Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DEVICE FOR HANDLING A LOAD HOISTED BETWEEN TWO LOCATIONS
OFFSET BOTH VERTICALLY AND HORIZONTALLY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
100021 A device for handling a load hoisted between two locations offset both
vertically and horizontally is described. In particular the device is useful
for
transferring an outboard motor between an operating location on a dinghy and a
storage location on a larger boat. The device makes use of existing lifting
devices such as sail halyards and winches and provides both guidance and
stabilization of the motor during the transfer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
100031 Large boats commonly tow or carry a smaller boat or dinghy for use as a
tender to the larger boat and an outboard motor is commonly used as a means of
propulsion for the dinghy. Usually when the larger boat is under way or the
dinghy otherwise not being utilized, most operators prefer that the outboard
motor is removed from the tender and stored on the boat to minimize the risk
of
losing or damaging the outboard motor. Unfortunately, for many boaters and
boats, various combinations of the weight of the outboard motor, obstacles
such
as rigging and railings, wave-induced motion of both vessels and/or the
physical
capabilities of the boaters can make any lifting of the outboard motor from
the
dinghy and the subsequent return of the outboard motor to the dinghy
difficult.
[0004] One solution to this problem is the use of a lifting device such as a
crane
or davit installed on the boat to provide the power or mechanical advantage
for
lifting or lowering the weight of the outboard motor. Such devices occupy
space
on the deck, railing or transom of the boat, and may impede the use of
particular
locations on the boat or simply detract from the aesthetic appearance of the
boat.
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Moreover such systems may not be accommodated on some boats where the
required deck or railing space is not available. Still further, such existing
lifting
devices often do not provide good stabilization of the outboard motor movement
relative to the boat due to various factors including wave-induced motion of
the
boat. In this case, collision between the outboard motor and the main boat can
result, causing damage to either or both. Further still, the costs of purchase
and
installation of such devices is elevated due to the mechanisms required and
mechanical forces involved.
[0005] There is also a significant concern for many boaters, particularly
older and
physically less-capable boaters, of recovering a person who may have fallen
overboard at sea. For many man-overboard victims, either as a result of the
time
spent in the water and/or their physical limitations, they are incapable of
assisting
themselves when a recovery vessel has come alongside to retrieve them from
the water. In these situations, the people on the recovery vessel must be able
to
lift a potentially incapacitated and very heavy person on board. Still
further,
particularly in rough seas, there is a significant risk of injuring the victim
against
the sides of the vessel.
[0006] While many boats have existing hoisting mechanisms such as sail
halyards and winches which can be used as a means for lifting or lowering a
heavy load such an outboard motor or a person, the use of such systems on
their
own do not provide a means for controlling both the lateral and vertical
movement of the load which will often result in an unsafe handling of the
load.
[0007] As a result, there has been a need for an improved system for lifting
and
controlling heavy loads onto boats and particularly, for ease of handling of
outboard motors and other loads such a person who has fallen overboard.
[0008] A review of the prior art reveals that various lifting systems have
been
designed and utilized in the past for boats for lifting and handling cargoes
such
as outboard motors as well as man-overboard recovery systems. For example,
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Forespar Products (Rancho Santa Margarita, California) market various davit
lifting systems for outboard motors such as the Motor MateTM system. As well,
there are numerous man-overboard products on the market that aid in the
recovery of a man-overboard victim.
[0009] A review of the patent literature reveals US Patent 4,705,179, US
Patent
5,020,708, US Patent 4,545,770, US Patent 4,545,559, US Patent 4,465,423, US
Patent 4,232,627, US Patent 4,880,345, US Patent 5,590,618, US Patent
5,137,481, US Patent 5,297,835, US Patent 5,558,282 and US Patent 5,645,307
which relate to various outboard motor handling equipment.
[0010] However, these systems do not provide simple but effective systems for
controlling both the vertical and lateral movement of the load towards and
onto
the vessel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] In accordance with the invention, there is provided a lightweight,
inexpensive and compact lifting system that may be used in conjunction with
existing lifting mechanisms to safely transfer both vertically and laterally a
load
onto and off a boat.
