Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[1] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.

62/739,517, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/739,545, both filed on October 1 , 2018, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

Field of the Invention

[2] The present invention relates to a watercraft accessory, and, more particularly, a dock line apparatus, system and method. Additionally, the present invention also relates to a fluid level sensing device, and, more particularly, systems and methods for sensing fluid level in a fluid line.

Background of the Invention

[3] Docking a watercraft by successfully mooring the watercraft to a dock, and more specifically a piling or cleat on the dock, can be difficult.

[4] Filling a fuel tank of any motorized craft is usually done without visually seeing the amount of fuel in the tank during filling. This inability to know, in real time, how full the tank has become, creates the possibility of overfilling, which may lead to excess fuel being spilled outside the craft, or worse, splashing back onto the operator of the filling mechanism. To that end, a device is needed to accurately detect the level of fuel in the craft as the fuel is being delivered and to warn the operator when an overfill situation is approaching.

[5] The present invention provides an improved system, method and apparatus to ease the burden of docking. Also, the present invention provides an improved system and method for the detection of fluid in a fluid line. Brief Summary of the Invention

[6] The present invention provides for a dock securing apparatus, comprising an outer layer an inner layer, and at least two rounded ends, wherein the inner layer has a greater stiffness than the outer layer, and wherein one of the at least two rounded ends may be slidably passed through the other one of the at least two rounded ends.

[7] Additionally, the present invention provides a fuel sensing apparatus, comprising at least one flow channel, at least one light source, a plurality of optical lenses in communication with the at least one flow channel, and at least one electronic circuit for receiving an indication from one of the plurality of optical lenses indicative of a fluid in the at least one flow channel, wherein the at least one electronic circuit provides an alert in accordance with the indication

Brief Description of the Drawings

[8] This disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the accompanying figure(s). The figure(s) may, alone or in combination, illustrate one or more embodiments of the disclosure. Elements illustrated in the figure(s) are not necessarily drawn to scale. Reference labels may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.

[9] The detailed description makes reference to the accompanying figures in which:

[10] FIG. 1 illustrates at least one embodiment of the disclosed dock securing

invention; [1 1] FIG. 2 illustrates at least one embodiment of the disclosed dock securing invention;

[12] FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of at least one embodiment of the

disclosed dock securing invention;

[13] FIG. 4 illustrates at least one embodiment of the disclosed dock securing

invention;

[14] FIG. 5 illustrates at least one embodiment of the disclosed dock securing

invention;

[15] FIG. 6 illustrates at least one embodiment of the disclosed fuel sensing invention;

[16] FIG. 7 illustrates at least one embodiment of the disclosed fuel sensing invention;

[17] FIG. 8 illustrates a prospective view of at least one embodiment of the disclosed fuel sensing invention;

[18] FIG. 9 illustrates at least one embodiment of the disclosed fuel sensing invention;

and

[19] FIGs 10A-C illustrate at least one embodiment of the disclosed fuel sensing

invention.

Detailed Description

[20] It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of the present invention have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the present invention, while eliminating, for the purpose of clarity, many other elements found in typical watercraft accessories. Those of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that other elements and/or steps are desirable and/or required in implementing the present invention. However, because such elements and steps are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present invention, a discussion of such elements and steps is not provided herein. The disclosure herein is directed to all such variations and modifications to the disclosed elements and methods known to those skilled in the art.

[21 ] The present invention may be understood more readily by reference to the

following detailed description of example embodiments taken in connection with the accompanying drawing figures, which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions or parameters described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting of the claimed invention. Any and all patents and other publications identified in this specification are incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.

[22] Also, as used in the specification including the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include the plural, and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from "about" or "approximately" one particular value and/or to "about" or "approximately" another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value.

Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent "about," it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. [23] First, the dock securing invention will be discussed below.

