This invention relates to a cradle assembly for a boat and, in particular, to a cradle assembly for a keel boat.

A cradle assembly is used for storing a boat thereon, in an upright position, on dry land. Typically an owner of a keel boat, such as a sailing boat, stores his boat in a boat yard, out of the sailing season, and pays a storage fee to the boat yard, while the cradle is taking up space in the boat yard, whether the boat is on the cradle or in the water.

UK Patent No. 2 242 653 describes a boat cradle having a longitudinal horizontal frame member and two transverse hull support members. The hull support members are longitudinally moveable along the frame member and each provides a support for both sides of a boat. The boat cradle can be dismantled by sliding the hull support members off the longitudinal horizontal frame member to facilitate moving of the cradle from one location to another or for storage of the cradle.

Although the cradle of UK Patent No. 2 242 653 can be adapted to suit boats of varying lengths by using an appropriately sized longitudinal horizontal frame member, there is a limit to the width of a boat that can be accommodated on a particular cradle. Thus, if a boat owner changes his boat, it is likely that he will have to purchase a replacement cradle to suit the dimensions of the new boat.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the

disadvantages of the boat cradle hereinbefore described. Thus, the invention provides a cradle assembly for a keel boat, the cradle assembly comprising a ground engageable base unit, a keel support mounted on the base unit, wheel attachment points disposed on the base unit, a longitudinal member attachable to the base unit, and a plurality of side supports attachable to the longitudinal member, such that the cradle assembly has two modes of use, a first mode wherein the components of the assembly are fully deployable for receipt of the keel boat on the ground, for storage, or on a flat bed trailer, for transport, and a second mode wherein the components of the assembly are arrangeable in a close-packed configuration for storage or transport of the cradle assembly on its own.

An advantage of the cradle assembly in accordance with the invention is that, when a set of wheels is attached to the base unit, the cradle assembly can be moved from place to place in a boatyard, while it is deployed in the first mode. Thus, the deployed cradle assembly does not have to be dismantled before it is moved.

A further advantage of the cradle assembly according to the invention is that it can be placed on a flat bed trailer, when in the first mode, and a boat can be placed therein, for transport to a remote location. Alternatively, the cradle assembly, with a boat therein, can be lifted onto the flat bed trailer.

A further advantage of the cradle assembly according to the invention is that when it is arranged in the second mode and a set of road wheels is attached to the base unit, the cradle assembly can be towed, via the public road system, to a remote location, for use or storage there.

Furthermore, as the base unit is ground engageable, the weight of the boat, through the keel is supported over the area of the base unit, which imparts stability to the cradle assembly, when a boat is resting thereon.

Preferably, the keel support is a clamp having a pair of clamp pads between which the keel of the keel boat is held, in use.

An advantage of the clamp is that the keel of the boat is held firmly in position and the boat is less likely to shift from an upright position while being stored on the cradle assembly.

In one embodiment of the cradle assembly in accordance with the invention, the base unit has a generally rectangular structure with a channel therein through which the longitudinal member is moveable.

An advantage of the rectangular structure of the base unit is that it provides a balanced platform over which the weight of a boat can be distributed on the ground.

Preferably, the base unit has three parallel crossbeams, which are connected together by the channel for the longitudinal member. An advantage of the arrangement of the three crossbeams and the channel for the longitudinal member is that the weight of a boat is distributed symmetrically to the base unit and hence to the ground.

In a further embodiment of the cradle assembly in accordance with the invention, the wheel attachment points are located at the ends of the crossbeams.

An advantage of this arrangement is that it provides flexibility with regard to the attachment of wheels to the cradle assembly.

In a further embodiment of the cradle assembly in accordance with the invention, the longitudinal member is a pair of spaced apart, parallel longitudinal beams.

An advantage of having a pair of spaced apart, longitudinal beams is that the weight of a boat on the cradle is distributed evenly to each side of the longitudinal axis of the cradle. Preferably, the longitudinal beams are extendable.

An advantage of having extendable longitudinal beams is that the length of the cradle can be matched to the length of a particular boat.

Additionally, longer longitudinal beams can be used to match the length of a particular boat. In a further embodiment of the cradle assembly in accordance with the invention, a ground engageable transverse member is attachable to the longitudinal member to each side of the base unit, with a side support being attachable to each end of each transverse member.

An advantage of this arrangement is that the transverse members help to distribute the weight of an attached boat over a larger area on the ground.

Preferably, the position of each side support is adjustable relative to the transverse member.

