Boat lift
AssigneeLippert Components, Inc.
InventorsRobert L. Tiedge, Mark Kinder, Nicholas Cornett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A boat lift includes posts and linear actuators, each attached to one of the posts. Each linear actuator includes an extendable and retractable member oriented for extension and retraction substantially parallel to the post. Ends of a first pair of the extendable and retractable members are connected to a first carrier, and ends of a second pair of the extendable and retractable members are connected to a second carrier. A cradle or platform is supported by the first and second carriers. The boat lift may be supported by the ground, by a structure, for example, a dock, a sea wall or a wall of a boat house, or by pontoons.
Claims15
A boat lift comprising:
- a structure;
- a pair of forward actuators coupled with the structure;
- a pair of aft actuators coupled with the structure;
- a forward carrier connected between the pair of forward actuators;
- and
- an aft carrier connected between the pair of aft actuators,
- wherein the forward and aft actuators are configured relative to the structure so as to be positioned above a water line, and wherein the forward and aft actuators are displaceable between a retracted position in which the forward and aft carriers are raised relative to the water line and an extended position in which the forward and aft carriers are lowered relative to the water line,
- wherein the forward and aft actuators are hydraulically coupled through corresponding hydraulic conduits to a hydraulic circuit including a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic fluid reservoir.
A boat lift comprising:
- a structure;
- a pair of forward actuators coupled with the structure;
- a pair of aft actuators coupled with the structure;
- a forward carrier connected between the pair of forward actuators;
- and
- an aft carrier connected between the pair of aft actuators,
- wherein the forward and aft actuators are configured relative to the structure so as to be positioned above a water line, and wherein the forward and aft actuators are displaceable between a retracted position in which the forward and aft carriers are raised relative to the water line and an extended position in which the forward and aft carriers are lowered relative to the water line,
- wherein the structure comprises a space frame configured for placement on a surface below the water line, the space frame comprising four support posts arranged to define a quadrilateral and frame members connected between the support posts.
A boat lift comprising:
- a structure including a space frame configured for placement on a surface below the water line, the space frame comprising four support posts arranged to define a quadrilateral and frame members connected between the support posts;
- four linear actuators respectively connected to each of the support posts, the four linear actuators including a forward pair of linear actuators and an aft pair of linear actuators, each of the linear actuators including a cylinder and a piston rod displaceable in the cylinder;
- a forward carrier connected between the piston rods of the forward pair of linear actuators;
- and
- an aft carrier connected between the piston rods of the aft pair of linear actuators,
- wherein the forward pair of linear actuators are configured to selectively move the forward carrier between a first position relatively near upper ends of the support posts by retracting their respective piston rods and a second position relatively near lower ends of the support posts by extending their respective piston rods, and
- wherein the aft pair of linear actuators are configured to selectively move the aft carrier between a first position relatively near the upper ends of the support posts by retracting their respective piston rods and a second position relatively near the lower ends of the support posts by extending their respective piston rods.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.