Cover member for fender

Abstract

To provide a cover member which can be easily attached / detached and can be securely attached on a fender and is not damaged when being used for the fender of a vessel.SOLUTION: A cover member is used for a fender of a vessel having a trunk body and sub-trunk bodies provided on both end sides of the trunk body. The cover member comprises a first cover part corresponding to the trunk body of the fender and a second cover part connected to the first cover member and corresponding to the sub-trunk part of the fender. The first cover part has a first connection part formed in a second direction orthogonal to a first direction wound up around the fender. Further, the first cover part and the second cover part are formed of material including nylon. This makes the cover member easily attachable / detachable and securely attach on the fender, providing a protection cover not damaged when being used as the fender for the vessel.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cover member for a fender, and more particularly to a cover member for protecting a fender used in a ship. [Background technology]

[0002] Fenders (hereinafter also referred to as "fenders") are used to prevent damage to the hull of a ship when it is berthed. Fenders are generally made of rubber. Such fenders have the problem that they can be damaged during use due to contact or friction between the ship's hull and the quay. To solve this problem, members that cover the fenders are used.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a fender protection member. In Patent Document 1, both side edge portions 1a of the body portion 3 of the sheet-like member 1 are connected with tightening ropes 7. Therefore, covering the fender with the sheet-like member 1 is time-consuming, and the connection strength is not high. On the other hand, Patent Document 2 discloses a protective cover 2 that covers the outer surface of the body portion 1a of the fender 1. This fender 1 is a vertical fender for submarines, and needs to be moored at the port at all times. Therefore, the protective cover 2 is prone to deterioration, and there was a problem with the durability of the protective cover 2.

[0004] Under these circumstances, there is a demand for a protective member that is easy to attach and detach, can be firmly attached to a fender, and will not be damaged when used in a ship fender. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-25812 [Patent Document 2] JP 2016-204908 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a cover member (fender cover) that is easy to attach and detach, can be firmly attached to a fender, and will not be damaged for a long period of time even when used as a fender for a ship. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] Such an object can be achieved by the present invention as set forth below in (1) to (9). (1) The cover member of the present invention is a cover member used for a fender for a vessel having a body portion and sub-body portions provided on both ends of the body portion, A first cover portion corresponding to the body portion of the fender; a second cover portion connected to the first cover portion and corresponding to the sub-body portion of the fender; The first cover portion has a first connection portion formed along a second direction perpendicular to a first direction in which the first cover portion is wrapped around the fender, The first cover portion and the second cover portion are characterized by being formed of a material containing nylon.

[0008] (2) In the cover member of the present invention, the first connecting portion is preferably made of a first connecting material and a second connecting material different from the first connecting material.

[0009] (3) In the cover member of the present invention, it is preferable that the first connecting material and the second connecting material are provided alternately along the second direction.

[0010] (4) In the cover member of the present invention, the first connection portion has a first connection material including a male member and a female member that fits with the male member, It is preferable that the male members and the female members are alternately provided on a side of the first cover portion along the second direction.

[0011] (5) In the cover member of the present invention, the second cover portion has a second connection portion formed along the second direction, It is preferable that the first connection portion and the second connection portion are formed continuously.

[0012] (6) In the cover member of the present invention, it is preferable that the first cover portion has a third connection portion that covers the first connection portion.

[0013] (7) In the cover member of the present invention, the first connecting portion and the third connecting portion are preferably made of the same connecting material.

[0014] (8) In the cover member of the present invention, it is preferable that the second cover portion has a plurality of notches along the first direction.

