Floating hull pad system and method of its use

Embodiments of a floating bunk system of this disclosure include a hull pad assembly extending in a longitudinal direction and including two hull pads spaced apart from one another and, at each end of the hull pad assembly, a sliding guide assembly including a pair of guide poles, each guide pole of the pair extending in a vertical direction; an upper end channel extending in a lateral direction and connected to the hull pad assembly and to the pair of guide poles; a lower end channel extending in the lateral direction and including a pair of lower bushings; each lower bushing receiving a respective guide pole; the upper end channel being in a fixed position relative to the pair of guide poles; the lower end channel being slidably vertically displaceable along the guide poles toward and away from the upper end channel.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure is in the field of floating lifts and lift system used to raise and lower a watercraft out of and in to a body of water. More particularly, the disclosure is directed toward the lift's hull pad or bunk system.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of a floating bunk system of this disclosure include a hull pad assembly extending in a longitudinal direction with two hull pads spaced apart from one another and, at each end of the bunk system, an upper (floating) end channel connected to the hull pads, a lower (boat lift) end channel connected to lift floats, and a sliding guide assembly located between the two end channels. The sliding guide assembly may include a pair of guide poles extending in a vertical direction and received by bushings on each of the end channels. In some embodiments, the guide poles may be cylindrical shaped. In other embodiments, the guide poles may be t-shaped (in cross-section). The upper end channel is in a fixed position relative to the guide poles and the lower end channel is slidably displaceable along the guide poles toward and away from the upper end channel.

In some embodiments, the two hull pads include flotation. Where a cylindrical-shaped guide pole is used, the upper and lower bushings may include complementary locking means for temporarily securing the upper and lower end channels to one another. The upper end channel may include one or more guide pads configured to receive the lower end channel. At least one of the upper and lower end channels may include a plurality of spaced apart openings configured to receive a fastener. The hull pad assembly may include a bracket having a plurality of spaced apart openings configured to receive a fastener. The system may further include a pair of floats extending in the longitudinal direction between the first and second ends, with the lower end channels connected to the pair of floats F.

When in an intended use as part of a boat lift, embodiments of a floating hull pad or bunk system of this disclosure:reduce the skill level required by a boater to dock a boat;hold a boat in a stable position without raising the lift;provide a boater time to unload and load from water level not from a raised position;allow a boater to pull in and side dock a boat without lowering the bunks, and it acts as a holding mechanism,require no effort from the boater to keep the boat secure when pulled on the bunks;do not put pressure on the dock while the boat is being held in the docked position;auto corrects (self-aligns) the boat as the boater pulls in the slip, pulling the boat straight and true to center of the system without the boater's input;when in a raised position, fully lock into place on the lift and behave as a normal (prior art lift) without the floating bunk system feature.include positive lock to keep the floating bunk system secure when the lift is in a raised positionhave no metal on metal contact on guides to add to the life of the lift; andcan lock the floating bunk system so that it sinks with the lift.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings, embodiments of a floating hull pad or bunk system10of this disclosure include a hull pad float assembly20connected to a floating end channel30F that rides on a slide guide assembly40located at each end E of the system10, the slide guide assembly40also being connected to a boat lift end channel30L (which, in turn, is connected to the lift float Fs). The system10makes use of the buoyancy of the hull pad floats21, with the hull pads P floating on the surface of the water in any water conditions. As the boat lift L starts to lift, the slide guide assembly40aligns the floating end channel30F on to the boat lift end channel30L.

In some embodiments, when the channels30L,30F make contact with one another, the bunk system locks in place by way of a locking mechanism48and the system10lifts in a traditional manner. As the boat lift L lowers and the hull pad floats21enter the water, the buoyancy of the floats21causes the attached hull pad assembly20to float as the slide guide assembly40allows the boat lift L to continue to sink to its normal lowered position while the floating bunk system10stays on top of the water.

Embodiments of the hull pad float assembly20may be comprised of one or more floating bunks that can be tied together utilizing a tank tie bracket23with a slotted bolt pattern to allow adjustability between floats21and to span different length bunk systems. In some embodiments, the tie bracket23may be formed integral to the hull pad float21. The hull pad float21may be comprised of a high-density plastic polymer to allow long life, durability, and cause no damage to the boat hull when the float comes in contact with hull. End brackets22include a slotted bolt pattern to adjust span and connect floating bunk hull floats21to the hull support columns C at each end E of the hull pads P. The end brackets22may be adjusted on either end E to allow for hull pad P leveling, with reference to the water line, to customize to a boater's preference. The adjustability of the hull pad floats21allows the adjusted-up pressure to the boat hull to stop the boat in its ideal location every time when the boat is docked at a consistent speed.

In some embodiments of the slide guide assembly40, the slide guide assembly40may include an upper bushing assembly comprised of an upper bushing45U and a bushing guide housing44bolted to the floating end channel30F. The guide pole49may be pinned by a keeper pin46in the upper guide bushing assembly). A lower bushing assembly may be comprised of another bushing guide housing44, a lower bushing45L, and a guide assembly lock48. The lower bushing45L should have adequate clearance to allow the guide pole49to have freedom for the floating hull pad system10to float freely on the surface of the water without binding on the lower bushing assembly45L. A retaining ring42may be located below the lower bushing45L.

In some embodiments, when the floating end channel30F comes in contact with the rising lift's end channel30L, the guide assembly lock48locks the channels30L,30F to one another by straddling the upper bushing assembly. This lock48is configured such that it will not allow the floating hull pad system10to move forward or aft or side to side, thereby avoiding an over stress condition which could cause the guide poles49to become deformed. The guide pole49may be pinned/locked by a keeper pin46so that when the lift L submerges the floating hull pad system10will submerge with it for a traditional boat lift experience. The guide poles49may have stops51on one end53so that the floating hull pad system10cannot detach from the boat lift. The stop51may be a flanged surface, a pin, or a bolt. In embodiments, there is no metal on metal contact in the slide assembly.

In embodiments, floating end channel guide pads31may be affixed to the floating end channel30F avoiding metal on metal contact between it and the boat lift end channel30L. The floating end channel guide pads31can be replaced as a wear items as normal wear occurs over time. The bunk assembly can be raised and lowered by plumbing the hull pad float system10to a pneumatic control unit on the lift L.

In other embodiments, the guide pole49is a t-shaped guide pole in cross-section Where the guide pole49is t-shaped, the upper bushing45, the guide assembly lock48, and the channel guide pans31may be eliminated.