Marine Lift with Pantograph Movement

Abstract

Marine lift apparatus for raising and lowering vessels, platforms, and cargo are disclosed. A lift apparatus comprises a base and at least one assembly. The assembly further comprises a shuttle configured for movement between first and second positions, a link arm connected to the shuttle, and a control link attached to the link arm, all configured to move the link arm between first and second positions. In some aspects, marine lift apparatus exhibit pantograph-like movement, facilitating the level raising, lowering, and storing vessels, platforms, and cargo. Lift apparatus mounted on to multi-hull vessel, such as catamarans, configured for lifting a combination swim and dinghy platform are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lift apparatus for raising, lowering, and transporting marine vessels, watercraft, cargo, and people, the lift apparatus comprising:
 a base; and   an assembly, the assembly comprising:
 a shuttle moveable between a first shuttle position and a second shuttle position; 
 a link arm comprising:
 a first link arm portion; 
 a link arm body; and 
 a second link arm portion; 
 
 wherein the first portion is attached to the shuttle and configured for movement relative to the shuttle and the link arm is movable between a first link arm position and a second link arm position; and 
 a control link comprising:
 a first control link portion; 
 a control link body; and 
 a second control link portion; 
 
 wherein the control link is attached for movement to the link arm at second control link portion and attached for movement to the base at first control link portion, wherein the control link guides the link arm between the first link arm position and the second link arm position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The lift apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base is connected to at least one surface. 
     
     
         3 . The lift apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the surface is one of: a deck, a transom of a vessel, a beam, a chassis, and a portion of a vessel. 
     
     
         4 . The lift apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the vessel is one of: a multi-hull vessel, a catamaran, and a trimaran. 
     
     
         5 . The lift apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the lift apparatus is mounted on a vessel and generally parallel to the centerline of the vessel. 
     
     
         6 . The lift apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein link arm is rotatably connected to the shuttle such that the lift arm rotates and slides as it moves from the first link arm position to the second link arm position. 
     
     
         7 . The lift apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 A shuttle guide comprising:
 a first shuttle guide portion; 
 a shuttle guide body; and 
 a second shuttle guide portion; 
   wherein the shuttle guide is configured to allow linear movement of the shuttle along the shuttle guide body between the first shuttle position and the second shuttle position.   
     
     
         8 . The lift apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the shuttle guide further comprises a rail and a slider. 
     
     
         9 . The lift apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the slider is located on a top portion of the shuttle, the slider being configured to slide along the shuttle guide rail between the first shuttle position and the second shuttle position. 
     
     
         10 . The lift apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an actuator comprising:
 a first actuator portion; and 
 a second actuator portion; 
   wherein the actuator is connected at the first actuator portion to the shuttle guide and connected at the second actuator portion to the shuttle and configured to move the shuttle between the first shuttle position and the second shuttle position.   
     
     
         11 . The lift apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the link arm moves from the first link arm position to the second link arm position via generally vertical movement. 
     
     
         12 . The lift apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second control link portion is pivotally attached to the link arm body and the first control link portion is pivotally attached to the base. 
     
     
         13 . The lift apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an actuator comprising:
 a first actuator portion; and 
 a second actuator portion; 
 
 wherein the first actuator portion is rotatably connected to an actuator connection point, the second actuator portion is rotatably connected to the assembly, and the actuator and the assembly are configured to guide link arm between the first link arm position and the second link arm position. 
 
     
     
         14 . The lift apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the second actuator portion is rotatably connected to the assembly at the control link. 
     
     
         15 . The lift apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the second actuator portion is rotatably connected to the assembly at the link arm. 
     
     
         16 . The lift apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a vertically-oriented lift bracket comprising:
 a top lift bracket portion; and 
 a bottom lift bracket portion; 
   wherein the bottom lift bracket portion is rotatably connected to the first link arm at the first second link arm portion and the second actuator portion is rotatably connected to the assembly at the lift bracket.   
     
     
         17 . The lift apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the actuator is one of: a hydraulic ram, a pneumatic ram, and an electric motor. 
     
