FI20245302A1

FI20245302A1 - Fender

Info

Publication number: FI20245302A1
Application number: FI20245302A
Authority: FI
Inventors: Petro Lahtinen; Antti Mäkelä; Kurt Tallqvist
Original assignee: X Fender Oy
Priority date: 2024-03-14
Filing date: 2024-03-14
Publication date: 2025-09-15
Also published as: WO2025191207A1

Abstract

Marine fender (1) comprising a bendable sheet (3) and a plurality of longitudinally extending compressible pieces (2), which longitudinally extending pieces are connected to the bendable sheet adjacently to each other in relation to the longitudinal direction of the pieces, wherein the ends of the bendable sheet (3) comprise connection means (5a, 5b) for connecting the opposite ends of the sheet to each other to form a cylindrical fender, wherein the compressible pieces (2) are located in the side of the sheet facing inwards in the formed fender and a space (7) is formed inside the cylindrical fender.

Description

MARINE FENDER

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to marine fenders used for protecting marine vessels and watercrafts from physical damage when coming into contact with stationary structures, such as piers, and other docked watercrafts, for example.

Background of the invention

Marine fenders are typically cylindrical form pieces, which are hanged from one end on the side of the vessel to protect that area of the vessel. The marine fenders are typically formed of a suitable flexible material, such as plastic or rubber, and are typically filled with air.

The problems with the prior art air filled marine fenders is that they tend to return to their original shape quite quickly after cushioning the impact, which leads to quick and often opposite movement of vessel after the impact, which movement can be conveyed through plurality of vessels when vessels are docked side by side and separated by the marine fenders. Further, the air filled marine fenders tend to expand in warm temperatures and deflate in cold temperatures, which inflation and deflation affect the use of the marine fenders. Also, the air filled fenders also tend to leak air during their use. Due to the inflated size of the prior art marine fenders, the fenders also take a significant space for storage in the vessel.

N Summary of the invention

N For overcoming the above discussed problems, the present invention provides 3 a novel marine fender, that takes less physical space when stoved and can be s stored in spaces with odd or narrow shape. In addition, the marine fender of =E 30 the invention provides improved protection for marine vessels in terms of a reliability and suspension properties. With the marine fender of the invention

S the protective and damping effect is achieved with an deformable arc-like 3 shape rather than with compressed air as with the traditional marine fenders.

Therefore, a marine fender of the present invention does not suffer from the inflation and deflation due to changing air temperature. The airless structure of a marine fender of the present invention also enables the fender to serve as a shock absorber upon impact, unlike the traditional air pressure based fenders which bounce back to original shape with equal force that they are deformed.

The marine fender of the present invention comprises a bendable sheet and a plurality of longitudinally extending compressible, or deformable, pieces, which longitudinally extending pieces are connected to the bendable sheet adjacently to each other in relation to the longitudinal direction of the pieces, wherein the ends of the bendable sheet comprise connection means for connecting the opposite ends of the sheet to each other to form a cylindrical fender, wherein the compressible pieces are located in the side of the sheet facing inwards in the formed fender and a space is formed inside the cylindrical fender.

In the context of the present invention the feature “compressible” means ability to receive and dampen the force of impact with change of shape, which change of shape is reversible so that after the force of impact is absorbed, the return to the original, or substantially original, shape starts.

With the marine fender of the present invention, the deformation of the fender, which is based on the compression of the compressible, or deformable, pieces, takes place in controlled manner in two separate phases under increasing load. In the first phase the cylindrical fender collapses due to the partial deformation of the compressible pieces so that the space inside the fender collapses and the compressible pieces at opposite sides of the inner space are moved against each other. The deformation distance of the cylindrical fender during the first phase typically corresponds to the diameter of the space inside

N the fender. In the second phase, under extreme loads, the compressible

N pieces forced against each other during the first phase start to fully compress 3 and deform. The deformation distance of the fender during the second phase s depends of the material characteristics of the compressible pieces, but is

E 30 typically preferably about 1-10 mm.