[0012] In a first embodiment, the invention provides a lifting system for use
with a
boat for vertically and horizontally moving a load to and from a boat,
comprising:
a pivot arm having a cross member defining a free end and two legs for
pivotable
connection to a boat, the pivot arm operable between a lower position and an
upper position; and, a load supporting system operatively connected to the
free
end of the pivot arm and for operative connection to a lifting line on the
boat, the
load supporting system operatively retaining a lifting hook for connection to
a
load, the load supporting system including a securing system for securing the
lifting hook in close proximity to the pivot arm.
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[0013] In one embodiment, the lifting system includes at least one supporting
line operatively connected to the pivot arm and the boat for supporting the
pivot
arm in the lower position.
[00141 In a further embodiment, the securing system includes a catching hook
operatively connected to the free end for supporting the lifting hook and load
when the pivot arm is in a pre-determined position between the lower position
and upper position. In another embodiment, the load supporting system is a
strap
having a one-way and releasable latch.
[0015] In one embodiment, the system includes a pivot arm catch attached to
the
boat for releasably securing the pivot arms in the upper position.
[00161 In yet another embodiment, the load supporting system is a strap and
the
load is an outboard motor, the lifting system further comprising a harness for
supporting the outboard motor and wherein the harness, strap and lifting hook
are arranged in order to allow rotation of the outboard motor to fit between
the
pivot arm legs in the upper position from induced torsional tension within the
strap.
[0017] The system may also include at least one elastic line operatively
connected to the at least one supporting line for maintaining tension in the
supporting lines when the pivot arm is in the upper position.
[0018] In another embodiment, the system may be used as a man-overboard
recovery system and include a harness or seat adapted for lifting a person
from
the water.
[0019] In a more specific embodiment, the invention provides a lifting system
for
use with a boat for vertically and horizontally moving an outboard motor to
and
from a boat, comprising:
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a pivot arm having a cross member defining a free end and two legs for
pivotable connection to a boat, the pivot arm operable between a lower
position and an upper position;
at least one supporting line operatively connected to the pivot arm and the
boat for supporting the pivot arm in the lower position;
a load supporting system comprising a strap operatively connected to the
free end of the pivot arm and for operative connection to a lifting line on
the boat, the strap operatively retaining a lifting hook for connection to an
outboard motor harness having a handle, the load supporting system
including a securing system for securing the lifting hook in close proximity
to the pivot arm and wherein the securing system includes a catching
hook operatively connected to the free end for supporting the lifting hook
and load when the pivot arm is in a pre-determined position between the
lower position and upper position and wherein the harness, strap and
lifting hook are arranged in order to allow rotation of the outboard motor to
fit between the pivot arm legs in the upper position from induced torsional
tension within the strap; and,
at least one elastic line operatively connected to the at least one
supporting line for maintaining tension in the supporting lines when the
pivot arm is in the upper position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
100201 The invention is described with reference to the figures wherein:
Figure 1 is a diagram showing a side view of one embodiment of the
invention installed on a boat and connected to an outboard motor on a
dinghy;
Figure 2 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a pivot arm with
associated parts;
Figure 3 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a lifting strap and lifting
hook;
Figure 4 is a diagram showing an example of an outboard lifting harness
and handle for an outboard motor;
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Figures 5 ¨ 17 are a series of diagrams showing the sequential movement
of one embodiment of the invention during operation;
Figure 18 is a perspective diagram showing one embodiment of the
invention in a raised position;
Figure 19 is a perspective diagram showing details of one embodiment of
the lifting strap attachment, fairlead, catching hook and lifting hook with
the invention in the lowered position;
Figures 20(A)-(F) are cross sectional diagrams showing the sequential
movement of a lifting hook and catching hook in accordance with one
embodiment of the invention during operation;
Figure 21 is a perspective diagram showing details of one embodiment of
a lifting strap attachment, fairlead, catching hook and lifting hook in the
upper position; and,
Figure 22 is a perspective diagram showing details of one embodiment of
a lifting strap attachment, fairlead, catching hook and lifting hook in the
upper position with the lifting hook lowered.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] With references to the Figures, a system for easily and safely
transferring
a heavy load between two locations vertically and horizontally displaced from
one
another is described. More specifically, a system for effectively lifting a
heavy
load such as an outboard motor or a person to and from a boat is described.
