Abstract:
A boat and boat trailer loading system used to place a boat trailer with the boat mounted thereon, onto a rack centered above a towing vehicle such as a pickup. The system comprises a winch, a head frame, a tail frame, and a ramp system comprising an upper ramp system and a lower ramp system. The winch cable and hook is routed through the head frame and hooked to a mid-point on the boat trailer frame, then pulled up the ramp system until the wheels of the boat trailer are positioned onto a left and a right wheel cradle atop the tail frame and the boat trailer tongue will rest on a pad atop the head-frame. The vehicle&#39;s trailer hitch is then left unobstructed for towing a second trailer.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application is related to and claims priority from prior provisional application Ser. No. 61/409,455, filed Nov. 2, 2010 which application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
       [0002]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d). 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention(s). It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art, or material, to the presently described or claimed inventions, or that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention relates generally to the field of recreational vehicles and more specifically relates to a boat and boat trailer loading system. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
       [0005]    Boats have been used in the fishing industry and for transportation of people for many years. While boating was predominately a means of gathering food for subsistence since early history, boating for recreation has increased exponentially in the last century. The watercraft industry has reported sales in excess of 17 billion annually and the U.S. Coast Guard reports that there are approximately 16.7 million owners of boats that are less than 25 feet in length in the U.S. About half of these owners also have a trailer for towing their boat to a location where the boat can be launched and used. These trailers may be dangerous to pull, and may prevent owners from pulling other recreational vehicles. 
         [0006]    As an alternative boat owners often purchase small boats such that they may be transported on the top of a vehicle, placed there by manual means. This may prove dangerous if the boat is not secured in place using suitable fastening means, as the boat may come loose and fall of into traffic. A boat falling off into traffic may endanger other motorists and often destroys the boat. Additionally, lifting a boat into place may cause an individual to undergo strain from lifting, potentially causing back problems. Using this method, once the owner has arrived at the body of water he/she is left with no trailer by which to move the boat. It is desired that the boat and trailer be available at the final destination. 
         [0007]    Various attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problems such as those found in Pub. No. 2004/0161322; U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,411,644; 5,741,110; 3,734,321; 5,511,928; and 5,586,856. This prior art is representative of boat hauling means. None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed. 
         [0008]    Ideally, a boat and boat trailer loading system should be user-friendly and safe, yet would operate reliably and be manufactured at a modest expense. Thus, a need exists for a reliable boat and boat trailer loading system to quickly load a boat trailer with a mounted boat, and to avoid the above-mentioned problems. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known boat loading system art, the present invention provides a novel boat and boat trailer loading system. The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide boat loading and transporting means leaving an unobstructed trailer hitch for hauling a second recreational item such as a camping trailer. 
         [0010]    A boat and boat trailer loading system as disclosed herein preferably comprises a head frame assembly having a winch with a cable, and a tail frame assembly comprising an upper ramp system including an upper left ramp and an upper right ramp. The upper ramp system has a distal end and a proximate end. The boat and boat trailer loading system further comprises a lower ramp system including a lower left ramp and a lower right ramp, the lower ramp system having a first end and a second end. Additionally, a cradle frame member is included in preferred embodiments. The head frame assembly and the tail frame assembly are mountable to a vehicle frame, preferably to the top surface of a pickup cargo box. The head frame assembly comprises a left side and a right side preferably non-removably joined by a head-cross-member. The left side and the right side of the head frame assembly each have two upright support-columns. 
         [0011]    The winch may be removably fastened to the vehicle frame or, in some embodiments, to the front wall of the pickup cargo box (or in other embodiments to the head frame assembly) and preferably has an electric motor, a hook on the cable, and a remote controller. In embodiments where the winch is removably fastened to the head frame assembly these versions may have a roller assembly having four rollers including a first roller affixed to a top side, a second roller to a bottom side, a third roller to a left side, and fourth roller to a right side of an opening such that the winch cable is able to roller-pass therethrough to attach to the boat trailer frame. The head frame assembly may comprise at least one pulley in an embodiment wherein the winch is mounted to the front wall of a pickup cargo box. The cradle frame member is preferably non-removably connected to the tail frame assembly. The tail frame assembly has a left side and a right side upright member joined by at least one cross-member. The left side and right side upright members of the tail frame assembly comprise two tubular columns each which may be square tubing, but also may be round tubing in other embodiments. 
