← Back to Patent Explorer
US4676182A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Suspension means for a mooring line

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1984-03-21
•
Granted: 1987-06-30
•
Expires: 2004-03-21
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract According to the embodiment depicted, the Suspension Means comprises a flexible limb pivotably coupled, at one end, to a mounting bracket, and having a mooring line hook attached to the opposite end thereof. In addition, the hook has a weighting container pendantly attached thereto, for suspension therefrom, the container being buoyant. The hook is attached to the limb by a length of line, and the container is coupled to the hook by a further length of line. Accordingly, the buoyant container is able to float while causing the limb to bend and dispose the mooring line hook for ready access thereto by a person aboard a water-going vessel. The accessible hook suspends the loop end of a mooring line, and the limb, flexed by the weighting container, holds the hook outward for grasping of the loop end and removal of the mooring line therefrom for tethering of the vessel. The mounting bracket is adjustable in order to dispose the limb at selective angles relative thereto, as warranted by the elevation of the pier or dock to which the bracket is fixed.

Inventors

  • 👤 Walter M. Chaiko

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 03:54
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B21/00

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim 155 words
Suspension means for a mooring line, comprising: a single elongate limb; said limb being formed of flexible material; and means defining a support for said limb; wherein said support has (a) means for removably securing one end of said limb thereto, and (b) means for fastening thereof to a bearing surface; and further including means coupled to the other end of said limb for suspending therefrom (a) means for releasably holding a mooring line, and (b) means for weighting said other end of said limb; wherein said weighting means is of buoyant construction for cooperation with said limb of flexible material for maintaining said mooring line holding means at a constant height from any given level of any body of water, in which said buoyant weighting means is buoyantly floated, in spite of tidal changes in such body of water; and said securing means comprises means for maintaining said limb in a substantially vertical disposition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 155 words
Suspension means for a mooring line, comprising: a single elongate limb; said limb being formed of flexible material; and means defining a support for said limb; wherein said support has (a) means for removably securing one end of said limb thereto, and (b) means for fastening thereof to a bearing surface; and further including means coupled to the other end of said limb for suspending therefrom (a) means for releasably holding a mooring line, and (b) means for weighting said other end of said limb; wherein said weighting means is of buoyant construction for cooperation with said limb of flexible material for maintaining said mooring line holding means at a constant height from any given level of any body of water, in which said buoyant weighting means is buoyantly floated, in spite of tidal changes in such body of water; and said securing means comprises means for maintaining said limb in a substantially vertical disposition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 53 words
Suspension means, according to claim 1, wherein: said weighting means comprises a length of filamentary material, and a weight; one end of said filamentary material is attached to said other end of said limb, and the other end of said filamentary material is attached to said weight; and said weight comprises a container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 13 words
Suspension means, according to claim 2, wherein: said container has a removable closure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 37 words
Suspension means, according to claim 1, wherein: said limb comprises means responsive to a weighting of an end thereof for causing said latter end, and an intermediate portion of said limb, to define a substantially U-shaped conformation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 200 words
Suspension means for a mooring line, comprising: a single elongate limb; said limb being formed of flexible material; and means defining a support for said limb; wherein said support has (a) means for removably securing one end of said limb thereto, and (b) means for fastening thereof to a bearing surface; and further including means coupled to the other end of said limb for suspending therefrom (a) means for releasably holding a mooring line, and (b) means for weighting said other end of said limb; wherein said weighting means is of buoyant construction for cooperation with said limb of flexible material for maintaining said mooring line holding means at a constant height from any given level of any body of water, in which said buoyant weighting means is buoyantly floated, in spite of tidal changes in such body of water; said weighting means comprises a length of filamentary material, and a weight; one end of said filamentary material is attached to said other end of said limb, and the other end of said filamentary material is attached to said weight; said weight comprises a container; and said container comprises means for charging thereof with a selective amount of weighting material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 200 words
Suspension means for a mooring line, comprising: a single elongate limb; said limb being formed of flexible material; and means defining a support for said limb; wherein said support has (a) means for removably securing one end of said limb thereto, and (b) means for fastening thereof to a bearing surface; and further including means coupled to the other end of said limb for suspending therefrom (a) means for releasably holding a mooring line, and (b) means for weighting said other end of said limb; wherein said weighting means is of buoyant construction for cooperation with said limb of flexible material for maintaining said mooring line holding means at a constant height from any given level of any body of water, in which said buoyant weighting means is buoyantly floated, in spite of tidal changes in such body of water; said weighting means comprises a length of filamentary material, and a weight; one end of said filamentary material is attached to said other end of said limb, and the other end of said filamentary material is attached to said weight; said weight comprises a container; and said container comprises means for charging thereof with a selective amount of weighting material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 157 words
Suspension means for a mooring line, comprising: a single elongate limb; said limb being formed of flexible material; and means defining a support for said limb; wherein said support has (a) means for removably securing one end of said limb thereto, and (b) means for fastening thereof to a bearing surface; and further including means coupled to the other end of said limb for suspending therefrom (a) means for releasably holding a mooring line, and (b) means for weighting said other end of said limb; wherein said weighting means is of buoyant construction; said weighting means comprises a length of filamentary material, and a weight; one end of said filamentary material is attached to said other end of said limb, and the other end of said filamentary material is attached to said weight; said weight comprises a container; said container has a bail; and said other end of said filamentary material is removably coupled to said bail.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 157 words
