The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 05, 1999
Filed:
May. 02, 1997
William E Masters, Easley, SC (US);
Cello-Foam NA, Inc., Conyers, GA (US);
Abstract
A dry dock upon which a small watercraft may be docked in a dry condition and from which a boater may access from an associated structure for launching the watercraft without entering the water is disclosed. The dry dock comprises a floating dock having a forward end and a rear entry end. A motion mechanism connects the floating dock to the pier. The motion mechanism includes a mechanical pivot carried by the floating dock by which the floating dock is connected to the associated structure. The floating dock pivots about the pivot during docking and launching of the watercraft in a seesaw motion. A buoyant fulcrum is included in the floating dock which provides buoyancy and assists the seesaw motion of the floating dock during docking of the watercraft. The dry dock seesaws between an entry position in which the floating dock is tilted rearwardly for receiving a bow section of the watercraft to initiate docking and a docked position in which the watercraft is moved forward on the floating dock and the floating dock tilted forwardly from the entry position. The motion mechanism includes a connecting link pivotly connecting the floating dock and the pier which moves in a vertical motion. A limit element limits the range of the vertical motion of the connecting link as the floating dock seesaws.