BOAT FENDER

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM

In accordance with 37 C.F.R. § 1.76, a claim of priority is included in an Application Data Sheet filed concurrently herewith. Accordingly, the present is a continuation-in-part and claims priority to U.S. Non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 18/298,859 entitled “BOAT FENDER” filed Apr. 11, 2023 further claiming priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/363,863 entitled “BOAT FENDER” filed Apr. 29, 2022, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to the field of boating and, in particular, to a boat fender that can be stored flat and inflated without compressed air.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Boating provides those participating in the activity with an unparalleled freedom to traverse bodies of water. The mobility of a boat allows access to fishing, cruising, swimming, diving, raft-ups, restaurants, marinas, and anything else that is accessible by water. For instance, a common boating activity during hot summer days is for one boat to raft-up with other boaters and enjoy a day of swimming, sharing food, or simply relaxing with the rocking motion that a platform floating on the water provides.

A problem can occur whenever a boat is rafted-up to another boat or fixed object. Wave action can result in a harmonic imbalance wherein boat movement essentially multiplies, resulting in wave action that can quickly damage a boat. Boats are constructed from fiberglass and an impact can easily damage the gelcoat or painted finish placed over the fiberglass. Gelcoat is especially vulnerable to cracking as it is an unsaturated polyester resin that provides a hard finish, but can be cracked if flexed. Once there is a crack in the gelcoat, water intrusion can take place, which will lead to delaminating of the gelcoat from the fiberglass.

Boats employ fenders as temporary protection to inhibit damage to the boat. Fenders are constructed from a material capable of absorbing or otherwise cushioning the impact when a boat slams against another object, such as another boat or a dock. For instance, tires are considered excellent fenders and commonly found on work boats. While tires are excellent for absorbing impact, they are not suitable for recreational boats as they are unsightly, will mar fiberglass with rubber marks, and are impossible to store.

Conventional fenders commonly used on recreational boats are either inflatable or constructed of foam. The former are the most popular type, and the latter are more compact. Inflatable fenders are constructed of a thick polymer material forming a cavity that is filled with air. The air within the fender operates to cushion the impact. Fenders are needed at certain times to protect a boat, such as when the boat is approaching a dock, approaching another boat to raft-up, or at any other time where there is a possibility of the boat impacting another object. However, fenders are only needed while the boat is approaching or tied to another object. Fenders must be properly stored whenever the boat is underway.

Conventional fenders usually feature a circular ball shape of an oblong shape. There is no rule as to the right size of fender for a boat. Typically, bigger boats employ larger fenders. However, fenders may only be needed when the boat is docked, the rest of the time the fender is stored. No matter what size boat is discussed, storage of multiple fenders can be difficult. It should be noted that a properly equipped boat may have many fenders available, some or all of which could be employed. Further, while larger fenders will cause a greater separation between a boat and dock, the larger the fender, the more difficult it is to store the fender. In many instances a smaller fender is preferable, such as temporary docking at a restaurant, where a smaller fender will accomplish the intended goal of protecting the boat, yet will not create too large of a space between the boat and the dock which can make entry and exiting of the boat difficult. Due to space limitations, it is not uncommon to store fenders in closets, in the engine room, or on the deck of the boat using fender holders. While storage on the deck of the boat saves valuable closet storage space, fenders stored on the deck of a boat have a limited life before they are discolored and irreparably damaged due to exposure to the sunlight.

Fenders consume a large amount of space, depending on the size and quantity. The size of the boat typically dictates the size and quantity of fenders. For instance, boats 20 ft-30 ft typically employ four to six 9″×30″ fenders. Boats 30 ft-45 ft may employ six to eight 10″×40″ fenders. Boats 45 ft-60 ft may employ 12″ diameter fenders. The longer the boat, the more fenders that are needed, and the more storage space that is needed to hold the fenders when they are not in use. Fenders have little or no inflation pressure. Typically, 2 lbs. of pressure is used to assure that the fenders maintain their shape.