[0015] (9) In the cover member of the present invention, it is preferable that the fender is configured to be foldable. Effect of the Invention

[0016] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a cover member that is easy to attach and detach, can be firmly attached to a fender, and will not be damaged for a long period of time even when used for a ship fender. That is, the cover member of the present invention has excellent effects in durability, scratch resistance, and non-fading. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view that typically shows a state in which a cover member according to a first embodiment of the present invention is attached to a fender. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a side view showing a schematic state in which the cover member according to the first embodiment of the present invention is attached to a fender. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating a schematic state in which the cover member according to the first embodiment of the present invention is unfolded. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view that typically shows a state in which a cover member according to a second embodiment of the present invention is attached to a fender. [Diagram 5]FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a schematic state in which a cover member according to a second embodiment of the present invention is attached to a fender. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a side view showing a schematic state in which a cover member according to a second embodiment of the present invention is attached to a fender. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating a schematic state in which a cover member according to a second embodiment of the present invention is unfolded. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a photograph showing the state in which the cover member of Example 1 is evaluated. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a photograph showing the state in which the cover member of Example 2 is evaluated. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] First Embodiment The cover member according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. For convenience of explanation, the upper side in the drawings will be referred to as "upper", the lower side as "lower", the left side as "left", the right side as "right", the front side of the page as "front", and the rear side of the page as "rear". Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which the cover member according to the first embodiment of the present invention is attached to a fender, Fig. 2 is a side view showing a state in which the cover member according to the first embodiment of the present invention is attached to a fender, and Fig. 3 is a plan view showing a state in which the cover member according to the first embodiment of the present invention is unfolded.

[0019] 1. Fender First, before describing the cover member 1 of the present invention, a fender 9 in which the cover member 1 is used will be described. The fender 9 used in the present invention is a fender for ships. It is used to prevent damage to the ship's side when the ship comes alongside a quay. Such a fender 9 is used for ships, boats, submarines, quays, piers, ports, etc., but is not limited to these. In addition, the fender 9 used in the present invention may be a general horizontal type or a vertical type for submarines.

[0020] In general, the fenders 9 include high-pressure fenders for home ports that are not portable, and low-pressure fenders for ships that are portable. High-pressure fenders are permanently installed on quays and the like. On the other hand, low-pressure fenders are stored on the ship and installed on the side of the ship when the ship comes alongside. In this embodiment, low-pressure fenders are preferred, and in particular, foldable low-pressure fenders are more preferred. This allows the fenders 9 to be stored compactly inside the ship, making it possible to effectively utilize the space inside the ship. Such foldable low-pressure fenders can be easily deployed on deck by crew members.

[0021] The fender 9 is formed in a cylindrical, bale-like, or elliptical cylindrical shape. The size of the fender 9 varies depending on the size (displacement) of the ship to be used. For example, the diameter of the fender 9 is preferably about 0.5 to 5 m, and more preferably about 2 to 4.5 m. The length of the fender 9 is preferably about 0.5 to 15 m, and more preferably about 4 to 13 m. The inside of the fender 9 is hollow and pressurized.

[0022] The fender 9 as described above is composed of a fuselage section 91, a first sub-fuselage section 92 provided at one end of the fuselage section 91, and a second sub-fuselage section 93 provided at the other end of the fuselage section 91. The fuselage section 91 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The first sub-fuselage section 92 and the second sub-fuselage section 93 are formed in a dome shape or a truncated cone shape. The sizes and shapes of the fuselage section 91, the first sub-fuselage section 92, and the second sub-fuselage section 93 depend on the size of the ship and can be variously changed.

[0023] 2.Cover material Next, the cover member 1 of the present invention will be described. The cover member 1 of the present invention is used for a fender 9 for a boat, in particular, a foldable fender 9. Such a cover member 1 has the function of protecting the fender 9.

[0024] The cover member 1 of the present invention is made of materials including polyester, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, fluororesin, nylon, cellulose fiber, synthetic rubber, etc. Among these, materials including nylon are preferred, and Cordura (registered trademark) is particularly preferred. Nylon is lightweight and has excellent impact resistance and abrasion resistance, so that the cover member 1 can be used for a long period of time without being damaged even if it comes into contact with a quay.

[0025] In particular, Cordura is particularly excellent in strength, abrasion resistance, and durability, so even if the cover member 1 is used normally, it can maintain its durability for more than two years. In addition, since Cordura is water repellent, even if it is retrieved inside the hull after use, the inside of the hull does not get wet, making it easy to handle. Furthermore, it has excellent non-fading properties, as it does not transfer color to the outer wall of the hull or the quay. In this way, by using Cordura, it is possible to provide a cover member 1 that has excellent durability and is environmentally friendly.

