STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to buoys, and more particularly to a buoy shackle deflector.

BACKGROUND

Mooring buoys are built to withstand the elements and, as such, are often made of metal or other strong rigid materials that can damage boats during contact. Softer, more resilient materials have been used to cover buoys, but often such covers have drawbacks such as being difficult to attach to and maintain on the buoy. Further, multi-part covers of the prior art are complicated to attached to the buoy and are relatively expensive. Prior art buoy covers intend to cover much of the buoy to protect it from the elements, but with modern buoy materials this isn't necessary.

Therefore, there is a need for a device that can be readily attached to a buoy and secured easily with inexpensive cable ties, zip ties or the like. Such a needed invention would be made of a semi-resilient plastic material that protects a boat hull during contact, preventing a more rigid and potentially damaging direct contact with the buoy. Further, such a needed invention would be inexpensive to manufacture, easy to store and transport in a nested stack, and would be easy to remove and replace if damaged. Maintenance of the deflector comprises visual inspection and occasional replacement if necessary. The present invention accomplishes these objectives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present device is a deflector for a mooring buoy of the type having a raised shackle. The deflector includes a mounting plate that has a top side, a bottom side, and at least one peripheral edge. A shackle aperture traverses a center portion of the mounting plate and is adapted for receiving the shackle therethrough. In some embodiments, wherein the buoy has a raised ring-type shackle, the shackle aperture is elongated to receive the shackle therethrough.

A cage projects upwardly from the at least one peripheral edge of the mounting plate and terminates at an upper rim. The cage has a plurality of apertures therethrough. In some embodiments the cage includes strengthening ribs between each aperture extending from the mounting plate to the upper rim.

In some embodiments the mounting plate further includes two or more tie apertures adjacent the shackle aperture, such that one or more ties can be fastened through the tie apertures and through the shackle to further secure the deflector to the mooring buoy. Such ties may be cable ties, or tie wraps, zip-ties or the like.

In use, the shackle of the buoy is inserted into the shackle aperture and the cage is rotated 90-degrees to secure the deflector to the buoy. In some embodiments a metallic locking plate can further be added to reinforce the mounting plate. The ties are then fastened through the tie apertures of the cage and, in some instances, cooperative tie apertures of the locking plate, and the through the shackle to further secure the deflector to the mooring buoy.

The present invention is a device that can be readily attached to a buoy and secured easily with cable ties or the like, preferably with those having a relatively high strength and UV endurance rating. The present invention is made of a semi-resilient plastic material that protects a boat hull during contact, preventing a more rigid and potentially damaging direct contact with the buoy. Further, the present device is inexpensive to manufacture, easy to store and transport in a nested stack, and is easy to remove and replace if damaged even with deployed buoys. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

