Loading and unloading device

Claim 1

A device for the transportation, launching and recovering of boats, said device comprising a wheeled first sub-frame having means at the forward end thereof for affixing a towing hitch, a second sub-frame mounted upon said first sub-frame, said second sub-frame pivotally mounted to said first sub-frame about an axis transverse thereto and located adjacent the rear end thereof, a ramp suitably mounted to said second sub-frame to be extendible and retractable thereof in the direction longitudinally of said wheeled first sub-frame, a wheeled cradle assembly mounted upon said second sub-frame to be mobile thereon and on said ramp when expanded in the direction longitudinal of said wheeled first sub-frame, said cradle adapted to support a boat, whereby moving the cradle rearwardly in use causes said second sub-frame and ramp to pivot with the rearward end of the ramp moving downwardly whereby for launching or recovering a boat from or to said cradle, and moving the cradle forwardly after recovery of a boat causes said second sub-frame and ramp to pivot such that the rearward end of the ramp moves upwardly whereby said second sub-frame sits in transport position on said first sub-frame, a rear portion of said ramp being formed of material of reduced weight and being hinged to the portion forwardly thereof whereby to pivot upwardly but not downwardly in relation to the forward portion about a transverse axis so that, in operation, said rear portion can lie flat on a ground surface with the portion forwardly thereof being in inclined position.

Claim 2

A device for the transportation, launching and recovering of boats, said device comprising a wheeled first sub-frame having means at the forward end thereof for affixing a towing hitch, a second sub-frame mounted upon said first sub-frame, said second sub-frame pivotally mounted to said first sub-frame about an axis transverse thereto and located adjacent the rear end thereof, a ramp suitably mounted to said second sub-frame to be extendible and retractable thereof in the direction longitudinally of said wheeled first sub-frame, a wheeled cradle assembly mounted upon said second sub-frame to be mobile thereon and on said ramp when expanded in the direction longitudinal of said wheeled first sub-frame, said cradle adapted to support a boat, whereby moving the cradle rearwardly in use causes said second sub-frame and ramp to pivot with the rearward end of the ramp moving downwardly whereby for launching or recovering a boat from or to said cradle, and moving the cradle forwardly after recovery of a boat causes said second sub-frame and ramp to pivot such that the rearward end of the ramp moves upwardly whereby said second sub-frame sits in transport position on said first sub-frame, a rear portion of said ramp being formed of material of reduced weight and being hinged to the portion forwardly thereof whereby to pivot upwardly but not downwardly in relation to the forward portion about a transverse axis so that, in operation, said rear portion can lie flat on a ground surface with the portion forwardly thereof being in inclined position.