Abstract:
A boat loading alignment device and method lifts a boat over a trailer and subsequently aligns and seats the boat properly on the trailer after moving the trailer from the water wherein the device minimizes time spent occupying a boat ramp. The device includes a base movable laterally on the boat trailer. A scissor arm has a bottom end coupled to the base. The scissor arm extends upwardly from the base. Each of a pair of pads is coupled to an associated one of a pair of top sections of the scissor arm. A scissor screw is coupled to the scissor arm wherein rotation of the scissor screw extends and retracts the scissor arm such that the scissor arm is configured for lifting and lowering the boat relative to support rails of the boat trailer allowing lateral adjustment of the base and the boat relative to the boat trailer.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Field of the Disclosure 
       [0001]    The disclosure relates to boat alignment devices and more particularly pertains to a new boat alignment device and method for safely lifting a boat over a trailer and subsequently aligning and seating the boat properly on the trailer after moving the trailer from the water wherein the device minimizes time spent occupying a boat ramp. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a base configured for being coupled to a boat trailer such that the base is movable laterally relative to a longitudinal axis of the boat trailer. A scissor arm has a bottom end coupled to the base. The scissor arm extends upwardly from the base. Each of a pair of pads is coupled to an associated one of a pair of top sections of the scissor arm. A scissor screw is coupled to the scissor arm wherein rotation of the scissor screw extends and retracts the scissor arm such that the scissor arm is configured for lifting and lowering the boat relative to support rails of the boat trailer allowing lateral adjustment of the base and the boat relative to the boat trailer. 
         [0003]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
         [0004]    The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a rear view of a boat loading alignment device according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a partially exploded top front side perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a top front side perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a rear view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a partially exploded top front side perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view of a method according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0013]    With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 7  thereof, a new boat alignment device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
         [0014]    As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 7 , the boat loading alignment device  10  generally comprises a base  12  configured for being coupled to a boat trailer  14  such that the base  12  is movable laterally relative to a longitudinal axis of the boat trailer  14 . A scissor arm  16  has a bottom end  18  coupled to the base  12 . The scissor arm  16  extends upwardly from the base  12 . The scissor arm  16  has a pair of opposed top sections  20  extending from a pivotal top junction  22  of said scissor arm  16 . The scissor arm  16  also has a pair of opposed bottom sections  24 . Each of the bottom sections  24  is pivotally coupled to the base  12 . Each of a pair of pads  26  is coupled to an associated one of the top sections  20  of the scissor arm  16 . The pads  26  face upwardly and inwardly towards each other wherein the pads  26  are configured to abut a hull  28  of a boat  30  on opposite sides of a keel  32  of the boat  30 . Each of the pads  26  is removably coupled to the associated top section  20  of the scissor arm  16 . The pads  26  may be replaced as needed or the pads  26  may be provided in sets having different shapes designed to best fit a particular type, shape, or brand of boat  30 . Each of a pair of pins  34  couples an associated one of the pads  26  to the associated top section  20  of the scissor arm  16  wherein each pad  26  is configured to pivot relative to the associated top section  20  for evenly distributing pressure from the pad  26  onto the boat  30  when the pads  26  abut the boat  30 . 
         [0015]    An elongated scissor screw  36  is coupled to the scissor arm  16  wherein rotation of the scissor screw  36  in a first direction extends the scissor arm  16  such that the pads  26  abut the boat  30  and the scissor arm  16  lifts the boat  30  over support rails  38  of the boat trailer  14 . The base  12  is positionable laterally on the boat trailer  14  as the scissor arm  16  is extended to lift the boat  30  and allow positioning of the pads  26  in safe and secure positions on the hull  28 . The scissor screw  36  is rotatable in a second direction wherein the scissor arm  16  is retracted such that the scissor arm  16  lowers the boat  30  onto the support rails  38  of the boat trailer  14  after lateral adjustment of the base  12  relative to the boat trailer  14  to position the support rails  38  between ridges  40  or the like on the hull  28 . Thus, the boat  30  is positioned on the boat trailer  14  in proper alignment to safely transport the boat  30  on the boat trailer  14  while minimizing or eliminating unnecessary stress on the hull  26  of the boat  30 . 
         [0016]    The base  12  is positioned in a track  42  having a bottom wall  44  and a pair of side walls  46  coupled to and extending upwardly from the bottom wall  44 . The base  12  is positioned in the track  42  between the side walls  46 . Each of a plurality of wheels  48  is coupled to the base  12  supporting the base  12  on the bottom wall  44  of the track  42  and facilitating movement of the base  12  in the track  42 . A pair of channels  50  may extend along the bottom wall  44  of the track  42 . Each of the wheels  48  is positioned in an associated one of the channels  50 . Spacing between the side walls  46  of the track  42  may also be complementary to a width of the base  12  to further stabilize the base within the track  42 . The channels  50  may be formed by a pair of spaced parallel rails  52  coupled to a top surface  54  of the bottom wall  44  of the track  42 . Each of the channels  50  is positioned between an associated one of the rails  52  and an associated one of the side walls  46  of the track  42 . 
