Technical Field

The invention relates to a protective cover developed for fenders used in the vessels.

The invention particularly relates to a protective cover that is made of a material such as rubber, plastic etc. with damping property, prevents the fender and the vessel from being damaged by covering it over the fixed or portable fenders so as to prevent crashes in vessels.

State of the Art

The damping pads called fenders in the marine sector are the cylindrical or balloonshaped structures that are hanged on the port and flag regions of the vessels such as boat, ship, yacht etc. and prevent possible crashes and damages while approaching places such as docks, piers etc. or other vessels. Fenders are made of flexible materials such that they provide damping features during possible crashes. Protective covers are used so as to protect the fenders from external factors such as sun, rain etc. and to prevent the fender from hardening and giving damage to the body of the vessel.

The currently used fender covers are manufactured from towel cloth, canvas fabric or neoprene fabric. These fabric types have low UV resistance; they are damaged by the rays of sun and salt water. Their colors fade, their strength decrease, and abrasion and tears are seen on their surfaces. The fender covers are put on the fender like socks and are stretched with strings from the lower and/or upper ends and are made suitable to the fender form. The strings used in stretching are made of nylon and they lose their resistance in time due to the effect of the sun, they loosen and wear out and are ruptured. In such cases, the fender cover becomes non-functional. The fender covers must fit on the fender fully. However, the fabric structures used are loosened in time due to the effect of the sun and sea water, they hang over the fender. This situation is not only visually undesirable but also the protective efficiency of the cover is reduced. Examples of some fender covers encountered in the literature are listed herein below. The application numbered US2017283018A1 relates to a fender cover in which flock material is used. Said cover consists of an adhesive layer applied on the fender body and flock material with UV resistance that can be adapted to the adhesive layer. This application is a structure wherein the cover is fixed on the fender. There is no such an approach such as removing the cover, and it is clear that the flock material will hang down the fender body in relation with the external environmental conditions.

The application numbered US6863010B2 relates to a cover in a form that can be adapted to fender bodies with different forms. The cover is with a structure that can fully cover the surface of fender and there are openings on the same such that the rope used to fasten the fender to the boat can pass. After the cover is placed on the fender, it is fixed with a string stretched from the lower end. The cover exhibits good strength and provides easy handling. The cover may contain fluffy seams and it may also be seamless. Polar fleece or alpine fleece made of 100% polyester with a tight texture in its structure, 14 oz density and anti-pilling properties is used.

Application numbered US4843994 relates to boat fender cover and suspension assembly. Said embodiment provides a wear resistant and weather resistant cover so as to protect the specific double-ended cylindrical type fenders. The cover is preferably a rectangular formed heavy woven fabric made of tear-proof nylon. There is a drawstring at its lower end and the string is used to combine both the lower end and the two open edges of the cover. Vinyl or laminated canvas is used as the fabric of the cover.

The application numbered GB2091842A relates to a protective fender cover. The protective cover is formed in the form of a tube or sock in elastic material. There is a flexible collar made of plastic material on the upper end of the cover tube and an elastic cuff is used on the lower end of the same. The cover is a pile fabric with woven form in which elastomeric fibers are used in weft and warp.

As a result, due to the abovementioned disadvantages and the insufficiency of the current solutions regarding the subject matter, a development is required to be made in the relevant technical field. Brief Description of the Invention

The present invention is related to a protective cover developed for fenders which fulfills the abovementioned requirements, eliminates all disadvantages and brings some additional advantages.

The main aim of the invention is to provide a fender protection cover with high UV resistance and that does not fade in the sun.

An aim of the invention is to provide a protective cover with high wear and tear resistance.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a protective cover that does not become deformed in time based on the usage and external environment conditions.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a protective cover to which unlimited color and visual design options can be applied.

The invention relates to a fender protective cover which is made of tube-shaped cover fabric defined by a collar having a connecting cord, an upper body and a lower body, is used by fitting the same on the fender so as to fulfill the above mentioned aims. Accordingly, said cover fabric regarding said protective cover contains a pattern image which is formed by UV printing applied by digital sublimation transfer printing method, can be edited with unlimited color and design options.

The protective cover consists of at least one upper forming cut that is configured in said neck collar section so as to provide the same to take a form suitable to the curved form, is combined with the neck seam and at least one lower forming cut that is configured in said lower body, is combined with the lower section seam so as to fulfill the aims of the invention.

It comprises a rubber that is adapted to the lower region with the lower region seam so as to realize the aims of the invention.

It comprises a bottom section configured in the continuation of said lower body and a secondary rubber provided at said bottom section so as to realize the aims of the invention. Said UV printing process applied to the cover fabric is preferably performed at a temperature of 180-2200 and for 30-180 seconds on transfer paper so as to realize the aims of the invention.

Said cover fabric is preferably a scuba fabric made of polyester and polyester-elastane threads obtained in a circular knitting machine so as to realize the aims of the invention.

Said protective cover is subjected to nano-technological applications such that the protective cover gains water repellency, UV resistance, wear resistance and tear resistance properties so as to realize the aims of the invention.

The structural and characteristic features of the present invention will be understood clearly by the following drawings and the detailed description made with reference to these drawings and therefore the evaluation shall be made by taking these figures and the detailed description into consideration.

