Abstract:
A loading device and method hydraulically support or move rollers, in order to deal with loading unloading bulky or heavy objects, such as a boat from a trailer.

Description:
This invention relates to a loading device and method, and more particularly to a loading device and method suitable for lifting a bulky item to transport base or lowering that from the transport base. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Maneuvering or handling a bulky, possibly heavy, object is difficult. To develop an easily operable device to assist with those functions can provide great advantages to a person, who routinely must deal with that bulky object. Yet, the combination of bulk and weight mitigates against a simple solution to the problem. 
     This will especially be true with regard to water craft. Many people enjoy owning a boat and using the same. Transporting the boat from point to point, for either use or storage is greatly complicated by the size and weight of the boat. In an attempt to solve this problem, a boat owner is known to use of a procedure known as power loading. This procedure involves aligning a boat up with the trailer and using the motor of the boat to load or put the boat on the trailer. 
     There are problems with a water craft user who is power loading a boat onto a trailer at the boat launch. Power loading is loading the water craft onto the trailer by using the motor of the water craft. Using this type of propeller action will ruin the dredging work that is usually done at a boat launch. Some boats are designed to drive off the water and onto the trailer. 
     An alternative for the power loading boat process is to use a winch for loading. The line required for a winch can create problems. The durability of the winch creates other problems. 
     With power loading, the resulting propeller wash can erode the sediment just beyond the ramp surface, creating a large hole. The eroded sediment is deposited behind the propeller, creating a mound. Trailer tires can get stuck in these holes, and boats can run aground on the mound. Instead of power loading, other devices are better for loading the trailer with the boat. 
     Use of rollers to overcome these problems create more difficulties. If the rollers are high enough to be effective, damaged the boat, usually below the waterline, can occur. If the rollers are low in an attempt to minimize such damage, ease of loading and unloading, especially of a boat, is compromised. Furthermore, the roller system has to easily allow loading of the boat, while at the same time, provide stability and security while the boat is loaded on the trailer. To provide one of these requirements, usually weakens the ability for the roller system to provide the other. 
     Clearly, it is very desirable to develop a system to overcome these problems with a boat or other heavy, bulky items. If this system is durable and reliable, problems with those items can be greatly reduced. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Among the many objectives of the present invention is the provision of a loading device and method for use on heavy or bulky objects. 
     Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a loading device and method, which has durability. 
     Also, an objective of the present invention is the provision of a loading device and method, which has reliability. 
     Moreover, an objective of the present invention is the provision of a loading device and method, which has great utility. 
     A further objective is the provision of a loading device and method for use on a boat. 
     Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a loading device and method, which has durability for use on a boat and in the marine environment. 
     Also, an objective of the present invention is the provision of a loading device and method, which has reliability for use on a boat and in the marine environment. 
     Moreover, an objective of the present invention is the provision of a loading device and method, which has great utility for use on a boat. 
     These and other objectives of the invention (which other objectives become clear by consideration of the specification, claims and drawings as a whole) are met by providing a loading device and method, which hydraulically supports or moves rollers, in order to deal with bulky or heavy objects. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of the loading device  100  of this invention in use on a boat trailer  102 . 
         FIG. 2  depicts a perspective view of the loading device  100  of this invention in use on a boat trailer  102 . 
         FIG. 3  depicts a perspective view of the roller assembly  120  for loading device  100  of this invention. 
         FIG. 4  depicts a perspective view of the static end  124  for roller assembly  120  of the loading device  100  of this invention. 
         FIG. 5  depicts a perspective view of the static end  124  for roller assembly  120  of the loading device  100  of this invention. 
         FIG. 6  depicts a perspective view of the hydraulic end  122  used with the roller assembly  120  of the loading device  100  of this invention. 
         FIG. 7  depicts a partially exploded perspective view of roller assembly  120 . 
         FIG. 8  depicts a side view of the roller assembly  120  of the loading device  100  of this invention in retracted position  130 . 
         FIG. 9  depicts a side view of the roller assembly  120  of the loading device  100  of this invention in use position  140 . 
         FIG. 10  depicts a side view of the housing  150  for the roller assembly  120  of the loading device  100  of this invention. 
         FIG. 11  depicts a top plan view of the housing  150  for the roller assembly  120  of the loading device  100  of this invention. 
         FIG. 12  depicts a top perspective view for a pair of roller assemblies  120  of the loading device  100  of this invention comparing retracted position  130  and use position  140 . 
         FIG. 13  depicts a block diagram for roller assembly  120  of loading device  100 . 
     
    
    