         [0017]    In embodiments of the disclosure, an actuator  56  is coupled to the scissor screw  36 . The actuator  56  urges the scissor screw  36  to rotate in a desired direction to operate the scissor arm  16 . In alternative embodiments of the device  10 , the actuator  56  is one of a scissor motor  58  coupled to the scissor screw  36 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3  and  5 , and a hand crank  60  coupled to the scissor screw  36 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . The hand crank  60  may attach to the scissor screw  36  using a socket connection or similar conventional means wherein the hand crank  60  is removable from the scissor screw  36  for storage. The scissor motor  58  rotates the scissor screw  36  in a desired one of the first direction and the second direction and may be controlled by operational controls on the scissor motor  58  or through a remote control  62 . In the manual embodiment, manipulation of the hand crank  60  selectively rotates the scissor screw  36  in the desired direction. In an embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , the actuator  56  may be a socket screw head  98  which is engaged and rotated by a driving tool  100 . 
         [0018]    In various embodiments of the device  10  consistent with the disclosure, the base  12  may be moved laterally relative to the boat trailer  14  in different ways. As shown in  FIGS. 1 through 6 , the base  12  is supported on the wheels  48  in the track  42 . The top surface  54  of the bottom wall  44  is planar, as shown in  FIG. 3 , allowing the base  12  to be moved manually through exerting lateral force on the boat  30 . Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the bottom wall  44  may comprise a pair of outer sections  64 . The outer sections  64  are angled such that the outer sections  64  extend laterally upward and away from a center  66  of the track  42  wherein the base  12  is gravitationally urged towards the center  66  of the track  42 . The center  66  of the track  42  is aligned with the boat trailer  14  to provide the desired orientation of the boat  30  when the base  12  is at the center  66  of the track  42 . An angle  68  formed by the outer sections  64  of the track  42  is between 160 and 178 degrees providing sufficient incline to facilitate centering the base  12 . This embodiment is used typically with the hand crank  60 . Another embodiment of the device  10  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , provides a base screw  70  configured for coupling to the track  42  or the boat trailer  14  in a laterally fixed position relative to the boat trailer  14 . The base screw  70  engages the base  12  within the track  42  wherein rotation of the base screw  70  urges the base  12  to move laterally relative to the boat trailer  14 . The base screw  70  may be operated manually or a base motor  72 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , may be coupled to the base screw  70 . The base motor  72  is statically coupled to the boat trailer  14  in a conventional manner and rotates the base screw  70  in a selectable direction. The base motor  72  may be operated independently of the scissor motor  58  using separate controls on the base motor  72  or the remote control  62 . In  FIG. 6 , the base screw  70  may be replaced by a socket screw head  102  which is free to rotate and statically coupled to the base screw  70 . Thus, the base screw  70  may be rotated by the driving tool  100  similar to the scissor screw  36 . 
         [0019]    It is specifically contemplated that elements of the disclosed embodiments may be interchanged, wherever such elements are not mutually exclusive, to form additional variations consistent with the disclosure of the invention. 
         [0020]    In use, the device  10  provides for a method  80  of aligning the boat  30  on the boat trailer  14 , as shown generally in  FIG. 6 . The method  80  comprises an initial step  82  of having the device  10  consistent with any of the embodiments discussed more fully above. A secondary step  84  is positioning the boat  30  in a body of water and over the boat trailer  14  in a conventional manner commonly performed while occupying a boat ramp or the like. Another step  86  is engaging a front end of the boat  30  to a forward support (not shown) on the boat trailer  14 . An additional step  92  is removing the boat trailer  14  from the body of water such that the boat  30  is supported on the boat trailer  14 . Yet another step  88 , performed after step  92 , is extending the scissor arm  16  wherein the pads  26  abut the boat  30  between a center of gravity of the boat  30  and a rear end  90  of the boat  30  to lift the rear end  90  of the boat  30  relative to the boat trailer  14 . Still another step  94  is laterally adjusting the base  12  wherein the boat  30  is aligned relative to the boat trailer  14  such that the support rails  38  are vertically aligned with the boat  30  in a desired manner. Another step  96  is retracting the scissor arm  16  wherein the boat  30  is lowered onto the support rails  38  of the boat trailer  14  such that the support rails  38  abut the hull  28  of the boat  30  between the ridges  40  extending outwardly from the hull  28  of the boat  30 . The boat  30  may then be otherwise secured to the boat trailer  14  in conventional fashion in preparation for travel or storage. In use, the method  80  facilitates efficient proper alignment of the boat  30  after removing the boat trailer  14  from a boat ramp to minimize time spent on the boat ramp to remove the boat  30  from the body of water. The device  10  obviates the need to potentially reverse the boat trailer back down the boat ramp or the like to reposition the boat  30  on the boat trailer  14  when the boat  30  is improperly positioned on the boat trailer  14 . The device  10  further reduces the time required to support the boat  30  sufficiently in a temporary manner permitting efficient sequential use of a single boat ramp by multiple users. 
         [0021]    With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         [0022]    Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.