Restrain Device for Watercraft Lifts

Abstract

A group of devices that are permanently installed on a watercraft lift device that are used to create a temporary, yet secure, connection between the bunk system of a watercraft lift and the lift support pilings to prevent the bunk system and watercraft from moving excessively during wind events. The devices allow the bunk system to be quickly secured and released to watercraft lift support pilings as required to prevent motion during watercraft storage periods and allow for normal operation of the watercraft lift when desired. The group of devices also serve as an attachment point for watercraft tie down straps as are sometimes installed during wind events. The devices are meant to stay attached to the watercraft lift in a permanent manner such they are readily accessible at any time the operator wishes to create a temporary connection between the bunk system and the lift support pilings.

Claims

1. A system of restraining devices that are permanently attached watercraft lift device that can create a horizontal motion restraining connection between the watercraft lift bunk system and the lift support pilings.

2. A system of devices described in claim 1, further comprised of an attachment structure comprised of an attachment plate and a clamping plate that are positioned on opposite sides of the watercraft lift bunk structure I-beam that are connected to each other via a system of standard bolted connections.

3. A system of devices described in claim 2 wherein the attachment plate has a provision in which a securing chain can be positioned such that any securing loads generated by wind events within the chain will be directly transmitted into the attachment plate structure.

4. The method of securing the chain in the devices described in claim 3 that allow any securing loads generated by wind events within the chain to be transmitted directly into the attachment plate structure.

5. A system of devices described in claim 3 in which the securing chain will be positively retained in the attachment plate by a pin, bolt, or other such connection that is not meant to take securing loads caused by wind events.

6. A system of devices described in claim 5 that furthermore consist of a piling attachment bracket is permanently attached to the lift support pilings, which are typically wooden poles, by a series of lag screws.

7. A system of devices described in claim 6 that furthermore consists of a piling attachment bracket that is positioned at a lift support piling that has a provision, preferably a slot, that the securing chain can be manually positioned into to create a temporary motion restraining connection between the lift support piling and the attachment structure and bunk system.

8. The method of manually positioning the securing chain into the piling attachment bracket described in claim 7.

9. A system of devices described in claim 7 that preferably has at least one chain attachment slot that is the length of at least the width of two chain links such that the securing chain can be wrapped around the piling attachment bracket and slid into the slot in a way that overlaps the initial chain insertion, creating a simple chain locking mechanism.

10. The method of locking the securing chain into the piling attachment bracket by manually wrapping the chain around the bracket and sliding it into the slot in a way that overlaps the initial chain insertion to creating a simple chain locking mechanism.

11. A system of devices described in claim 7 that utilizes a tensioning device at one or more restraining device positions to remove any inherent slack in the securing chains that a user may find objectionable. These tensioning devices may act directly on links of the chain, may act between the links of chain the piling attachment bracket, or may act between links of chain and the attachment structure.

12. A system of devices described in claim 7 in which the attachment structure described in claim 2 has a provision to accept an auxiliary tie down device such as a line, rope, ratchet strap, etc., to secure the watercraft to the bunk system.

13. The method of adjusting the slack of the securing chain described in claim 3 by adjusting the position of the attachment structure described in claim 2 on the I-beam such that the slack present in the securing chains when all of the securing chains are attached to the piling attachment brackets is minimized in order to limit the horizontal motion of the bunk structure. This is typically done at initial installation of the securing devices but can also be done periodically as necessary to maintain minimum slack in the securing chains.

Description

FIGURES

[0004] See Figures Pages

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] FIG. 1 depicts a typical four-post watercraft lift devices in which the disclosed devices can be seen on each of the 4 corners in order to show the relative positioning of the devices in the preferred embodiment described within.

[0006] FIG. 2 illustrates a detailed view of one of the disclosed devices on one corner of the four-post watercraft lift.

[0007] FIG. 3 show an alternate view of the disclosed device such that relative positioning of the I-beam to the support piling can be more clearly shown.

[0008] FIG. 4A illustrates detail of the securing chain locked into the attachment bracket securing slot.

[0009] FIG. 4B offers an additional view of how the securing chain is locked into the attachment bracket securing slot and then retained in place by the securing chain retaining hardware.