While inflatable fenders exist, all known such fenders required air pumps or the like means to pressurize the fender structure. Inflatable fenders include: U.S. Pat. No. 10,640,184, which discloses an inflatable boat fender that has an internal DC powered reversible air pump; the reversible pump shall have a battery compartment wherein standard DC batteries can be placed to power the reversible air pump. The inflatable boat fender can either be cylindrical or tear drop shaped. The air pump can be controlled manually or wirelessly. The air pump has an air pressure gauge that will alarm a user when the pressure is below a desired pressure.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0304173 discloses an inflatable fender having an inflatable first, internal, casing provided at least at one end in the continuation of the chamber with an inflatable tubular appendage equipped with a stoppered end stub, this assembly being housed inside an external second casing that hugs the first casing and the appendage and being equipped, at the neck hugging the appendage, with at least one pair of fixings of the D-ring type.

A known storable fender is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0233045, wherein a storable and transportable boat fender includes two fender boards, each fender board having a slot. To assemble and use the boat fender, the two fender boards are combined by inserting the slot from one board into the slot of the other board and pressing the two boards together. To store the boat fender, the boards are separated, after which they occupy a relatively small amount of space and may be stored in a number of convenient locations.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,427 discloses a boat fender provided with internal capacity for storage of the rope from which it is normally suspended when in use. A mechanism is also provided, retaining the rope when it is in storage and for quick release of the rope when it is withdrawn from storage for use in suspending the boat fender.

What is lacking in the industry is a boat fender that can be stored flat and then sealed with a volume of air without a pressure inducing device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A storable fender for boats formed from a flexible shell housing a bladder constructed to entrap a volume of air. Alternatively, a shell formed from a material or including an air-impervious coating. In one embodiment a reusable seal is attached to the top edge of the shell to provide an airtight interior. The shell includes the use of clips attached to an open end of the shell to secure the seal. At least one grommet is secured to an outer surface of the shell to receive a line for securing the fender to a boat or structure, such as a dock.

When the fender is in a deflated condition, the shell and bladder may be stored flat or rolled into a compact configuration. When the fender is in an inflated condition, the seal is closed, trapping air in the interior of the bladder, wherein the seal maintains the bladder in a sealed condition by rolling an upper edge of the shell and securing the clips to prevent the upper edge of the bladder from unrolling. The rolling of the shell induces a pressure in the bladder, and further reinforces the seal to prohibit the seal from releasing. When the bladder is inflated, the fender can be used to protect a boat impact, wherein the fender absorbs the impact load.

In another embodiment, the reusable seal is placed along a side wall, a predetermined distance from the top edge. In this embodiment, straps from the top edge of the shell are adjustably securable to the bottom edge of the shell compressing the air within the shell to form a usable fender. The shell forming a rectangular shape to prevent fender rolling and expanding the amount of surface area protected by the fender. A coupler is attached to the bottom edge of the shell for use in securing the fender to a boat.

An objective of the instant invention is to provide a fender that can be folded or rolled into a small configuration to facilitate storage and maintain an inflated position for use in impact protection.

Another objective of the instant invention is to provide a fender that can be employed without the need for an air pump or other inflation devices.

Still another objective of the instant invention is to provide a fender that can be easily stored below deck, away from sunlight, so as to provide longevity to the fender.

Still another objective of the instant invention is to provide a shell that can be coating with a flexible air impervious material such as rubber, PVC-vinyl, plastic or the like material.

Still another objective is to provide fender that can be formed in a circular oblong shape or a rectangular shape.

Other objectives and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with any accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. Any drawings contained herein constitute a part of this specification, include exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and illustrate various objects and features thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a back perspective view of the inflatable fender having sidewall grommets for line attachment;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the inflatable fender having lines attached in-line;

FIG. 3 is a side view thereof with the opening closed, rolled and clipped;

FIG. 4 is a pictorial view, depicting inflatable fenders of the instant invention attached to a boat;

FIG. 5 is a front plane view of a rectangular inflatable fender with the bottom panel illustrated;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view with the zipper in an open position;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the upper edge with zipper in the open position;

FIG. 8 is plane view with the zipper in a closed position;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view with the upper edge rolled to compress air in the interior;

FIG. 10 is a plane view of the bottom panel;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view with the rolled upper edge be fixed in position with the adjoining clip;

FIG. 12 is FIG. 11 with the strap being tightened;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the fender in a deflated, rolled up configuration, for storage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Detailed embodiments of the instant invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific functional and structural details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representation basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

