Boat Lift with Inflatable Air Bags for Floating Dock

Abstract

A boat storage device including a floating boat dock and a floatable boat lift connected to the floating boat dock. The floatable boat lift has an inflatable and deflatable air bag. The air bag may be inflated with air to raise the boat relative to the floating boat dock and the air bag may be deflated to lower the boat relative to the floating boat dock for launching of the boat. The air bag collapses when deflated to enable use in very shallow water.

Claims

1. A boat storage device, comprising: a floating boat dock floatable on a body of water; a floatable boat lift connected to the floating boat dock and configured to hold a boat for raising the boat and lowering the boat relative to the floating boat dock, the floatable boat lift comprising: a frame, a connector connecting the frame to the floating boat dock and enabling the frame to move relative to the floating boat dock, an inflatable and deflatable air bag attached to the frame, an air blower in flow communication with an interior of the air bag, and a controller operatively associated with the air blower for controlling the air blower to selectively inflate air into the air bag or to deflate air from the air bag, wherein the air bag may be inflated with air to raise the boat relative to the floating boat dock and the air bag may be deflated to lower the boat relative to the floating boat dock for launching of the boat, and wherein when an upper surface level of the body of water is low such that the air bag is in contact with a solid bottom surface of the body of water underneath the floating boat dock, deflation of the air bag collapses the air bag relative to the solid bottom surface to further lower the boat.

2. The boat storage device of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a rigid frame.

3. The boat storage device of claim 1, wherein the inflatable air bag includes projections on an upper surface of the air bag that engage the frame.

4. The boat storage device of claim 1, wherein the connector connecting the frame to the floating boat dock enables the frame to move vertically relative to the floating boat dock.

5. The boat storage device of claim 1, further comprising three additional connectors connecting the frame to the floating boat dock, with a first pair of the connectors on one side of the frame and a second pair of the connectors on the other side of the frame, each pair of the connectors being pivotally connected by a pivot connector spanning between them.

6. A floatable boat lift connectable to a floating boat dock floatable on a body of water and configured to hold a boat for raising the boat and lowering the boat relative to the floating boat dock, the floatable boat lift comprising: a frame, a connector configured for connecting the frame to the floating boat dock and enabling the frame to move relative to the floating boat dock, an inflatable and deflatable air bag attached to the frame, an air blower in flow communication with an interior of the air bag, and a controller operatively associated with the air blower for controlling the air blower to selectively inflate air into the air bag or to deflate air from the air bag, wherein the air bag may be inflated with air to raise the boat and the air bag may be deflated to lower the boat, and wherein when an upper surface level of the body of water is low such that the air bag is in contact with a solid bottom surface of the body of water, deflation of the air bag collapses the air bag relative to the solid bottom surface to further lower the boat.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Further advantages of the disclosure are apparent by reference to the detailed description when considered in conjunction with the figures, which are not to scale so as to more clearly show the details, wherein like reference numbers indicate like elements throughout the several views, and wherein:

[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a boat lift according to the disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 2 shows the boat lift with a boat thereon.

[0014] FIG. 3. is an exploded view of the boat lift.

[0015] FIG. 4. shows the boat lift installed onto a floating boat dock.

[0016] FIG. 5 shows a pivot bracket used to connect the boat lift to a floating boat dock.

[0017] FIGS. 6 and 7 depict the boat lift as connected to a floating boat dock and lifting the boat for storage in different water levels, with FIG. 7 depicting a shallow water level.

[0018] FIG. 8 depicts use of the boat lift as connected to a floating boat dock to launch a boat in shallow water.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] With reference to the drawings, the disclosure provides a boat lift 10 of improved construction and ease of use for raising and lowering a boat B having a hull H relative to a floating boat house or floating boat dock, represented generally as floating boat dock D in the drawings.