N

S In an embodiment of a marine fender of the invention the longitudinal side 3 surfaces of the longitudinally extending pieces comprise bevels. These bevels allow side surfaces of the compressible pieces to set against the side surfaces of the adjacent compressible pieces without substantial deformation when the cylindrical marine fender is formed.

In an embodiment of a marine fender of the invention the longitudinally extending compressible pieces are curved in a transverse plane in relation to the longitudinal axis of the pieces. This curvature allows formation of a marine fender with at least substantially circular cross-section at least for the outer surface of the fender.

In an embodiment of a marine fender of the invention the side surfaces of the compressible pieces setting against each other when the fender is formed comprise one or more protrusions and one or more corresponding depressions for the protrusions. This strengthens the connection between the end side surfaces of the compressible pieces when the fender is formed, and thus the whole structure of the fender. — In this embodiment the protrusion and depression pairs preferably form mating surfaces connection between the compressible pieces. The protrusion and depression pairs may also form suitable other type of interlocking shape connections, such as jigsaw puzzle type connections or tongue and groove type connections, for example. The protrusion and depression pairs are preferably also formed between all of the side surfaces of the compressible pieces in the fender.

In an embodiment of a marine fender of the invention the longitudinally extending compressible pieces are formed of cellular plastic. Other suitable materials may also be used. The material of the compressible pieces is also

N preferably UV-resistant and water resistant material.

N

3 In an embodiment of a marine fender of the invention the bendable sheet is s formed of or comprise fabric, and is inelastic. The inelasticity of the bendable = 30 sheet allows substantially whole deformation of the marine fender to be a dependent on the related material characteristics of the compressible pieces. 2 In this context, the inelasticity means that the bendable sheet stretches 3 minimally under the forces affecting the marine fender during the deformation phases of the fender, such as 1% for example, which still being at least substantially easily bendable to the cylindrical form during forming of the fender.

In an embodiment of a marine fender of the invention the thickness of the longitudinally extending compressive pieces is between 5-25% of the diameter of the marine fender.

In an embodiment of a marine fender of the invention the marine fender comprises a cord for hanging the marine fender.

More precisely the features defining a marine fender in accordance with the present invention are presented in claim 1. Dependent claims present advantageous features and embodiments of the invention.

Brief description of the drawings

Exemplifying embodiment of the invention and its advantages are explained in greater detail below in the sense of example and with reference to accompanying drawings, where

Figure 1 shows schematically an embodiment of a marine fender in accordance with the present invention in use position,

Figure 2 shows schematically the marine fender of figure 1 in partially opened position,

Figure 3, shows schematically the marine fender of figure 1 in opened storage position, and

Figure 4 shows schematically the marine fender of figure 1 in alternative — use position.

N

& 3 Detailed description of the embodiment s The embodiment of a marine fender 1 in accordance with the present invention =E 30 comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending compressible sections or a pieces 2, which are located adjacently in relation to each other and connected

S to a longitudinally extending fabric sheet 3, which fabric sheet have the width 3 substantially corresponding the length of the pieces 2, to form a single entity.

The marine fender also comprises a string 4 for hanging the marine fender 1.

The string 4 can be attached to longitudinal extending sections 2 of to the fabric sheet 3.

In this embodiment the fabric sheet 3 comprises fixing means 5a and 5b located at the longitudinal ends of the fabric sheet, which fixing means are in this embodiment strips forming Velcro fastening. For supporting the circular 5 orientation of the pieces 2, when the fixing means 5a and 5b are connected to each other, one of the end pieces have protrusions 6a extending from its side surface, and the other of the end pieces have corresponding indentations 6b formed in its side surface for receiving the protrusions 6a. Further, when the fixing means 5a and 5b are connected to each other and a cylindrical fender 1 is thus formed, a space 7 is also formed inside the fender.

The longitudinal side surfaces of the pieces 2 are formed with bevels for allowing full area of the side surfaces of the pieces to set against side surface of the adjacent pieces when the fixing means 5a, 5b are connected to each — other, i.e. when the marine fender 1 is in use position. The longitudinal top and bottom surfaces of the pieces 2 are formed as curved surfaces.