Referring now to the figures in general, FIG. 1 depicts the boat fender in an open, uninflated state defined by a shell 10 formed from a continuous outer sidewall 12, a lower edge 14 and an upper open edge 16 forming a cavity 15. The shell may be made of an air impervious material, or a material that requires either a coating or a bladder to prevent air from passing. Attached to the outer sidewall 12 are grommets 18, 20, which permit securement of lines 19, 21 shown in FIG. 3. The lines 19, 21 allow for securement of the fenders 10 to a boat or fixed object. Alternatively, lines 21, 23, shown in FIG. 2, may be secured to each end of the fender, providing a conventional in-line attachment. The upper open edge 16 is securable by use of a closure member 22 which is constructed and arranged to seal the open upper edge 16 and the cavity 15. The closure member 22 includes an upper open edge 16 having a first interlocking surface 24 consisting of grooves 25 on one side of the shell and stems 27 on the other, and a second interlocking surface 26 consisting of stems 29 on one side of the shell that are constructed and arranged to interlock with grooves 31 on the other side, the interlocking surfaces 24, 26 forming an air tight seal forming a cavity 15 filled with air within the shell.

Inside the continuous sidewall 12 which forms the cavity 15 is an air imperious coating, such as a rubberized liner, or bladder 28, attached to the sidewall 12. The liner 28 can be attached by means of heat molding to the outer sidewall 12, forming a liner that is integral with the shell, forming the cavity 15 that is accessible only through the interlocking closure 22. Other materials, such as canvas having an air imperious liner or coating, can be used and in some instances is preferable over a plastic sidewall. It is noted that plastic is imperious to air passage, and use of an outer sidewall constructed of plastic may forego the use of a liner or coating.

Clips 30, 32 are fixedly attached to the sidewall 12 by heat molding, or by being sewn to the outer sidewall 12 at each end edge of the upper open edge 16 for additional securement of the upper open edge 16. Once the upper open edge 16 is secured with air inside the bladder 28, the upper open edge 16 may be rolled one or multiple turns, which compresses the trapped air within the bladder 28. Approximately two turns will compress the bladder to about 1 psi, and securing the interlocking closure maintains the compressed air within the cavity 15. In an alternative embodiment, the rubber bladder 28 may be integrally formed into the fabric of the sidewall 12. For instance, a cloth shell would require a bladder or coating to make it impervious to the passage of air.

FIG. 3 depicts the fender 10 having the upper edge opening 16 in a secured and closed position with a clips 30, 32 securing the closure. In this position, the bladder 28 has a volume of air secured within the cavity 15 and sealed therein by the interlocking closure 22. In furtherance of sealing the bladder 28 by use of the interlocking closure, the top of the shell is rolled, up to three times, to diminish volume of the cavity 15. The decrease in volume requires a compression of the remaining air within the bladder 28. This provides the fender 10 with similar properties as a conventional boat fender, wherein the volume of air provides a cushion between a boat and pier, boat and another boat, and so forth.

Once the level of compressed air has been reached, the ends of the rolled top are snapped together to maintain the rolled position with slight air compression. However, no air pump is necessary to fill the bladder of the instant invention, the compression being a result of rolling the shell, causing compression of air within the fender 10 as the size of the cavity 15 has been reduced. Once the fender 10 has served its purpose, such as protecting the boat during a multi-boat raft up, the fender 10 can be deflated by unrolling the top and release of the interlocking closures. With the air released from the cavity, the fender 10 can be stored flat or rolled into a configuration suitable for tight spaces. Various sized fenders can accommodate a large range of boats, without consuming valuable storage space. Grommets 18 and 20 are available for securing the fender 10 to a boat or structure by the use of lines 19, 21. The grommets 18 and 20 can be placed on a sidewall 12, as depicted, or on each end of the shell in a position similar to a conventional fender relying upon a through hole or end mounted lines.

FIG. 4 shows the fenders 10 in the inflated position and attached to the side of a boat 101 having cleats 103. The illustration is only for pictorial purposes; the lines 19, 21 allow attachment to railings, hard top supports, or any other object that a fender line can secure too. As previously mentioned, the fenders 10 can be stored in a deflated position, thereby consuming very little space. When needed, the fenders 10 can be instantly deployed by capturing a volume of air in the bladder lined cavity 15, sealing the volume of air within the cavity 28, and rolling a portion of the upper open edge 16 to compress the captured air. The fenders 10 can then be deployed along the sides of the boat 101 in preparation of rafting up with other boats, or securing to a fixed dock. Once the fenders 10 are sealed, and the tops rolled, the fenders 10 can absorb a very large impact without loss of air. The amount of pressure that the impact can absorb is dependent on the materials of construction.

