Portable knockdown boat hoist

Abstract

Disclosed is a portable knockdown boat hoist for lifting boat from boat trailer or other resting location. Comprising of two A-frame structures positioned over the bow and stern of the boat. Each A-frame unit consists of two splayed legs on each side of the boat connected by a crossmember running over the top of the boat. At each side of the boat attached to one leg is a winch with a block and pulley connected by cable to the winch. Cranking up on the winch pulls up a lifting strap running underneath the hull of the boat, which in turn lifts the boat. The A-frame structures are comprised of tube sections that insert one end into the next section. A-frame units can be disassembled for transporting to boat location for lifting.

Claims

1. A portable boat hoist device comprising: a. a hoist apparatus comprising: i. a first A-frame structure having a first set of splayed legs separated from a second set of splayed legs, wherein a first segmented cross member separates the first set of splayed legs from the second set of splayed legs; and ii. a second A-frame structure having a first set of splayed legs separated from a second set of splayed legs, wherein a second segmented cross member separates the first set of splayed legs from the second set of splayed legs; b. one or more winches in mechanical communication with one or more pulleys, wherein a bottom of the first set of splayed legs of the first A-frame structure are separated from a bottom of the second set of splayed legs of the first A-frame structure by a first tension chain assembly.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein a bottom of the first set of splayed legs of the second A-frame structure are separated from a bottom of the second set of splayed legs of the second A-frame structure by a second tension chain assembly.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the first A-frame structure is not connected to the second A-frame structure.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the first set of splayed legs of the first A-frame structure are comprised of a plurality of segments, wherein the second set of splayed legs of the first A-frame structure are comprised of a plurality of segments, wherein the first set of splayed legs of the second A-frame structure are comprised of a plurality of segments, and wherein the second set of splayed legs of the second A-frame structure are comprised of a plurality of segments.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein the first tension chain assembly has a adjustable midsection configured to adjust a distance between the bottom of the first set of splayed legs of the first A-frame and the bottom of the second set of splayed legs of the first A-frame structure, and wherein the second tension chain assembly has a adjustable midsection configured to adjust a distance between the bottom of the first set of splayed legs of the second A-frame and the bottom of the second set of splayed legs of the second A-frame structure.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the device is collapsible.

7. The device of claim 2, wherein a height and width of the first A-frame structure are adjustable, and wherein a height an width of the second A-frame structure are adjustable.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the first A-frame structure is not connected to the second A-frame structure.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the first segmented cross member is defined by at least two parallel segmented members each comprising a plurality of segments, and wherein the second segmented cross member is defined by at least two parallel segmented members each comprising a plurality of segments.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises at least a first winch and a second winch, wherein the first winch is in attached to the first A-frame structure, and wherein the second winch is attached to the second A-frame structure.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein each segment of the first segmented cross member are attached to adjacent segments with one or more releasable pins, and wherein each segment of the second segmented cross member are attached to adjacent segments with one or more releasable pins.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the first set of splayed legs of the first A-frame structure extend downward from the first segmented cross member at an obtuse angle relative to the first segmented cross member, and wherein the second set of splayed legs of the first A-frame structure extend downward from the first segmented member at an opposite obtuse angle of the first set of splayed legs of the first A-frame structure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the objects and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the ensuing descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings briefly described as follows.

(2) FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of embodiment 1 showing boat in a lifted position, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of embodiment 1 showing boat in a lifted position, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 3 is an exploded view of embodiment 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the winch and cable with pulley system attached to leg of A-frame structure, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective exploded view of the A-frame shoulder section with attached legs and crossmembers, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

(7) FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of a second embodiment of the portable boat hoist made, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(8) Preferred embodiments of the present invention and their advantages may be understood by referring to FIGS. 1-6) wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

(9) 10 hoist apparatus 12 A-frame structure leg 14 crossmember section 16 shoulder section 18 winch 20 elongated A-frame structure 22 winch cable 24 snatch block pulley 26 eyehook 28 lifting strap 30 cable hook 32 top leg segment 34 leg strut 36 scaffolding locking pin 38 middle leg segments 40 male insert 42 bottom leg segments 44 male crossmember segment 46 female crossmember segment 48 tension chain triangle 50 tension chain middle segment 60 tension chain assembly

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

First Embodiment

(10) Referring now to the drawings, the first embodiment is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, generally at 10 comprising two identical vertical A-frame structures transversely disposed indicated by 20. In FIG. 1, the A-frame structures 20 are deployed at the bow and stern of boat A.

