Spring-biased boat trailer winch stand

• US 9,315,139 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2014
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: William J. Hyslop
• Original Assignee: William J. Hyslop
• Inventors: Hyslop, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morrow, Jason S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Westbrook, Sunsurraye
• Application Number:
  US14/584,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20150183362A1
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 410/2, 410/3, 410/77, 410/44, 410/7, 410/80, 410/69, 410/156, 410/121, 410/120, 410/4, 410/81, 410/96, 410/100, 410/103, 280/414.1, 280/789, 280/781, 280/30, 280/4, 280/656, 280/140, 280/141, 280/142, 296/3, 296/184.1, 296/186.1, 296/20, 296/26.08, 296/26.09, 414/800, 414/470, 414/494, 414/139.4, 414/146, 414/23, 248/640, 248/643, 248/127, 248/188.1, 248/225.11, 298/17.6, 298/17.7, 298/22.D
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/1066 Arrangement of supports, rollers or winches on the vehicle

Abstract

When a boat is loaded onto a boat trailer, it is locked on by the automatic latching device and is held in the full forward position by the winch strap. The boat keel is now on top of the automatic latching device which compresses the spring on a T-shaped member and increases the contact surface pressure between the automatic latching device and the boat keel. Any vertical movement or bounce by the boat keel during transport compresses the spring and adds additional pressure between the two surfaces. The automatic latching device and the boat keel are now joined together in effect as a unitary unit and moves in that fashion one relative to the other wherein movement is essentially transferred to the elongated holes in the winch stand uprights. By eliminating any movement between the automatic latching device and the boat keel, surface marking of the keel has been eliminated. Further, any likely wear of the contacted portion of the automatic latching device will be less.

Claims

1. A winch stand for a boat trailer for use in transporting a boat, said winch stand comprising:

a first frame member which is constructed and arranged to be assembled to a boat trailer;

a second frame member which is attached to said first frame member and is constructed and arranged so as to be movable relative to said first frame member; and

spring means positioned between said first frame member and said second frame member for applying a spring-biasing force on said second frame member.

2. The winch stand of claim 1 wherein said second frame member is adapted to rotate relative to said first frame member.

3. The winch stand of claim 2 wherein said second frame member includes abutment means for engaging said first frame member to limit rotation of said second frame member.

4. The winch stand of claim 3 wherein said second frame member is attached to said first frame member by a securing fastener which defines an axis of rotation for said second frame member.

5. The winch stand of claim 4 wherein said first frame member includes a slotted clearance hole for said securing fastener.

6. The winch stand of claim 3 wherein said abutment means is a square headed bolt.

7. The winch stand of claim 1 wherein said spring means is a coil spring which engages a portion of a securing fastener at a first end and a shelf at a second end.

8. The winch stand of claim 7 wherein said shelf is secured to said first frame member.

9. The winch stand of claim 8 wherein said securing fastener defines an axis of rotation for said second frame member relative to said first frame member.

10. The winch stand of claim 1 wherein said winch stand is adapted to receive an automatic latching device.

11. The winch stand of claim 10 wherein said second frame member is constructed and arranged to be attached to a portion of said automatic latching device.

12. A winch stand for a boat trailer for use in transporting a boat, said winch stand comprising:

a stationary frame member which is constructed and arranged to be assembled to a boat trailer;

a movable frame member which is attached to said stationary frame member and is constructed and arranged so as to be movable relative to said stationary frame member; and

spring means positioned between said stationary frame member and said movable frame member for applying a spring-biasing force to said movable frame member.

13. The winch stand of claim 12 wherein said movable frame member is adapted to rotate relative to said stationary frame member.

14. The winch stand of claim 13 wherein said movable frame member includes abutment means for engaging said stationary frame member to limit rotation of said movable frame member.

15. The winch stand of claim 14 wherein said movable frame member is attached to said stationary frame member by a securing fastener which defines an axis of rotation for said movable frame member.

16. The winch stand of claim 15 wherein said stationary frame member includes a slotted clearance hole for said securing fastener.

17. The winch stand of claim 12 wherein said spring means is a coil spring which engages a portion of a securing fastener at a first end and a shelf at a second end.

18. The winch stand of claim 17 wherein said shelf is secured to said stationary frame member.

19. The winch stand of claim 18 wherein said securing fastener defines an axis of rotation for said movable frame member relative to said stationary frame member.

20. The winch stand of claim 12 wherein said winch stand is adapted to receive an automatic latching device.