Floating dock lift

Abstract

A docking type system for lifting boats out of the water for storage and servicing by the provision of a lifting system which elevates both the vessel and the dock above the surface of a body of water. The docking system comprises a plurality of fixed piles, a platform floating between the piles, an upper surface above the body of water and a frame that is capable of supporting the vessel. The platform is located and supported between the piles and is capable of being raised above, and lowered below, the surface of the body of water. The frame and the platform are relatively disposed such that when the frame lifts a vessel above the surface of the body of water it also lifts the platform above the surface of the body of water.

1 . A docking system for lifting a vessel above the surface of a body of water comprising: 
 a plurality of piles fixed to the bed of the body of water;    a platform located, and retained, between at least some of the piles and floating on, and having an upper surface located above the surface of, the body of water;    frame means located between and supported on, the piles and capable of being raised above and lowered below the surface of the body of water and capable of supporting the vessel above the surface of the body of water; and,    the frame and the platform being relatively disposed such that when the frame means lifts vessel above the surface of the body of water it also lifts the platform above the surface of the body of water.    
   
   
       2 . The docking system of  claim 1  wherein the platform comprises at least one floating dock module.  
   
   
       3 . The docking system of  claim 2  wherein the floating dock modules comprised of polyethylene or similar lightweight moldings that, when connected together and placed in water, form a floating platform.  
   
   
       4 . The docking system of  claim 3  wherein the floating dock modules are anchored to the piles by brackets that allow the them to rise and fall with the tide.  
   
   
       5 . The docking system of  claim 4  further comprising a walkway to provide access from a fixed structure such as land or a jetty to the floating platform, the walkway being hinged at the fixed structure end while the other end rests on the floating platform allowing the walkway to follow the movement of the platform.  
   
   
       6 . The docking system of  claim 1  wherein the piles are placed in the shape of a rectangle.  
   
   
       7 . The docking system of  claim 6  wherein the width of the rectangle is greater than the combined width of the vessel to be lifted and the width of the platform.  
   
   
       8 . The docking system of  claim 7  wherein the piles extend above the high water line of the body of water.  
   
   
       9 . The docking system of  claim 1  wherein the frame comprises parallel lifter beams and boat carrier supports attached to the top of, and at right angles, to the lifter beams so that the vessel is supported in its upright position when it is lifted out of the water.  
   
   
       10 . The docking system of  claim 9  wherein lifter beams are attached at each of their ends to cables wound by cable winch motors attached near to, or at the top of, the piles.  
   
   
       11 . The docking system of  claim 10  wherein the cable winch motor is an assembly of an electric motor, cable winch and cable in the one housing.  
   
   
       13 . A docking system for lifting a vessel above the surface of a body of water comprising: 
 a plurality of piles fixed to the bed of the body of water, wherein the piles are placed in the shape of a rectangle, the width of the rectangle is greater than the combined width of the vessel to be lifted and the width of the platform, and the piles extend above the high water line of the body of water;    a platform located, and retained, between at least some of the piles and floating on, and having an upper surface located above the surface of, the body of water, wherein the platform comprises at least one floating dock module, the floating dock modules comprised of polyethylene or similar lightweight moldings that, when connected together and placed in water, form a floating platform, and the floating dock modules are anchored to the piles by brackets that allow the them to rise and fall with the tide;    a walkway to provide access from a fixed structure such as land or a jetty to the floating platform, the walkway being hinged at the fixed structure end while the other end rests on the floating dock allowing the walkway to follow the movement of the platform;    frame means located between and supported on, the piles and capable of being raised above and lowered blow the surface of the body of water and capable of supporting the vessel above the surface of the body of water, wherein the frame comprises parallel lifter beams and boat carrier supports attached to the top of, and at right angles to, the lifter beams so that the vessel is supported in its upright position when it is lifted out of the water, the lifter beams are attached at each of their ends to cables wound by cable winch motors attached near to, or at the top of, the piles, and the cable winch motor is an assembly of an electric motor, cable winch and cable in the one housing; and,    the frame and the platform being relatively disposed such that when the frame means lifts vessel above the surface of the body of water it also lifts the platform above the surface of the body of water.