Patent Publication Number: US-2018037076-A1

Title: Trailer guide system and method

Description:
FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to vehicle trailer systems and, more particularly, to a flexible or pivotable trailer guide system adapted to provide visual guidance and reference for alignment to a corresponding vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Backing up a trailer connected to a hauling vehicle can be difficult, especially when the trailer is empty, or substantially empty. The trailer generally sits lower than the hauling vehicle, thus making it very difficult to safely guide the attached trailer back and judge the proper depth or distance to the back of the trailer, resulting in it moving from side to side. Conventionally, drivers have been forced to rely on inadequate or even unsafe techniques to back up trailers, such as using vehicle side mirrors, relying on another person to provide verbal or visual instructions, or by dangerously leaning out the window or door to get visual confirmation of the rear of the trailer. 
     This is even more challenging when the trailer is being backed into position to dock or secure a water vessel, such as a boat, personal watercraft, etc. This makes it incredibly difficult to accurately align and position the corresponding section of the trailer to secure the water vessel onto the trailer, especially when the trailer becomes submerged. The process can be very time consuming, can cause impact damage to the water vessel and the trailer, and can be unsafe to people in the immediate area. 
     As such, there exists a need for a system and method of providing accurate and safe guidance of a trailer relative to a transport vehicle or object intended for docking or placement on the trailer. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention provides a trailer guide system adapted for mounting or otherwise fixating to a trailer. The trailer guide system can include a guide member, an indicator portion, and a mounting portion. The mounting portion can be integrated with, or retrofitted to, various portions of the trailer. In various embodiments, the trailer guide system is mounted to a rear section of the trailer, generally central along the width of the trailer. 
     The mounting portion can include a pivoting mechanism to facilitate pivoting movement of the guide member from an active vertical to a non-active horizontal position. The pivoting mechanism can include various techniques, devices, and mechanisms, including a magnet and hinge construct, a spring-based construct, and the like. Various embodiments of the mounting portion do not include a pivoting mechanism, and instead rely on one or more magnets to secure the system to the trailer. The one or more magnets can be disengaged from the trailer to release the system for movement and storage after use. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of a trailer capable of receiving a trailer guide system, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a back view of a trailer including a trailer guide system, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of a trailer including a trailer guide system, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of a trailer guide system in an engaged or active position, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of a trailer guide system in an engaged or active position, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of a trailer guide system in a disengaged or non-active position, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of a trailer guide system in a disengaged or non-active position, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of a magnetically attachable trailer guide system, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of a magnetically attachable trailer guide system, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a trailer guide system including a coil spring device, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of a trailer guide system including an extending spring device, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 12-14  are schematic views of a trailer guide system in use, from the active to non-active positioning states, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form part of the specification, illustrate various embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, further explain the principles of the disclosure and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the embodiments disclosed herein. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. The drawings are not drawn to scale, may be exaggerated to illustrate various aspects of the present disclosure, and should not be construed as limiting the design features. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring generally to  FIGS. 1-3 , a trailer  10  capable of mountably receiving a trailer guide system  100  of the present invention can include a frame  12 , trailer skids  14 , wheels  16 , and axles  18 . The trailer guide system  100  can include a guide member  110 , an indicator portion  112 , and a mounting portion  114 . 
     The frame  12  can be constructed at least in part of metal. The frame  12  can be made of a lightweight but strong material to facilitate supporting and transporting of the corresponding vehicle (e.g., boat, watercraft, land vehicle, etc.). The trailer skids  14  are disposed on the frame  12  to provide a surface on which the transport vehicle can securely rest during transportation. The trailer skids  14  can be constructed at least in part of aluminum, including a covering (e.g., carpeting or rubber) to provide a protective and traction surface for the transport vehicle. The trailer  10  can further include a hitch  20  for selectively attaching the trailer  10  to the hauling vehicle. Other known materials and configurations for the trailer  10  and its portions or components are envisioned as well for operably receiving the trailer guide system  100 . 
