FLOATING DRIVE-ON WATERCRAFT DOCKING SYSTEM

• US 20090194014A1
• Filed: 01/26/2009
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sunstream Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sunstream Corporation
• Inventors: Hey, Kenneth E., Kloster, Bryce Morgan
• Granted Patent: US 8,069,807 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 114/263
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 3/02 by longitudinal movement of vessel

Abstract

The floating drive-on docking system for a watercraft uses a main floatation portion where the watercraft rests when loaded and a pivoting entry portion for creating a low loading angle between the watercraft and the floating drive-on docking system, resulting in only a small amount of propulsion from the watercraft being required to load onto the docking system. The pivoting entry portion has entry features, either rollers or raised bumps, that remain above the waterline when not engaged by the watercraft to keep the loading surfaces free from marine growth that can harm the hull of a watercraft. Wide side guides on the pivoting entry portion assist in positioning the craft for loading onto the docking system.

Claims

1. A floating drive-on docking system for a watercraft, comprising:

at least one main floatation portion comprised of at least one buoyant pontoon; and

at least one entry portion wherein the entry portion is pivotally attached to the at least one floatation portion.

2. The floating drive-on docking system of claim 1 for use with a watercraft having a hull, wherein the pivoting entry portion has at least one entry feature configured to be engaged by the watercraft hull to initiate loading on the main floatation portion and which remains above the waterline when not engaged by the watercraft hull, and when engaged by the watercraft hull the pivoting entry portion pivots downward and the at least one entry feature engages the watercraft hull below the waterline upon initiation of loading on the main floatation portion.

3. The floating drive-on docking system of claim 2 wherein the at least one entry feature is a roller.

4. The floating drive-on docking system of claim 2 wherein the at least one entry feature is a raised bump.

5. The floating drive-on docking system of claim 1 wherein the at least one entry portion is buoyant.

6. The floating drive-on docking system of claim 2 wherein the at least one entry portion has a downward stopping member limiting the downward pivotal movement of the at least one entry portion.

7. The floating drive-on docking system of claim 6 wherein the at least one entry portion has an upward stopping member limiting the upward pivotal movement of the at least one entry portion.

8. The floating drive-on docking system of claim 7 wherein the at least one entry portion has a watercraft guide wider than half the max chine beam of the watercraft.

9. The floating drive-on docking system of claim 1 wherein the at least one entry portion has a downward stopping member limiting the downward pivotal movement of the at least one entry portion.

10. The floating drive-on docking system of claim 1 wherein the at least one entry portion has an upward stopping member limiting the upward pivotal movement of the at least one entry portion.

11. The floating drive-on docking system of claim 1 wherein the at least one entry portion has a watercraft guide wider than half the max chine beam of the watercraft.

12. The floating drive-on docking system of claim 1 wherein the at least one entry portion is pivotally attached to the at least one floatation portion along a substantially horizontal hinge line.

13. The floating drive-on docking system of claim 1 wherein the main floatation portion contains rollers.

14. The floating drive-on docking system of claim 13 wherein the main floatation portion contains a plurality of roller sets, each positioned symmetrically around a centerline of the main floatation portion.

15. The floating drive-on docking system for a watercraft of claim 14 wherein the rollers each have a contact portion with a larger diameter section less than half the width of the roller, and a reduced diameter portion with a diameter sufficiently less than the diameter of the contact portion to avoid contact with strakes of the watercraft.

16. The floating drive-on docking system of claim 15 wherein the contact portion of the roller is off-center.

17. The floating drive-on docking system of claim 1 wherein the at least one main floating portion has a bow stop higher than the draft of the watercraft with a portion of the bow stop positioned to touch the watercraft.

18. The floating drive-on docking system of claim 17 wherein the bow stop has a thru hole for passage of a lanyard therethrough for attachment to a bow eye of the watercraft.

19. The floating drive-on docking system of claim 17 wherein the bow stop portion positioned to touch the watercraft is replaceable.

