Portable marine anchoring device and portable fender

Abstract

A portable marine anchoring device maximizes its securing capability when anchored to the bottom of a body of water, and a portable foldable fender capable of being securely secured to a ship preventing displacement of the ship over time.

Description

[0001] Copyright Notice

[0002] Portions of the disclosure of this patent document contain material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

[0003] Trademark Notice

[0004] Trademarks are used in the disclosure of this invention and the applicant does not claim ownership of any of the referenced trademarks.

[0005] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0006] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 497,815, filed on April 24, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0007] The present invention generally relates to a portable marine anchoring device and a portable fender for use with a small boat. Background Art

[0008] Many inventions describing methods of anchoring a ship are recorded in the prior art. Most of the prior art describes the traditional method of anchoring a ship, that is, dropping an anchor from the bow and causing the ship to drift backward or providing the ship with power to move backward. In this case, the ship can swing left and right depending on the wind and waves. In some cases, the anchor can be dropped from the stern and then the ship can be driven forward by power. The current existing technology includes various anchors, such as box anchors, mushroom anchors, plough anchors, hook anchors, multi-claw anchors, open claw anchors and dovetail anchors. Current anchors all have a similar problem, that is, they may get stuck in the material that constitutes the bottom of the water body, so these anchors are difficult to retrieve.

[0009] The most advanced boat fenders are usually inflated plastic tubes or air bags that act as cushions to prevent the boat or boat from contacting the dock or pilings. Fenders are usually the best and simplest way to protect a boat or boat from damage. Fenders, also known as boat bumpers, act as cushions by absorbing the impact of a boat hitting docks, pilings and other boats, thereby preventing damage to the boat and ensuring that the hull of the boat is not damaged. However, these traditional fenders are not suitable for small boats, such as jet skis or surf boats, because these small boats do not have the necessary side height to provide a reaction force to fix the fender in place so that the fender can provide a cushion to protect the small boat.

[0010] Therefore, there is a need for an anchor that is lightweight, does not present a tripping hazard, and can be held in the sand.

[0011] Public Content

[0012] The present invention relates particularly to an anchoring device disclosed herein, which is a portable, lightweight anchor configured to anchor a vessel and provide a greater holding capacity while being tethered to a marine vehicle, and which also provides a simple method of releasing the anchoring device when the anchoring device becomes stuck on the bottom of a body of water.

[0013] The portable boat fender of the present invention is a lightweight, foldable fender designed to prevent the boat from colliding with a dock or a pile when the boat is docked. The portable boat fender is foldable and provides a gripping mechanism to ensure that the portable boat fender is fixed in a proper position on the boat so that it protects the boat from damage. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] A further understanding of the nature and advantages of particular embodiments may be realized by reference to the remainder of the specification and the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like components. When a reference numeral is mentioned without specifying an existing sub-label, it is used to refer to a plurality of all such similar components.

[0015] The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0016] Figure 1 A perspective view showing an anchoring device of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 2 is a top view of the anchoring device of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 3 is a bottom view of the anchoring device of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 4 is a right side view of the anchoring device of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 5 is a left side view of the anchoring device of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 6 is a front view of the anchoring device of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 7 is a rear view of the anchoring device of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 8 is a folded view of the portable fender of the present invention;

[0024] Fig. 9 is a front view of the portable fender of the present invention;

[0025] Fig.10is a rear view of the portable fender of the present invention showing the hook;

[0026] Fig.11 is a rear lower view of the portable fender of the present invention showing the hook;

[0027] Fig.12 is a folded view of the portable fender of the present invention showing the bungee cord;

[0028] Fig.13 A typical pad for a portable fender of the present invention is shown;

[0029] Fig.14 A typical extended protective face with pockets is shown;

[0030] Fig.15 A double track hook is shown;

[0031] Fig.16 A typical extended protection surface with pockets is shown when positioned on a pile;

[0032] Fig.17 An extended protective surface with pockets positioned on a dock scuff strip is shown;

[0033] Fig.18 Another perspective view of the anchoring device of the present invention is shown;

[0034] Fig.19 It is a left side perspective view of the anchoring device of the present invention.

