Flotation mat extension, retraction and storage apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus configured to extend onto and retract from a body of water a flotation mat. The apparatus includes first and second spaced apart support members such that both support members include an upper and a lower end. The spaced apart support members are secured to a boat dock by mounting hardware. First and second vertically slidable members are slidably mounted to the first and second spaced apart support members. The apparatus also includes a rotatable shaft that extends between the upper ends of the first and second slidable members. A sprocket assembly is mounted to one of the ends of the rotatable shaft to facilitate either manual or powered rotation of the shaft for purposes of extending or retracting the mat onto or off the body of water.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A flotation mat storage assembly configured to extend onto and retract from a body of water a flotation mat with a first laterally extending edge, said assembly comprising:
 first and second spaced apart support members, both support members including an upper and a lower end, the first and second spaced apart support members secured to a boat dock;   a connecting member extending between the first and second spaced apart support members proximate the lower end of the support members;   first and second slidable members mounted to the first and second spaced apart support members, wherein the first and second slidable members further each comprise longitudinally opposed upper and lower ends and are translatable between the upper and lower ends of the first and second spaced apart support members;   (i) a rotatable shaft with a first and second end, the rotatable shaft extending between the upper ends of the first and second slidable members;   (ii) a bracing member extending between the lower ends of the first and second slidable members; and   a first rotation member mounted to the first end of the rotatable shaft for rotation of the shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The flotation mat storage assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the laterally extending edge of the mat is compressed between a first and second plate. 
     
     
         3 . The flotation mat storage assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the rotatable shaft comprises at least one longitudinally extending flat. 
     
     
         4 . The flotation mat storage assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second plates and the laterally extending edge of the mat compressed therebetween are mounted to the longitudinally extending flat of the rotatable shaft with fasteners. 
     
     
         5 . The flotation mat storage assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least two slider bearings are mounted to each of the slidable members to facilitate translation of the slidable members along the first and second spaced apart support members. 
     
     
         6 . The flotation mat storage assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first rotation member is a sprocket. 
     
     
         7 . The flotation mat storage assembly of  claim 6 , wherein a drive chain connects the first rotation member to a second rotation member rotatably mounted to the first slidable member. 
     
     
         8 . The flotation mat storage assembly of  claim 7 , wherein a crank handle is mounted to the second rotation member for manual rotation of the rotatable shaft. 
     
     
         9 . The flotation mat storage assembly of  claim 7 , wherein a drive motor is operable to rotate the second rotation member for powered rotation of the rotatable shaft. 
     
     
         10 . The flotation mat storage assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least two mat spool prevention rails are secured to the bracing member to facilitate even extension and retraction of the flotation mat. 
     
     
         11 . The flotation mat storage assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two mat spool prevention rails are fabricated from high density polyethylene (HDPE). 
     
     
         12 . The flotation mat storage assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least two roller guides are disposed atop the bracing member to lessen frictional resistance of the mat rubbing against the bracing member during extension and retraction of the mat. 
     
     
         13 . The flotation mat storage assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least two biased belt barriers are mounted to the bracing member, the belt barriers operable to flexibly secure the flotation mat when the mat is in a fully retracted position. 
     
     
         14 . The flotation mat storage assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second ends of the rotatable shaft are secured in position with spring loaded sliding pins. 
     
     
         15 . The flotation mat storage assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a bracket is secured to each of the first and second spaced apart support members for securing the assembly to a dock with at least one fastener. 
     
     
         16 . A flotation mat storage apparatus configured to extend onto and retract from a body of water a flotation mat with a first laterally extending edge, said apparatus comprising:
 first and second spaced apart support members, both support members including an upper and a lower end, the first and second spaced apart support members secured to a boat dock;   a connecting member extending between the first and second spaced apart support members proximate the lower end of the support members;   first and second slidable members mounted to the first and second spaced apart support members, wherein the first and second slidable members further each comprise longitudinally opposed upper and lower ends;   (i) a rotatable shaft with a first and second end, the rotatable shaft extending between the upper ends of the first and second slidable members;   (ii) a bracing member extending between the lower ends of the first and second slidable members;   a first rotation member mounted to the first end of the rotatable shaft for rotation of the shaft; and   at least one lift-assist member with a first end and a second end, the first end of the at least one lift-assist member mounted to at least one of (i) the bracing member, (ii) the first support member, or (iii) the second support member, wherein the lift-assist member aids in the raising and lowering of the first and second slidable members and rotatable shaft when supporting the weight of the flotation mat.   
     
     
         17 . The flotation mat storage assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one lift assist member is a gas strut. 
     
