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Mooring strap

Mooring strap description/claims

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to mooring lines for vessels and, more particularly, to a mooring strap having loops at the ends with a lock mechanism to adjust the distance between the loops.

2. Description of Related Art

Since time immemorial, water borne vessels have been moored to docks with lines engaging a cleat, or the like, on the vessel and a cleat attached to the dock or a post formed as part of the dock. When two vessels are moored adjacent one another, lines are used to engage a cleat of one vessel with a cleat of another vessel. Usually, fenders are deployed intermediate the vessel and the dock or between two vessels to prevent abrading or damage causing contact therebetween.

Sometimes a vessel is moored between two pairs of posts. Again, lines are used to engage each post and a cleat or other fixed elements on the vessel.

All of these pre-existing procedures for mooring a vessel usually require readjustment of the respective lengths of the lines by repeated disengagement and re-engagement of the respective cleat and/or post. This procedure is time-consuming and may be enhanced by having two seamen working together to secure an appropriate length of line from the vessel.

Sometimes, the state of the water may suggest that a vessel be loosely moored to accommodate movement of the vessel due to wind and wave action. Again, the time-consuming readjustment of the lines is necessary.

The present invention relates to a mooring strap for a vessel having loops at the opposed ends for engaging respective cleats. A lock mechanism interconnects the strap extending from each loop to permit adjustment of the distance between the loops. A sleeve is slidably engaged with each loop to permit reducing the functional length of the loop about a cleat to prevent inadvertent disengagement of the loop from the cleat.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a mooring strap having loops at opposed ends and a lock mechanism for adjusting and maintaining the distance between the loops.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a quick release cam lock for adjustably engaging straps extending from opposed loops of a mooring strap.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a mooring strap having loops at opposed ends for engaging respective cleats mounted on a vessel and a dock or other vessel.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a sleeve attendant each cleat engaging loop of a mooring strap to reduce the functional length of the loop and snug the loop about the respective cleat.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a pair of straps having a loop at one end and a cam lock for engaging the other ends of the straps.

A yet further object of the present invention is to provide an easy to use and easily stowable mooring strap.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a method for rapidly and adjustably moor a vessel to a dock or other vessel.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description thereof proceeds.

The present invention will be described with greater specificity and clarity with reference to the following drawings, in which:

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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