An advantage of this arrangement is that the side supports can be adjusted for a particular boat to provide a snug fit for the boat in the cradle assembly.

Further, preferably, each transverse member is extendable in length.

An advantage of having length extendable transverse members is that the cradle can be matched to the beam of a particular boat. In a further embodiment of the cradle assembly in accordance with the invention, additional side supports are attachable to the ends of the outer parallel crossbeams.

An advantage of this arrangement is that a longer boat can be supported amidships. In a further embodiment of the cradle assembly in accordance with the invention, a bow support is attachable to the transverse member, to the front of the base unit, by a longitudinal bow arm, and a stern support is attachable to the transverse member, to the rear of the base unit, by a longitudinal stern arm.

An advantage of this arrangement is that the bow and stern supports are easily attached or removed from the cradle assembly.

Preferably, the positions of the bow support and the stern support are adjustable relative to the bow arm and the stern arm, respectively.

An advantage of having adjustable bow and stern supports is that this arrangement simplifies the fitting of a particular boat to the cradle assembly.

In a further embodiment of the cradle assembly in accordance with the invention, the side supports are locatable on the longitudinal member in the second mode.

An advantage of this arrangement is that the components of the cradle assemble can be arranged fore and aft along the longitudinal axis of the cradle in a close-packed configuration.

A further advantage of this arrangement is that the weight of the cradle, in the second mode, can be evenly distributed about the longitudinal axis of the cradle. This allows the cradle, with the addition of wheels, to be towed on the public roads. In a further embodiment of the cradle assembly in accordance with the invention, the bow support, stern support and side supports are locatable on the longitudinal member in the second mode.

An advantage of this arrangement is that the components of the cradle assemble can be arranged fore and aft along the longitudinal axis of the cradle in a close-packed configuration.

Preferably, a tow hitch is attachable to the cradle.

An advantage of an attachable tow hitch is that it needs only be attached when it is required to tow the cradle, in the second mode. At other times the tow hitch can be stored elsewhere, out of the way.

The invention will be further illustrated by the following description of embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cradle assembly for a keel boat in accordance with the invention, in a first mode;

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the cradle assembly of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the cradle assembly of Fig. 1, in a second mode;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a cradle assembly for a keel boat in accordance with the invention, in a second mode; Fig. 5 is an exploded view of a side support of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view of the side support of Fig. 4 in a collapsed state;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of part of the side support of Fig. 4 in exploded format; and Fig. 8 is a perspective view of part of the side support of Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is indicated generally at 10, a cradle assembly for a keel boat in accordance with the invention. The cradle assembly 10 is constructed from galvanised steel. The cradle assembly 10 has a ground engageable base unit, shown generally at 15. The base unit 15 is a generally rectangular structure with three parallel

crossbeams, 16, 17, 18 connected together by two channels 19, 20, within each of which a spaced apart longitudinal beam 21 and 22, respectively, is slidingly located.

Wheel units (not shown) are attachable to ends 23, 24 of crossbeam 16 and ends 25 (see Fig. 2), 26 of crossbeam 18.

A ground engageable transverse member 27 is attached to ends 28, 29 of the longitudinal beams 21 and 22, respectively by means of a pair of collars 30, 31, respectively.

A second ground engageable transverse member 32 is attached to other ends 33, 34 of the longitudinal beams 21 and 22, respectively by means of a pair of collars 35, 36, respectively. A side support 37 is attached at one end 38 of transverse member 27 and a similar side support 39 is attached at other end 40 of transverse member 27. Similarly a side support 41 is attached at one end 42 of transverse member 32 and a similar side support 43 is attached at other end 44 of transverse member 32.

The cradle assembly 10, illustrated in Fig. 1 is in a first mode wherein the components of the cradle assembly 10 are fully deployed for receipt of a keel boat on the ground, for storage, or on a flat bed trailer, for transport. The deployed cradle assembly 10 can be moved to a new position in a boat yard, without having to take it apart. This is achieved by jacking up the base unit 15 and attaching a set of wheels thereto. The cradle assembly 10 can then be wheeled to the new location, the wheels removed and the base unit 15 lowered to the ground. Referring to Fig. 2 the cradle assembly 10 is illustrated in an exploded view, for purposes of clarity. A keel clamp, shown generally at 50, consists of an adjustable arm 51 mounted on end 52 of crossbeam 17 and a complementary adjustable arm 53 mounted on end 54 of

crossbeam 17. Pads 55, 56 on adjustable arms 51, 53, respectively, are brought towards each other, in use, so as to clamp the keel of a boat therebetween.