[0022] The following description is written in the context of a system for
lifting an
outboard motor between a storage location on a boat and an operating location
on a dinghy. It is understood that the system may be applied to other objects
as
will be discussed below.
System Overview
[0023] As shown in the Figures, the system is used for transferring an
outboard
motor 1 between a storage location, typically an outboard motor bracket 5, on
a
boat 2 and a dinghy 3. The system makes use of an existing halyard or other
lifting line 4 as well as an existing railing 6, outboard motor bracket 5, and
outboard motor lifting harness 19 with handle 14.
[0024] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the system includes a U-shaped pivot arm 7
having legs 7a and 7b. Legs 7a, 7b are mounted to a boat 2 with hinges 8 such
that the axes of the hinges lie on a horizontal line. The U-shaped arm is wide
enough for an outboard motor 1 to pass between the legs. The legs are
connected to the boat by hinges at the lower end of the legs of the pivot arm
such that the pivot arm is able to rotate about a horizontal hinge axis near
the
mounting point. One or more restraining lines (or hinged rigid members, not
shown) 15 are connected to the boat railing 6 or other structural member of
the
boat and to the upper end (or free end) of the pivot arm 7 to prevent the
pivot
arm from rotating below a lower limit determined by the length of the
restraining
lines 15.
[00251 A lifting line or strap 12 (Figure 3), is connected to a halyard 4 at
its free
end 12a and passes through a fairlead 18 on the free end of the pivot arm,
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through a second fairlead or bearing surface 13a on a lifting hook 13 (Figure
19)
and its second end 12b is fixed to an attachment point 10 on the pivot arm.
The
outboard motor 1 is configured with a lifting harness 19 having a handle 14
that
may be placed on the lifting hook 13.
[0026] The system is used to raise the outboard motor from an operating
position
on the dinghy to the storage location on the boat as follows:
[0027] Figure 5 shows the lifting device in the stored position on the boat
and the
outboard motor on the dinghy. As shown in Figure 6 and Figure 7, the halyard 4
is first connected to the free end 12a of the lifting strap 12 and the halyard
is paid
out to lower the pivot arm 7 until the restraining lines 15 limit the downward
rotation of the pivot arm 7 as shown in Figure 8. As shown in Figures 8-10,
further easing of the halyard allows the lifting hook 13 and lifting strap 12
to be
lowered until the lifting hook 13 can be hooked onto the outboard motor
harness
handle 14, Preferably, the motor harness handle of the harness is oriented to
be
generally parallel to the transverse (side to side) axis of the outboard
motor.
[0028] Tension on the halyard or lifting line 4 provides a lifting force on
the lifting
hook 13, and outboard motor harness handle 14 and a downward force on the
attachment point 10 of the pivot arm 7. The downward force on the attachment
point 10 maintains the pivot arm's position at the lower limit, while the
lifting force
on the outboard motor harness 19 raises the outboard motor vertically off the
mounting point on the dinghy 3. Depending on the orientation of the outboard
motor 1 relative to the pivot arm, the lifting strap 12 will also exert a
torsion force
on the outboard motor harness handle 14 such that the outboard motor as it
rises
off the dinghy will rotate in order that the forward side of the outboard
motor
faces the boat 2. That is, as shown in the Figures, if the dinghy is oriented
at 90
degrees to the orientation of the boat 2 and handle 14 is parallel to the
transverse axis of the outboard motor, the motor will naturally turn as a
result of
the 90 degree "twist" placed in the strap 12 when lifting hook 13 was
connected
to the harness handle 14.
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[0029] Continued tension on lifting line 4 raises the outboard motor 1 until
the
lifting hook 13 meets the pivot arm 7, as shown in Figure 11 and Figure 20(B).
