Claims
- 1. A davit arm assembly of the type that is supported at least in part by a ground surface, comprising:
a base member; a davit arm mounted on the base member and having a distal end; and a first ground engaging support and a second ground engaging support, wherein each said support is mounted on the base member and configured to engage the ground without occupying space directly beneath the distal end of the davit arm, and at least one said support is selectively movable between a first orientation relative to the ground and a second orientation relative to the ground.
- 2. The davit arm assembly of claim 1, wherein the base member includes a tube having a sidewall that terminates at opposite first and second ends, and first and second slots that extend into the sidewall at each of the ends, and each said support includes a plug that inserts into a respective one of the ends, and a flange that inserts into a respective one of the slots.
- 3. The davit arm assembly of claim 2, wherein each said support includes an elongate leg that extends perpendicular to a respective plug.
- 4. The davit arm assembly of claim 3, wherein each said support includes a sleeve that is rigidly connected to a respective plug, and each said leg is sized and configured to insert into a respective sleeve, and a respective fastener is inserted through a hole in each said sleeve and one of several alignable holes in a respective leg.
- 5. The davit arm assembly of claim 4, further comprising adjustable height feet mounted on at least one said leg.
- 6. The davit arm assembly of claim 4, further comprising a separate wheel rotatably mounted on a lower end of at least one said leg.
- 7. A davit arm assembly of the type that is supported at least in part by a ground surface, comprising:
a ground engaging base member; a support tube connected to the base member; a support shaft having a longitudinal axis, wherein a lower end of the support shaft is inserted in the support tube in such a manner that the support shaft is rotatable about its longitudinal axis relative to the support tube; a davit arm mounted rotatably mounted on an upper end of the support shaft in such a manner that the davit arm is rotatable about an axis that extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the support shaft.
- 8. The davit arm assembly of claim 7, wherein the davit arm has an upper distal end that is radially displaced from the longitudinal axis of the support shaft, and at least one pulley is rotatably mounted on the upper distal end of the davit arm.
- 9. The davit arm assembly of claim 8, further comprising a winch mounted on the davit arm at a radially displaced location relative to the longitudinal axis of the support shaft, wherein the winch and the upper distal end of the davit arm are diametrically opposed in relation to the longitudinal axis of the support shaft, thereby counterbalancing one another.
- 10. The davit arm assembly of claim 10, further comprising a means for mounting a self-retracting lifeline device to the davit arm.
- 11. A davit arm assembly of the type that is supported at least in part by a ground surface, comprising:
a ground engaging base member; a support member having a longitudinal axis and mounted on the base member; a davit arm mounted on an upper end of the support member in such a manner that the davit arm is rotatable about the longitudinal axis, and an upper distal end of the davit arm is radially displaced from the longitudinal axis; a winch mounted on the davit arm at a radially displaced location relative to the longitudinal axis, wherein the winch and the upper distal end of the davit arm are diametrically opposed in relation to the longitudinal axis, thereby counterbalancing one another.
- 12. A method of providing a portable davit arm kit sized and configured to be carried by a single person, comprising the steps of:
providing a bag having three discrete compartments; securing at least one strap to an external portion of the bag in a manner that defines a closed loop; providing a base member inside a first one of the compartments; providing first and second leg members inside a second one of the compartments; providing a first connecting means for connecting the leg members and the base member in a manner that defines a rigid, ground engaging base; providing a support post and a davit arm inside a third one of the compartments; providing a second connecting means for connecting the support post and the davit arm to the ground engaging base in such a manner that an upper distal end of the davit arm is disposed above an unoccupied portion of the ground.
- 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the bag is provided with four external sides, and each of the compartments is accessible from a discrete one of the sides.
- 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the strap is secured to a discrete one of the sides.
- 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the bag is provided in a configuration that is capable of lying flat on the ground with each of the three compartments simultaneously accessible from above.
- 16. A method of securing a davit arm relative to a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
providing a base having a member sized and configured for insertion into a trailer hitch receptacle on a vehicle; mounting a davit arm on the base; inserting the member into the receptacle; and moving the vehicle to position the davit arm to overhang a downwardly extending space.
- 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of providing at least two ground engaging wheels on the base.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/327,546, filed Oct. 5, 2001.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60327546 |
Oct 2001 |
US |