[0026] The amount of nylon contained is not particularly limited, but is preferably 50 to 100 wt%, and more preferably 60 to 95 wt%, of the total weight of the cover member 1. When the amount of nylon contained is within this range, the properties of the material can be fully exhibited, and it is possible to reliably provide a cover member 1 having high durability, high abrasion resistance, and non-fading properties. In particular, when the cover member 1 is made of Cordura, it can exhibit excellent water repellency, tensile strength, and tear strength.

[0027] The cover member 1 is formed in a cylindrical, bale-shaped, elliptical, circular, rectangular, prismatic, sheet-like shape, etc., but is not limited thereto. Of these, the cover member 1 is preferably in a rectangular sheet shape as shown in FIG. 3. This allows the cover member 1 to be manufactured simply and reliably. The cover member 1 may also be in a cylindrical or bale-shaped shape. In this case, since the cover member 1 has a shape corresponding to the shape of the fender 9, the cover member 1 can be attached to the fender 9 simply and reliably.

[0028] The length L of the cover member 1 along the longitudinal direction (second direction) varies depending on the size of the fender 9, but is preferably about 0.5 to 15 m, and more preferably about 4 to 13 m. The length H of the cover member 1 along the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (first direction) varies depending on the size of the fender 9, but is preferably about 0.5 to 5 m, and more preferably about 2 to 4.5 m. This makes it possible to accommodate fenders 9 of various sizes, and makes the cover member 1 versatile.

[0029] The use of the cover member 1 is not particularly limited as long as it is used for the fender 9 described above. For example, it is used for ships, boats, submarines, quays, piers, ports, etc. Furthermore, the type of fender in which the cover member 1 is used is not particularly limited. For example, the type of the fender 9 may be a horizontal type, a vertical type, a high-pressure type, a low-pressure type, a foldable type, etc. Among these, the foldable type of the fender 9 is particularly preferable.

[0030] When the cover member 1 is used for a foldable fender 9, the cover member 1 is stored in the ship together with the foldable fender 9. Then, a crew member can easily attach and detach the cover member 1 to the fender 9 on deck. Such a cover member 1 includes a main body (first cover portion) 11 and sub-main bodies (second cover portions) 12, 13 formed continuously with the main body 11, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 .

[0031] <Main body> The main body 11 has a function of covering the body portion 91 of the fender 9. The shape of the main body 11 is not particularly limited as long as it can cover the body portion 91 of the fender 9. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the main body 11 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape. The length L1 of the main body 11 along the second direction varies depending on the size of the fender 9, but is preferably about 0.1 to 5 m, and more preferably about 0.5 to 4 m. The length of the main body 11 along the first direction is the same as the length H of the cover member 1. This allows the cover member 1 to be compatible with body portions 91 of fenders 9 of various sizes, making it versatile.

[0032] The main body 11 has both sides formed along the second direction and both ends formed along the first direction. The main body 11 has first connecting parts 111 formed along the second direction on both sides thereof. The first connecting parts 111 have a function of making the cover member 1 cylindrical and a function of attaching the cover member 1 to the fender 9. The first connecting parts 111 are not particularly limited as long as they can connect both sides of the main body 11. For example, the first connecting parts 111 may be made of a fastener such as a hook, a fastener, a buckle, a Velcro tape, or a screw, or a material such as an opening or a string member.

[0033] Of these, the first connection portion 111 is preferably configured with a first connection material 111a having a fastener (buckle). This allows both sides of the main body 11 to be easily connected, and the main body 11 can be easily attached to the fender 9. The first connection material 111a is provided intermittently at a predetermined interval. This allows the main body 11 to be made lighter while ensuring the strength (connection strength) for connecting both sides of the main body 11.

