Bumper system

Abstract

Variations of a bumper systems are disclosed. A bumper system may have one or more rotatable members and/or non-rotatable members configured to protect a vessel or structure during docking maneuvers and mooring. The rotatable and non-rotatable members may be located at any one or more desired locations on the vessel and/or its mooring. In use, rotatable members are rotated from a first rotational position to a second rotational position. Various components of the bumper system may be configured to provide protection due to their compressibility, tiltability, flexibility and/or moveability. The connection between a rotatable member and its substrate may serve as an axis of rotation of the rotatable member, may be configured to include one or more mechanisms for rotating the rotatable member and may also include mechanisms for absorbing and/or dissipating the energy transmitted during physical interactions between vessels, and/or structures. The rotatable and non-rotatable members may be configured to extend from a surface to which they are connected, and the bumper system may also be configured such that a boundary is formed between one or more rotatable members, non-rotatable members, and the substrate to which they are connected. Methods for manufacturing and using bumper systems according to the described configurations are also disclosed.

1 . A bumper system, comprising:
 at least one longitudinal moveable member operatively connected to an outer surface of a marine vessel and reversibly moveable between a first and a second orientation, the first orientation being substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the marine vessel and substantially adjacent to the outer surface thereof such that the longitudinal moveable member will operate as at least a portion of a rubrail, and the second orientation selected from at least one of the following:   (a) substantially adjacent to the outer surface of the marine vessel, and substantially non-parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof;   (b) substantially adjacent to the outer surface of the marine vessel, and longitudinally displaced along the longitudinal axis thereof; and   (c) outwardly displaced from the outer surface of the marine vessel.   
   
   
       2 . The bumper system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one retaining element for reversibly maintaining the at least one moveable member in at least one selected from the first orientation and the second orientation. 
   
   
       3 . The bumper system of  claim 1 , further comprising a remote control system for remotely controlling the movement of the at least one moveable member. 
   
   
       4 . The bumper system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one moveable member comprises at least one compressible element comprising an outer surface thereof. 
   
   
       5 . The bumper system of  claim 1 , wherein the operative connection of the moveable member to the marine vessel is configured such that in the second orientation it will be at least one selected from tiltable, shock-absorbing, and flexible. 
   
   
       6 . The bumper system of  claim 1 , wherein the operative connection between the moveable member and the marine vessel comprises a motor. 
   
   
       7 . The bumper system of  claim 1 , wherein the operative connection between the moveable member and the marine vessel comprises a pin and groove configuration. 
   
   
       8 . The bumper system of  claim 1 , further comprising a boundary operatively connected to a plurality of moveable members. 
   
   
       9 . The bumper system of  claim 8 , further comprising a tensioning mechanism operatively connected to the boundary. 
   
   
       10 . The bumper system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one moveable member is inflatable. 
   
   
       11 . The bumper system of  claim 1 , configured such that in the second orientation, the at least one moveable member will be disposed such that a portion thereof extends higher than the top of a hull of the marine vessel. 
   
   
       12 . A marine bumper system, comprising:
 a plurality of moveable members disposed in a substantially linear configuration along an outer surface of a hull of a marine vessel, the plurality of moveable members configured to mimic a traditional rubrail system in a first configuration,   wherein predetermined moveable members are moveable from the linear configuration to a second configuration, selected from:
 (a) non-parallel to the linear configuration; and 
 (b) outwardly displaced from the linear configuration. 
   
   
   
       13 . The marine bumper system of  claim 12 , wherein selected members of the plurality of moveable members are substantially adjacent to, and substantially continuous with, at least one other member of the plurality of moveable members when in the first configuration. 
   
   
       14 . The marine bumper system of  claim 12 , further comprising a remote control system for remotely controlling the movement of the predetermined moveable members. 
   
   
       15 . The marine bumper system of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of moveable members comprise at least one compressible element comprising an outer surface thereof. 
   
   
       16 . The marine bumper system of  claim 12 , further comprising a motor for movement of select members of the plurality of moveable members. 
   
   
       17 . The marine bumper system of  claim 12 , further comprising a boundary operatively connected to the plurality of moveable members. 
   
   
       18 . The marine bumper system of  claim 12 , further comprising a tensioning mechanism operatively connected to the boundary. 
   
   
       19 . The marine bumper system of  claim 12 , wherein select members of the plurality of moveable members comprise an inflatable element. 
   
   
       20 . The marine bumper system of  claim 12 , configured such that in the second orientation, select members of the plurality of moveable members will extend above the top of the hull when such members are in the second orientation.