Abstract:
A watercraft lift with hydraulically actuated arms which self-installs a fitted three-dimensional boat or other watercraft cover on a powerboat or other watercraft. Control logic allows for cover operation only when the lift is raised, and has a single control for both the lift and cover system. A spring-tensioned roller keeps the cover tight and self-rolls the cover on the roller when the actuated arms are pivoted forward. The roller is hidden behind the watercraft when in a “cover-on” position.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 61/537,454 filed Sep. 21, 2011 and 61/590,734 filed Jan. 25, 2012. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to free-standing watercraft lifts and watercraft covers for use with watercraft lifts. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    The use of boat covers to protect boats is well known. A number of designs are currently known to perform this basic operation. Many boats have multi-section covers, often with one covering the bow section and another covering the aft section. The covers are typically shaped to cover at least portions of the three-dimensional shape of a boat and are manually spread out over the boat and then manually attached using snap or other fasteners. The bow section is attached with fasteners around the perimeter of the bow section especially when there is a bow opening. The aft section is attached to fasteners on the windshield, or in front of the windshield, as well with fasteners around the perimeter of the aft section. This common cover system has several negative aspects for the user. The large number of snaps or other fasteners used make the covers time consuming to install. The covers are often difficult to install after the material ages. The covers are large and awkward to store on-board. The covers can be dirty, and unpleasant to handle. The covers tend to lose shape, causing pockets of water, which further cause a loss of shape and pools of water. The covers do not cover a significant amount of hull surface surrounding the covers, and do not cover significant portions of the sides of the boat with which used, which allows fading in the sun and fails to protect these areas from dirt. The covers provide no security, which makes the contents of the boat and the boat itself vulnerable to theft. 
         [0006]    Several two-dimensional automatic cover designs are currently known. U.S. Pat. No. 3,549,198 uses a rotating arm to pull a flat cover over the top of a dump truck to secure the contents. This design would not be ideal for use with a boat lift since the cover is two-dimensional, non-adjustable and would be impractical to fit the three-dimensional shapes of various boat types with which the lift might be used. 
         [0007]    It is known to use a two-dimensional cover design similar to that of U.S. Pat. No. 3,549,198 on a portable boat lift for a pontoon boat. However, this design does not provide protection for the sides of the boat. It also is more vulnerable to side wind, since it has exposed edges that catch the wind. The design use a roller fixed to the front, and a set of arms which pull the cover rearward like a window shade. This type of design is undesirable for application on a boat, since pulling the cover rearward from a fixed roller at the front of the boat lift would cause the cover to slide over and drag on parts of the boat, causing cover wear, and potential boat damage. The fixed cover in the front also blocks views and is not attractive since the roller remains visible at the front even when the cover is deployed. Further, the lift of U.S. Pat. No. 3,549,198 does not provide any protection against operation of the lift when the cover is deployed, which can cause cover and/or boat damage, especially if installed on lifts that translate rearward when lowering, such as the lift of U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,264. Since the lift of U.S. Pat. No. 3,549,198 is not remote controlled, another drawback results from the user being required to operate it from the location of a control box. This does not permit manually adjusting the cover when operating in situations where it is not seating correctly. 
         [0008]    Such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,019,212 and 6,786,171 describe a cover system that does not touch the boat. These systems have a fixed roof with structure and retractable sides that completely surround the boat. The tall sides of these systems block views and are more vulnerable to wind. For use on a free-standing boat lift, the fixed roof structure can make the lift vulnerable to tipping. Because of the fixed roof, these systems often require permitting and are highly regulated. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,019,212 is a device that attaches to a free-standing boat lift and lifts the cover off vertically. This design requires an external frame and overhead structure to lift the frame. The design is not conducive to cover the full sides of the boat. Since the cover creates a shadow over the water even when the boat is off the lift, this design would often be regulated as a canopy or covered moorage rather than as a boat cover. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a boat on a lift in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention with the cover in an ‘Off’ position. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the boat on the lift with the cover in a ‘Partially On’ position. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the boat on the lift with the cover in an ‘On’ or fully deployed position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the lift and the cover without the boat. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the lift and the cover with the boat and showing inner handles of the cover. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is an isometric rear view of the lift with the boat and the cover in the fully deployed position, showing rear details of cover. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a fragmentary port side view of the lift illustrating the adjustable swing arm of the lift. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is an isometric view of a hydraulic powerpack of the lift. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    The invention generally relates to a free-standing watercraft lift system, generally lifting powerboats under 30 feet long, however, the design may be applied to other type and size boat and watercraft lift systems and other type and size boats and watercraft. 
