Portable, self-contained, self-adjustable craft lift and wet/dry storage system
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 06/837,675, filed Mar. 10, 1986 now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an improved portable, self-contained, self-adjustable craft lift and wet/dry storage system and to an improved method for raising and lowering the system and for the wet/dry storing of such crafts. 
     The storage of crafts in water for prolonged periods of time results in substantial problems. First, marine growth, such as, algae, barnacles and the like inhibits maximum boat speed, particularly in the case of sailboats. It also results in long-term damage to the structural integrity of the craft since various chemicals present in the water cause deterioration of the hull and electrolysis of the metal components of the craft. Finally, any leakage problems are exacerbated by being stored in water for long periods of time. 
     Accordingly, boat lift/storage systems have been developed to alleviate the above-described problems. Most of these prior art systems are part of, or are attached to, a permanent dock. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,276,211, Re. 27,090, 3,727,415, 3,777,691, 3,857,248, 3,991,695, 3,967,570, 4,018,179, and 4,037,421. However, the above prior art lift/storage systems are expensive to build and are not readily transportable to another location, certainly not on a cost-effective basis. 
     Of the known prior art lift/storage systems, some include pontoons to provide buoyancy, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,265,024, 4,027,492, and 4,072,119. However, in these latter cases, the frame itself remains in a fixed position with respect to the pontoons during the raising/lowering operations and does not coact with the lifting mechanism. In addition, the lifting-structural support means required to operate these systems are complex and costly. 
     The structural framework portion of the above prior art support systems typically have a rectangular cross-sectional configuration which does not conform to the shape of the boat hull. This non-conformity makes it difficult at best for boat self-adjustment, i.e., lateral alignment and/or leveling of the boat within the confines of the system&#39;s structural framework. In U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,857,248, 3,991,695, 3,967,570, 4,027,492, and 4,072,119, respectively, rigid, fixed boat hull support elements are provided in an attempt to overcome the self-adjustment problem and to assist in the performance of the boat aligning and leveling operations. However, these support elements are fixed, and they do not readily adjust and conform to the shape of the boat. Instead, these elements require substantial supplemental mechanical adjustment in order to provide structural conformity between the elements and the hull. Therefore, significant alignment and leveling problems still remain unresolved. 
     Other unresolved problems not recognized by the prior art include boat storage related to seasonal and/or tidal conditions as they affect wet/dry storage, partial lifting of a boat for repair purposes and the lift/storage of deep keel boats. 
     During the winter season, many bodies of water become frozen due to extremely cold temperatures. It would be desirable to have a storage system which could support a craft on the frozen surface or could also be employed to bring such craft onto shore for storage on the frozen terrain. Furthermore, tidal variations occur which result in the waterline receding to the point where a craft runs aground. Under these latter circumstances, it would also be desirable for a craft storage system to have the ability to be stored both on a body of water or on the bottom when low tide occurs. 
     Lifting of an entire boat out of the water in order to make certain types of repairs can be a problem. Raising/lowering of either front or back portions of a boat expedites such repairs since a portion of a larger boat can be raised by a given lifting apparatus. 
     Many sailboats have deep keels. Due to their extended keel size, the requisite clearance does not exist between the keel and the system framework for supporting that sailboat thereon. There is no prior art system designed to affect deep keel storage. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Contrary to the above prior art devices, the lift and wet/dry storage system of the present invention is portable, self-contained, self-adjusting, capable of supporting a plurality of crafts and designed for both wet and dry craft storage. 
     In the practice of this invention, a system is provided which is portable and is readily movable from place to place, on water or land, at a relatively low cost. 
     The system is also self-contained and does not require a dock in order for it to be functional. Thus, a craft can be readily raised, lowered and stored at an accessible water location or stored on land using the subject system. 