[0030] As shown in Figure 12 and Figure 20(C), once the lifting hook 13 meets
the pivot arm 7, and continued upward tension is applied to the halyard, an
upward force is applied on the free end of the pivot arm which is greater than
the
downward force exerted on the attachment point 10. As a result, the free end
of
the pivot arm 7 moves upward as the pivot arm 7 rotates about hinges 8.
[0031] As shown in Figure 13, continued tension on the halyard line 4 raises
the
free end of the pivot arm 7 and outboard motor 1 in an upward and forward arc
about the hinges 8. In one embodiment, as shown in Figures 19-22, the lifting
hook 13 is designed to engage with a catching hook 9 attached to the pivot arm
7
such that during rotation of the pivot arm 7, the lifting hook engages with
the
catching hook so as to transfer the load to the pivot arm at a predetermined
position in the arc. This design ensures that at the upper positions of the
arc, the
load does not partially lower relative to the pivot arm as a result of
decreased
tension in the halyard as the load becomes increasingly supported by the pivot
arm.
[0032] Accordingly, in this design, as the pivot arm moves upwards, the
lifting
hook moves over the catching hook so that at the point where halyard tension
becomes lower than the weight of the load, the lifting hook is lowered onto
the
catching hook (Figures 20(D) and (E)).
[0033] As a result, continued tension on the halyard line 4 thereby causes the
pivot arm 7 to pivot upward while the catching hook 9 remains engaged with the
lifting hook 13 as shown in Figure 20(E).
[0034] A cross-brace 11 on the pivot arm 7 prevents the lower section of the
outboard motor 1 from swinging into contact with the boat 2, as shown in
Figure
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14. The cross brace may be removable to enable other lifting functions to be
performed as may be required.
[0035] Continued tension on the halyard line 4 causes the pivot arm 7 to
continue
to rotate upward, lifting the outboard motor 1 until the pivot arm 7 meets the
railing 6, and/or the outboard motor 1 meets an outboard motor bracket 5 as
shown in Figure 14 or a releasable clasp 50 (Figure 1). At this point the
outboard
motor 1 is suspended above the outboard motor bracket 5. Elastic lines 16 are
fixed at one end to the free end of the pivot arm 7 and pass below the cross-
brace 11 and are fastened to slip rings 17 that encircle the restraining lines
15.
As the pivot arm rotates upward the elastic lines 16 contract, maintaining a
small
tension on the restraining lines 15 so that they are pulled taut along the
pivot arm
so as to prevent entanglement of the restraining lines 15 with other
mechanisms,
people or the boat.
[0036] In addition, as noted, the pivot arm may positively engage with a catch
mechanism 50 (Figure 1) mounted to the deck railing or other suitable
attachment point to prevent the pivot arm moving backwards as halyard tension
is released. The catch mechanism may include any suitable clasp mechanism
that will automatically engage with the pivot arm as the pivot arm becomes
vertical.
[0037] In order to secure the outboard motor on a mounting bracket 5, the
operator may gently pull forward on the pivot arm 7 while gently reducing
tension
on the halyard line 4 and applying a small rearward pressure on the outboard
motor to disengage the lifting hook 13 to from the catching hook 9 as shown in
FIG. 20(F) and FIG. 22. Continued lowering of the halyard allows the outboard
motor 1 to be lowered vertically onto the outboard mounting bracket 5 where it
can be clamped in place for storage, as shown in Figures 15-18. In one
embodiment, as noted above, the catch mechanism 50 may be used to prevent
the pivot arm from swinging backwards.
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[0038] The system is used to lower the outboard motor from the storage
location
on the boat to the operating position on the dinghy by reversing the process
as
follows:
[0039] As shown in Figures 16 and 22, with the halyard line 4 and lifting
strap 12
loose, the lifting hook 13 can be lowered to engage with the harness handle 14
on the outboard motor 1. As shown in Figure 20(F), tension on the halyard line
4
causes an upward force on the outboard motor harness 14, lifting the outboard
motor 1 until the lifting hook 13 meets the catching hook 9, as shown in
Figures
14 and 21. Subsequent easing of the tension on the halyard 4 causes the
lifting
hook 13 to be pulled downward by the weight of the outboard motor 1 until the
lifting handle 13 meets the catching hook 9 as shown in Figure 20(E).