[0020] The boat B and floating boat dock D may be of conventional construction. The floating boat dock D will typically have a deck attached to a rigid non-collapsible float or the entire dock is a rigid non-collapsible molded float with a deck surface. All the materials will be understood to be suitable for the water/sun environment required for lifting/storing a boat on water.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the boat lift 10 includes as major components a pair of air bags 12, a frame 14, air bag straps 16, and frame pads 18. As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, pivot connectors 20 are provided to pivotally connect the boat lift 10 to the floating dock or boat house D so that the frame 14 and the boat B thereon can remain relatively level as the boat lift 10 is raised and lowered relative to the floating boat dock D. As seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, each of the air bags 12 is connected to an air blower 22 via an air line 24 for desired inflation/deflation of the air bags 12, as explained below.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 2 and FIGS. 6-8, the boat lift 10 is installed on or attached to the floating boat house or floating boat dock D floating on a body of water W such as a bay or river or lake having a solid bottom surface underneath the floating boat dock D such as a lake bed LB.

[0023] The boat lift 10 is configured to be connected to the floating boat dock D and used for lifting and lowering the boat B relative to the body of water W. The boat B is lifted above the surface of the water W for storage or the like. The lift 10 is used to lower the boat B sufficiently into the water W from the storage position so that the boat B is able to float and leave the lift 10 for launching the boat B. In reverse fashion, the boat B may be loaded onto the lift 10 for return to storage. For loading, the lift 10 is positioned low enough in the water W so that the floating boat B is over the lift 10 and then the lift 10 is raised.

[0024] As shown, the reference numeral W references the upper level of the water, which can change to different levels and the floating boat dock D floats on the water W, the change represented by arrow W. The boat lift 10 is advantageously configured to be suitable for use even when the level of the water is very low or shallow, e.g. such as even as low as 18 inches in depth.

[0025] Conventional boat lifts utilizing rigid non-collapsible tanks when used on floating docks are not usable to launch a boat from the lift or load a boat onto the lift in such a shallow water depth as the rigid tanks contact the bottom of the lake or like and maintain the boat lift too high for launching or loading. Such rigid and non-collapsible tanks are also difficult to use in shallow water when the bottom of the lake bed is sloped or irregular. As seen in FIG. 8, the boat lift 10 having inflatable and collapsible air bags 12 is also suitable for use when the lake bed LB is sloped or irregular.

[0026] The boat lift 10 may be used to lift the boat B upward relative to the water W for storage of the boat B at the floating boat dock D and to lower the boat B back to the water W for launching the boat B from the floating boat dock D. When the boat B is loaded onto the boat lift 10, the hull H of the boat B is positioned relative to the boat lift 10 such that the hull H is directly under the pads 18. The boat lift 10 is then operated to raise the frame 14 and the pads 18 to engage the pads 18 with the hull H and lift the pads 18 and the boat B above the water W. To launch the boat B back to the water W, the boat lift 10 is operated to lower the frame 14 and the pads 18 to a level below the water W where the boat B is floating on the water W and floats away from the pads 18. As explained below, the boat lift 10 configured with the air bags 12 can be used in low water conditions in which a conventional boat lift with rigid tanks would not be useful for launching the boat B.

[0027] The air bags 12 are inflatable polymeric bags of generally rectangular configuration sized to have sufficient flotation to provide the function of lifting the boat B. The entirety of the upper surface of the air bag 12 is generally flat and includes upstanding nibs or projections 12a for engaging the frame 14 and maintaining desired positioning or alignment of the air bag 12 relative to the frame 14. The projections 12a are desirably co-formed with the air bag 12.

[0028] The air bags 12 incrementally collapse with decreased air pressure. That is, the air bags 12 when only partially inflated or when deflated of air are conformable to a contacting surface, such as the lake bed LB. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, when the air bags 12 are deflated the surfaces of the air bags 12 below the upper surface generally conform to the lake bed LB they come into contact with and decrease in dimension, especially height dimension, according to deflation thereof.

[0029] An air flow fitting 12b in flow communication with the interior of the air bag 12 is also located on the upper surface of the air bag 12 for connection with the air line 24 for passage of air to and from the interior of the air bag 12 for inflation/deflation of the air bag 12 as controlled by operation of the air blower 22.

[0030] The boat lift 10 may have one or more of the air bags 12, and is shown in the preferred embodiment having two of the air bags 12 and otherwise configured for use with the boat B shown as a ski boat or the like type and size of boat. It will be appreciated that the boat lift 10 may be configured for use with smaller and larger boats, jet skis, and boats having other hull configurations or having pontoons instead of a hull. Thus, the term hull as used herein generally refers to a portion of the boat that contacts and rides upon the water.

