Boat storage rack

Abstract

A rowing boats storage rack system for rowing boats comprising at least one “L” shaped frame, a moving head beam with a roller assembly, a winch assembly, a winch control, at least one rack arm with a roller assembly, a roller linkage assembly and a safety guard.

1 . A rowing boats storage rack system for rowing boats utilising a “L” shaped frame comprising of two “L” shaped sections joined together with a fixed head beam section and two diagonal brace sections, a winch assembly, which has a winch control, is bolted to the “L” shaped frame head beam; the winch is connected, via a moving chain, to a moving head beam and boat storage arms that move up and down the vertical part of the “L” frame via roller assemblies, the moving head beam has a roller assembly on each end which is connected, at 90 degrees to the roller assembly of the top most arm, each rack arm is then connect to the one below it, via a roller linkage assembly connected to the roller assembly axis axles, the arms are situated above the horizontal part of the “L” frame, a safety Guard is fixed at the base of the “L” shaped frame to stop the arms' roller assembly axles pinching people while moving to the compressed position, while a sensor activated retractable locking pin holds the moving head beam in the uppermost position. 
     
     
         2 . A rowing boats storage rack system where the arrangement allows as per  claim 1  the removal and stowage of any rowing boat within its structure using a side-on placement movement while also allowing for the vertical movement of rowing boats from a safe working height to a height above which a person can safely reach. 
     
     
         3 . A rowing boats storage rack system according to  claim 1 , wherein the “L” shaped frame is a right angle frame with a vertical straight back and horizontal flat based bottom made of a suitable material which is strong, durable and can support the movement of the moving head beam and each roller assembly and rack arm. 
     
     
         4 . A rowing boats storage rack system according to  claim 3 , wherein the bottom of the horizontal flat based bottom of the “L” shaped frame has provided holes on either side to enable the storage rack to be secured to the ground stopping the “L” frame from moving horizontally so the head beam can move vertically without binding against the “L” frame. 
     
     
         5 . A rowing boats storage rack system according to  claim 1 , wherein a safety box is attached to the fixed head beam section to hold in position a sensor and retractable locking pin. 
     
     
         6 . A rowing boats storage rack system according to  claim 1 , wherein the linear centre of the fixed head beam section is provided a pivot bolt to enable the winch motor hook of the winch assembly to be removably attached. 
     
     
         7 . A rowing boats storage rack system according to  claim 1 , wherein equidistance either side of a pivot bolt along the fixed beam head section is provided a fixed brace which angles downwards to fix to the bottom and rear of the “L” shaped frame which stabilises the rack system. 
     
     
         8 . A rowing boats storage rack system according to  claim 6 , wherein the winch assembly's moving chain has a removably attached swivel hook hanging down underneath to removably connect to the centre of the moving head beam. 
     
     
         9 . A rowing boats storage rack system according to  claim 1 , wherein the moving head beam aligns horizontally between the “L” shaped frames and has a bolt fixed at the linear centre of the beam. 
     
     
         10 . A rowing boats storage rack system according to  claim 1 , wherein the moving head beam has fixed a roller assembly at either end of the moving head beam which removably fit around the vertical straight back of the “L” shaped sections within the “L” shaped frame to guide the moving head beam up and down. 
     
     
         11 . A rowing boats storage rack system according to  claim 5 , wherein the moving head beam has fixed vertically upwards a strut and locking plate to removably engage with the retractable locking pin. 
     
     
         12 . A rowing boats storage rack system according to  claim 10 , wherein the roller assembly has fixed parallel metal plates which have corresponding and aligned holes to removably engage with the axis of a front roller and rear roller. 
     
     
         13 . A rowing boats storage rack system according to  claim 12 , wherein the metal plates are aligned at an angle upwards from the end of the moving head beam to hold the front roller and rear roller in position around the vertical straight back of the “L” shaped sections within the “L” shaped frame. 
     
     
         14 . A rowing boats storage rack system according to  claim 13 , wherein the metal plate has removably attached an adjustable length turnbuckle to removably connect to the topmost rack arm. 
     
     
         15 . A rowing boats storage rack system according to  claim 14 , wherein the adjustable length turnbuckle has provided an adjustable hook and adjustable eyelet at either end. 
     
     
         16 . A rowing boats storage rack system according to  claim 1 , wherein the top side of the horizontal flat based bottom of the “L” shaped frame is provided with fixed rollers that removably engage with the inside of an inverted “U” channel. 
     
     
         17 . A rowing boats storage rack system according to  claim 16 , wherein the inverted “U” channel can be manually moved forwards and backwards by a user along the bottom of the “L” shaped frame to retrieve and store a rowing boat. 
     
     
         18 . A rowing boats storage rack system according to  claim 1 , wherein the winch assembly has connected a winch control that enables the user to move the moving head beam and connected roller assembly and rack arm up or down with or without rowing boats 
     
     
         19 . A rowing boats storage rack system according to  claim 1 , wherein the winch control has at least one switch which is adapted to activate and de-activate one or more features of the winch assembly, sensor and retractable locking pin. 
     
     
         20 . A rowing boats storage rack system according to  claim 19 , wherein the winch control has provided a physical key lock-out mechanism for the user to hold the moving head beam and connected roller assembly and rack arm at any particular height. 
     
     
         21 . A rowing boats storage rack system according to  claim 1 , wherein the safety guard is preferably made of a rigid and strong sheet material which is fixed at the rear bottom of the of the “L” shaped frame to provide protection from pinching injuries between the user and the moving parts of the boat storage rack. 
     
     
         22 . A rowing boats storage rack system according to  claim 1 , wherein the rack arm is made of a metal tube like material or any other suitably strong material which is welded or attached at the rear to a roller assembly. 
     
     
         23 . A rowing boats storage rack system according to  claim 22 , wherein the rack arm is provided with anti-wear material attached on rack arm's the top surface to minimise abrasion between the rack arm and a rowing boat. 
     
     
         24 . A rowing boats storage rack system according to  claim 22 , wherein the roller assembly has fixed parallel metal plates which have corresponding and aligned holes to removably engage with the axis of a front roller and rear roller. 
     
     
         25 . A rowing boats storage rack system according to  claim 24 , wherein the metal plates are aligned at an angle upwards from the rear end of the rack arm to hold the front roller and rear roller in position around the vertical straight back of the “L” shaped sections within the “L” shaped frame to roll, vertically, up and down when the winch assembly is activated. 
     
     
         26 . A rowing boats storage rack system according to  claim 1 , wherein the roller linkage assembly has provided a connecting strap with holes at either end which removably engage with the axis of the front roller of a roller assemblies to provide a secure link between each row of rack arms. 
     
     
         27 . A rowing boats storage rack system according to  claim 26 , wherein the connecting strap is provided with varying lengths to accommodate the varying heights of rowing boats.