US-12617507-B1 - Boat lift

Abstract

A boat lift with at least one tank or tube configured to receive air and a bunk support frame coupled to the tube. A torque bar is supported by the bunk support frame and operable to rotate with respect to the frame. A pair of arms are mounted to opposite ends of the torque bar. The bunk support frame may define a channel accessible through first and second openings at ends of the frame with the torque bar extending through the channel. The arms may each include a first end mounted to the torque bar and an adjustable second end for mounting to the dock. A bunk assembly may mount a bunk to the bunk support frame. The bunk assembly including a pair of sections joined with a tab and slot on one side and fasteners on another side. A clamp assembly may mount a tank frame to the tank.

Inventors

• Joshua David Deboer
• Chase Alan Zacharias
• Mike Vaughn
• Ron Witt

Assignees

• SBL Manufacturing, LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20231204

Claims (17)

1. 1 . A boat lift comprising: at least one tube configured to receive air; a bunk support frame coupled to the tube, the bunk support frame defining a channel accessible through a first opening at one end of the bunk support frame and a second opening at an opposite end of the bunk support frame; a torque bar extending through the channel from the first opening to the second opening, the torque bar supported by the bunk support frame and operable to rotate with respect to the bunk support frame; a pair of arms mounted to opposite ends of the torque bar, the arms configured for mounting to a dock; and a bunk coupled to the bunk support frame and configured to support a boat.
2. 2 . The boat lift of claim 1 , wherein the bunk support frame further comprises first and second support bushings that are at least partially received by the first and second openings, respectively, the torque bar extending through and supported by the first and second support bushings.
3. 3 . The boat lift of claim 2 , wherein the pair of arms define a second channel that receives the torque bar, wherein at least a portion of each of the arms is received within the channel, and wherein each of the arms is positioned between the torque bar and one of the first or second support bushings.
4. 4 . The boat lift of claim 3 , wherein each of the arms is mounted to the torque bar with at least one set screw.
5. 5 . The boat lift of claim 1 , wherein the torque bar comprises end surfaces each positioned at one of the opposite ends, each end surface defining at least one threaded opening, and wherein each of the arms is mounted to the torque bar with at least one fastener that extends through an opening in the arm and engages the threaded opening of one of the end surfaces.
6. 6 . The boat lift of claim 5 , wherein each of the arms defines a receptacle that receives one of the ends of the torque bar.
7. 7 . The boat lift of claim 1 , wherein each of the arms comprises a first section and a second section that is adjustably coupled to the first section, the first section mounted to one of the ends of the torque bar, and the second section configured for mounting to the dock.
8. 8 . The boat lift of claim 7 , wherein the second section comprises a first end that is mounted to the first section and a second end that is configured for mounting to the dock, wherein the second section is adjustably coupled to the first section so that the second end is adjustable in a direction that is generally aligned with a longitudinal axis of the torque bar.
9. 9 . The boat lift of claim 8 , wherein the second section defines a slot positioned between the first end and the second end, wherein a fastener extends through the slot and at least one opening of the first section.
10. 10 . The boat lift of claim 8 , wherein the second end of the second section has a spherical bearing configured to receive a fastener for mounting the second section to the dock.
11. 11 . The boat lift of claim 1 , further comprising: a second bunk support frame coupled to the tube, the second bunk support frame defining a second channel accessible through a third opening at one end of the second bunk support frame and a fourth opening at an opposite end of the second bunk support frame, wherein the bunk is coupled to the second bunk support frame; a second torque bar extending through the second channel from the third opening to the fourth opening, the second torque bar supported by the second bunk support frame and operable to rotate with respect to the second bunk support frame; a second pair of arms mounted to opposite ends of the second torque bar, the second pair of arms configured for mounting to the dock; and first and second stabilizers each mounted to one of the pair of arms and one of the second pair of arms.
12. 12 . The boat lift of claim 1 , wherein the bunk support frame encloses a portion of the torque bar that is positioned within the channel.
13. 13 . A boat lift comprising: at least one tube configured to receive air; a bunk support frame coupled to the tube; a bunk coupled to the bunk support frame and configured to support a boat; a torque bar supported by the bunk support frame and operable to rotate with respect to the bunk support frame; and a pair of arms mounted to opposite ends of the torque bar, wherein each of the arms comprises a first end mounted to the torque bar and a second end configured for mounting to a dock, wherein the second end of at least one of the arms is adjustable with respect to the first end in a direction that is generally aligned with a longitudinal axis of the torque bar.
14. 14 . The boat lift of claim 13 , wherein each of the arms comprises a first section and a second section that is adjustably coupled to the first section, the first section mounted to one of the ends of the torque bar, and the second section configured for mounting to the dock.
