Boat dry docking device

Claim 2

A boat dry docking device comprising: a. an elongated frame adapted to be disposed longitudinally in the boat well of a boat dock, b. means for mounting said frame on said dock for pivotal movement on a horizontal transverse axis at the end thereof remote from the open end of said boat well, c. a boat-supporting cradle mounted on said frame, d. a flotation tank open at its bottom, e. means mounting said flotation tank on said frame beneath the vertically movable end portion thereof, said means being adjustable to move said tank longitudinally along said frame, whereby said device may better accommodate boats of different lengths, and f. an air system operable to selectively deliver air under pressure to, or to exhaust said air frame, said tank whereby to selectively raise the vertically movable end of said frame above, or to lower it below, the level of the water in which said tank is supported.

Claim 3

A device as recited in claim 1 wherein said means mounting said flotation tank on said frame comprises: a. a slide member mounted on said frame for movement longitudinally therealong, said tank being affixed to said slide, and b. means operable to secure said slide immovably on said frame at any pre-determined position.

Claim 4

A boat dry docking device comprising: a. an elongated frame adapted to be disposed longitudinally in the boat well of a boat dock, b. means for mounting said frame on said dock for pivotal movement on a horizontal transverse axis at the end thereof remote from the open end of said boat well, c. a boat-supporting cradle mounted on said frame, d. a flotation tank open at its bottom, e. means mounting said flotation tank on said frame beneath the vertically movable end portion thereof, f. an air system operable to selectively deliver air under pressure to, or to exhaust said air from, said tank whereby to selectively raise the vertically movable end of said frame above, or to lower it below, the level of the water in which said tank is supported, and g. stabilizing means comprising a U-shaped crank having parallel side arms disposed respectively at opposite sides of said frame, within said well, and extending parallel to the plane of vertical movement of said frame, and a connecting rod extending horizontally and transversely beneath said frame, and rigidly interconnecting a pair of corresponding ends of said side arms; means for pivoting the opposite ends of said side arms to said dock on a horizontal transverse axis; and keeper means carried by said frame and engaging said connecting rod whereby to prevent vertical movement of said connecting rod relative to said frame, but to permit movement of said connecting rod longitudinally of said frame.

Claim 5

A boat dry docking device comprising: a. an elongated frame adapted to be disposed longitudinally in the boat well of a boat dock, b. means for mounting said frame on said dock for pivotal movement on a horizontal transverse axis at the end thereof remote from the open end of said boat well, c. a boat-supporting cradle mounted on said frame, d. a flotation tank open at its bottom, e. means mounting said flotation tank on said frame beneath the vertically movable end portion thereof, f. an air system operable to selectively deliver air under pressure to, or to exhaust said air from, said tank whereby to selectively raise the vertically movable end of said frame above, or to lower it below, the level of the water in which said tank is supported, and g. stabilizing means comprising a U-shaped crank having parallel side arms disposed respectively at opposite sides of said frame, within said well, and extending parallel to the plane of vertical movement of said frame, and a connecting rod extending horizontally and transversely beneath said frame, and rigidly interconnecting a pair of corresponding ends of said side arms; means for pivoting the opposite ends of said side arms to said dock on a horizontal transverse axis; and keeper means carried by said frame and engaging said connecting rod whereby to prevent vertical movement of said connecting rod relative to said frame, but to permit movement of said connecting rod longitudinally of said frame.

Claim 6

A device as recited in claim 3 with the addition of anti-sidesway means comprising: a. an elongated rigid strut affixed to the vertically movable end of said frame and extending horizontally and transversely outwardly from the sides thereof to points adjacenT the sides of said boat well, and b. a pair of vertical plates adapted to be affixed to said dock respectively at opposite sides of said well, and to extend below the water level, the ends of said strut engaging snugly but slidably between said plates.

Claim 7

A device as recited in claim 4 wherein said frame mounting means, said stabilizing crank connecting rod and said strut are all adjustable in length transversely of said frame, whereby to render said device adaptable for use in connection with boat docks having boat wells of different widths.

Claim 8

A boat dry docking device comprising: a. a elongated frame adapted to be disposed longitudinally in the boat well of a boat dock, b. means for mounting said frame on said dock for pivotal movement on a horizontal transverse axis at the end thereof remote from the open end of said boat well, c. a boat-supporting cradle mounted on said frame, d. a flotation tank open at its bottom, e. means mounting said flotation tank on said frame beneath the vertically movable end portion thereof, f. an air system operable to selectively deliver air under pressure to, or to exhaust said air from, said tank whereby to selectively raise the vertically movable end of said frame above, or to lower it below, the level of the water in which said tank is supported, and g. latch means operable to secure the vertically movable end of said frame releasably to said dock, whereby to support said frame independently of the buoyancy of said flotation tank.

Claim 9

A boat dry docking device comprising: a. a elongated frame adapted to be disposed longitudinally in the boat well of a boat dock, b. means for mounting said frame on said dock for pivotal movement on a horizontal transverse axis at the end thereof remote from the open end of said boat well, c. a boat-supporting cradle mounted on said frame, d. a flotation tank open at its bottom, e. means mounting said flotation tank on said frame beneath the vertically movable end portion thereof, f. an air system operable to selectively deliver air under pressure to, or to exhaust said air from, said tank whereby to selectively raise the vertically movable end of said frame above, or to lower it below, the level of the water in which said tank is supported, and g. latch means operable to secure the vertically movable end of said frame releasably to said dock, whereby to support said frame independently of the buoyancy of said flotation tank.

Claim 10

A device as recited in claim 4 with the addition of a pair of chains secured to said strut respectively adjacent the opposite ends thereof, said chains being extendable upwardly from said strut and any link of each being releasably but securely engageable in a notch provided therefor in the upper end of the associated plate, whereby to support said frame from said dock independently of said flotation tank.