20. A floating drive-on docking system for a watercraft, comprising:

a main floatation portion comprised of at least one buoyant pontoon, the main floatation portion being sufficiently buoyant to receive and support the watercraft thereon, and having an aft port rearward extension and an aft starboard rearward extension defining an aft opening therebetween; and

an entry portion positioned in the aft opening and pivotally attached to the main floatation portion, the pivoting entry portion configured to pivot downward to receive the watercraft onto the main floatation portion.

21. The floating drive-on docking system of claim 20 for use with a watercraft having a hull, wherein the pivoting entry portion includes port and starboard pivot extension arms pivotally attached to the main floatation portion with a roller positioned and supported therebetween to be engaged by the watercraft hull when being received onto the main floatation portion.

22. The floating drive-on docking system of claim 21 wherein the pivoting entry portion is configured to keep the roller above the waterline when not engaged by the watercraft hull, and when engaged by the watercraft hull the pivoting entry portion is configured to move the roller downward below the waterline into a position to facilitate the watercraft being received onto the main floatation portion.

23. The floating drive-on docking system of claim 20 for use with a watercraft having a hull, wherein the pivoting entry portion includes port and starboard pivot extensions pivotally attached to the main floatation portion, each with at least one entry feature to be engaged by the watercraft hull and which remains above the waterline when not engaged by the watercraft hull, and when engaged by the watercraft hull the pivoting entry portion pivots downward and the at least one entry feature engages the watercraft hull below the waterline.

24. The floating drive-on docking system of claim 20 wherein the pivoting entry portion has a downward stopping member limiting the downward pivotal movement of the pivoting entry portion, and an upward stopping member limiting the upward pivotal movement of the pivoting entry portion.

25. A floating drive-on docking system for a watercraft, comprising:

at least one main floatation portion comprised of at least one buoyant pontoon; and

an entry portion with a rearward opening watercraft guide entryway wider than half the max chine beam of the watercraft.

26. The floating drive-on docking system for a watercraft of claim 25 wherein the at least one main floatation portion has a bow stop higher than the draft of the watercraft with a portion of the bow stop positioned to touch the watercraft.

27. The floating drive-on docking system of claim 26 wherein the bow stop portion positioned to touch the watercraft is replaceable.

28. The floating drive-on docking system of claim 25 wherein the bow stop has a thru hole for passage of a lanyard therethrough for attachment to a bow eye of the watercraft.

29. The floating drive-on docking system of claim 25 wherein the at least one main floatation portion has a bow stop extending upward higher than the draft of the watercraft with a contact portion positioned to contact the watercraft at a location above the waterline.

30. A floating drive-on docking system for a watercraft, comprising:

a floatation portion comprised of at least one buoyant pontoon to receive and support the watercraft thereon; and

a bow stop extending upward higher than the draft of the watercraft, the bow stop having a thru hole for passage of a lanyard therethrough for attachment to a bow eye of the watercraft.

31. A floating drive-on docking system for a watercraft, comprising:

a one-piece floatation body sufficiently buoyant to receive and support the watercraft thereon, the floatation body having a forward end portion and a rearward end portion; and

at least one entry portion pivotally attached to the rearward end portion of the floatation body, the pivoting entry portion configured to pivot downward to receive the watercraft onto the floatation body.

32. The floating drive-on docking system of claim 31 for use with a watercraft having a hull, wherein the pivoting entry portion has at least one entry feature configured to be engaged by the watercraft hull to initiate loading on the floatation body and which remains above the waterline when not engaged by the watercraft hull, and when engaged by the watercraft hull the pivoting entry portion pivots downward and the at least one entry feature engages the watercraft hull below the waterline upon initiation of loading on the floatation body.

33. The floating drive-on docking system of claim 32 wherein the floatation body has a bow stop extending upward higher than the draft of the watercraft with a contact portion positioned to contact the watercraft at a location above the waterline.