     The present form of the invention comprises an improved system for raising, lowering and wet/dry storing of a craft supported thereon. This improvement includes pontoon means and structural frame means, respectively, for supporting said craft. The pontoon means and structural frame means are disposed for coactive movement one with respect to the other. The coactive operation of this system during the raising/lowering of the craft provides self-adjustability to the system. The amplitude of coactive movement of the pontoons/frame means can be limited so that the craft is not moved beyond its fully raised and lowered positions. This coactive movement and, more particularly, this limited coactive movement, is contrary to prior art boat lifts that include a fixed, immovable support framework in which only the craft lift is moved between respective raised and lowered positions. 
     A preferred feature of the present invention, which facilitates self-adjustability, is directed to a lift/storage system comprising sloping sides that cause further horizontally directed forces from the pontoons. This is turn causes the pontoons to self-adjust and exert a stabilizing effect on the frame for maintaining the craft in proper lateral and level alignment. It is also contemplated that when the craft is raised, the pontoons will be moved to a position not to substantially exceed the outer lateral extent of the frame means. This is of particular importance when only boat slips of minimum widths are available. 
     In another inventive feature, flexible support means attached to the structural frame means conforms to a substantially unlimited number of hull configurations, and facilitates alignment and leveling of the craft by providing substantially total engagement of the flexible support means and the craft hull during the raising and lowering operations. 
     The present invention is also concerned with the &#34;partial&#34; raising and lowering of the respective front or rear portion of a craft. This can be accomplished by employing a modified version of the subject lift and wet/dry storage system. In this case, a laterally-extending flexible support means attached at its respective ends to a pair of substantially horizontal longitudinally-extending support members of a modified structural frame means. When this flexible support means engages the rear or front of the craft hull, only that portion of the craft will be lifted. This feature facilitates repair operations since much heavier crafts can be partially lifted than can be fully supported. 
     The lift/storage system of this invention is also capable of supporting thereon a plurality of watercrafts and, with minor modifications, a plurality of aircrafts. This can be accomplished by sizing the respective pontoons and the structural frame according to the dimensions and weight of a given craft. Furthermore, the above-described flexible support means can be detachably connected to the frame to provide the requisite clearance for the lifting and storing of deep keel sailboats. 
     In another important feature of this invention, the lift/storage system can be equipped with skid means attached to the bottom of the structural frame means to enable this portable self-contained craft lift/storage system to be stored on land as well as in the water. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a watercraft lift and wet/dry storage embodying the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 a top plan view of the system of FIG. 1, including a portion of a boat (shown in broken lines) supported thereon. 
     FIG. 3 is an end view of the system of FIG. 1, in the lowered position, including a portion of a deep-keeled boat (shown in broken lines) positioned therewithin. 
     FIG. 4 an end view of the system of FIG. 1, in the raised position, including a portion of a boat (shown in broken lines) 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the floatation system of FIG. 2, taken along line 5--5 in the direction of the arrows. 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of self-adjusting guide means 32 of the floatation system of FIG. 5, taken along line 6--6 in the direction of the arrows. 
     FIG. 7 is an end view of the system of FIG. 1 in the lowered position with an aircraft located thereon, modified to accept such aircraft. 
     FIG. 8 perspective view of the system of FIG. 1 modified for use as a partial raising/lowering system. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1 thru 4, a preferred lift and wet/dry storage system 1 is depicted. System 1 generally comprises structural frame means 2 for supporting a craft 50 or 51 during the raising, lowering and wet/dry storage of said craft. More specifically, frame means 2 comprises a pair of spaced-apart, substantially parallel, laterally-extending base members 3 and 4. A pair of upwardly-extending frame members 5 and 6 are mounted on base member 3, and a second pair of upwardly-extending frame members 7 and 8 are mounted on base member 4. Respective frame members 5 and 6 and frame members 7 and 8 on opposite sides of said frame means 2 being spaced apart, one with respect to the other, at a distance which is substantially the same and which is sized to readily accept craft 50 or 51 within its confines. 
