초록 ▼

A cradle assembly for moving and positioning an item with respect to a support module in a storage assembly with the item including a bottom. The cradle assembly comprises a plurality of cradle beams, at least one cradle wall vertically extending upward from the plurality of cradle beams, and at lea

A cradle assembly for moving and positioning an item with respect to a support module in a storage assembly with the item including a bottom. The cradle assembly comprises a plurality of cradle beams, at least one cradle wall vertically extending upward from the plurality of cradle beams, and at least one stanchion vertically extending upward from one of the cradle beams. A padded support is operatively attached to the stanchion and positioned to engage the bottom of the item as a cradle assembly moves the item with respect to the support module. A positioning system is operatively connected to the padded support to horizontally and vertically position the padded support with respect to the plurality of the cradle beams to selectively engage the bottom of the item. Each stanchion and padded support includes a reciprocal stanchion and padded support, wherein positioning system selectively spaces the reciprocal padded supports from each other a width that is less than the width of the item being transported.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A cradle assembly for moving and positioning a watercraft with respect to a support module in a watercraft storage assembly, the watercraft including a bottom, the cradle assembly comprising a plurality of cradle beams; at least one cradle wall vertically extending upward fro

What is claimed is: 1. A cradle assembly for moving and positioning a watercraft with respect to a support module in a watercraft storage assembly, the watercraft including a bottom, the cradle assembly comprising a plurality of cradle beams; at least one cradle wall vertically extending upward from one of the cradle beams; at least one stanchion vertically extending upward from one of the cradle beams; a padded support operatively attached to the at least one stanchion and positioned to engage the bottom of the watercraft as the cradle assembly moves the watercraft with respect to the support module; a positioning system operatively connected to the padded support to position the padded support to selectively engage the bottom of the watercraft; and wherein adjacent cradle beams are spaced a distance apart and the padded support substantially spans that distance. 2. The cradle assembly of claim 1, wherein the padded support is pivotally connect to the stanchion and movable in both a horizontal and a vertical direction with respect to the plurality of cradle beams. 3. The cradle assembly of claim 1, further including a guide arm pivotally attached to the stanchion and the padded support and positioned to horizontally and vertically vary the alignment of the padded support with respect to the plurality of cradle beams. 4. The cradle assembly of claim 3, wherein the positioning system is operatively connected to the guide arm to rotate the guide arm about the attachment between the guide arm and the stanchion. 5. The cradle assembly of claim 4, wherein the rotation of the guide arm by the positioning system varies the location of the padded support with respect to the plurality of cradle beams. 6. The cradle assembly of claim 5, wherein the padded support is a pair of guide rollers rotatably attached to the guide arm for protected gripping of the watercraft. 7. The cradle assembly of claim 1, wherein the cradle assembly includes a first and second side and each stanchion and padded support positioned proximate the first side includes a reciprocal stanchion and padded support positioned proximate the second side. 8. The cradle assembly of claim 7, wherein: the watercraft includes a length and the bottom of the watercraft varies along the length; and the positioning system is aligned to selectively position each padded support to correspond to the variance on the bottom of the watercraft. 9. The cradle assembly of claim 8, wherein: the watercraft includes a width, and the positioning system selectively spaces the reciprocal padded supports from each other a width less than the width of the watercraft. 10. A cradle assembly for moving and positioning a watercraft with respect to a support module in a watercraft storage assembly, the watercraft including a bottom, the cradle assembly comprising a plurality of cradle beams; at least one cradle wall vertically extending upward from one of the cradle beams; at least one stanchion vertically extending upward from one of the cradle beams; a padded support operatively attached to the at least one stanchion and positioned to engage the bottom of the watercraft as the cradle assembly moves the watercraft with respect to the support module; a positioning system operatively connected to the padded support to position the padded support to selectively engage the bottom of the watercraft; further including a guide arm pivotally attached to the stanchion and the padded support and positioned to horizontally and vertically vary the alignment of the padded support with respect to the plurality of cradle beams; wherein the positioning system is operatively connected to the guide arm to rotate the guide arm about the attachment between the guide arm and the stanchion; wherein the rotation of the guide arm by the positioning system varies the location of the padded support with respect to the plurality of cradle beams; wherein the padded support is a pair of guide rollers rotatably attached to the guide arm for protected gripping of the watercraft; and wherein adjacent cradle beams are spaced a distance apart and the pair of guide rollers substantially spans that distance. 