         [0012]    The tail frame in preferred embodiments comprises a left wheel cradle and a right wheel cradle, each one having a locking pin (or other retaining means) such that the tires of the boat trailer are able to be independently locked into the wheel cradles during transport. The left wheel cradle and the right wheel cradle are able to nestibly support the wheels of the boat trailer when the boat trailer with the boat mounted thereon are mounted onto the head frame assembly and the tail frame assembly (keeping it in place.) When the boat is mounted onto the boat trailer and loaded for transport on the boat trailer loading system, the boat and boat trailer are mount-situated above and (substantially) parallel to the vehicle frame. The cradle frame member comprises a center roller wherein the tongue of the boat trailer is able to be roller-guided forwardly and rearwardly by the cable of the winch when being loaded and unloaded. The center roller is horizontally fastened to the top surface of the cross member at a lower height than the surface-plane of the left side and the right side of the tail frame such that the cable, the boat, and the boat trailer frame do not contact the tail frame during at least one boat-trailer-loading-procedure. In this embodiment the center roller is orientated perpendicular to the frame. 
         [0013]    The distal end of the upper ramp system is removably connectable to the cradle frame member and the proximate end of the upper ramp system is removably attached to the second end of the lower ramp system for loading and unloading (is stored during transport.) When loading for example the first end of the lower ramp system is in contact with the ground surface such that the wheels of the boat trailer are able to traverse an incline created by the lower ramp system and the upper ramp system. The cable of the winch is removably coupleable to the boat trailer and (the boat trailer having a boat located thereon) are able to be winch-manipulated onto the head frame and tail frame assemblies of the present invention. Forward traverse of the boat trailer is accomplished when the boat trailer is pulled via the winch and first contacts and rides upon the lower left ramp and the lower right ramp, then next sequentially the boat trailer moves to the upper left ramp and the upper right ramp, then the wheels of the boat trailer set into the cradle frame member. In this sequence the boat trailer is able to be moved on its wheels into a loaded position (and reversed to perform an unload.) 
         [0014]    The upper ramp system and the lower ramp system preferably comprise couplers such that the upper ramp system and the lower ramp system remain connected and supported while in use, and are able to be separated from each other for transport. The boat trailer is able to be cable-pulled up the lower ramp system onto the upper ramp system then onto the cradle frame member for transport-attachment above the plane of the vehicle frame. When the boat trailer with the boat thereon is mounted onto the head frame and the tail frame, a trailer hitch located at the rear of the vehicle is able to remain unobstructed allowing the vehicle to tow a second trailer. The truck is then free to pull other recreational devices such as camping trailers or the like. 
         [0015]    A method of use for a boat and boat trailer loader system as disclosed herein may comprise the steps of: attaching a lower ramp system and an upper ramp system to a tail frame assembly; extending a cable through a roller assembly located on a head frame assembly; attaching the cable to a trailer frame with a boat mounted thereon; pulling the trailer with the boat up an inclined plane formed by the lower ramp system and the upper ramp system (attached to each other); positioning the wheels of the trailer into a left wheel cradle and a right wheel cradle (simultaneously); locking the wheels of the trailer with the boat mounted thereon to a cradle frame member; hauling the trailer with the boat to a water recreation area; unlocking the wheels of the trailer with the boat; and extending the cable using the winch to lower the trailer with the boat to a ground surface such that the boat and trailer may be used. 
         [0016]    The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as a boat and boat trailer loading system. For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, boat rack systems, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view illustrating an in-use condition of a boat and boat trailer loading system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the boat and boat trailer loading system as used for loading and unloading according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a head frame assembly of a boat and boat trailer loading system according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a tail frame assembly with upper ramp system and lower ramp system of a boat and boat trailer loading system according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating a method of use for a boat and boat trailer loading system according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIGS. 1-4 . 
