Watercraft Tether Device

Abstract

A watercraft tether device includes a shaft member having opposing ends, and end stabilizers respectively provided at the opposing ends of the shaft member. The end stabilizers each include a lateral stabilizing portion that extends orthogonally with respect to the shaft member and has an outer edge that extends from a first end of the lateral stabilizing portion to a second end of the lateral stabilizing portion. One or more strap members of the watercraft tether device may be respectively engaged with the end stabilizers such that portions of the strap members form adjustable loops extending from the end stabilizers for removably engaging with tethering structures of watercrafts. Also disclosed is a method of using a plurality of watercraft tether devices to tether together watercrafts floating in a body of water, and a strap system engaged with an end stabilizer of the watercraft tether device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A watercraft tether device, comprising:
 (a) a shaft member having a first end and a second end;   (b) end stabilizers respectively provided at the first end and the second end of the shaft member, wherein each of the end stabilizers has a top side and a bottom side and includes a lateral stabilizing portion that extends orthogonally with respect to the shaft member;   (c) one or more strap members respectively engaged with the end stabilizers, wherein each of the one or more strap members has a secured end and a free end opposite the secured end; and   (d) securing mechanisms respectively located on the end stabilizers, wherein each of the securing mechanisms is configured to adjustably secure the one or more strap members engaged with the end stabilizer on which the securing mechanism is positioned.   
     
     
         2 . The watercraft tether device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the end stabilizers include a shaft member port that extends orthogonally from a center area of the lateral stabilizing portion of the end stabilizer. 
     
     
         3 . The watercraft tether device of  claim 1 , wherein the secured ends of the one or more strap members are respectively secured to the securing mechanisms. 
     
     
         4 . The watercraft tether device of  claim 1 , wherein the end stabilizers comprise a first end stabilizer provided at the first end of the shaft member and a second end stabilizer provided at the second end of the shaft member, the lateral stabilizing portions of which each include a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and an outer edge that extends from the first end of the lateral stabilizing portion to the second end of the lateral stabilizing portion. 
     
     
         5 . The watercraft tether device of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more strap members comprise:
 (a) a first strap member engaged with the first end stabilizer having at least one portion that extends from the first end to the second end, and around the outer edge, of the lateral stabilizing portion of the first end stabilizer, and at least one portion that extends from a center aperture in the outer edge of the lateral stabilizing portion of the first end stabilizer to the free end of the first strap member; and   (b) a second strap member engaged with the second end stabilizer having at least one portion that extends from the first end to the second end, and around the outer edge, of the lateral stabilizing portion of the second end stabilizer, and at least one portion that extends from a center aperture in the outer edge of the lateral stabilizing portion of the second end stabilizer to the free end of the second strap member.   
     
     
         6 . The watercraft tether device of  claim 4 , wherein each of the first end stabilizer and the second end stabilizer comprise:
 (a) a top side aperture formed in the top side;   (b) a first end aperture formed in the first end of the lateral stabilizing portion or a cap secured to the first end of the lateral stabilizing portion;   (c) a second end aperture formed in the second end of the lateral stabilizing portion or a cap secured to the second end of the lateral stabilizing portion; and   (d) a center aperture formed in a center of the outer edge of the lateral stabilizing portion.   
     
     
         7 . The watercraft tether device of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more strap members comprise:
 (a) a first strap member engaged with the first end stabilizer and having a first strap portion extending from the securing mechanism on the top side of the first end stabilizer to the first end aperture through the top side aperture of the first end stabilizer, a second strap portion extending from the first end aperture to the second end aperture, and around the outer edge, of the lateral stabilizing portion of the first end stabilizer, a third strap portion extending from the second end aperture to the center aperture internally through the first end stabilizer, and a fourth strap portion extending from the center aperture to the free end of the first strap member; and   (b) a second strap member engaged with the second end stabilizer and having a first strap portion extending from the securing mechanism on the top side of the second end stabilizer to the first end aperture through the top side aperture of the second end stabilizer, a second strap portion extending from the first end aperture to the second end aperture, and around the outer edge, of the lateral stabilizing portion of the second end stabilizer, a third strap portion extending from the second end aperture to the center aperture internally through the second end stabilizer, and a fourth strap portion extending from the center aperture to the free end of the second strap member.   
     