[0035] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.The examples set out herein illustrate embodiments of the invention, and these examples should not be construed in any way as limiting the scope of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] Although various aspects and features of certain embodiments have been summarized above, the following detailed description further describes several exemplary embodiments in detail to enable those skilled in the art to implement such embodiments. The described examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0037] In the following description, for the purpose of explanation, many specific details are set forth to facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the described embodiments. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other embodiments of the present invention may be implemented without some of these specific details. A number of embodiments are described herein, and although different embodiments describe different features, it should be understood that the features described for one embodiment may also be incorporated into other embodiments. For the same reason, one or more features of any described embodiment should not be considered necessary for each embodiment of the present application, as other embodiments of the present invention may omit these features.

[0038] In this application, unless expressly stated otherwise, the use of the singular includes the plural; unless expressly stated otherwise, the use of the terms "and" and "or" is equivalent to "and / or", also known as "non-exclusive or". In addition, the use of the term "include" as well as other forms, such as "include" and "comprising", should be considered non-exclusive. In addition, terms such as "element" or "component" cover both elements and components comprising one unit and elements and components comprising more than one unit, unless expressly stated otherwise.

[0039] Finally, the terms "or" and "and / or" as used herein should be interpreted as inclusive, or meaning any one or any combination. Thus, "A, B, or C" or "A, B, and / or C" means "any of the following: A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B, and C. Exceptions to this definition will only occur if the combination of elements, functions, steps, or acts are inherently mutually exclusive to some extent.

[0040] As the invention is susceptible to embodiment in many different forms, this disclosure should be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention rather than limiting the invention to the specific embodiments shown and described.

[0041] The terms "person," "crew," "consumer," and "individual" are used interchangeably to refer to an individual using the present invention.

[0042] The terms "vessel", "boat" and "marine vehicle" as used in the specification of the present invention refer to any vessel, including but not limited to a personal watercraft (PWC), a motor boat, a surf boat, a jet ski or a sailboat.

[0043] In the specification, the terms "pile", "pier" and "mooring" are used interchangeably to refer to a structure to which a vessel is moored.

[0044] The terms "fender", "cushion" and "bumper" are used interchangeably and in this specification are used to refer to protective devices used between a vessel and a structure to which the vessel is moored.

[0045] The terms "rock", "sand", "bottom", "bottom material" as used in the description of the present invention are used to refer to materials found at the bottom of a body of water.

[0046] The prior art does not provide an anchor that is lightweight and designed to fix various bottom materials. The prior art includes the following patents related to marine anchors: US3,651,777; US4,027,615; US5,154,133; US4,945,850; and US20160194058, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0047] The present invention is lightweight and compact, which makes it easy to carry, and the small size makes the present invention less bulky than traditional anchors, making it easy to store in a small boat. A new feature of the anchor device of the present invention is that it can be folded for storage with one hand. This is because the slot and metal rod are attached to the rotating hinge at the front at a 90 degree angle, and the slot and metal rod only rotate to the left or right, which allows the metal rod to be folded on the top of the side when the anchor is folded for storage. The metal rod has a fastening ring. Because the metal rod only has a 90 degree hinge connection perpendicular to the front of the anchor, the 90 degree hinge prevents the metal rod from moving up or down, essentially adding vertical rigidity to the entire assembly and preventing the back of the anchor device from flipping over when the front teeth or teeth begin to dig in. The hinge and the ability of the metal rod to slide in the receiving slot make the anchor device easy to use and effective.

[0048] The anchoring device of the present invention is essentially an anchor having a box shape that provides a better deep water anchor for boats. The present invention provides the user with a combination of compact design, reduced weight and strong holding power, easy retrieval and the ability to grab instantly without the need for heavy metal chains that are commonly used with anchoring devices used with various current boats.