     
         18 . The lift apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the base further comprises:
 the actuator connection point configured to rotatably connect the actuator to the base.   
     
     
         19 . The lift apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a mounting bracket rigidly connected to the base and having the actuator connection point configured to rotatably connect to the actuator.   
     
     
         20 . The lift apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second link arm comprising:
 a first link arm portion; 
 a link arm body; and 
 a second link arm portion; 
   wherein the first link arm portion of the second link arm is attached to the shuttle and configured for movement relative to the shuttle, wherein the second link arm is movable between a first link arm position and a second link arm position.   
     
     
         21 . The lift apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the length of the second link arm is substantially equal to the length of the first link arm. 
     
     
         22 . The lift apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a vertically-oriented lift bracket comprising:   a top lift bracket portion;   a bottom lift bracket portion; and   a lift bracket first link arm connection point;   wherein the bottom lift bracket is rotatably connected to the second link arm portion of the first link arm at the lift bracket first link arm connection point.   
     
     
         23 . The lift apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the lift bracket further comprises:
 a fore lift bracket portion;   an aft lift bracket portion; and   a lift bracket second link arm connection point;   wherein the fore lift bracket portion is proximately located relative to the shuttle and the aft lift bracket portion is distally located relative to the shuttle, the lift bracket first link arm connection point is located at the bottom fore lift bracket portion, the lift bracket second link arm connection point is located at the distal bottom portion of the lift bracket at a location height higher than the lift bracket first link arm connection point, and the second link arm portion of the second link arm is rotatably connected to the lift bracket at the lift bracket second link arm connection point.   
     
     
         24 . The lift apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the distance between first link arm portion of the first link arm and second link arm portion of the first link arm is substantially equal to the distance between first link arm portion of the second link arm and second link arm portion of the second link arm. 
     
     
         25 . The lift apparatus of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 a platform rigidly connected to the top lift bracket portion;   wherein the lift apparatus is configured to move the platform between a first raised position and a second lowered position.   
     
     
         26 . The lift apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the platform is horizontally-oriented and remains substantially level as it moves between the first raised position and the second lowered position. 
     
     
         27 . The lift apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the surface is a portion of a vessel, the vessel further comprises a deck, and the platform is configured to provide a flat surface level with the deck. 
     
     
         28 . The lift apparatus of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 a brace comprising:   a bottom brace portion;   a top brace portion; and   an aft brace portion;   wherein the bottom brace portion is rigidly attached to the link arm body, the top brace portion is configured to removably connect to the base and restrain the movement of the lift apparatus when the platform is in the first raised position, and the aft portion is configured to restrain the movement of the lift apparatus when the platform is in the second lowered position via physical contact with the platform.   
     
     
         29 . The lift apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the platform is configured to support a watercraft. 
     
     
         30 . The lift apparatus of  claim 25 , the platform further comprising:
 at least one deployable chock assembly configured to contact the watercraft and support the watercraft when deployed.   
     
     
         31 . The lift apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the platform is configured as a swim platform. 
     
     
         32 . The lift apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the platform is configured to support cargo. 
     
     
         33 . The lift apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first assembly wherein the first assembly shuttle is configured for linear movement and the first assembly link arm moves between a first link arm position and a second position in a vertical plane;   a second assembly, wherein the second assembly shuttle is configured for linear movement and the second assembly link arm moves between a first link arm position and a second link arm position in a vertical plane;   wherein the second assembly is substantially similar to the first assembly and positioned in parallel to the first assembly a distance apart from the first assembly such that the first link arm position of second assembly link arm and the first link arm position of the first assembly link arm have substantially similar vertical positions and the second link arm position of the second assembly link arm and the second link arm position of the first assembly link arm have substantially similar vertical positions.   
     
     
         34 . The lift apparatus of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 a stabilizer comprising:   a port stabilizer portion; and   a starboard stabilizer portion;   wherein the port stabilizer portion is connected to first assembly and the starboard stabilizer portion is connected to the second assembly and the stabilizer is configured to rigidly connect the first assembly to the second assembly.   
     
