In the prior art the standard method of mooring boats is to employ a line, which is extended from a fixed mooring point on the boat to a mooring point either on shore or in the water. When the line is not in use it is often left lying coiled on deck or it is released from the mooring point and stowed below deck.

Both of these solutions, however, have obvious drawbacks. Lines left lying on deck when not in use may fall into the water and will also be an obstacle to free access on deck. The need to stow away lines that are not in use therefore entails an unnecessary amount of extra work.

The use of winches is also known in connection with anchoring and mooring of boats. In existing solutions the winches are often located on deck and they may be electrically or hydraulically driven and manually operated by the winch or via a control panel at the boat's steering position (s). When the winches are placed on deck they will occupy space which could have been employed for other purposes and they will also be an obstacle to free access.

It is therefore an object of the mooring unit and the system according to the present invention to eliminate or at least substantially reduce the drawbacks encumbering known technical solutions, particularly with regard to storage of mooring line on deck and free access on deck when a winch is installed there.

This object is achieved by providing a mooring unit for boats preferably leisure boats with a deck, comprising a mooring structure, for example in the form of a bollard, which is placed on the deck of the boat and one or more winch units for the mooring line, which are mounted below the boat's deck.

The mooring unit is characterized in that the mooring structure is designed with a through-going pathway system between the underside of the deck at the mooring structure and the outside of the mooring structure, where a first, substantially vertical pathway is provided in the mooring structure and at the inner end of the pathway a succeeding, second, substantially horizontally oriented pathway, thus enabling a length of line to be passed from the winch unit through the pathway system in the mooring structure to the mooring point concerned on the outside of the mooring structure.

With the solution according to the present invention, a number of the drawbacks encumbering the existing solutions are avoided. With the present invention the winch unit is placed below deck, and will thereby not occupy space on deck. Above all it helps to prevent mooring lines from being left lying on deck when not in use. In addition, both the line and the winches will be protected against wind and weather when they are stored/kept below deck.

In a preferred embodiment the mooring structure is T-shaped with rounded edges, for example in the form of a bollard. This is preferred since it enables the mooring structure to be combined with a standard mooring point on the boat. In an embodiment, moreover, the mooring unit may be provided with a pulley or the like in the transition between the vertical pathway and the horizontal pathway, over which the line is passed in order to avoid unnecessary friction wear on the line, and resulting in a continuous transfer of the line from the winch system to the mooring point. Alternatively, the transition between the horizontal pathway and the vertical pathway may be rounded, thus facilitating the passage of the line through the mooring structure.

The mooring structure may furthermore consist of connected pipes which may be in the form of a gooseneck, with the result that the part of the pipe which runs through the deck is substantially vertical, while the pipe section which is above deck is designed in such a manner that the pipe points down towards the surface of the water in the direction of the mooring point concerned.

Near the outlet of the horizontal pathway the mooring structure may also be provided with stoppers preferably on two sides of the line for securing the line.

By compressing a spring, the stoppers may be locked, thus firmly wedging the line between the two stoppers in order to avoid uncontrolled paying out of the line.

In a further embodiment the outlet of the horizontal pathway may be designed with rounded edges in order to protect the surface of the line, particularly if the line is forced to run from the outlet at an angle viewed in relation to the horizontal pathway's central axis. The horizontal pathway may also be through-going, thus enabling the line to be passed out of the mooring structure at both ends of the horizontal pathway. The mooring structure, moreover, may have several through-going pathway systems, thus permitting several lines to be handled simultaneously in the mooring structure.

The drive device for passing a length of line through the mooring structure is preferably of a known type, consisting of a winch unit comprising a winch drum or traction disc, an electric or hydraulic winch motor, e. g. with load alarm, brake and means for disengaging the winch drum or traction disc. In an embodiment, moreover, the winch drum or traction disc and the winch motor are fixed to a plate which is connected to a mounting bracket arranged substantially perpendicularly on the end edge of the plate, where the mounting bracket is fixed to the underside of the deck floor by through-going bolts and is designed with a hole for passing through the line on the bottom of the mooring unit. Furthermore, the vertical pathway may extend from the mooring structure, on down through the deck floor and through the hole in the mounting bracket, thus enabling the line to be passed directly by the winch drum into the vertical pathway.