[0049] The present invention is foldable and uses at least one tooth or tooth portion to drill into the bottom and / or grab onto rocks, tree roots and other bottom debris. This allows the anchor device of the present invention to quickly drill into various types of bottoms without the need for a metal chain. More specifically, the anchor device of the present invention is a triangular folding anchor with four teeth on the back and four smaller teeth on the front, and with a rotating rod that can help the anchor quickly drill into most bottom types and without the need for an anchor chain.

[0050] Reference now Figure 1-Figure 7 and Figure 18-19 , Figure 1-Figure 7 and Figure 18-19Various orthogonal views and stereograms of the anchoring device 10 of the present invention are shown, and the anchoring device 10 is composed of three sides, which form an almost equilateral triangle when assembled. The slightly longer back side 15 contains 4 triangular teeth or teeth 20 and 30 (2 on each side), which will drill into the bottom (sand, mud, clay) or grab on various bottom structures or debris (rocks, roots) when the anchoring device is pulled horizontally. The other two side parts 25 rotate (attached to the above-mentioned back side parts) and have smaller teeth or teeth 30 (2 teeth or teeth on each side), which are arranged near the front (the point where the two sides are connected when assembled). The smaller teeth or teeth 30 act as the features of the initial grabbing (digging), which prevent the front of the anchoring device from being pulled up and reduce the total stroke length required for the anchoring device to fully grab or drill into. The smaller size of the teeth or teeth 30 (compared to the larger back teeth) prevents the front from drilling in too far before the larger back teeth or teeth 20 have a chance to fully drill in. A metal rod 35 is attached to a rotating hinge 40 at the front at a 90 degree angle, and the metal rod 35 only rotates left and right, which allows the metal rod 35 to be folded over the top of the side when the anchor is folded for storage. The metal rod 35 has a fastening ring 45. Since the metal rod 35 only has a 90 degree hinge connection perpendicular to the front of the anchor, the 90 degree hinge prevents the metal rod 35 from moving up or down, thereby substantially increasing the vertical rigidity of the entire assembly and preventing the back of the anchor from flipping over when the front teeth or teeth 30 begin to drill in. The rotating metal rod 35 and the smaller teeth or teeth 30 and larger back teeth or teeth 20 are two key features that allow the anchor 10 of the present invention to drill in quickly without a chain. The rotating metal rod 35 also provides leverage to move the anchor 10 out of the way when the anchor 10 is being retrieved, so that the anchor 10 can be easily retrieved if it becomes caught on stones, rocks, or other materials found at the bottom of a body of water.

[0051] like Fig.18 , which shows an alternative anchoring device 10 of the present invention. This alternative anchoring device 10 has a slot 1830 in a plate 1831. The plate 1825 has a hook 1835 at the distal end, which fits in the slot 1830 of the plate 1831. The hook 1835 is guided by a plate 1840 attached to the outside of the plate 1831. The size of the slot 1830 is set to allow the hook 1835 to slide in the slot 1830.

[0052] An object of the present invention is to assist boaters, boaters, fishermen and jet ski operators in anchoring their boats with an anchor having excellent holding capabilities and easy retrieval when the anchor becomes lodged in rocks or debris on the bottom of a body of water.

[0053] Another object is to provide a lightweight anchor that is easy to carry and store on a marine vehicle.

[0054] Yet another object is to provide an anchoring device 10 that is compact enough to be used on a variety of watercraft, from small watercraft to large boats.

[0055] In some embodiments, the anchor 10 is at least partially made of materials such as aircraft grade aluminum, steel, stainless steel, and die cast aluminum. The construction of the anchor 10 produces a lightweight anchor that is easy to carry on and off a boat. This lightweight structure is advantageous over prior art anchors, which are large, long, and heavy, making them difficult to carry on and off a marine vehicle. However, because the anchor 10 is scalable, the weight may be greater or less depending on the configuration.

