Dock locking system

Abstract

A dock line assembly for docking a vessel comprises a housing, first and second lines connected opposing ends of the housing, and a dampener contained within the housing and adapted to allow for axially extension and retraction of the first line relative to the second line. The first or second lines are configured to be deployable to a selectively adjustable length and lockable thereat in order to accommodate varying lengths between the vessel and the dock or mooring. The dock line assembly may further comprise a biasing element adapted to bias the first and second lines towards one another following axially extension or retraction under the influence of compressive or tensile forces transmitted as a result of wind, weather, tide or wake action.

1 . A dock line assembly for docking a vessel, comprising;
 a tubular housing having opposing first and second housing ends and defining a longitudinal axis;   a first line connected to the first end and being adapted to be interconnected to a dock;   a second line connected to the second end and being adapted to be interconnected to a vessel; and   a dampener contained within the housing and having opposing first and second dampener ends and being adapted to allow axial extension and retraction of the housing along the longitudinal axis, the first and second dampener ends being connected to respective ones of the first and second lines;   wherein:   at least one of the first and second lines being deployable to a selectively adjustable length;   the dampener being adapted to absorb energy transmitted between the first and second lines during relative movement of the opposing first and second dampener ends.   
   
   
       2 . The dock line assembly of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a spool rotatably connected to the dampener and having one of the first and second lines wrappable thereabout;   
     wherein:
 the spool is configured to alternately reel out and reel in one of the first and second lines wrapped thereabout. 
 
   
   
       3 . The dock line assembly of  claim 2  further comprising a spool lock assembly adapted to prevent rotational motion of the spool such that extension and retraction of at least one of the first and second lines is prevented. 
   
   
       4 . The dock line assembly of  claim 3  wherein:
 the spool lock assembly is comprised of an annular shoulder formed on an end of the spool and having at least one bore extending radially thereinto;   the housing further including a locking pin adapted to be selectively engageable with the bore to prevent rotation of the spool.   
   
   
       5 . The dock line assembly of  claim 1  wherein the dampener is adapted to absorb tensile forces transmitted between the first and second lines. 
   
   
       6 . The dock line assembly of  claim 1  wherein the dampener is configured as a gas shock assembly. 
   
   
       7 . The dock line assembly of  claim 1  wherein the dampener is configured as a hydraulic shock assembly. 
   
   
       8 . The dock line assembly of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first and second lines is fabricated of material including carbon fiber. 
   
   
       9 . The dock line assembly of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first and second lines is fabricated of steel cable. 
   
   
       10 . The dock line assembly of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first and second ends includes a resilient cushion disposed thereon. 
   
   
       11 . The dock line assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a tether line connected to a lateral side of the housing. 
   
   
       12 . The dock line assembly of  claim 11  wherein the tether line is adapted to be secured to a dock. 
   
   
       13 . The dock line assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a resilient biasing element adapted to bias the first and second lines toward one another. 
   
   
       14 . The dock line assembly of  claim 13  wherein the resilient biasing element is configured as a coil spring coaxially disposed within the housing and having at least one of the first and second lines connected thereto. 
   
   
       15 . The dock line assembly of  claim 13  wherein the resilient biasing element is configured as an elastomeric element disposed within the housing and. 
   
   
       16 . The dock line assembly of  claim 1  wherein the housing is comprised of a pair of telescoping tubular sleeves axially slidable relative to one another. 
   
   
       17 . The dock line assembly of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first and second housing ends is adapted to be removably attached to the housing. 
   
   
       18 . The dock line assembly of  claim 1  wherein the dampener is adapted to absorb compressive forces transmitted between the first and second housing ends. 
   
   
       19 . A boat dock adapted for securing a vessel thereto, the vessel having a boat cleat mounted thereon, the boat dock comprising:
 at least one dock cleat mounted to the boat dock;   at least one dock line assembly connectable to the dock cleat and including:
 a tubular housing having opposing first and second housing ends and defining a longitudinal axis; 
 a first line connected to the first end and being adapted to be interconnected to the dock cleat; 
 a second line connected to the second end and being adapted to be interconnected to a vessel the boat cleat; 
 a dampener mounted within the housing and having opposing first and second dampener ends connected to respective ones of the first and second lines and being adapted to allow axial extension and retraction along the longitudinal axis; 
 wherein:
 at least one of the first and second lines being axially extensible to a selectively adjustable length; 
 the dampener being adapted to absorb energy transmitted between the first and second lines during axial extension of the opposing first and second dampener ends. 
 
   
   
   
       20 . The boat dock of  claim 19  further comprising at least one locking device adapted to secure the first line to the dock cleat.