Seaplane and dock lift

Claim 2

A watercraft lift mounted in the soil beneath a body of water comprising: (a) A pair of laterally spaced free standing load bearing stanchion members engaging the soil beneath said body of water; (b) a base plate connected to the top of each of said stanchions; (c) a bracket member connected to each of said base plates laterally disposed from said stanchion members and adapted for connection to a stablizing member; (d) a sleeve assembly slidably mounted on each of said stanchion members for travel thereon; (e) a fork member connected to each of said sleeve assemblies and extending laterally from said stanchion members and generally parallel to each other; (f) a platform connected to each of said fork members extending laterally between said stanchions for engaging said watercraft; (g) a lifting member connected to said sleeve assembly; and (h) mechanical multiplying means mounted on said stanchion members and connected to said lifting member for lifting substantially said entire platform above said body of water.

Claim 3

A watercraft lift as described in claim 1 comprising: (a) a pair of docking targets connected to said platform, and (b) a plurality of upright members connected to at least two sides of said platform; and (c) buoyant fender means slidably mounted on each of said upright members for upward free sliding movement.

Claim 4

A watercraft lift as described in claim 1 comprising: (a) power means connected to said mechanical multiplying means.

Claim 5

A watercraft lift as described in claim 1 wherein: (a) said platform includes a pair of parallel fork sleeves; and (b) said fork members are dimensioned and positioned for slidable registration with said fork sleeves.

Claim 6

A watercraft lift as described in claim 1 wherein: (a) said sleeve assemblies include upper and lower roller assemblies mounted for rolling contact on said stanchion members.

Claim 7

A watercraft lift as described in claim 1 comprising: (a) said lifting means is a linked chain; and (b) said mechanical multiplying means is a chain fall.

Claim 8

A watercraft lift as described in claim 6 comprising: (a) a yoke member connected to each of said base plates; (b) said chain falls are pivotally connected to said yoke members; (c) said chain falls include a chain drive power wheel; (d) an adapter member connected to each of said power wheels; and (e) an electric motor operatively connected to each of said adapter members.

Claim 9

A floating dock lift mounted in the soil beneath a body of water comprising: (a) a single stanchion load bearing member driven into the earth or anchored in a foundation; (b) a base plate connected to the top of said stanchion; (c) a bracket member connected to said base plate laterally disposed from said stanchion members and adapted for connection to a stabilizing member; (d) a sleeve assembly slidably mounted on said stanchion member for travel thereon; (e) cross arms connected to said sleeve assembly and extending laterally substantially equidistant on either side of said stanchion; (f) a pair of fork members connected to said cross arms and disposed on opposite sides of said stanchion member; (g) a floating dock providing a platform for the receipt of a watercraft; (h) bracket means mounted on the underside of said dock adapted for cradling said fork members; (i) a lifting member connected to said sleeve assembly; and (j) mechanical multiplying means mounted on said stanchion member and connected to said lifting member for lifting substantially said entire floating dock and watercraft above said body of water.

Claim 10

A floating dock lift mounted in the soil beneath a body of water comprising: (a) a single stanchion load bearing member driven into the earth or anchored in a foundation; (b) a base plate connected to the top of said stanchion; (c) a bracket member connected to said base plate laterally disposed from said stanchion members and adapted for connection to a stabilizing member; (d) a sleeve assembly slidably mounted on said stanchion member for travel thereon; (e) cross arms connected to said sleeve assembly and extending laterally substantially equidistant on either side of said stanchion; (f) a pair of fork members connected to said cross arms and disposed on opposite sides of said stanchion member; (g) a floating dock providing a platform for the receipt of a watercraft; (h) bracket means mounted on the underside of said dock adapted for cradling said fork members; (i) a lifting member connected to said sleeve assembly; and (j) mechanical multiplying means mounted on said stanchion member and connected to said lifting member for lifting substantially said entire floating dock and watercraft above said body of water.

Claim 11

A floating dock lift as described in claim 8 comprising: (a) a pair of guide posts connected to said cross arms on opposite sides of said stanchion member; (b) slip rings mounted on said dock for sliding registration with said guide posts; (c) buoyant means mounted on said dock; and (d) each of said bracket means on said dock is constructed with an open channel to permit said forks to move below said dock and to permit said dock to float free of said forks and be held laterally only by said guide posts and slip rings.

Claim 12

A floating dock lift as described in claim 8 comprising: (a) said lifting means is a linked chain; and (b) said mechanical multiplying means is a chain fall.

