Abstract:
The present disclosure provides a system for loading and unloading a watercraft from a trailer that enables the process to be accomplished without the need to stand on the submerged ground surface. In some embodiments the trailer includes an adjustable platform that provides an area upon which the operator can stand while loading and unloading the watercraft from the trailer. The present disclosure also provides a method of loading and unloading a boat that includes the step of pushing or pulling the boat while standing on a platform that extends from the trailer.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure provides a device and method for facilitating loading and unloading a watercraft from a trailer. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Boats and other watercraft are often stored and transported on wheeled trailers that are configured to be towed behind a motor vehicle. Both loading and unloading boats from such trailers typically involve the initial step of backing the trailer into the water until most of the trailer is submerged. The unloading process typically requires that the operator detach or loosen the securing cable between the boat and the trailer and manually push the boat off the trailer. The loading process typically involves attaching a cable to the boat and cranking the boat onto the trailer. The above-described steps are generally accomplished while the operator is standing in the water adjacent the trailer. Loading and unloading the boat from the water requires the operator to wear shorts and water shoes, which is not preferred in some situations. In addition, the submerged ground surface can be uneven, murky, and difficult to traverse. The present disclosure provides an improved trailer system and method for launching and loading watercraft from a trailer. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    The present disclosure provides a system for loading and unloading a watercraft from a trailer that enables the process to be accomplished without the need to stand on the submerged ground surface. In some embodiments the trailer includes an adjustable platform that provides an area upon which the operator can stand while loading and unloading the watercraft from the trailer. The present disclosure also provides a method of loading and unloading a boat that includes the step of pushing or pulling the boat while standing on a platform that extends from the trailer. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a trailer system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure with a boat on the trailer with a step extending to both the left and right of the centerline of the trailer; 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a front left perspective view of the trailer system of  FIG. 1  with the step extended to the left of the centerline of the trailer; 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a rear left perspective view of the trailer system of  FIG. 1  with the step extended to the left of the centerline of the trailer; 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a rear enlarged perspective view of the trailer system of  FIG. 1  with the step extending to both the left and the right of the centerline of the trailer; 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is a bottom right perspective of the trailer system of  FIG. 1  showing the connection of the step to the chassis of the trailer; 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged perspective view of the left end of the step of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged top perspective view of the trailer system of  FIG. 1  showing the connection between the step and the chassis of the trailer; 
           [0011]      FIG. 8  is an is an exploded assembly view of the step system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 9  is a partially assembled view of the step system of  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 10  is a top view of a step member of the step system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 11  is an end view of the step member of the step system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 12  is a top view of the mounting member of the step system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 13  is an end view of the mounting member of the step system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a portion of the mounting member of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 15  is a top perspective view of a mounting plate of an alternative embodiment of a mounting assembly; 
           [0019]      FIG. 16  is a top perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the step member; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 17  is a top view of a hold down plate of an alternative embodiment of a mounting assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-7 , an embodiment of a trailer system according to the present disclosure is shown. The trailer system  10  is shown with a first end portion  12  configured to be attached to a motor vehicle and a second end portion  14  supported by wheels. In the depicted embodiment the trailer is a Y-shaped trailer with a plurality of rollers for supporting a fishing boat. In the depicted embodiment the trailer has a winch  18  used to pull the watercraft onto the trailer. It should be appreciated that in alternative embodiments, the trailer can be any other type of trailer. 
         [0022]    In the depicted embodiment the trailer system  10  includes a step member  16  that is mounted over the centerline of the trailer chassis. The referred to centerline is the line that divides the left half from the right half of the trailer system  10 . In the depicted embodiment the step member  16  is mounted below the trailer winch  18  on the chassis of the trailer. In the depicted embodiment the step member  16  is mounted behind the trailer winch  18 , but it should be appreciated that in alternative embodiments the step member  16  could be mounted in front of the winch  18  as well. In the depicted embodiment the position of the step member  16  is adjustable relative to the trailer. 
         [0023]    In particular, the step member can be moved front to back (closer to the first end portion  12  or closer to the second end portion  14  as desired by the operator). In the depicted embodiment the position of the step member  16  can also be adjusted side to side so that it extends more or less always from the centerline in either the left or right direction. Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the step member  16  is shown centered about the trailer centerline. Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 6  the step member  16  is shown adjusted so that it primarily extends to the left of the centerline of the trailer. It should be appreciated that the step member  16  can also be adjusted so that it primarily extends to the right of the centerline of the trailer. The adjustability of the step member  16  allows the user to step onto the step member directly from a dock. If the dock is to the right of the boat launch, the step member can be adjusted to extend to the right towards the dock, whereas if the dock is to the left of the boat launch, the step member can be adjusted to extend to the left toward the dock. It should be appreciated that the operator can also step onto the step members from the water. It should also be appreciated that more than one step member can be attached to a single trailer. 
