Boat support floating apparatus and method of use thereof

Abstract

A boat support elevator is presented. The boat support elevator comprises a frame and a plurality of ballasts secured to the frame; each ballast being connected with a tube for managing air volume in each ballast. Also presented a ballast system comprising an air pump, and a plurality of ballasts each secured fluidly connected to the pump through a pressuring port, and comprising a drain port for water to enter and exit the ballasts. According to one aspect, some ballasts are connected to the air pump through a connection to another ballast. Also presented a ballast comprising a top protrusion and a bottom protrusion for minimizing undesired restrained air and water.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A boat support elevator comprising:
 a rigid frame comprising a boat receiving support; and   a plurality of ballasts secured to the rigid frame,   a connection connecting at least two of the plurality of ballasts into a combination of ballasts, with the combination of ballasts being adapted to be fluidly connected to an air-pump system for controlling air volume in each one of the ballasts of the combination of ballasts, wherein control of air volume in the combination of ballasts allows to control both elevation and slope of the combination of ballasts and according of the frame.   
     
     
         2 . The boat support elevator of  claim 1 , further comprising a boat receiving support secured to the frame and adapted to interface with a hull of the boat. 
     
     
         3 . The boat support elevator of  claim 2 , wherein the ballasts are secured to the frame below the boat receiving support. 
     
     
         4 . The boat support elevator of  claim 1 , wherein the frame has a longitudinal orientation and a transversal orientation, and wherein the ballasts of the combination of ballasts are secured to the frame neighbor to each other relative to the longitudinally orientation. 
     
     
         5 . The boat support elevator of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of ballasts comprises at least two ballasts secured to the frame neighbor to each other relative to the transversal orientation. 
     
     
         6 . The boat support elevator of  claim 1 , wherein the ballasts have a top and a bottom, and wherein at least one of the plurality of ballasts comprises a drain port located about the bottom for water to enter and exit the ballast through the drain port. 
     
     
         7 . The boat support elevator of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the plurality of ballasts comprises a pressurizing port located about the top for air to be force in and exit the ballast through the pressurizing port. 
     
     
         8 . The boat support elevator of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of ballasts comprises a connection portion comprising a hole to secure the plurality of ballasts to the frame. 
     
     
         9 . The boat support elevator of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of ballasts comprises a bottom wall and a protruding portion extending below the bottom wall. 
     
     
         10 . The boat support elevator of  claim 9 , wherein the bottom wall is sloped. 
     
     
         11 . The boat support elevator of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of ballasts comprises a top wall and a protruding portion extending above the top wall. 
     
     
         12 . The boat support elevator of  claim 12 , wherein the top wall comprises an inclined portion. 
     
     
         13 . The boat support elevator of  claim 1 , wherein the connection is connected to about the top of a first ballast of the combination of ballasts and to about the bottom of a second ballast of the combination of ballasts, wherein the connection is fluidly connecting the ballasts of the combination of ballasts. 
     
     
         14 . The boat support elevator of  claim 13 , wherein the connection is further connected to about the top of the second ballast and comprising a one-way valve limiting fluid direction through the top connection of the second ballast. 
     
     
         15 . A ballast for an immersible boat support elevator or a dock, comprising:
 at least one vertical wall, a bottom wall and a top wall;   a top protruding portion extending above the top wall; and   a bottom protruding portion extending below the bottom wall,   
       wherein therethrough the ballast defines a room for air and water extending above the top wall and below the bottom wall. 
     
     
         16 . The ballast of  claim 16 , wherein the top protruding portion comprises a pressurizing port located above the top wall for fluid exchange. 
     
     
         17 . The ballast of  claim 16 , wherein the bottom protruding portion comprises a drain port located below the bottom wall for fluid exchange. 
     
     
         18 . A ballast system for an immersible boat support or a dock comprising:
 an air pump,   a plurality of ballasts,   a connection connecting at least two of the plurality of ballasts into a combination of ballasts,   
       wherein the air air-pump system is adapted for controlling air volume in each one of the ballasts of the combination of ballasts, and 
       wherein control of air volume in the combination of ballasts allows to control both elevation and slope of the combination of ballasts. 
     
     
         19 . The ballasts system, wherein the combination of ballasts comprises a first ballast and a second ballast neighboring each other, with the connection fluidly connecting the drain port of the first ballast to a pressurizing port of the second ballast. 
     
     
         20 . The ballast system of  claim 19 , wherein the connection is further connected to about the top of the second ballast and comprising a one-way valve limiting fluid direction through the top connection of the second ballast.