Attachment structure for marine vessel

Abstract

An attachment structure for an auxiliary component for a marine vessel includes a first structure configured to be attached to an attachment portion of the marine vessel, an elastic structure, and a second structure connected to the first structure via the elastic structure so as to allow axial movement of the first structure with respect to the second structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An attachment structure for an auxiliary component for a marine vessel, comprising:
 a first structure configured to be attached to an attachment portion of the marine vessel;   an elastic structure; and   a second structure connected to the first structure via the elastic structure so as to allow axial movement of the first structure with respect to the second structure.   
     
     
         2 . The attachment structure of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic structure is a tension spring. 
     
     
         3 . The attachment structure of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first structure comprises an inner sleeve,   wherein the second structure comprises an outer sleeve,   wherein the inner sleeve is positioned at least partially within the outer sleeve, and   wherein the elastic structure is positioned at least partially within the inner sleeve.   
     
     
         4 . The attachment structure of  claim 3 ,
 wherein the first structure further comprises a rod fixed to the inner sleeve, and   wherein the rod is configured to be directly attached to the attachment portion of the marine vessel.   
     
     
         5 . The attachment structure of  claim 4 , wherein the rod comprises a threaded portion configured to engage with threading within the attachment portion of the marine vessel to attach the attachment structure to the marine vessel. 
     
     
         6 . The attachment structure of  claim 3 ,
 wherein the second structure further comprises a housing fixed to the outer sleeve, and   wherein the outer sleeve and the inner sleeve are disposed within the housing.   
     
     
         7 . The attachment structure of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the second structure further comprises an end cap fixed to the housing, and   wherein the end cap includes a bore configured to receive the auxiliary component.   
     
     
         8 . The attachment structure of  claim 7 , wherein the bore includes at least one guide groove configured to restrict rotation of the auxiliary component. 
     
     
         9 . The attachment structure of  claim 1 , wherein the second structure is configured to receive the auxiliary component. 
     
     
         10 . The attachment structure of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the housing is fixed to the outer sleeve via a fastener,   wherein the inner sleeve comprises a bridge portion on which a first attachment portion of the elastic structure is attached, and   wherein a second attachment portion of the elastic structure is attached to the fastener.   
     
     
         11 . The attachment structure of  claim 3 , wherein the elastic structure is a tension spring that biases the inner sleeve towards the outer sleeve in an axial direction. 
     
     
         12 . The attachment structure of  claim 11 , wherein the inner sleeve comprises a flange that abuts an axial end of the outer sleeve to limit movement of the inner sleeve with respect to the outer sleeve in the axial direction. 
     
     
         13 . The attachment structure of  claim 1 , wherein the second structure is not rotatable with respect to the first structure. 
     
     
         14 . The attachment structure of  claim 3 , wherein the outer sleeve is not rotatable with respect to the inner sleeve. 
     
     
         15 . The attachment structure of  claim 14 , wherein the inner sleeve and a bore within the outer sleeve have a hexagonal cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         16 . The attachment structure of  claim 4 ,
 wherein the inner sleeve comprises a bridge portion,   wherein the elastic structure is attached to the bridge portion,   wherein at least a portion of the rod is positioned within the inner sleeve in a first axial direction of the bridge portion, and   wherein at least a portion of the elastic structure is disposed within the inner sleeve in a second axial direction of the bridge portion.   
     
     
         17 . The attachment structure of  claim 6 , wherein the inner sleeve, the outer sleeve, and the housing are positioned radially around the elastic structure. 
     
     
         18 . The attachment structure of  claim 1 , wherein, when the first structure is inserted within the attachment structure of the marine vessel, a portion of the first structure attached to a first attachment portion of the elastic structure moves away in an axial direction from a portion of the second structure attached to a second attachment portion of the elastic structure such that the elastic structure biases the first structure towards the second structure. 
     
     
         19 . An attachment structure for an auxiliary component for a marine vessel, the attachment structure defining a first axial direction and a second axial direction and comprising:
 a housing;   an end cap disposed on a terminal end of the housing in the second axial direction and having a bore configured to accept the auxiliary component;   an outer sleeve disposed at least partially within the housing and fixed to the housing via a first fastener;   an inner sleeve disposed at least partially within the outer sleeve and comprising a bridge portion;   an elastic structure having a first attachment portion attached to the bridge portion and a second attachment portion attached to the first fastener so as to allow axial movement of the first structure with respect to the second structure; and   a rod disposed at least partially within the inner sleeve and fixed to the inner sleeve via a second fastener,   wherein the attachment structure is configured such that, when the rod is inserted into an attachment portion of the marine vessel, the inner sleeve is moved in the first axial direction with respect to the outer sleeve, thereby generating a biasing force in the elastic structure that pulls the inner sleeve towards the outer sleeve.   
     
     
         20 . A marine vessel comprising:
 the attachment structure of  claim 1 ;   a hull comprising the attachment portion; and   the auxiliary component attached to the attachment structure.