Device for coupling a boat to a mooring

Abstract

A device for coupling a boat to a boat mooring. The device comprises an elongate shaft which has first and second ends and the first end has a coupling mechanism for coupling the device to a mooring while the second end supports a hook member having a C-shaped hook base with a first end thereof integrally formed with the shaft and a free second end which curves back toward the shaft. The second free end of the C-shaped hook base comprises an elongate retaining and guide section which extends parallel and adjacent to the shaft. An unobstructed entrance is formed between the elongate retaining and guide section and the shaft. The shaft has a thickened transition section where the shaft transitions into the hook member so as to provide additional strength to the device.

Wherefore, I/we claim: 
     
         1 . A device for coupling a boat to a mooring, the device comprising:
 an elongate shaft having a first end and an opposed second end, the first end of the shaft having a coupling mechanism for coupling the device to a mooring, and the device defines a longitudinal axis;   the second end of the shaft supporting a hook member having a C-shaped hook base with a first end thereof integrally formed with the shaft and a free second end which curves back toward the shaft; and   the second free end of the C-shaped hook base comprising an elongate retaining and guide section which extends parallel and adjacent to the shaft and being spaced therefrom so as to facilitate receiving a desired eyelet therebetween.   
     
     
         2 . The device for coupling the boat to the mooring according to  claim 1 , wherein an unobstructed entrance, for receiving the desired eyelet, is formed between the elongate retaining and guide section and the shaft. 
     
     
         3 . The device for coupling the boat to the mooring according to  claim 1 , wherein the shaft has a thickened transition section where the shaft transitions into the hook member so as to provide additional strength to the device. 
     
     
         4 . The device for coupling the boat to the mooring according to  claim 1 , wherein the C-shaped hook base defines a central open region, and a center of the central open region of the C-shaped hook base is coincident with the longitudinal axis of the device. 
     
     
         5 . The device for coupling the boat to the mooring according to  claim 4 , wherein the elongate retaining and guide section has a length of between 0.5 inch and 4 inches and a leading end of the elongate retaining and guide section forms an unobstructed entrance which leads to the central open region. 
     
     
         6 . The device for coupling the boat to the mooring according to  claim 5 , wherein a leading free end of the elongate retaining and guide section is one of rounded, tapered or contoured so as to facilitate engagement with the desired eyelet. 
     
     
         7 . The device for coupling the boat to the mooring according to  claim 1 , wherein the coupling mechanism comprises an eyehook permanently attached to the first end of the elongate shaft. 
     
     
         8 . The device for coupling the boat to the mooring according to  claim 7 , wherein a hand grip is positioned adjacent the eyehook to facilitate manipulation of the device by an end user. 
     
     
         9 . The device for coupling the boat to the mooring according to  claim 1 , wherein the elongate shaft, the hook member and the coupling mechanism are all manufactured from a corrosion resistant material;
 the shaft has a length of between three (3) feet and five (5) feet; and   the shaft has a transverse cross sectional dimension of between about ⅜ to about ½ of an inch.   
     
     
         10 . The device for coupling the boat to the mooring according to  claim 1 , wherein the elongate retaining and guide section has a length of between 0.5 inch and 4 inches, an outer diameter of between about ¼ and about ½ of an inch and the elongate retaining and guide section is spaced from the transition section by a distance greater than an overall dimension of the desired eyelet to be engaged. 
     
     
         11 . The device for coupling the boat to the mooring according to  claim 1 , wherein a retrieval apparatus facilitates retrieval of the device when partially submerged, the retrieval apparatus comprises an S-shaped elongate member which has a length of 40±20 inches and at least one end of the elongate member generally has a C-shaped opening which defines a retrieval aperture for engaging with the shaft of the device. 
     
     
         12 . A boat mooring for a boat, the boat mooring comprising:
 a device for coupling a boat to the boat mooring, the device comprising:   an elongate shaft having a first end and an opposed second end, the first end of the shaft having a coupling mechanism for coupling the device to a mooring, and the device defining a longitudinal axis;   the second end of the shaft supporting a hook member having a C-shaped hook base with a first end thereof integrally formed with the shaft and a free second end which curves back toward the shaft; and   the second free end of the C-shaped hook base comprising an elongate retaining and guide section which extends parallel and adjacent to the shaft and is spaced therefrom so as to facilitate receiving a desired eyelet therebetween   a mooring weight for engagement with a bottom of a body of water;   a floatable mooring for marking a location of the boat mooring;   a second flexible linkage for interconnecting the floatable mooring with the weight; and   a first flexible linkage interconnecting the floatable mooring with the coupling member of the device.   
     
     
         13 . The boat mooring for the boat according to  claim 12 , wherein an unobstructed entrance, for receiving the desired eyelet, is formed between the elongate retaining and guide section and the shaft. 
     
     
         14 . The boat mooring for the boat according to  claim 12 , wherein the shaft has a thickened transition section where the shaft transitions into the hook member so as to provide additional strength to the device. 
     
     
         15 . The boat mooring for the boat according to  claim 12 , wherein the C-shaped hook base defines a central open region, and a center of the central open region of the C-shaped hook base is coincident with the longitudinal axis of the device. 
     
     
         16 . The boat mooring for the boat according to  claim 15 , wherein the elongate retaining and guide section has a length of between 0.5 inch and 4 inches and a leading end of the elongate retaining and guide section forms an unobstructed entrance which leads to the central open region. 
     
     
         17 . The boat mooring for the boat according to  claim 16 , wherein a leading free end of the elongate retaining and guide section is one of rounded, tapered or contoured so as to facilitate engagement with the desired eyelet. 
     
     
         18 . The boat mooring for the boat according to  claim 12 , wherein the coupling mechanism comprises an eyehook permanently attached to the first end of the elongate shaft. 
     
     
         19 . The boat mooring for the boat according to  claim 18 , wherein a hand grip is positioned adjacent the eyehook to facilitate manipulation of the device by an end user;
 the elongate shaft, the hook member and the coupling mechanism are all manufactured from a corrosion resistant material;   the shaft has a length of between three (3) feet and five (5) feet; and   the shaft has a transverse cross sectional dimension of between about ⅜ to about ½ of an inch.   
     
     
         20 . The boat mooring for the boat according to  claim 12 , wherein the elongate retaining and guide section has a length of between 0.5 inch and 4 inches, an outer diameter of between about ¼ and about ½ of an inch and the elongate retaining and guide section is spaced from the transition section by a distance greater than an overall dimension of the desired eyelet to be engaged.