         [0024]    In the depicted embodiment, the step member  16  is shown with grip tape  24  on the upper step surface  26  between the first end  20  and the second end  22  of the step member  16 . The grip tape  24  is for providing a textured surface to prevent slipping, as the step member  16  could in some launch scenarios be wet or even submerged in water. It should be appreciated that many alternatives to grip tape are also possible including, for example, abrasive paint, rubber coating, knurled finish, machined grooves on the step surface, etc. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIGS. 4-7 , the step mounting assembly is described in greater detail. In the depicted embodiment the step mounting assembly  28  includes a sleeve  30  in which the step member  16  can slide side to side therein. In the depicted embodiment the step member  16  has a generally U-shaped cross section and the sleeve  30  has a generally box shaped cross section, wherein some of the inner dimensions of the sleeve  30  are slightly larger than corresponding outer dimensions of the step member  16  to allow the step member  16  to slide within the sleeve  30 . In the depicted embodiment stop members  32 ,  34  are located on either end of the step member  16  to prevent the step member  16  from accidentally completely disengaging from the sleeve. 
         [0026]    In the depicted embodiment, a bracket assembly  36  is used to bolt the sleeve  30  over the main center frame member of the trailer. The bracket assembly includes bolts  38  that extend downward from the bottom of the sleeve  30  and clamp bar(s)  40  that engage the bolts and clamp the sleeve  30  to the trailer frame. Referring to  FIG. 5 , the bracket mounting assembly includes one clamp bar; the clamp bar engages two bolts that extend downward from the sleeve. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , the depicted embodiment of the sleeve  30  includes two apertures  42 ,  44  on the top surface configured to be aligned with slots ( FIGS. 12 and 17 ) on the lower surface of the sleeve  30 . The two apertures  42  and  44  are for inserting and removing the bolts  38  from the sleeve  30 . The sleeve  30  includes a third aperture  46  which is threaded to receive a set screw  48 . The set screw is configured to hold the step member in the desired left-to-right position or center position. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIGS. 8-14 , the components of the above-described embodiments are shown and described in greater detail. In particular,  FIG. 8  is an exploded assembly view of step member  16  and components of the step mounting assembly  28 . The sleeve  30  and clamp bar  40  of the step mounting assembly  28  are shown.  FIG. 9  illustrates that sleeve  30  is configured to slide over the step member  16 . 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIGS. 10-11  construction of the step member is illustrated. In the depicted embodiment the step member is constructed of a rectangular sheet of metal that is bent so that the end profile includes a generally C-shaped profile as shown. In the depicted embodiment the step member is configured so that the width of the step surface is between about 4 to 10 inches (e.g., 6 inches), the height of the step member is about ½ to 2 inches (e.g., 1 inch), and the length is between about 1 to 8 feet (e.g., 3 feet). It should be appreciated, that many other sizes and shapes are also possible. For example, the length of the step member in some preferred embodiments is between 2 to 6 feet. In still other preferred embodiments the length of the step member is between 2 to 4 feet. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIGS. 12-14 , the sleeve  30  is shown and described in greater detail. In the depicted embodiment the sleeve has a box shaped end profile that is configured to slide over the end of the step member  16 . In the depicted embodiment the sleeve  30  includes an upper rectangular top member  50  and a lower U-shaped member  52  that is welded to the top member  50 . The top member  50  includes two apertures  42  and  44  that are partially aligned with slots  54  and  56  and a third aperture  58 . Bolts that squeeze the sleeve  30  to the clamp bar  40  are drop into the sleeve through apertures  42  and  44 . The shaft of the bolts slide through the slots  54  and  56  and the head of the bolt engages the upper surface of the U-shaped member. The shaft of the bolt slides through slots on the clamp member and engage nuts. Tightening the bolts moves the clamp member towards the sleeve  30  and squeezes the frame member therebetween. The third aperture  58  is threaded and configured to engage a set screw that secures the step member  16  laterally to the sleeve  30 . 
         [0031]    It should be appreciated that although the illustrated embodiment shows the sleeve attached over the frame member of a trailer, the sleeve is configured such that it can be attached with a claim member to any beam member. For example, in an alternative embodiment, the sleeve could be attached to the hitch receiver of a motor vehicle (e.g., a pickup truck). In such an embodiment, the step would also make it easier for a person to get into or out of the bed portion of the truck. 
         [0032]    In the depicted embodiment the length of the sleeve is about 8-12 inches (e.g., 10 inches), the outer width of the sleeve is about 4 to 10 inches (e.g., 6.5 inches), the radius of the aperture  42 ,  44 , is about ½ to 1 inch (e.g., ¾ inch or ⅞ inch), the radius of the third aperture is about 3/16 to 7/16 of an inch (e.g. 5/16 inch), the slots  54  and  56  are about 1 to 1.5 inches long (e.g., 1.375 inches). It should be appreciated that the sleeve  30  and the components thereon can be of many alternative sizes and shapes. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIGS. 15-17 , an alternative embodiment of the step system is shown. In the depicted embodiment, the step system includes a step member  60 , a base plate  62 , and a top plate  64 . In the depicted embodiment, base plate  62  is configured to be secured to a frame member of trailer via bolts that extend through the slots  66  and  68  and engage a clamp member. The step member  60  slides over the base plate  62  and the center bolt  70  extends through an aperture  72  on the step member  60  and through an aperture  74  on the top plate  64 . The top plate  64  is tightened down on the center bolt  70  to at least partially secure the step member  60  to the base plate  62 . In the depicted embodiment the top plate supports one or more set screws that help secure the step member  60  in place. 
         [0034]    It should be appreciated that features of the first embodiment can be combined with features of the second embodiment resulting in a step that can pivot and also slide from side to side. It should also be appreciated that many other sliding and/or pivoting configurations are also possible. 
         [0035]    The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.