Boat trailer loading guide

• US 4,209,279 A
• Filed: 09/18/1978
• Issued: 06/24/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Leon J. Aasen
• Original Assignee: Leon J. Aasen
• Inventors: Aasen, Leon J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Oresky, Lawrence J.
• Application Number:
  US05/943,320
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 193/35 R, 280/414 R, 414/534, 414/535, 414/533, 414/532, 414/529, 414/494, 198/785
• US Class Current: 414/534
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/1075 Guiding means for loading the boat using rollers B60P3/1066

Abstract

This invention relates to a loading guide removably mountable on a boat trailer to maintain a centering and guiding force on the boat hull as it is moved on the guide rollers through a winch and cable system associated with the trailer. The loading guide employs a pair of crossed guide levers pivotally connected to the loading guide and having guide roller members at the ends of the same. The guide levers are pivotally interconnected at their point of crossing on the frame of the loading guide and the opposite ends are interconnected through links coupled to a tensioning spring which applies a force to the roller members on the ends of the crossed guide levers engaging the boat hull for centering the same. The guide levers, which are biased from the single spring, insure a positive centering force which increases as the hull is displaced from a centered position to insure positive centering of a boat on a trailer.

Claims

1. A boat trailer loading guide for a boat trailer having a transverse beam at its rear end comprising:

(a) a pair of upright crossed guide levers pivotally interconnected at their point of crossing and each having lower end portions extending downwardly therefrom in spaced relation and having laterally spaced upper portions;

(b) a pair of links each of which is pivotally connected to the lower end portion of its respective guide lever and said pair being pivotally interconnected at a point along their length remote from their points of connection to their respective guide levers;

(c) means connected with said links for constraining said point of pivotal interconnection for vertical movement;

(d) bias means engaging said links adjacent their point of pivotal interconnection and biasing the upper portions of said guide levers toward each other through said links;

(e) a pair of boat engaging and guiding members, one each of which is carried by the upper end portion of one of said guide levers; and

(f) beam-engaging means connected to said guide levers and pivotally supporting the same at their point of crossing and constructed and arranged to engage such a rear beam of such a boat trailer to thereby pivotally mount said guide levers thereupon in transverse upright boat-receiving and guiding relation.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein:

(g) said bias means comprises a compression-type spring engaging said links adjacent their point of interconnection and biasing the interconnected portions of said links away from the point of interconnection of said guide levers whereby said boat-engaging and guiding members are biased toward each other.

3. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein:

(h) said bias means includes a rigid tubular member and a spring disposed within said tubular member and biasing the interconnected portions of said links away from the said point of interconnection of said guide levers;

(i) said tubular member being mounted on said beam-engaging means.

4. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein;

(j) said bias means includes a rigid tubular member fixedly mounted on said beam-engaging means and a compression-type spring mounted within said tubular member in biasing relation with the interconnected portions of said links;

(k) said guide levers being pivotally mounted at their point of crossing upon said tubular member;

(l) said spring biasing said interconnected portions of said links away from the point of interconnection of said guide levers.

5. The structure defined in claim 1 and:

(m) a rigid tubular member fixedly mounted on said beam-engaging means;

(n) said tubular member having a longitudinally slotted side wall;

(o) said bias means comprising an upright compression-type spring confined within said tubular member,

(p) said bias means including a connector extending through said slot beneath the lower end portion of said spring and between the interconnected portions of said links and connecting the same and moving upwardly and downwardly therewith within said slot as said guide levers are pivoted relative to each other.

6. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein

(q) said guide levers are pivotally connected at their point of crossing upon said beam-engaging means.

7. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein

(r) said beam-engaging means comprises a clamping member upon which said guide levers are pivotally mounted at their point of crossing.

8. In a boat-transporting vehicle,

(a) a boat trailer constructed and arranged to support and transport a boat thereupon and having a transversely extending rear beam;

(b) a removable clamp member constructed and arranged to be mounted upon said rear beam in fixed relation thereto and including a mounting plate as one element of said member

(c) a rigid tubular member fixedly mounted on said mounting plate in upright relation and having a slotted vertically side wall extending in a plane generally parallel to said rear beam and rearwardly thereof;

(d) a compression-type spring contained within said tubular member and extending longitudinally thereof and having its lower end portion free to move vertically upon compression of said spring;

(e) a pair of upright crossed guide-levers pivotally interconnected at their point of crossing and pivotally mounted upon said tubular member, each of said guide levers having lower end portions extending downwardly in spaced relation and having laterally spaced upper portions;

(f) a pair of links each of which is pivotally connected adjacent one of its ends to the lower end portion of one of said guide levers and extends downwardly therefrom and is pivotally connected to the other of said links adjacent its opposite end portion;

(g) means extending through said slot and engaging said pivotally connected end portions of said links with the lower end portion of said spring;

(h) said spring biasing said links downwardly and thereby urging said upper portions of said guide levers toward each other, and

(i) a pair of boat-engaging and guiding rollers, one each of which is rotatably mounted upon said upper portions of one of said guide levers of guiding a boat as it is brought to bear thereagainst during boat-loading operations.

9. A boat trailer loading guide for a boat trailer having a transverse beam at its rear end comprising:

(a) a pair of upright crossed guide levers pivotally interconnected at their point of crossing and each having lower end portions extending downwardly therefrom in spaced relation and having laterally spaced upper portions;

(b) linkage means pivotally connected to the lower end portions of said guide levers and including a point of pivotal interconnection at a point remote from said pivotal connection to the lower end portions of said guide levers;

(c) means connected with said linkage means for constraining said point of pivotal interconnection for vertical movement;

(d) bias means engaging said last named means at its point of pivotal interconnection and biasing the upper portions of said guide levers toward each other through said means;

(e) a pair of boat engaging and guiding members, one each which is carried by the upper end portion of one of said guide levers; and

(f) beam-engaging means connected to said guide levers and pivotally supporting the same at their point of crossing and constructed and arranged to engage such a rear beam of such a boat trailer to thereby pivotally mount said guide levers thereupon in transverse upright boat-receiving and guiding relation.