# US 5,701,837 A · Boat dock bumper

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- Number: US 5,701,837 A
- Document ID: US5701837A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/691,517
- Filed: 1996-08-02
- Granted: 1997-12-30
- Earliest claimed: 1996-08-02
- Inventors: Thomas E. Harvey
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5701837A

## CPC

- B63B 59/02: Fenders integral with waterborne vessels or specially adapted therefor, {e.g. fenders forming part of the hull or incorporated in the hull}; Rubbing-strakes (fenders on coasts, in harbours or on other fixed marine structures E02B3/26)
- B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06)

## Abstract

A boat dock bumper is provided for protecting the hull of a watercraft when the watercraft is moored to a dock, pier, piling, or like structure, and includes a flexible, generally rectangular-shaped member attachable to the watercraft, a flexible upper portion for resting on the gunwale of the watercraft, and a deformable major body portion which can be conformably positioned contiguous to the hull of the watercraft. Disposed within and extending through the rectangular-shaped member from the upper portion to the major body portion are a plurality of flexible, bendable, elongated batten members which provide support and stability for the rectangular-shaped member when the boat dock bumper is attached to the watercraft.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A boat dock bumper for attachment to the gunwale of a watercraft and which is conformable to the outer surface of the hull of the watercraft, comprising:
a generally rectangular-shaped member of uniform thickness having a bendable upper portion for resting on the gunwale and a flexible, deformable major body portion which is conformable to the outer surface of the hull so that the major body portion can be disposed contiguous thereagainst;
the upper portion having a central cut-out section and opposed flange portions;
a plurality of spaced-apart, flexible batten members disposed within the generally rectangular-shaped member and extending from the upper portion to the major body portion;
the batten members providing structural support and stability to the generally rectangular-shaped member and capable of flexible and bendable movement so that the major body portion can conform to the outer surface of the hull; and
attachment means for securing the generally rectangular-shaped member to the watercraft.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The boat dock bumper of claim 1 wherein the generally rectangular-shaped member includes four spaced-apart, flexible batten members disposed therein and extending from the upper portion to the major body portion.

### Claim 3

A boat dock bumper for attachment to the gunwale of a watercraft and which is conformable to the hull of the watercraft, comprising:
a generally rectangular-shaped member of uniform thickness having a bendable upper portion for resting on the gunwale and a flexible, deformable major body portion which is conformable to the hull so that the major body portion can be disposed contiguous thereagainst;
upper portion having a central cut-out section and opposed flange portions for resting on the gunwale;
a plurality of flexible batten members disposed within and extending through the generally rectangular-shaped member;
the batten members for providing structural support and stability to the generally rectangular-shaped member and capable of flexing so that the major body portion can be placed contiguous to the hull of the watercraft; and
attachment means for securing the generally rectangular-shaped member to the watercraft.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The boat dock bumper of claim 3 wherein the batten members extend within the upper portion and the major body portion.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The boat dock bumper of claim 4 wherein the generally rectangular-shaped member includes four spaced-apart, flexible batten members disposed therein and extending within the upper portion and the major body portion.

### Claim 6

A boat dock bumper for attachment to the gunwale of a watercraft, comprising:
a flexible and bendable, generally rectangular-shaped member of uniform thickness which is deformable so that the generally rectangular-shaped member can be disposed contiguous to the hull of the watercraft;
a plurality of spaced-apart, bendable batten members disposed within and extending through the generally rectangular-shaped member for providing structural support and stability to the generally rectangular-shaped member and deformable so that the generally rectangular-shaped member conforms to the hull of the watercraft;
the generally rectangular-shaped member further including a flexible and bendable upper portion for resting on the gunwale of the watercraft and a major body portion;
the upper portion characterized by a center cut-out section and opposed flange portions; and
an attachment means for securing the boat dock bumper to the watercraft.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The boat dock bumper of claim 6 wherein the number of bendable batten members disposed within the generally rectangular-shaped member is four.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The boat dock bumper of claim 7 wherein at least two batten members longitudinally extend within the upper portion and the major body portion and at least two batten members longitudinally extend only within the major body portion.