         [0020]    The disclosed embodiments of the invention are illustrated for a free-standing boat lift that allows for simple installation and removal of the cover, better protection for the boat, less view blockage, and better theft prevention. The combination of these features saves the boater time before and after boating, reduces hull cleaning, reduces hull fading, and allows the owner to store equipment, such as water skis inside the boat more securely; although achieving any one of these attributes alone is beneficial. 
         [0021]    As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, a boat  50  is supported by a free-standing boat lift  32  using port and starboard (left and right side) boat lift bunks  48 . The lift may use rollers or other means for supporting the boat thereon. The boat lift  32  includes port and starboard forward lift legs  47  and port and starboard rearward lift legs  49  which are pivotally connected directly or indirectly through cross-beams or otherwise to port and starboard side rails  30  of the frame of the boat lift  32 . One or more hydraulic cylinders is provided to rotate the port and starboard rearward lift legs  49 , and hence also port and starboard forward lift legs  47  and raise and lower the port and starboard boat lift bunks  48 , with and without the boat  50  thereon. The boat lift  32  has feet pads which rest upon the seabed  36  or other bottom surface on which the boat lift is placed, and is partially submerged below the water line  37 . 
         [0022]    Port and starboard swing arms  26  are, respectively, pivotally connected to the port and starboard side rails  30  at port-side and starboard-side pivot locations  61  (see  FIG. 7 ), and are each simultaneously moved by operation of a corresponding port and starboard hydraulic cylinder  34 . Each of the port and starboard swing arms  26  includes a base arm portion  41  and an upper arm portion  42  telescopically disposed with respect to the base arm portion and by which the length of the swing arm can be selectively adjusted to fit the boat  50  with which the boat lift  32  is being used. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper arm portions  42  telescopes internal to the base arm portion  41  of each of the port and starboard swing arms  26  and the length of swing arm is adjusted by sliding the upper arm portion to extend it from or retract it within the base arm portion. When moved sufficiently to provide the desired length of the swing arm, the upper arm portion  42  is then secured relative to the base arm portion  41  using a pin or other fastener. An arm stiffener  27  is attached to each of the base arm portions  41  of the port and starboard swing arms  26 . 
         [0023]    The port hydraulic cylinder  34  has a lower end pivotally connected to the port side rail  30  or another frame member of the boat lift  32  at port-side pivot location  62 , and an upper end pivotally connected to the port swing arm at port-side pivot location  60  on the port-side base arm portion  41 . The starboard hydraulic cylinder  34  has a lower end pivotally connected to the starboard side rail  30  or another frame member of the boat lift  32  at starboard-side pivot location  62 , and an upper end pivotally connected to the starboard swing arm at starboard-side pivot location  60  on the starboard-side base arm portion  41 . In an alternative embodiment not illustrated, a single hydraulic cylinder may be used to simultaneously move the port and starboard swing arms  26 . In another alternative embodiment not illustrated, the swing arms may be pulled rearward with a cable. 
         [0024]    A roller or roller tube  24  extends laterally between and is rotatable relative to the upper end portions of the upper arm portions  42  of the port and starboard swing arms  26 . A torsional spring is positioned within the roller tube  24  and applies adjustable rotation force to the roller tube to wrap/roll or furl a cover  22  attached thereto about the roller tube, and apply a pulling force to the cover attached thereto. As the roller tube  24  is carried forward by the swing arms  26  from a rearward position at the aft of the boat  50  toward the bow of the boat, the torsional spring operates to wrap the cover  22  about the roller tube in a first direction (counterclockwise when viewed from the port side). In an alternative embodiment, the torsional spring may be replaced by a hydraulics motor which suppies the rotation force to the roller tube. 
         [0025]    An anti-racking bar  25  is attached to and extends between the upper end portions of the upper arm portions  42  of the port and starboard swing arms  26  rearward of the roller tube  24  to reduce racking between the swing arms. 