[0034] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the first connecting material 111a has a male material and a female material that fits with the male material. For example, as shown in Figure 3, the first connecting material 111a is composed of a male material provided on the left side of the main body 11 along the second direction, and a female material provided on the right side along the second direction. With this configuration, since the same material is provided on one side, the first connecting material 111a can be easily attached to both sides, and sufficient connection strength can be provided.

[0035] The first connecting material 111a may be arranged such that the attached state (direction) to the main body 11 and the inverted state obtained by inverting the attached state are alternately arranged along the second direction. In other words, the first connecting material 111a may be configured such that the male material and the female material are alternately arranged along the second direction on the left side of the main body 11. Correspondingly, the first connecting material 111a may be configured such that the female material and the male material are alternately arranged along the second direction on the right side of the main body 11. This allows the female material and the male material to be alternately arranged on both sides of the main body 11, thereby reducing the possibility of the buckle being broken. Also, the connection strength of both sides of the main body can be evenly distributed.

[0036] In this way, if the first connection portion 111 is made of the first connection material 111a, sufficient connection strength is exhibited. However, the first connection material 111a may be damaged while the fender 9 with the cover member 1 is being used. In that case, the connection strength may be reduced. Therefore, it is preferable that the first connection portion 111 has the second connection material 111b having a string member as a backup function for the connection strength. This makes it possible to reliably maintain the connection between both sides of the main body 11. Such second connection material 111b is provided intermittently at a predetermined interval along the second direction. This makes it possible to reduce the weight of the main body 11 while ensuring the strength to connect both sides of the main body 11.

[0037] The second connecting material 111b has a female material and a male material for connecting them to each other. For example, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the second connecting material 111b is composed of an opening and a string member provided on the left side of the main body 11, and an opening provided on the right side. Since the opening and the string member do not require special members to be provided on the main body 11, the second connecting material 111b can be easily formed on the main body 11. With such a configuration, both sides of the main body 11 can be easily connected, and sufficient connection strength can be provided. In addition, it can function as a backup when the first connecting material 111a is broken. Therefore, it is more preferable that the first connecting portion 111 has the second connecting material 111b.

[0038] Moreover, the first connection portion 111 may be made of the same type of material or may be made of different materials. In this embodiment, as described above, the first connection portion 111 is made of different materials, the first connection material 111a and the second connection material 111b. It is preferable that the first connection material 111a and the second connection material 111b are alternately provided along the second direction. This not only makes it possible to make the connection strength of the main body 11 uniform, but also to increase the connection strength. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the second connection material 111b and the first connection material 111a are alternately provided along the second direction from the lower end to the upper end of both sides of the main body 11.

[0039] As a result, as shown in FIG. 1, the male and female materials of the buckle are connected, and the two openings are connected by the string member. In this way, the first connecting material 111a and the second connecting material 111b are made of different materials, so the connection strength of both sides of the main body 11 can be increased. In addition, since the second connecting material 111b is made of an opening and a string member, the weight of the cover member 1 can be reduced. Furthermore, even if the first connecting material 111a is damaged, the second connecting material 111b functions as a backup, and the connection strength of the first connecting portion 111 can be maintained.

[0040] The first connecting portion 111 may have different materials arranged randomly. The first connecting portion 111 may include, for example, a first group of a plurality of materials of one type (e.g., fasteners) and a second group of a plurality of materials of another type (e.g., other fasteners), and the first and second groups may be arranged alternately or randomly. The first connecting portion 111 may further include a third group of a plurality of materials of another type.

[0041] <Sub-body> The sub-main body has a function of covering the sub-body portions 92, 93 of the fender 9. The sub-main body has a first sub-main body 12 that covers the first sub-main body portion 92, and a second sub-main body 13 that covers the second sub-main body portion 93. The first sub-main body 12 and the second sub-main body 13 are provided continuously with the main body 11 so as to protrude from both ends of the main body 11. Since the first sub-main body 12 and the second sub-main body 13 have the same configuration, hereinafter, the first sub-main body 12 will be described as the sub-main body 12.

