Safety anchor enclosure

A method of protecting persons moving about on a boat dock from injury due to accidental contact with a boat anchor extending over the dock surface;

• the method comprising the steps of:
• a) providing a safety anchor enclosure having an openable top;
• a bottom which is flexible along a longitudinal axis of the bottom;
• a first side extending from the top to the bottom;
• a second side opposite the first side and extending from the top to the bottom;
• a first end extending over an area defined by aft edges of the top, the bottom, the first side and the second side;
• a second end opposite the first end, the second end extending over an area defined by forward edges of the top, the bottom, the first side and the second side;
• the first end being positioned aft and defining an opening for receiving the shaft of an anchor on a boat, and the second end being positioned forward when the enclosure is in operative position enclosing the anchor of a boat;
• the safety enclosure being formed of at least one sheet of a durable, pliable material sufficiently strong to withstand repeated flexing and continual contact with heavy, sharp metal of a type forming an anchor of a boat;
• the at least one sheet of pliable material further being padded thickly enough to prevent serious harm to a person who movingly contacts the safety enclosed anchor;
• the safety enclosure further having at least one mechanism for securing the enclosure in a closed configuration when the enclosure is in operative position on the anchor of a boat;
• b) separating the top of the safety enclosure;
• c) placing the open top of the safety enclosure longitudinally beneath the anchor of a boat to which the anchor is attached;
• d) placing the opening in the aft end of the safety enclosure around the anchor shaft;
• e) closing the safety enclosure around the anchor by urging one side of the safety enclosure toward the other side of the safety enclosure;
• f) drawing straps on paired sides of the safety enclosure toward a center longitudinal axis;
• and securing the paired safety enclosure sides with hook and loop fastener;
• webbed straps and by metal loops secured to the webbed straps for optional addition of a padlock to the safety enclosure for an anchor to prevent injury to person moving about in the vicinity of the anchor when the boat is docked.