Cradle assembly for boats

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016121972-A1
Application number	US-201414895831-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 30, 2014
Priority date	Jun 5, 2013
Publication date	May 5, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a cradle assembly for cradling a boat, the cradle assembly comprising: a support, comprising one or more support fenders; one or more enclosure fenders extending along opposite lengths of the support; an arrestor located at one end of the support; an open-ended enclosure for a boat being formed between the support, the one or more enclosure fenders and the arrestor, the one or more support fenders facing into the enclosure, and the open end of the open-ended enclosure being opposite the arrestor.

First claim

1 . A cradle assembly for cradling a boat, the cradle assembly comprising:
a support, comprising one or more support fenders; one or more enclosure fenders extending along opposite lengths of the support; an arrestor located at one end of the support; and an open-ended enclosure for a boat being formed between the support, the one or more enclosure fenders and the arrestor, the one or more support fenders facing into the enclosure, and the open end of the open-ended enclosure being opposite the arrestor.

2 . The cradle assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least a part of one or more of the following is deformable or resiliently deformable:
the one or more support fenders; the one or more enclosure fenders; and the arrestor.

3 . The cradle assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the support fenders and the enclosure fenders are at least one of controllably inflatable and/or controllably deflatable.

4 . The cradle assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the support fenders and the enclosure fenders comprise cladding.

5 . The cradle assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the support fenders, the enclosure fenders, and any cladding thereof, comprise one or more of: polychloroprene and chlorosulfonated polyethylene.

6 . The cradle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the support fenders comprise one or more of: a predominantly energy absorbing support fender and a predominantly load bearing support fender.

7 . The cradle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the support fenders comprise a predominantly energy absorbing support fender and a predominantly load bearing support fender, the energy absorbing support fender covering the load bearing support fender.

8 . The cradle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the arrestor comprises an adjuster for adjusting a resistance provided by the arrestor.

9 . The cradle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the arrestor comprises at least one of a net and one or more kinetic energy recovery elements.

10 . The cradle of claim 1 , wherein the support comprises first and second support sections, spaced apart from one another along a length of the support, and arranged to support fore and aft sections of the boat.

11 . The cradle of claim 10 , wherein at least one of a position and orientation of one or more parts of the support is adjustable.

12 . The cradle of claim 1 wherein one or more of the enclosure fenders are configured to remain in contact with the boat when the boat is located in the enclosure.

13 . The cradle of claim 1 wherein one or more enclosure fenders are provided to form a guide to the open end of the enclosure.

14 . A boat comprising the cradle assembly of claim 1 , the boat being capable of cradling a smaller boat in the boat cradle assembly.

15 . The boat of claim 14 , wherein the cradle assembly is located in a section of the boat, within which section a fluid level is controllable to at least one of:
lower the smaller boat on to the support of the cradle assembly; and raise the smaller boat from the support.

16 . A cradle assembly for cradling a boat, the cradle assembly comprising:
a support, comprising one or more boat support fenders, wherein the support comprises first and second support sections, spaced apart from one another along a length of the support, and arranged to support fore and aft sections of a boat; one or more enclosure fenders extending along opposite lengths of the support; an arrestor located at one end of the support, wherein the arrestor comprises an adjuster for adjusting a resistance provided by the arrestor; and an open-ended enclosure for a boat being formed between the support, the one or more enclosure fenders and the arrestor, the one or more boat support fenders facing into the enclosure, and the open end of the open-ended enclosure being opposite the arrestor; wherein at least a part of one or more of the following is deformable or resiliently deformable: the one or more boat support fenders; the one or more enclosure fenders; and the arrestor.

17 . The cradle assembly of claim 16 , wherein:
at least one of the boat support fenders and the enclosure fenders are at least one of controllably inflatable and controllably deflatable; and at least one of the boat support fenders and the enclosure fenders comprise cladding.

18 . The cradle assembly of claim 16 , wherein the arrestor comprises at least one of a net and one or more kinetic energy recovery elements.

19 . The cradle of claim 16 , wherein one or more enclosure fenders are provided to form a guide to the open end of the enclosure.

20 . A cradle assembly for cradling a boat, the cradle assembly comprising:
a support, comprising one or more support fenders, wherein the support comprises first and second support sections, spaced apart from one another along a length of the support, and arranged to support fore and aft sections of a boat; one or more enclosure fenders extending along opposite lengths of the support; an arrestor located at one end of the support, wherein the arrestor comprises at least one of a net and one or more kinetic energy recovery elements; and an open-ended enclosure for a boat being formed between the support, the one or more enclosure fenders and the arrestor, the one or more support fenders facing into the enclosure, and the open end of the open-ended enclosure being opposite the arrestor; wherein at least one of the boat support fenders and the enclosure fenders are controllably inflatable and controllably deflatable.

Assignees

• Bae Systems Plc

Inventors

• Goves Dean Michael

Classifications

• B63B27/36

  Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment} for floating cargo {(deployment or recovery of underwater vehicles using lifts of hoists B63B27/16) · CPC title

• B63B21/00 Primary

  Tying-up; Shifting, towing, or pushing equipment; Anchoring ({of buoys B63B22/04;} dynamic anchoring B63H25/00 {; equipment for shipping on coasts, in harbours or on other fixed marine structures, e.g. for landing purposes, E02B}) · CPC title

• B63B35/40

  for transporting marine vessels {(load accommodation for floating barges and the like B63B25/006)} · CPC title

• B63B59/02

  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) · CPC title

• B63B2059/025

  pneumatic, e.g. inflatable · CPC title