Land vehicles – Wheeled – Articulated vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-27
2001-04-17
DePumpo, Daniel G. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Articulated vehicle
C280S414100, C114S051000, C410S024000, C414S482000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06217053
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a support apparatus that is transformable from a boat lift to a trailer. In the boat lift mode, the support apparatus is set along a shore for raising a watercraft out of the water for protecting the watercraft from wave actions. In the trailer mode, the support apparatus is used for transporting several recreational vehicles in a low profile arrangement.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The words watercraft, boat and craft are used interchangeably herein to designate a small power boat, a jet-powered personal sled-type craft, a pedalling-type craft, a row boat, a scull, a kayak, a small sail boat or other recreational boats of the like. Similarly, the term all-terrain-vehicle (ATV) is used herein to designate the three or four-wheel recreational vehicle, a golf cart, a lawn tractor, a motorized buggy or wheeled equipment of the like.
Between uses, a watercraft is normally tied alongside a dock or a shore and is subject to wave actions. On a big lake or along a coast outside a harbour, large waves may push and shake the boat against the dock, the beach or a rocky shoreline, and damage the craft. Therefore it is preferable to raise the boat out of the water during non-use periods and during periods of strong wind. Also, in most cases, a watercraft is used during one season only and must be transported and stored away during the colder months. Consequently, a trailer and a watercraft lift are preferably required by the owner of a watercraft.
It is also common for a family that is initiated to aquatic activities to own a pair of boats such that the fun of the activity can be simultaneously shared between members of the family. It is also common for a family having enthusiasm for outdoor activities to own one or two all-terrain-vehicles (ATVs), which also must be transported to a storage space when the weather conditions are not appropriate for the use of these vehicles. It is therefore common for vacationers traveling back from a resort, to experience the need to simultaneously transport a number of recreational vehicles on a same trailer.
Examples of boat lifts of the prior art are illustrated in the following documents:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,184,914 issued on Feb. 9, 1993 to S. T. Basta;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,505 issued on Jan. 4, 1994 to P. E. Wilcox;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,360 issued on Jun. 30, 1998 to D. M. Wood.
Examples of trailers of the prior art for handling, transporting or lifting a boat are illustrated in the following documents:
U.S. Pat. No. 2,371,461 issued on Mar. 13, 1945 to F. S. Newell;
U.S. Pat. No. 2,427,667 issued on Sep. 23, 1947 to H. H. Gilbert;
U.S. Pat. No. 3,169,644 issued on Feb. 16, 1965 to B. L. Godbersen;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,800 issued on Sep. 1, 1981 to J. W. Lomas;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,318,632 issued on Mar. 9, 1982 to G. W. Fortmeyer;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,380,143 issued on Jan. 10, 1995 to P. Mohan;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,590,997 issued on Jan. 7, 1997 to M. Fredriksson et al.
EP 063,651 published on Nov. 3, 1982 by F. H. Van Den Broek.
Examples of trailers of the prior art having a structure for simultaneously transporting a boat and at least another vehicle are illustrated in the following documents:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,068,772 issued on Jan. 17, 1978 to C. R. Prudhomme;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,221,420 issued on Sep. 9, 1980 to L. E. Vencill et al.;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,243,242 issued on Jan. 6, 1981 to G. D. Waits;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,545 issued on Nov. 15, 1988 to D. G. Lawrence;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,656 issued on Oct. 6, 1992 to G. R. Potter;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,468,115 issued on Nov. 21, 1995 to B. A. Alvis;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,388 issued on Jun. 30, 1998 to R. J. Clark;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,863,173 issued on Jan. 26, 1999 to R. A. Bremner.
As can be appreciated, the dual load trailers of the prior art are not intended for use as boat lifts, and the prior boat lifts are not intended to be used as dual load trailers. Therefore, it is believed that there continues to be a need for a transformable trailer and watercraft lift which can be left in the water during the summer period and converted into a trailer for transporting several recreational vehicles after a vacation period and for supporting these vehicles in storage during winter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides for a recreational vehicle support apparatus which is transformable from a boat lift to a trailer. In the boat lift mode, the apparatus is movable on skids and has an inclination-adjustable cradle to accommodate an installation of the apparatus on a sloping shore. In the trailer mode, the apparatus has a structure for transporting and storing several recreational vehicles thereon in a compact arrangement.
Broadly, in accordance with one feature of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for raising a watercraft out of a body of water for protecting the watercraft from wave actions in that body of water. The apparatus comprises a main frame having an upper side and a lower side. A pair of skids are provided for moving and supporting the main frame on a ground surface. There are also provided a pair of post assemblies extending from the upper side of the main frame, and a pair of bar sets pivotally mounted to the post assemblies. Each bar set comprises a lever bar having a first end, a second end and a first pivot in an intermediated region thereof, the first pivot being movably mounted to one of the post assemblies. A cradle is pivotally connected to the first ends of the lever bars, and a pair of watercraft support beams are mounted in the cradle for supporting a watercraft therein. A cable and winch assembly is connected to the main frame and to the second ends of the lever bars for tilting the lever bars about their respective first pivots and for raising and lowering the cradle relative to the main frame.
The apparatus is particularly advantageous for raising and supporting a watercraft out of a body of water when the apparatus is adapted to be partly submerged in that body of water.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, each bar set comprises the lever bar, and a follower bar pivotally connected to the cradle and to one of the post assemblies. The follower bar extends parallel to the lever bar and defines with the lever bar, with the post assembly and with the cradle a pantographic linkwork for maintaining fixed the cradle's inclination relative to the post assemblies.
In accordance with still another feature of the present invention, the cradle comprises a leveling mechanism for adjusting the cradle's inclination relative to the post assemblies. The leveling mechanism is particularly advantageous for adjusting the cradle on a level when the apparatus is installed on a sloping shore, thereby obviating the need for outriggers on the main frame.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for transporting several recreational vehicles thereon. The apparatus comprises a main frame having an upper side, a lower side, a front end and a rear end and defining a platform. A set of wheels is mounted to the lower side of the main frame for supporting the main frame off the ground. A hitch bar is connected to the front end of the main frame for selectively pulling the main frame behind a tow vehicle. The apparatus also comprises a pair of post assemblies extending from the upper side of the main frame, and a pair of bar sets pivotally mounted to the post assemblies. Each of the bar sets comprises a lever bar having a first end, a second end and a first pivot in an intermediated region thereof, the first pivot being movably mounted to one of the post assemblies. A cradle is pivotally affixed to the first ends of the lever bars. An upper deck framework is affixed to the front end of the main frame and to the post assemblies, and extends above the front end of the main frame. A first pair of wheel ramps is mounted to the upper deck framework, and a second pair of wheel ramps is mounted into the cradle. A cable and winch assembly is connected to the main frame and to the seco
Belliveau Gerald M.
Forsythe Carl
DePumpo Daniel G.
Theriault Mario
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