Rotating Dinghy Support Arrangement for Upright Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solutions for lifting and supporting a dinghy on a carrier boat are cumbersome and require manual assistance to position the dinghy upright, limiting ease and speed of operation.

Innovation Solution

A support arrangement featuring rotatable carrying members with rings and telescoping rod members that can be adjusted to securely hold conical pontoon ends, allowing for easy rotation from a horizontal to an upright position using friction and weight-induced deflation, with optional attachment to a swim platform or carrier boat.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a dinghy is lifted out of the water and positioned in a securing arrangement without assistance, then the dinghy can be supported in an upright position, but it is difficult to bring the dinghy into this position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport capabilityVSAvoidpositioning difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The carrying members are designed to be rotatable between a horizontal orientation (when the dinghy is in the water) and an upright orientation (when the dinghy is stored onboard). This dynamic capability allows the support arrangement to adapt to different operational states, making it easy to position the dinghy by simply rotating the carrying members rather than manually lifting and positioning the entire dinghy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The support arrangement enables the dinghy to be supported and positioned automatically through the rotation of the carrying members. Once the dinghy is engaged with the carrying members in horizontal orientation, rotating the members to upright orientation automatically positions the dinghy in its storage position without requiring additional manual assistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the dinghy is lifted out of the water and stored onboard, then more space is given to surrounding boats and the dinghy is protected from damage, but the operation becomes cumbersome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection from damageVSAvoidoperation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The rotatable carrying members enable a quick transition between horizontal and upright orientations, significantly reducing the time required to lift and store the dinghy compared to traditional manual lifting methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The support arrangement performs the lifting and positioning functions automatically through the rotation mechanism, eliminating the need for multiple persons or complex manual operations, thus reducing both time and effort required for the operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If the carrying members are designed to receive conical pontoon ends, then various dinghy sizes and shapes can be accommodated, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedinghy compatibilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The carrying members are designed with conical receiving surfaces that match the conical pontoon ends of the dinghy. This geometric parameter matching allows the same carrying member design to accommodate various dinghy sizes and shapes by simply rotating the members to the appropriate orientation, without requiring complex adjustable mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables quick and simple lifting of a dinghy into an upright storage position, reducing manual effort and space requirements, while accommodating a range of dinghy sizes and shapes, and allowing easy deployment and stowage.

Implementation Method 1

The rod members may be rotationally locked to each other... A friction arrangement may be provided between the rod members and the tubular member that reduces the play between the parts and increases the friction between the parts

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

when the conical pontoon ends of the dinghy are received in the rings and the dinghy adopts the upright orientation, the conical pontoon ends are fastened in the rings due to friction and/or a slight local deflation of the pontoon ends imposed by the weight of the dinghy

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3319872B1Dinghy support arrangement
Publication Date: 2020.09.23 DINGHY RINGS SWEDEN AB
  • EP3319872B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP3319872B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3319872B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~4b

AI summary

1.Support arrangement (10) for supporting a dinghy on a carrier boat (28), the support arrangement (10) comprising : - a base structure (12, 34) for attachment to the carrier boat (28); and - two carrying members (14), for receiving a dinghy having two rear conical pontoon ends pointing in the same direction, wherein the two carrying members (14) are rotatable arranged with respect to the base structure (12, 34) along the longitudinal axis (16) of the base structure (12) such that the dinghy can be moved between a substantially horizontal orientation and an upright orientation with the conical pontoon ends received in the respective carrying member (14).