Boat protection device

Abstract

A boat protection device includes a boat fender having a cushion, a first attachment element and a second attachment element. The first attachment element has a first keyhole aperture. The first keyhole aperture has a first slot and a first passage contiguous with the first slot. The second attachment element has a second keyhole aperture. The second keyhole aperture has a second slot and a second passage contiguous with the second slot.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A boat protection device, comprising:
 a cushion;   a first attachment element attached to the cushion, the first attachment element comprising a first keyhole aperture having a first passage and a first slot contiguous with the first passage, the first passage having a first width and the first slot having a second width smaller than the first width; and   a second attachment element attached to the cushion, the second attachment element comprising a second keyhole aperture having a second passage and a second slot contiguous with the second passage, the second passage having a third width and the second slot having a fourth width smaller than the third width.   
     
     
         2 . The boat protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second passages are substantially circular. 
     
     
         3 . The boat protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the first slot is orientated substantially orthogonal to the second slot portion. 
     
     
         4 . The boat protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the first attachment element further comprises an opening for receiving a fender line. 
     
     
         5 . The boat protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the first attachment element and the second attachment element are located at opposite ends of the cushion. 
     
     
         6 . The boat protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the first attachment element and the second attachment element are integral with the cushion. 
     
     
         7 . The boat protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the cushion, the first attachment element, and the second attachment element have rear surfaces coplanar with one another. 
     
     
         8 . The boat protection device of  claim 1 , wherein the cushion is inflatable. 
     
     
         9 . A boat protection device, comprising:
 a fender line having a length extending between a first end and a second end;   a stop positioned along the fender line, the stop having a stop width extending in a direction perpendicular to the length of the fender line;   a cushion;   a first attachment element comprising a first keyhole aperture having a first passage and a first slot contiguous with the first passage, the first slot having a first slot width smaller than the stop width to prevent passage of the stop through the first slot, the first passage having a first passage width larger than the stop width to permit passage of the stop through the first passage; and   a second attachment element comprising a second keyhole aperture having a second passage and a second slot contiguous with the second passage, the second slot having a second slot width smaller than the stop width to prevent passage of the stop through the second slot, the second passage having a second passage width larger than the stop width to permit passage of the stops through the second passage.   
     
     
         10 . The boat protection device of  claim 9 , wherein the first slot is orientated substantially orthogonal to the second slot. 
     
     
         11 . The boat protection device of  claim 9 , wherein the stop is slidably attached to the fender line. 
     
     
         12 . The boat protection device of  claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of stops positioned along the length of the fender line in spaced relation to one another. 
     
     
         13 . The boat protection device of  claim 12 , wherein the stops are fixedly attached to the fender line. 
     
     
         14 . The boat protection device of  claim 12 , wherein the stops are releasably mountable along the length of the fender line. 
     
     
         15 . The boat protection device of  claim 9 , wherein the first end of the fender line is permanently attached to the first attachment element. 
     
     
         16 . The boat protection device of  claim 9 , wherein the first attachment element further comprises an opening, and wherein the fender line is secured to the first attachment element through the opening. 
     
     
         17 . The boat-protection device of  claim 9 , wherein the cushion has a front surface and a rear surface, and wherein the first and second attachment elements have rear surfaces that are substantially coplanar with the rear surface. 
     
     
         18 . The boat-protection device of  claim 9 , further comprising a first keyhole grommet surrounding the first keyhole aperture and a second keyhole grommet surrounding the second keyhole aperture. 
     
     
         19 . The boat protection device of  claim 18 , further comprising fasteners securing the first and second keyhole grommets to the first attachment element and the second attachment element, respectively. 
     
     
         20 . A method of positioning a boat-protection device on a boat, comprising:
 attaching a fender line comprising a plurality of stops positioned thereon to the boat-protection device of  claim 1 ;   positioning the fender line on a support;   drawing a first end of the fender line through the passage of the first or second keyhole slot;   selecting a portion of the fender line between two adjacent stops; and   moving the selected portion of the fender line from the passage to the respective slot.