Water vessel stabilization apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus attachable to a docking structure and configured for getting into and out of a small water vessel. The apparatus may comprise a support structure, a handrail, and a vessel retaining arm. The support structure may comprise a support rail fixed via a base to the dock. The handrail may be pivotally attached to the support structure such that in an unfolded configuration, the handrail extends perpendicular to the support rail, and in a folded configuration, the handrail is substantially parallel to the support rail. The vessel retaining arm may be attached to and freely pivot relative to a distal end of the handrail. In the unfolded configuration, the handrail may extend over the water vessel, allowing a user to grasp the horizontal and/or support structures while getting into and out of the water vessel.

1 . An apparatus mountable to a structure for assisting a user while getting into and out of a water vessel, the apparatus comprising:
 a support structure including a base configured to be fixedly secured to the structure and a support rail extending upwardly from the base; and   a handrail having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being pivotally attached to the support structure at a point proximate to the base, so that the handrail may pivot between a folded configuration in which the handrail is substantially parallel to the support rail and an unfolded configuration in which the handrail is substantially perpendicular to the support rail.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a vessel retaining arm pivotable relative to the handrail about a point proximate to the distal end of the handrail, wherein the vessel retaining arm is substantially perpendicular to the handrail when the handrail is in the unfolded configuration and is substantially parallel to the handrail when the handrail is in the folded configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising an attachment part fixed substantially perpendicular to the distal end of the handrail, wherein the vessel retaining arm is pivotally attached to the attachment part. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the handrail further comprises a first hollow rail and a second hollow rail mechanically slidable relative to each other such that a length of the handrail is mechanically adjustable. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the vessel retaining arm further comprises a third hollow rail and a fourth hollow rail mechanically slidable relative to each other such that a length of the vessel retaining arm is mechanically adjustable. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism configured to fix the handrail in its unfolded configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises two support rails spaced apart parallel with each other such that the handrail rests between the two support rails in the folded configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprises a locking pin, wherein the support structure has at least one locking hole formed therethrough and the handrail has at least one locking hole formed therethrough, such that the locking hole of the support structure aligns with the locking hole of the handrail when the apparatus is in the folded configuration, such that the locking pin, when slid into both of the locking holes, retains the apparatus in the folded configuration. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus mountable to a docking structure for assisting a user while getting into and out of a small water vessel, the apparatus comprising:
 a support structure including a base configured to be fixedly secured to the docking structure and a support rail extending upwardly from the base;   a handrail having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being pivotally attached to the support structure at a point proximate to the base so that the handrail may pivot between a folded configuration in which the handrail is substantially parallel to the support rail and an unfolded configuration in which the handrail is substantially perpendicular to the support rail; and   a vessel retaining arm pivotable relative to the handrail about a point proximate to the distal end of the handrail, wherein the vessel retaining arm is substantially perpendicular to the handrail when the handrail is in its unfolded configuration and is substantially parallel to the handrail when the handrail is in its folded configuration.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising an attachment part fixed substantially perpendicular to the distal end of the handrail, wherein the vessel retaining arm is pivotally attached to the attachment part and the attachment part is configured to prevent the vessel retaining arm from pivoting greater than approximately 90-degrees relative to the handrail. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the handrail further comprises a first hollow rail and a second hollow rail slidable into and out of the first hollow rail such that a length of the handrail is mechanically adjustable by sliding the second hollow rail in at least one of a direction toward and a direction away from the first hollow rail. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first hollow rail and the second hollow rail each comprise at least one length-adjustment hole formed therethrough, wherein the handrail further comprises a spring-biased mechanism positioned within the second hollow rail, the spring-biased mechanism including at least one tab portion configured to extend through the length-adjustment hole of the second hollow rail and through the length-adjustment hole of the first hollow rail when the length-adjustment hole of the first hollow rail is aligned with the length-adjustment hole of the second hollow rail. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the spring-biased mechanism is configured to prevent the second hollow rail from sliding relative to the first hollow rail when the tab portion is extending through the length-adjustment hole of the first hollow rail, and wherein the spring-biased mechanism is configured to allow the second hollow rail to slide relative to the first hollow rail when the tab portion is pushed inward through the length-adjustment hole of the first hollow rail. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the vessel retaining arm further comprises a third hollow rail and a fourth hollow rail slidable into and out of the third hollow rail such that a length of the vessel retaining arm is mechanically adjustable by sliding the fourth hollow rail in at least one of a direction toward and a direction away from the third hollow rail. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a locking mechanism configured to temporarily fix the handrail in the unfolded configuration and configured to prevent the handrail from rotating beyond a substantially 90-degree angle relative to the support structure when the handrail pivots from its folded configuration to its unfolded configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the support structure comprises two support rails spaced apart and substantially parallel with each other such that the handrail rests between the two support rails in the folded configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein a rigid strap extends between the two support rails and is configured to prevent the handrail from rotating past the support rails when the handrail pivots from its unfolded configuration to its folded configuration. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus mountable to a docking structure for assisting a user while getting into and out of a small water vessel, the apparatus comprising:
 a support structure including a base configured to be fixedly secured to at least one of a top and a side of the docking structure and two support rail extending upwardly from the base;   a handrail having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being pivotally attached to the support structure at a point proximate to the base so that the handrail may pivot between a folded configuration in which the handrail is substantially parallel to the two support rails and rests between the two support rails, and an unfolded configuration in which the handrail is substantially perpendicular to the two support rails; and   a vessel retaining arm pivotable relative to the handrail about a point proximate to the distal end of the handrail, wherein the vessel retaining arm is substantially perpendicular to the handrail when in the handrail is in its unfolded configuration and is substantially parallel to the handrail when the handrail is in its folded configuration,   wherein a length of at least one of the handrail and the vessel retaining arm are mechanically adjustable.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising an attachment part fixed substantially perpendicular to the distal end of the handrail, wherein the vessel retaining arm is pivotally attached to the attachment part and the attachment part is configured to prevent the vessel retaining arm from pivoting greater than approximately 90-degrees relative to the handrail. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising a locking mechanism configured to temporarily fix the handrail in its unfolded configuration and configured to prevent the handrail from rotating beyond a substantially 90-degree angle relative to the support structure when the handrail pivots from its folded configuration to its unfolded configuration. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein a rigid strap extends between the two support rails and is configured to prevent the handrail from rotating past the support rails when the handrail pivots from its unfolded configuration to its folded configuration. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the support structure has at least one locking hole formed therethrough and the handrail has at least one locking hole formed therethrough, such that the locking hole of the support structure aligns with the locking hole of the handrail when the apparatus is in the folded configuration, such that a locking pin slid into the aligned locking holes retains the apparatus in the folded configuration.