Trailer platform

A trailer platform for positioning on a trailer for standing on while loading and unloading a boat. The trailer platform includes a pair of elongate members having a first end, a second end, and an inner surface. A first coupling member is coupled to a first end of a first of the elongate members and removably secured to a yolk of a trailer. A second coupling member is coupled to a first end of a second of the elongate members and removably secured to the yolk. A third coupling member is coupled to the second end of the first elongate member and the second end of the second elongate member. The third coupling member is removably coupled to a hitch bar. Each one of a pair of mesh portions is securely attached to and extends away from one of the inner surfaces of the elongate members.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to platforms for trailers and more particularly pertains to a new trailer platform for positioning on a trailer so that a person need not wade through water while loading and unloading a boat.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The use of platforms for trailers is known in the prior art. More specifically, platforms for trailers heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.

While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new trailer platform. The inventive device includes a pair of elongate members. Each of the elongate members has a first end and a second end. Each of the elongate members has at least one bend therein. Each of the elongate members has an inner surface an outer surface. A first coupling member is hingedly coupled to a first end of a first of the elongate members. The first coupling member is removably secured to a yolk of a trailer. A second coupling member is hingedly coupled to a first end of a second of the elongate members. The second coupling member is removably secured to the yolk. A third coupling member is coupled to the second end of the first elongate member and the second end of the second elongate member. The third coupling member is removably coupled to the hitch bar. A first of a pair of mesh portions is securely attached to and extends away from the inner surface of the first elongate member. A second of the mesh portions is securely attached to and extending away from the inner surface of the second elongate member.

In these respects, the trailer platform according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of positioning on a trailer so that a person need not wade through water while loading and unloading a boat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of platforms for trailers now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new trailer platform construction wherein the same can be utilized for positioning on a trailer so that a person need not wade through water while loading and unloading a boat.

The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new trailer platform apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the platforms for trailers mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new trailer platform which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art platforms for trailers, either alone or in any combination thereof.

To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a pair of elongate members. Each of the elongate members has a first end and a second end. Each of the elongate members has at least one bend therein. Each of the elongate members has an inner surface an outer surface. A first coupling member is hingedly coupled to a first end of a first of the elongate members. The first coupling member is removably secured to a yolk of a trailer. A second coupling member is hingedly coupled to a first end of a second of the elongate members. The second coupling member is removably secured to the yolk. A third coupling member is coupled to the second end of the first elongate member and the second end of the second elongate member. The third coupling member is removably coupled to the hitch bar. A first of a pair of mesh portions is securely attached to and extends away from the inner surface of the first elongate member. A second of the mesh portions is securely attached to and extending away from the inner surface of the second elongate member.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new trailer platform apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the platforms for trailers mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new trailer platform which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art platforms for trailers, either alone or in any combination thereof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new trailer platform which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new trailer platform which is of a durable and reliable construction.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new trailer platform which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such trailer platform economically available to the buying public.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new trailer platform for positioning on a trailer so that a person need not wade through water while loading and unloading a boat.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new trailer platform which includes a pair of elongate members. Each of the elongate members has a first end and a second end. Each of the elongate members has at least one bend therein. Each of the elongate members has an inner surface an outer surface. A first coupling member is hingedly coupled to a first end of a first of the elongate members. The first coupling member is removably secured to a yolk of a trailer. A second coupling member is hingedly coupled to a first end of a second of the elongate members. The second coupling member is removably secured to the yolk. A third coupling member is coupled to the second end of the first elongate member and the second end of the second elongate member. The third coupling member is removably coupled to the hitch bar. A first of a pair of mesh portions is securely attached to and extends away from the inner surface of the first elongate member. A second of the mesh portions is securely attached to and extending away from the inner surface of the second elongate member.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new trailer platform that allows a user a relatively large area of room for walking with respect to the hitch bar so that the person need not walk in the water.

Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new trailer platform that has hingedly coupled elongate members so that the device is retrofittable to existing trailers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 3 thereof, a new trailer platform embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 , the trailer platform 10 generally comprises a pair of elongate members 12 , 14 coupled to a trailer 6 . The trailer 6 is a conventional trailer having a yolk portion having a hitch bar 7 and two arms 8 , 9 extending generally in a Y-shaped configuration. Each of the elongate members 12 , 14 has a first end 16 and a second end 18 . Each of the elongate members 12 , 14 has at least one bend 20 therein. Each of the bends 20 is preferably arcuate. The elongate members 12 , 14 each have an inner surface 22 an outer surface 24 .

A first coupling member 26 is hingedly coupled to the first end 16 of the first of the elongate members 12 . The first coupling member 26 is removably secured to a first of the arms 8 of the yolk.

A second coupling member 28 is hingedly coupled to the first end 16 of a second of the elongate members 14 . The second coupling member 28 is removably secured to a second 9 of the arms of the yolk.

A third coupling member 30 comprises a first plate 32 and a second plate 34 . The first plate 32 is hingedly coupled to the second end 18 of the first elongate member 12 . The second plate 34 is hingedly coupled to the second end 18 of the second elongate member 14 . A pair of fastening means 36 removably fastens the first plate 32 to the second plate 34 . Each of the fastening means 36 extends between through the first and second plates. Each of the plates 32 , 34 is positioned on an opposite side of the hitch bar 7 and fastened together such that a first of the fastening means is above the hitch bar and a second of the fastening means is below the hitch bar. The fastening means are conventional fasteners and are preferably bolts. In this embodiment, the first 26 and second 28 coupling members are substantially identical to the third coupling member 30 where one of the plates is coupled to each of the elongate members.

A first rod 38 has a pair of ends. Each of the ends of the first rod 38 is integrally coupled to one of the first 16 and second 18 ends of the first elongate member 12 . A second rod 40 has a pair of ends. Each of the ends of the second rod 40 is integrally coupled to one of the first 16 and second 18 ends of the second elongate member 14 . Each of the first 38 and second 40 rods are preferably bent away from the respective elongate members 12 , 14 such that a space of less than preferably 1 inch, and ideally inch, is provided between the rods 38 , 40 and the hitch bar 7 and arms 8 , 9 when the device is coupled to the trailer 6 . The device will generally be, made to accommodate various trailers while retaining this small amount of space between the rods and the trailer.

A pair of mesh portions are used for standing on by the user. A first mesh portion 42 is securely attached to and extends between the inner surface 22 of the first elongate member 12 and the first rod 38 . A second mesh portion 44 is securely attached to and extends between the inner surface 22 of the second elongate member 14 and the second rod 40 . The mesh portions 42 , 44 are coupled to the respective rods substantially along a length of the rods. The mesh portions ideally comprise a woven metal mesh for strength.

In use, the device is coupled to the trailer as described above. When a person is loading and unloading a boat from the trailer, they may step upon the mesh portions instead of stepping into the water. This allows them to stay dry and not become bogged down in weeds and mud that may surround the boat launch area.