Extension members 57, 58 are locatable within transverse member 27, so as to adjust the length thereof. Similarly, extension members 59, 60 are locatable within transverse member 32, so as to adjust the length thereof.

A bow support 61 is attachable to a bow arm 62 at one end 63 thereof. Other end 64 of bow arm 62 is locatable in a bow socket 65, which is mounted at the centre point 66 of transverse member 27.

A stern support 67 is attachable to a stern arm 68 at one end 69 thereof. Other end 70 of the stern arm 68 is locatable in a stern socket 71, which is mounted at centre point 72 of transverse member 32.

Referring to Fig. 3, cradle assembly 10 is illustrated in a second mode wherein the components of the cradle assembly 10 are arranged in a close-packed configuration for storage or transport of the cradle assembly 10 on its own.

A pair of road wheels 80, 81 is attached at ends 25 (see Fig. 2) and 26 of crossbeam 18. Bow support 61 is located on front end 82 of longitudinal beam 21 and stern support 67 is located on front end 83 of longitudinal beam 22. Transverse member 27 is located at ends 82, 83. A tow bar 84 is attached to the collars 30, 31 on the transverse member 27, by side arms 85, 86, respectively and a central arm 87, which is located within a tow bar socket 88, which is welded to the transverse member 27. Side supports 37, 41 are located on rear end 89 of longitudinal beam 21 and side supports 39, 43 are located on rear end 90 of longitudinal beam 22. Transverse member 32 is located at ends 89, 90.

Space 91, between channels 19, 20 can be utilised to locate extension members (not shown).

Referring to Fig. 4, there is indicated generally at 100, a second embodiment of a cradle assembly for a keel boat in accordance with the invention, which second embodiment is the preferred embodiment Of the invention. Cradle assembly 100 is illustrated in a second mode wherein the components of the cradle assembly 100 are arranged in a close- packed configuration for storage or transport of the cradle assembly 100 on its own.

A pair of road wheels 101, 102 is attached to the cradle assembly

100. A pair of side supports 103, 104 is attached at one end 105 of the cradle assembly 100 and a second pair of side supports 106, 107 is attached at other end 108 of the cradle assembly 100.

Side supports 103, 104, 105, 106 are partly dismantled so that their height above the cradle assembly 100 is minimised. A tow bar 109 is attached to end 108 of the cradle assembly 100 and a jockey wheel 110 is attached to the tow bar 109 at position 111. Referring to Fig 5, the side support 106 of Fig. 4 is illustrated in an exploded view. Side support 106 consists of a base unit 120, a hollow support piece 121, and an extendible arm 122. When assembled the extendible arm 122 is locatable within the hollow support piece 121 and extends from end 123 thereof.

A transverse tubular piece 124 is attached to other end 125 of the hollow support piece 121. The transverse tubular piece 124 is seated in U shaped cups 126 (one illustrated) which are mounted in a transverse section 127 of the base unit 120. An adjustable support strut 128 is attachable at one end 129 thereof to the base unit 120 at position 130 and at other end 131 to one of three positions on a plate 132, which is attached to the hollow support piece 121 at position 133 thereon.

A retaining band 134 holds the transverse tubular piece 124 in the U shaped cups 126 and allows the hollow support piece 121 to pivot on the transverse section

A hull support pad 135 is locatable in opening 136 of the extendible arm 122.

Referring to Fig 6, the side support 106 of Fig. 4 is illustrated in a collapsed state. The end 131 of the adjustable strut 128 has been disconnected from the plate 132. In this state the adjustable strut 128 and hollow support piece 121 can be moved almost parallel to the base unit 120. In this state the side support 106 takes up less room than when it is erect. Referring to Fig. 7, the side support 106 is illustrated in an exploded view in perspective. The pair of retaining bands 134 is attached to the transverse section 127 by two pins 140, which are locatable in holes 141 in the transverse section 127. The position of the hollow support piece 121 on the transverse tubular piece 124 is maintained by the addition of side pieces 142, 143.

Referring to Fig. 8, part of the side support 106 is illustrated in perspective. The transverse tubular piece 124 is seated in the U shaped cups 126 on the transverse section 127 and the retaining bands 134 are holding the transverse tubular piece 124 in place. The hollow support piece 121 can pivot about the transverse section 127 to facilitate the adjustment of the side support 106.