     
         8 . The watercraft tether device of  claim 3 , further comprising a sleeve wrapped around the shaft member. 
     
     
         9 . The watercraft tether device of  claim 4 , wherein the sleeve comprises or is integrated with a buoyant material. 
     
     
         10 . The watercraft tether device of  claim 7 , wherein the shaft member and the end stabilizers are made of polyvinyl chloride. 
     
     
         11 . A strap system engaged with an end stabilizer of a watercraft tether device, comprising a strap member having a secured end and a free end, the secured end being secured to a securing mechanism positioned on a top side of the end stabilizer and the strap member extending continuously from:
 (a) the securing mechanism internally through the end stabilizer to a first end of the lateral stabilizing portion of the end stabilizer;   (b) the first end to the second end, and around the outer edge, of the lateral stabilizing portion of the end stabilizer;   (c) the second end internally through the end stabilizer to a center aperture formed in the outer edge of the lateral stabilizing portion of the end stabilizer; and   (d) the center aperture to the free end of the strap member, the strap member being adjustably securable to the securing mechanism from the free end.   
     
     
         12 . The strap system of  claim 11 , comprising a second strap member having a secured end and a free end, the secured end being secured to a second securing mechanism positioned on a top side of a second end stabilizer of the watercraft tether device and the second strap member extending continuously from:
 (a) the second securing mechanism internally through the second end stabilizer to a first end of the lateral stabilizing portion of the second end stabilizer;   (b) the first end to the second end, and around the outer edge, of the lateral stabilizing portion of the second end stabilizer;   (c) the second end internally through the second end stabilizer to a center aperture formed in the outer edge of the lateral stabilizing portion of the second end stabilizer; and   (d) the center aperture to the free end of the second strap member, the free end of the second strap member being adjustably securable to the second securing mechanism from the free end.   
     
     
         13 . A method of using watercraft tether devices to tether a first watercraft and a second watercraft together at a distance apart while floating side-by-side in a body of water, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) engaging a first end stabilizer of a first watercraft tether device with a first tethering structure of the first watercraft via a first strap member of the first watercraft tether device;   (b) engaging a second end stabilizer of the first watercraft tether device with a first tethering structure of the second watercraft via a second strap member of the first watercraft tether device;   (c) engaging a first end stabilizer of a second watercraft tether device with a second tethering structure of the first watercraft via a first strap member of the second watercraft tether device;   (d) engaging a second end stabilizer of the second watercraft tether device with a second tethering structure of the first watercraft via a second strap member of the second watercraft tether device; and   (e) by engaging the first end stabilizers and the second end stabilizers of the first watercraft tether device and the second watercraft tether device with the first tethering structures and the second tethering structures of the first watercraft and the second watercraft, tethering the first watercraft and the second watercraft together at the distance apart.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein each of the steps (a) through (d) comprise the substeps of:
 (a) positioning an end stabilizer against an outer side of a tethering structure of a watercraft;   (b) wrapping around a base of the tethering structure a first adjustable loop formed by a first portion of a strap member extending from the first end of the lateral stabilizing portion of the end stabilizer to the second end of the lateral stabilizing portion of the end stabilizer and around an outer edge of the end stabilizer;   (c) looping through an opening in the base of the tethering structure a second portion of the strap member that extends from a center aperture in the outer edge of the lateral stabilizing portion to the free end of the strap member; and   (d) securely engaging the second portion of the strap member with a securing mechanism located on the end stabilizer.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of resisting lateral movements, while allowing for vertical movements, of one of the first watercraft and the second water with respect to the other of the first watercraft and the second watercraft by completing the substeps (a)-(d) for each of steps (a)-(d).