PoleSox

Abstract

A protective cover and method of use thereof, used to reduce noise and wear as a result of contact of a boat against a piling, pole, or bumper of an associated boat lift. The cover is similar to a sock in structure and can be made from flexible fabrics or other flexible polymeric materials that are water proof or water impermeable. These materials can be decorative in nature with eye friendly indicia printed thereon. The protective cover can be made of UV resistant materials to reduce degradation under normal to extreme UV exposure and be made of materials that have sound dampening or sound absorbing characteristics, but have sound suppression or noise reduction properties that when rubbed against produce substantially low sound levels. In use, the protective cover is placed over a piling or vertical pole of a boat lift. The protective cover is preferably sized to engage and encapsulate that portion of the piling that is above the surface of the water and most likely to come into contact with the boat hull. After placement on the piling, the protective cover is firmly secured to the piling by suitable fastening members.

1 . In combination: at least one protective cover and a boat lift,
 the boat lift comprising at least two vertical pilings and is adapted to receive a boat thereon, wherein the boat lift provides a means for lifting of the boat in and out of a body of water, and the pilings provide a perimeter that limits horizontal movement of the boat when the boat is placed on the boat lift;   the at least one protective cover comprising a flexible material that is water impermeable, ultra-violet light resistant, and having sound reduction properties, the sound reduction properties providing a means for substantially reducing sound levels associated with rubbing of the boat against uncovered pilings when the boat is on or adjacent the boat lift and in the body of water; and   wherein the at least one protective cover is placed over a portion of the respective piling and secured firmly thereto by a fastening means, and the at least one protective cover providing a sound reduction barrier between the respective piling and the boat, which reduces or eliminates the sound levels associated with rubbing of the boat against the uncovered pilings.   
   
   
       2 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one protective cover encapsulates the respective piling and is sizable to accommodate pilings of various lengths. 
   
   
       3 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the pilings can be made of wood, metal, or polymeric materials. 
   
   
       4 . The combination of  claim 3 , wherein the pilings are made of metal. 
   
   
       5 . The combination of  claim 3 , wherein the pilings are made of polymeric materials. 
   
   
       6 . The combination of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one protective cover has an elongated interior portion that is made of a non-abrasive material that contacts a respective piling and an elongated exterior portion that is ultra-violet light resistant, the two portions being attachable to one another. 
   
   
       7 . The combination of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one protective cover has a tube shape with open and closed ends, the closed end formed of exterior and interior circular portions that are secured together and then attached to the elongated portions to form the tube shape, and the open end having the fastening means thereon so as to encapsulate the respective piling and be firmly secured thereto. 
   
   
       8 . The combination of  claim 7 , wherein the exterior portions have decorative indicia printed thereon. 
   
   
       9 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible material has sound dampening or sound absorbing characteristics. 
   
   
       10 . A method of using a protective cover on a boat lift, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a boat lift having at least two vertical pilings and receiving a boat thereon, wherein the boat lift provides a means for lifting of the boat in and out of a body of water, and the pilings provide a perimeter that limits horizontal movement of the boat when the boat is placed on the boat lift;   providing at least two protective covers, each comprising a flexible material that is water impermeable, ultra-violet light resistant, and having sound reduction properties, the sound reduction properties providing a means for reducing sound levels associated with rubbing of the boat against uncovered pilings when the boat is on or adjacent the boat lift and in the body of water; and   placing the at least two protective covers over a portion of a respective piling so as to encapsulate the respective pilings and firmly securing the protective covers to the respective pilings by a fastening means, so that the at least two protective covers provide a sound reduction barrier between the respective pilings and the boat, which reduces or eliminates the sound levels associated with rubbing of the boat against the uncovered pilings.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least two protective covers are sizable to accommodate pilings of various lengths. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least two protective covers each have an elongated interior portion that is made of a non-abrasive material that contacts a respective piling and an elongated exterior portion that is ultra-violet light resistant, the two portions being attachable to one another. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least two protective covers each have a tube shape with open and closed ends, the closed end formed of exterior and interior circular portions that are secured together and then attached to the elongated portions to form the tube shape, and the open end having the fastening means thereon so as to encapsulate the respective piling when placed thereon and firmly secured thereto. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the exterior portions have decorative indicia printed thereon. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the flexible material has sound dampening or sound absorbing characteristics. 
   
   
       16 . At least one protective cover for use with a boat lift comprising:
 a flexible material that is water impermeable, ultra-violet light resistant, made of sound dampening or sound absorbing material, and having sound reduction properties, the sound reduction properties providing a means for substantially reducing sound levels associated with rubbing of a boat against uncovered pilings of a boat lift when the boat is on or adjacent the boat lift and in a body of water; and   wherein the at least one protective cover is placeable over a portion of a respective uncovered piling and secured firmly thereto by a fastening means, and the at least one protective cover providing a sound reduction barrier between the respective uncovered piling and the boat that reduces or eliminates the sound levels associated with rubbing of the boat against the uncovered piling.   
   
   
       17 . The cover of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one protective cover is sizable to accommodate pilings of various lengths. 
   
   
       18 . The cover of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one protective cover has an elongated interior portion that is made of a non-abrasive material that is adapted to contact a respective piling and an elongated exterior portion that is ultra-violet light resistant, the two portions being attachable to one another. 
   
   
       19 . The cover of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one protective cover has a tube shape with open and closed ends, the closed end formed of exterior and interior circular portions that are secured together and then attached to the elongated portions to form the tube shape, and the open end having the fastening means thereon for encapsulating the uncovered piling when placed thereon and firmly secured thereto. 
   
   
       20 . The cover of  claim 19 , wherein the exterior portions have decorative indicia printed thereon.