When one or more mooring units as mentioned above form part of a mooring system according to the present invention, the winch unit in connection with each mooring unit will be able to be controlled from a centrally located unit and physical presence at the winch unit is no longer required. A boat which is equipped with a mooring system in which one or more mooring units are included, which mooring units are remotely controlled from the central unit according to the present invention, will be able to achieve an optimal mooring position relative to wind and weather in an easy and efficient manner.

Remotely controlling the mooring units in this way does not prevent the individual mooring unit from being operated locally by local control of the mooring unit. With a mooring system according to the present invention the operation of the various winches is simplified when a boat is being moored, and in the case of larger boats the safety margin is increased with regard to the risk of the boat inadvertently bumping into the quay or the like.

The mooring system according to the present invention for mooring boats includes a control unit for operating two or more mooring units for boats, preferably leisure boats with a deck, each including a mooring structure, designed, for example, in the form of a bollard, which is placed on the boat's deck and one or more winch units for mooring line, which are mounted below the boat's deck. The mooring units are characterized in that the mooring structure is designed with a through-going pathway system between the underside of the deck at the mooring structure and the outside of the mooring structure, where a first substantially vertical pathway is provided in the mooring structure and at the inner end of the pathway a succeeding second

substantially horizontally oriented pathway, thus enabling the length of line to be passed from the winch unit through the pathway system in the mooring structure to the mooring point concerned on the outside of the mooring structure.

The invention's different embodiments are indicated in connection with the above description of the mooring unit.

An embodiment of the mooring unit according to the present invention will also be described in more detail in connection with the figures, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the mooring unit illustrating how the mooring structure and the winch unit are connected.

Figure 2 is a vertical section of the mooring structure, illustrating the mooring structure's pathway system and pulleys.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the external design of the mooring structure.

Figure 4 illustrates a horizontal section of the mooring structure.

Figure 5 is a perspective detailed view of an embodiment of the stoppers for locking the line.

In figure 1 there is illustrated a mooring unit according to the present invention and its main components, which are substantially a mooring structure 1 and a winch unit 8. The mooring structure is placed on the boat's deck (not shown), while the winch unit is placed below the boat's deck (not shown). The winch unit 8 is of a commonly known type, consisting substantially of a traction disc 9 and a winch machine 10, which will preferably be an electromotor. The winch unit 8 is also preferably equipped with a load alarm, brake and means for disengaging the traction disc 9. The traction disc 9, furthermore, is designed in such a manner that it brings the line along over parts of a rotational revolution at its periphery in order to pull the line into the boat. In different embodiments, however, the winch is a so-called"free fall type", which means that the traction disc or the winch drum is disengaged at the outlet of the line with the result that the line is pulled out by its own weight or by external forces, while the winch only pulls the line in. The traction disc 9 and the winch motor 10 may be arranged on each side of a plate 11. In figure 1, at the upper end edge of the plate 11 there is illustrated a mounting bracket 12 a. rr. neci nernencienlarlv n the niafe 1 1 The tnmmting hrarkPt 1 ?. ic

designed with a hole 13 through which a line will be passed from the traction disc 9 and up through the mooring structure 1.

In the mooring structure 1 there is provided a pathway system for passing the line through to the mooring point, as illustrated in figure 2. In the illustrated embodiment the pathway system consists in a first vertical pathway 3 into which the length of line is first passed. At its upper end the vertical pathway passes into a second, horizontal pathway 2. The length of line is passed on through this horizontal pathway and out through the outlet 6 towards the mooring point.

In an alternative embodiment of the mooring structure 1 the horizontal pathway 2 may be through-going, thus enabling the line to be passed out of both ends of the horizontal pathway 2. This embodiment is not illustrated.

In a second embodiment of the invention the vertical pathway 3 may extend from the mooring structure, on through the deck floor and through the hole 13 in the vertical pathway 3. This embodiment is not illustrated.

Figure 1 also shows that the mooring structure 1 is equipped with stoppers 4, which are located near the outlet 6 of the horizontal pathway. The stoppers 4 are intended to secure the line in a specific position when the winch unit is switched off or disengaged and the desired mooring position has been achieved. The stoppers are therefore an additional safeguard against the line being paid out, in addition to which in most embodiments the winch is of such a type that the winch motor and the traction disc or the winch drum restrain the line when the winch is stopped, thus preventing the line from being released.

