Movably Mounted Patents (Class 114/369)
  • Patent number: 11745832
    Abstract: A system for mounting equipment to a vessel's hull is disclosed. The system comprises a first stringer and a second stringer, where each stringer is attachable to the inside of the vessel's hull. The system also includes a layer of adhesive attaching both stringers to the inside of the vessels hull. Both stringers have a top cap for attaching equipment. Additionally, each stringer has a first vertical side wall connected to a first end of the top cap, a second vertical side wall connected to a second end of the top cap, and two flanged portions. A first flanged portion connects to a lower end of the first vertical side wall, and a second flanged portion connects to a lower end of the second vertical side wall. The system has an open side portion at the bottom end of both stringers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Inventors: John Harley Canada, Rogerio Kovalski, Vincent Nientimp
  • Patent number: 9394034
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tender furniture (1) unit which is hollow and contains a fold-out V-support (6) which thus serves as a parking means for a tender (9), and additional technical means (12, 12a, 12b, 13, 16, 26, 27, 36, 38, 43, 47) and general storage means can be stowed therein and, with no tender (9) is present, the tender furniture unit (1) serves, by means of the backrest (3), as seating, an enlarged platform area or lying area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Inventor: Peter A. Mueller
  • Patent number: 8539896
    Abstract: A swim platform lift mechanism is disclosed, the mechanism mounted between the transom of a boat and a bottom surface of a swim platform. The lift mechanism provides a powered lifting/lowering of the swim platform from a retracted position that is level with the deck of the boat to a deployed position in which the swim platform is below the surface of the water surrounding the boat and from the retracted position to an up-and-over position in which the swim platform and its contents are positioned above and forward of the rear edge of the deck. When in the retracted position, an adjustable stop interfaced to the swim platform abuts rest areas on lower arms of the lift mechanism, thereby providing structural support to the swim platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Nautical Structures Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Bolline, Nicholas Asseff, Sunthorn Ingersoll
  • Patent number: 8286574
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lowerable platform (1) for a water craft (10), which can be also horizontally extended and to which a float (2) is fastened that comprises a closed hollow space (43) or an open hollow space (43), a buoyancy (A) acting upon the float (2) being generated by the air volume (L). As a result, the water craft's proper weight or the payload (N) of e.g. a tender boar (27) on the lowerable platform (1) can be compensated by the buoyancy (A). A hydrodynamic design of the float (2) additionally generates a hydrodynamic buoyancy (D1) which can be varied in terms of its height in relation to the current (S) by means (4, 37, 38, 39), depending on the float (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Inventor: Peter A. Müller
  • Patent number: 8061932
    Abstract: A hydraulic boat lift assembly will raise and lower a boat cradle remotely, and will securely lock the cradle in an uppermost storage position. The lift as provided with a manual mechanism for unlocking the cradle from its uppermost storage position for operation when the hydraulic system is not available. The lift has a support frame that is mountable on the outside of the transom of a boat with hydraulic connections to a hydraulic system and controls within the boat. A lift mechanism connected to the support frame raises and lowers a cradle that supports a small boat or tender. The lift mechanism includes one or more hydraulic lift cylinders. In a retracted position of the lift cylinder, the cradle is elevated above the water in a storage position when the boat is under way. To ensure security of the tender, the lift mechanism employs a lock cylinder that prevents inadvertent motion of the lift cylinder from the retracted position by mechanical and hydraulic mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Inventor: Robert P. Latham
  • Patent number: 7743723
    Abstract: An onboard davit assembly for launching a boat from a ship is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the assembly includes two spaced apart davits, each davit including a substantially horizontal boom, a hoist cable extending downwards from a suspension frame on the boom and including at least one fixation device at its lower end to which the boat can be attached. In at least one embodiment, the assembly is arranged such that the booms are movable between an inward position wherein the suspension frames extend inboard and an outward position wherein the suspension frames extend outboard, wherein the booms extend from an onboard vertical pivot axis and can rotate in a horizontal plane around the pivot axis, and wherein the suspension frames are movable along the booms such that a distance between the suspension frames remains constant during rotation of the booms between the two positions when the boat is moved from a parking position to a launching position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Azure Naval Architects B.V.