     
         18 . A flotation mat storage apparatus configured to extend onto and retract from a body of water a flotation mat with a first laterally extending edge, said apparatus comprising:
 first and second spaced apart support members, both support members including an upper and a lower end, the first and second spaced apart support members secured to a boat dock;   a connecting member extending between the first and second spaced apart support members proximate the lower end of the support members;   first and second slidable members mounted to the first and second spaced apart support members, wherein the first and second slidable members further each comprise longitudinally opposed upper and lower ends;   at least two slider bearings mounted to each of the slidable members to facilitate translation of the slidable members along the first and second spaced apart support members;   (i) a rotatable shaft with a first and second end, the rotatable shaft extending between the upper ends of the first and second slidable members;   (ii) a bracing member extending between the lower ends of the first and second slidable members;   at least two roller guides disposed atop the bracing member to lessen frictional resistance of the mat rubbing against the bracing member during extension and retraction of the mat;   at least two mat spool prevention rails each with a first and a second end, the first end of each mat spool prevention rail secured to the bracing member to facilitate even extension and retraction of the flotation mat;   a first rotation member mounted to the first end of the rotatable shaft for rotation of the shaft;   a drive chain connecting the first rotation member to a second rotation member rotatably mounted to the first slidable member;   a drive motor operable to rotate the second rotation member for powered rotation of the rotatable shaft; and   at least one lift-assist member with a first end and a second end, the first end of the at least one lift-assist member mounted to at least one of (i) the bracing member, (ii) the first support member, or (iii) the second support member, wherein the lift-assist member aids in the raising and lowering of the first and second slidable members and rotatable shaft when supporting the weight of the flotation mat.   
     
     
         19 . The flotation mat storage assembly of  claim 18 , wherein at least one flexible belt barrier casing is mounted to the bracing member, 
     
     
         20 . The flotation mat storage assembly of  claim 19 , wherein a belt barrier strap is biasedly retained within the belt barrier casing. 
     
     
         21 . The flotation mat storage assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the belt barrier strap comprises a first end and a second end secured to the belt barrier casing. 
     
     
         22 . The flotation mat storage assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the first end of the belt barrier strap is secured to the rotatable shaft during retraction of the flotation mat from the body of water. 
     
     
         23 . The flotation mat storage assembly of  claim 22 , wherein when fully retracted from the body of water the flotation mat is internally spirally wrapped by the belt barrier strap. 
     
     
         24 . A flotation mat storage apparatus configured to extend onto and retract from a body of water a flotation mat with a laterally extending edge, said apparatus comprising:
 first and second rigid members for attachment to the underside of deck support cross-members of a watercraft, each rigid member comprising first and second longitudinally opposed ends;   first and second spaced-apart support members each with an upper and a lower end, the lower ends of the first and second spaced apart support members pivotally secured respectively to the second ends of the at least two rigid members;   a first and second lift-assist member each with a first end and a second end, wherein the first ends of the lift-assist members are mounted respectively proximate to the second ends of the first and second spaced-apart rigid members and the second ends of the lift-assist members are mounted respectively proximate to the first ends of the first and second spaced-apart support members, wherein the lift-assist members aid in the raising and lowering of the first and second spaced-apart support members when supporting the weight of the flotation mat;   a connecting member extending between the first and second spaced-apart support members proximate a mid-point of the support members;   a rotatable shaft with a first and second end, the rotatable shaft disposed between the upper ends of the first and second spaced-apart support members; and   a first rotation member mounted to the first end of the rotatable shaft for rotation of the shaft.   
     
     
         25 . The flotation mat storage apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the laterally extending edge of the mat is compressed between a first and second plate. 
     
     
         26 . The flotation mat storage apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the rotatable shaft comprises at least one longitudinally extending flat. 
     
     
         27 . The flotation mat storage apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the first and second plates and the laterally extending edge of the mat compressed therebetween are mounted to the longitudinally extending flat of the rotatable shaft with fasteners. 
     
     
         28 . A flotation mat storage apparatus configured to extend onto and retract from a body of water a flotation mat with a laterally extending edge, said apparatus comprising:
 first and second spaced-apart support members, both support members comprising an upper and a lower end, wherein an axle member is secured to the lower end of each of the first and second spaced-apart support members;   a connecting member extending between the first and second spaced apart support members proximate the lower end of the support members;   a rotatable shaft with a first and second end, the first and second ends mounted to the upper ends of the first and second spaced-apart support members; and   a first rotation member mounted to the first end of the rotatable shaft for rotation of the shaft.   
     
     
         29 . The flotation mat storage apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the axle members are substantially orthogonally disposed to the first and second spaced-apart support members. 
     
     
         30 . The flotation mat storage apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the axle members comprise longitudinally opposed first and second ends. 
     
     
         31 . The flotation mat storage apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein a wheel is rotatably mounted to the first and second ends of each of the axle members. 
     
     
         32 . The flotation mat storage apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the laterally extending edge of the mat is compressed between a first and second plate. 
     
     
         33 . The flotation mat storage apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the rotatable shaft comprises at least one longitudinally extending flat. 
     
     
         34 . The flotation mat storage apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the first and second plates and the laterally extending edge of the mat compressed therebetween are mounted to the longitudinally extending flat of the rotatable shaft with fasteners. 
     
     
         35 . The flotation mat storage apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein at least one of (i) a hand crank, or (ii) a motor rotates the first rotation member for rotating the rotatable shaft during extension and retraction of the mat onto and off the body of water.