[0056] The anchor device 10 has a unique structural configuration that enhances securing capabilities.

[0057] See also Fig.19 , an alternative anchoring device 10 has a slot 1830 in a plate 1831. The plate 1825 has a hook 1835 with a hook lip 1842 configured to allow the hook 1835 to lock into the slot 1830. The distal end fits into the slot 1830 on the plate 1831. The hook 1835 is guided by a plate 1840 attached to the outside of the plate 1831. The size of the slot 1830 is set to allow the hook 1835 to slide in the slot 1830.

[0058] The portable marine anchoring device may be further described as a portable marine anchoring device for use with a vessel, the device comprising:

[0059] a. At least three boards;

[0060] b. at least 2 teeth attached to said at least three plates;

[0061] c. The at least three plates are hinged together so that when the hinges are activated to attach the plates together, the plates form a geometric shape;

[0062] d. The at least three plates have a rod with a fastening ring 45, which is hinged to at least one of the at least three plates.

[0063] so that the fastening ring 45 is away from the hinge;

[0064] e. The anchoring device is at least partially made of lightweight material; and

[0065] f. The fastening ring is connected to a tether, which is connected to a boat floating on the water body.

[0066] In summary, the portable anchoring device 10 can maximize securing capabilities when anchored to the bottom of a body of water and can be easily retrieved and stored on a boat.

[0067] Turning attention to a portable foldable fender for use with a boat in the present invention, the fender provides a portable, lightweight fender solution that can be attached to the boat and prevent it from falling off the boat. The portable foldable fender of the present invention provides multiple benefits to the user. The advantages include extended side protection, compact storage, adjustable bungee cords to secure the portable foldable fender to the boat, at least one fixing hook to secure the portable foldable fender to the boat, and an extended protective surface that forms a support for the fender. In a preferred embodiment, the fender is wider at the bottom and narrower at the top to provide a centering mechanism for the fender, thereby improving the protective ability of the portable foldable fender when deployed. However, the present invention contemplates an extended protective surface that can be any shape (including but not limited to square, oval, triangle, polygon, hexagon or pentagon) and at least two pads positioned on the extended protective surface so that it forms an automatic alignment feature when positioned to the boat and between the boat and the pile or docking system.

[0068] The portable foldable fender for a boat can be further described as a foldable fender comprising the following features:

[0069] g. an extended protective surface having a top surface, a back surface and a bungee cord connector;

[0070] h. The extended protective top surface includes more than one pocket portion, the pocket portion is located on the top surface of the extended protective surface, and the pocket portion has a geometric shape;

[0071] i. At least one fender pad located in each pocket;

[0072] j. the extended protective face has gaps between the pockets and the interior space between the pockets, such that the gaps between the pockets and the interior space form a line consisting of points corresponding to the gaps between each pocket and the interior space, the interior space forming at least one cavity, and when the extended protective face is folded along the line between one of the pockets and the interior space, the pocket fits into the at least one cavity, thereby forming a compact, portable, foldable fender for easy storage;

[0073] k. The portable foldable fender includes a double track hook that can be attached to the back surface of the extended protective surface, and the double track hook can be removably attached to the boat to provide a secure connection between the portable foldable fender and the boat;

[0074] l. A portable foldable fender comprising an adjustable bungee cord removably attached to a bungee cord connector; and

[0075] m. The bungee cord includes a rope having a first end and a second end, the first end having a hook and the hook having a safety latch, the second end having a connecting device, the hook and the hook with the safety latch being removably connected to the connecting device, and the bungee cord being removably connected to the bungee cord connector, and the hook with the safety latch preventing accidental uncoupling when the bungee cord is attached to the bungee cord connector.

[0076] A portable foldable fender for a boat, wherein the number of pockets is selected from the group consisting of 2 pockets, 3 pockets, 4 pockets, 5 pockets, 6 pockets, 7 pockets, 8 pockets and 9 pockets.

