Patent Application
20090179122
The present invention relates generally to shoring type devices for supporting boats on dry land for maintenance and storage, and particularly to a boat support that is lightweight but strong, easy to transport and store, and is stackable to provide adjustable height which enables it to be used with a wide variety of boat types. Although designed primarily for use with boats, the present invention is not limited in use to boats; it can be used with any structure that requires support.
The present invention relates to devices employed for supporting boats on dry land. Various types of shoring structures and devices have been used for supporting boats for dry dock storage and maintenance. Because of the wide variety of hull shapes, keels and boat sizes, these supports have generally been custom constructed at the maintenance or storage site for particular boats using wood blocks, cinder blocks, tie rods, and jack stands. As an alternative, boat stand assemblies have been devised for supporting boats in dry dock. However, if one visits a temporary storage or maintenance site, a common sight is to see boats resting on stacked cinder blocks, which support the boats on the sides while the hull is blocked with wood or cinderblocks on the ground. Cinder blocks are used because they are easily stackable and therefore are easily customized to the boat at hand, but they have disadvantages. These include a lack of stability in a stack, the difficulty of storing and moving the blocks, which may require a forklift, and the occurrence of abrasion on the boat hull from contact with the uneven surface of the hard cinderblock. In addition, many people find the cinderblocks unsightly. Alternative devices have been employed to stabilize boats in dry dock; those relevant to the present invention, as well as other types of stabilizing devices for use in other areas, are described below.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,124 teaches boat stand assemblies for dry dock maintenance or storage of boats with and without keels including two or more rigid frames of adjustable width, each including a pair of struts of adjustable height, the frames being connectable by cross braces to provide a complete stand and further including a keel stand assembly similarly constructed of height and spacing adjustable struts.
U.S. Pat. No. RE 33,930 teaches systems provided to support marine craft comprising a plurality of support apparatus. Each support apparatus is comprised of a surface for contact with the marine craft, an extension member which is fastened at one end to a base and connected pivotably at its other end to the surface, and the base. The base provides means for fixedly engaging and retaining the extension member at a given orientation. The base is attached to the extension member at its end remote from the end which is connected to the surface. In addition, the base provides means for adjustably connecting the base to adjacent bases, which in turn engage adjacent extension members. The plurality of support apparatus are arranged such that a marine craft which contacts the surfaces of the support device is supported in a stationary position.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,756,642 teaches a system for storage and shipping of boats availing of a series of adjustable support units which are connected by flexible elements to each other to prevent lateral and longitudinal movement of the boat with respect to its supported location, the support units likewise providing for fastening of a boat to the units by other flexible elements.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,468,150 teaches an adjustable boat cradle for supporting a boat. There is disclosed a rectangular base frame structure with a plurality of adjustable vertical support assemblies strategically located and connected to the base frame structure. Typically said vertical support assemblies extend generally upwardly from at least the corner areas of the base frame structure and includes an upper cradle pad that actually engages a side portion of the boat's hull while the keel of the boat is directly supported by an underlying support. To accommodate hulls of various sizes and shapes, the effective length and angle of orientation of the vertical support assemblies can be conveniently adjusted. In addition, the cradle pads are universally mounted about the vertical support assemblies such that they will rest adjacent the hull irrespective of the orientation of the support structure comprising the respective vertical support assemblies.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,253,699 teaches a watercraft beaching device that includes one or more collapsible upright supports which hold a pair cushioned hull engagement surfaces in spaced apart relationship. Advantageously, hull engagement surfaces are elongated to engage more than a single point or area along on side of the hull of watercraft to prevent watercraft from pivoting about the mooring point on the shoreline. Additionally, supports are configured to hold hull engagement surfaces a sufficient distance above the shoreline to insure that the hull does not come into contact with the aforementioned abrasive agents or shoreline.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,439,543 teaches a leveling device for a recreational vehicle, including a plurality of supports each having a bottom wall, a top wall and a peripheral wall that extends between the top and bottom walls. Each of the bottom walls has a generally rectangular shape. Each of the front walls is angled outward and downward from the top walls to the bottom walls. The supports is stacked on each other with the back walls generally aligned and the bottom walls abutting the top walls such that an upper most support and a lower most support is defined. Each of the bottom walls has a size and shape generally equal to an abutting top wall such that the front walls define a ramp. A selected number of the supports are stacked such that a desired height is achieved. The tire is positioned on the supports such that the recreational vehicle is vertically supported.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,198,000 teaches a hydrofoil craft that includes a hull having a longitudinal axis, a pylori secured to and extending beneath the hull and a lifting foil secured to the pylori. The lifting foil has an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper surface of the lifting foil is substantially planar and the lower surface of the lifting foil is not coplanar with the upper lifting surface. The lifting foil has a fore portion and an aft portion that are traversed by a longitudinal axis and wherein the longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hull and the thickness of the foil is greater at the aft portion than at the fore portion.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,334,598 teaches an apparatus for supporting low-ground-clearance vehicles, such as fork lift trucks or airport maintenance vehicles during servicing. End and side panels, welded together to form a frusto-pyramid, are surmounted by a dished wheel-receiving platform, for supporting a truck etc wheel. The units are wide open underneath, for stacking. Hand holes in the end panels allow the units to be manhandled and stacked. A cross-brace under the platform strengthens the structure, and holds the stacked units apart.
