Single point mooring and fender

Claim 2

A single point mooring comprising a dolphin and the like fixed in the ocean bottom, a plurality of rigid fender segments joined end to end and forming an endless member positioned in a horizontal plane surrounding the dolphin, a plurality of flexible yielding means, each having one end connected to the dolphin and the other end connected to the endless member, said flexible yielding means being connected to the endless member at vertices formed by said segments whereby contact between the endless member and the dolphin is resisted by at least one of the flexible yielding means.

Claim 3

A mooring as set forth in claim 1 in which the endless member comprises a tubular buoyant structure.

Claim 4

A single point mooring comprising a dolphin and the like fixed in the ocean bottom, an endless impact member consisting essentially of a plurality of buoyant segments joined end to end, said impact member floating on the surface of the ocean surrounding the dolphin, a plurality of flexible yielding means extending between the dolphin and the impact member, each flexible yielding means having one end connected to the dolphin and the other end connected to the impact member, said flexible yielding means being connected to the impact member at vertices formed by said segments whereby contact between the impact member and the dolphin is resisted by at least one of the flexible yielding means.

Claim 5

A single point mooring comprising a dolphin and the like fixed in the ocean bottom, an endless impact member consisting essentially of a plurality of buoyant segments joined end to end, said impact member floating on the surface of the ocean surrounding the dolphin, a plurality of flexible yielding means extending between the dolphin and the impact member, each flexible yielding means having one end connected to the dolphin and the other end connected to the impact member, said flexible yielding means being connected to the impact member at vertices formed by said segments whereby contact between the impact member and the dolphin is resisted by at least one of the flexible yielding means.

Claim 6

The mooring means of claim 3 in which the impact member comprises a tubular member having a plurality of straight segments.

Claim 7

The mooring means of claim 4 in which the flexible yielding means extend radially from the dolphin on at least three different axes.

Claim 8

The single point mooring of claim 4 in which the endless impact member is substantially triangular in plan.

Claim 9

A single point mooring comprising a dolphin and the like fixed in the ocean and projecting through the surface of a body of water, sleeve means rotatably mounted on the dolphin for free movement vertically and rotationally, a plurality of rigid fender segments joined end to end and forming and endless floating member surrounding said sleeve means and said dolphin, a plurality of flexible yielding means, each having one end connected to the sleeve means and the other end connected to the endless member, said flexible yielding means being connected to the endless member at vertices formed by said segments whereby contact between the endless member and the dolphin and sleeve is resisted by at least one of the flexible yielding means.

Claim 10

A single point mooring comprising a dolphin and the like fixed in the ocean and projecting through the surface of a body of water, sleeve means rotatably mounted on the dolphin for free movement vertically and rotationally, a plurality of rigid fender segments joined end to end and forming and endless floating member surrounding said sleeve means and said dolphin, a plurality of flexible yielding means, each having one end connected to the sleeve means and the other end connected to the endless member, said flexible yielding means being connected to the endless member at vertices formed by said segments whereby contact between the endless member and the dolphin and sleeve is resisted by at least one of the flexible yielding means.