Marine cleat assembly

Abstract

A cleat assembly is provided, which comprises a base plate comprising a face plate including a first and second leg receptacles, first and second tubes in communication with the first and second leg receptacles. Both the first and second tubes are integral with and extending from the face plate. The cleat assembly also comprises first and second friction bushings, and a cleat comprising a securing portion and a first and second legs extending from the securing portion configured to respectively slide in the first and second friction bushings to allow the securing portion to be raised from a stowed position to an extended position to allow a line to be secured to the securing portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cleat assembly comprising:
 a base plate comprising a face plate including a first leg receptable, a second leg receptacle, and a first tube in communication with the first leg receptacle and a second tube in communication with the second leg receptacle, both the first tube and the second tube integral with the face plate and extending from the face plate, the first tube and the second tube each comprising a lower portion and a threaded portion to respectively receive a first threaded fastener and a second threaded fastener configured to mount the base plate;   a first base plate bushing receptacle in an upper portion of the first tube and including a first ledge and a second base plate bushing receptacle in an upper portion of the second tube and including a second ledge;   a first friction bushing and a second friction bushing, each of the first friction bushing and the second friction bushing comprising a sleeve of flexible material including a gap configured to allow expansion and contraction of the friction bushing to be inserted respectively in the first base plate bushing receptacle and the second base plate bushing receptacle;   a cleat comprising a securing portion and a first leg and a second leg extending from the securing portion, the first leg and the second leg spaced apart and configured to respectively slide in the first friction bushing and the second friction bushing to allow the securing portion to be raised from a stowed position to an extended position to allow a line to be secured to the securing portion; and   a first fastener and a second fastener, each of the first fastener and the second fastener comprising threads and a head configured to secure the cleat to the base plate and prevent the cleat from being removed from the base plate when the cleat is in the extended position.   
     
     
         2 . The cleat assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first friction bushing and the second friction bushing comprises channels configured to allow water to pass through the first friction bushing and the second friction bushing and through the first tube and the second tube to exit the cleat assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The cleat assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first friction bushing and the second friction bushing comprises friction extensions configured to contact the first leg and the second leg as cleat is raised and lowered. 
     
     
         4 . The cleat assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the friction extensions comprise longitudinal protrusions extending radially on an inner surface of the friction bushing. 
     
     
         5 . The cleat assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the longitudinal protrusions are spaced on the inner surface of each of the first friction bushing and the second friction bushing and separated by channels configured to allow water to pass through each of the first friction bushing and the second friction bushing and through the first tube and second tube to exit the cleat. 
     
     
         6 . The cleat assembly of  claim 5 , wherein each of the first friction bushing and the second friction bushing comprises at least three longitudinal protrusions. 
     
     
         7 . The cleat assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the first friction bushing is seated upon the first ledge and the second friction bushing is seated upon the second ledge. 
     
     
         8 . The cleat assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first leg comprises a first threaded receptacle and the second leg comprises a second threaded receptacle, each of first threaded receptacle and the second threaded receptacle are respectively configured to receive the first fastener and the second fastener to secure the cleat to the base plate and prevent the cleat from being removed from the base plate when the cleat is in the extended position. 
     
     
         9 . The cleat assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising at least a first washer and a second washer respectively configured to be positioned on the first fastener and the second fastener. 
     
     
         10 . The cleat assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising at least a first lock washer and a second lock washer respectively configured to be positioned on the first fastener and the second fastener and to lock the first fastener and the second fastener respectively to the first leg and the second leg. 
     
     
         11 . The cleat assembly of  claim 1 , the cleat assembly consists essentially of metal material, except for the first friction bushing and the second friction bushing. 
     
     
         12 . The cleat assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first friction bushing and the second friction bushing consist of plastic and the base plate and the cleat consist of stainless steel. 
     
     
         13 . The cleat assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first tube, the second tube and the face plate comprise a unitary piece of metal. 
     
     
         14 . The cleat assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the first tube and the second tube are welded to the face plate. 
     
     
         15 . The cleat assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the first tube and the second tube are fitted to the face plate. 
     
     
         16 . The cleat assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the first tube and the second tube are threadably fitted to the face plate. 
     
     
         17 . The cleat assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the first tube, the second tube and the face plate comprises stainless steel. 
     
     
         18 . The cleat assembly of  claim 13 , where the first tube, the second tube, the face plate and the cleat comprise stainless steel.