[0031] The frame 14 includes as major components a pair of end supports 14a, and a lattice provided by a plurality of elongate supports 14b and a plurality of cross supports 14c fixed to the elongate supports 14b as by welding to provide a lattice configuration. The end supports 14a are configured as C-channel members and include mounting apertures 14aa for mounting of frame clamps 14aaa as shown in FIG. 4.

[0032] The frame 14 also includes two or more hull supports 14d. As shown, each hull support 14d has a vertical member 14dd at each end to support a horizontal member 14ddd therebetween above the rest of the frame 14 and upon which the frame pad 18 is installed. A lowermost portion of the vertical member 14dd is configured to be slidably disposed along the C-channel shape of the end members 14a.

[0033] Plastic sheets 14e are provided to overlie the upper surfaces of the air bags 12. The plastic sheets 14e have apertures 14ee therethrough in alignment with the projections 12a of the air bags. The plastic sheets 14e serve to protect the upper surfaces of the air bags 12. The side edges of the plastic sheets 14e are secured to the ends of the cross supports 14c, and the ends of the plastic sheets 14 may be secured to the end supports 14a by fitting the ends of the plastic sheets 14e under the frame clamps 14aaa.

[0034] The cross supports 14c have through apertures 14cc along their length. The projections 12a extend into the lower ends of the apertures 14cc and fasteners may be inserted into the upper ends of the apertures 14cc to fasten the straps 16 to the frame 14. The cross supports 14c have clips 14ccc at their ends configured for securely engaging edges of the plastic sheets 14e.

[0035] The frame 14 is assembled with the end supports 14a providing the front and rear of the frame 14. The lateral supports 14b longitudinally span between and below the end supports 14a and are fixedly connected thereto as by bolts or welding or the like. As noted above, the cross supports 14c are fixed to the elongate supports 14b to provide a lattice configuration.

[0036] The hull supports 14d are fixedly secured to the end supports 14a to be generally perpendicular to the end supports 14a and located there along to lie generally along the longitudinal centerline of the air bags 12 when the air bags 12 are installed on the frame 14. As seen, the hulls supports 14d rise above the end supports 14a and receive the pads 18 to engage the hull H of the boat B when the boat B is on the boat lift 10.

[0037] Each air bag strap 16 is flexible and configured to pass around the air bag 12 and portions of the frame 14 to secure the air bag 12 to the frame 14. The air bag strap 16 has connectors such as grommets 16a configured to be aligned with the apertures 14cc and secured to the cross supports 14c as by fasteners to adjustably secure the straps 16 to the frame 14.

[0038] The straps 16 are adjusted for fitting the air bags 12 somewhat tautly or without much slack when the air bags 12 are in a fully inflated condition. There will be slack in the straps 16 when the air bags 12 are deflated. To avoid hang ups or the like of the straps 16 with the lake bottom LB, the straps 16 are preferably secured to the bottoms of the air bags 12 as by adhesive or hook/loop of the like to maintain the straps 16 against the bottoms of the air bags 12 when the air bags 12 are deflated and the straps 16 have slack. Alternatively, the air bags 12 may include sleeves on the bottoms thereof for receiving and enclosing the straps 16.

[0039] The frame pads 18 overlie and attach to the horizontal members 14ddd of the hull supports 14d to provide a padded surface for contacting the hull H of the boat B. As shown, the hull supports 14d and frame pads 18 are configured for use with the shown hull H. It will be appreciated that the hull supports 14d and the frame pads 18 serve to position the boat B over and above the frame 14 so that when the boat lift 10 lifts the boat B above the water W the boat B is stably supported on the frame pads 18 by the frame 14 and above the water W. In this regard, the hull supports 14d with the frame pads 18 are adjustably positionable along the end supports 14a and incrementally securable at the locations of the apertures 14a. As seen in FIG. 4, the hull supports 14d with the frame pads 18 are located at a wider spacing in FIG. 4, and a narrower spacing in FIG. 5, the adjustability represented by the arrow 18a in FIG. 5.