[0010] FIG. 5 illustrates the preferred embodiment the method in which the securing chain is locked into the piling attachment bracket.

SPECIFICATIONS

Detailed Description

[0011] Before turning to the figures, which illustrate the exemplary embodiments in detail, it should be understood that the present application is not limited to the details or methodology set forth in the description or illustrated in the figures. It should also be understood that the terminology is for the purpose of description only and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0012] One implementation of the present disclosure is a group of devices that are attached to each corner of a typical four-post watercraft lift device, according to an exemplary embodiment. A typical four-post cable actuated watercraft lift device is shown in FIG. 1. The bunks (1) are connected to the I-beam (2), which are supported by cables (3) that are wrapped around the cable wrapping drum and structure (4). The cable wrapping drum and structure (4) can be rotated by the electric rotary actuator (5), creating a vertical motion of the bunk system, comprised of the bunks (1), I-beams (2), and ancillary attachment points and structural hardware not shown in the figure. The cable wrapping drum and structures are affixed to the upper end of the corner pilings (6). In FIG. 2, the disclosed devices consist of an attachment plate (7), a clamping plate (8), connecting hardware (9) between the attachment plate (7) and clamping plate (8), a securing chain (10), securing chain retaining hardware (11), a piling connection bracket (12), and piling connection bracket attachment hardware (FIG. 3, 14). Also in FIG. 3, the ancillary attachment point of the bunk system (13) can be seen attached to an I-beam (2) in a typical manner.

[0013] The disclosed devices consist of an attachment plate (FIG. 2, 7) and a clamp plate (8) that are connected by a group of standard bolted connections (9) and are positioned around the I-beam (2) of the watercraft lift bunk structure and clamped into position. The attachment plate (7) provides a slot provision (FIG. 4A, 15) for attachment of a securing chain (10), as well as a provision for the securing chain retaining hardware (11). The securing chain (10) in the preferred embodiment is attached by sliding the chain through a slot in the attachment plate (15) such that the load in the chain acts directly on structure of the attachment plate through a link of the chain. The end of the securing chain (10) that is on the side of the slot opposite of the direction of the securing load is then connected to the attachment plate (7) with the securing chain retaining hardware (11). The securing chain retaining hardware (11) is not meant to take any of the load that is generated through the securing chain during wind events, but rather to ensure the securing chain (10) is retained in the attachment plate (7) during all operating conditions. This bolted together structure with the securing chain attached is referred to as the attachment structure. In the preferred embodiment shown in the figures, the attachment structure position on the I-beam can be adjusted at initial installation of the devices to minimize the about of slack present in the securing chains when all of the securing chains are attached to the piling attachment brackets to limit the horizontal motion of the bunk structure. There are other embodiments of attaching the securing chain (10) to the I-beam (2) which could include cutting slots or drilling holes in the I-beams, welding mounting provisions onto the I-beams, or bolting provisions onto the I-beams. The clamping plate (8) in this exemplary embodiment includes a provision for connecting a tie down device (FIG. 2, 16) that can be optionally used to restrain the watercraft to the bunk system. There is a separate attachment structure clamped on to each corner of the four-post watercraft lift bunk system, typically with one attachment structure on each end of the bunk system front I-beam and one attachment structure on each end of the bunk system rear I-beam. The attachment structure is meant to stay attached to the bunk system during times of storage or non-use, while the lift is operating, and when the bunk system is lowered into to the water such that the watercraft can be launched or retrieved. In addition to the attachment structures secured to the bunk structure, a pilling connection bracket will be attached to each of the four corner pilings nearest the front or rear I-beam attachment structures. In the exemplary embodiment each piling connection bracket is permanently secured to the support piling, typically a wooded pole, with lag screws. The piling connection bracket (FIG. 2, 12) provides slots which the securing chain (10) will be slid into in order to temporarily secure the watercraft lift bunk structure during times of storage or non-use. The piling attachment bracket (12) is meant to stay attached to the piling system during time of storage or non-use, while the lift is operating, and when the bunk system is lowered into to the water such that the watercraft can be launched or retrieved.

