Personal watercraft lift assembly and kit

Abstract

A lift for low profile watercraft is substantially comprised of modular extruded components and minimal or no welded parts. The lift comprises a tower to be mounted to a dock. A winch is mounted on the tower for raising and lowering a carriage assembly engaged with the tower. The carriage assembly is comprised of a pair of forks in the form of a forked v-configuration, the intersection of the two arms retained by a carriage that engages and travels along a channeled track in the tower, transported by a winch-driven cable. Further comprising the carriage assembly and traversing the arms of the fork are two bunk assemblies, each bunk assembly comprising a pivot bar adjustably attached to both carriage forks. Connected to each bunk pivot bar and pivoting therewith is a bunk board, disposed upon which is a bunk for engaging the hull of the watercraft.

1 . A watercraft lift apparatus, comprising:
 a substantially vertical tower;   a carriage assembly; and   a means for lifting and lowering the carriage assembly along the tower, the carriage assembly further comprising:
 an extruded carriage defining at least one carriage channel and being slideably disposed along the tower responsive to the means for lifting and lowering; 
 an extruded fork lock defining at least one ridge configured to slidingly engage the carriage channel; 
 two forks branching out from the fork lock in a substantially horizontal v-configuration 
   a bunk pivot bar having a ridge along its length;   at least one pivoting bunk clip having a channel pivotally engaging the ridge of the bunk pivot bar; and   a bunk bar held by the at least one pivoting bunk clip.   
   
   
       2 . The watercraft lift apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the two forks include at least one bunk assembly including:
 an extruded bunk pivot bar having a ridge along its length;   at least one extruded bunk clip defining a channel configured to pivotally engage the ridge in nested relationship; and   a bunk bar rockingly supported by fixation to the at least one pivoting bunk clip in nested relationship to the ridge.   
   
   
       3 . The watercraft lift apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein at least one fastener is set in the bunk pivot bar restrain movement of the at least one bunk clip along the ridge. 
   
   
       4 . The watercraft lift apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the means for lifting and lowering is selected from a group consisting of a winch and cable, a hydraulically driven piston, and a pneumatically driven. 
   
   
       5 . A bunk assembly comprising:
 an extruded bunk pivot bar having a ridge along its length, the ridge having a generally circular cross-section;   at least one extruded pivoting bunk clip a generally circular channel configured to pivotally engage the ridge of the bunk pivot bar in nested relationship; and   a bunk bar supported by affixed engagement with the at least one pivoting bunk clip.   
   
   
       6 . A kit of components suited to forming a watercraft lift apparatus, comprising
 a tower including:
 an extruded track; 
 a winch disposed generally at a top of the tower; 
 a winch cable; 
   an extruded carriage configurable to be disposed slideably within the tower in rolling engagement with the track, the carriage having at least one channel defined therein in opposed relation to the track;   an extruded fork lock defining at least one ridge configured to nestingly engage at least one channel to restrict movement of the fork lock relative to the carriage in any direction except parallel to the orientation of the channel;   two forks adapted to be received into the fork lock at an aspect generally opposed to the at least one ridge such that, when received in the fork lock, the two forks extend from the fork lock in a v-configuration.   
   
   
       7 . The kit of  claim 6 , further including a fastener that when inserted into the carriage prevents movement of the fork lock relative to the carriage when the at least one ridge is nestingly engaged in the at least one channel. 
   
   
       8 . The kit of  claim 6 , wherein the two forks, when received in the fork lock are configured to receive a bunk assembly, the bunk assembly, when assembled, comprising:
 an extruded bunk pivot bar having a ridge along its length, the ridge having a generally circular cross-section;   at least one extruded pivoting bunk clip having a generally circular channel configured to pivotally engaging the ridge of the bunk pivot bar in nested relationship; and   a bunk bar held supported by affixed engagement with the at least one pivoting bunk clip.   
   
   
       9 . The kit of  claim 6 , wherein the bunk bar is affixed to the at least one pivoting bunk clip by means of at least one threaded fastener extending through and bearing on the bunk clip. 
   
   
       10 . The kit of  claim 6 , wherein at least one fastener is set in the bunk pivot bar to restrain movement of the at least one bunk clip along the ridge 
   
   
       11 . The bunk assembly of  claim 5  wherein the bunk bar is affixed to the at least one pivoting bunk clip by means of at least one threaded fastener extending through and bearing on the bunk clip. 
   
   
       12 . The bunk assembly of  claim 5  wherein at least one fastener is set in the bunk pivot bar to restrain movement of the at least one bunk clip along the ridge. 
   
   
       13 . The watercraft lift of  claim 1 , further comprising a carriage fastener that when inserted into the carriage prevents movement of the fork lock relative to the carriage when the at least one ridge is nestingly engaged in the at least one channel.