         [0026]    A forward portion of the cover  22  has a bow pocket sized to accept therein the bow of the boat  50  when the cover is deployed to cover the boat (see  FIG. 2 ). Forward cover lines  20  extend between the forward portion of the cover and a forward end portion of an elongated bow sprit  28  which has a rearward end portion attached to a forward transverse frame beam  46  of the boat lift  32  (see  FIG. 4 ). The bow sprit  28  is located below the water line  37  in the illustrated embodiment. Also, in the illustrated embodiment, the forward cover lines  20  include a port forward cover line  20 A extending between an attachment point  44  of the forward potion of the cover on its port side and the forward end portion of the bow sprit  28 , and a starboard forward cover line  20 B extending between an attachment point  45  of the forward portion of the cover on its starboard side and the forward end portion of the bow sprit. In the preferred embodiment, the port forward cover line  20 A is attached to a port forward wing portion  64  of the cover  22  and the starboard forward cover line  20 B is attached to a starboard forward wing portion  65  of the cover. In  FIG. 1 , the port forward cover line  20 A is depicted both in the retracted position “R” and in the deployed position “D”. Positioning the lower section of the port and starboard forward cover lines  20 A and  20 B nearly under the forward position of the roller tube  24  allows the nose of the cover to mostly roll on the roller tube. 
         [0027]    Another embodiment uses a line extending from the port and starboard attachment points  44  and  45  on the cover  22  to the boat lift frame directly, without using a bow sprit, such as to the forward transverse frame beam  46  of the boat lift  32  or to a bow stop accessory that mounts to the boat lift bunks  48 . Another embodiment uses a single forward cover line attached to the front end of the forward portion of the cover  22  and to a forward portion of the frame of the boat lift  32 . In yet another embodiment, the forward portion of the cover may be secured to a structure in front of the bow of the boat such as a dock or an anchor, and the bow pocket may be eliminated. 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , a spreader bar  54  extends between and is connected to the port and starboard forward cover lines  20 A and  20 B, at a position above the bow sprit  28 , to assist in laterally separating the port and starboard forward cover lines and preventing the cover  22  from snagging when the cover is used on a wide-bow boat. The spreader bar  54  may also be mounted directly on the bow sprit  28 , with the lower ends of the port and starboard forward cover lines  20 A and  20 B attaching directly to the spreader bar. 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , an aft portion of the cover  22  is attached to the roller tube  24  with a multiplicity of elastic members  38 , such as cords or straps, to assist in keeping cover  22  tight on the boat  50  and connect the cover to the roller tube. The elastic members  38  are wrapped around the roller tube  24  in a first direction as is the cover  22  when carried forward by the swing arms  26  from a rearward position at the aft of the boat  50  toward the bow of the boat, as described above. 
         [0030]    The perimeter of the cover  22  has a longitudinally extending edge pocket with an elastic cord  40  extending through the pocket (see  FIG. 6  showing an aft portion thereof). Port and starboard aft ends of the elastic cord  40  are wrapped around the roller tube  24  in a second direction opposite to the first direction (clockwise when viewed from the port side). When the roller tube  24  is carried rearward by the swing arms  26  from a forward position at the bow of the boat  50  toward the aft of the boat, the cover  22  is unfurled and deployed over boat  50 . At the same time the elastic cord  40  is tightened as a result by being wrapped around the roller tube  24  in the opposite second direction than the elastic members  38  and the cover  22  so that the elastic cord  40  is tensioned when the roller tube is pulled aft to keep the lower edges of the cover  22  taut, and the elastic cord is loosened when roller tube moves forward and the cover is rolled up on the roller tube. 
         [0031]    The port and starboard forward side wings  64  and  65  of the cover  22  are included in the preferred embodiment to better secure the cover to the sides of the boat. The cover  22  is shown fully deployed in  FIG. 3 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , when fully deployed the sides of the cover  22  extend downward substantially to or below the chine of the boat  50 . 
         [0032]    The cover  22  has a plurality of interior handles  52  (see  FIG. 5 ) which assist an operator in manually positioning the cover over the boat  50  or adjusting the position of the cover on the boat, if needed. 