     
         35 . The lift apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the port stabilizer portion is connected to the first assembly at the first assembly control link and the starboard stabilizer portion is connected to the second assembly at the second assembly control link. 
     
     
         36 . The lift apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the port stabilizer portion is connected to the first assembly at the first assembly link arm and the starboard stabilizer portion is connected to the second assembly at the second assembly link arm. 
     
     
         37 . The lift apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the port stabilizer portion is connected to the first assembly at the first assembly shuttle and the starboard stabilizer portion is connected to the second assembly at the second assembly shuttle. 
     
     
         38 . The lift apparatus of  claim 34 , further comprising:
 a first assembly lift bracket, the first assembly lift bracket being vertically-oriented and comprising:
 a top lift bracket portion; and 
 a bottom lift bracket portion; 
 wherein the bottom lift bracket portion is rotatably connected to the first assembly link arm at the second link arm portion; and 
   a second assembly lift bracket, the second assembly lift bracket being vertically-oriented and comprising:
 a top lift bracket portion; and 
 a bottom lift bracket portion; 
 wherein the bottom lift bracket portion is rotatably connected to the second assembly link arm at the second link arm portion; 
   wherein the port stabilizer portion is connected to the first assembly at the first assembly lift bracket and the starboard stabilizer portion is connected to the second assembly at the second assembly lift bracket.   
     
     
         39 . The lift apparatus of  claim 34 , further comprising:
 a first assembly second link arm;   a second assembly second link arm;   wherein the port stabilizer portion is connected to the first assembly at the first assembly second link arm and the starboard stabilizer portion is connected to the second assembly at the second assembly second link arm.   
     
     
         40 . A stowable, vessel-mounted chock assembly for supporting marine vessels or watercraft comprising:
 a base comprising:
 a first locking channel; 
 a first chock connection point; 
 a second chock connection point; and 
 a second locking channel; 
   a first chock comprising:
 a proximal first chock portion; and 
 a first chock body; 
 wherein the first chock is connected at the proximal first chock portion for rotation between a stowed position and a deployed position to the base at the first chock connection point and a top first chock portion of the first chock body is configured to contact the watercraft when the first chock is in the deployed position; 
   a first support arm comprising:
 a proximal first support arm portion; and 
 a distal first support arm portion; 
 wherein the proximal first support arm portion is connected for rotation to a bottom portion of the first chock body and the distal portion is slidably connected to the first locking channel and configured to move the first chock between the deployed and the stowed positions and to support the first chock when the first chock is in the deployed position; 
   a second chock comprising:
 a proximal second chock portion; and 
 a second chock body; 
 wherein the second chock is connected at the proximal second chock portion for rotation between a stowed position and a deployed position to the base at the second chock connection point and a top second chock portion of the second chock body is configured to contact the watercraft when the second chock is in the deployed position; and 
   a second support arm comprising:
 a proximal second support arm portion; and 
 a distal second support arm portion; 
 wherein the proximal second support arm portion is connected for rotation to a bottom portion of the second chock body and the distal portion slidably connected to the second locking channel and configured to move the second chock between the deployed and the stowed positions and to support the second chock when the second chock is in the deployed position. 
   
     
     
         41 . The chock assembly of  claim 40  further comprising:
 a platform comprising:
 a top platform surface; and 
 a platform channel; 
 
 wherein the chock assembly is disposed within the platform channel and the top first chock portion and the top second chock portion are configured to be flush with the top platform surface when in the stowed position. 
 
     
     
         42 . The chock assembly of  claim 40 , wherein the chock assembly is moveable within the platform channel. 
     
     
         43 . The chock assembly of  claim 40 , further comprising:
 a channel having a fore portion and an aft portion;   at least one wheel located on a portion of the chock base, configured to facilitate movement of the chock assembly;   a physical stop configured to limit the movement of chock assembly; and   at least one retaining pin attached to a portion of the chock base and configured to limit movement of the chock assembly when the retaining pin comes into contact with a physical stop.   
     
     
         44 . The chock assembly of  claim 43 , wherein the chock assembly is configured to allow at least a portion of the first chock or at least a portion of the second chock to extend beyond the channel.