Suspension means for a mooring line, comprising: a single elongate limb; said limb being formed of flexible material; and means defining a support for said limb; wherein said support has (a) means for removably securing one end of said limb thereto, and (b) means for fastening thereof to a bearing surface; and further including means coupled to the other end of said limb for suspending therefrom (a) means for releasably holding a mooring line, and (b) means for weighting said other end of said limb; wherein said weighting means is of buoyant construction; said weighting means comprises a length of filamentary material, and a weight; one end of said filamentary material is attached to said other end of said limb, and the other end of said filamentary material is attached to said weight; said weight comprises a container; said container has a bail; and said other end of said filamentary material is removably coupled to said bail.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 217 words
Suspension means for a mooring line, comprising: a single elongate limb; said limb being formed of flexible material; and means defining a support for said limb; wherein said support has (a) means for removably securing one end of said limb thereto, and (b) means for fastening thereof to a bearing surface; and further including means coupled to the other end of said limb for suspending therefrom (a) means for releasably holding a mooring line, and (b) means for weighting said other end of said limb; wherein said weighting means is of buoyant construction; said support comprises a base, and web extending in a normal attitude from said base; said web has a first bolt hole formed therein which pivotably receives a pivot bolt, and a plurality of other bolt holes formed therein on a common radius from said first bolt hole, said radius comprising a given dimension; and said one end of said limb has a pair of bolt holes formed therethrough and spaced apart a dimension corresponding to said given dimension; whereby a pair of bolts secured through said pair of bolt holes in said end of said limb, and through said first bolt hole and one of said other bolt holes in said web, supports said limb at a given angle relative to said base.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 217 words
Suspension means for a mooring line, comprising: a single elongate limb; said limb being formed of flexible material; and means defining a support for said limb; wherein said support has (a) means for removably securing one end of said limb thereto, and (b) means for fastening thereof to a bearing surface; and further including means coupled to the other end of said limb for suspending therefrom (a) means for releasably holding a mooring line, and (b) means for weighting said other end of said limb; wherein said weighting means is of buoyant construction; said support comprises a base, and web extending in a normal attitude from said base; said web has a first bolt hole formed therein which pivotably receives a pivot bolt, and a plurality of other bolt holes formed therein on a common radius from said first bolt hole, said radius comprising a given dimension; and said one end of said limb has a pair of bolt holes formed therethrough and spaced apart a dimension corresponding to said given dimension; whereby a pair of bolts secured through said pair of bolt holes in said end of said limb, and through said first bolt hole and one of said other bolt holes in said web, supports said limb at a given angle relative to said base.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 188 words
Suspension means for a mooring line, comprising: a single elongate limb; said limb being formed of a flexible material; and means defining a support for said limb; wherein said support has (a) means for removably securing one end of said limb thereto, and (b) means for fastening thereof to a bearing surface; and further including means coupled to the other end of said limb for suspending therefrom (a) means for releasably holding a mooring line, and (b) means for weighting said other end of said limb; wherein said weighting means is of buoyant construction for cooperation with said limb of flexible material for maintaining said mooring line holding means at a constant height from any given level of any body of water, in which said buoyant weighting means is buoyantly floated, in spite of tidal changes in such body of water; and said holding and weighting means comprise (a) a fastener coupled to said other end of said limb, (b) a weight, (c) a mooring line hook, (d) first filamentary material coupling said weight to said hook, and (e) second filamentary material coupling said hook to said fastener.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 188 words
Suspension means for a mooring line, comprising: a single elongate limb; said limb being formed of a flexible material; and means defining a support for said limb; wherein said support has (a) means for removably securing one end of said limb thereto, and (b) means for fastening thereof to a bearing surface; and further including means coupled to the other end of said limb for suspending therefrom (a) means for releasably holding a mooring line, and (b) means for weighting said other end of said limb; wherein said weighting means is of buoyant construction for cooperation with said limb of flexible material for maintaining said mooring line holding means at a constant height from any given level of any body of water, in which said buoyant weighting means is buoyantly floated, in spite of tidal changes in such body of water; and said holding and weighting means comprise (a) a fastener coupled to said other end of said limb, (b) a weight, (c) a mooring line hook, (d) first filamentary material coupling said weight to said hook, and (e) second filamentary material coupling said hook to said fastener.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 163 words
Suspension means for a mooring line, comprising: a single elongate limb; said limb being formed of flexible material; and means defining a support for said limb; wherein said support has (a) means for removably securing one end of said limb thereto, and (b) means for fastening thereof to a bearing surface; and further including means coupled to the other end of said limb for suspending therefrom (a) means for releasably holding a mooring line, and (b) means for weighting said other end of said limb; wherein said weighting means is of buoyant construction for cooperation with said limb of flexible material for maintaining said mooring line holding means at a constant height from any given level of any body of water, in which said buoyant weighting means is buoyantly floated, in spite of tidal changes in such body of water; and said securing means comprises means for selectively fixing one end of said limb, removably, in a plurality of angular dispositions from vertical.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 163 words
Suspension means for a mooring line, comprising: a single elongate limb; said limb being formed of flexible material; and means defining a support for said limb; wherein said support has (a) means for removably securing one end of said limb thereto, and (b) means for fastening thereof to a bearing surface; and further including means coupled to the other end of said limb for suspending therefrom (a) means for releasably holding a mooring line, and (b) means for weighting said other end of said limb; wherein said weighting means is of buoyant construction for cooperation with said limb of flexible material for maintaining said mooring line holding means at a constant height from any given level of any body of water, in which said buoyant weighting means is buoyantly floated, in spite of tidal changes in such body of water; and said securing means comprises means for selectively fixing one end of said limb, removably, in a plurality of angular dispositions from vertical.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3120831A Cited
US3187707A Cited
US3183877A Cited
US3195498A Cited
US3307514A Cited
US3280784A Cited
US3373714A Cited
US4280440A Cited
US4462329A Cited
US4557214A Cited
US4479454A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1990-06-29 1990-12-29 1991-06-30 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1994-06-29 1994-12-29 1995-06-30 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1998-06-29 1998-12-29 1999-06-30 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag