Apparatus for lifting and storing a dinghy or the like
OwnerRolf J. Bielefeldinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus for lifting and storing a dinghy or similar watercraft on the transom or swim platform of a larger boat includes a substantially U-shaped cradle secured to the swim platform by means of pivoting arms providing an over-center arrangement in which the cradle may be swung from a deployed position behind the swim platform to an over-center, storage position in which essentially the entire weight of the cradle and the dinghy is transferred to the swim platform while the dinghy remains in essentially a horizontal position.
Claims13
Apparatus for storing a dinghy on a transom-mounted swim platform of a boat, comprising:
- a cradle for receiving and supporting said dinghy;
- pivot arm means for pivotally mounting said cradle on said platform for movement between a generally horizontal dinghy launching position and a generally horizontal dinghy storage position, said pivot arm means extending between and being pivotally coupled with each of said cradle and said platform, said pivot arm means including an over-center pivot connection with said cradle and beneath said dinghy, said pivot arms configured to permit said dinghy to remain generally horizontal during the entire movement of said cradle between said dinghy launching position and said dinghy storage position.
Apparatus for removably mounting a dinghy or the like on the rear of a larger boat, comprising:
- a cradle for supporting said dinghy;
- means for shifting said cradle from a generally horizontal dinghy launching position to a generally horizontal dinghy storage position;
- and,
- connecting means between said larger boat and said cradle for causing said cradle to move upwardly and generally horizontally toward said larger boat when said shifting means shifts said cradle from said dinghy launching position to said dinghy storage position, said connection means including an over-center pivot arrangement having a portion connected to said cradle beneath said dinghy, said connecting means further including pivot arms configured to permit said dinghy to remain generally horizontal during the entire shifting movement of said cradle between said dinghy launching position and said dinghy storage position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.