     Again, the trailer guide system  100  can include the guide member  110 , the indicator portion  112 , and the mounting portion  114 . The guide member  110  can be a hollow or solid pole or other elongate member, wherein the indicator portion  112  is provided at a free end of the member  110  opposite the mounting portion  114 . The guide member  110  can be in the range of 36 to 42 inches in length in certain embodiments, can be constructed of a variety of materials, including fiberglass, composites, metals, and polymers, and can be selectively extendable and retractable (e.g., via telescoping or folding) for use and storage. The indicator portion  112  can include a colored ball or like element in certain embodiments. In other embodiments, the indicator  112  can be a lighting device, a phosphorescent element, a reflective device, or a myriad of other structures or devices to enhance visual recognition of the guide member  110  (and consequently the rear of the trailer) during use at various times of the day or night. Further, the indicator  106  can be constructed in a variety of shapes and sizes without deviating from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In various embodiments, the mounted guide member  110  can include a degree of flexibility, yet is rigid enough to stay upright or otherwise elongated during use (e.g., constructed of fiberglass or like materials). 
     The mounting portion  114  can pivotably secure the guide member  110  to the trailer  10  via a pivot mechanism  115 . The mounting portion  114  can be integrated with, or retrofitted to, the trailer  10 —e.g., at or near the rear of the trailer  10 , distal the hitch  20 . The mounting portion  114  can be provided to the trailer with one or more brackets or like structures, at various positioning points or areas M. For instance, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the mounting portion  114  can be selectively mounted at various transverse frame sections  12   a  of the trailer  10 . Moreover, the mounting portion  114  can be provided at or proximate a center region of the trailer  10  such that the guide member  110  extends up to provide width-centered guidance, alignment, and improved depth perception, during movement of the trailer  10  (e.g., relative to the transport vehicle). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4-7 , embodiments of the mounting portion&#39;s pivot mechanism  114  can include a hinge mechanism operably connected to the guide member  110  to enable pivoting of the guide member  110  about the mounting portion  114 . The mechanism can include a base plate  124 , a member plate  126 , a hinge  127  that operably connects plates  124  and  126 , a member receiving element  128 , a magnet  130 , and one or more fastening elements  132 . The base plate  124  is mounted to a portion of the trailer  10 , such as one of the transverse sections  12   a , with the one or more fastening elements  132 , and can include the magnet  130 . Other devices and techniques for attachment, such as fasteners or fixation devices, can also be employed with the present invention. In addition, the member receiving element  128  can be attached (e.g., via welding or fasteners) to the member plate  126 . As such, the guide member  110  is insertable in, or otherwise attachable to, the member receiving element  128  such that the guide member  110  is pivotable about the hinge  129 . The member plate  126  (or the member receiving element  128 ) is constructed of a metal material and, therefore, is attracted to the magnet  130  to provide strong securement and vertical or active positioning of the guide member  110  ( FIGS. 4-5 ). However, when the guide member  110  is pushed or otherwise abutted by a transport vehicle or other objects it will forcibly release from the draw of the magnet  130  to pivot the guide member  110  around the hinge  128  ( FIG. 6-7 ) to move to a non-active horizontal orientation. The end region  128   a  of the receiving element  128  distal the indicator portion will then abut against the frame section  12   a  (or other corresponding mounting structures of the trailer) such that the guide member  110  remains securely in place and does not extend below horizontal ( FIG. 7 ). The strength of the magnet  130  dictates the degree of force required to release the guide member  110  from its vertical active position to enable pivotable movement. The magnet  130  can include two or magnets in certain embodiments and each magnet can take on various sizes, shapes, and constructs. The user can manually raise the guide member  110 , about the hinge  127 , to pivotably return the guide member  110  to its active vertical position, with the magnet  130  engaged. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8-9 , the magnet  130  can include a plurality of magnets  130 , and fixation of the mounting portion  114  (and the respective guide member  110 ) to a metallic portion of the trailer  10  can be achieved with the magnets  130 . Namely, the magnets  130  of the mounting portion  114  can be selectively and securely mounted via magnetic force to the frame, axel, or other metal portions of the trailer  10  when in use. When not in use, the system  100  can be removed from the trailer and stored. For example, once the trailer  10  has been moved using the alignment and guidance benefits of the guide member  110 , the entirety of the system  100  can be removed by disengaging the magnets  130  from the trailer  10 . This system  100  configuration can be particularly useful for application with land or non-watercraft vehicles. In various other embodiments, a pivoting mechanism can be included with such a configuration to facilitate pivoting of the guide member  110  relative to the trailer  10 , as disclosed herein. 