[0042] The shape of the sub-main body 12 is not particularly limited as long as it can cover the first sub-body portion 92 of the fender 9. In this embodiment, it is formed into a rectangular shape or a trapezoidal shape. The length L2 of both sides of the sub-main body 12 along the second direction varies depending on the size of the fender 9, but is preferably about 0.1 to 3 m, and more preferably about 0.3 to 2 m. The length of the sub-main body 12 along the first direction is the same as the length H of the cover member 1. This allows it to be adapted to the first sub-body portion 92 of the fender 9 of various sizes, making the cover member 1 versatile.

[0043] The sub-main body 12 is formed at an end of the main body 11 so as to be continuous with the main body 11. This forms one cover member 1 as a whole. The sub-main body 12 has both side parts formed continuous with both side parts of the main body 11, and end parts formed parallel to both ends of the main body 11. The sub-main body 12 has second connection parts 121 formed on both side parts along the second direction. The second connection part 121 has a function of making the cover member 1 cylindrical and a function of attaching the cover member 1 to the fender 9. The configuration and function of the second connection part 121 are similar to those of the first connection part 111 described above. Therefore, a detailed description of the second connection part 121 will be omitted.

[0044] Briefly, the second connecting portion 121 is preferably composed of a first connecting material 121a having a buckle. However, for the same reason as the first connecting portion 111, the second connecting portion 121 is preferably further composed of a second connecting material 121b having a string member. Also, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, the first connecting material 121b is composed of an opening and a string member provided on the left side of the sub-main body 12, and an opening provided on the right side. Furthermore, the first connecting material 121a and the second connecting material 121b are alternately provided along the second direction.

[0045] In this way, since the second connecting portion 121 has the same configuration as the first connecting portion 111, the connection strength of both sides of the sub-main body 12 can be increased. Also, since the first connecting material 121a is composed of male and female members, both sides of the sub-main body 12 can be easily connected, and the connection strength of both sides can be increased. Also, since the second connecting material 121b is composed of a simple material such as a string member, the weight of the cover member 1 can be reduced. Furthermore, even if the first connecting material 121a is damaged, the second connecting material 121b functions as a backup, and the connection strength of the second connecting portion 121 can be maintained.

[0046] The sub-main body 12 has a third connection part 122 formed at its end along the first direction. The third connection part 122 has a function of guiding the sub-main body 12 to stably cover the first sub-body part 92. The configuration of the third connection part 122 is not particularly limited as long as it can be connected to the retaining material 8 shown in FIG. 1. For example, the third connection part 122 may be a fastener such as a hook, a fastener, a buckle, a Velcro tape, a screw, an opening, a string member, etc., similar to the first connection part 111. Of these, the hook is preferable because it has a through hole and can be easily connected to the retaining material 8 by passing the retaining material 8 through the through hole. In addition, the hook can be made of the same material as the sub-main body 12, so that the sub-main body 12 can be easily manufactured and the cover member 1 can be made lighter.

[0047] The retaining material 8 may be attached to the third connecting portion 122 in advance. That is, the cover member 1 may further include the retaining material 8. In this case, the retaining material 8 may be formed in an annular shape or in a linear shape. If the retaining material 8 is formed in a linear shape, one end and the other end of the retaining material 8 are connected when the cover member 1 is attached to the fender 9. This makes the retaining material 8 annular, and the covering state of the first sub-body portion 92 of the sub-main body 12 can be appropriately maintained. In addition, when attaching the cover member 1 to the fender 9, there is no need to separately prepare the retaining material 8, which improves the convenience of attachment.

[0048] The third connection parts 122 are provided intermittently at a predetermined interval along the end of the sub-main body 12. The predetermined interval is not particularly limited, but is preferably about 5 to 50 cm, and more preferably about 10 to 40 cm. This allows the sub-main body 12 and the retaining material 8 to be connected with a uniform force, and the first sub-body part 92 can be reliably covered. Note that the third connection part 122 may include different members, similar to the first connection part 111 and the second connection part 121, and they may be formed alternately.