US Publication No. 2005/0211868 teaches a modular support system for supporting structures and other loads in buildings, including, three or more support members, three or more load transferring elements configured to couple to one end of the three or more support members to form a support surface, and three or more coupling structures configured to couple to the opposite end of the three or more support members, wherein the system is configured to distribute a supported load about the three or more support members and three or more coupling structures.
International Publication No. WO/2000/047829 teaches an interlocking segmental retaining wall for landscaping and construction use. The wall includes a plurality of blocks stacked upon each other. Each block includes a void filled with aggregate. In addition, each block includes an extension and slot for interlocking the blocks together to form the retaining wall. Each block also includes a plurality of lugs and an indentation for aligning and stacking the blocks on each other. The blocks may also be stacked to form a curved retaining wall. In an alternate embodiment, the blocks may have tabs located on an upper portion of each block. Each block is laterally positioned by centering the block upon the top of two lower blocks.
International Publication No. WO/2000/070154 teaches a meshing type stack block that can be used to construct retaining walls and other structures and laid structures, and a device for producing the same. A meshing type stack block and a device for producing gradient-compatible meshing type stack blocks, wherein a retaining wall can be constructed, even if the operator is not skilled, in a short time simply by a stacking operation once a foundation base for the retaining wall has been constructed, and there is no need for in-site work, including the placing of mixer concrete for wedge blocks, the placing of concrete at corners of a retaining wall, and the filling of joints, nor is the need for a professional worker, and wherein when a structure, such as a retaining wall, or a laid structure becomes unnecessary, it can be reused by disassembling the blocks.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,546,686 teaches a stabilization system that includes a foundation platform that supports a pier, with the pier in turn supporting the joists of a premanufactured building structure. Cleat walls at the edges of the central body portion of the foundation platform extend into the ground. Struts are sloped upwardly from the foundation platform for connection to an adjacent joist. The weight of the building structure and the cleat walls prevent the foundation platform from horizontal movement. Thus, horizontal movement of the building structure is resisted without the application of horizontal forces to the pier.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,290,124, RE33,930, 4,756,642, and 4,468,150 present cradles for boat storage; U.S. Pat. No. 6,253,699 presents a beaching device, U.S. Pat. No. 7,198,000 relates to hydrofoils, and the other patents cited above are stabilizing devices for vehicles or construction.
None of the aforementioned prior art references teach the features of the present invention. The present invention is lightweight, stackable, and provides an optional contact extension that is made from a non-abrasive material and is deformable, thereby protecting the boat hull from scratches. The stackable aspect makes height adjustment quick and easy, as does the availability of different sizes of the device. Different sizes of the device make it suitable for different hull shapes, or even for different spots on the hull.
Another advantage of the present invention is that, unlike a cradle, each support operates independently, making them much easier to use and adjust when settling a boat onto them, or when placing them on the sides of the hull. The operator is not limited to the number of support points dictated by the cradle, and one can also easily add support without having to adjust a frame. Thus, one can customize the support of one's boat in the yard quickly, easily, and efficiently. In addition, the modular boat support of the present invention takes up less space in the boatyard than many available cradles, either when in use or when in storage. It is also easily adaptable to any size boat or hull shape.
The present invention is more aesthetically pleasing than cinder blocks or other supports, and the appearance can be customized to the owner's taste. For instance, a boat owner may paint the modular boat support to match his boat, may custom order a color or design for the boat support body, or even have his name or the boat's name painted or printed on the support, thus making it easy to identify his supports in a warehouse or yard full of the same. It is also more readily disposable than other types of supports, and individual units or components can be replaced or disposed of without disposing of the entire modular boat support.
Preferred embodiments of this invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will be described in more detail herein below.
The invention is an article of manufacture, comprising a modular body having a top end and a bottom end, with a bottom opening disposed at said bottom end; an interconnect assembly disposed on the top end of the modular body; and a contact extension disposed on the interconnect assembly.
The invention solves the problem of supporting a boat on dry land. The invention consists of a modular boat support with an interconnect assembly and an optional contact extension. The support can be used individually on a certain point on a boat, or multiple supports may be used by stacking them together to achieve a desired height. The advantage of the invention is the ease of storage, transport, and customization to a particular boat, as well as the aesthetics compared to current methods, and the protection to the boat hull provided by the contact extension.
Although this invention was designed primarily for use with boats, it lends itself to use with many other structures that may require support. For instance, including but not limited to, blocking a wall or other building component during construction, supporting automobiles during maintenance or manufacture, supporting ramps for boats or trucks, and supporting heavy furniture.