     Bracing members 9 and 10 are joined at one end to, and bracingly support the inner sides 5a and 6a of, respective frame members 5 and 6. Bracing means 9 and 10 are joined at their other ends to the upper side 3a of base member 3. In a similar manner, bracing members 11 and 12 are joined at one end to, and bracingly support the inner sides 7a and 8a of, respective frame members 7 and 8. Bracing members 11 and 12 are joined to the upper side 4a of base member 4. 
     It should be noted, however, that the configuration, number and location of any bracing members in structural frame 2 can be modified as required for a particular use. 
     Upwardly-extending frame members 5 through 8 together form a cradle-like configuration within which craft 50 or 51 can be disposed for purposes of said raising, lowering and storage operations. Although the frame members 5-8 can extend in a substantially vertical disposition, it is preferred that these frame members extend in an angular direction outwardly from base members 3 and 4, respectively. The complementary angle formed by frame members 5 and 6 and the horizontal axis of frame 2, and by frame members 7 and 8 and the horizontal axis of frame 2, is designated in FIG. 5 as angle X. Preferably, angle X is more than about 45 degrees and less than about 90 degrees. This sloping disposition of members 5-8 allows further horizontally directed forces to be imparted thereto by pontoons 21 and 22, thereby exerting a stabilizing effect on frame means 2 for maintaining the craft in proper lateral and level alignment. And, as can be most readily seen in FIG. 4, when frame means 2 is in the raised position, pontoon means 21 and 22 are moved to a position which does not substantially exceed the outer lateral extent of frame means 2. 
     Longitudinally-extending cross-brace support means 17 thru 20 act to interconnect and reinforce structural frame means 2. Cross-brace support means 17 and 18 are joined at one end to the respective upper and lower portions of frame member 9, cross each other and are joined at substantially their respective midpoints, and are then secured to the opposite upper and lower portions of frame member 12. In a similar manner, longitudinally-extending cross-brace support means 19 and 20 are connected at one end to the respective upper and lower portions of frame member 10, cross each other and are joined at substantially their midpoints, and are then secured to the opposite upper and lower portions of frame member 11. Typically, structural frame means 2 is fabricated from a metallic material capable of withstanding the biological and chemical components contained in the body of water in which the system is immersed, such as, galvanized steel or aluminum and the like. 
     As depicted in FIGS. 1-5, a pair of spaced-apart, longitudinally-extending pontoon means 21 and 22 are connected for slideable engagement to structural frame means 2, as hereinafter described, and buoyantly support in water said frame means 2 during the raising, lowering and wet storage operations. Pontoon means 21 and 22 each preferably comprise a longitudinally-extending floatation cylinder means 23, generally fabricated from a polymeric material such as PVC, polyethylene, or polypropylene. The cylinder means 23 is filled with an expanded, typically rigid, polymeric foam material 42. Alternatively, for example, floatation devices such as foam-filled tires and the like can be employed to buoyantly support said frame means 2. A plurality of spaced-apart, longitudinally-extending stiffening members 24, preferably in the form of metal angle bars, are disposed about the cylinders 23 in order to provide the structural rigidity thereto. End cap means 26 attached to said cylinder means 23 are disposed at the respective ends of cylinder means 23 for closing off and protecting same from impact thereto. End caps are maintained in position by attachment means 27 which pass through the end caps 26 and are connected to stiffening means 24. A plurality of band members 25 are provided which extend circumferentially about such respective cylinder means 23 and stiffening members 24 for retaining said stiffening members 24 in position with respect to cylinder means 23. 
