Fender holder and assembly

Abstract

The fender assembly has a fender holder. The fender holder includes a base, to be attached to a berthing structure at a position proximate an edge of the berthing structure, and a fender engaging formation attached to said base. The fender assembly further includes a fender body. The fender engaging formation is adapted to hold the fender body such that said fender body extends outwardly from the fender holder so as to overlaps the edge of the berthing structure.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention concerns a fender holder and a fender assembly. In particular, but not exclusively, the invention concerns a fender assembly for protecting water-faring vessels and berthing structures against collision damage that may occur during the berthing of a vessel.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]In boating, fenders are employed as bumpers to absorb the kinetic energy of a water-faring vessel when the vessel is berthed against a berthing structure, such as a jetty wall. Current fenders, however, often fail to protect a vessel adequately against impact damage during a berthing procedure. In one typical arrangement, a fender is suspended at the side of the vessel by way of a length of rope. Often skippers will, however, misjudge the length of rope required to ensure that the fender is suspended at the correct position to prevent the vessel being damaged by a berthing structure during berthing of the vessel. Such oversight can cause substantial damage ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text describes a fender holder and a fender assembly for use in a berthing structure. The fender holder includes a base that attaches to the berthing structure and a fender engaging formation that holds a fender body. The fender engaging formation can hold the fender body in an upright position that overlaps the edge of the berthing structure. In some embodiments, the fender engaging formation includes an upright support or two upright brackets. The technical effects of this invention are that it provides a simple and effective way to hold a fender in place and prevents it from moving around during use.

Problems solved by technology

Current fenders, however, often fail to protect a vessel adequately against impact damage during a berthing procedure.

Often skippers will, however, misjudge the length of rope required to ensure that the fender is suspended at the correct position to prevent the vessel being damaged by a berthing structure during berthing of the vessel.

Such oversight can cause substantial damage to both the vessel and the berthing structure.

As fenders are generally suspended at the side of a vessel, they can be prone to substantial lateral movement.

Such lateral movement may at times cause a fender to be located in a position unsuitable for adequately protecting the vessel during berthing.

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