Figures Clarifying the Invention

Figure 1 is a general schematic view of the inventive fender protective cover.

Figure 2 is a general schematic view of the inventive fender protective cover in open form.

The figures are not required to be scaled and the details which are not necessary for understanding the present invention may be neglected. Moreover, the elements that are at least substantially identical or have at least substantially identical functions are shown by the same number.

Description of the References

10 Protective Cover

11 Neck Collar Section

111 Upper Forming Cut

112 Neck Seam

113 Connecting Cord 12 Upper Body

13 Lower Body

131 Lower Forming Cut

132 Lower Seam

133 Rubber

14 Bottom Section

141 Secondary Rubber

15 Cover Fabric

151 Pattern image

20 Fender

Detailed Description of the Invention

In this detailed description, the inventive fender (20) protective cover (10) is described only for clarifying the subject matter in a manner such that no limiting effect is created.

The general schematic view of the inventive protective cover (10) is given in Figure 1 and the schematic view in open condition is given in Figure 2. Accordingly, said protective cover (10) is made of a cover fabric (15) and consists of a neck collar (11), an upper body (12), a lower body (13) and a bottom section (14) respectively one after another.

Said neck collar (11) corresponds to the upper end of the fender (20). The fixing process performed on the fender (20) from the neck collar (11) is realized by means of a connecting cord (113) passed through the neck collar (11 ). The connecting cord (113) is in the form of a 4mm knitted rope made of 100% polyester. Thus, the risk of problems such as fading in the sun, wear and tearing is reduced. There is at least one upper forming cut (111) on the neck collar (11) so as to provide that the neck collar (11) takes the form suitable to the curved form of the fender (20). Said upper forming cut (111) is combined with the neck seam (112). Therefore, said neck collar (11) overlaps the fender (20) fully and increases the life of the protective cover (10) against abrasion and impacts compared to its substitutes.

Said lower body (13) corresponds to the lower end of the fender (20). The fixing process performed on the fender (20) from the lower body (13) is realized by means of a rubber (133). Said rubber (133) provides flexibility, durability and visual aesthetics to the product. There is at least one lower forming cut (131) on the lower body (13) so as to provide that the lower body (13) to take the form suitable to the curved form of the fender (20). Said lower forming cut (131 ) is combined with the lower section seam (132). The rubber (133) is adapted to the lower body (13) with said lower section seam (132). Therefore, said neck collar (11) overlaps the fender (20) fully and increases the life of the protective cover (10) against abrasion and impacts compared to its substitutes.

Said bottom section (14) is located under the lower body (13) and comprises a further secondary rubber (141 ) layer in addition to the one in the lower body (13). Therefore, the protective cover (10) is provided to be more durable with the bottom section (14) and also the location of the protective cover (10) on the fender (20) is provided by means of a secondary rubber (141). Moreover, the loosening and deformations that may occur in time is eliminated with the use of the secondary rubber (141 ).

The complete protective cover (10) consists of a cover fabric (15) with seamless structure in tube form used in the form of putting a sock on the fender (20). The cover fabric (15) is a scuba fabric which is made of 300 gr/m ² polyester and polyester-elastane blended threads that are preferably developed by applying nano-technological applications. The cover fabric (15) is produced in circular knitting machines. 100% polyester thread is used in all sewing areas of the cover fabric (15). The cover fabric (15) has ability to stretch transversely but its longitudinal elongation is limited. Therefore, it surrounds the fender (20) body fully, does not loosen longitudinally and preserves its first day appearance in long-term use. A water repellent finish is applied to the cover fabric (15) so as to gain water repellent property; micro-silicone is applied so as to provide soft, plump and slippery hand feeling; nano coating is made for UV resistance and its wear and tear resistance properties. Therefore, the protective cover (10) is provided to be long lasting.

There may be a pattern image (151) on the cover fabric (15) formed with unlimited color and visual design options. Said pattern image (151 ) is formed by UV printing applied by digital sublimation transfer printing method on the cover fabric (15). Logo application can be made in any color, pattern and model with this printing method. Also, obtained pattern image (151) is resistant to fading as a result of UV printing. In the digital transfer sublimation printing method, printing is performed by means of the transfer paper on the cover fabric (15). Digistar Pro Se7en brand is used as a printing ink. The printing process from the transfer paper applied to the cover fabric (15) is preferably performed at a temperature of 180-220X3 and for 30-180 seconds. The cover fabric (15) in a preferred embodiment of the invention can be selected from any fabric on which sublimation transfer printing can be applied and that does not have any design limitation in terms of color and pattern. Therefore, diversification and customizing of the protective covers (10) achieved with the cover fabrics (15) in a manner such that different marine vehicles are differentiated from each other.

The inventive fender (20) protective cover (10) is resistant to external environment conditions such as sun, wind, sea water etc. The risk of experiencing deformations such as fading, abrasion, tearing etc. is very low and has a long-life. Problems such as loosening of the cover fabric (15) forming the protective cover (10) in time are minimized by supporting the cover fabric (15) with cuts and seams. Moreover, it is possible to customize the products with low costs and to increase the consumer demand for the product since required color, pattern, and logo can be applicable on the cover fabric (15).