[0040] The operator gently pushes backward on the free end of the pivot arm 7
and eases the tension on the halyard line 4, causing the pivot arm 7 to rotate
backward and downward, lowering the outboard motor 1 in a backward and
downward arc as shown in Figures 12 and 13. At this stage, if a catch
mechanism 50 is employed, the operator releases the catch mechanism to
enable the pivot arm to move rearwardly.
[0041] At a point in the downward arc, the upward vertical component of the
force
exerted by the lifting line 12 on the pivot arm 7 reduces to less than the
downward force on the pivot arm attachment point 10, causing the free end of
the
pivot arm 7 to move closer to the lifting hook 13, such that the catching hook
9
disengages from the lifting hook 13 as shown in Figure 20(D).
[0042] Continued easing of the halyard tension causes the pivot arm 7 to
continue rotating downward and backward until the restraining lines 15 are
taut
as shown in Figure 11. The resulting tension in the restraining lines 15
prevents
any further downward rotation of the pivot arm 7.
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[0043] Continued easing of the halyard tension causes the lifting strap 12 to
run
through the pivot arm fairlead 18 and the lifting hook 13 such that the
lifting hook
moves downward, lowering the outboard motor 1 to the dinghy.
[0044] The operator then rotates the outboard motor 1 about a vertical axis to
align the motor with the motor mount on the dinghy 3 as may be necessary
based on the orientation of the dinghy. Continued easing of the halyard
tension
causes the outboard motor 1 to move downward onto the dinghy 3 as shown in
Figure 10. The operator then clamps the outboard motor 1 to the dinghy 3 and
disengages the lifting hook 13 from the outboard motor harness handle 14, as
shown in Figure 9, to complete the operation.
[0045] In other embodiments, the pivot arms may be telescopic in order to
minimize the vertical height of the pivot arms during storage or non-use of
the
system.
[0046] In other embodiments, the system may utilize other systems for ensuring
that the load does not separate from the pivot arm as the tension on the
lifting
line lowers in the upper regions of the lifting arc. For example, in one
embodiment, the strap 12 may include a one-way lock system, such as a toothed
camming surface that allows the strap to be tightened in one direction but
that
will prevent the strap from being loosened in the other direction unless the
locking mechanism is released. Accordingly, in this embodiment, during
operation, the strap would be fully tightened and secured during initial
vertical
lifting of the load with the pivot arm in the lower or upper position. After
lifting or
lowering, the operator would release tension on the halyard and release the
locking mechanism to lower or otherwise release the load.
[0047] In an alternate use of the system, the system may be used as an
effective
lifting system for recovering a man-overboard. For example, instead of a motor
harness 19 being attached to the lifting hook, the operator can attach a man-
overboard harness, seat or other suitable system for assisting a person to be
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recovered from the water. In operation, particularly in rougher seas, where a
vessel may be being pitched around, the system minimizes the risk of the
recovered person being hit by the hull of the vessel as the recovery vessel
comes alongside. Moreover, the system further ensures that the man-overboard
is recovered by lifting them through an arc rather than requiring the
difficult lifting
process of pulling them directly vertically from the water where they may be
dragged against various outer structures of the vessel.
100481 The system may also be used for lifting other cargoes from a dock to
the
vessel with the use of other cargo harnesses.
[00491 The system may be effectively incorporated as a retro-fit to existing
deck
railing or other support structures common on many types and designs of boats.
Alternatively, the system may be specifically incorporated into the original
equipment of a boat as understood by those skilled in the art. In one
particular
embodiment of the system, the system is integrated with a railing as a
specific
opening in the railing which is particularly effective when the system is used
for
man-overboard recovery.
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