11. The cradle assembly of claim 10, wherein the pair of guide rollers are rotatably connected to adjacent cradle beams. 12. A cradle assembly for moving and positioning a watercraft with respect to a support module in a watercraft storage assembly, the watercraft including a bottom, the cradle assembly comprising a plurality of cradle beams; at least one cradle wall vertically extending upward from one of the cradle beams; at least one stanchion vertically extending upward from one of the cradle beams; a padded support operatively attached to the at least one stanchion and positioned to engage the bottom of the watercraft as the cradle assembly moves the watercraft with respect to the support module; a positioning system operatively connected to the padded support to position the padded support to selectively engage the bottom of the watercraft; and wherein the stanchion is slideably connected to the one of the cradle beams and horizontally positionable with respect to one of the cradle beams. 13. The cradle assembly of claim 12, wherein the padded support is slideably connect to the stanchion and movable in a vertical direction with respect to the plurality of cradle beams. 14. The cradle assembly of claim 13, wherein the padded support is pivotally connect to the stanchion to vary the orientation of the padded support with respect to the plurality of cradle beams. 15. The cradle assembly of claim 14, wherein the padded support is a polyurethane pad for protected gripping of the watercraft. 16. A cradle assembly for moving and positioning a watercraft with respect to a support module in a watercraft storage assembly, the watercraft including a bottom, the cradle assembly comprising a plurality of cradle beams; at least one cradle wall vertically extending upward from one of the cradle beams; at least one stanchion vertically extending upward from one of the cradle beams; a padded support operatively attached to the at least one stanchion and positioned to engage the bottom of the watercraft as the cradle assembly moves the watercraft with respect to the support module; a positioning system operatively connected to the padded support to position the padded support to selectively engage the bottom of the watercraft; and further including a floating centering assembly attached to the cradle wall, the floating centering assembly attached to the cradle wall and comprising at least one pair of buoyant arms to direct the watercraft to the center of the cradle assembly by applying pressure to sides of the watercraft. 17. A cradle assembly for moving and positioning an item with respect to a support module in a storage assembly, the item including a bottom, the cradle assembly comprising a plurality of cradle beams; at least one cradle wall vertically extending upward from the plurality of cradle beams; at least one stanchion vertically extending upward from one of the cradle beams; a padded support operatively attached to the at least one stanchion and positioned to engage the bottom of the item as the cradle assembly moves the item with respect to the support module; and a positioning system operatively connected to the padded support to horizontally and vertically position the padded support with respect to the plurality of cradle beams to selectively engage the bottom of the item; wherein adjacent cradle beams are spaced a distance apart and the padded support substantially spans that distance; and wherein the stanchion is slideably connected to the one of the cradle beams and horizontally positionable with respect to one of the cradle beams. 18. The cradle assembly of claim 17, wherein the cradle assembly includes a first and second side and each stanchion and padded support positioned proximate the first side includes a reciprocal stanchion and padded support positioned proximate the second side. 19. The cradle assembly of claim 18, wherein the positioning system selectively spaces the reciprocal padded supports from each other a width less than the width of the item. 20. A cradle assembly for use in a watercraft storage system including a support wall, at least two watercraft support modules mounted and stacked in relationship to said support wall, said support modules each including a pair of cantilever beams having opposing ends, one of each set of opposing ends being attached to said support wall and the other end of each set of opposing ends cantilevering out from said support wall, a remote support unit spaced from said support wall in a direction of the other opposing ends of said beams and beyond the said other ends of said beams, the cradle assembly comprising: a plurality of cradle beams having a left and right side; a cradle wall vertically extending upward from each side of the cradle beams; a plurality of stanchions vertically extending upward from each of the cradle beams; a padded support operatively connect to the stanchion and positionable in both a horizontal and a vertical direction with respect to the plurality of cradle beams to engage the bottom of the watercraft as the cradle assembly moves the watercraft with respect to the cantilever beams; and a positioning system operatively connected to the padded support and aligned to selectively position each padded support to correspond to the variance on the bottom of the watercraft.