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  Boat lifting and stacking vehicleThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080095578. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001]The present disclosure relates to a boat storage vehicle. More particularly, the invention relates to a boat lifting and stacking vehicle having improved control, stability, and versatility. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002]Boat storage facilities continue to experience an increased demand in storage space due to an increase in boat ownership. Additionally, the shortage and high price of waterfront land increases the need for offshore boat storage facilities. These boat storage facilities are the equivalent of large warehouses. Boat storage facility owners endeavor to optimize storage and warehouse space in order to obtain a premium value from the purchased land. Thus, boats are stored on racks stretching horizontally throughout the storage facility. To maximize potential profitability and utilization of space, additional horizontal racks are stacked vertically. This multi-rack configuration is cost effective as more boats are stored in a smaller boat storage facility area footprint. Having the ability to consolidate the number of boats stored within a specific facility footprint reduces the need to purchase additional land to store more boats. The multi-rack configuration in the boat storage facilities are conventionally organized to include a plurality of pallet racks on which the boats are stored. [0003]Two sides of the boat storage facility having oppositely facing racks are typically separated by an aisle dimensioned to permit access to vehicles known as marina forklifts. The marina forklifts load and unload boats for storage. First, the boat is removed from the water by the marina forklift, then transported to the offshore boat storage facility, and lastly placed into one of the plurality of pallet racks where the boat is then stored for any given duration. Accordingly, minimizing the aisle space between two sides of the boat storage facility decreases the area required to store a comparable quantity of boats within a given boat storage facility footprint. Alternatively, decreasing the aisle width also potentially increases the quantity or size of boats stored in an existing boat storage facility footprint. The marina forklift must be able to freely maneuver in the aisle way separating the two sides of the boat storage facility in order to access any given pallet rack. Thus, control, stability, and versatility of the marina forklift is critical to the financial profitability of offshore boat storage facilities. [0004]Current marina forklifts utilize a set of forks protruding from a versatile mast located at one end of the vehicle. The forks are capable of engaging, lifting, and otherwise transporting a boat thereon. Most masts in the marina forklift industry are capable of obtaining both positive and negative lift relative to the ground or support level position. This enables the marina forklift to operate from the side of a loading platform rather than descent down a ramp toward water-level to perform a zero lift. From the side of the platform, the marina forklift forks are lowered to a negative lift position and placed underneath the hull of a boat to be lifted out of the water. The mast then raises the forks having the boat supported thereon to the support or ground level. The weight of the boat is balanced by a heavy counter-weight located near the backend of the marina forklift. This provides balance and stability to prevent the marina forklift from tipping forward. [0005]Increasing the lifting capacity, i.e. increasing the capacity to lift heavier or longer boats, of the marina forklift can be achieved by either shifting the counter-weight farther behind the front wheels or increasing the weight of the counter-weight. Under the first scenario, the marina forklift is longer. Under the second scenario, the marina forklift is heavier. Both situations create additional problems for boat storage facility owners. [0006]Increasing the length of the marina forklift effectively extends the area that the forklift requires for operation. The aisle separating the two sides of the boat storage facility must be increased to accommodate the extra length of the marina forklift plus any extra length of the boats. Increased aisle space decreases storage space. Decreasing storage space translates into less opportunity to return profits on a comparable marina boat storage facility. Due to the limited mobility of current marina forklifts, wide aisles are still required in order to properly orient boats for storage. [0007]Increasing the weight of the marina forklift also creates a host of other problems for marina boat storage facility owners. First, the marina platform floor must be designed to withstand the increased weight. Cracking of the cement flooring can be a problem if not properly reinforced. Stability of the marina forklift also becomes a concern as increased weight can cause reduction in stability, operation, maneuverability, and braking (especially downhill). Additionally, heavier marina forklifts require larger engines or higher performance engines in order to supply adequate horsepower to maintain requisite performance and capability. All of the aforesaid requirements add additional costs having an adverse effect to the bottom line of any marina boat facility owner. [0008]The marina forklift then transports the boat to the storage facility for storage. Marina forklifts may also incorporate a tandem lift cylinder system and chain in order to achieve the positive and negative lift positions. These devices are typically mounted between the mast uprights and may significantly limit driver forward visibility. Reduced visibility substantially limits the ability of the marina forklift operator to see, orient, and otherwise store the boat. Limited visibility while transporting the boat to the boat storage facility creates additional dangers for platform personnel and vehicles. Limited visibility enhances the potential for boat damage during the lifting, transporting and storing process. [0009]When in the storage facility, the marina forklifts raise the mast, forks, and boat thereon to a positive lift position to store the boat in any one of the plurality of storage racks. Marina forklift operators may also experience limited visibility when attempting to store boats in elevated storage racks. An operator located on the ground level may have difficulty seeing and locating a rack located several rows above ground level. [0010]Additionally, most current marina forklifts have complicated structures that require an intricate knowledge of complicated control functions. Complicated controls require that marina forklift operators receive extensive training before the marina forklift can be effectively and efficiently operated. The manipulation of multiple levers, controls, and buttons requires additional operator navigation time. The productivity of even a skillful operator is therefore sacrificed. Fully automated systems would relieve operators of these tedious tasks. [0011]Thus, there exists a significant need for an improved boat lifting and stacking vehicle that requires less maneuvering space when stacking boats in a storage facility. Such an improved boat lifting and stacking vehicle should not require a counterweight and should include a frame approximately the length of the largest stored boat, multidirectional steering capacities, an extendable and rotatable operator console, hydraulic supports to distribute forces exerted at the front and rear wheels, and improved operator controls. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0012]Herein disclosed is a specially designed boat lifting and stacking vehicle configured to be have improvements in control, stability, and versatility, over other forklifts and similarly configured vehicles. [0013]The above and other objects and the nature and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description of certain specimens embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the drawing, wherein: BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014]The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings: [0015]FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a boat lifting and stacking vehicle having a raised mast; [0016]FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of a boat lifting and stacking vehicle having a mast in a negative lift position; [0017]FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of a boat lifting and stacking vehicle having a mast in a carry position; [0018]FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of a boat lifting and stacking vehicle having a mast in the free lift forward position; [0019]FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a boat lifting and stacking vehicle in the forward drive position; [0020]FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of a boat lifting and stacking vehicle having a raised mast and raised control seat via a scissors lift; Continue reading... Full patent description for Boat lifting and stacking vehicle Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Boat lifting and stacking vehicle patent application. Patent Applications in related categories: 20080292402 - Method of operating a shiplift - A platform includes main transverse beams (“MTBs”), each supported by at least one hoist. It is determined whether a load on any MTB is different from the load on any other MTB by more than a predetermined amount. An MTB which has a load different from the load on any ... ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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