     Further referring to FIGS. 1-5, lift means 28 and 28&#39; are joined to pontoon means 21 via lift cables 36a, and to pontoon means 22 via lift cables 36, for raising and lowering craft 50 or 51. More specifically, lift means 28 and 28&#39; comprises respectively winch means 29 and 29&#39;, including winch handles 29a and winch reels 29b, which are affixed to winch attachment plate means 45. Winch 28 and 28&#39; are respectively mounted to the upper portion of frame members 5 and 8 by winch attachment means 46, which for purposes of illustration is a U-bolt, passing thru said respective attachment plate means 45 and about frame members. Frame members 5 and 8 and base members 3 and 4 each preferably have a hollow rectangular interior cross-sectional configuration within which passes cables 36 and 36a for attachment to pontoon means 21 and 22. Cables 36 and 36a extend downwardly from winches 29 and 29&#39; and pass about sheaves 37 and 37a which are rotatably mounted on sheave pins 38 and 38a, respectively. Cables 36 and 36a then diverge in a horizontal direction with cable 36a passing about sheave 37&#39;, which is rotatably mounted on sheave pin 38&#39;, and then extends upwardly where it is coupled to lift cable connector means 35 secured to the underside of pontoon means 21. In a similar manner, cables 36 pass about sheave 37b, which is rotatably mounted on sheave pin 38b and then extends upwardly where it is coupled to lift cable connector means 35a secured to the underside of pontoon means 22. 
     Pontoon means 21 are connected for slideable engagement to frame members 5 and 8 for movement in an upward and downward direction via self-adjusting guide means 32. Pontoon means 22 are similarly slideably connected to frame members 6 and 7. The particular self-adjusting guide means depicted in FIG. 6 comprises a U-shaped coupling means 32 fastened to pontoons 21 and 22 and connected for slideable engagement with outer sides 5b and 8b of frame members 5 and 8 and outer sides 6b and 7b of frame members 6 and 7, respectively. More specifically, U-shaped coupling means 32 comprises slide plate 43 and angles 32a and 32b affixed to band member 25 thereby forming a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional inner configuration for engaging said frame members 5 thru 8. 
     The movement of self-adjusting guide means 32, and in turn the movement of pontoons 21 and 22, with respect to frame members 5 through 8 are upwardly limited by pontoon means upper limit stops 30 and are downwardly limited by pontoon means lower limit stops 31. Stops 30 and 31 typically comprise metal tabs, generally rectangular in shape, affixed to said frame members. 
     Pontoon means are contained and limited for movement in an upward and downward direction between respective raised and lowered positions by restrainer cable means 39 disposed about said pontoon means. The restrainer cable means 39 comprises restrainer cables 33 coupled near the upper and lower ends of frame members 5 thru 8. 
     Structural frame means 2 can be more effectively sustained in the raised position for wet storage of crafts 50 or 51 by interlockingly engaging safety cable means 41 disposed about pontoons 21 and 22 so that structural frame means 2 is thereby hindered from downward movement. Safety cable means 41 comprises respective cables 33&#39; disposed about said respective pontoon means 21 and 22 by attachment to respective frame members 5 thru 8 and respective base members 3 and 4. The safety cable means is secured to said base members 3 and 4 at one end 41a immediately below said pontoon means 21 and 22 and is detachably secured to respective frame members 5-8 at the other end 41b immediately above said pontoon means 21 and 22. 
     Flexible support means 34 are preferably provided which engage the hull of craft 50 or 51 for assisting in the raising, lowering and storage thereof. Since flexible support means 34 conforms to a substantially unlimited number of craft hull configurations, alignment and leveling of the craft is facilitated by the substantially total engagement of the hull with support means 34 during the raising and lowering operations. Preferably, support means 34 comprises a pair of spaced-apart flexible straps detachably connected to frame members 5 and 6 and frame members 7 and 8, respectively, by detachable connector means 44, disposed within one of a series of adjustment holes 44a. The detachability of flexible support means 34 provides deep-keeled craft 51 (see FIG. 3) with the requisite clearance, on detachment, so that it can readily be moved onto the system 1. Once in place, the flexible support means 34 can be reattached. 
