US 12,466,524 B2
Boat fender
Matthew R. Carroll, West Palm Beach, FL (US)
Assigned to Matcee Enterprises, L.P., West Palm Beach, FL (US)
Filed by MATCEE ENTERPRISES, L.P., West Palm Beach, FL (US)
Filed on Apr. 11, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/298,859.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/363,863, filed on Apr. 29, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0348029 A1, Nov. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. B63B 59/02 (2006.01)
CPC B63B 59/02 (2013.01) [B63B 2059/025 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fender for a boat, said fender comprising:
a flexible shell having a continuous sidewall defined by an inner surface and an outer surface with a sealed common lower edge and an open upper edge;
a bladder constructed and arranged to fit within said inner surface of said flexible shell, said bladder constructed of an air impervious material having a sealed bottom edge and a top edge secured to said upper edge of said bladder;
a reusable seal attached to said top edge of said bladder, said seal providing said bladder with an air tight interior;
a first clip attached to a first end of said flexible shell upper edge releasable securable to a second clip attached to a second end of said flexible shell upper edge; and
at least one grommet secured to said outer surface of said flexible shell, wherein said grommet is attached to a line used to secure said fender to a fixed object;
wherein said fender has a deflated condition in which said seal is open, allowing the flexible shell and bladder to be stored flat, and an inflated condition in which the seal is closed, trapping air in said interior of said bladder, said seal maintained in a closed position by rolling said upper edge of said shell at least two turns and attaching said first clip to said second clip to prohibit said upper edge from unrolling;
wherein placing said fender in an inflated condition to be used to protect a boat, whereby said fender can be attached to a structure by securing a line to said grommet.