[0077] A portable, foldable fender for a boat, wherein at least one fender pad is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of foam, vinyl, and hollow vinyl tube.

[0078] A portable foldable fender for a boat, wherein the geometric shape of the pocket portion is selected from the group consisting of a square, an oval, a triangle, a polygon, a hexagon and a pentagon.

[0079] A portable, foldable fender for a boat wherein at least one fender pad is comprised of a plurality of sub-pads.

[0080] Portable foldable fenders for boats, wherein the sub-pads are formed from groups of 1 fender pad, 2 fender pads, 3 fender pads and 4 fender pads.

[0081] Portable foldable fender for boats, wherein the extended protective top is made of a material selected from canvas, rags, cotton rags, Made of materials from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), aramid fiber, vinyl, silicone, polystyrene, polypropylene, plastic, plastic sheets and plastic boards.

[0082] like Figure 8-Figure 17 FIG. 1 shows a portable foldable fender 100 for a boat that maximizes the protection area while minimizing storage requirements. The portable foldable fender provides the user with the following benefits:

[0083] n. An extended protection surface 105 utilizing at least one fender pad 135 to achieve better protection, each of the at least one fender pad 135 being contained in a pocket portion 110 located on the extended protection surface 105, the extended protection surface 105 having a surface top 106 and a surface back 108;

[0084] o. Compact foldable design 201, which is more convenient for storage;

[0085] p. Double track hook 115 for more secure connection with the ship;

[0086] q. Adjustable elastic rope 120, universal compatibility;

[0087] r. Hook with safety latch 130 to prevent accidental uncoupling and loss.

[0088] The at least one fender pad 135 forms a soft cushion when placed in the pocket portion 110 and can be formed of any of the following materials, including but not limited to foam, vinyl, hollow vinyl tube, and the fender pad 135 can have various geometric shapes, such as cube, honeycomb, square, oval, triangle, polygon, hexagon or pentagon, and can be made of any soft or cushioning material.

[0089] The at least one fender pad 135 can be attached to the extended protective surface 105 via a pocket portion, wherein the at least one fender pad 135 is placed in the pocket portion 110. The one fender pad 135 can be placed in the pocket portion 110 removably or non-removably. The at least one fender pad 135 and the pocket portion 110 can also be removably or non-removably attached to the surface top 106 of the extended protective surface 105 using various methods, including but not limited to or hook and loop fasteners, snaps, clasps, sewing or attaching with adhesive.

[0090] The extended protective surface 105 can be made of any of the following materials, including but not limited to canvas, coarse cloth, cotton coarse cloth, Polyvinyl chloride, aramid fiber, vinyl, silicone, polystyrene, polypropylene, plastic, plastic sheets, plastic panels hinged together with plastic hinges, metal or plastic panels with hinges, or any system that provides both flexibility and foldability.

[0091] The double track hook 115 is designed to be mounted on the rubbing strip of the boat and provide a secure connection to the lower portion of the extended protective surface 105. The present invention also contemplates that the double track hook 115 can be 2 or more double track hooks 115 or a single hook, depending on the type of boat with which the portable foldable fender 100 is used.

[0092] The portable foldable fender 100 provides a protective cushioning device that can be securely attached to a boat, such as a jet ski or other personal watercraft (PWC), before it docks and protects the boat from collisions and scrapes with the dock or pilings. The portable foldable fender 100 has a wide bottom so that the portable foldable fender 100 can "hug" the dock or pilings, greatly reducing the possibility of the portable foldable fender 100 being displaced when affected by the wake and tidal motion of other boats.

[0093] The unique triangular shape of the portable foldable fender 100 allows the fender to be folded when stored, thereby reducing the storage size requirement and allowing it to be placed in the storage compartment of a boat. In some embodiments, the triangle shape can be modified to have a straight angle, rather than a straight angle. Figure 8 Sharp corners shown.

