IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,981,400
Granted Patent B2
US 11,981,400 · App. 17/335,506 · Granted May 14, 2024

Suctioning watercraft fender

Inventors: Ryan G. Givens (Wabash, IN); Thad J. Eads (Urbana, IN); Russell Waldon (Wabash, IN)
B63B21/00E02B3/26B63B2021/001B63B2021/006
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,981,400
App. No.
17/335,506
Granted
May 14, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A suctioning watercraft fender attaches to a watercraft while the watercraft is in a mooring state. The watercraft fender may couple a first watercraft to a second watercraft or a first watercraft to a fixed surface. The watercraft fender includes a body defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the body includes first and second opposing ends. The fender further includes a first coupling member coupled to the first end of the body. The first coupling member includes a first suction cup and a first pressure mount actuatable to selectively lock or release the first suction cup from a first surface.

Claims (49)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

(a) an elongated body defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the elongated body includes first and second opposing ends and the elongated body is formed by a flexible coil spring extending between the first and second opposing ends;

(b) a first coupling member coupled to the first end of the elongated body, wherein the first coupling member includes:

(i) a first suction cup, and

(ii) a first pressure mount actuatable to selectively lock or release the first suction cup from a first surface of a first watercraft; and

(c) a second coupling member coupled to the second end of the elongated body, wherein the second coupling member includes:

(i) a second suction cup, and

(ii) a second pressure mount actuatable to selectively lock or release the second suction cup from a second surface of a second watercraft,

wherein the elongated body is configured to separate the first watercraft from the second watercraft while each of the first watercraft and the second watercraft is in a mooring state.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first coupling member is configured to pivot about a range of motion relative to the elongated body about a pivot axis, wherein the pivot axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the range of motion is about 90 degrees.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first pressure mount is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis, wherein a rotation of the first pressure mount in a first rotational direction is configured to engage the first suction cup to the first surface, wherein a translation of the first pressure mount in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction is configured to disengage the first suction cup from the first surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: a hollow cavity formed within the elongated body.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a tube positioned within the hollow cavity, wherein the tube is configured to hold a gas volume adequate to provide buoyancy of the apparatus in water.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flexible coil spring is encased in a shrink wrap material.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flexible coil spring is encased in a rubber material.

9. A watercraft fender, comprising:

(a) a flexible coil spring defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the flexible coil spring includes first and second opposing ends; and

(b) a first coupling member coupled to the first end of the flexible coil spring, wherein the first coupling member includes:

(i) a first suction cup, and

(ii) a first pressure mount actuatable to selectively lock or release the first suction cup from a first surface, wherein the first pressure mount is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis, wherein a rotation of the first pressure mount in a first rotational direction is configured to engage the first suction cup to the first surface, wherein a translation of the first pressure mount in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction is configured to disengage the first suction cup from the first surface.

10. The watercraft fender of claim 9 , wherein the first coupling member is configured to pivot about a range of motion relative to the flexible coil spring about a pivot axis, wherein the pivot axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

11. The watercraft fender of claim 10 , wherein the range of motion is about 90 degrees.

12. The watercraft fender of claim 9 , further comprising: a second coupling member pivotally coupled to the second end of the flexible coil spring, wherein the second coupling member includes a second suction cup and a second pressure mount operable to selectively lock or release the second suction cup from a second surface.

13. The watercraft fender of claim 9 , further comprising: a second coupling member pivotally coupled to the second end of the flexible coil spring, wherein the second coupling member includes a bracket configured to fixedly attach to a surface.

14. The watercraft fender of claim 9 , further comprising:

a hollow cavity within the flexible coil spring; and

a tube positioned therethrough the hollow cavity, wherein the tube is configured to hold a gas volume adequate to provide buoyancy of the watercraft fender in water.

15. A method of operating a watercraft fender, wherein the watercraft fender includes (a) an elongated body defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the elongated body includes a flexible coil spring with first and second opposing ends, (b) a first coupling member coupled to the first end of the elongated body, and (c) a second coupling member coupled to the second end of the elongated body, the method comprising:

(a) contacting the first coupling member of the elongated body to a first watercraft, wherein the first coupling member includes:

(i) a first suction cup, and

(ii) a first pressure mount actuatable to selectively attach or release the first suction cup to a surface;

(b) actuating the first pressure mount to attach the first suction cup to the first watercraft;

(c) contacting the second coupling member of the elongated body to a second watercraft, wherein the second coupling member includes:

(i) a second suction cup, and

(ii) a second pressure mount actuatable to selectively attach or release the second suction cup to a surface; and

(d) actuating the second pressure mount to attach the second suction cup to the second watercraft.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first coupling member is configured to pivot about a range of motion relative to the elongated body about a pivot axis, wherein the pivot axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the suction cup defines a planar suction face having a dimple, the method further comprising: prior to contacting the first coupling member of the elongated body to a first watercraft, pivoting the first coupling member to align the planar suction face with a surface of the first watercraft surface.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the flexible coil spring defines a bore, wherein the bore is configured to trap air to provide floatation characteristics to the watercraft fender.

18. An apparatus, comprising:

(a) an elongated body defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the elongated body includes first and second opposing ends;

(b) a first coupling member coupled to the first end of the elongated body, wherein the first coupling member includes:

(i) a first suction cup, and

(ii) a first pressure mount actuatable to selectively lock or release the first suction cup from a first surface of a first watercraft; and

(c) a second coupling member coupled to the second end of the elongated body, wherein the second coupling member includes:

(i) a second suction cup, and

(ii) a second pressure mount actuatable to selectively lock or release the second suction cup from a second surface of a second watercraft,

wherein the elongated body is configured to separate the first watercraft from the second watercraft while each of the first watercraft and the second watercraft is in a mooring state, and

wherein the first pressure mount is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis, wherein a rotation of the first pressure mount in a first rotational direction is configured to engage the first suction cup to the first surface, wherein a translation of the first pressure mount in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction is configured to disengage the first suction cup from the first surface.

Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63032937 · Jun 1, 2020
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