Abstract:
A boat trailer step assist includes a first and second support arm in pivotal relation to one another which provide steps that assist a user in entering or exiting a boat when trailered or in the process of being trailered. The support arms are arranged at an angle relative to the trailer tongue, with the first step at the level of the trailer tongue. When not in use, the second support arm pivots downward for compact stowage. When deployed, the support arms are in alignment with one another. A grab handle may be provided to assist the user in climbing or descending the steps.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO PENDING PATENT APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Pat. App. No. 61/227,128, filed Jul. 21, 2009. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to devices designed to assist a user in entering and exiting a boat. More particularly, the invention relates to devices designed to assist a user in entering and exiting a boat that is secured to a boat trailer or in the process of being secured to a boat trailer. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Users of boats who are very young, above middle age, overweight, or suffering some form of physical disability or ailment often have difficulty getting into and out of the boat when the boat is trailered. Therefore, a need exists for a step assist that provides easy access to and egress from a boat that is trailered or is in the process of being trailered. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A boat trailer step assist made according to this invention has a first support arm connected to a trailer tongue and a second support arm that may move in relation to the first support arm. The first support arm is preferably a fixed arm arranged at an oblique angle relative to the trailer tongue. The second support arm preferably moves relative to the first support arm between a stowed position and a deployed position. When in the deployed position, the second support arm may be at a different vertical elevation than when it is in the stowed position. 
     Each support arm includes at least one step that a user uses to enter or exit a boat that is trailered or in the process of being trailered. The steps are preferably fixed in relation to the support arms but could also be in pivotal relation to the support arms. The steps, which may be U-shaped steps, may be arranged so that an end of each step lies substantially parallel to the trailer tongue. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the first and second support anus are in pivotal relation to one another. When in the deployed position, the first and second support arms are in alignment with one another. When in the stowed position the second support arm rests substantially parallel to the first support arm. Other arrangements between the arms may be used. For example, the first and second support arms may be in a telescoping relation to one another. Alternatively, the first and second support arms may be in fixed relation to one another. That is, the arms may form a single support arm. 
     The boat trailer step assist may also include a fixed or removable grab handle to assist the user in using the steps. This handle may also be adjustable and include a mirror that assists the user in seeing the trailer hitch while inside the tow vehicle. 
     An object of this invention is to provide a user with easy and safe entering and exiting of a boat while the boat is still on the trailer or in the process of being trailered. Another object of this invention is to facilitate a single user launching off of, or loading a boat on to, a trailer. Yet another object of this invention is to make it easy for youth, elderly and those hampered with knee, back or other physical ailments to get in and out of the boat at any location. Still yet another object of this invention is to enhance the value, looks and practicality of a boat trailer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of a boat trailer step assist made according to this invention. The step assist, which is secured to the tongue of a boat trailer, allows a user to easily step from ground level into a trailered boat and exit from the boat back to ground level. 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of an alternate embodiment of the step assist of  FIG. 1 . Additional steps may be provided depending on the size of the boat being trailered. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the step assist of  FIG. 1 . When the step assist is deployed for use, the two support arms of the step assist are in alignment with one another. A grab handle may be provided to offer added safety and stability for the user. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the step assist of  FIG. 1  illustrating the step assist in its stowed position. The upper and lower support arms of the step assist are connected to one another by a hinge. The upper support arm rotates up and away from the lower support arm to deploy the step assist, and rotates down and toward the lower support arm to stow the step assist. 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the step assist of  FIG. 3 . The lower support arm is secured to a base plate which, in turn, is detachably secured to the tongue of the boat trailer. A U-shaped step is affixed to each of the lower and upper support arms. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the base plate of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is front view of the base plate of  FIG. 5 . The base plate includes an L-shaped load support that engages a side of the tongue of the boat trailer and helps the base plate withstand the load created by the user when going up and down the steps. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the step assist of  FIG. 1  illustrating the hinge that allows the upper support arm to be rotated down to rest on the lower support arm. A locking means, such as a wire lock pin (see  FIG. 9 ), secures the upper support arm when in use or when folded down for storage. 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of the step assist of  FIG. 1  illustrating all of the primary components of the step assist in relation to one another. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Preferred embodiments of a step assist according to this invention will now be described by making reference to the drawings and the elements illustrated in the drawings. Referring first to  FIGS. 1 &amp; 2 , a step assist  25  is illustrated that provides easy access to and egress from a boat  22  that is trailered or in the process of being trailered. Step assist  25  proves especially useful to users who, because of their age or size, typically have difficulty getting into and out of the boat when the boat is trailered. Depending on the size of the boat  22 , step assist  25  may have one, two, or more steps  29 . For example, a bass boat application typically requires two steps  29 . Other types of boats, such as a ski, speed, or pleasure boat may require three or more steps  29 . Step assist  25  preferably includes a grab handle  14 , which may be a removable grab handle (see  FIG. 3 ), to offer added safety and stability for the user. Grab handle  14  may also include a mirror  27  that allows the user to see the trailer hitch  28  when seated inside the tow vehicle. 
