Vertically Slidable Patents (Class 114/230.16)
  • Patent number: 10640173
    Abstract: A boat mooring assembly for mooring a boat to a dock includes a rod that comprises a plurality of nested sections so that the rod is selectively extensible. A pair of couplers is coupled singly to a first end and a second end of the rod. The couplers are configured to couple singly to a boat cleat and selectively to one of a dock cleat and a dock post to couple the boat to the dock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Inventor: William Thomas, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10272982
    Abstract: A trolling motor mount intended for a larger watercraft having a bow-mounted anchoring system, with the trolling motor mount having a horizontal mounting platform, a vertical extension member, and a shank, with the horizontal mounting platform being suitably configured to attach a standard trolling motor thereto, the shank being suitably configured to attach to the anchoring system of the watercraft in place of the anchor, and the vertical extension member being of sufficient length to allow the trolling motor to properly reach the water when the trolling motor mount is securely attached to the watercraft by the anchoring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Inventor: Malcom S. McGraw
  • Patent number: 8943990
    Abstract: A retractable shallow water anchor system that mounts onto the trolling motor on a boat. The anchor system does not stick up above the top of the trolling motor. When the motor is pulled up or put down, the anchor system travels with it. With the trolling motor down, the user removes the rope from the cleat on the anchor system and two fiberglass rods extend out (extend to 7-8 ft.) to anchor the boat in place. The unit is made of aluminum, stainless steel, and fiberglass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Inventor: Max Edward McQuade
  • Patent number: 8800461
    Abstract: A boat separator comprising a boat extender having a first cross member attached to a first end of the boat extender, and a second cross member attached to the second end of the boat extender. The boat separator preferably has an adjustable length such that the boat extender can be extended between 20 and 30 inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Inventor: James Lawrence Gagan, II
  • Publication number: 20130276690
    Abstract: A boat anchor is described and which includes a fixture, which is releasably secured to a cleat that is mounted on a boat; an adjustable arm moveably mounted to the fixture and which has a distal end; a channel member mounted on the distal end of the adjustable arm and which defines a passageway; and an elongated anchor rod which is received in the passageway and which further has a distal end which is operable to engage an underwater surface, which is located near the boat, and wherein the adjustable arm maintains the boat at a predetermined distance from the anchor rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventor: Adam Higby
  • Publication number: 20130167764
    Abstract: A portable bracket is removably attached to a structure, such as a tree, for the purpose of relieving the strain on a hunter who is holding and aiming their firearm. A bracket comprising a back plate and a horizontal plate is secured to a tree using a strap and binder arrangement. The firearm support is portable and lightweight and maybe useful for other purposes within a campsite, such as holding a lantern and a like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Inventors: Doug Zucco, Jamie McNally
  • Patent number: 8381673
    Abstract: An apparatus for stabilizing a watercraft for boarding or exiting comprising an elongated cradle arm support member for attaching vertically to a docking structure and a cradle arm for attaching to the cradle arm support member, in which the cradle arm has a generally V-shaped upper surface for cradling the under surface of a watercraft, restricting roll. The cradle arm is adjustably connecting the cradle arm support member, for selectively fixing the arm to the cradle arm support member in one of a range of vertical positions to accommodate changing water levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Inventor: Ralph C. Wirsig
  • Patent number: 8104418
    Abstract: An anchoring system for a boat includes a pair of anchor fixtures, each having a base and a tube carried by and extending across the base. A first of the anchor fixtures is mountable proximate the peripheral edge of the vessel with the tube oriented to extend in a generally horizontal direction. The other, second anchor fixture is mounted exteriorly to the transom of other surface of the hull such that the longitudinal axis of the tube extends generally vertically. The first anchor fixture accommodates an adjustable pole holder that has a stem for selectively engaging with the first anchor fixture to provide anchoring, transporting and stowed conditions. A sleeve is interconnected angularly to the stem for holding a first pole, which may be operated by adjusting the pole holder to engage the bottom of the body of water. A second pole is received by the tube of the second anchor fixture to likewise engage the bottom of the body of water such that the boat is anchored thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Inventor: Larry C. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20110297067
    Abstract: An apparatus for stabilizing a watercraft for boarding or exiting comprising an elongated cradle arm support member for attaching vertically to a docking structure and a cradle arm for attaching to the cradle arm support member, in which the cradle arm has a generally V-shaped upper surface for cradling the under surface of a watercraft, restricting roll. The cradle arm is adjustably connecting the cradle arm support member, for selectively fixing the arm to the cradle arm support member in one of a range of vertical positions to accommodate changing water levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventor: Ralph C. Wirsig
  • Patent number: 7992508
