Marine Lift with Pantograph Movement
AssigneeRobertson & Caine (Pty), Ltd.
InventorJohn Robertson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Marine lift apparatus for raising and lowering vessels, platforms, and cargo are disclosed. A lift apparatus comprises a base and at least one assembly. The assembly further comprises a shuttle configured for movement between first and second positions, a link arm connected to the shuttle, and a control link attached to the link arm, all configured to move the link arm between first and second positions. In some aspects, marine lift apparatus exhibit pantograph-like movement, facilitating the level raising, lowering, and storing vessels, platforms, and cargo. Lift apparatus mounted on to multi-hull vessel, such as catamarans, configured for lifting a combination swim and dinghy platform are also disclosed.
Claims44
A lift apparatus for raising, lowering, and transporting marine vessels, watercraft, cargo, and people, the lift apparatus comprising:
- a base;
- and
- an assembly, the assembly comprising:
- a shuttle moveable between a first shuttle position and a second shuttle position;
- a link arm comprising:
- a first link arm portion;
- a link arm body;
- and
- a second link arm portion;
- wherein the first portion is attached to the shuttle and configured for movement relative to the shuttle and the link arm is movable between a first link arm position and a second link arm position;
- and
- a control link comprising:
- a first control link portion;
- a control link body;
- and
- a second control link portion;
- wherein the control link is attached for movement to the link arm at second control link portion and attached for movement to the base at first control link portion, wherein the control link guides the link arm between the first link arm position and the second link arm position.
A stowable, vessel-mounted chock assembly for supporting marine vessels or watercraft comprising:
- a base comprising:
- a first locking channel;
- a first chock connection point;
- a second chock connection point;
- and
- a second locking channel;
- a first chock comprising:
- a proximal first chock portion;
- and
- a first chock body;
- wherein the first chock is connected at the proximal first chock portion for rotation between a stowed position and a deployed position to the base at the first chock connection point and a top first chock portion of the first chock body is configured to contact the watercraft when the first chock is in the deployed position;
- a first support arm comprising:
- a proximal first support arm portion;
- and
- a distal first support arm portion;
- wherein the proximal first support arm portion is connected for rotation to a bottom portion of the first chock body and the distal portion is slidably connected to the first locking channel and configured to move the first chock between the deployed and the stowed positions and to support the first chock when the first chock is in the deployed position;
- a second chock comprising:
- a proximal second chock portion;
- and
- a second chock body;
- wherein the second chock is connected at the proximal second chock portion for rotation between a stowed position and a deployed position to the base at the second chock connection point and a top second chock portion of the second chock body is configured to contact the watercraft when the second chock is in the deployed position;
- and
- a second support arm comprising:
- a proximal second support arm portion;
- and
- a distal second support arm portion;
- wherein the proximal second support arm portion is connected for rotation to a bottom portion of the second chock body and the distal portion slidably connected to the second locking channel and configured to move the second chock between the deployed and the stowed positions and to support the second chock when the second chock is in the deployed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.