In the embodiments the stoppers are designed in such a manner that they only prevent the line from being released.

Figure 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention where the mooring structure is in the form of a bollard. In a second alternative embodiment the mooring structure may consist of connected pipes, which may, e. g., be in the form of a gooseneck, thus causing a part of the pipe to run through the deck and be vertical, while the pipe section which is mounted above deck is designed in such a manner that the pipe points down towards the surface of the water.

Figure 2 illustrates a section of the mooring structure in figure 1. The section has been made in the vertical direction and shows the mooring structure from

the side. The figure shows that a pulley 5 is mounted in the transition between the vertical pathway 3 and the horizontal pathway 2. When the line is passed through the pathway system, the line will extend over the pulley, thus enabling the line to be passed through continuously with a low level of friction. In an alternative embodiment of the pathway system the transition between the vertical pathway 3 and the horizontal pathway 2 may be rounded, thus enabling the line to be passed through the pathway system without wear and tear and without the necessity of providing the pathway system with extra equipment such as, e. g. pulleys 5. The use of a pulley 5 as illustrated in figure 2 does not prevent the transition between the horizontal and the vertical pathways from also being rounded in shape.

Figure 3 is a three-dimensional view of the mooring structure from the outside.

The figure shows that the horizontal pathway's outlet 6 has been given a shape with rounded edges in order to protect the surface of the line. This design is particularly advantageous if the line is forced to run out from the outlet 6 at an angle viewed in relation to the horizontal pathway's 2 central axis.

In figure 4 the stoppers 4 are shown mounted near the horizontal pathway's outlet 6 in the mooring structure 1. The two stoppers 4 are placed in a through- going recess which intersects the horizontal pathway 2 approximately perpendicularly and which has an opening towards the environment on each side of the horizontal pathway 2. The stoppers 4 are thereby arranged on each side of the horizontal pathway 2, and when they are placed in a locked position, they will secure the length of line, which is passed through the horizontal pathway 2, preventing it from being pulled out. The stoppers are rotatably fixed in the recesses by bolts, which are passed through from the outside and through the wall of the mooring structure. This is best illustrated in figure 2. The stoppers 6 have a substantially rounded shape, which at one end is in the form of an outwardly projecting lug and where the other end has been given a grooved surface, which will ensure a good grip on the length of line. When the stoppers are located in an open position and the line can be passed freely through the horizontal pathway 2, the lugs 4'protrude outside the mooring structure's outer surface. A simple manual movement will enable the stoppers to be brought into the locked position by moving the lugs inwards in the recess.

The two stoppers 4 are connected by a spring 7, which is best illustrated in figure 5. When the stoppers are moved into the locked position, the spring will

be tightened and the length of line will be firmly wedged between the two stoppers'grooved surface, and also partly under the influence of the tractive force exerted by the line in the outward direction. This type of manual locking of the line will be desirable as an extra safeguard in order to avoid uncontrolled paying out of the line when the desired mooring position has been achieved and the winch unit is disengaged or switched off.

In a second embodiment the mooring structure 1 may be arranged with several parallel pathway systems, thus enabling several lines to be handled simultaneously in the mooring structure 1. This requires a winch unit where either several traction discs are mounted alongside one another for handling several different lines or where the winch unit is composed of several separate winches, each with its own motor and associated traction disc or drum.

Two or more such mooring units may also form part of a mooring system where the mooring units can be controlled from a centrally located unit. In a preferred embodiment of the invention one mooring unit will be mounted on each side of the bow and one mooring unit astern on each side of the boat.

This will provide excellent control when mooring the boat since all four corners can be positioned individually. When the mooring units are remotely controlled the operator will be able to transmit signals from the control unit to the winch units, thus enabling the lines to be tightened or slackened as required. The mooring units may also be manually operated. When the winch unit 8 is disengaged relative to the traction disc and the stoppers 4 are released from the line, the line can be hauled through the mooring structure and then firmly but releasably arranged in a desired position by the stoppers 4 again being secured to the line and/or the winch unit locked.

The fact that the mooring structure 1 is used for passing the lines through from a winch unit 8 out to a mooring point does not prevent the mooring structure 1 from also being used for normal mooring where a line can be made fast round the outside of the mooring structure 1.