    Abstract: A docking mechanism comprises first and second units, operative to firmly attach and release a watercraft such as a ferry boat to a dock. This action can be produced by actuators that may be hydraulic or pneumatic actuators, or by other means such as manually actuated levers, electric motors or solenoids. A moveable locking piston acts to push locking cylinders or other locking members such as movable links against watercraft lock channels mounted upon the watercrafts. The apparatus results in very firm coupling of a watercraft to the dock, beneficially permitting ferry boats to load and unload cargo without keeping their engines running which wastes fuel and pollutes the environment. The lock channels on the watercraft are however configured to permit relative vertical motion between the watercraft and the latching assembly to account for water level changes and yet maintain very firm coupling of the watercraft to the dock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Inventor: Daniel A. Norton
  • Publication number: 20110094429
    Abstract: A vertically varying nautical mooring device for automatically adjusting the vertical positioning of a floating vessel relative to a rise or fall in the local water level. The devices provide a vertically adjusting mooring device for a floating vessel comprising a pair of horizontally extending attachment brackets for supporting at least one elongated vertical support shaft at some distance from a support structure (such as a piling) wherein the support shaft is suspended in a vertical orientation between the attachment brackets and wherein a generally toroidally and symmetrically shaped slide which fits about the elongated vertical support shaft such that the slide is able to rotate about and move vertically along the elongated vertical support shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: Allen Jerome Lewis, Michael Jonathan Bootcheck
  • Patent number: 7314015
    Abstract: An express docking system and its method of use, wherein the system comprises: an engaging rod assembly comprising an engaging rod subassembly attachable to a boating vessel, wherein the engaging rod subassembly comprises an engaging rod in communication with a main frame; a mooring assembly comprising: a mounting subassembly attached to a dock; a carriage subassembly slidably engaged with the mounting subassembly; an actuating subassembly mounted to the carriage subassembly; and a jaw subassembly comprising a first jaw opposite to a second jaw; wherein the engaging rod is disposable between the first and second jaws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Inventors: Hassan Obahi, John J. Pavlovich
  • Patent number: 7028630
    Abstract: An improved boat docking stabilizer device to an economic, compact and reliable boat mooring apparatus that stabilizes a moored boat for safe boarding and de-boarding of passengers while permitting the boat to roll free with the waves thus preventing damage to either the dock or the moored boat. An improved boat docking stabilizer device which may be used in pairs for mooring a boat to a dock structure or the like. This boat docking stabilizer device includes an adjustable backboard mounted perpendicularly to a dock structure by fastening means, an adjustable vertical support bracket mounted to the backboard, a hitch ball coupler pivotably mounted to the vertical support bracket for receiving a ball hitch mounted on a boat, and means for locking the hitch ball coupler in a ready position and in a locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Inventor: Thomas F. Metz
  • Patent number: 6938570
    Abstract: A mooring robot which can be dock-mounted, and can also include vacuum cups for engagement with the freeboard of a ship. The robot can position the vacuum cups within a three-dimensional operating envelope. A parallel arm linkage having two parallel arms pivoted about respective axes which are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ship are fixed to the dock for extending and retracting the vacuum cups in the transverse direction. The parallel arms are fixed to a vertical elongate guide to which the vacuum cups are slidably fixed, the parallel arms raising and lowering the vacuum cups and maintaining the guide substantially vertical. The vacuum cups are mounted for sliding in substantially horizontal track aligned parallel with the longitudinal axis of the ship for fore and aft movement of the vacuum cups. A mooring system can also include a plurality of the mooring robots being remotely controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Mooring Systems Limited
    Inventors: Peter James Montgomery, Bryan John Rossiter
  • Publication number: 20040007168
    Abstract: An improved boat docking stabilizer device to an economic, compact and reliable boat mooring apparatus that stabilizes a moored boat for safe boarding and de-boarding of passengers while permitting the boat to roll free with the waves thus preventing damage to either the dock or the moored boat. An improved boat docking stabilizer device which may be used in pairs for mooring a boat to a dock structure or the like. This boat docking stabilizer device includes an adjustable backboard mounted perpendicularly to a dock structure by fastening means, an adjustable vertical support bracket mounted to the backboard, a hitch ball coupler pivotably mounted to the vertical support bracket for receiving a ball hitch mounted on a boat, and means for locking the hitch ball coupler in a ready position and in a locked position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Inventor: Thomas Metz
  • Patent number: 6606829
    Abstract: The collapsible land anchor of this invention includes an anchor body, a drive anvil coupled to the top end portion of the anchor body, and a runner member that is slidable longitudinally through the drive anvil between an operative position and a collapsed position. A retraction anvil is coupled to the top end portion of the runner member, and a hammer weight is carried on the runner member. In its operative position, the runner member extends beyond the drive anvil away from the cavity of the anchor body to space the drive anvil apart from the retraction anvil. Also in the operative position, the hammer weight is slidable along the runner member into the drive anvil to drive the anchor body into the ground. In the collapsed position, the runner member is displaced towards and at least partially stowed in the cavity of the anchor body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Inventors: Frank Benincasa, Beneditto Cafaro