Foam-Encased Mooring Device with Rigid Hook for Dock Cleats
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current small watercraft mooring devices are not easily detachable, not compact for storage, and fail to provide a rigid connection to the dock, leading to damage from waves and wind, and existing fenders are cumbersome and time-consuming to secure.
Innovation Solution
A compact, rigid watercraft mooring device with a foam-encased rigid body and elastic loops that securely attach to a dock cleat, allowing the boat to move with waves while preventing contact with the dock, and can be easily detached and stored.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If large rubber fenders are used to prevent boat damage, then protection against dock contact is improved, but storage space requirement and time to secure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the protective function into multiple components: a rigid body provides structural support and spacing, while foam elements provide cushioning. This segmentation allows the device to be more compact than traditional fenders while maintaining protection capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The device combines rigid materials (for structural integrity and spacing) with foam materials (for cushioning and protection). This composite approach enables a compact design that provides both rigid positioning and soft protection, reducing storage space compared to traditional rubber fenders.
2Reliability
If rigid connection devices are used to prevent boat movement, then protection against dock striking is improved, but ease of detachment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates a dynamic detachment mechanism where the rigid body can be easily released from the dock. The rigid connection is maintained during mooring through the rigid body and foam combination, but detachment is simplified through the design of the connection interface, allowing quick release when needed.
3Volume of moving object
If compact design is implemented for easy storage, then storage space requirement is reduced, but device complexity may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The foam elements are nested within or around the rigid body structure, allowing the entire device to collapse or compact into a small volume for storage. The rigid body serves as the outer structure that contains the foam, creating a nested configuration that minimizes storage space without requiring complex disassembly.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively minimizes boat movement relative to the dock, provides floatation, and is easily storable, ensuring the boat remains secure and undamaged under various conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The present invention floats in case it is dropped in the water
Implementation Method 2
an elastic loop extending from the boat end
Data Source
AI summary
A watercraft mooring device is provided. The mooring device provides a rigid body extending between a rigid hook portion and an elastic loop connectable to the watercraft. The rigid hook portion has a distal end that transitions by way of a curvature to a proximal end rigidly connected to the rigid body. A foam layer may encase the rigid body, giving floatation properties to the mooring device as well as bumper capabilities. The prong of the hook portion is dimensioned and adapted to slide through a slot of a cleat or the like on a docking structure, whereby the curvature enables a pivotal connection so that the loop end of mooring device may move vertically out of plane with the cleat slot, while the rigidity of the hook portion and the rigid body of the mooring device keeps the watercraft spaced apart from the docking structure.