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US 5,957,623 AGranted
Electrically insulated positive drive boat lift
AssigneeQuality Boat Lifts, Inc.
InventorsCharles L. Sargent, Daniel S. Carter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A boat lift apparatus includes a support structure located proximate to a body of water. An elongate threaded shaft is located adjacent to the support structure and extends in a substantially vertical direction. A nut threadably engages the shaft. A boat accommodating platform is connected to the nut. The shaft is rotatably mounted to the support structure and selectively driven rotatably relative to the nut in a first direction to raise the nut relative to the shaft and in an opposite, second direction to lower the nut relative to the shaft. As a result, the platform and the boat accommodated thereon are selectively lifted and lowered relative to the body of water.
Claims25
A boat lift apparatus for use in combination with an elongate, generally vertically disposed support piling located proximate a body of water, said apparatus comprising:
- an elongate, threaded shaft disposed adjacent to the support piling and extending in a substantially vertical direction;
- a nut that threadably engages said shaft;
- a boat accommodating platform, which platform is interconnected to said nut;
- and
- means for rotatably mounting said shaft to said support piling such that said support piling is longitudinally loaded by and distributes the weight of said lift apparatus and a boat accommodated on said platform, and for selectively driving said shaft rotatably in a first direction to raise said nut on said shaft and in an opposite, second direction to lower said nut on said shaft, whereby said platform and a boat accommodated thereon are selectively lifted and lowered relative to the body of water.
2 more elements
A boat lift apparatus for use in combination with an elongate, generally vertically disposed support piling located proximate a body of water, said apparatus comprising:
- an elongate, threaded shaft disposed adjacent to the support piling and extending in a substantially vertical direction;
- a nut that threadably engages said shaft;
- a boat accommodating platform, which platform is interconnected to said nut;
- means for rotatably mounting said shaft to said support piling such that said support piling is longitudinally loaded by and distributes the weight of said lift apparatus and a boat accommodated on said platform, and for selectively driving said shaft rotatably in a first direction to raise said nut on said shaft and in an opposite, second direction to lower said nut on said shaft, whereby said platform and a boat accommodated thereon are selectively lifted and lowered relative to the body of water;
- and
- guide means for interconnecting said platform and said support structure and guiding said platform relative to said support structure as said platform is lifted and lowered, said guide means including an elongate outer guiding tube extending along said support structure and secured thereto and a complementary guided tube interconnecting said nut and said platform and interengaging and being telescopically received by and movable upwardly and downwardly relative to said guiding member, said nut being fixed inside said guided tube and movable upwardly and downwardly on said shaft.
3 more elements
A boat lift apparatus for use in combination with a support structure located proximate a body of water, said apparatus comprising:
- an immersible platform for supporting a boat thereon;
- an electrically powered drive mechanism mounted on said support structure above the water, said drive mechanism being selectively operated in opposing first and second directions;
- actuator means in electrically conductive contact with said drive mechanism and interconnecting said drive mechanism and said platform for raising said platform when said drive mechanism is operated in a first direction and for lowering said platform when said drive mechanism is operated in said second direction;
- said actuator means including first insulation means for electrically isolating said platform from said drive mechanism;
- and
- guide means in electrically conductive contact with said drive mechanism and interconnecting said support structure and said platform for guiding movement of said platform relative to said support structure;
- said guide means including second insulation means for electrically isolating said platform from said drive mechanism.
4 more elements
A boat lift apparatus for use in combination with an elongate, generally vertically disposed support structure located proximate a body of water, said apparatus comprising:
- an elongate, threaded shaft disposed adjacent to the support structure and extending in a substantially vertical direction;
- a nut that threadably engages said shaft;
- a boat accommodating platform, which platform is interconnected to said nut;
- means for rotatably mounting said shaft to said support structure and selectively driving said shaft rotatably relative to said nut in a first direction to raise said nut relative to said shaft and in an opposite, second direction to lower said nut relative to said shaft, whereby said platform and a boat accommodated thereon are selectively lifted and lowered relative to the body of water;
- an elongate guide means for interconnecting said platform and said support structure and guiding said platform relative to said support structure as said platform is lifted and lowered, said guide means including an elongate guiding member extending along the support structure and secured thereto and an elongate guided member interconnected between said nut and said platform and interengaging and being movable upwardly and downwardly relative to said guiding member;
- and
- pivot means for connecting said platform to said guided member such that said platform is pivotable about a generally vertical axis to adjust the position of a vessel supported on said platform relative to said support structure, said pivot means including a generally cylindrical inner member fastened to and depending from said guided member and a tubular outer member disposed rotatably about said inner member, means for interconnecting said tubular member and said platform and means for restricting said tubular member from being separated from said inner member.
4 more elements
A boat lift apparatus for use in combination with an elongate, generally vertically disposed support structure located proximate a body of water, said apparatus comprising:
- an elongate, threaded shaft disposed adjacent to the support structure and extending in a substantially vertical direction;
- a nut that threadably engages said shaft;
- a boat accommodating platform, which platform is interconnected to said nut;
- means for rotatably mounting said shaft to said support structure and selectively driving said shaft rotatably relative to said nut in a first direction to raise said nut relative to said shaft and in an opposite, second direction to lower said nut relative to said shaft, whereby said platform and a boat accommodated thereon are selectively lifted and lowered relative to the body of water;
- said means for mounting and driving including a wheel mounted rotatably on said support structure, said shaft being generally surrounded by and mounted axially in said wheel, said means for mounting and driving further including means for selectively turning said wheel in opposing first and second directions to respectively raise and lower said nut relative to said shaft;
- activation switch means alternatable among a first state for deactivating said means for turning such that said platform does not move vertically, a second state for activating said means for turning to raise said platform, and a third state for activating said means for turning to lower said platform;
- and
- an activation switch control member suspended from said means for mounting and driving and carrying means that are engagable with said activation switch means for urging said activation switch means into said second state when said control member is pushed longitudinally in an upward direction, into said third state when said control member is pulled longitudinally downwardly and allowing said activation switch means to remain in said first state normally.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.