer end piece 44, by use of a bolt, to the mounting cleat 30 in a pivotable manner using connection holes 38. The proximal end of the outer end piece 44 has a filet 60 to prevent a dock line from catching and fraying.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, a slip collar 64 is connected to the outer tube 40. The slip collar 64 is attached to the strut 14 and is movable along a proximal portion of the outer tube 40 when the tube 16 is being moved vertically. A fixed collar 66 is fixedly attached to the outer tube 40 in a position distal that of the slip collar 64. The fixed collar 66 is preferably made of a resistant material such as aluminum, and is clamped and tightened to the outer tube 40 by a fastener such as a bolt. The fixed collar 66 is positioned so that the slip collar 64 may only move distally to a predetermined point along the outer tube 40. This allows for adjustability of the dock line management apparatus 10 to a predetermined maximum height.

The inner tube 42 is preferably made of a rigid material such as fiberglass. The inner tube 42 is attached to the outer tube 40 by a clamp collar 70. The clamp collar 70, as shown in FIG. 8, preferably has an inner collar 72 which is attached to the outer tube 40 by an adhesive such as epoxy, an outer collar 74 which is attached to the inner collar 72 such as by threads, and a compression clamp 76 which compresses against the inner tube 42 as the inner collar 72 threads onto the outer collar 74. The clamp collar 70 is preferably made of a resistant material such as aluminum. The clamp collar 70 may result in a fixed association between the outer tube 40 and the inner tube 42, or may allow a telescoping relationship between the outer tube 40 and the inner tube 42 resulting in adjustability of the length of the tube 16.

Also attached to the inner tube 42, at the distal end of the inner tube 42, is an inner end piece 80. The inner end piece 80 is shown in detail in FIGS. 9a and 9b. The inner end piece 80 is preferably of a molded plastic, is generally cylindrical in shape, and has a hollow interior 82. The inner end piece 80 has an opening 83 at the distal end. The hollow interior 82 is defined by an outer wall 84 which has two sections. A first section 86, located at a proximal end of the inner end piece 80, has a smaller outer diameter than a second section 88. The intersection of the first section 86 and the second section 88 creates a shoulder 90. The shoulder 90 abuts the distal edge of the inner tube 42. The distal end of the inner end piece 80 has a filet 92 to prevent a dock line from catching and fraying.

In use, a dock line 1 is threaded through the opening 47 of the outer end piece 44, through the hollow interiors of the outer end piece 44, the outer tube 40, the inner tube 42, the inner end piece 80, and out of the opening 83. The length of the tube 16 may be adjusted. When a watercraft is near a dock and the dock line management apparatus 10, a user grabs the dock line 1, the end of which will be dangling from the distal end of the apparatus 10. The user may pull the dock line 1 in any direction needed, and the dock line management apparatus 10 will react accordingly by moving up or down, or left or right (via rotation), or in a combination of directions. The strut 14 allows a significant load to be placed on the tube 16 while maintaining a smooth movement of the tube 16 vertically.

The dock line management apparatus of the instant invention provides an adjustable and easy-to-use system for securing watercraft to docks. The apparatus is made of durable parts that make the apparatus long-lasting.

Claims

1. A dock line management device comprising: a base having a mount and a rotating member, the mount configured to be connected to and stationary with respect to a fixed structure, and the rotating member being rotatable with respect to the mount;a tube, having a distal end and a hollow interior disposed to receive a dock line, pivotally connected to the rotating member, allowing rotation of the tube relative to the mount about a substantially vertical axis and substantially vertical movement of the distal end of the tube relative to the mount; anda strut connected to the tube and connected to the base, for dampening the vertical movement of the tube.

2. The dock line management device of claim 1, and further including a mounting cleat for connection of the tube to the base and for connection of the strut to the base.

3. The dock line management device of claim 2, wherein the mounting cleat has a raised flap with an aperture therein for attachment to the strut.

4. The dock line management device of claim 1, wherein the tube has an outer tube and an inner tube which are fixedly attached to each other.

5. The dock line management device of claim 1, wherein the tube has an outer tube and an inner tube which are telescopically connected to each other.

6. The dock line management device of claim 1, wherein the base further includes a rotating dowel for connection of the rotating member to the mount.

7. The dock line management device of claim 1, and further including a slip collar disposed about the tube and movable relative thereto, and connected to the strut.

8. A dock line management device comprising: a base having a mounting plate, a rotating member, and a mounting cleat, the mounting plate configured for attachment to a fixed structure, the rotating member being rotatably connected to the mounting plate, the mounting cleat fixedly attached to the rotating member and having a raised flap with an aperture therein;a tube having a distal end, a hollow interior, and an outer tube portion and an inner tube portion, the outer tube portion and inner tube portion connected to each other, the tube pivotally attached to the base by connection to the mounting cleat; anda strut connected to the tube and connected to the base via the aperture in the raised flap of the mounting cleat,wherein the tube is rotatable about a vertical axis and about a horizontal axis, allowing movement based on the direction of a load on a dock line or other structure therein.

9. The dock line management device of claim 8, and further including a rotating dowel connected to the rotating member and in engagement with the mounting plate.

10. The dock line management device of claim 8, wherein the outer tube and the inner tube are fixedly attached to each other.

11. The dock line management device of claim 8, and further including a slip collar disposed about the tube and movable relative thereto, and connected to the strut.