[0040] The pivot brackets 20 are configured to pivotally connect the frame 14 to the floating boat dock D. When the air bags 12 are inflated sufficiently, the air bags 12 raise the frame 14 to raise the boat B above the water W and the pivot brackets 20 help to maintain the frame 14 and the boat B generally level or aligned above the water W. When the air bags 12 are deflated sufficiently, the pivot brackets 20 enable the frame 14 to lower relative to the floating boat dock D to lower the boat B into the water W for launching of the boat B from the boat lift 10 into the water W, or for loading the boat B onto the lift 10.

[0041] With additional reference to FIG. 5, the pivot brackets 20 are generally of double L shape of welded steel construction. The pivot bracket 20 has a horizontal L-shape provided by a frame connector 20a that connects to the frame 14 and a lateral dock connector 20b that connects to the floating dock D. A vertical L-shape of the pivot bracket 20 is provided by the frame connector 20a and a vertical dock connector 20c. The connectors 20a, 20b, and 20c are all preferably at 90 degrees relative to one another.

[0042] Each frame connector 20a is connected to one end of one of the frame end supports 14a by the frame clamps 14aaa (FIG. 4) which mount to the mounting apertures 14aa. A distal end of the lateral dock connector 20b has a rounded apertured end 20bb for pivotally mounting to the floating boat dock D. A distal end of the vertical dock connector 20c has a rounded receiver 20cc for pivotally connecting to one end of a pivot connector 20d. As seen in FIG. 4, the opposite end of the pivot connector 20d connects in the same way to the opposite pivot bracket 20. Reinforcements or buttresses such as represented by reference numeral 20e may be added for additional rigidity and strength.

[0043] The air blower 22 is desirably a direct current electronically controllable air blower operable to controllably blow air through the air line 24 for desired inflation of the air bags 12 or to pull or exhaust air via the air line 24 from the air bags 12 for desired deflation of the air bags 12. As shown, the air blower 22 is a dual port blower with a port 22a for each of the air lines 24. However, a single port blower may be used with a valve/split to handle each of the air lines 24. Suitable blower motors are available under the trademark Lake Lifter from Lake Lift Inc, of Avilla, Indiana and having a website of www.lakelite.com. As previously mentioned the boat lift 10 may have one or more of the air bags 12. The air blower 22 will be selected and configured based on the number and sizes of the air bags 12.

[0044] Each air line 24 is preferably a flexible tube or hose connected at one end to the air flow fitting 12b and at the other end to the blower 22 to enable compressed air from the blower 22 to flow into the air bag 12 and to enable air to be sucked from the air bag 12 by the blower 22 based on whether the blower 22 is operated to inflate or deflate the air bag 12. The flexibility of the air lines 24 is desirable for the changing position of the air bags 12 as the boat lift 10 is raised or lowered.

[0045] FIGS. 6-8 depict the boat lift as connected to the floating boat dock D in different water levels W where the water level has lowered from that shown in FIG. 6 to a lower level in FIGS. 7 and 8, with the difference shown by the arrow W. FIGS. 7 and 8 are the same, except in FIG. 7 the air bags 12 are inflated to lift the boat B above the water W and in FIG. 8 the air bags 12 are deflated to enable the boat B to be launched, even when the water is quite shallow.

[0046] A conventional boat lift utilizing rigid floats in the low water circumstance of FIGS. 7 and 8 would bottom out, with the rigid floats resting on the bottom of the lake or river and still elevating the boat B above the water W such that the boat B could not be launched into the water W. As will be seen, the floating boat dock D is lower to the lake bed LB in FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0047] In FIG. 8, the air bags 12 are deflated and resting on the lake bed LB such that the air bags 12 collapse relative to the lake bed B to further lower the boat B. As seen, the pivot brackets 20 enable the frame 14 to pivot relative to the floating boat dock D to enable the frame 14 to be sufficiently below the water W to enable the boat B to float and be launched into the water W from the boat lift 10 or loaded onto the boat lift 10 from the water W.

[0048] Thus, the boat lift 10 of the disclosure advantageously overcomes shortcomings of conventional boat lifts, such as an inability to be useful in low water levels.

[0049] The foregoing description of preferred embodiments for this disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments are chosen and described in an effort to provide the best illustrations of the principles of the disclosure and its practical application, and to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the disclosure in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.