It is an object of the invention to support a boat on dry land.
It is an object of the invention to provide modular boat supports that can be stacked together, and can be used along the port and starboard sides and the hull of a boat in any number required to support the boat.
It is an object of the invention to provide an easily customizable method for supporting a wide range of boat types.
It is an object of the invention to provide a boat support system that is lightweight but strong.
It is an object of the invention to provide a boat support that is easy to store and transport.
It is an object of the invention to provide a boat support that is aesthetically pleasing.
It is an object of the invention to provide a boat support that is easily disposable.
It is an object of the invention to provide support for any object or structure with which it is compatible.
The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to
The invention is a modular boat support comprised of three parts: the modular body, an interconnect assembly disposed on the top end of the modular body, and an optional contact extension disposed on the top of the interconnect assembly. Although the figures all show a cone shape for the invention, this is for illustrative purposes only and any desired shape may be used for the modular boat support.
The modular boat support body, interconnect assembly, reinforcement structure, and contact extension may be made from any material, including but not limited to: plastics and resins including but not limited to ABS, Polycarbonate, Noryl™, PVC, Polystryrene, ABS/PVC, PVC/Acrylic, Polysulfone, Acrylic, Polyethylene, Kydex™, PETG; glass, including but not limited to fiberglass, borosilicate, or quartz; wood; metals, including but not limited to iron, tin, aluminum, copper; rubbers including but not limited to natural rubber, SBR, Isoprene rubber, Butadiene rubber, and Chloroprene rubber; or any combinations or composites of these materials or other materials and new materials that may be manufactured in the future. Carbon foam, available from Touchstone Research Laboratory, Millennium Centre, Triadelphia, W. Va. 26059 is an especially preferred material. The parts to the modular boat support may be manufactured from identical or different components, and the body of the modular boat support may be manufactured using differing components in different parts.
The reinforcement structure 270 may be molded as one piece or separate pieces, may be molded integrally with the support modular body 200 or molded as a piece or pieces separate from the body, and if a separate piece or pieces, it may be custom fitted to a modular body 200 or may be interchangeable between different sizes or shapes of modular bodies 200, to allow for maximum flexibility in its storage, transport, and use.
When two modular boat supports are stacked together, the bottom boat support 510 serves as the male and fits flush inside the top boat support 520 by contacting the reinforcement structure 270, which is designed to complement the male part of the invention so that a good fit is achieved and stability is maximized. The female component of the modular boat support 100 also gives strength to the entire structure so that it can support a heavy weight.
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This embodiment also demonstrates the modular boat support handles/tethering connectors 296. These handles serve multiple purposes. For instance, one purpose includes but is not limited to carrying handles which serve for easy transportability and moveability of the boat support, even when loaded. Further, these handles serve as tethering devices, which may, for instance, hold the boat supports in place while in use or in storage. The handles may be constructed of any of the materials described herein, and may be rigid or flexible in nature. Non-limiting examples of substances from which to manufacture the handles/tethering devices include plastics, rubbers, nylons, metals, wood, and rope.
Further, the handles may be located anywhere on the boat support. Non-limiting examples include attachment on or to the modular body external wall 250 or the modular boat support external wall rib 297. Attachment may be externally or may be achieved via any means, including perforating the modular body external wall or other attachment site on the boat support 100. Other means of attachment include but are not limited to adherence via heat fusing, gluing, chemical adherence, welded, screws, fastened with clips or wires, and riveted. In addition, the attachment of the handles/tethering devices may be permanent or removable. The handles may be flush or retractable. They may also be integral with the boat support. The external body wall may be fitted with one or more attachments anywhere on the body wall for placement of one or more handles or tethering connectors.
Modular boat support external wall ribs 297 is a non-limiting example one of the numerous shapes which the modular boat support 100 may take. This embodiment has ribs provides unique support and weight distribution for the boat or heavy object being supported, and aids in the stackability of that modular boat support 100.
Although not illustrated in the drawings, the modular boat supports could be fastened together using a wide variety of means, including but not limited to wiring, hooking, welding, gluing, tying, screwing or otherwise fastening them together. The modular boat supports could be molded in such a way that they interlock, such as, but not limited to, by twisting them into a locked position.
The modular boat supports could also be configured so that it could be anchored or staked to the ground, or an intermediate platform resting on the ground such as wood, plywood, concrete, etc.
Both modular boat supports 510 and 520 are illustrated with modular body 200 which has a top end 210, a bottom end 220, a body opening 230, a shoulder 240, and an external wall 250. The internal wall 260 can be seen in the top modular boat support 520.
When two modular boat supports are stacked together, the bottom boat support 510 serves as the male and fits flush inside the top boat support 520. The external wall ribs 297 contact and nest inside each other so that a good fit is achieved and stability is maximized.
Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of illustration and that numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.
This application claims the priority of U.S. Ser. No. 61/005,035 filed on Nov. 30, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61005035 | Nov 2007 | US |
