Mooring buoy fending system

Abstract

The mooring buoy fending system is a pole with guide rings attached thereto. When used to moor a boat, the pole extends substantially horizontally from the deck of the boat and supports a mooring line that is secured to a mooring buoy at one end and to the boat at the other end. The length of the pole is greater than half the length of the mooring line and therefore prevents the boat from bumping against the mooring buoy. In an alternative embodiment, the system includes a buoy-mounted storage receptacle and, in another alternative embodiment, the system includes a buoy having a storage receptacle protruding from the top of the buoy. Additionally, a storage receptacle may be defined within the buoy. In the alternative embodiments, the pole is stored in the storage receptacle to facilitate easy grasping by a person in an approaching boat.

1 . A mooring buoy fending system, comprising: 
 a pole having a first end and a second end;    means for attaching said first end of said pole to a boat; and    means for coupling a mooring line to said pole in a slidable relationship;    whereby when a first end of the mooring line is tied to a buoy, and a second end of the mooring line is tied to the boat, and said pole is attached to the boat, said pole prevents the boat from bumping the buoy.    
   
   
       2 . The mooring buoy fending system according to  claim 1 , wherein said means for coupling the mooring line to said pole comprises at least one ring extending substantially perpendicular from said pole.  
   
   
       3 . The mooring buoy fending system according to  claim 1 , wherein said means for coupling the mooring line to said pole is a hollow cavity defined in said pole, said pole having a first opening into said cavity and a second opening into said cavity, the first opening into said cavity being disposed on top of the first end of said pole and the second opening into said cavity being disposed on a side of said pole.  
   
   
       4 . The mooring buoy fending system according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one buoyant body attached to said pole, whereby said pole floats in water.  
   
   
       5 . The mooring buoy fending system according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one cushion disposed on said pole adjacent the first end of said pole.  
   
   
       6 . The mooring buoy fending system according to  claim 5 , wherein said at least one cushion is buoyant, whereby said pole floats in water.  
   
   
       7 . A mooring buoy fending system, comprising: 
 a pole having a first end and a second end, the first end being adapted for attachment to a boat;    at least one cushion disposed on said pole adjacent the first end of said pole.    at least one ring extending substantially perpendicular to said pole, the at least one ring being located adjacent the second end of said pole;    a mooring line having a first end and a second end, the mooring line being slidably supported through said at least one ring;    whereby when said first end of said mooring line is tied to a mooring buoy, the second end of said mooring line is tied to the boat, and said pole is attached to the boat, said pole prevents the boat from bumping the mooring buoy.    
   
   
       8 . The mooring buoy fending system according to  claim 7 , further comprising a hollow storage receptacle adapted for attachment to a top of a mooring buoy, the first end of said pole being inserted into said hollow storage receptacle.  
   
   
       9 . The mooring buoy fending system according to  claim 8 , wherein said hollow storage receptacle has a funnel-shaped upper portion, a cylindrical middle portion and a lower portion, the lower portion being a sleeve adapted to fit snuggly over the eyelet bolt of a mooring buoy, the lower portion having a front side and a back side each having an aperture adapted for alignment with an eyelet defined by the eyelet bolt of the mooring buoy.  
   
   
       10 . The mooring buoy fending system according to  claim 7 , further comprising a mooring buoy, the mooring buoy including a buoyant body having a hollow storage receptacle defined therein, the first end of said pole being removably inserted into said hollow storage receptacle.  
   
   
       11 . The mooring buoy fending system according to  claim 7 , further comprising means for attaching said pole to a boat.  
   
   
       12 . The mooring buoy fending system according to  claim 7 , wherein the first end of said mooring line has a loop formed therein.  
   
   
       13 . The mooring buoy fending system according to  claim 7 , wherein the second end of said mooring line is adapted for being anchored to the mooring buoy.  
   
   
       14 . The mooring buoy fending system according to  claim 7 , wherein said at least one cushion is buoyant, whereby said pole floats in water.