초록 ▼

A fender includes an inflatable body that is partially filled with water, a port sized to receive the water into the body and a plug adapted to seal the port. The partially filed fender floats in the water with a lower portion extending and remaining below the water even during wave action, leaving

A fender includes an inflatable body that is partially filled with water, a port sized to receive the water into the body and a plug adapted to seal the port. The partially filed fender floats in the water with a lower portion extending and remaining below the water even during wave action, leaving the bottom portion of the fender to protect a portion of a floating object that extends below the waterline.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A watercraft fender comprising: an inflatable body that is partially filled with water; a port that is sized to allow the entry of water into the inflatable body; an air valve that is adapted to receive an air pump, the air valve being located on a shoulder of the infla

The invention claimed is: 1. A watercraft fender comprising: an inflatable body that is partially filled with water; a port that is sized to allow the entry of water into the inflatable body; an air valve that is adapted to receive an air pump, the air valve being located on a shoulder of the inflatable body; and a plug that is adapted to seal the port. 2. The fender of claim 1, wherein the port is located on a shoulder of the inflatable body. 3. The fender of claim 1, wherein the port is threaded and the plug is correspondingly threaded to be received into the port. 4. The fender of claim 1, wherein the inflatable body is barrel-shaped. 5. The fender of claim 1, wherein the inflatable body is spherically shaped. 6. The fender of claim 1, wherein the port is a hole on a bottom of the inflatable body. 7. The fender of claim 6, wherein the plug is temporarily affixed to the hole with an adhesive. 8. A method of protecting a waterborne vessel comprising: affixing a fender to the vessel; affixing a garden hose to a port on the fender; filling the fender partially with water; sealing the fender; and floating the fender in the water adjacent to the vessel such that a lower portion of the fender extends and remains below a waterline of the vessel. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein filling the fender partially with water includes pouring water into a port in the fender, and sealing the fender includes affixing a plug to the port. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein affixing a plug to the port includes threading the plug into the port. 11. The method of claim 9, wherein affixing a plug to the port includes temporarily affixing the plug to the port with an adhesive. 12. The method of claim 8, wherein filling the fender partially with water includes submerging the fender and allowing water to enter the fender through a port. 13. The method of claim 8, wherein filling the fender partially with water includes filling the interior about halfway with water. 14. The method of claim 8, further comprising adjusting a height of flotation of the fender by pumping air into the fender through an air valve. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein adjusting a height of flotation of the fender includes releasing air from the fender through the air valve. 16. A watercraft fender comprising: a body that defines a hollow chamber; a first port that is adapted to admit water therethrough into the hollow chamber; a second port that is adapted to admit air therethrough into the hollow chamber; a plug that is adapted to seal the first port; and a second plug that is adapted to seal the second port; where the hollow chamber is only partially filled with ballast and the remainder with air so that at least a substantial portion of the body is submerged below a waterline. 17. The watercraft fender of claim 16, wherein the port is defined on an upper shoulder of the body above the waterline. 18. The watercraft fender of claim 16, wherein the port is defined on a bottom of the body below the waterline.