[0049] 3. Manufacturing method of the cover member Next, a method for producing the cover member 1 of the present invention will be described. The method for producing the cover member 1 of the present invention includes the following first to third steps. The first step is a step of cutting a base material containing nylon to a predetermined size and shape to obtain a sheet material. The second step is a step of attaching a first connecting portion 111 and a second connecting portion 121 to the sheet material. The third step is a step of attaching a third connecting portion 122 to the sheet material. Each step will be described in detail below.

[0050] (First step) The first step is a step of cutting a base material, preferably made of Cordura (registered trademark), to a predetermined size and shape. The predetermined size depends on the fender 9 to be used. However, the predetermined size may be larger or smaller than the fender 9 by adjusting the first to third connecting parts 111, 121, and 122. The cutting method is a general method. In this way, a sheet material is formed.

[0051] (Second step) The second step is a step of attaching the first connecting portion 111 and the second connecting portion 121 to the sheet material obtained in the first step. The first connecting material 111a and the second connecting material 111b are attached alternately to both sides of the sheet material from one end to the other end at a predetermined interval. The predetermined interval is not particularly limited, but is preferably equal. At this time, the male material on one side of the sheet material is attached to the sheet material so as to correspond to the female material on the other side. The second connecting material 111b is attached in the same manner. The attachment is performed by a general method such as sewing.

[0052] (Third step) The third step is a step of attaching third connecting parts 122 to both ends of the sheet material obtained in the second step. The third connecting parts 122 are attached at a predetermined interval. The predetermined interval is not particularly limited, but it is preferable that they are equal intervals. The attachment method is a general method such as sewing. Through the steps described above, the cover member 1 of the present invention is obtained.

[0053] <<Second embodiment>> Next, a second embodiment of the cover member of the present invention will be described based on the attached drawings. For convenience of description, the upper side in the drawing will be referred to as "upper", the lower side as "lower", the left side as "left", the right side as "right", the front side of the paper as "front", and the back side of the paper as "rear". FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a cover member according to the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a cover member according to the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a side view showing a cover member according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a development view showing a cover member according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment will be described below, focusing on the differences from the first embodiment described above, and the description of similar matters will be omitted. The same reference numerals are used for the same configurations as the first embodiment described above.

[0054] The cover member 10 of this embodiment is similar to the cover member 1 of the first embodiment, except that the configurations of the main body 11 and the sub-main body 12 are different.

[0055] <Main body> First, the first connection portion 111 of the main body of this embodiment is made of the second connection material 111b and does not have the first connection material 111a. This allows both sides of the main body 11 to be reliably connected. Then, the main body 11 of this embodiment has a fourth connection portion 112. The fourth connection portion 112 has a function of enhancing the connection strength of the first connection portion 111. The fourth connection portion 112 is provided in the vicinity of the first connection portion 111 and along the first connection portion 111. Such a fourth connection portion 112 has a third connection material 112a and a fourth connection material 112b.

[0056] The third connecting material 112a is formed on the main body 11 in parallel to the first connecting portion 111 so as to cover the first connecting portion 111. The third connecting material 112a is formed of the same material as the main body 11. The third connecting material 112a has holes and string members or fasteners on its sides, similar to the first connecting portion 111. The third connecting material 112a is formed in a rectangular shape having a certain width.

[0057] On the other hand, the fourth connecting material 112b is formed in the main body 11 in parallel with the first connecting portion 111. The fourth connecting material 112b is formed of the same material as the main body 11. Like the first connecting portion 111, the fourth connecting material 112b has holes and string members or fasteners on its sides. The fourth connecting material 112b forms an elongated member that is narrower than the third connecting material 112a.

[0058] The third connecting material 112a has a certain width, and is therefore provided closer to the center of the main body 11 than the fourth connecting material 112b. The width of the third connecting material 112a is not particularly limited, but is preferably about 2 to 5 times the width of the fourth connecting material 112b. This allows the third connecting material 112a to be wound around the fender 9 from the center of the main body 11 and connected to the fourth connecting material 112b, thereby increasing the connection strength of the main body 11.