       
    
    
       [0023]    The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a boat loading system and more particularly to a boat and boat trailer loading system as used to improve the convenience and efficiency of moving a boat and trailer between locations. 
         [0025]    Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown in  FIG. 1 , a perspective view illustrating an in-use condition of boat and boat trailer loading system  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0026]    Boat and boat trailer loading system  100  preferably comprises head frame assembly  110  having winch  120  with cable  130 , and tail frame assembly  140 . Boat and boat trailer loading system  100  preferably comprises upper ramp system  150  including upper left ramp  152  and upper right ramp  154 . Upper ramp system  150  has distal end  156  and proximate end  158 . Lower ramp system  160  includes lower left ramp  162  and lower right ramp  164 , lower ramp system  160  having first end  166  and second end  168 . Boat and boat trailer loading system  100  also preferably comprises cradle frame member  170 . Winch  120  is removably fastened to vehicle frame  180  and cradle frame member  170  is connected to tail frame assembly  140 . Head frame assembly  110  and tail frame assembly  140  are mountable to vehicle frame  180 , as shown. When boat  190  and boat trailer  199  is mounted thereon boat and boat trailer loading system  100 , boat  190  and boat trailer  199  are mount-situated above vehicle frame  180  and forward hull  192  of boat  190  and tongue of trailer  200  are aligned facing toward front of vehicle  210  and are substantially parallel to vehicle frame  180 . 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , is a perspective view illustrating boat and boat trailer loading system  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0028]    When used for loading and unloading, distal end  156  of upper ramp system  150  is removably connected to cradle frame member  170  and proximate end  158  of upper ramp system  150  is removably attached to second end  168  of lower ramp system  160 . First end  166  of lower ramp system  160  is in contact with ground surface such that wheels  220  of boat trailer  199  are able to traverse an incline created by lower ramp system  160  and upper ramp system  150 . Cable  130  of winch  120  is removably coupleable to boat trailer frame  230 , boat trailer  199  having boat  190  located thereon, such that boat trailer  199  with boat  190  are able to be winch-manipulated onto head frame assembly  110  and tail frame assembly  140  of boat and boat trailer loading system  100  into a loaded condition. Forward traverse of boat trailer  199  is accomplished when boat trailer  199  is pulled via winch  120 , and first contacts and rides upon lower left ramp  162  and lower right ramp  164 , then sequentially moves to upper left ramp  152  and upper right ramp  154 , then wheels  220  of boat trailer  199  set into cradle frame member  170 . Boat trailer  199  is able to be cable-pulled up lower ramp system  160  onto upper ramp system  150  then onto cradle frame member  170  for transport-attachment above a plane of vehicle frame  180 . Boat trailer  199  with boat  190  thereon is mounted on head frame assembly  110  and tail frame assembly  140 , allowing a trailer hitch located at the rear of vehicle  240  to remain unobstructed allowing vehicle  182  to tow a second trailer (or the like.) 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , is a perspective view illustrating head frame assembly  110  of boat and boat trailer loading system  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0030]    Head frame assembly  110  comprises left side  112  and right side  114  non-removably joined by head-cross-member  116  in preferred embodiments. Left side  112  and right side  114  of head frame assembly  110  preferably comprise two (or more) upright support-columns each. Head frame assembly  110  preferably comprises roller assembly  250  having a plurality of rollers (preferably four) including a first roller affixed to the top side, a second roller to the bottom side, a third roller to the left side, and a fourth roller to the right side of an opening such that cable  130  is able to roller-pass therethrough to attach to boat trailer frame  230 . 
