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US 8,479,677 B2Granted
Lift mechanism for lifting a swim platform above and over a rear deck of a boat
AssigneeNautical Structures Industries, Inc.
InventorsRobert Bolline, Nicholas Asseff, Sunthorn Ingersoll
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A swim platform lift mechanism is disclosed, the mechanism mounted between the transom of a boat and a bottom surface of a swim platform. The lift mechanism provides a powered lifting/lowering of the swim platform from a retracted position that is level with the deck of the boat to a deployed position in which the swim platform is below the surface of the water surrounding the boat and from the retracted position to an up-and-over position in which the swim platform and its contents are positioned above and forward of the rear edge of the deck. The up-and-over position provides for an improved center of gravity when transporting a dingy on the swim platform.
Claims9
An up-and-over hydraulic lift system comprising:
- a swim platform having a substantially planar top surface and a bottom surface;
- a transom bracket, the transom bracket for attachment to a transom of a water vehicle, the transom bracket having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end of the transom bracket for mounting closest to a deck of the water vehicle;
- an upper frame, the upper frame affixed to the bottom surface of the swim platform, the upper frame having a first end being closest to the transom bracket and a distal second end;
- a lower frame, the lower frame having a first end being closest to the transom bracket and a distal second end;
- an upper hinged arm, a first end of the upper hinged arm pivotally attached to the lower frame at the first end of the lower frame, a distal second end of the upper hinged arm pivotally attached to the transom bracket at a location of the transom bracket between the upper end of the transom bracket and the lower end of the transom bracket;
- a lower hinged arm, a first end of the lower hinged arm pivotally interfaced to the lower frame at a location between the first end of the lower frame and the distal second end of the lower frame, a second end of the lower hinged arm pivotally attached to the lower end of the transom bracket;
- a first hydraulic ram;
- a first end of the first hydraulic ram is pivotally connected to the lower hinged arm at a point on the lower hinged arm between a mid-point of the lower hinged arm and the second end of the lower hinged arm, a second end of the hydraulic ram is pivotally connected to the upper end of the transom bracket;
- a first arm, a first end of the first arm pivotally connected to the upper frame between the first end of the upper frame and the distal second end of the upper frame, a second end of the first arm pivotally connected to the lower frame at the first end of the lower frame;
- a second arm, a first end of the second arm pivotally connected to the upper frame at the distal rear end of the upper frame, a second end of the second arm pivotally connected to the lower frame at the distal second end of the lower frame;
- and
- a second hydraulic ram, a first end of the second hydraulic ram is pivotally connected to the first end of the upper frame, a second end of the second hydraulic ram is pivotally connected to the second arm;
- whereas, as the swim platform is raised/lowered, a pitch of the substantially planar top surface of the swim platform remains substantially constant with respect to the transom bracket.
10 more elements
An up-and-over hydraulic lift system comprising:
- a swim platform having a substantially planar top surface and a bottom surface;
- a transom bracket, the transom bracket for attachment to a transom of a water vehicle, the transom bracket having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end of the transom bracket for mounting closest to a deck of the water vehicle;
- an upper frame, the upper frame affixed to the bottom surface of the swim platform, the upper frame having a first end being closest to the transom bracket and a distal second end;
- a lower frame, the lower frame having a first end being closest to the transom bracket and a distal second end;
- an upper hinged arm, a first end of the upper hinged arm pivotally attached to the lower frame at the first end of the lower frame, a distal second end of the upper hinged arm pivotally attached to the transom bracket at a location of the transom bracket between the upper end of the transom bracket and the lower end of the transom bracket;
- a lower hinged arm, a first end of the lower hinged arm pivotally attached to the lower frame at a location between the first end of the lower frame and the distal second end of the lower frame, a second end of the lower hinged arm pivotally attached to the lower end of the transom bracket;
- means for raising/lowering the lower frame with respect to the transom bracket, the means for raising/lowering the lower frame interfaced between the transom bracket and the lower frame;
- a first arm, a first end of the first arm pivotally connected to the upper frame between the first end of the upper frame and the distal second end of the upper frame, a second end of the first arm pivotally connected to the lower frame at the first end of the lower frame;
- a second arm, a first end of the second arm pivotally connected to the upper frame at the distal second end of the upper frame, a second end of the second arm pivotally connected to the lower frame at the distal second end of the lower frame;
- and
- means for raising/lowering the upper frame with respect to the lower frame, the means for raising/lowering the upper frame interfaced between the upper frame and the lower frame;
- whereas, as the swim platform is raised/lowered, a pitch of the substantially planar top surface of the swim platform remains substantially constant with respect to the transom bracket.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.