(11) Each A-frame structure includes a pair of splayed legs 12 on each side. Two parallel crossmembers 14 travel across and over the boat A attaching to a shoulder section 16 that attach to the top of the leg sections 12.

(12) FIG. 3 shows the assembly of a single A-frame structure. Each leg section 12 is comprised of three segments. The top leg segment 32 inserts over a strut 34 welded to the shoulder section 16 at a 12 degree angle outward away from the boat and a 12 angle forward for the front leg and 12 angle rearward for the back leg. FIG. 5 displays the top leg section 32 which has a slip fit tolerance over the strut 34 that is held in place with a scaffolding lock pin 36 passing through an aligned hole in both the top leg section 32 and the strut 34. FIG. 3 shows the middle leg segment 38 with the winch 18 attached to the top portion. The middle leg segment 38 has a coupling insert 40 welded onto it. The coupling insert 40 fits into the bottom of top leg segment 32 and is held in place with a scaffolding lock pin 36 which is inserted to aligned holes on the bottom of 32 and 40 as shown in FIG. 3. Bottom leg segment 42 also has a coupling insert 40 welded onto its top. In a similar fashion, coupling insert 40 shown on the top of segment 42 is inserted into the bottom of 38 and held in place with a scaffolding lock pin 36.

(13) FIG. 3 shows the parallel crossmembers on top of one of the A-frame structures comprised of two segments. Male crossmember segment 44 has a coupling insert 40 welded onto the end. This coupling insert 40 attaches to the female crossmember segment 46 and is held in place with a scaffolding lock pin 36. FIG. 5 shows the ends of the crossmember unit 14 inserted into the shoulder sections 16 as shown which is held in place with a scaffolding lock pin 36.

(14) FIG. 1 shows a winch 18 attached to the middle leg segment 36 per each side of each A-frame structure 10. The winch 18 has its cable 22 running through a pulley system. The pulley system is comprised of two snatch blocks 24. The first snatch block 24 attached to the cable 22 is attached to an eyebolt 26 on the shoulder section 16. The second snatch block 24 is attached to a lifting strap 28 that runs under the hull of the boat A. Winch cable end is attached to a hook 30 that is attached to the shoulder section 16.

(15) FIG. 2 shows an eyebolt 44 attached at the bottom of each leg segment 12. To this a tension chain assembly 60 is attached to eyebolt 44. The tension chain assembly 60 is comprised of two triangular chain segments 48. Two ends of the triangle 48 are attached to the eyebolts 44. The third conner of the triangle 48 attaches to a chain middle segment 50 using two chain hooks 52 attached to each end of the middle chain segment 50.

(16) Operation

(17) By these above structural arrangements, the A-frame structures 16 are positioned over the bow and stern of the boat A. The lifting straps 28 are attached to the snatch block 24 and passed under the hull of the boat A. The winches on each side of the A-frame structure reel in the cable 22 raising each end of the lifting strap 28 at a two to one ratio. The lifting strap 28 lifts the hull of the boat. The four winches 18 are operated independently of each other, allowing the boat to be raised in a level manner even if the ground underneath the boat is not level.

(18) The weight of the boat is held up by the leg sections 12. The leg sections 12 are kept from falling inwards at the top by attaching to shoulder sections 16 which is positioned by crossmember section 14. The leg sections 12 are kept from splaying outward by tension chain assembly 60 attached to the bottom of the legs 12. Since the legs 12 are wider at their base, this allows for clearance of a boat trailer to be pulled out from underneath the boat and positioned back under the boat as required.

Additional Embodiment

(19) FIG. 6

(20) An additional embodiment is shown in FIG. 6 where a single A-frame structure 20 is positioned standing over a Marine outboard motor B. The width of the A-frame structure 20 is reduced to half by using only the female crossmember section 46 and not inserting male crossmember section 44. Lifting strap 28 is secured around outboard motor B with ends of lifting strap 28 both connected to snatch blocks 24 on each side of the single A-frame structure. In this way, when winch 18 is cranked in, the outboard motor is lifted off the boat. The removal of the outboard motor from the boat is useful for replacing or doing maintenance on the outboard motor.

(21) The invention has been described herein using specific embodiments for the purposes of illustration only. It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, however, that the principles of the invention can be embodied in other ways. Therefore, the invention should not be regarded as being limited in scope to the specific embodiments disclosed.