[0059] In FIG. 5, the hole of the third connecting material 112a and the hole of the fourth connecting material 112b are connected by a string member, but as in the first embodiment, it may be a fastener or the like. Also, the first connecting part 111 of this embodiment may be a fastener or the like as in the first embodiment. Also, as in this embodiment, it is preferable that the first connecting part 111 and the fourth connecting part 112 have the same configuration such as a hole and a string member. Since the first connecting part 111 includes a string, the first connecting part 111 is not configured to be bulky. Therefore, the third connecting material 113a does not expand in a direction perpendicular to the main body 11, and the third connecting material 113a can be closely attached to the first connecting part 111.

[0060] <Sub-body> The sub-body 12 of this embodiment is different from the sub-body 12 of the first embodiment in that it does not have the second connecting portion 121. Instead, the sub-body 12 has a notch 123 and has a plurality of strips formed thereby. The notch 123 has a function of closely adhering the plurality of strips to the first sub-body portion 92 without any gaps. The notch 123 extends from the end of the sub-body 12 to the main body 11, but is not limited thereto. The notch 123 may extend to any part of the way from the end of the sub-body 12 to the main body 11. The shape of the notch 123 is not particularly limited, but may be a triangle, a straight line, an ellipse, a rectangle, or the like. Of these, the shape of the notch 123 is preferably a triangle, so that the sub-body 12 can be closely adhering to the first sub-body portion 92.

[0061] Due to such cutouts 123, the sub-main body 12 has a plurality of strips each having a substantially trapezoidal shape. The plurality of strips has a function of reliably protecting the sub-main body 12. The plurality of strips can be formed in various shapes depending on the shape of the cutouts 123. For example, the plurality of strips may be substantially trapezoidal, elongated, rectangular, triangular, etc. Furthermore, the plurality of strips are provided continuously at the end of the main body 11 along the first direction. This allows the first sub-body portion 92 to be sufficiently protected.

[0062] The multiple strips (sub-body 12) have third connection parts 122 at their ends. In this embodiment, the third connection part 122 differs from the third connection part 122 of the first embodiment in that it is composed of a ring and a string member. The third connection part 122 may be composed of a fastener or the like, similar to the first connection part 111 of this embodiment. The third connection part 122 is connected to the retaining material 8 in the first embodiment or to a mooring part (FIG. 6) at the end of the first sub-body part 92. This allows the fender 9 to be reliably protected by the cover member 10.

[0063] <Method of manufacturing the cover member> The manufacturing method of the cover member 10 of this embodiment further includes a fourth step and a fifth step. The fourth step is a step of attaching a fourth connection portion 112 to the sheet material. The fifth step is a step of forming a notch 123 in a portion of the sheet material corresponding to the sub-main body 12. Each step will be described in detail below.

[0064] (Fourth step) The fourth step is a step of attaching a fourth connection portion 112 to the sheet material obtained in the second step. A third connection material 112a is attached to one side of the sheet material along the first connection portion 111. A fourth connection material 112b is attached to the other side of the sheet material along the first connection portion 111. It is preferable that holes and string members of the third connection material 112a and the fourth connection material 112b are formed in advance. The attachment is performed by a general method such as sewing.

[0065] (5th step) The fifth step is a step of forming a predetermined notch 123 in the sheet material obtained in the first step at a position corresponding to the sub-main body 12. The notch 123 is cut in a substantially triangular shape from the end of the sheet material to the main body 11. The cutting method is a general method. Through the steps described above, the cover member 10 of this embodiment is obtained.

[0066] Although the cover member and the method for producing the cover member of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, each component constituting the cover member can be replaced with any component that can exert a similar function. Also, any component may be added to the cover member. Also, in the present invention, any step may be added before, between, or after the first to fifth steps, and the order of the first to fifth steps may be arbitrarily changed.

