Marine fender system

Abstract

A marine fender system including an L-shaped member having a spindle on which is rotatably mounted a fender, and an arm portion which is releasably connected to a locking assembly flush-mounted at an edge of a platform proximate to water.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A marine fender system comprising: 
 an L-shaped member having a spindle portion of a preselected length, an elbow portion attached at a juncture to the spindle portion, and an arm portion attached to the elbow portion and generally parallel to the spindle portion, the arm portion terminating in an end portion, the spindle, elbow and arm portions substantially coplanar, said end portion releasably connected at an edge of a platform proximate to water; and    a marine fender of a preselected length and diameter having a body portion generally cylindrical about a longitudinal axis and determined by a wall having an outer surface, and top and bottom portions, each said portion circumferentially attached to said wall and having a central hole therethrough, said holes being opposed ends of a tube disposed along said axis, said spindle portion closely received within the tube, the fender freely rotatable about the spindle portion, said juncture flexing when a predetermined minimum torque is exerted on the spindle portion due to a predetermined minimum pressure on the fender, so that the fender executes small vibrational motions in the plane determined by the spindle, elbow and arm portions.    
     
     
         2 . A marine fender system comprising: 
 an L-shaped member having a spindle portion of a preselected length, an elbow portion attached to the spindle portion, and an arm portion attached to the elbow portion and generally parallel to the spindle portion, the arm portion terminating in an end portion;    a sleeve determined by a polygonal outer surface, upper and lower ends, and a bore therethrough, said end portion closely received within the bore and attached to the sleeve;    a marine fender of a preselected length and diameter having a body portion generally cylindrical about a longitudinal axis and determined by a wall having an outer surface, and top and bottom portions, each said portion circumferentially attached to said wall and having a central hole therethrough, said holes being opposed ends of a tube disposed along said axis, said spindle portion closely received within the tube, the fender freely rotatable about the spindle portion; and    locking means for releasably connecting the arm end portion at an edge of a platform proximate to water.    
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  werein said locking means comprises a plate determined by generally planar upper and lower surfaces and having a polygonal hole therethrough, and a cylindrical tube of a predetermined length determined by upper and lower ends, the tube upper end attached to the plate lower surface, the tube aligned with said polygonal hole, the sleeve inserted through the polygonal hole in a preselected orientation and received within the tube.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the fender length is sufficiently shorter than the spindle length, thereby allowing the fender to move longitudinally over a preselected distance.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein said sleeve polygonal outer surface and said plate polygonal hole are hexagonal.  
     
     
         6 . A marine fender system comprising: 
 an L-shaped member having a generally linear spindle portion of a preselected length terminating in a threaded end portion, a generally linear elbow portion of a preselected length attached and generally orthogonal to the spindle portion, and a generally linear arm portion of a preselected length attached and generally orthogonal to the elbow portion and generally parallel to the spindle portion, the arm portion terminating in an end portion;    a sleeve of a preselected length determined by a polygonal outer surface, generally planar upper and lower ends, and a bore therethrough, said end portion closely received within the bore and attached to the sleeve;    a generally planar collar with a central hole therethrough attached to the sleeve upper end, the arm end portion closely received through the hole; and    a locking assembly comprising a plate determined by generally planar upper and lower surfaces and having a polygonal hole therethrough, and a cylindrical tube of a preselected length determined by upper and lower ends, the tube upper end attached to the plate lower surface, the tube aligned with said polygonal hole, the sleeve inserted through the polygonal hole in a preselected orientation and received within the tube until the collar contacts the plate upper surface.    
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  further comprising: 
 a marine fender of a preselected length and diameter having a body portion generally cylindrical about a longitudinal axis and determined by a wall with a preselected thickness having an outer surface, and top and bottom portions each circumferentially attached to said wall and having a central hole therethrough, said holes being opposed ends of a tube disposed along said axis, said spindle portion closely received within the tube, the fender freely rotatable about the spindle portion.  
 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the fender length is sufficiently shorter than the spindle length to allow the fender to move longitudinally over a preselected distance when a washer and thumb-nut are connected to the spindle threaded end portion.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein: 
 said spindle portion length is about twenty-two inches;    said elbow portion length is about eight inches; and    said arm portion length is about eleven inches.    
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the L-shaped member is fabricated from a unitary piece of type  304  stainless steel round bar, five-eighths inch in diameter.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said sleeve polygonal outer surface and said plate polygonal hole are hexagonal.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said plate is attached at an edge of a platform proximate to water.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein said sleeve orientation is such that the arm, elbow and spindle portions are in a plane generally orthogonal to the platform edge.