     Step assist  25  is detachably secured to the tongue  24  of a boat trailer  23 . Trailer tongue  24  may be a structural member of boat trailer  23  that supports the weight of boat  22  and provides a connection point of boat trailer  23  to a tow vehicle (not shown). Trailer tongue  24  is typically a box beam or its equivalent, with a dimension of a few inches per side. Trailer tongue  24  may be a rotating or swing away trailer tongue (as indicated by the arrow in  FIGS. 1 &amp; 2 ) that helps reduce the overall length of boat trailer  23  to accommodate smaller storage areas. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 3 to 5 , step assist  25  preferably includes a lower support arm  2  and an upper support arm  3  in pivotal relation to one another. Each support arm  2 ,  3  supports one or more steps  29 . Step  29  may be any configuration desirable but is preferred to be a U-shaped step  29  made of frame  7  with spaced-apart step floor runners  8  spanning the U. Frame portion  6  closes the U and provides the means for securing step  29  to support arm  2  or  3 . Each step  29  is oriented in relation to support arms  2 ,  3  so that when step assist  25  is in use, each step  29  substantially lies in a horizontal plane. 
     In a preferred embodiment, upper support arm  3  is connected to lower support arm  2  by way of a hinge  4 . Upper support arm  3  is preferably positioned inside of hinge  4  at an upper end of the lower support arm  2  by way of a bolt  15  passing through hinge  4  at a designated location, continuing through hinge pivot  12 , and protruding through the far side of hinge  4  where a lock nut may be installed on the end of bolt  15 . Upper support arm  3  matches the same angular incline as lower support arm  2  when in the open for use position. Upper support arm  3  may also have a different angular incline than lower support arm  2  when in the open for use position. When step assist  25  is stowed, upper support arm  3  rests on and parallel to lower support arm  2 . This rotation allows step assist  25  to become more compact and prevents any interference with boat trailer  23  when the boat trailer  23  accompanies a rotating or “swing away” trailer tongue  24 . When deploying step assist  25  for use, a user rotates upper support arm  3  up and away from lower support arm  2  until the arms  2 ,  3  are in alignment with one another. When the user is through using step assist  25 , upper support arm  3  is rotated down and toward lower support arm  2 . 
     An alternative embodiment of step assist  25  eliminates hinge  4  and includes a single support arm  2  to which a step or steps  29  are attached. This alternate configuration is advantageous and cost effective for users whose boat trailer tongue  24  does not rotate or swing away but remains in a constant and fixed position. In these applications, there is no need for step assist  25  to fold and become compact for storage. 
     Lower support arm  2  is affixed to a base plate  1  at a predetermined angle α, preferably 45°, relative to trailer tongue  24 . Angle α will vary depending on the type and elevation of boat  22  in relation to boat trailer  23 . Lower support arm  2  supports one or more steps  29  as well as provides the attachment location for hinge  4 . 
     Base plate  1  preferably includes an “L” shaped load support  9  which engages a side of trailer tongue  24  and serves to strengthen and help base plate  1  withstand the load created by the user going up and down the steps  29 . See  FIGS. 6 ,  7  &amp;  9 . Base plate  1  receives a set of bolts that pass through base plate  1  and continue down and through a lower base plate  10  that physically engages the underside of trailer tongue  24 . See  FIG. 3 . The combination of the base plate  1 , load support  9 , lower base plate  10 , and bolts essentially “box in” trailer tongue  24 , creating the structural foundation for step assist  25 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 8 , hinge  4  may include locations for a wire lock pin or similar locking means (not shown) to be inserted through both hinge and the upper support arm  3  The wire lock pin serves to secure support arm  3  when in use or when folded down for storage. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , grab handle  14  may be an adjustable grab handle and removable. See also  FIG. 3 . In a preferred embodiment, grab handle  14  includes a vertical grab handle pin  11 . Pin  11  has a removable grab handle stop ring  13  to assist stability and allows adjustment holes in removable grab handle  14  and vertical grab handle pin  11  to overlap and align for wire lock pin  20  or similar locking means to be inserted. Wire lock pin  20  may be removed from removable grab handle  14  quickly and easily to permit removable grab handle  14  to be lifted off of vertical grab handle pin  11  for purpose of preventing theft and ease of storage. Grab handle  14  may also include tabs  19  for receiving a mirror  27  as shown in  FIGS. 1 &amp; 2 . 
     The various components of step assist  25  as described above may be made of a strong metal, metal alloys, composites, strong polymers, composite material, wood, or similar types of material. In a preferred embodiment, step assist  25  is constructed of low carbon steel of various configurations such as plate, flat bar, pipe, round bar, square bar, square tubing and rectangular tubing that are cut, cleaned drilled, fit and welded as necessary. 
     Aesthetics being considered, step assist  25  may be advantageously colored to match the boat  22  or trailer  23  of the user. When in metal faun, step assist  25  involves blasting after fabrication by use of grit, sand or metal shot; applying a primer coat to allow paint to adhere; and then applying paint such as spray, powder coat and the like. Step assist  25  may also have a clear coat applied over the paint to increase durability for the user if preferred. 
     This description is to allow practice of the invention by those of ordinary skill in the art, without experimentation, including the best methods currently disclosed and the presently preferred embodiments. Nothing in this description is to be taken to limit the scope of the invention, which is subject to alterations, substitutions or equivalents.