[0094] The adjustable bungee cord allows for a secure attachment to any boat or jet ski, no matter its shape or attachment method.

[0095] The portable foldable fender for a boat can be further described as a portable foldable fender for a boat comprising the following features:

[0096] s.Adjustable elastic cord;

[0097] t. at least one hook for securing the portable foldable fender to the vessel;

[0098] u. The portable foldable fender is triangular in shape, such that the bottom of the portable foldable fender is wide and the top is narrow; and

[0099] v. The portable foldable fender has at least one cushion.

[0100] See also Figure 8-Figure 17 , more specifically, Figure 8 FIG. 1 shows an expanded view of a portable fender 100 of the present invention. The present invention includes an extended protective surface 105 and at least two pads 135 ( Fig.13 ), the pad 135 is installed in the pocket portion 110 located on the extended protective surface 105, and the extended protective surface 105 has a surface top 106, and the at least two pads 135 form a cushioning surface 250 when located in the pocket portion 110. The extended protective surface 105 also has a surface back 108 (as shown in FIG. Fig. 9 ). The top surface 106 has an interior space 136 therein, which is adjacent to all pocket portions 110 and is positioned such that the pocket portions 110 form part of the outer boundary of the interior space 136. The pocket portions 110 are preferably positioned on the expanded protective surface 105 such that, when folded (as shown), the ... the pocket portions 110 are preferably positioned on the expanded protective surface 105 such that, when folded (as shown), the pocket portions 110 are preferably positioned on the expanded protective surface 105 such that the pocket portions 1 Fig. 9 ), installed in the pocket portion 110 located on the extended protective surface 105 (as shown in Fig.14 and Figure 8 The at least two pads 135 (as shown) Fig.13 As shown) are combined together so that when Fig. 9 When folded in half for storage, a flat surface 200 is formed (eg Fig. 9 shown).

[0101] Fig. 9FIG. 2 is a front view of the portable fender of the present invention in a folded state. When in the folded state, the portable fender 100 provides a flat surface 200, and the at least two pads 135 (such as Fig.13 The pocket portion 110 (shown as shown) is mounted on the extended protective surface 105 having the surface back 108. Fig.14 and Figure 8 The pockets 110 are assembled together so that they form a flat surface 200 when folded in half for storage. The pads 135 and the associated pockets are designed to be smaller than the size of the interior space 136 of the expanded protective surface 105. The design may also have at least two pads 135 of different sizes (e.g. Fig.13 As shown in the figure, the at least two pads 135 of different sizes are placed in the pocket portion 110. In this case, the pads 135 and the pocket portion 110 will match so that at least two pads 135 of appropriate sizes are fitted in the pocket portion 110 of appropriate sizes, thereby forming at least two pads 135 fitted in pocket portions 110 of different sizes. In addition, the design also envisions at least two pads 135 and pocket portions 110 of different shapes. The shape of the at least two pads 135 can be any shape, including but not limited to square, oval, triangle, polygon, hexagon or pentagon, and the at least two pads 135 do not have to have the same shape, which requires the pocket portion 110 to have a matching shape to hold the at least two pads 135. The extended protective surface 105 has an elastic cord connector 160.

[0102] Fig.10 1 is a rear view of the portable fender of the present invention, which shows the dual track hook 115 attached to the back surface 108 of the extended protective surface 105. The dual track hook 115 can be attached to the back surface 108 of the extended protective surface 105 by inserting into the pocket portion 107, or the dual track hook 115 can be attached to the extended protective surface 105 using various methods, including but not limited to nylon or hook and loop fasteners, snaps, clasps, sewing or attaching with adhesive.

[0103] Fig.11 1 is a rear lower view of the portable fender of the present invention, which shows the surface back 108 of the extended protective surface 105 and the double track hook 115 in the pocket portion 107.