     Other embodiments of the mounting portion  114 , as shown in  FIGS. 10-11 , can include a spring mechanism  140  operably connected to the guide member  110  to enable the disclosed pivotable movement of the guide member  110  relative to the trailer  10 . The spring mechanism  140  of  FIG. 10  provides a coil-type spring device  142  mounted to the trailer  10  (e.g., frame section  12   a ) via one or more brackets  120 , and configured to bias the guide member  110  in a vertical or active position. When force is applied from an abutting transport vehicle or other objects, the guide member  110  will pivot toward the horizontal position, where it will remain while the vehicle is in place above or on top of it. Upon removal of the vehicle, the biasing force of the spring  142  again returns the guide member  110  to its vertical orientation.  FIG. 11  shows a spring mechanism  140  including an extending or elongate spring device  144  which operates much the same as spring device  142 —e.g., generally maintaining the guide member  110  (not shown) in the vertical position until forceable contact moves it to the horizontal position. Again, the spring device  144  will naturally return the guide member  110  to a vertical orientation upon cessation of the force that directed it horizontally (e.g., removal of the docked or overhead vehicle). The guide member  110  can attach over or otherwise to the spring device  144 . 
     A schematic representation of the trailer guide system  100  in operation is illustrated in  FIGS. 12-14 . When the trailer  10  is attached to a tow or hauling vehicle, the driver is often required to maneuver or back the trailer into position to load or unload a transport vehicle  200 . The transport vehicle can include land and water-based vehicles. Backing the trailer up while it is attached to the towing vehicle can be difficult with conventional techniques as the trailer  10  is often below the line of sight of the driver. With the present invention, the indicator portion  112  of the guide member  110  extends vertically such that it is in the driver&#39;s line of sight during this task. Because the system  100  can be disposed centrally and at the back region of the trailer, desired guidance and proper trailer positioning is provided relative to the undocked transport vehicle  200 . 
     For those uses involving loading a water vessel or vehicle  200  (e.g., boat, personal watercraft, etc.) onto a trailer from a body of water, the driver of the towing vehicle can back the trailer  10  into the water via a boat ramp or other like surfaces or structures. While typically it can be very difficult to align a trailer with a water vehicle using conventional techniques, as the trailer  10  can be fully or partially submerged at that point, the indicator  112  of the present invention remedies this innate problem. Namely, the guide member  110  and indicator  112  are positioned higher than the remainder of the trailer  10  such that it is visible over the surface of the water to provide an advantageous reference point for alignment with the transport water vehicle  200 . 
     When the vessel  200  is moved to a position at or over the trailer  10  and frame  12 , the vehicle abuts or otherwise contacts the guide member  110 , causing the guide member  110  to pivotably move out of the way of the vehicle. As such, the guide member  110  moves from its initial vertical position toward a non-active horizontal position as the water vehicle moves to its docking placement on the trailer  10 . When the water vessel  200  is removed from the trailer  10 , and its corresponding forceable contact with or seating on the guide member  110  is removed, the bias of the pivot mechanism  114  (e.g., hinge, spring, etc.) can cause the guide member  110  to again move back to the vertical position. In certain embodiments, a hinge or like pivot mechanism  114  of the system  100  may not include a biasing return force. Instead, the user of the system  100  can manually return the guide member  110  to its vertical/active orientation, with the member  110  secured in place via the magnets  130 . 
     As detailed herein, embodiments of the system  100  depicted in  FIGS. 8-9  can be removed upon proper alignment of the trailer, before the vehicle  200  abuts or otherwise contacts the guide member  110 . The system  100  can then be stored away, and re-attached again later as needed. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. 
     Several characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the preceding description, including various alternatives, together with details of the structure and function of the devices, components, and/or systems. The disclosure is intended as illustrative only and as such is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting. It will be evident to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made, especially in matters of structure, materials, elements, components, shapes, sizes, and arrangements of parts including combinations within the principles described herein, to the full extent indicated by the broad, general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. To the extent that these various modifications depart from the spirit and scope of the appended claims, they are intended to be encompassed therein. All references, publications, and patents referred to herein, including the figures and drawings included therewith, are incorporated by reference in their entirety.