    Inventors: Andreas Adrianus Verkooijen, Hugo Maurits Van Wieringen
  • Patent number: 7735441
    Abstract: A lift apparatus for a watercraft having a plurality of components positioned below the platform at the aft end of a boat. The lift apparatus is configured to lift and deploy a watercraft from an undeployed orientation overlaying a platform to a deployed orientation away from the platform and on the water. In the deployed orientation the platform is substantially free from any lift apparatus component interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: A&B Machining, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul W. Borum, Roger Doane
  • Patent number: 7707955
    Abstract: A lifting apparatus includes a lift arm for carrying a platform or cradle and is pivotally attached to a base for movement between lowered and raised positions. A crank arm is pivotal with the base and a connector arm is pivotal with the lift arm. The crank arm and connector arm are pivotally connected to each other for rotation about a common pivot axis. Rotation of the crank arm by an actuator moves the crank arm and connector arm combination through a top dead center alignment a lowered over center alignment with the lift arm movable from the lowered position to the raised position during operating positions of the apparatus, and to a raised over center alignments with limited movement of the lift arm in the raised position for providing a locking position of the apparatus thus eliminating a need for typical additional locking mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Sealift, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl E. Johns, Jr., Stephen G. Johns
  • Patent number: 7293521
    Abstract: Devices, apparatus and systems for raising and lowering watercraft such as personal watercraft, jet skis, inflatables from transoms on boats, from bulkheads and from docks, and for raising and lowering other types of vessels. A single actuator such as a fluid operated cylinder and single piston can raise and lower a cradle that supports the personal watercraft. An crank bracket can be fixably attached to a crank shaft, and an arm which supports the cradle can be fixably attached to the crank shaft. The arm can be extendable to different lengths. The cradle can include a self-leveling carriage that uses rollers to roll on a curved surface of the cradle allowing the supported watercraft to remain in a substantially level position thereon. An adjustable swivel mount can also be used to lock the cradle to the arm in a fixed orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Sealift, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl E. Johns, Jr., Stephen Johns
  • Patent number: 6782842
    Abstract: A boat-lift system adapted to move a smaller boat relative to a larger boat. The boat-lift system comprises a structural support, a lift structure, a pivot system, and an actuator assembly. The structural support is adapted to be rigidly connected to a transom of the larger boat. The lift structure defines a second pivot portion, an actuator portion, an extension portion, and first and second boat-engaging portions. The pivot system connects the first and second pivot portions to allow rotation of the lift structure between first and second lift positions relative to the structural support. Actuation of the actuator assembly causes the lift structure to move between the first and second lift positions. When the smaller boat is in a docking position adjacent to the lift structure, operation of the actuator assembly moves the lift structure to lift the smaller boat from the docking position to a first storage position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Inventor: Jeff Alvord
  • Patent number: 6474256
    Abstract: A dinghy lift for mounting to a boat beneath a swim platform. The dinghy lift includes a pair of space-apart lift mechanisms that are mounted to the stern beneath the swim platform. The lift mechanisms do not extend outwardly beyond the swim platform and therefore are generally hidden from view. A pair of arm are removably mounted to the lift mechanisms. The arms extend outwardly beyond the swim platform to form a cradle for the dinghy. The lift mechanisms selectively move the arms between a lowered position for loading and unloading the dinghy and a raised position for storing the dinghy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Shore-Mate Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne A. Vogel
  • Patent number: 6327992
    Abstract: A transom bracket enclosing a hydraulic power cylinder is mounted to the transom of a watercraft. An actuation rod of the power cylinder moves multiple lift arms connected to a platform bracket supporting a platform for supporting a small auxiliary watercraft. Electrical or manual operation of the power cylinder causes the platform bracket to move in a vertical direction either upwards out of the water or downwards into the water. A lock mechanism operated by a lock cylinder locks the lift apparatus in place when not in operation. Grooves on sides of the transom bracket and transversely extended pins connecting the linkage arms provide a downward stop to movement of the lift apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: General Hydraulic Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard A. Martin
  • Patent number: 6047659
    Abstract: A mounting apparatus comprises a plurality of main support tubes securely affixed to the transom and substantially hidden within the hull of a marine vessel. The number of main support tubes corresponds with the number of support units of a lifting device. Each of the support units further comprises a plurality of support members where the uppermost support member is secured to a corresponding main support tube. The main support tubes are housed through the transom and below the deck or flooring of the vessel so that when the support members are retracted, they are concealed, or substantially concealed, within the main support tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Inventor: Anthony P. Schmidt, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5690045
    Abstract: A hoisting mechanism attached to the transom of pleasurecraft is provided which raises and lowers a platform to hoist personal watercraft, such as a water jet propelled personal watercraft, into and out of the water with a minimal amount of apparatus externally of the transom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Marine Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark W. Gauthier
  • Patent number: 4627377
    Abstract: A platform for a small boat or the like is pivoted to the free end of a pair of arms which are pivoted at their opposite ends to a larger boat such as a yacht. The arms are controlled by an hydraulic jack and a second hydraulic jack is arranged to drive or be driven by the first jack to control the platform so that it is always horizontal for any position of the arms. The arms can position the platform below the water line for launching or receiving the small boat or well above the water line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1986
    Inventor: Alain Zoonens
  • Patent number: 4586453
    Abstract: Apparatus for launching a lifeboat, rescue craft or like small craft from a marine platform or other vessel in a bows-out heading comprises a boom mounted on the vessel that deploys outwardly as the boat is lowered and that carries a bow line releasably attached to the boat. The boom and bow-line are arranged so that the bow-line holds the boat in a bows-out heading after the boat has been lowered and on release of the fall or falls accelerates the boat away from the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1986
    Assignee: Watercraft Limited
    Inventors: Thomas M. Wilks, Simon P. K. Pope
  • Patent number: 4364326
    Abstract: This invention relates to devices and methods to control the movement of boats and other objects, for example container loads, which are being moved above the deck of a ship moving in a seaway. In particular it is concerned with devices to restrain a boat or other object with respect to lateral swinging movement when suspended by a ship-mounted hoist. The invention is of particular, but by no means exclusive, application to the launch and recovery of inflatable and rigid inflatable rescue, life and work boats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1982
    Inventor: Roderick D. Pike