In another embodiment, referring to FIGS. 5-13, a fender 100 for a boat is illustrated and described herein. The fender 100 is designed to provide an air-impervious, inflatable cushioning device that can be conveniently deflated for compact storage and easily re-inflated when needed.

The fender 100 includes a shell 102 defined by a continuous sidewall 104 and a rectangular-shaped bottom wall 106 together forming an interior 108. The sidewall 104 and bottom wall 106 are constructed of an air-impervious material such as polyvinyl chloride PVC, Hypalon CSM, or polyurethane. In certain embodiments, the air-impervious characteristic may be achieved by applying an air-impervious coating to a base fabric layer.

The upper perimeter of the sidewall 104 defines an upper edge 114. Juxtaposed along the upper edge 114 is a reusable zipper seal 116 that allows selective opening and closing of the shell 102. The zipper seal 116 is formed from a first flexible strip 118 having a first rubber sealing edge 120 and a second flexible strip 122 having a second rubber sealing edge 124. A slider 126 is constructed and arranged to urge the first and second rubber sealing edges 120, 124 into interlocking engagement. When the slider 126 is moved along the zipper seal 116, the edges 120, 124 deform and interlock to form a continuous, air-impermeable seal that prevents the passage of air through the zipper.

Attached to the bottom wall 106 is a first clip assembly 128 and a second clip assembly 130. Each of the clip assemblies 128, 130 is releasably securable to a corresponding first adjoining clip 132 and second adjoining clip 134 positioned respectively at opposing ends of the upper edge 114. Each adjoining clip 132, 134 is slidably adjustable along a strap 136 coupled to the upper edge 114. The strap 136 may be formed as a single piece with the adjoining clips 132, 134 attached respectively to its first and second ends. In exemplary embodiments, the strap 136 is constructed from polypropylene, polyester, or nylon, providing flexibility, strength, and resistance to UV and saltwater exposure. Once the clips are attached, a free end the strap 136 can be pulled which further compresses the air within the interior and prevents the rolled upper edge from unrolling. The tighter the strap 136 is attached, the greater the pressure within the interior. For most applications, about 2 psi (0.14 bar) of internal air pressure is sufficient. When filled, the fender should feel firm but slightly yielding when pressed. Centrally positioned on the bottom wall 106 is a grommet 138 configured to receive a line or rope not shown for securing the fender 100 to a fixed object such as a cleat, piling, or railing on a dock or vessel.

In operation, the fender 100 may assume two principal conditions: a deflated condition 140 and an inflated condition 142. In the deflated condition 140, the zipper seal 116 is open, allowing air to escape and enabling the sidewall 104 and bottom wall 106 to be collapsed and stored flat. In the inflated condition 142, the zipper seal 116 is closed, thereby trapping air within the interior 108. The upper edge 114 of the shell 102 is rolled downward at least two full turns to reinforce the seal and reduce the risk of unrolling. The first clip 128 is then secured to the first adjoining clip 132, and the second clip 130 is secured to the second adjoining clip 134. This configuration maintains the rolled upper edge 114 in its closed position and compresses the air within the interior 108, providing a firm, cushioned, and buoyant fender surface.

When inflated, the fender 100 maintains a generally rectangular shape suitable for absorbing impact between a boat and an adjacent object. The sealed, inflated structure provides a durable, reusable, and compact solution for marine fendering applications. The combination of the airtight rubber zipper seal 116 and roll-and-clip closure provides dual sealing protection against air loss, while allowing for quick deflation and compact storage when not in use.

The term “coupled” is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The use of the word “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the term “comprising” in the claims and/or the specification may mean “one,” but it is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more” or “at least one.” The use of the term “or” in the claims is used to mean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or the alternative are mutually exclusive, although the disclosure supports a definition that refers to only alternatives and “and/or.”

The terms “comprise” and any form of comprise, such as “comprises” and “comprising”, “have” and any form of have, such as “has” and “having”, “include” and any form of include, such as “includes” and “including” and “contain” and any form of contain, such as “contains” and “containing” are open-ended linking verbs.

All patents and publications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any drawings/figures included herein.

One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary, and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.