Floating drive-on watercraft docking system
First Claim
1. A floating drive-on docking system for a watercraft having a hull, 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 main floatation portion, the pivoting entry portion having at least one entry feature configured to be engaged by the watercraft hull upon initiation of loading of the watercraft onto the floating drive-on docking system prior to the watercraft engaging the main floatation portion, the pivoting entry portion being configured to automatically self position itself with the at least one entry feature held above the waterline when not engaged by the watercraft hull, and when engaged by the watercraft hull upon initiation of loading of the watercraft onto the floating drive-on docking system to automatically pivot downward and move the at least one entry feature to a position below the waterline in response to the force applied to the at least one feature by the watercraft hull without application of additional force being applied to the pivoting entry portion and with the pivoting entry portion being moved to a position with an upward incline relative to the main floatation portion which facilitates receiving the watercraft hull on the pivoting entry portion and subsequent forward movement of the watercraft hull onto the main floatation portion.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
26 Citations
31 Claims
-
1. A floating drive-on docking system for a watercraft having a hull, 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 main floatation portion, the pivoting entry portion having at least one entry feature configured to be engaged by the watercraft hull upon initiation of loading of the watercraft onto the floating drive-on docking system prior to the watercraft engaging the main floatation portion, the pivoting entry portion being configured to automatically self position itself with the at least one entry feature held above the waterline when not engaged by the watercraft hull, and when engaged by the watercraft hull upon initiation of loading of the watercraft onto the floating drive-on docking system to automatically pivot downward and move the at least one entry feature to a position below the waterline in response to the force applied to the at least one feature by the watercraft hull without application of additional force being applied to the pivoting entry portion and with the pivoting entry portion being moved to a position with an upward incline relative to the main floatation portion which facilitates receiving the watercraft hull on the pivoting entry portion and subsequent forward movement of the watercraft hull onto the main floatation portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A floating drive-on docking system for a watercraft having a hull, 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, the entry portion having a transverse portion with an upper surface portion, port and starboard forward end portions forward of the transverse portion and pivotally attached to the main floatation portion at port and starboard pivots, respectively, and port and starboard rearward extensions extending rearward from the transverse portion and defining a watercraft guide entryway therebetween having a width sized to receive the watercraft hull, the entry portion further having at least one entry feature located on the transverse portion at the upper surface portion and extending above the upper surface portion and configured to be engaged by the watercraft hull upon initiation of loading of the watercraft onto the floating drive-on docking system prior to the watercraft engaging the main floatation portion and to hold the watercraft hull above the upper surface portion, the entry portion having sufficient buoyancy to pivot the transverse portion upward about the pivot points and position the at least one entry feature above the waterline when not engaged by the watercraft hull but in position for engagement with the watercraft hull when the watercraft enters the watercraft guide entryway between the port and starboard rearward extensions to automatically upon contact by the watercraft hull pivot the transverse portion downward about the pivot points and position the at least one entry feature below the waterline without application of additional force being applied to the entry portion and position the entry portion to facilitate receiving the watercraft hull thereon and subsequent forward movement of the watercraft hull onto the main floatation portion. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
-
30. A floating drive-on docking system for a watercraft having a hull, 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, the entry portion having a transverse portion, port and starboard forward end portions forward of the transverse portion and pivotally attached to the main floatation portion, and port and starboard rearward extensions extending rearward from the transverse portion and defining a watercraft guide entryway therebetween having a width sized to receive the watercraft hull, the entry portion further having at least one entry feature located at the transverse portion and configured to be engaged by the watercraft hull upon initiation of loading of the watercraft onto the floating drive-on docking system prior to the watercraft engaging the main floatation portion and to support the watercraft hull, the entry portion having sufficient buoyancy to pivot the transverse portion upward and position the at least one entry feature above the waterline when not engaged by the watercraft hull but in position for engagement with the watercraft hull when the watercraft enters the watercraft guide entryway between the port and starboard rearward extensions to automatically upon contact by the watercraft hull pivot the transverse portion downward and position the at least one entry feature below the waterline without application of additional force being applied to the entry portion and position the entry portion to facilitate receiving the watercraft hull thereon and subsequent forward movement of the watercraft hull onto the main floatation portion. - View Dependent Claims (31)
-
Specification