[24] In a first embodiment, the apparatus may consist of an outer-diameter braided rope having a diameter of about 5/8" with a solid plastic rod at its core having a diameter less than the outer diameter, and with eye splices on each end, which may have about a 4"-diameter, for example. The solid rod may run nearly the entire length of the rope, exclusive of the eye splices. Bands clamped around the rope at each end of the plastic rod may serve to keep the rod in place.

[25] In use, the first eye splice may be passed through the second and may be attached to a second, standard rope. The second eye splice may serve as a handle for lifting, for example. The inner core may function as a stiffener that causes the apparatus to maintain an open, oval/round shape. The stiffness of the inner rod may facilitate placing the apparatus around a cleat, mooring, piling or other docking point from a distance away from, for example, a water craft. The second rope may subsequently be pulled, which may collapse the apparatus securely around the docking point.

[26] FIGS. 1-5 illustrate rendition of various embodiments of the present invention.

[27] There is now a transition to the fuel sensing invention directly below.

[28] In a first embodiment, the apparatus consists of an electronic circuit, three optical lenses (of clear plastic or glass, for example) and an enclosed space through which a fluid (gas or liquid) is able to flow. One of the optical lenses may be prismatic, and the other two may be flat or substantially flat. The electronic circuit contains at least one light source, at least two light detectors, at least one programmable controller, and one or more RF/light/sound output(s). [29] In an embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus may be placed in line with a hose or pipe through which gas and liquid are able to pass. Light emitted from a source passes through the prismatic lens, into and across the enclosed space. Depending on the optical properties of the material present in the enclosed space, the light will either shine on a detector or be absorbed by the material. If the space is full of a translucent liquid (e.g., water, oil, gasoline), the light may shine more brightly on the detector directly across from the prism. If the space is full of a clear gas (e.g., air), the light may shine more brightly on the detector offset at an angle. If the space is full of an opaque material, the light may shine brightly on neither detector.

[30] A controller may power the light source and may monitor the light detectors.

Based on signals from the detectors, the controller may report to the user, via RF, light or sound indicators, whether the enclosed space contains gas, liquid or an opaque material. As would be appreciated by those skilled in the art, light refracts at the boundary between two materials per Snell's law: ni sin qi = n ₂ sin q ₂ , where: ni and n ₂ are the refractive indices of the material on either side of the boundary qi and q ₂ are the angles of incidence of the light on either side of the boundary.

[31] As illustrated in Figure 6, light passes left to right from a source, through a prism with a refractive index of ih and a face cut at an angle, q _3. The angle of incidence on the angled face is qi = 90 -not- q ₃ . The light then passes into a material with refractive index of n ₂ , leaving the boundary face at angle q ₂ , per Snell's law. The light subsequently passes through one or more flat lenses and strikes one or more light detectors that are offset from each other at an angle, q ₄ . Many common liquids (e.g., water, oil, gasoline) have refractive indices of approximately 1.33— 1.55; these indices are similar to the refractive indices of clear plastic (1.49) and glass (1.52). Common gases such as air have refractive indices of approximately 1.0. Thus, the angle at which light leaves the prism is different when the enclosed space contains a gas vs. a liquid.

[32] Such a difference may be readily detected by sensors placed at this angular

difference, q ₄ , as shown in the Figure 6. The apparatus exploits this fact in order to determine whether, for example, a pipe or hose to which it is attached contains air vs. water, oil, gasoline or some opaque material such as mud or solid waste.

[33] Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the herein described apparatuses, engines, devices, systems and methods are susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions. There is no intention to limit the scope of the invention to the specific constructions described herein. Rather, the herein described systems and methods are intended to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the scope and spirit of the disclosure, any appended claims and any equivalents thereto.

[34] FIGS. 6-10 illustrate rendition of various embodiments of the present invention.

[35] In the foregoing detailed description, it may be that various features are grouped together in individual embodiments for the purpose of brevity in the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that any subsequently claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited. [36] Further, the descriptions of the disclosure are provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the disclosed embodiments. Various modifications to the disclosure will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other variations without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the examples and designs described herein, but rather is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.