     Throughout the figures of the drawings, where the same part appears in more than one figure of the drawings, the same number is applied thereto. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments of the invention that are illustrated in accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same or similar reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts or steps. The drawings are in simplified form and are not to precise scale. For purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional terms such as top, bottom, left, right, up, over, above, below, beneath, rear, and front, may be used with respect to the drawings. These and similar to directional terms are not to be construed to limit the scope of the invention in any manner. The words attach, connect, couple, and similar terms with their inflectional morphemes do not necessarily denote direct or intermediate connections, but may also include connections through mediate elements or devices. 
     With the loading device of this invention, there is a housing receiving an adjustable wheel or roller assembly, with the adjusting device for the wheel or roller assembly preferably including a hydraulic assembly. The wheels or rollers of the wheel or roller assembly are movable, so that they be contained entirely within the housing as a storage position or raised above a surface of the housing when use is desired. Such a structure is useful for lifting or moving any heavy or bulky object. This loading device is especially useful on boat trailers. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the loading device  100  of this invention is in use on a boat trailer  102 . Boat  104  rests on loading device  100  of this invention. Loading device  100  has housing  150  which contains roller assembly  120 . Hydraulic system  220  is present on hydraulic end  122 . The combination of the roller assembly  120  and hydraulic system  222  is sometimes referred to as adjusting device. In  FIG. 2 , hydraulic system  220  is replaced with an electrical connection  168 . While a hydraulic system  220  and an electrical connection  168  are depicted any suitable powering method can be utilized including air system. 
     Furthermore, in this embodiment, loading device  100  is shown loading a boat  104 . However, loading device  100  can be used to lift and maneuver any heavy or bulky item  240 . 
     Adding  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 5 , and  FIG. 6  to the consideration, the roller assembly or adjustable wheel assembly  120  (See  FIG. 7 ) for loading device  100  of this invention includes housing  150 . Housing  150  has a top platform  152  and a bottom platform  154 . A plurality of wobble rollers  156  are mounted in housing  150  between top platform  152  and bottom platform  154 . A first lift slide rail  160  and a second lift slide rail  162  support the wobble rollers  156  within housing  150  between top platform  152  and bottom platform  154 . 
     At one end of the housing  150  is a hydraulic connection  170 . The hydraulic connection  170  serves to move the wobble rollers  156  as desired. Oppositely disposed from the hydraulic connection  170  is an end roller  172 . 
     The hydraulic connection  170  cooperates with first lift slide rail  160  and second lift slide rail  162  to maneuver wobble rollers  156  as desired. 
     Top platform  152  includes a platform slot  174  for each wobble roller  156 . When wobble roller  156  extends above top platform  152 , use position  140  is achieved. When wobble roller  156  is below top platform  152 , retracted position  130  is achieved. 
     First lift slide rail  160  and second lift slide rail  162  are symmetrical. The housing  150  is interrupted by a first u-shaped slot  186  and a second u-shaped slot. 
     Each wobble roller  156  has an axle  260 . Axle  260  is of sufficient length to support each wobble roller  156  within first u-shaped slot  186  and second u-shaped slot  196 . Axle  260  is also of sufficient length to support each wobble roller  156  on first inclined plane  188  second inclined plane  198  (See  FIG. 7 ) due to the presence of a holding device such as c-clip  224  on axle  260 . 
     Referring specifically to  FIG. 5 , any number of end rollers  172  can be present to support boat  104  or item  240 . In the preferred embodiment, three end rollers  172  are present. However, this number may be increased or decreased to accommodate for the boat  104  or item  240 . 
     Now adding  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 9 ,  FIG. 10 ,  FIG. 11 , and  FIG. 12  to the consideration, the structure of roller assembly  120  can be clearly seen. First lift slide rail  160  and second lift slide rail  162  are contained in housing  150 . Slide rails  160  and  162  have a first lift slide  188  and a second lift slide  198 . Between each first lift slide  188  is a first raised edge  190  and between each second lift slide  198  is a second raised edge  200 . Slide rails  160  and  162  can have as many lift slides  188  and  198  interspersed with raised edges  190  and  200  as the particular application requires. 
     Hydraulic system  220  uses hydraulic connection  170  to move the roller assembly  120  as desired. Hydraulic system  220  operates a support roller  222  for each wobble roller  156 . On axle  260  is a c-clip  224  locking wobble roller  156  is a slidable fashion in u-shaped slot  156 . As the hydraulic system  220  moves each support roller  222 , wobble roller  156  is moved from a retracted position  130  to a use position  140  as desired. 
     Hydraulic system moves the first lift slide rail  160  and second lift slide rail  162  back and forth in a linear motion. Support rollers  222  move with the lift slide rails  160  and  162  and protect slide rails  160  and  162  from housing  150 . Thus, support rollers  222  and lift slide rails  160  and  162  create a rolling relationship. 
     Wobble rollers  156  cooperates and moves with lift slide rails  160  and  162 . Wobbles rollers are positioned on the lift slide rails  160  and  162 . Wobble rollers  156  are lifted as they reach first lift slide  188  and second lift slide  198 . Use position  140  is achieved when wobble rollers  156  reach the platform of first raised edge  190  and second raised edge  200 . Retracted position  130  is achieved when wobble rollers  156  travel in the reverse direction and reach the bottom of first lift slide  188  and second lift slide  198 . 
     With  FIG. 13 , roller assembly  120  for loading device  100  is mounted in housing  150 . Hydraulic system  220  moves each roller assembly  120  from a retracted position  130  to a use position  140 , or the reverse. In use position  140 , roller assemblies  120  of loading device  100  can move an item  240  to a desired position. With retracted position  130 , item  240  can remain in place on loading device  100  until removal of item  240  therefrom is desired. For example, item  240  can be boat  104  of  FIG. 1  or another desired item. 
     This application—taken as a whole with the abstract, specification, claims, and drawings—provides sufficient information for a person having ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention disclosed and claimed herein. Any measures necessary to practice this invention are well within the skill of a person having ordinary skill in this art after that person has made a careful study of this disclosure. 
     Because of this disclosure and solely because of this disclosure, modification of this tool can become clear to a person having ordinary skill in this particular art. Such modifications are clearly covered by this disclosure.