Fender with Enhanced Functionality

Abstract

Examples disclosed herein relate to a fender for a watercraft where the fender passenger safety device includes a three dimensional body. The three dimensional body includes a top area, a bottom area, a middle area, and an internal area. In addition, the fender passenger safety device includes a tunnel area where the tunnel area includes a tunnel entrance formed onto the middle area. The internal tunnel area is located inside of the internal area. In one example, a safety device located on the top area, the bottom area, or the middle area allows a person to bind to the fender passenger safety device.

Description

PRIORITY DATA[0001]The application claims priority to provisional patent application No. 62 / 389,566, which was filed on Mar. 3, 2016 and is incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUNDField[0002]The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a fender. More specifically, the disclosure relates to providing one or more enhanced functionalities in a fender device. This disclosure highlights that the fender with these enhanced functionalities may be used in man-overboard (“MOB”) situations, to facilitate entry and exit from the floating device (e.g., boat, watercraft, etc.) or a beached floating device, to protect the exterior (e.g., hull) of the floating device, and / or any combination thereof.[0003]Information:[0004]Watercraft may be damaged by collisions with a dock, beached, another watercraft, and / or any other object. Typically, fenders are used to protect the hull of the watercraft from these collisions. Normally, the fenders are deployed when there is a condition which may...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent is about a fender device that can be used to protect watercraft and other floating devices from damage and inadvertent collisions. The fender device has enhanced functionalities and may be used in man-overboard (MOB) situations. The fender device can be a pliable rubber or plastic material and may have trapped air or liquid inside its shell to absorb the kinetic energy associated with collisions. The fender device can be a solid object and may have one or more trapped gases or liquids inside its shell. The patent discusses the challenges faced by the boating industry, including MOB events and the need for safety and rescue devices. The innovative fender device can be utilized as a required safety and rescue device in MOB events to help save lives.

Problems solved by technology

Watercraft may be damaged by collisions with a dock, beached, another watercraft, and / or any other object.

For example, the fenders may be taken out of the storage compartment and / or holder and installed on the side of watercraft which faces the object which may be a collision risk.

In addition, a fender may have trapped air (and / or any other gas) inside its shell.

The boating industry has numerous challenges.

These MOB events are dangerous and life-threatening events.

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