Signals and indicators – Vehicle – Curb feelers
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-16
2001-03-13
Hirshfeld, Andrew H. (Department: 2859)
Signals and indicators
Vehicle
Curb feelers
C116S228000, C116S215000, C280S477000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199503
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a guide to assist the operator of a vehicle in tracking the position of an attached, unloaded, boat trailer when the trailer is being backed in to the water, and in particular to a guide that will automatically assume an upright position when the trailer is out of the water, but which will be automatically lowered when the trailer is backed into the water, preventing damage to the guide when a boat is loaded onto the trailer.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Numerous prior art devices have been proposed to assist the driver of a towing vehicle in ascertaining the position of an attached, empty boat trailer. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,596,944 to Massie describes a guide device comprised of a mounting bracket for attaching the device to a boat trailer, and an elongated signal rod or staff that is pivotally attached to the bracket. The signal rod has a weighted lower end, urging the rod to the vertical position. When the trailer is empty, the rod rotates to the vertical position. Contact of the rod with a boat loaded onto the trailer forces the rod to a horizontal position beneath the boat.
Another guide device, described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,251 to Willmsen, uses a water scoop at the lower end of the rod to scoop water when the boat is backed into the water. Thus, as with the Massie device, the rod is in an upright position when the trailer is empty, whether the trailer is in or out of the water, and is forced to a horizontal position when the trailer is loaded.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,958,436 to Tusche describes a trailer hitch guide comprised of a plurality of signal flags attached to the boat trailer with springs, so that the flags are normally in an upright position. When the trailer is loaded, the boat forces the flags to a horizontal position beneath the boat.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,863,594 to Gawthorp describes a similar structure, except that the flags are manually moved to the desired position. The flags are attached to the trailer in positions such that the flags do not contact or otherwise interfere with loading or unloading the boat.
One of the major difficulties with these prior art devices, with the exception of the Gawthorp device, is the fact that they rub against the boat hull during loading and unloading, potentially damaging or even breaking the device. Gawthorp recognizes this problem, but requires manual movement of the device between raised and lowered positions, which can be inconvenient when the driver is alone, especially if the boat trailer is in the water.
Thus, there is a continuing need for a boat trailer guide device that will assist the driver of a towed vehicle in determining the position of an empty boat trailer, especially when the trailer is being backed into the water. There is especially a need for a device that will automatically assume a raised, visual position when the unloaded trailer is out of the water, and a lowered, protected position when the trailer is in the water.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is based upon the recognition that the only time it is necessary to see the trailer guide is when the trailer is out of the water. Once the trailer is in the water, the objective has been achieved. Therefore, the present invention is directed to a boat trailer guide that automatically assumes an upright position when the empty boat trailer is out of the water, and a lowered position when the empty trailer is in the water.
As a result of this construction, the guide is in a lowered or horizontal position when the boat is unloaded or loaded. The guide is positioned so that all of its elements are at a level below the path of the boat. Therefore, the risk of damage or breakage of the guide is eliminated without requiring manual lowering of the device.
The boat trailer guide of the present invention is adapted to be attached to the frame of a boat trailer. Normally, these trailers will be comprised of a metal frame that includes spaced longitudinal frame members joined by lateral frame members, with one of the lateral frame members being located adjacent the rear of the trailer. The trailer is supported on a wheeled axle, and usually includes a pair of spaced longitudinal support skids upon which the boat rests, and a plurality of grooved rollers to facilitate loading and unloading, and also support the boat. A hitch, such as a ball hitch, is mounted at the front of the trailer for attachment to a towing vehicle.
Generally, the boat trailer guide is comprised of a mounting bracket and an elongated signal member pivotally attached to the bracket, so that the signal member is pivotal between raised and lowered positions. The device is designed and mounted so that the guide, when in the signal member is in the lowered position, is entirely beneath the path taken by the boat during loading and unloading, thereby avoiding the risk of damage to the device.
The bracket, which may be of various designs, is desirably mounted near the rear of the trailer, and preferably on the rear lateral frame member, so that the bracket and lower part of the signal device will be immersed when the rear of the trailer enters the water. Preferably, the bracket includes a mounting plate and parallel arms to which the signal member is attached.
The signal member is comprised of a staff, for example an aluminum or fiberglass rod or tube, preferably with a flag or other indicator at its upper end to improve visibility. Visability may also be improved by using a staff of a bright or florescent color. A flotation element having a total density less than water, and a weight greater than the weight of the staff is attached to the lower end of the staff. The member is pivotally attached to the bracket between the staff and flotation device.
Thus, when the guide device is out of the water, the weight of the flotation element will pivot the signal member to the upright position, since the weight of the segment of the member below the pivot position is greater that the weight of the segment above the pivot position. However, when the flotation element is immersed in water, the element will tend to rise, thereby lowering the attached staff.
Preferably, the flotation element is rearwardly offset at a small angle, e.g., about 5-30 from the longitudinal axis of the staff when the signal member is pivotally attached to the bracket. As a result, the flotation element will move upwardly on the rear side of the bracket when immersed, lowering the staff toward the front of the trailer, where it will be protected inside the trailer frame.
In order to avoid contact with the boat, the bracket is mounted at a level below the upper surfaces of the boat skids and rollers. The bracket desirably includes a horizontal arm attached at its rear end to the trailer's rear lateral frame member and a forward distal end, and a signal member attachment element attached to the distal end of the horizontal arm. The signal member attachment element may be U-shaped element with a pair of spaced, downwardly extending arms having openings or other means at their distal ends to receive a pivot pin or rod upon which the signal member is mounted.
When a signal member having a rearwardly offset flotation element is pivotally mounted onto a bracket of this configuration, the flotation element will move rearwardly and upwardly to a protected position beneath the frame attachment element when the rear of the trailer is immersed, thereby lowering the signal staff to a generally horizontal position at a horizontal level beneath the level of the upper surfaces of the boat skids and rollers.
Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention is to provide a boat trailer guide that is automatically raised when the unloaded trailer is out of the water, and automatically lowered when the guide is immersed in the water so that the guide will not be damaged during loading and unloading of a boat.
These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after a reading of the followin
Hirshfeld Andrew H.
Rhodes & Mason PLLC
Smith R. Alexander
LandOfFree
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