Boat lift
OwnerSean A. Barnes, Michael W. Kirbyinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A boat lift having a plurality of flotation tanks positioned under each of opposite sides of a frame of the boat lift. Trunk lines receive water through a port near the rear of the trunk lines, and communicate water into a plurality of flotation tanks. Water flow is regulated so that the plurality of the tanks fill relatively evenly to maintain a surface of the boat lift that is generally horizontal at all times. Hingeable connection of the dock to a bulkhead, along with lateral stabilization, participate in maintaining a generally horizontal attitude for the boat lift. Water is expelled from the plurality of flotation tanks by pumping water from the flotation tanks, allowing the frame of the boat lift to rise.
Claims17
A boat lift, comprising:
- a boat lift frame constructed and arranged to receive a boat hull on an upper surface thereof;
- a hinged frame section hingably connected to a front end of the boat lift frame and hingably connected to a bulkhead;
- a first plurality of flotation tanks positioned under a first side of the boat lift frame;
- a second plurality of flotation tanks positioned under a second side of the boat lift frame;
- a first trunk line in hydraulic communication with each of the first plurality of floatation tanks, the first trunk line being positioned generally longitudinally under the boat lift frame, the first trunk line comprising a water receiving port that opens near a rear of the first trunk line and opposite the bulkhead, the first trunk line comprising a valve that regulates opening and closing of the water receiving port of the first trunk line;
- a second trunk line in hydraulic communication with each of the second plurality of floatation tanks, the second trunk line being positioned generally longitudinally under the boat lift frame the second trunk line comprising a water receiving port that opens near a rear of the second trunk line and opposite the bulkhead, the second trunk line comprising a valve that regulates opening and closing of the water receiving port of the second trunk line;
- and
- a water pump constructed and arranged to communicate with the first plurality of flotation tanks and the second plurality of flotation tanks and pump water from the first plurality of flotation tanks and from the second plurality of flotation tanks.
A boat lift, comprising:
- a boat lift frame constructed and arranged to receive a boat hull at a back end of the boat lift frame and on an upper surface thereof;
- a plurality of flotation tanks positioned under the boat lift frame;
- a trunk line in hydraulic communication with the plurality of floatation tanks, the trunk line being positioned generally longitudinally under the boat lift frame, the trunk line comprising a water receiving port that opens at an end of the trunk line that is at the back end of the boat frame, the trunk line comprising a valve that regulates opening and closing of the water receiving port of the trunk line;
- and
- a water pump constructed and arranged to communicate with the plurality of flotation tanks to evacuate the flotation tanks of water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.