[0067] The cover member of the present invention is also used as a protective cover for fenders in any location, such as ships, vessels, boats, submarines, quays, piers, rivers, lakes, marshes, oceans, etc. In particular, as described below, ships sailing on the sea are exposed to seawater for long periods of time, so the cover member of the present invention, which has high durability, abrasion resistance, high tear hardness, high tensile hardness, low friction, non-fading, high flexibility, and non-water absorbency, is suitable for covers used on ships. EXAMPLES

[0068] Next, specific examples of the present invention will be described. Fig. 8 is a photograph showing the state in which the cover member of Example 1 is evaluated, and Fig. 9 is a photograph showing the state in which the cover member of Example 2 is evaluated.

[0069] Example 1 First, a base material of Cordura 1680 was cut to a diameter of 1.8 m and a length of 3.6 to obtain a sheet material. The first to third connecting parts were attached to this sheet material. In this way, the cover member according to the first embodiment was produced. The produced cover member was attached to a fender with a diameter of 1.8 m and a length of 4.0. Then, with this fender with cover member moored to the side wall of the ship, the ship was docked at a quay (FIG. 8) and was moored alongside another ship. This was continued for two years.

[0070] As a result, there was no damage to the cover material even after long-term use, and no damage such as color transfer to the ship's exterior plate. Thus, even after two years of use, there were no problems whatsoever with the durability, color non-fading, or operability of the cover material.

[0071] Example 2 First, a base material of Cordura 1680 was cut to a diameter of 0.8 m and a length of 1.8 to obtain a sheet material. The first, third and fourth connection parts were attached to this sheet material. Then, the end of the sheet material was cut to form a notch. In this way, a cover member according to the second embodiment was produced. The produced cover member was attached to a fender with a diameter of 0.8 m and a length of 2.0. Then, with this fender with cover member moored to the side wall of a ship, the ship was docked at a quay (FIG. 9) and was moored alongside another ship. This was continued for two years.

[0072] As a result, there was no damage to the cover material even after long-term use, and no damage such as color transfer to the ship's exterior plate. Thus, even after two years of use, there were no problems whatsoever with the durability, color non-fading, or operability of the cover material.

[0073] Comparative Example 1 In Example 1, except that the cover member of the present invention was changed to a conventional cover member, the conventional cover member was attached to a fender in the same manner as in Example 1. Then, the fender with the conventional cover member was used on a ship in the same manner as in Example 1. As a result, the cover member was damaged immediately when the ship came alongside, and there were problems with durability and operability.

[0074] From the above, it was found that the cover members of the present invention obtained in Examples 1 and 2 have high durability, abrasion resistance, high tear strength, high tensile hardness, low friction, non-fading, high flexibility, and non-water absorbency, and are excellent as cover members for fenders. Therefore, the cover members of the present invention are optimal for long-term use.

Claims

1. A cover member used for a fender for a vessel having a body portion and sub-body portions provided on both ends of the body portion, A first cover portion corresponding to the body portion of the fender; a second cover portion connected to the first cover portion and corresponding to the sub-body portion of the fender; the first cover portion has a first connection portion formed along a second direction perpendicular to a first direction in which the first cover portion is wrapped around the fender, A cover member, wherein the first cover portion and the second cover portion are formed from a material containing nylon.

2. The cover member according to claim 1 , wherein the first connecting portion is made of a first connecting material and a second connecting material different from the first connecting material.

3. The cover member according to claim 2 , wherein the first connecting material and the second connecting material are provided alternately along the second direction.

4. The first connection portion has a first connection material including a male member and a female member that mates with the male member, The cover member according to claim 1 , wherein the male members and the female members are alternately provided on the side of the first cover portion along the second direction.

5. the second cover portion has a second connection portion formed along the second direction, The cover member according to claim 1 , wherein the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are formed continuously.

6. The cover member according to claim 1 , wherein the first cover portion has a third connection portion that covers the first connection portion.

7. The cover member according to claim 6 , wherein the first connecting portion and the third connecting portion are made of the same connecting material.

8. The cover member according to claim 1 , wherein the second cover portion has a plurality of notches along the first direction.

9. 9. The cover member according to claim 1, wherein the fender is configured to be foldable.

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