Free-Floating Watercraft Lift

Abstract

A free-floating watercraft lift includes a plurality of pairs of tanks each having a first tank and a second tank, a plurality of lower frame assemblies, first and second upper frame assemblies, and a control system comprising at least one blower for selectively providing air to each of the first and second tanks of the plurality of pairs of tanks. The first and second tanks of each pair of tanks are laterally spaced-apart and facing one another. Each one of the lower frame assemblies connects the first tank and the second tank of a separate one of the pairs of tanks The first upper frame assembly connects each of the first tanks of the plurality of pairs of tanks and the second upper frame assembly connects each of the second tanks of the plurality of pairs of tanks.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A free-floating watercraft lift comprising, in combination:
 a plurality of pairs of tanks each having a first tank and a second tank, wherein the first and second tanks of each pair of tanks are laterally spaced-apart and facing one another;   a plurality of lower frame assemblies, each one of the lower frame assemblies connecting the first tank and the second tank of a separate one of the pairs of tanks;   first and second upper frame assemblies, the first upper frame assembly connecting each of the first tanks of the plurality of pairs of tanks and the second upper frame assembly connecting each of the second tanks of the plurality of pairs of tanks; and   a control system comprising at least one blower for selectively providing air to each of the first and second tanks of the plurality of pairs of tanks.   
     
     
         2 . The free-floating watercraft lift according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of horizontal and laterally spaced-apart bunks supported by each of the plurality of lower frame assemblies. 
     
     
         3 . The free-floating watercraft lift according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the lower frame assemblies include a first tank frame secured to the first tank and a second tank frame secured to the second tank, and a pair of horizontal and spaced-apart bunk arms each extending between the first tank frame and the second tank frame. 
     
     
         4 . The free-floating watercraft lift according to  claim 3 , wherein each of the bunk bars is clamped to each of the first and second tank frames by at least one clamp assembly so that a lateral distance between the first and second tanks is adjustable. 
     
     
         5 . The free-floating watercraft lift according to  claim 3 , further comprising a pair of spaced-part bunk brackets secured to each of the bunk arms, and a pair of horizontal and laterally spaced-apart bunks supported by the bunk brackets. 
     
     
         6 . The free-floating watercraft lift according to  claim 5 , wherein the bunk brackets are each secured to the bunk arms with a pin and spring clip, the pin extending through a selected one of a plurality of spaced-apart openings along the bunk arms so that the lateral spacing of the bunk brackets is adjustable. 
     
     
         7 . The free-floating watercraft lift according to  claim 3 ,wherein each of the first and second tank frames includes two first frame members and one second frame member, the first frame members are horizontal, laterally extending, and secured to a separate end of the tank, and the second frame member is horizontal and extending between the two first frame members at an inner side of the tank. 
     
     
         8 . The free-floating watercraft lift according, to  claim 3 , wherein each of the bunk bars are received in one of the first frame members of each of the first and second tank frames in a telescoping manner. 
     
     
         9 . The free-floating watercraft lift according to  claim 3 , wherein each of the bunk bars is clamped to one of the first frame members of each of the first and second tank frames h at least one clamp assembly so that a lateral distance between the first and second tanks is adjustable. 
     
     
         10 . The free-floating watercraft lift according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one clamp assembly is secured to the first frame member with a pin and spring clip, the pin extending through a selected one of a plurality of spaced-apart openings along the first frame member. 
     
     
         11 . The free-floating watercraft lift according to  claim 1 , wherein the first upper frame assembly includes a pair of horizontal and laterally spaced-apart elongate first beams extending across and secured to each of the first tanks, and the second upper frame assembly includes a pair of horizontal and laterally spaced-apart elongate second beams extending across and secured to each of the second tanks. 
     
     
         12 . The free-floating watercraft lift according to  claim 11 , wherein the first beams extend across a top of each of the first tanks, and the second beams extend across a top of each of the second tanks. 
     
     
         13 . The free-floating watercraft lift according to  claim 11 , wherein the first upper frame assembly further includes at least one first walkway plank secured to the first beams to form a walkway over each of the first tanks, and the second upper frame assembly further includes at least one second walkway plank secured to the second beams to form a walkway over each of the second tanks. 
     
     
         14 . The free-floating watercraft lift according to  claim 13 , wherein the at least one first walkway plank is secured to the first beams by a plurality of horizontal and laterally-extending bushings inwardly extending from each of the first beams and a plurality of brackets secured to the at least one first plank and having horizontally-extending slots open at one end with the bushings therein to limit movement of the at least one first walkway plank relative to the first beams in each direction except a horizontal and longitudinal direction, and the at least one second walkway plank is secured to the second beams by a plurality of horizontal and laterally-extending bushings inwardly extending from each of the second beams and a plurality of brackets secured to the at least one second plank and having horizontally-extending slots open at one end with the bushings therein to limit movement of the at least one second walkway plank relative to the second beams in each direction except a horizontal and longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         15 . The free-floating watercraft lift according to  claim 14 , wherein there is a plurality of the first walkway planks, and there is a plurality of the second walkway planks. 
     
     
         16 . The free-floating watercraft lift according to  claim 1 , wherein there are two of the pairs of tanks. 
     
     
         17 . The free-floating watercraft lift according to  claim 1 , wherein there are at least three of the pairs of tanks. 
     
     
         18 . The free-floating watercraft lift according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second tanks are generally L shaped such that a height of the laterally outward side is greater than the height of the laterally inward side. 
     
     
         19 . The free-floating watercraft lift according to  claim 18 , wherein each of the first and second tanks includes a generally flat and horizontal top support surface along a laterally outward side that is upward facing to provide a support for one of the first and second upper frame assemblies, and generally flat and horizontal lower support surfaces along forward and rearward sides that are upward facing to provide support for the plurality of lower frame assemblies, and wherein the lower support surfaces are located between a top and a bottom of the first and second tanks. 
     
     
         20 . A free-floating watercraft lift comprising, in combination:
 a plurality of pairs of tanks each having a first tank and a second tank, wherein the first and second tanks of each pair of tanks are laterally spaced-apart and facing one another;   wherein each of the first and second tanks are generally L shaped such that a height of the laterally outward side is greater than the height of the laterally inward side;   a plurality of lower frame assemblies, each one of the lower flame assemblies connecting the first tank and the second tank of a separate one of the pairs of tanks;   wherein each of the lower frame assemblies include a first tank frame secured to the first tank and a second tank frame secured to the second tank, and a pair of horizontal and spaced-apart bunk arms each extending between the first tank frame and the second tank frame;   first and second upper frame assemblies, the first upper frame assembly connecting each of the first tanks of the plurality of pairs of tanks and the second upper frame assembly connecting each of the second tanks of the plurality of pairs of tanks;   wherein the first upper frame assembly includes a pair of horizontal and laterally spaced-apart first beams extending across and secured to each of the first tanks, and the second upper frame assembly includes a pair of horizontal and laterally spaced-apart elongate second beams extending across and secured to each of the second tanks;   wherein each of the first and second tanks includes a generally horizontal top support surface along a laterally outward side that is upward facing for the beams of the first and second upper frame assemblies, and horizontal lower support surfaces along forward and rearward sides that are upward facing for the first and second tank frames, and wherein the lower support surfaces are located between a top and a bottom of the first and second tanks; and   a control system comprising at least one blower for selectively providing air to each of the first and second tanks of the plurality of pairs of tanks.