DOCK LINE SYSTEM

Abstract

A dock line system for securing a vehicle or vessel to a structure has a secondary release when a first coupling member cannot be released from a main body of the system. The secondary release is selectively attached to the main body. When the secondary release is utilized, a second coupling member is detached from the main body allowing a user control of the vehicle or vessel.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Systems for securing a vehicle or vessel to a dock or other structure are common on the water. The current state of the art utilizes a ratchet system that can be overwhelmed and lead to the locking of the ratchet system. When the ratchet system is locked, the ropes associated with such systems cannot be detached from the structure.

It is therefore an object of the invention to have a dock line system that can easily be undone when the ratchet system locks up.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The dock line system is preferably utilized to interact with ropes but can accommodate other types of connecting devices such as cables. The system can include ropes in numerous sizes, with the preferred embodiments having ¼″, ⅜″, ½″, and 1″ rope sizes. Most generally the ropes are from 5′ to 15′ length, but can be made in any length requested. The rope itself is preferably double braided nylon and comes in many colors.

A ¼″ ratchet system has a max load of 100 lbs. The ⅜″ ratchet system has a max load of 250 lbs. The ½″ ratchet system has a max load of 550 lbs. Most ropes are equal to or above the max load limit of the ratchets. Plastic or metal rope clamps can be utilized to make rope eyelets. Eyelets can also be sewn.

All the rope clamps hold more than the max load of its respective rope size.

A secondary release is preferably a wire lock pin (emergency release) that can be pulled out by a user. In the event that there is too much tension on the ratchet where the ratchet will not release using the lever.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of a dock line system;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a secondary release;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the ratcheting system and the secondary release;

FIG. 4 is a back view of the secondary release;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the second embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the second embodiment wherein the secondary release is shown attached to the main body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Now referring to FIGS. 1-4, a first embodiment of a dock line system 10 is shown. The system 10 comprises a first coupling member 20, a second coupling member 30, and a main body 40. The first coupling member 20 has a first end 22 and a second end 24. The second end 24 can be connected to a first vehicle or a first structure. The second coupling member 30 is to be connected to the first vehicle or the first structure, whichever one is not connected to the first coupling member 20. A portion of the first connecting member 20 and a portion of the second connecting member 30 are selectively attached to the main body 40. A series of clamps 26, 32, and 34 can be used to make loops with the first coupling member 20 and/or the second coupling member 30.

The main body 40 as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 has a ratcheting system 44 that holds the first coupling member 20 in a particular position. The first coupling member 20 can be detached from the ratcheting system 44 via a lever 42. Once the first coupling member 20 is detached from the ratcheting system 44, the first coupling member 20 can be also detached or separated from the main body 40.

At times, the tension between the first coupling member 20 and the ratcheting system 44 are such that a user cannot generate enough force to manipulate the lever 42 to release the first coupling member 20 from the ratcheting system 44 and main body 40. A secondary release 50 is selectively attachable to the main body 40 and the second coupling member 30. The secondary release 50 is preferably a wire lock pin. The secondary release 50 has a first end 52 and a second end 55. The secondary release 50 further comprises a connection member 56. The connection member 56 attaches to the first end 52 while the connection member 56 is selectively attaches to the second end 55.

In use, a user can pull on the first end 52 which forces the connection member 58 to come off the second end 55 of the secondary release 50. The secondary release can be used if the ratchet system 44 becomes locked for a variety of reasons. Once the secondary release 50 is removed, the second coupling member 30 is no longer connected to the main body 40.

A second embodiment of a dock line system 210 is shown in FIGS. 5-7. The dock line system 210 has the same components of the dock line system 10 described above and the part numbers in FIGS. 5-7 correspond to the part numbers in FIGS. 1-4. Additionally, the mechanisms for use of the second embodiment are the same as the embodiment described above in FIGS. 1-4.

The second embodiment of the dock line system 210 utilizes an additional part, a securing member 60 that connects the main body 40 to the secondary release 50. FIGS. 5-6 show the securing member 60 attached to the secondary release 50 when the secondary coupling member 30 is connected to the main body 40. FIG. 7 shows the securing member 60 after the secondary release 50 has been activated and the secondary release 50 is no longer connected or attached to the second coupling member 30. However, the secondary release 50 is still attached to the main body 40 even when the secondary release 50 is not connected or attached to the second coupling member 30. As such, the secondary release 50 will not be lost as it is connected to the main body 40.

Having thus described the invention in connection with the embodiments thereof, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that various revisions can be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is my intention, however, that all such revisions and modifications that are evident to those skilled in the art will be included with in the scope of the following claims. Any elements of any embodiments disclosed herein can be used in combination with any elements of other embodiments disclosed herein in any manner to create different embodiments.

Claims

1. A dock line system for a vessel, comprising: a first coupling member;a main body;the main body having a ratcheting system;the first coupling member selectively attached to the ratcheting system;a primary release;wherein the primary release can be operated to release the first coupling member from the ratcheting system;a second coupling member;the second coupling member selectively attached to the main body;a secondary release attached to the main body;wherein the secondary release can be removed thereby separating the second coupling member from the main body.

2. The dock line system of claim 1, wherein: the secondary release has a first end and a second end.

3. The dock line system of claim 2, wherein: a first connecting member is connected to the first end.

4. The dock line system of claim 3, wherein: a second connecting member is connected to the second end.

5. The dock line system of claim 4, wherein: the first end is configured to be manipulated by a user pulling the first end;the manipulation of the first end releases the second connecting member from the second end and thereby releases the second coupling member from the main body.

6. The dock line system of claim 5, wherein: the first coupling member is a rope.

7. The dock line system of claim 5, wherein: the second coupling member is a rope.

8. The dock line system of claim 5, wherein: at least one clamp is attached to the first coupling member;the at least one clamp is configured to allow the first coupling member to form a loop.

9. The dock line system of claim 8, wherein: at least one clamp is attached to the second coupling member;the at least one claim is configured to allow the second coupling member to form a loop.

10. The dock line system of claim 5; wherein: the primary release is a lever.

11. The dock line system of claim 5, wherein: the secondary release is a wire lock pin.

12. A dock line system for a vessel, comprising: a first coupling member;a main body;the main body having a ratcheting system;the first coupling member selectively attached to the ratcheting system;a primary release;wherein the primary release can be operated to release the first coupling member from the ratcheting system;a second coupling member;the second coupling member selectively attached to the main body;a secondary release attached to the main body;wherein the secondary release can be removed thereby separating the second coupling member from the main body;the main body is connected to the secondary release via a securing member;wherein the securing member remains attached to the secondary release after the second coupling member has been separated from the main body.

13. The dock line system of claim 12, wherein: the secondary release has a first end and a second end.

14. The dock line system of claim 13, wherein: a first connecting member is connected to the first end.

15. The dock line system of claim 14, wherein: a second connecting member is connected to the second end.

16. The dock line system of claim 15, wherein: the first end is configured to be manipulated by a user pulling the first end;the manipulation of the first end releases the second connecting member from the second end and thereby releases the second coupling member from the main body.

17. The dock line system of claim 16, wherein: the first coupling member is a rope.

18. The dock line system of claim 16, wherein: the second coupling member is a rope.

19. The dock line system of claim 16, wherein: at least one clamp is attached to the first coupling member;the at least one clamp is configured to allow the first coupling member to form a loop.

20. The dock line system of claim 16, wherein: at least one clamp is attached to the second coupling member;the at least one claim is configured to allow the second coupling member to form a loop.