Fender with compact spring element
OwnerKarl L. Aschenbachinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A unitary fender having a compact spring shape for protecting an object, such as a dock or boat, includes a mounting portion and a resilient leaf spring portion integrally formed of one-piece construction with the mounting portion. The leaf spring portion is designed to collapse and absorb a substantial amount of energy upon impact with another object while a free end of the leaf spring slides along a front side of the mounting portion. In a preferred embodiment, the fender is extruded of a high-strength abrasion-resistant plastic material having a low coefficient of friction, such as ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). The leaf spring portion may include multiple access holes sized admit a tool for installing or removing the fender.
Claims27
A unitary fender for protecting an object from being damaged by impact or rubbing loads caused by contact with another object, comprising:
- a mounting portion for mounting to the object, the mounting portion having a rear side for facing the object and a front side opposite the rear side;
- and
- a resilient leaf spring portion integrally formed of one-piece construction with the mounting portion, the leaf spring portion projecting outwardly from the front side of the mounting portion to extend over at least part of the front side and then back toward the front side to terminate in a free end, the leaf spring portion defining a compression space located between the leaf spring portion and the mounting portion into which the leaf spring portion collapses when under load to thereby absorb a substantial amount of energy, the free end of the leaf spring portion being free to slide along the front side of the mounting portion when the leaf spring portion collapses under load.
A unitary fender for attachment to an object to protect the object from being damaged by impact or rubbing against another object, comprising:
- an elongate mounting portion having a thickness and multiple mounting holes spaced apart along the length of the mounting portion, the mounting holes extending through the thickness of the mounting portion and being sized to receive fasteners for attaching the fender to the object;
- and
- a leaf spring portion integrally formed of one-piece construction with the mounting portion and extending along the length of the mounting portion, the leaf spring portion projecting outwardly from the mounting portion in a direction transverse to the length of the mounting portion and over the mounting holes, the leaf spring portion bordering a compression space located between the leaf spring portion and the mounting portion, the leaf spring portion including a plurality of access openings aligned with the mounting holes, the access openings each being sized to admit a tool for tightening the fasteners, to thereby facilitate attachment of the fender to the object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.