Back to results
US 6,948,440 B2Granted
Fender with leaf spring
OwnerKarl L. Aschenbachinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fender having a compact spring shape for protecting an object, such as a dock or boat, includes a mounting portion connected to a resilient leaf spring 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 leaf spring portion 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.
Claims44
A fender for protecting an object from being damaged by impact or rubbing loads caused by contact with another object, comprising:
- an elongate mounting portion for mounting to the object, the mounting portion having a length, a rear side for facing the object, a front side opposite the rear side, and first and second opposing longitudinal margins extending along the length of the mounting portion;
- and
- an elongate resilient leaf spring portion made of an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene material and connected to the mounting portion along one of the longitudinal margins, 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 sliding along the front side of the mounting portion when the leaf spring portion collapses under load,
- in which the mounting portion includes multiple mounting holes positioned under the leaf spring portion for receiving mounting fasteners for mounting the fender to the object;
- and
- in which the leaf spring portion includes multiple access openings aligned with the mounting holes, the access openings each being sized to admit a tool for tightening the mounting fasteners, to thereby facilitate attachment of the fender to the object.
3 more elements
A fender for protecting an object from being damaged by impact or rubbing loads caused by contact with another object, comprising:
- an elongate mounting portion for mounting to the object, the mounting portion having a length, a rear side for facing the object, a front side opposite the rear side, and first and second opposing longitudinal margins extending along the length of the mounting portion;
- and
- an elongate resilient leaf spring portion made of an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene material and connected to the mounting portion along one of the longitudinal margins, 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 sliding along the front side of the mounting portion when the leaf spring portion collapses under load, in which the leaf spring portion includes one or more drainage openings to allow fluids to drain from the compression space.
A fender for protecting an object from being damaged by impact or rubbing loads caused by contact with another object, comprising:
- an elongate mounting portion for mounting to the object, the mounting portion having a length, a rear side for facing the object, a front side opposite the rear side, and first and second opposing longitudinal margins extending along the length of the mounting portion;
- an elongate resilient leaf spring portion made of an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene material and connected to the mounting portion along one of the longitudinal margins, 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 sliding along the front side of the mounting portion when the leaf spring portion collapses under load;
- and
- an elastomer layer positioned between the mounting portion and the object.
1 more element
A fender for protecting an object from being damaged by impact or rubbing loads caused by contact with another object, comprising:
- an elongate mounting portion for mounting to the object, the mounting portion having a length, a rear side for facing the object, a front side opposite the rear side, and first and second opposing longitudinal margins extending along the length of the mounting portion;
- an elongate resilient leaf spring portion made of an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene material and connected to the mounting portion along one of the longitudinal margins, 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 sliding along the front side of the mounting portion when the leaf spring portion collapses under load;
- a flat upper surface aligned transversely of the mounting portion, the upper surface positioned for mounting flush with a deck or a dock;
- and
- a traction material embedded in the upper surface.
2 more elements
A fender for protecting an object from being damaged by impact or rubbing loads caused by contact with another object, comprising:
- an elongate mounting portion for mounting to the object, the mounting portion having a length, a rear side for facing the object, a front side opposite the rear side, and first and second opposing longitudinal margins extending along the length of the mounting portion;
- an elongate resilient leaf spring portion made of an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene material and connected to the mounting portion along one of the longitudinal margins, 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 sliding along the front side of the mounting portion when the leaf spring portion collapses under load;
- a groove formed in the mounting portion along one of the first and second longitudinal margins;
- and
- in which the leaf spring portion includes a tongue portion that extends into the groove for connecting the leaf spring portion to the mounting portion.
2 more elements
A 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 mounting fasteners for attaching the fender to the object;
- and
- a leaf spring portion connected to 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 mounting fasteners, to thereby facilitate attachment of the fender to the object.
A fender for protecting an object from being damaged by impact or rubbing loads caused by contact with another object, the fender comprising:
- a mounting portion for mounting to the object, the mounting portion having a rear side for facing the object, a front side opposite the rear side, and first and second opposing margins;
- and
- a resilient leaf spring portion made of a plastic material and rigidly connected to the mounting portion along one of the margins, 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 sprint portion collapses when under load;
- wherein the leaf spring portion is detachably connected to the mounting portion.
1 more element
A fender for protecting an object from being damaged by impact or rubbing loads caused by contact with another object, the fender comprising:
- a mounting portion for mounting to the object, the mounting portion having a rear side for facing the object, a front side opposite the rear side, and first and second opposing margins;
- and
- a resilient leaf spring portion made of a plastic material and rigidly connected to the mounting portion along one of the margins, 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;
- wherein the plastic material is an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.
1 more element
A fender for protecting an object from being damaged by impact or rubbing loads caused by contact with another object, the fender comprising:
- a mounting portion for mounting to the object, the mounting portion having a rear side for facing the object, a front side opposite the rear side, and first and second opposing margins;
- and
- a resilient leaf spring portion made of a plastic material and rigidly connected to the mounting portion alone one of the margins, 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;
- wherein the leaf spring portion includes one or more drainage openings to allow fluids to drain from the compression space.
1 more element
A fender for protecting an object from being damaged by impact or rubbing loads caused by contact with another object, the fender comprising:
- a mounting portion for mounting to the object, the mounting portion having a rear side for facing the object, a front side opposite the rear side, and first and second opposing margins;
- a resilient leaf spring portion made of a plastic material and rigidly connected to the mounting portion alone one of the margins, 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;
- and
- an elastomer layer positioned between the mounting portion and the object.
1 more element
A fender for protecting an object from being damaged by impact or rubbing loads caused by contact with another object, the fender comprising:
- a mounting portion for mounting to the object, the mounting portion having a rear side for facing the object, a front side opposite the rear side, and first and second opposing margins;
- a resilient leaf spring portion made of a plastic material and rigidly connected to the mounting portion along one of the margins, 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;
- a flat upper surface aligned transversely of the mounting portion, the upper surface positioned for mounting flush with a deck or a dock;
- and
- a traction material embedded in the upper surface.
2 more elements
A fender for protecting an object from being damaged by impact or rubbing loads caused by contact with another object, the fender comprising:
- a mounting portion for mounting to the object, the mounting portion having a rear side for facing the object, a front side opposite the rear side, and first and second opposing margins;
- a resilient leaf spring portion made of a plastic material and rigidly connected to the mounting portion along one of the margins, 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;
- a groove formed in the mounting portion along one of the first and second longitudinal margins;
- and
- in which the leaf spring portion includes a tongue portion that extends into the groove for connecting the leaf spring portion to the mounting portion.
2 more elements
A fender for attachment to an object to protect the object from being damaged by impact or rubbing against another object, the fender comprising:
- a 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 mounting fasteners for attaching the fender to the object;
- and
- a leaf spring portion connected to 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 mounting fasteners, to thereby facilitate attachment of the fender to the object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.