Claim 13

A floating dock lift as described in claim 10 comprising: (a) a yoke member connected to said base plate; (b) said chain fall is pivotally connected to said yoke member; (c) said chain fall includes a chain drive power wheel; (d) an adapter member connected to said power wheel; and (e) an electric motor operatively connected to said adapter member.

Claim 14

A non-floating platform lift comprising: (a) a single stanchion load bearing member mounted in soil beneath a body of water; (b) a base plate connected to the top of said stanchion; (c) a bracket member connected to said base plate laterally disposed from said stanchion member and adapted for connection to a stabilizing member; (d) a sleeve assembly slidably mounted on said stanchion member or travel thereon; (e) a crossarm connected to said sleeve assembly and extending laterally substantially equidistant on either side of said stanchion; (f) fork member connected to said cross arm and disposed on opposite sides of said stanchion member; (g) a non-floating platform mounted on said forks adapted for lifting the hull of a watercraft; (h) a lifting member connected to said sleeve assembly; and (i) mechanical multiplying means mounted on said stanchion member and connected to said lifting member for lifting substantially said entire non-floating platform and watercraft above said body of water.

Claim 15

A non-floating platform lift comprising: (a) a single stanchion load bearing member mounted in soil beneath a body of water; (b) a base plate connected to the top of said stanchion; (c) a bracket member connected to said base plate laterally disposed from said stanchion member and adapted for connection to a stabilizing member; (d) a sleeve assembly slidably mounted on said stanchion member or travel thereon; (e) a crossarm connected to said sleeve assembly and extending laterally substantially equidistant on either side of said stanchion; (f) fork member connected to said cross arm and disposed on opposite sides of said stanchion member; (g) a non-floating platform mounted on said forks adapted for lifting the hull of a watercraft; (h) a lifting member connected to said sleeve assembly; and (i) mechanical multiplying means mounted on said stanchion member and connected to said lifting member for lifting substantially said entire non-floating platform and watercraft above said body of water.

Claim 16

A seaplane lift mounted in the soil or a foundation beneath a body of water for lifting a seaplane having twin pontoons comprising: (a) a single stanchion load bearing member anchored in said soil or foundation; (b) a base plate connected to the top of said stanchion; (c) a bracket member connected to said base plate laterally disposed from said stanchion member and adapted for connection to a stabilizing member; (d) a sleeve assembly slidably mounted on said stanchion member for travel thereon; (e) a cross arm means connected to said sleeve assembly and extending laterally substantially equidistant on either side of said stanchion; (f) fork members connected to said cross arm means and disposed on opposite sides of said stanchion member; (g) platform means mounted on said fork members having pontoon platforms adapted for supporting said twin pontoons of said seaplane; (h) a lifting member connected to said sleeve assembly; (i) mechanical multiplying means mounted on said stanchion member and connected to said lifting member for lifting substantially said entire platform means and seaplane above said body of water; (j) target pontoon bumpers mounted on said platform means forwardly of said pontoon platforms for limiting the forward movement of said pontoons; and (k) pontoon guide means mounted on said platform means on opposite sides of said pontoon platforms for limiting lateral movment of said pontoons.

Claim 17

A seaplane lift mounted in the soil or a foundation beneath a body of water for lifting a seaplane having twin pontoons comprising: (a) a single stanchion load bearing member anchored in said soil or foundation; (b) a base plate connected to the top of said stanchion; (c) a bracket member connected to said base plate laterally disposed from said stanchion member and adapted for connection to a stabilizing member; (d) a sleeve assembly slidably mounted on said stanchion member for travel thereon; (e) a cross arm means connected to said sleeve assembly and extending laterally substantially equidistant on either side of said stanchion; (f) fork members connected to said cross arm means and disposed on opposite sides of said stanchion member; (g) platform means mounted on said fork members having pontoon platforms adapted for supporting said twin pontoons of said seaplane; (h) a lifting member connected to said sleeve assembly; (i) mechanical multiplying means mounted on said stanchion member and connected to said lifting member for lifting substantially said entire platform means and seaplane above said body of water; (j) target pontoon bumpers mounted on said platform means forwardly of said pontoon platforms for limiting the forward movement of said pontoons; and (k) pontoon guide means mounted on said platform means on opposite sides of said pontoon platforms for limiting lateral movment of said pontoons.

Claim 18

A seaplane lift as described in claim 13 comprising: (a) said pontoon guide means include a plurality of upright members spaced adjacent said pontoon platforms and buoyant fender means slidably mounted on each of said upright members for upward free sliding movement.