         [0031]    Head frame assembly  110  in alternate embodiments may comprise at least one pulley  260  but the exact configuration may depend on where winch  120  is mounted in the particular embodiment. Winch  120  may be mounted to vehicle frame  180  or to the front wall  270  of pickup cargo box  280  (with suitable stiffening support provided.) Winch  120  also may be removably fastenenable to head frame assembly  110  in certain embodiments. Winch  120  preferably comprises an electric motor, a hook, and a remote controller. Upper ramp system  150  and lower ramp system  160  comprise couplers such that upper ramp system  150  and lower ramp system  160  remain connected while in use and are able to be separated from each other for storage during transport. Second end  168  of lower ramp system  160  and proximate end  158  of upper ramp system  150  may use a pickup tailgate for mid-support and may couple to a tailgate at the same approximate location in various embodiments. Remote control provides that boat  190  and boat trailer  199  may be loaded in a safe manner. 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a perspective view illustrating tail frame assembly  140  with upper ramp system  150  and lower ramp system  160  of boat and boat trailer loading system  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0033]    Tail frame assembly  140  preferably comprises left side upright member  142  and right side upright member  144  joined by at least one cross-member  145 . Left side upright member  142  and right side upright member  144  of tail frame assembly  140  comprise two tubular columns each in preferred embodiments. Tail frame assembly  140  may comprise left wheel cradle  172  and right wheel cradle  174  and further may comprise a locking pin such that wheels  220  of boat trailer  199  are able to be independently locked into left wheel cradle  172  and right wheel cradle  174 . Left wheel cradle  172  and right wheel cradle  174  are able to nestibly support wheels  220  of boat trailer  199  when boat trailer  199  with boat  190  are mounted onto head frame assembly  110  and tail frame assembly  140 . Cradle frame member  170  comprises center roller  300 , wherein tongue of boat trailer  199  is able to be roller-guided forwardly and rearwardly by cable  130  of winch  120 . Center roller  300  is horizontally fastened to top surface of cross-member  145  at a lower height than a surface-plane of left side upright member  142  and right side upright member  144  such that cable  130 , boat  190 , and boat trailer frame  230  do not contact tail frame assembly  140  during at least one boat-trailer-loading-procedure. In transport the present invention provides that boat trailer  199  is able to travel in a (substantially) parallel condition to both vehicle  182  (vehicle frame  180 ) and the road surface to minimize stress to both boat trailer  199  and vehicle frame  180  of vehicle  182 . 
         [0034]    Boat and boat trailer loading system  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIGS. 1-4 , may be sold as kit  450  comprising the following parts: at least one winch  120  having cable  130  and controller; at least one head frame assembly  110 ; at least one tail frame assembly  140 ; at least one upper ramp system  150  and lower ramp system  160 ; and at least one set of user instructions. Boat and boat trailer loading system  100  may be manufactured and provided for sale in a wide variety of sizes and shapes for a wide assortment of applications. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other kit contents or arrangements such as, for example, including more or less components, customized parts, for use with trailers without boats (may be ATVs, other recreational devices such as jet skiis or the like, parts may be sold separately, etc., may be sufficient. 
         [0035]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a flowchart  550  illustrating a method of use  500  for boat and boat trailer loading system  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIGS. 1-4 . 
         [0036]    A method of use  500  for boat and boat trailer loading system  100  may comprise the steps of: step one  501  attaching lower ramp system  160  and upper ramp system  150  to tail frame assembly  140 ; step two  502  extending cable  130  through roller assembly  250  located on head frame assembly  110 ; and step three  503  attaching cable  130  to boat trailer frame  230  (with boat  190  mounted thereon); step four  504  pulling boat trailer  199  with boat  190  up an inclined plane formed by lower ramp system  160  and upper ramp system  150 ; step five  505  positioning wheels  220  of boat trailer  199  into left wheel cradle  172  and right wheel cradle  174 ; step six  506  locking wheels  220  of boat trailer  199  with boat  190  mounted thereon to cradle frame member  170 ; step seven  507  hauling boat trailer  199  with boat  190  to a water recreation area; step eight  508  unlocking wheels  220  of boat trailer  199  with boat  190 ; and step nine  509  extending cable  130  using winch  120  to lower boat trailer  199  with boat  190  to a ground surface for use. 
         [0037]    It should be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods of use arrangements such as, for example, different orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc., may be sufficient. 
         [0038]    The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.