Hydraulic lift for small watercraft mounted to a boat transom

[0002] This invention relates to hydraulic boat lifts. More particularly, it refers to a hydraulic lift mounted on the transom of a watercraft for lifting small auxiliary watercraft from the water, including support means for preventing damage caused by following seas.

[0003] Hydraulic operated boat lifts generally are well known as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,895,479; 5,184,914; 5,275,505; 5,890,835; and 5,919,000. None of these lift systems is adapted for mounting on the transom of a watercraft. Applicant has previously developed a vessel transom mounted hydraulic lift system for supporting a platform used to cradle an auxiliary watercraft. However, this system had a limitation which prevented practical utilization. During heavy following seas, the impact of water on the platform caused the hydraulic lift system arms to collapse. A hydraulic lift system is needed which will be practical for long term use mounted on the transom of a watercraft for the purpose of lifting small auxiliary watercraft out of the water and withstanding the impact of large waves during following seas.

[0004] This invention satisfies the need for an efficient and practical hydraulic lift system attached to a transom of a watercraft for lifting small auxiliary watercraft out of the water and withstanding wave action caused by following seas. The hydraulic lifting apparatus includes a transom bracket bolted to a transom of a watercraft, the transom bracket enclosing an hydraulic power cylinder operating multiple link arms causing a platform bracket to move in a vertical direction upwards from the water or down into the water. The platform bracket supports a platform and a boat cradle for supporting a small auxiliary watercraft. A locking plate operated by a hydraulic cylinder and grooves for receipt of a transverse pin lock the platform in an upright position and stops to prevent distortion of the action arms create a stable platform resistant to wave action.

[0005] The hydraulic power cylinder is either operated electrically or by a manual override connected to a hand pump.

[0006] The invention may be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the boat lift art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0007] FIG. 1 is an elevational side view of the boat lift apparatus of this invention mounted to a boat transom and showing an auxiliary watercraft in phantom being lifted from the water.

[0008] FIG. 2 is an elevational side view of the boat lift apparatus according to FIG. 1, but with the boat lift apparatus mounted to a differently configured boat transom.

[0009] FIG. 3 is an isolated elevational side view of the boat lift apparatus.

[0010] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the boat lift apparatus of FIG. 3.

[0011] FIG. 5 is an elevational front view of the boat lift apparatus of FIG. 3.

[0012] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the hydraulic boat lift apparatus.

[0013] FIG. 7 is a schematic of the electrical system operating the hydraulic boat lift apparatus.

[0014] FIG. 8 is a schematic of the hydraulic system operating two hydraulic lifts for the boat lift apparatus.

[0015] FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of the manual system for operating the lift apparatus.

[0016] FIG. 10 is a prospective of a single hydraulic lift for a light duty platform attached to a small boat transom.

[0017] Throughout the following detailed description., the same reference numerals refer to the same element in all figures. Turning first to FIGS. 1 and 2, the hydraulic boat lift apparatus 10 is mounted to a boat 14 at its transom 12 or 12A by a transom bracket 15. In the boat 14 transom 12 is angled downward towards the waterline 28 and transom 12A is angled upward. In either case, transom bracket 15 is mounted directly to transom 12 or 12A.

[0018] The hydraulic boat lift apparatus 10 has a pair of parallel inboard lift arms 16 and 18, each having a distal end 17 and 19 respectively mounted within a platform bracket 20. The platform bracket 20 supports a platform 22 and an auxiliary watercraft cradle 24 on which an auxiliary watercraft 26 is mounted.

[0019] Turning to FIGS. 3-6, the inboard lift arm 16 has a bore 23 at a proximal end 31 and inboard lift arm 18 has a bore 21 at proximal end 29. A first transverse pin 52 passes through bores 21 and 23 and extends outwardly from both bores 21 and 23.

[0020] A power cylinder 30 has a unitary construction with a transverse bore at the blind end 35 through which a support pin 37 passes. The power cylinder rod 34 has a transverse coupler 50 distal from the power cylinder 30. A second transverse pin 44 passes through coupler 50 and connects to transverse bores 56 and 58 positioned proximal to bores 23 and 21 respectively on arms 16 and 18 respectively.

[0021] A hydraulic fluid conduit 60 leads to a lock cylinder 32 attached to a plate 62 having a locking groove 70. In the locked position groove 70 engages outward transverse projection 72 on a port side outboard lift arm 40. Actuation of the system 10 as seen in FIGS. 7 and 8 causes plate 62 to pivot and release transverse projection 72.

[0022] Another outboard lift arm 42 parallel to lift arm 40, has a back end 64 containing a transverse bore 66 corresponding to back end 74 containing a transverse bore 76 on lift arm 40. Bores 66 and 76 have a pin 46 passing therethrough as well as through side elements 80 and 82 of transom bracket 15. A front end 84 of lift arm 42 has a bore 86 connecting to front end 88 through bore 90 of arm 40 by third pin 110. Lift arms 42 and 40 respectively engage the ends of pin 52 on a downward movement so that the ends of pin 52 act as a positive stop. In this way, the outboard arms 42 and 40 cannot fold back over center when additional pressure is caused by wave action on the platform 22.

[0023] Platform bracket 20 has a slot 92 and 94 on each side through which ends of fourth pin 96 pass. Pin 96 passes through a bore on the proximal end 98 of an adjuster rod 54. A distal half 100 of the adjuster rod 54 is threaded and a pin 48 moves along the threads to adjust the angle of repose of the platform bracket 20. The pin 48 is attached to platform bracket 20 at transverse bores 102 and 104. Links 106 and 108 connect pin 96 to pin 110 which engages bores 90 and 86 respectively on outboard lift arms 40 and 42. Pin 96 also engages links 108 and 106 to bores 17 and 19 respectively on inboard lift arms 16 and 18. Third pin 110 also passes through transverse bore 112 and 114 on platform bracket 20.

[0024] Operation of the hydraulic lift system 10 shown in FIG. 7 is initiated by a hand held control 116. Pushing one of the up or down buttons activates the motor 118 which causes the hydraulic pump 120 to cause the lock cylinder 32 to unlock pin 72 and allow movement of the arms by power cylinder 30.

[0025] Grooves 122 and 124 on side elements 82 and 80 respectively of the transom bracket engage the ends of second pin 44 to limit the travel of the boat lift apparatus 10 in an upward configuration.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 9, handle 125 is moved in and out to operate pump 120 and cause a flow of oil in the block manifold 126 to operate the hydraulic lift system manually.

[0027] While it requires a pair of hydraulic boat lift apparatus to lift platform 22, a single hydraulic boat lift apparatus as shown in FIG. 10 is sufficient to lift a platform operated by the lift apparatus attached to transom 12B.

[0028] Various changes, modifications and alterations can be contemplated by those skilled in the art without departing from the intended spirit and scope thereof. As such, it is intended that the present invention only be limited by the terms of the appended claims.