Systems and methods of providing visual guidance to assist in positioning a boat and trailer in low light conditions

• US 9,744,895 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2016
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aqualane, Llc
• Original Assignee: Aqualane, Llc
• Inventors: Wiegand, Nicholas Karl, Modaragamage, Dilshan Thilina
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Application Number:
  US15/085,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20160207437A1
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 340985, 114344, 116 28 R, 2804141, 414483
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/36 for facilitating connection, e.g. hitch catchers , visual guide means, signalling aids B60D1/465 takes precedence; vehicle signalling in general B60Q; optical arrangements specially adapted for viewing trailer-hitches B60R1/003
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/1033 on a loading frame, e.g. the vehicle being a trailer B60P3/1008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/1075 Guiding means for loading the boat using rollers B60P3/1066
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 22/166 comprising a light
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 3/02 by longitudinal movement of vessel
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 3/12 using cradles vehicles in general for transporting boats or the like B60P
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 3/00 Traffic control systems for marine craft marking of navigational route B63B22/16, B63B51/00

Abstract

Embodiments described herein include a visual guidance system for a boat trailer that can include a housing defining a cavity, the housing having a plurality of openings such that fluid can pass into the cavity, a first track and a second track, where the first track and the second track have a substantially vertical orientation, and a laser head mounted on the first track and the second track that can include a housing, a laser module positioned within the housing that is configured to provide a first illumination beam, and a float.

Claims

1. A visual guidance system comprising:

a. an elongated track;

b. a first laser head, the first laser head being coupled with the elongated track, wherein the first laser head is pivotally and vertically moveable relative to the elongated track, the first laser head comprising;

i. a first housing defining a first housing cavity;

ii. a first laser module positioned within the housing cavity to provide a first illumination beam; and

iii. a first float associated with the first laser head such that the first laser head is configured to be buoyed by fluid and is movable along the track in response to changes in fluid height or volume.

2. The visual guidance system of claim 1, wherein the first laser module is a laser from about 5 mW to about 100 mW having a collimated laser beam from about 3 mm to about 100 mm in diameter.

3. The visual guidance system of claim 1, wherein the first laser head further includes a grating to perform beam shaping.

4. The visual guidance system of claim 1, wherein the first laser head is substantially parallel to the surface of the fluid when buoyed by the fluid.

5. The visual guidance system of claim 1, wherein the first laser head is substantially perpendicular to the track when buoyed by the fluid.

6. The visual guidance system of claim 1, wherein the first housing includes a first window.

7. The visual guidance system of claim 1, wherein the first float buoys the first laser head such that the first illumination beam projects substantially along the surface of a body of water.

8. The visual guidance system of claim 1, wherein the first float buoys the first laser head such that the first illumination beam projects substantially below the surface of a body of water.

9. The visual guidance system of claim 1, wherein the first laser head further comprises a balancing weight.

10. The visual guidance system of claim 1, wherein the first illumination beam is activated when the first laser head contacts the fluid.

11. The visual guidance system of claim 1, wherein the first laser module is controlled wirelessly.

12. The visual guidance system of claim 1, further comprising a second laser head, the second laser head being coupled with the track, wherein the second laser head is pivotally and vertically moveable relative to the track and, the second laser head comprising;

a. a second housing defining a second housing cavity;

b. second laser module positioned within the second housing cavity configured to provide a second illumination beam; and

c. a second float associated with the second laser head.

13. The visual guidance system of claim 12, wherein the first laser head is positioned substantially above the second laser head on the track.

14. The visual guidance system of claim 12, wherein the first float buoys the first laser head such that the first illumination beam projects substantially along the surface of a body of water and the second float buoys the second laser head such that the second illumination beam projects substantially under the body of water.

15. The visual guidance system of claim 1, wherein the first laser head further includes at least one shock absorber.

16. The visual guidance system of claim 1, wherein the first laser head further includes a desiccant replacement window and an associated desiccant.

17. The visual guidance system of claim 1, wherein the first laser module is coupled with a pivot collar that is associated with a pivot shaft and a pivot bushing.

18. A visual guidance system comprising:

a. a guidance system housing;

b. an elongated track positioned at least partially within the guidance system housing;

c. a first laser head, the first laser head being coupled with the elongated track, wherein the first laser head is pivotally and vertically moveable relative to the elongated track, the first laser head comprising;

i. a first housing defining a first housing cavity;

ii. a first laser module positioned within the housing cavity to provide a first illumination beam; and

iii. a first float associated with the first laser head such that the first laser head is buoyed by fluid and is movable along the track in response to changes in fluid height or volume.

19. A visual guidance system comprising:

a. an elongated track;

b. a first laser head, the first laser head being coupled with the elongated track, wherein the first laser head is moveable relative to the elongated track, the first laser head comprising;

i. a first housing defining a first housing cavity;

ii. a first laser module positioned within the housing cavity to provide a first illumination beam; and

iii. a first float associated with the first laser head such that the first laser head is buoyed by fluid;

c. a second laser head, the second laser head being coupled with the elongated track, wherein the second laser head is moveable relative to the elongated track and, the second laser head comprising;

i. a second housing defining a second housing cavity;

ii. second laser module positioned within the second housing cavity configured to provide a second illumination beam; and

iii. a second float associated with the second laser head.

20. The visual guidance system of claim 19, wherein the first laser head is positioned substantially above the second laser head on the track.