[0104] Fig.12 1 is a folded view of the portable fender 100 of the present invention, which shows the bungee cord 120 with a hook 130. The other end of the bungee cord 120 can have a bungee ball end 131 or a hook 130, depending on the desired configuration.

[0105] Fig.13 The portable fender 100 of the present invention is shown. Figure 8The at least two pads 135 are typically shown in FIG. The at least two pads 135 may have any suitable shape, such as but not limited to a square, an oval, a triangle, a polygon, a hexagon, or a pentagon, and the shapes of the at least two pads 135 do not have to be all the same.

[0106] Fig.14 FIG. 1 shows a typical extended protective surface 105 of the portable fender 100 of the present invention, which has a pocket portion 110. The pocket portion 110 on the top 106 of the surface can be configured to hold the at least two pads 135 (such as Fig.13 Once the at least two pads 135 are installed, the pocket 110 may be closed and may be sealed using a variety of methods including, but not limited to: Or hook and loop fasteners, snaps, clasps, stitching or adhesive connection. The pocket portion 110 may have an extension tab 112 or an extension flap that allows the pocket portion to be sealed in a manner similar to closing a pocket with buttons on a shirt pocket. The extended protective surface 105 has a gap 113 and an interior space 136. These features allow the portable fender 100 to conform to the anti-friction stripping of a pile or dock. The gap 113 and the interior space 136 enable the extended protective surface 105 to bend and adapt to the irregular surface of the pile or dock anti-friction stripping because the extended protective surface 105 is made of a flexible material or has the ability to bend. Typical materials for the extended protective surface 105 include, but are not limited to, canvas, rag, cotton rag, PVC, aramid fiber, vinyl, silicone, polystyrene, polypropylene, plastic, plastic sheets and plastic boards.

[0107] Fig.15 A double track hook 115 is shown. The double track hook 115 is preferably in a "U" shape, with one leg of the "U" inserted into the pocket portion 107 of the extended protective face 105 (eg, Fig.11 Once inserted into the pocket portion 107, the leg of the "U" shaped double track hook 115 inserted into the pocket portion 107 may have an optional securing leg 118 for locking the double track hook 115 into the pocket portion 107. The double track hook 115 may also be locked using a latch, pin, or other fastening device to hold the double track hook into the pocket portion so that the double track hook 115 is removable. If the user desires that the hook 115 is not removable, various methods may be used to secure the hook 115, including but not limited to or hook and loop fasteners, snaps, clasps, clasps, sewing or attaching with adhesive.

[0108] use Fig.16 and Fig.14 ,in Fig.16A typical arrangement is shown in which the portable fender 100 of the present invention is positioned on a vessel (not shown) with the portable fender 100 placed between a pile 300 and the vessel. The gaps 113 and the interior space 136 enable the extended protection surface 105 to flex and conform to the irregular surface of the pile 300, thereby gripping the pile 300 and conforming the portable fender 100 to the pile 300. Thus, the present invention derives its protection and alignment capabilities from the flexible material of the extended protection surface 105 and the gaps 113 and the interior space 136, which enable the extended protection surface 105 to flex and conform to the irregular surface of the pile or dock rubbing strip.

[0109] exist Fig.17 and Fig.14 middle, Fig.17 One typical installation of the portable fender 100 of the present invention is shown with respect to a typical installation wherein the portable fender 100 of the present invention is located on a boat (not shown) and the portable fender 100 is located between docks having dock rubbing strips 310. The gaps 113 and the interior spaces 136 enable the extended protective surface 105 to flex and conform to the irregular surface of the dock rubbing strips 310, thereby gripping the dock rubbing strips 310 and thereby enabling the portable fender 100 to conform to the dock rubbing strips 310. Thus, the present invention derives protection and alignment capabilities from the flexible material of the extended protective surface 105 and the gaps 113 and the interior spaces 136, wherein the gaps 113 and the interior spaces 136 enable the extended protective surface 105 to flex and conform to the irregular surface of the pile or dock rubbing strips.

