# US 5,341,756 A · Storage means for watercraft

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- Number: US 5,341,756 A
- Document ID: US5341756A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/107,634
- Filed: 1993-08-18
- Granted: 1994-08-30
- Earliest claimed: 1993-08-18
- Inventors: Donald Hinze
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5341756A

## CPC

- B63B 59/00: Hull protection specially adapted for vessels; Cleaning devices specially adapted for vessels {(inhibiting corrosion of metals by anodic or cathodic protection C23F13/00)}
- B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06)

## Abstract

The invention provides a apparatus for and a method of storing watercraft above a body of water for extended periods of time, including periods when the body of water is frozen over. The apparatus involves flexible, inflatable, toroidal shaped floatation devices which have bands secured thereto for the purpose of positioning and securing the floatation devices relative to the watercraft. The floatation devices are provided with elongated inflation tubes which enable the inflation of the floatation devices from locations a distance from the floatation devices.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An inflatable support apparatus for lifting and supporting a watercraft above a surface for an extended period of time, comprising;
1) at least one toroidal shaped inflatable accommodating support body, for lifting and supporting a watercraft above a surface and at least two separate segments of the support body pass under the watercraft,
2) securement bands joined with the support body at locations around the perimeter of the support body and said bands serve to position and secure the support body in place relative to the watercraft,
3) an inflation means having as a part thereof an elongate tube through which said inflatable support body is inflatable from a location at a distance from the support body.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said toroidal shaped inflatable support body is an inner tube, and said surface is a surface of a body of water, and said bands are straps formed of woven fibers.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the toroidal body is made of reinforced rubber and the bands are joined to the toroidal body at points of attachment around the toroidal body.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus comprises more than one inflatable toroidal shaped body and the toroidal shaped bodies are joined by bands and the toroidal shaped bodies are independently inflatable so as to form a multiplicity of lifting and supporting elements for lifting and supporting a watercraft above a support surface.

### Claim 5

A method for lifting and storing a watercraft above the surface of a body of water comprising; the steps of,
1) positioning a flexible, inflatable, toroidal shaped floatation apparatus beneath a watercraft,
2) securing the floatation apparatus in position beneath the watercraft by means of bands secured to the floatation apparatus.
3) inflating the floatation apparatus until the watercraft is raised above the surface of the body of water, and
4) retaining the watercraft raised above the surface of the body of water for an extended period of time.