         [0033]    The angular range of swing of the swing arms  26 , as well as the starting and ending positions of the roller tube  24  carried by the swing arms, can be adjusted by adjusting the positions of the pivot locations  60  where the upper ends of the port and starboard hydraulic cylinders  34  are pivotally attached to the base arm portions  41  of the port and starboard swing arms  26  along the length of the base arm portions, the positions of the pivot locations  62  where the lower ends of the port and starboard hydraulic cylinders are pivotally attached to the port and starboard side rails  30  along the length of the side rails (see  FIG. 7 ), and the extend the upper arm portions  42  extend telescopically for the base arm portions  41  of the port and starboard swing arms  26 . The base arm portions  41  of the port and starboard swing arms  26  each include a channel with multiple locations along which the upper ends of the port and starboard hydraulic cylinders, respectively, can be selectively and adjustably, pivotally attached. Similarly, the port and starboard side rails  30  each include a channel with multiple locations along which the lower ends of the port and starboard hydraulic cylinders, respectively, can be selectively and adjustably, pivotally attached. 
         [0034]    A hydraulic powerpack  66 , which includes a control box within which its components are position, as shown in  FIG. 8 , operates the boat lift  32 . In the preferred embodiment, a particular sequence is used for both operation of the boat lift to raise and lower the boat  50  and movement of the swing arms  26  to furl and unfurl the cover on the roller tube  24 . Only after the boat lift is in a substantially fully raised position, the control system switches and then permits control of the cover, and the cover  22  can then be moved from the ‘Off’ position to the ‘On’ position. When the cover is substantially fully retracted (furled around the roller tube  24 ) to the ‘Off’ position, the control again shifts to allow operation of the boat lift to lower and raise the boat. 
         [0035]    In the preferred embodiment, the switching of control can be done hydraulically with a sequence valve and a counterbalance valve which automatically switch the system between a ‘Lift mode’ and a ‘Cover mode’. The system switches from ‘Lift mode’ to ‘Cover mode’ using a sequence valve that shifts when the lift reaches the substantially fully raised position. The system switches back to the ‘Lift mode’ using a counterbalance valve that shifts when the cover is substantially fully removed which occurs when the port and starboard hydraulic cylinders  34  are substantially fully extended to position the roller tube  24  at the forward end of the boat  50  with the cover  22  furled thereabout. 
         [0036]    The hydraulic powerpack  66  includes a hydraulic power unit  68 , a control box  70 , a hydraulic switching manifold  72  and a battery  78 . The hydraulic powerpack  66  is connected to hydraulic cylinders which move port and starboard forward and rearward lift legs  47  and  49  to lift and lower the boat lift bunks  48 , and hence the boat  50 , by hydraulic hoses  74 . The hydraulic powerpack  66  is connected to the port and starboard hydraulic cylinders  34  which move the swing arms  26 , and hence the cover  22 , by hydraulic hoses  76 . The hydraulic hoses  74  and  76  are connected to the hydraulic switching manifold  72 . The battery  78  powers the hydraulic power unit  68  and the control box  70  operates the hydraulic power unit  68 . The hydraulic switching manifold  72  selectively directs the hydraulic fluid flow to the hydraulic hoses  74  for the lift or the hydraulic hoses  76  for the cover system. The control box  70  can be operated by a manual two way switch or with a remote control. 
         [0037]    An alternative embodiment of the boat lift  32  is shown in  FIG. 9  where the port and starboard swing arms  26  have been replaced by an arm  82  that translates forward and rearward on a track  80 . In this embodiment the roller tube  24  is moved from near the bow of the boat  50  to near the aft of the boat using the arm  82  carrying the roller tube  24  ant an upper end of the arm. The front and rear portions of the track  80  are curved downward to drive the roller tube  24  downward as the arm  82  reaches the front and rear portions of the track. This embodiment requires less overhead space, which makes it suitable for applications under a boat house roof. Another embodiment has the roller tube  24  translating directly on a track, and being pulled rearward by a cable. 
         [0038]    The cover system of the present invention may be applied with modification to various boat supports, including floating lifts, piling mounted cable lifts, trailers, yacht dingy deck cradles, boat tram systems, and the like. The guidance members which guide the roller tube  24 , such as swing arms or tracks, may be mounted to a variety of boat lifts and other supports. 
         [0039]    From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.