Fender System for Vessels Which Allows Fenders to Self Adjust

Abstract

The present invention provides a fender system that is applied to a dock piling or solid faced bulkhead in order to prevent damage to a marine vessel while the vessel is moored to a fixed or floating dock, or dock piling, or solid faced bulkhead. The fender is designed to uniquely rise and fall with the level of the tide such that the fender is always in the most suitable position for protecting the vessel's hull from coming into direct contact with the piling or bulkhead. Thus, this system is useful in waters in which there is a constant ebb and flow of the tide and is especially useful in areas experiencing a storm surge.

1 . A fender system for a vessel, comprising:
 a bracket mounted to a vertical dock piling at a location above a water line;   a fender;   a vertical positioning means for positioning the fender and connecting the fender to the bracket;   wherein the fender has means for attaching to the vertical positioning means; and   a float device positioned below the fender wherein the float device engages the fender such that the float device causes the fender to automatically rise and fall in response to the changing level of the water line.   
   
   
       2 . The fender system of  claim 1  wherein the bracket is bent into a 180° degree arc that faces downwards towards the water line when mounted to the dock piling. 
   
   
       3 . The fender system of  claim 1  wherein the vertical positioning means is a cable or a rod. 
   
   
       4 . The fender system of  claim 3  wherein the means for attaching the fender to the vertical positioning means is a hole traversing the length of the fender such that the vertical positioning means can be inserted through the fender. 
   
   
       5 . The fender system of  claim 4  wherein the float device further comprises a hole traversing its length such that the vertical positioning means can be inserted through the float device. 
   
   
       6 . The fender system of  claim 5  wherein the float device causes the fender to slide along the vertical positioning means in response to the changing level of the water line. 
   
   
       7 . The fender system of  claim 1  further comprising a shackle for connecting the vertical positioning means to the bracket such that the vertical positioning means has a range of movement with respect to the bracket. 
   
   
       8 . The fender system of  claim 7  further comprising a sleeve interconnecting the vertical positioning means and the shackle wherein the sleeve is made of a non-corroding material or a galvanically acceptable material. 
   
   
       9 . The fender system of  claim 8  wherein the sleeve is comprised of nylon. 
   
   
       10 . The fender system of  claim 1  further comprising a weight wherein the vertical positioning means is connected to the weight at its terminating end such that the weight maintains the positioning and vertical alignment of the fender. 
   
   
       11 . The fender system of  claim 10  wherein the weight is located above the sea floor. 
   
   
       12 . The fender system of  claim 1  further comprising a hollow pipe having a ¼″ inch cut traversing the entire length of the pipe and an end cap on each end of the pipe whereby each end cap has a ¼″ inch diameter hole at its center wherein the pipe is positioned between the fender and the float device such that the pipe is used to alter the height of the fender along the vertical positioning means in relation to the water line. 
   
   
       13 . The fender system of  claim 1  wherein the float device is comprised of foam or plastic. 
   
   
       14 . A fender system for a vessel, comprising:
 an upper bracket mounted to a vertical dock piling at a location above a water line;   a lower bracket mounted to the vertical dock piling at a location below the water line;   a fender;   a vertical positioning means for positioning the fender and connecting the fender to the upper and lower brackets;   wherein the fender has means for attaching to the vertical positioning means; and   a float device positioned below the fender wherein the float device engages the fender such that the float device causes the fender to automatically rise and fall in response to the changing level of the water tide.   
   
   
       15 . The fender system of  claim 14  wherein the upper bracket is bent into a 180° degree arc that faces downwards towards the water line when mounted to the dock piling. 
   
   
       16 . The fender system of  claim 14  wherein the vertical positioning means is a cable or a rod. 
   
   
       17 . The fender system of  claim 16  wherein the means for attaching the fender to the vertical positioning means is a hole traversing the length of the fender such that the vertical positioning means can be inserted through the fender. 
   
   
       18 . The fender system of  claim 17  wherein the float device further comprises a hole traversing its length such that the vertical positioning means can be inserted through the float device. 
   
   
       19 . The fender system of  claim 18  wherein the float device causes the fender to slide along the vertical positioning means in response to the changing level of the water line. 
   
   
       20 . The fender system of  claim 14  further comprising a shackle for connecting the vertical positioning means to the bracket such that the vertical positioning means has a range of movement with respect to the bracket. 
   
   
       21 . The fender system of  claim 20  further comprising a sleeve interconnecting the vertical positioning means and the shackle wherein the sleeve is made of a non-corroding material or a galvanically acceptable material. 
   
   
       22 . The fender system of  claim 21  wherein the sleeve is comprised of nylon. 
   
   
       23 . The fender system of  claim 14  further comprising a hollow pipe that is positioned between the fender and the float device such that the hollow pipe is used to alter the height of the fender in relation to the water line. 
   
   
       24 . The fender system of  claim 14  wherein the float device is comprised of foam or plastic. 
   
   
       25 . The fender system of  claim 23  wherein the hollow pipe further comprises a longitudinal slit cut the entire length of the pipe with end caps on each end of the pipe.