Boat dock with improved ingress and egress

Abstract

The present disclosures relates to watercraft storage. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to boat docks/slips with improved ingress/egress via a dock guide system. The dock guide system can include a bracket and a roller. The bracket can be configured to couple to a portion of a dock. The roller can be coupled to the bracket. The roller can be located proximate a corner of the dock when the dock guide system is installed and arranged to face an entry of the dock. Upon striking the roller, the roller deflect a watercraft from the corner of the dock.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dock guide system comprising:
 a bracket configured to couple to a portion of a dock; and   a floating portion coupled to the bracket, the floating portion having a surface arranged to face an entry of the dock,   wherein the floating portion is configured to deflect a watercraft from the portion of the dock upon the watercraft striking the surface.   
     
     
         2 . The dock guide system of  claim 1 , wherein the floating portion is coupled to the bracket with by a support. 
     
     
         3 . The dock guide system of  claim 2 , wherein the support includes a plurality of linkages and hinges. 
     
     
         4 . The dock guide system of  claim 1 , wherein the floating portion and the surface are flat. 
     
     
         5 . The dock guide system  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the floating portion and the surface are curved. 
     
     
         6 . A dock guide system comprising:
 a bracket configured to couple to a portion of a dock; and   a roller coupled to the bracket, the roller located proximate a corner of the dock when the dock guide system is installed and arranged to face an entry of the dock,   wherein the roller is configured to deflect a watercraft from the corner of the dock upon the watercraft striking the roller.   
     
     
         7 . The dock guide system of  claim 6 , wherein the roller is one of a plurality of rollers, the plurality of rollers arranged in a linear configuration relative to one another. 
     
     
         8 . The dock guide system of  claim 6 , wherein the roller is one of a plurality of rollers arranged in a parallel configuration relative to one another. 
     
     
         9 . The dock guide system of  claim 6 , further comprising a first plate coupled to the bracket and a second plate arranged parallel to the first plate, the roller coupled to the first plate and the second plate via an axel. 
     
     
         10 . The dock guide system of  claim 6 , further comprising a first tab and a second tab coupled to the bracket, the roller coupled to the first and second tabs via an axel. 
     
     
         11 . The dock guide system of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a plate coupled to the bracket; and   a brace coupled to the plate and a first end of the bracket.   
     
     
         12 . A dock guide system comprising:
 a bracket configured to couple to a portion of a dock; and   a plurality of rollers coupled to the bracket, the plurality of rollers located proximate a corner of the dock when the dock guide system is installed and arranged to face an entry of the dock,   wherein the plurality of rollers is configured to deflect a watercraft from the corner of the dock upon the watercraft striking at least one of the plurality of rollers.   
     
     
         13 . The dock guide system of  claim 12 , wherein at least two of the plurality of rollers are arranged in a linear configuration relative to one another. 
     
     
         14 . The dock guide system of  claim 12 , wherein at least two of the plurality of rollers are arranged in a parallel configuration relative to one another. 
     
     
         15 . The dock guide system of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of rollers are arranged to form a curve proximate the corner of the dock. 
     
     
         16 . The dock guide system of  claim 12 , further comprising a first plate coupled to the bracket and a second plate arranged parallel to the first plate, the plurality of rollers coupled to the first plate and the second plate via a respective axel. 
     
     
         17 . The dock guide system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a plate coupled to the bracket; and   a brace coupled to the plate and a first end of the bracket.   
     
     
         18 . A dock comprising
 an outrigger extending from a rear wall and intersecting an end wall to form a corner;   an entry device comprising:
 a bracket coupled to the outrigger proximate the corner, and 
 a roller coupled to the bracket, the roller located proximate the corner of the dock and arranged to face an entry of the dock, 
 wherein the roller is configured to deflect a watercraft from the corner of the outrigger upon the watercraft striking the roller. 
   
     
     
         19 . The dock of  claim 18 , wherein the roller is one of a plurality of rollers, the plurality of rollers arranged in a linear configuration relative to one another. 
     
     
         20 . The dock of  claim 18 , wherein the roller is one of a plurality of rollers arranged in a parallel configuration relative to one another.