# US 7,607,644 B1 · Boat lift assembly

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- Number: US 7,607,644 B1
- Document ID: US7607644B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 12/135,528
- Filed: 2008-06-09
- Granted: 2009-10-27
- Earliest claimed: 2008-06-09
- Assignees: Acculift, Inc.
- Inventors: James Carson Gibb; William Steven Szekesy
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7607644B1

## CPC

- B66D 1/36: Guiding, or otherwise ensuring winding in an orderly manner, of ropes, cables, or chains
- B66F 7/02: with platforms suspended from ropes, cables, or chains {or screws and movable along pillars}
- B66D: CAPSTANS; WINCHES; TACKLES, e.g. PULLEY BLOCKS; HOISTS (winding or unwinding ropes or cables for feeding or storage purposes B65H; rope or cable winding or unwinding mechanisms for lifts B66B)
- B66F: HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD ({invalid lifting devices A61G7/10; } mounting artificial islands on piles or like supports E02B17/00; scaffolding combined with lifting devices E04G1/22; lifting devices for sliding forms E04G11/24; lifting of buildings E04G23/06; shores or struts E04G25/00; lifts or other hoisting devices on ladders E06C7/12; props for mining E21D15/00)

## Abstract

A boat lift assembly comprises a winch, a cable wrapped around the winch and adapted to be attached to the platform, wherein rotation of the winch in a first direction urges the cable to wrap further around the winch, and rotation of the winch in a second direction urges the cable to unwrap around the winch, and a cable retainer comprising a first bracket and a second bracket. A gap separates the cable from the cable retainer when the cable is taut around the winch, and when the cable is slack the cable is restricted from movement away from the winch by the cable retainer.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A boat lift assembly for moving a platform carrying a boat comprising, in combination:
a winch;
a cable wrapped around the winch and adapted to be attached to the platform, wherein rotation of the winch in a first direction urges the cable to wrap further around the winch, and rotation of the winch in a second direction urges the cable to unwrap around the winch; and
a cable retainer extending partially around the winch, the cable retainer mounted offset from a vertical axis by about 30-60 degrees, and the winch is mounted generally horizontally;
wherein a gap separates the cable from the cable retainer when the cable is taut around the winch, and when the cable is slack the cable is restricted from movement away from the winch by the cable retainer.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The boat lift assembly of claim 1 wherein the cable retainer comprises a first bracket and a second bracket connected together by a fastener.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The boat lift assembly of claim 2 wherein reinforcing ribs extend circumferentially along each bracket.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The boat lift assembly of claim 1 wherein the cable retainer extends at least 180 degrees around the winch.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The boat lift assembly of claim 4 wherein the cable retainer extends at least 210 degrees around the winch.

### Claim 6

A boat lift assembly for moving a platform carrying a boat comprising, in combination:
a winch;
a cable wrapped around the winch and adapted to be attached to the platform, wherein rotation of the winch in a first direction urges the cable to wrap further around the winch, and rotation of the winch in a second direction urges the cable to unwrap around the winch; and
a cable retainer extending partially around the winch comprising a first bracket and a second bracket connected together by a fastener, and reinforcing ribs extend circumferentially along each bracket;
wherein a gap separates the cable from the cable retainer when the cable is taut around the winch, and when the cable is slack the cable is restricted from movement away from the winch by the cable retainer.