15. 15 . The boat lift of claim 14 , wherein the second section includes the second end of the arm that is configured for mounting to the dock, wherein the second section is adjustably coupled to the first section so that the second end is adjustable in the direction that is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the torque bar.
16. 16 . The boat lift of claim 15 , wherein the second section defines a slot positioned between the first end and the second end, wherein a fastener extends through the slot and at least one opening of the first section.
17. 17 . The boat lift of claim 15 , wherein the second end of the second section has a spherical bearing configured to receive a fastener for mounting the second section to the dock.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is based on and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/429,638, filed on Dec. 2, 2022, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND A boat lift is often used to suspend a boat above the water when the boat is not in use. Storing a boat above the water on a boat lift is generally more advantageous than storing a boat in the water moored to a dock. When a boat is left in the water, it may be damaged by impacting the dock due to waves and wind moving the boat relative to the dock. Further, water scale and algae can build up on the hull of a boat that is left in the water. There are many types of boat lifts used to store boats above water. Floating boat lifts are one type of boat lift that are often used in lakes with fluctuating water levels. A floating boat lift typically includes a plurality of tubes that receive air to float the lift and raise a boat supported by the lift above the water. As air is released from the tubes, they fill with water to sink the tubes and lower a boat into the water. A bunk support mounted to the tubes supports a bunk that is configured to engage the hull of a boat above the tubes. Arms are pivotably mounted at one end to the bunk support and at another end to a dock. For example, two arms may be mounted to one side of a dock adjacent a boat slip and two arms may be mounted to the other side of the dock. Conventional floating boat lifts may have many different parts that need to be connected together with fasteners to assemble the lifts and mount them to a dock. Further, conventional floating boat lifts may be configured so that they are only mountable to a dock with a boat slip of a certain width or a limited range of widths. It also may be relatively difficult to adjust or modify the width of a conventional floating boat lift. BRIEF SUMMARY The invention described herein is directed to a boat lift having at least one tank or tube configured to receive air and a bunk support frame coupled to the tube. A torque bar is supported by the bunk support frame and operable to rotate with respect to the bunk support frame. A pair of arms are mounted to opposite ends of the torque bar. The arms are configured for mounting to a dock. A bunk coupled to the bunk support frame is configured to support a boat. In one aspect of the invention, the bunk support frame defines a channel accessible through a first opening at one end of the bunk support frame and a second opening at an opposite end of the bunk support frame. A torque bar extends through the channel from the first opening to the second opening. The bunk support frame may include first and second support bushings that are at least partially received by the first and second openings, respectively. The torque bar extending through and supported by the first and second support bushings. In another aspect of the invention, each of the arms includes a first end mounted to the torque bar and a second end configured for mounting to a dock. The second end of at least one of the arms is adjustable with respect to the first end in a direction that is generally aligned with a longitudinal axis of the torque bar. Each of the arms may have a first section and a second section that is adjustably coupled to the first section. The first section is mounted to one of the ends of the torque bar, and the second section is configured for mounting to the dock. The second section is adjustably coupled to the first section so that the second end is adjustable in the direction that is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the torque bar. The second section may define a slot positioned between the first end and the second end with a fastener extending through the slot and at least one opening of the first section. In some embodiments, the torque bar has end surfaces at opposite ends of the torque bar. Each end surface defines at least one threaded opening. Each of the arms is mounted to the torque bar with at least one fastener that extends through an opening in the arm and engages the threaded opening of one of the end surfaces. Each of the arms defines a receptacle that receives one of the ends of the torque bar. Another aspect of the invention described herein is directed to a boat lift including at least one tank configured to receive air, a bunk support frame coupled to the tank, and a bunk assembly. The bunk assembly includes a support coupled to the bunk support frame and a bunk coupled to the support and configured to support a boat. The support includes a first section and a second section operable to removably couple to the first section to mount the support to the bunk support frame. A first side of the first section has a tab that is receivable within a slot of a first side of the second section. A second side of the first section has a first opening that aligns with a second opening in a second side of the second section when the support is mounted t