GB2388078A - Boat fender boarding step - Google Patents

Abstract

A boat fender has a bulbous resilient body part 10, means 12 for suspending the body at the side of a boat and a platform 14 forming a step 16. The platform is arranged symmetrically relative to the suspending means so that the fender forms a step which can be used to assist boarding of the boat. There may be two attachment points Fig 1 for suspending the body, with the platform arranged symmetrically between said attachment points, or there may be a single attachment point Fig 4 with the platform formed in a recessed part of the body, symmetrically below the attachment point. The platform may be integrally moulded with the fender body or formed separately from and subsequently fixed to the fender body. The fender body may be a moulded plastics, inflated envelope.

Description

- 1 Boat Fender This invention relates to a boat fender which combines the

function of protecting the side of a boat from damage with 5 that of a boarding step.

It is common practice to suspend fenders over the side of a boat to protect the topsides of the boat when mooring in a marina or coming alongside another boat. Such fenders lo take many forms but are generally bulbous, to prevent contact between other surfaces and the topsides, and resilient to absorb energy and to provide some cushioning when coming alongside another boat or a fixed structure.

15 It is also common practice to berth boats, in particular yachts, in a marina. Typical marinas have finger pontoons which extend alongside a berthed boat. The pontoon surface is generally much lower than the boat's deck, and it is known to provide either a step on the finger 20 pontoon, or to suspend a step or steps from the side of the boat to assist boarding. Steps suspended from the side of a boat tend to be cumbersome and rigid, and can themselves cause damage to the boat's topsides if they are not properly installed. Furthermore, storage space has to 25 be found on board the boat for such steps, and storage space on boats is always at a premium.

According to the present invention, there is provided a boat fender having a bulbous, resilient body part, means 30 for suspending the fender at the side of a boat, and a

- 2 - platform forming a step, wherein the platform is arranged symmetrically relative to the suspending means, so that the fender forms a step which can be used to assist boarding of the boat.

The integration of the boarding step function into a fender means that one item serves a dual purpose. When the boat is made ready for mooring, by having its fenders put out, a boarding step is automatically made ready for 10 use.

The fender may have two suspension points to which ropes ox other attachment means such am straps, strops or links can be attached, with the ropes then being attached to 15 suitable points on the deck or lifelines of the boat. The attachment can be by tying the ropes to the boat, or through the use of clips, shackles or other fasteners.

The platform will then be located symmetrically between the suspension points.

The platform is preferably substantially rigid, so that there is no substantial deflection when a person's weight is placed on the platform, to board the boat.

25 The fender body is preferably a conventional air inflated PVC envelope. The platform may be integrally moulded with the envelope, or may be a separate component subsequently permanently attached (e.g. by plastics welding) or removably detached (e.g. by using a removable webbing 30 strap or similar) to the body. It may alternatively be

r j - 3 - possible for the platform to be a removable webbing strap . or slmllar.

In an alternative embodiment, the fender can have a single 5 suspension point, with the body having a central aperture containing the platform and thus forming the step.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in lO which: Figure 1 is a front view of a fender in accordance with the invention; 15 Figure 2 is a side view of the fender of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a modified fender similar to the fenders of Figures 1 and 2; and 20 Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of a fender in accordance with the invention.

Figure l shows a fender with a bulbous body lo (see in particular Figure 2) which is to be suspended over the 25 side of a boat by ropes or other attachment means connected to two suspension eyes 12. The fender body is generally U-shape and has a platform 14 between the limbs of the U-shape. The platform 14 has a flat upper surface 16 which forms a step, and sidewalls 18 which connect the 30 upper surface 16 to the body lo, and provide rigidity to

l - 4 the upper surface so that when somebody puts their weight on that surface, the surface remains substantially flat.

The upper surface 16 can have moulded-in non-slip patterns. It may also have integrally moulded vertical 5 ribs at each end of the surface 16 to provide lateral support and to ensure that a user's foot is correctly located. This will provide reassurance to the user in the event that the fender is suspended with the surface 16 not truly horizontal.

The fender body 10 can be manufactured from any convenient material. One widely used fender construction is a hollow PVC moulding (which can be rotationally moulded) and which is then inflated with air. However other constructions, 15 including foam filled constructions, are possible. The platform 14 can be integrally moulded with the outer walls of the body 10, or can be moulded separately and subsequently attached to the body.

20 Figure 3 shows a modified step where a lower attachment eye 20 is formed on the body. This eye can then be attached to some other restraining point, to reduce any movement of the step when somebody stands on it.

25 If the topsides of the boat are particularly high, two or more of these fenders can be suspended one above the other to provide a set of steps in the nature of a ladder.

The fender can also be used to provide a step for use when 30 boarding a boat from another craft, such as a dinghy.

À 5 Figure 4 shows another embodiment where the bulbous body 22 is of a "doughnut'' shape with a hole 24 in the middle and a platform 26 in the hole 24, located symmetrically 5 below a single suspension point 28. The symmetrical arrangement ensures that when somebody steps on the platform 26, the platform will remain horizontal.

The fender can be used by connecting ropes into the 10 eyelets 12 and tying or clipping the other ends of the ropes to either a boat's toe rail, or to one of the boat's lifelines. Figure 2 shows that the bulbous part 10 of the fender is 15 wider than the platform 14. This ensures that the parts of the fender which come into contact with the boat's topsides are the bulbous parts, rather than the (relatively) rigid platform.

Claims (7)

Claims

1. A boat fender having a bulbous, resilient body part, means for suspending the body at the side of a boat and a 5 platform forming a step, wherein the platform is arranged symmetrically relative to the suspending means, no that the fender forms a step which can be used to assist boarding of the boat.

10

2. A fender an claimed in Claim 1, wherein there are two attachment points by which the body can be suspended at the side of a boat, and the platform is arranged symmetrically between the attachment points.

15

3. A fender as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the platform is integrally moulded with the fender body.

4. A fender as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the platform is formed separately from the fender body and 20 is subsequently fixed to the body.

5. A fender as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the fender body is a moulded plastics, inflated envelope.

25

6. A fender as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the fender body has a single attachment point, and the platform is formed in a recessed part of the body, symmetrically located below the attachment point.

30

7. A fender substantially as herein described with

- 7 - reference to any one embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.