Land vehicles – Wheeled – Articulated vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-31
2001-06-19
Johnson, Brian L. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Articulated vehicle
C280S414200, C280S414300, C280S638000, C280S656000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247719
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to trailers, and in particular, to a trailer for accommodating various sized watercraft thereon.
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
Typically, watercraft trailers are used to transport predetermined types of watercraft over a distance. However, in recent years, boat manufactures have introduced a plurality of new watercraft in order to attract new customers. These types of watercraft come in a variety of styles and sizes to satisfy the needs of those potential customers. With the increase in the number of styles and sizes of watercraft available, a corresponding need has arisen to provide a watercraft trailer which is more adaptable and which can accommodate many of the various styles and sizes of new watercraft.
Heretofore, most watercraft trailers which have been designed to accommodate various styles and sizes of watercraft have been unsatisfactory. Cumbersome and time consuming mechanisms are often used for repositioning elements of the watercraft trailer such as the bow stops and the bunk elements. In fact, in most watercraft trailers, the spacing between a pair of bunk elements on the watercraft trailer cannot be adjusted to accommodate the different bottoms associated with different types of watercraft, or if adjustable, only through a complicated and tedious process.
A trailer which overcomes most of the limitations in the art is disclosed in Priesgen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,559 which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention, Triton Corporation, and is incorporated herein by reference. The watercraft trailer disclosed in the '559 patent accommodates a plurality of various sized watercraft thereon. The watercraft trailer includes a bow stop assembly slidably mounted to the frame structure of the trailer. Pairs of bunk elements are also mounted to the frame structure. Each bunk element of a pair of bunk elements is slidable in unison with the other bunk element of the pair to adapt the watercraft trailer to various styles and sizes of watercraft.
While functional for its intended purpose, the watercraft trailer disclosed in the '559 patent has limitations. By way of example, the position of the bunk elements may not be adjusted along the longitudinal axis of the trailer. As a result, the watercraft trailer in the '559 patent is limited for use in connection with watercraft of predetermined lengths. Further, the spacing between each bunk element of a pair of bunk elements cannot be adjusted. This, in turn, limits the watercraft trailer disclosed in the '559 patent to use in connection with watercraft having bottoms of predetermined styles and/or widths. As such, the trailer disclosed in the '559 patent is restricted to use in connection with the specific types of watercraft for which it was designed.
Therefore, it is a primary object and feature of the present invention to provide a watercraft trailer which accommodates various styles and sizes of watercraft.
It is a further object and feature of the present invention to provide a watercraft trailer which includes bunk elements which are easily repositionable to accommodate watercraft of different styles and sizes.
It is a still further object and feature of the present invention to provide a watercraft trailer which is simple to utilize and inexpensive to manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a trailer is provided. The trailer includes a frame structure extending along a longitudinal axis. The frame structure has first and second side portions and first and second cross frame members transverse to the longitudinal axis and interconnecting the side portions. A wheel and axle assembly extends along an axle axis transverse to the longitudinal axis to the frame structure. The wheel and axle assembly is mounted to the side portions of the frame structure for supporting the frame structure above a supporting surface. First and second bunk elements are supported by the frame structure. The first bunk element is movable along the axis transverse to the longitudinal axis in order to vary the distance between the bunk elements.
The trailer may include a mounting assembly for interconnecting the first bunk element to the frame structure at a user selected position thereon. The mounting assembly includes a guide track interconnected to the frame structure and a connection bracket having a first end interconnected to the bunk element and a second end slidable along the guide track. The connection structure further includes a fastening assembly. The fastening assembly retains the second end of the connection bracket at the user selected position along the guide track. The first end of the connection bracket includes first and second mounting structures extending therefrom. The first bunk element is selectively mounted to one of the mounting structures.
It is contemplated to provide a second connection bracket. The second connection bracket has a first end interconnected to the bunk element and a second end rigidly connected to the frame structure. It is further contemplated that the first bunk element may be movable along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the frame structure between the first forward position and the second rearward position.
In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention, a trailer is provided. The trailer includes a frame structure extending along a longitudinal axis. A wheel and axle assembly extends along an axle axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the frame structure. The wheel and axle assembly supports the frame structure above a supporting surface. First and second bunk elements are supported on the frame structure. Each bunk element is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the frame structure and the first bunk element is slidable along a sliding axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the frame structure. A mounting assembly is provided for interconnecting the first bunk element to the frame structure. A fastening element maintains the first bunk element at a user selected position along the sliding axis.
The frame structure may include first and second side portions and first and second cross frame members transverse to the longitudinal axis and interconnecting the side portions. The wheel and axle assembly is mounted to the side portions of the frame structure.
It is contemplated that the mounting assembly include a guide track mounted to one of the cross frame members and a connection bracket slidable within the guide track. The fastening element interconnects the connection bracket and the guide track to retain the first bunk element in the user selected position. The connection bracket includes first and second mounts extending therefrom. Each mount having a forward and a rearward edge. A connection element pivotably connects the first bunk element to a user selected mount of the connection bracket. The first bunk element is movable along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the frame structure between a first forward position and a second rearward position. The first bunk element includes a mounting flange which abuts the forward edge of the user selected bunk with the first bunk element in the forward position and abuts the rearward edge of the user selected mount with the first bunk element in the rearward position.
In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention, a trailer is provided. The trailer includes a frame structure extending along the longitudinal axis and a wheel and axle assembly extending along an axle assembly transverse to the longitudinal axis of the frame structure. The wheel and axle assembly supports the frame structure above a supporting surface. First and second bunk elements are supported on the frame structure. The first bunk element is movable along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the frame structure between the first forward position and a second rearward position. A fastening element retains the first bunk element in the user selected position a
Priesgen Tony P.
Youmans Gary L.
Boyle Fridrickson Newholm Stein & Gratz S.C.
Draper Deanna
Johnson Brian L.
Triton Corporation
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