Mooring line storage device

Abstract

A mooring line storage device and system for watercraft having a housing defining an inner cavity. The housing has at least one access aperture and a cover in overlying relationship with the aperture. Cover and housing cooperatively interact to prevent extension of a discrete region of a mooring line from the inner cavity. The device may also include at least one hanger to suspend the housing from a structural member of the watercraft.

1 . A mooring line storage device for a watercraft, the device comprising: 
 a housing, the housing having a body defining an inner cavity, the cavity adapted to releasably contain at least a portion of a mooring line, the body having at least one access aperture located therein;    a cover overlying the access aperture;    at least one hanger member connected to the body, the hanger member adapted to engage at least one structural member of the watercraft.    
     
     
         2 . The mooring line storage device of  claim 1  further comprising a mooring line removably contained in the inner cavity, the mooring line having one end extending outward therefrom into engagement with at least one cleat located on the watercraft.  
     
     
         3 . The mooring line storage device of  claim 2  wherein the cover and access aperture are configured in a manner that maintains the mooring line in fixed relation with the housing and cover when the cover is in the closed position.  
     
     
         4 . The mooring line storage device of  claim 1  wherein the cover is attached to the body and is movable between an open position and a closed position, the cover comprising a mooring line engaging member and at least one fastener, the fastener releasably engageable with the outer body of the housing.  
     
     
         5 . The mooring line storage device of  claim 1  wherein the hanger comprises a panel member in extensible engagement from the outer body, an upper member contiguously extending from a distal end of the panel member, and at least one attachment member, the attachment member connected to the flap and releasably engageable with the panel member.  
     
     
         6 . The mooring line storage device of  claim 5  wherein the structural member of the watercraft is a deck rail.  
     
     
         7 . The mooring line storage device of  claim 1  wherein the housing further comprises at least one buoyancy aid.  
     
     
         8 . The mooring line storage device of  claim 1  further comprising a mooring line retention device located in the inner cavity of the housing.  
     
     
         9 . The mooring line storage device of  claim 8  wherein the mooring line retention device is a snap ring fastener affixed to an inner surface of the inner cavity and releasably engaging the mooring line positioned therein.  
     
     
         10 . The mooring line storage device of  claim 1  wherein the aperture is configured with at least one detent adapted to releasably engage the mooring line.  
     
     
         11 . The mooring line storage device of  claim 10  wherein the aperture is configured with a plurality of detents positioned on a lower edge of the aperture, the detents configured to releasably engage an elongated portion of the mooring line.  
     
     
         12 . A mooring line storage device for a watercraft, the device comprising: 
 a housing, the housing having a body defining an inner cavity, the cavity adapted to releasably contain at least a portion of a mooring line, the body having at least one access aperture located therein;    a mooring line removably contained in the inner cavity, the mooring line having one end extending outward therefrom into engagement with at least one cleat located on the watercraft;    a cover overlying the access aperture;    at least one hanger member connected to the body, the hanger member adapted to engage at least one structural member of the watercraft.    
     
     
         13 . The mooring line storage device of  claim 12  wherein the cover is attached to the body and is movable between an open position and a closed position, the cover comprising a mooring line engaging member and at least one fastener, the fastener releasably engageable with the outer body of the housing.  
     
     
         14 . The mooring line storage device of  claim 12  wherein the hanger comprises a panel member in extensible engagement from the outer body, an upper member contiguously extending from a distal end of the panel member, and at least one attachment member, the attachment member connected to the flap and releasably engageable with the panel member.  
     
     
         15 . The mooring line storage device of  claim 14  further comprising a mooring line retention device located in the inner cavity of the housing, wherein the mooring line retention device is affixed to an inner surface of the inner cavity and releasably engage the mooring line positioned therein.  
     
     
         16 . The mooring line storage device of  claim 15  wherein the aperture is configured with a plurality of detents positioned on a lower edge of the aperture, the detents configured to releasably engage an elongated portion of the mooring line.  
     
     
         17 . A mooring line storage system for a watercraft, the system comprising a plurality of mooring line storage devices removably positioned on structural members of the watercraft proximate to mooring line anchoring devices, he mooring line storage devices each comprising: 
 a housing, the housing having a body defining an inner cavity, the cavity adapted to releasably contain at least a portion of a mooring line, the body having at least one access aperture located therein;    a cover overlying the access aperture;    at least one hanger member connected to the body, the hanger member adapted to engage the structural member of the watercraft; and    at least one mooring line removably contained in the inner cavity, the mooring line having one end extending outward therefrom into engagement with that associated mooring line attachment device located on the watercraft.