     In FIG. 7, a preferred embodiment of this invention is depicted which comprises a lift and wet/dry storage system la modified to support aircraft 60. Modified system la includes horizontal support member 61 having longitudinal support members 62 disposed thereon for receiving aircraft pontoons 63 supported thereon. 
     In accordance with one aspect of this invention which is depicted in FIG. 8, a portable, self-contained, self-adjustable system 70 can also be provided for the raising and lowering of only the respective front or rear portion of a craft. Longitudinally-extending substantially horizontal support member 71 is attached at its respective ends to the upper portion of respective upwardly-extending frame members 5 and 8. Similarly, longitudinally-extending, substantially horizontal support member 72 is attached at its respective ends to the upper portion of respective upwardly-extending frame members 6 and 7. A laterally-extending flexible support means 73, similar in design to support means 34, is connected at its respective ends to respective longitudinally-extending, substantially horizontal support members 71 and 72. Flexible support means 73 is connected to support members 71 and 72 at an intermediate point. Preferably, this connection is at substantially the midpoint of said support members 71 and 72. In any case, flexible support means 73 is capable of engaging either the front or rear of a craft hull, depending on which end of said craft is to be lifted. 
     In order to affect dry storage of lift and wet/dry storage system 1, spaced-apart, longitudinally-extending skid members 40 are mounted on the underside of structural frame means 2. This allows system 1 to be located on, for example, a beach when the tide goes out or on frozen terrain when a lake freezes during the winter. Examples of typical skid member can be structure steel angle or channel member, a full or half cylinder (See FIGS. 1-5), treated timber, and the like. 
     In operation, as generally exemplified in FIGS. 1-5, lift and storage system 1 is first located in a desirable place for the wet storage of craft 50 or 51. Structural frame means 2 are then lowered to a position which will allow the craft to move over said frame means 2. The lowering of structural frame means 2 is accomplished by the operation of lift means 28 and 28&#39;. In exemplary system 1, winch handles 29a of winches 29 and 29&#39; are alternately rotated in a counterclockwise direction thereby unwinding respective lift cables 36 and 36a disposed on winch reels 29b and moving said cables 36 and 36a and, in turn,frame means 2, in a substantially vertically downward direction. As previously described, cables 36 and 36a, after passing about respective sheaves 37a and 37b, and 37 and 37&#39;, move in an upward direction, which in turn moves respective pontoon means 21 and 22 in an upward direction. 
     Pontoon means 21 and 22 are preferably moved in a limited upward and downward direction, preferably restricted within the inner confines of restrainer cable means 39, until self-adjusting guide means contacts limit stop 30 and 31. Therefore, the extent of vertically downward and upward movement of support frame means 2 will be equal to the extent of vertically upward and downward movement of pontoon means 21 and 22. 
     The next step includes introducing the craft onto frame means 2, typically by driving or moving same thereon. Once the craft is in place, the raising and wet storing operations can commence. 
     When it is desired to raise the craft, the winches are again alternatively rotated, this time in a clockwise direction, thereby winding lift cables 36 and 36a onto said winch reels and moving said cables and, in turn, frame means 2 in a substantially upward vertical direction. Pontoon means 21 and 22 are moved in a substantially vertical downward direction, preferably within the inner confines of restrainer cable means 39, during the craft raising operation until self-adjusting guide means 32 contacts limit stop 31. In this case, therefore, moving said craft to a raised position with said lift means and storing same in proper lateral and level alignment is provided by the coactive movement of pontoon means 21 and 22 with respect to said frame means 2, said pontoon means moving in a substantially vertically downward direction and said frame means moving in a substantially vertically upward direction. 
     The pontoon means can then be securedly sustained in a raised position during storage by safety cable means 41. After the craft storage period is completed, lowering of craft 50 or 51 is facilitated by coactively moving said pontoon means 21 and 22 in a substantially vertical upward direction with respect to said frame means 2. This lowering operation is accomplished in a similar manner, using lift means 28 and 28&#39;, as described above.