The material of the pieces 2 is preferably cellular plastic, such as crosslinked closed cell polyethylene/polypropylene for example, so that pieces can compress and deform when the fender 1 receives impact, and to return to the original form after the impact.

In a marine fender of the invention the longitudinally extending compressible pieces 2 may be separate pieces connected to the bendable sheet 3, or formed from a single piece of material by material cuts, which singe piece is then

N connected to the bendable sheet.

N

3 In the present invention the bendable sheet is an integral part of the load s bearing structure of the marine fender of the present invention. The =E 30 longitudinally extending compressible pieces and the bendable sheet form a a self-reinforcing structure. Upon load the longitudinally extending compressible 2 pieces tend to detach and bend outwards, while the bendable sheet creates 3 an opposite force that presses the longitudinally extending pieces tightly together thereby keeping the overall structure of the marine fender intact even under extreme loads.

Figure 3 shows the marine fender 1 in storage position, wherein the fixing means 5a and 5b are detached, the marine fender is opened and the longitudinally extending compressive pieces 2 are arranged in a substantially planar orientation. In this position a plurality of the marine fenders 1 can be piled on top of each other to minimize the storage space required.

In the embodiment of the figures the height of the marine fender 1 is 45 cm, and the diameter of the marine fender is 18 cm. The opened width of the — marine fender 1 in storage position is 55 cm and the thickness is 4 cm.

Figure 4 shows the marine fender 1 in alternative use position, in which the fender can be used as a seat padding, for example.

In the position of figure 4, the fabric sheet 3 is bend so, that the longitudinally extending compressive pieces 2 extend outwards from the sheet.

The marine fender of the invention can also comprise integrated means to maintain the circular orientation of the marine fender in the use position even when the fixing means 5a, 5b are disconnected and in the substantially level orientation in the storage position. These integrated means will improve handling of the marine fender of the invention by preventing uncontrolled opening and closing of the marine fender. The integrated means can be metal pieces or filaments arranged between the longitudinally extending compressive pieces 2 and the fabric sheet 3, for example.

S

N The specific exemplifying embodiment of the invention shown in the figure and 3 discussed above should not be construed as limiting. A person skilled in the s art can amend and modify the embodiment described in many evident ways =E 30 within the scope of the attached claims. Thus, the invention is not limited a merely to the embodiment described above. 3

N

&

Claims

Claims:

1. Marine fender (1) comprising a bendable sheet (3) and a plurality of longitudinally extending compressible pieces (2), which longitudinally extending pieces are connected to the bendable sheet adjacently to each other in relation to the longitudinal direction of the pieces, characterized in that the ends of the bendable sheet (3) comprise connection means (5a, 5b) for connecting the opposite ends of the sheet to each other to form a cylindrical fender, wherein the compressible pieces (2) are located in the side of the sheet facing inwards in the formed fender and a space (7) is formed inside the cylindrical fender.

2. Marine fender (1) of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal side surfaces of the longitudinally extending compressible pieces (2) comprise bevels.

3. Marine fender (1) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the longitudinally extending compressible pieces (2) are curved in a transverse plane in relation to the longitudinal axis of the pieces.

4. Marine fender (1) of any of claims 1-3, wherein the side surfaces of the compressible pieces (2) setting against each other when the fender (1) is formed comprise one or more protrusions (6a) and one or more corresponding depressions (6b) for the protrusions.

5. Marine fender (1) of claim 4, wherein the protrusion and depression N pairs (6a, 6b) form mating surfaces connection between the compressible N pieces (2). S

X 6. Marine fender (1) of any of claims 1-5, wherein the longitudinally E 30 extending compressible pieces (2) are formed of cellular plastic. N

S 7. Marine fender (1) of any of claims 1-6, wherein the bendable sheet (3) 3 is formed of or comprise fabric, and is inelastic. oo Al

8. Marine fender (1) of any of claims 1-7, wherein the thickness of the longitudinally extending compressive pieces (2) is 5-25 % of the diameter of the marine fender (1).

9 Marine fender (1) of any of claims 1-8, wherein the marine fender (1) comprises a cord (4) for hanging the marine fender. <t N O N O <Q <t I = N O O LO + N oo Al