Boat Latch

• US 20080265543A1
• Filed: 08/26/2005
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boat Latch Pty Limited, Geoffrey Calton Davis
• Original Assignee: Geoffrey Calton Davis
• Inventors: Codd, Brian Donald, Davis, Geoffrey Calton
• Granted Patent: US 8,721,239 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/1066 Arrangement of supports, rollers or winches on the vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for assisting the loading and unloading of a boat in relation to a boat trailer, including a snare at or toward a front of the boat, and a latch on the boat trailer which is adapted to adopt at least one of two positions, a first of which allows for a releasable engagement of the snare by the latch, and a second of which allows for a release from such engagement, and a lever to move the latch between the two positions.

Claims

1. An apparatus for assisting the loading and unloading of a boat in relation to a boat trailer, the apparatus including a snare at or toward a front of the boat, a latch on the boat trailer which is adapted to adopt at least one of two positions, a first of which allows for a releasable engagement of the snare by the latch, and a second of which allows for a release from such engagement, and a means to move the latch between the two positions, wherein the latch is adapted to permit the snare and boat to be drawn from their releasable engagement with the latch, to a position adapted to facilitate transportation of the boat upon the trailer.

2. The apparatus as in claim 1, further characterized in that when the latch is in the first position, it is adapted to automatically engage the snare when the boat is driven or drawn onto the trailer.

3. The apparatus as in claim 1, further characterized in that the means for drawing the snare and boat from their releasable engagement with the latch, is a winch.

4. The apparatus as in claim 1, further characterized in that the means to move the latch between the two positions is a lever.

5. The apparatus as in claim 1, further characterized in that the latch includes a body, a hook portion and the lever, wherein the hook portion and the lever are both pivotally connected to the body.

6. The apparatus as in claim 1, further characterized in that the hook is biased toward the lever by resilient biasing means.

7. The apparatus as in claim 1, further characterized in that when the latch is in the first position, the lever extends to a first side of the body, and the latch can be set to the second position by rotating the lever around to the other side of the body.

8. The apparatus as in claim 1, further characterized in that when the hook is in either of the first or second positions, the two ends of the resilient biasing means are on the same side of the point at which the hook pivotally connects to the body.

9. The apparatus as in claim 1, further characterized in that the hook has a neck with a first end, and a second end distal from the first end, and a head at the second end, wherein the head extends on either side of the neck.

10. The apparatus as in claim 1, further characterized in that the neck of the hook is pivotally attached to the body at its first end, and the head is angled relative to the neck.

11. The apparatus as in claim 1, further characterized in that when the latch is in the first capture position, the body of the latch and the neck of the hook are substantially collinear.

12. The apparatus as in claim 1, further characterized in that the head has a forward edge and a rear edge, wherein the forward edge subtends an acute angle relative to the neck of the hook shaped portion.

13. The apparatus as in claim 1, further characterized in that the forward edge of the hook is the initial contact surface between the snare and the latch.

14. The apparatus as in claim 1, further characterized in that the lever has a first end, and a second distal end, the lever being pivotally attached to the body of the latch at its first end.

15. The apparatus as in claim 1, further characterized in that the biasing means is a helical spring having a first end, and a second distal end, wherein the first end is attached to the neck of the hook, and the second end is attached to a point on the lever that is spaced apart from the point at which the lever pivotally connects to the body of the latch.

16. The apparatus as in claim 1, further characterized in that the lever is pivotally attached to the body at the same point that the hook portion pivotally attaches to the body.

17. A method of assisting the loading of a boat in relation to a boat trailer using the apparatus described in claim 1, including the steps of setting the latch to the first position using the latch movement means, reversing the trailer into the water to a sufficient depth that the boat can be driven onto the trailer, and driving the boat onto the trailer until the latch releasably engages the snare on the boat.

18. The method as in claim 17 further characterized in that there is the further step of winching the boat from this position, into a more secure position in which the boat can be transported on the trailer.

19. A method of assisting the unloading of a boat in relation to a boat trailer using the apparatus described in claim 1, including the steps of setting the latch to the first position using the latch movement means, reversing the trailer into the water to a sufficient depth that the boat can be launched from the trailer, winching the boat from the position in which the boat was transported until the latch and snare engage, and using the latch movement means to move the latch from said first position to the second position, and driving or drawing the boat forward slightly, thereby releasing the snare from engagement with the latch.

20-22. -22. (canceled)