Watercraft lift and automatic watercraft cover

摘要

A boat lift with hydraulically or mechanically actuated arms which self-installs a fitted three-dimensional boat cover on a powerboat. The control logic of the system allows for cover operation only when the lift is raised. A spring-tensioned roller keeps the cover tight and self-rolls the cover on the roller when the actuated arms are pivoted forward. The roller is hidden behind the boat in ‘cover-on’ position. A slip clutch prevents the torsion spring from being over tightened. The forward position of the roller is adjusted by adjusting the hydraulic cylinder length. The rearward position of the roller is adjusted by limiting the retracted position of the hydraulic cylinder. A non-hydraulic embodiment actuates the cover when the lift is operated.

主权项

1. A watercraft covering apparatus for use with a frame that accommodates a watercraft having a bow and a stern, comprising:
at least one pivot arm having a lower end portion pivotably attachable to the frame and an upper end portion, the at least one pivot arm being pivotable between a first position wherein the upper end portion of the pivot arm is positioned proximate to a first end of the watercraft when the watercraft is supported by the frame and a second position wherein the upper end portion of the pivot arm is positioned proximate to a second end of the watercraft when the watercraft is supported by the frame; at least one actuation member having an actuation member lower end pivotably attachable to the frame and an actuation member upper end pivotably attachable to the pivot arm at an attachment position between the lower end portion and the upper end portion, the actuation member being configured to selectively and pivotally move the pivot arm between the first position and the second position by adjusting a length of the actuation member; an elongated roller having a side portion rotatably supported by the upper end portion of the pivot arm for travel with the upper end portion of the pivot arm as the pivot arm is pivotally moved between the first position and the second position; and a watercraft cover substantially fully wound about the roller when the upper end portion of the pivot arm is in the first position, the cover being sized to lengthwise extend over and cover the watercraft when the pivot arm is moved to the second position and the watercraft is supported by the frame, a torsion spring positioned within the roller and operatively connected to the roller so that as the roller is rotated in a first rotational direction the torsion spring is wound tighter by the rotation of the roller and as the torsion spring is permitted to unwind the roller is rotated by the torsion spring in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction, as the pivot arm is moved from the first position to the second position, the cover progressively mostly unwinds from the roller and is placed in position extending lengthwise covering the watercraft, and the unwinding of the cover from the roller applies a rotational force to the roller in the first rotational direction to tighten and generate a spring force in the torsion spring and tensions the cover, and as the pivot arm is moved from the second position to the first position, the torsion spring applies the spring force to the roller to rotate the roller in the second rotational direction to progressively wind the cover mostly about the roller and remove the cover from covering the watercraft; wherein the at least one actuation member has a first elongated portion and a second elongated portion, the second elongated portion having an actuation member length adjustment portion that is lengthwise extendable relative to the first elongated portion and securable in a selected lengthwise position relative to the first elongated portion, and wherein the first position of the pivot arm is adjusted according to the selected lengthwise position of the actuation member length adjustment portion.