Jet Ski Lift

Abstract

A jet ski lift ( 100 ) for lifting a jet ski ( 10 ) out of water. The jet ski lift ( 100 ) includes a frame ( 128 ) with angled runners ( 150, 152, 156, 158 ) that permits a platform assembly ( 126 ) to be moved diagonally while maintaining a substantially horizontal orientation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A jet ski lift for lifting a jet ski out of water, the jet ski lift comprising:
 a portable flotation having a leading end, a trailing end and opposed sides from said leading end to said trailing end, said flotation including a horizontal plane through said front end, trailing end and sides, said flotation including a parking bay configured to receive the jet ski therein;   at least one runner fixed to said flotation at an angle relative to the horizontal plane of said flotation;   a platform assembly having an upper surface configured to receive the jet ski thereon, said platform assembly including a portion moveable within at least a portion of said runner; and   a lifting mechanism configured to move at least said upper surface of said platform assembly from a first, submerged position to a second, elevated position out of the water.   
     
     
         2 . The jet ski lift of  claim 1 , wherein said portion of said platform assembly includes a roller configured to rotate along said runner. 
     
     
         3 . The jet ski lift of  claim 1 , wherein said portion of said platform assembly is configured to slide along a portion of said runner while said platform moves from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         4 . The jet ski lift of  claim 1 , wherein said portion of said platform assembly is configured to telescopically engage said runner. 
     
     
         5 . The jet ski lift of  claim 1 , further comprising at least a second runner parallel to said runner. 
     
     
         6 . The jet ski lift of  claim 5 , wherein said runner is attached to one of said sides, said second runner being attached to the other of said sides. 
     
     
         7 . The jet ski lift of  claim 5 , wherein said runner and said second runner are attached to a single side of said flotation. 
     
     
         8 . The jet ski lift of  claim 1 , wherein said runner is fixed to said flotation at an angle between 30 and 60 degrees relative to the horizontal plane of said flotation. 
     
     
         9 . The jet ski lift of  claim 1 , wherein said runner is fixed to said flotation at an angle of approximately 45 degrees relative to the horizontal plane of said flotation. 
     
     
         10 . The jet ski lift of  claim 1 , wherein said platform assembly includes two parallel bars configured to engage the jet ski. 
     
     
         11 . The jet ski lift of  claim 1 , wherein said lifting mechanism includes a wench. 
     
     
         12 . The jet ski lift of  claim 11 , wherein said wench is manually operable. 
     
     
         13 . The jet ski lift of  claim 1 , wherein said lifting mechanism is electrically powered. 
     
     
         14 . The jet ski lift of  claim 13 , wherein said lifting mechanism includes a safety switch configure to shut off said lifting mechanism once a jet ski being lifted on said platform assembly has reached a predetermined position. 
     
     
         15 . The jet ski lift of  claim 13 , wherein said lifting mechanism is powered at least in part by a solar panel. 
     
     
         16 . The jet ski lift of  claim 1 , wherein said upper surface of said platform assembly includes a stop configured to limit forward motion of the jet ski therealong, said lifting mechanism including a cable attachable to the jet ski, said lifting mechanism being configured to wench the jet ski forward to lift the jet ski and said platform assembly to the second position. 
     
     
         17 . The jet ski lift of  claim 1 , wherein said platform assembly includes an attachment point for a cable, said lifting mechanism including a cable having an end attachable to said attachment point for winching said platform assembly to the second position. 
     
     
         18 . The jet ski lift of  claim 1 , wherein said flotation includes a pontoon. 
     
     
         19 . The jet ski lift of  claim 1 , wherein said flotation includes a roof. 
     
     
         20 . The jet ski lift of  claim 1 , wherein said parking bay has a maximum length less than 4 meters. 
     
     
         21 . The jet ski lift of  claim 1 , wherein said parking bay has a maximum width less than 1.5 meters. 
     
     
         22 . A lifting assembly for lifting a jet ski out of water, the lifting assembly comprising:
 a frame including first and second opposed runners, said runners being parallel to one another and being in a fixed, unmovable position relative to one another; and   a platform assembly having an upper surface configured to receive the jet ski thereon, said platform assembly including a first portion moveable within at least a portion of said first runner, said platform assembly including a second portion moveable within at least a portion of said second runner, said platform assembly being diagonally moveable along said frame from a first, submerged lower horizontal position to a second, elevated horizontal position out of the water.   
     
     
         23 . The lifting assembly of  claim 22 , wherein said first and second portions of said platform assembly each include a roller configured to rotate along the respective first and second runners. 
     
     
         24 . The lifting assembly of  claim 22 , wherein said first and second portions of said platform assembly are each configured to slide along a respective portion of said first and second runners while said platform moves from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         25 . The lifting assembly of  claim 22 , wherein said first and second portions of said platform assembly are each configured to telescopically engage the respective first and second runners. 
     
     
         26 . The lifting assembly of  claim 22 , wherein said first and second runners are connected to one another by a brace, said first and second runners being at an angle to said brace. 
     
     
         27 . The lifting assembly of  claim 22 , wherein said platform assembly includes two parallel bars configured to engage the jet ski. 
     
     
         28 . The lifting assembly of  claim 22 , further comprising a lifting mechanism configured to move either the jet ski and/or said platform assembly from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         29 . The lifting assembly of  claim 28 , wherein said lifting mechanism includes a wench. 
     
     
         30 . The lifting assembly of  claim 29 , wherein said wench is manually operable. 
     
     
         31 . The lifting assembly of  claim 28 , wherein said lifting mechanism is electrically powered. 
     
     
         32 . The lifting assembly of  claim 31 , wherein said lifting mechanism includes a safety switch configure to shut off said lifting mechanism once a jet ski being lifted on said platform assembly has reached a predetermined position. 
     
     
         33 . The lifting assembly of  claim 31 , wherein said lifting mechanism is powered at least in part by a solar panel. 
     
     
         34 . A method for lifting a jet ski out of water, the method comprising:
 engaging a jet ski with a platform configured to receive the jet ski, the platform being secured to a structure; and   moving the platform diagonally from a first, submerged position to a second, elevated position out of the water without pivoting the platform relative to the structure.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the platform is moved while maintaining the platform in a substantially horizontal position. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the platform is moveably secured to a frame attached to a docking bay. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the moving of the platform includes sliding the platform along a portion of the frame. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the moving of the platform includes rolling a portion of the platform along a portion of the frame.