[0110] Since many detailed modifications, variations and changes may be made to the preferred embodiments described herein, it is intended that all matter described above and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative rather than restrictive. The scope of the invention should therefore be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

[0111] The present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments, and it should be noted and understood that various modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the above disclosure should be interpreted as illustrative only and not as restrictive. In addition, any other embodiments of the present invention resulting from any changes in application or use or method of operation, manufacturing method, shape, size or material not specified in the detailed written description or illustrations contained herein should be considered to be within the scope of the present invention.

[0112] To the extent that the above description and drawings disclose any additional subject matter that is not within the scope of the following claims, those inventions are not disclosed to the public and the right to file one or more applications to claim those additional inventions is reserved.

[0113] Although the claims set forth herein are quite narrow, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention is much broader than what is set forth in the claims. It is intended that broader claims will be filed in an application claiming the benefit of priority to this application.

[0114] Although the present invention has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the present application is intended to cover any changes, uses or modifications to the present invention using the general principles of the present invention. In addition, the present application is intended to cover the contents of the present invention that depart from the known or customary practice of the field to which the present invention belongs, which fall within the scope of limitation of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A portable foldable fender for a boat, comprising: a. An extended protective surface, the extended protective surface having a top surface, a back surface, and a bungee cord connector; b. The top of the extended protective surface includes more than one pocket portion, the more than one pocket portion is located at the top of the surface of the extended protective surface, and the pocket portion has a geometric shape; c. at least one fender pad located in each of said pocket portions; d. the expanded protective face has a gap between the pocket portions and the interior space between the pocket portions, such that the gap between the pocket portions and the interior space forms a line consisting of points corresponding to the gap between each of the pocket portions and the interior space, the interior space forming at least one cavity, so that when the expanded protective face is folded along the line between one of the pocket portions and the interior space, the pocket portion fits into the at least one cavity, thereby forming a compact portable foldable fender for easy storage; e. The portable foldable fender includes a double track hook, which can be attached to the back surface of the extended protective surface, and the double track hook can be detachably attached to the boat to provide a secure connection between the portable foldable fender and the boat; f. The portable foldable fender comprises an adjustable bungee cord detachably attached to the bungee cord connector; as well as g. The bungee cord comprises a rope having a first end and a second end, the first end having a hook, the hook having a safety latch, the second end having a connecting device, the hook and the hook having the safety latch being detachably connected to the connecting device, and the bungee cord being detachably connected to the bungee cord connector, the hook having the safety latch preventing the hook from being accidentally decoupled when the bungee cord is attached to the bungee cord connector.

2. The portable foldable fender for a boat according to claim 1, wherein: The number of pocket portions is selected from the group consisting of 2 pocket portions, 3 pocket portions, 4 pocket portions, 5 pocket portions, 6 pocket portions, 7 pocket portions, 8 pocket portions and 9 pocket portions.

3. The portable foldable fender for a boat according to claim 1, wherein: The at least one fender pad is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of foam, vinyl, and hollow vinyl tube.

4. The portable foldable fender for a boat according to claim 1, wherein: The geometric shape of the pocket portion is selected from the group consisting of a square, an oval, a triangle, a polygon, a hexagon and a pentagon.

5. The portable foldable fender for a boat according to claim 1, wherein: The at least one fender pad is comprised of a plurality of sub-pads.

6. The portable foldable fender for a boat according to claim 5, wherein: The sub-pads are formed from groups consisting of 1 fender pad, 2 fender pads, 3 fender pads and 4 fender pads.

7. The portable foldable fender for a boat according to claim 1, wherein: The top of the extended protective surface is made of a material selected from canvas, coarse cloth, cotton coarse cloth, Made of materials from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, aramid fiber, vinyl, silicone, polystyrene, polypropylene, plastic, plastic sheets and plastic boards.

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