[0014] During periods of storage or non-use, the securing chain (10), which is permanently attached to the attachment structure, can be manually positioned such that a link can slide into the retaining slot (FIG. 5, 17) on the piling connection bracket (12), thereby creating a physical connection between the bunk system and the corner pilings that limits the movement of the bunk system and watercraft resting upon it. By sliding the securing chain (10) through a slot (17) in the piling attachment bracket (12), securing loads generated during wind events are directly transmitted into the piling attachment bracket structure. By securing all four corners with the disclosed devices in a manner that allows securing loads to be generated in all directions of the horizontal plane, the watercraft lift bunk structure and the watercraft resting upon it, will be restrained from excessive motion that might allow it to move during wind events and contact adjacent structures, equipment, vessels, etc., potentially causing damage to these other objects, as well as the vessel and bunk structure. The preferred embodiment of the piling attachment bracket (12) will have multiple slots that are long enough to encompass the width of two links of chain, thereby creating a simple chain locking mechanism as the chain is wrapped around the piling attachment bracket and slid into the slot in a way the overlaps the initial chain connection in the piling attachment bracket, or overlaps a chain connection in a second slot in the bracket (FIG. 5) The preferred embodiment will contain sufficient lengths of chain at each of the four corners of the lift such that it can be wrapped around the piling attachment bracket and locked into place as shown in FIG. 5. It should be noted that there are multiple embodiments of methods to wrap the chain and lock it into position which are not shown in the figures. One or both of the slots (17) on the piling attachment bracket (12) may be used for this purpose in other embodiments.

[0015] In another embodiment of this present disclosure, additional piling attachment brackets and additional attachment structures could be attached to the watercraft lift to provide for additional stabilization of the bunk system. This is a useful embodiment when the corner support posts of the lift are not on opposing sides of the bunk system I-beams and, therefore, do not allow complete restraint of motion in the horizontal plane with only an attachment point on each corner. One, two, or more additional restraint devices may be used to prevent objectionable motion of the bunk system and watercraft.

[0016] In a third embodiment of this present disclosure, tensioning devices may be added at one or more restraining device positions to remove any inherent slack in the securing chains that a user may find objectionable. These tensioning devices may act directly on links of the chain, may act between the links of chain the piling attachment bracket, or may act between links of chain and the attachment structure. Typical examples of tensioning devices are, but not limited to, chain binders, turnbuckles, ratchet straps, and clamps.

[0017] As utilized herein, the terms approximately, about, substantially, and similar terms are intended to have a broad meaning in harmony with the common and accepted usage by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matter of this disclosure pertains. It should be understood by those of skill in the art who review this disclosure that these terms are intended to allow a description of certain features described and claimed without restricting the scope of these features to the precise numerical ranges provided. Accordingly, these terms should be interpreted as indicating that insubstantial or inconsequential modifications or alterations of the subject matter described and claimed are considered to be within the scope of the invention as recited in the appended claims.

[0018] It should be noted that the terms exemplary and example as used herein to describe various embodiments is intended to indicate that such embodiments are possible examples, representations, and/or illustrations of possible embodiments (and such term is not intended to connote that such embodiments are necessarily extraordinary or superlative examples).

[0019] The terms coupled, connected, and the like, as used herein, mean the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary (e.g., permanent, etc.) or moveable (e.g., removable, releasable, etc.). Such joining may be achieved with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being attached to one another.

[0020] References herein to the positions of elements (e.g., top, bottom, above, below, between, etc.) are merely used to describe the orientation of various elements in the figures. It should be noted that the orientation of various elements may differ according to other exemplary embodiments, and that such variations are intended to be encompassed by the present disclosure.

[0021] Also, the term or is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its exclusive sense) so that when used, for example, to connect a list of elements, the term or means one, some, or all of the elements in the list. Conjunctive language such as the phrase at least one of X, Y, and Z, unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with the context as used in general to convey that an item, term, etc. may be either X, Y, Z, X and Y, X and Z, Y and Z, or X, Y, and Z (i.e., any combination of X, Y, and Z). Thus, such conjunctive language is not generally intended to imply that certain embodiments require at least one of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z to each be present, unless otherwise indicated.

[0022] It is important to note that the construction and arrangement of the systems as shown in the exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the components described herein may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present inventions. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the preferred and other exemplary embodiments without departing from scope of the present disclosure or from the spirit of the appended claims.