Abstract:
A semiautomatic visual trailing guide to assist a steerer in backing and loading trailers such as boat, recreational vehicle, or utility type. The device generally consists of a self-boosting self-latching mechanism capable of pivoting an element between a horizontal position and a vertical position while employing a force to hold in either position. The device is mounted on the rear most center of a trailer and will rotate the element to a visual position after being initially urged towards that position. The element is kept vertical by tension from the self-boosting self-latching mechanism until a forward force such as a boat, jet ski, or car push on the element and the element collapses to a horizontal position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Design Patent Application serial No. 29/194,752 now abandoned. 
   Utility patent application Ser. No. 10/725,087 now abandoned. 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not Applicable. 
   REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM 
   Not Applicable. 
   LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX 
   Not Applicable. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to a visual trailering guide for use in backing up trailers to a specific location for parking, centering a trailer on a ramp leading into the water, and for use in guiding and centering a boat when loading the boat on a trailer that is partially underwater. Devices of many configurations have been developed to aid in the ability of a steerer to back an empty trailer. Some of these devices are discussed herein as way of examples of prior art. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,715,768 issued Dec. 29, 1987, Capps, discloses a trailer guide, which allows the rollers to float upward as the trailer backs into the water. The rollers become submersed and unviewable for guiding the boat onto the trailer. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,958,436 issued Sep. 25, 1990, Tusche, U.S. Patent No. 2003/0200911 A1 issued Oct. 30, 2003, Tateo et al., and U.S. Patent No. 2004/0211351 A1 issued Oct. 28, 2004, Emerson et al., show a spring and bracket type device affixed to a trailer for viewing. This type of configuration employs constant spring tension pushing the device against the boat at all times and may eventually wear or scar the boat. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,529,217 issued Jul. 16, 1985, Wood, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,447,815 issued Jun. 3, 1969, West, in each case, movement of the upward projecting arms, that act as guides, is from side to side. Devices of this design tend to remain substantially vertical at all times. This side-to-side motion of the guide arms usually requires the trailer to be some distance from the dock to facilitate such movement. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,863,594 issued Feb. 4, 1975, Gawthrop, shows a spring and bracket type device that locks into position by detent means. This device works much like U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,453 issued May 26, 1998, Bell, wherein these types of devices are maneuvered by hand to the full vertical position to engage the locking mechanism, which increases the time and effort of the user. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,520,273 issued Jul. 14, 1970, Daifotes, shows a device that uses heat to release the device into its viewable position. This device is mechanically complex, expensive and difficult to install. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,596,944 issued Jan. 28, 1997, Massie, discloses an automatic deployment device. It requires two of these devices mounted on each side of the trailer to function properly, increasing cost and difficulty of installation. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,064,617 issued Nov. 20, 1962, Meager, and U.S. Patent No. 2004/0011273 A1 issued Jan. 22, 2004, Gorbutt, show a device mounted on the front tongue of the trailer as opposed to the rear of the trailer. These devices do not provide a visual reference to the rear of the trailer. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,684,145 issued Aug. 4, 1987 to Tingley discloses an automatic deployment type of device that extends the full with of the trailer. This device maintains constant contact on craft when the craft is loaded and may damage the craft. This device is complicated, costly and difficult to install. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,318,747 B1 issued Nov. 20, 2001, Ratican, U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,588 issued May 19, 1992, Walston, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,889,384 issued Jun. 17, 1975, White, all show devices that must be manually locked into position and manually unlocked to reposition, then manually relocked. This would be too difficult for the user of a water-type craft such as a boat. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The semiautomatic visual trailering guide of this invention consists of an element coupled to a self-boosting self-latching mechanism secured centrally to the rear of a conventional type trailer. The element resembles an elongated rod. The self-boosting self-latching mechanism resembles a spring loaded moveable joint, having a fixed plate mounted to the rear of the trailer and a moveable plate that supports the element. The self-boosting self-latching mechanism has structure to hold the moveable plate in the horizontal position and springs to assist in pivoting the moveable plate from the horizontal position to the vertical position. The springs also hold the moveable plate in the vertical position. The element is coupled to the moveable plate and as the moveable plate pivots from the horizontal position to the vertical position, the element pivots from the horizontal position to the vertical position. 
   A steerer would slightly lift the element from the horizontal position to overcome the mechanism&#39;s force that holds the element in the horizontal position and the self-boosting self-latching mechanism automatically engages the self-boosting action of the mechanism to raise and hold the element in the vertical position. With the element in the vertical position, visual contact with the element is available at all times, aiding the steerer in guiding the trailer while backing into awkward turns and especially for entering steep graded ramps where visual contact is impaired. In addition the steerer of the boat would have a reference to the center and rear of the submerged trailer for guiding the boat onto the trailer. 
   In respect to prior art of known types of aids for helping steerers and of known different types of designs and configurations for visual trailering devices, the present new and different invention overcomes disadvantages of prior art. The present invention overcomes disadvantages of prior art by its structure, functioning abilities, and ease of installation as well as use. These and other objects and features of the present invention will be better understood and appreciated from the following detailed description of the main embodiment thereof, selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a front view of the preferred embodiment of the device of the present invention in the vertical position. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of the preferred embodiment of the device of the present invention in the vertical position. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of the preferred embodiment of the device of the present invention in the vertical position without the element in place. 
       FIG. 2   a  illustrates a side view of the preferred embodiment of the device of the present invention showing the structure of the self-boosting self-latching mechanism holding the element in the vertical position without the pin in place. 
       FIG. 2   b  illustrates a side view of the preferred embodiment of the device of the present invention showing the structure of the self-boosting self-latching mechanism holding the element in the horizontal position without the pin in place. 
       FIG. 4  shows a typical application of the present invention mounted thereto a horizontal cross support member towards the end of a trailer and in the horizontal or storage position. 
       FIG. 5  shows a typical application of the present invention mounted thereto a horizontal cross support member towards the end of the trailer and in the vertical or backing the trailer position. 
       FIG. 6  shows a typical application of the present invention mounted thereto a horizontal cross support member towards the end of a partially submerged trailer and in the vertical or backing the trailer position. 
       FIG. 7  shows a typical application of the present invention mounted thereto a horizontal cross support member towards the end of a partially submerged trailer and in the vertical or loading the trailer position. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to the drawings, illustrating the preferred embodiment of the semiautomatic visual trailering guide of this invention. The preferred embodiment and the best mode contemplated of the present invention are herein summarize. However, the best mode for carrying out the invention hereinafter described is by way of illustration and not by way of limitation. It is intended that the scope of the invention includes all modifications that incorporate the invention&#39;s principle design features. 
   The semiautomatic visual trailering guide of this invention comprises an element  22  resembling an elongated rod and a self-boosting self-latching mechanism  23 - 27  resembling a spring loaded moveable joint, having a fixed plate  24  mounted to the rear of a trailer  29  and a moveable plate  23  supporting the element  22 . 
   The fixed plate  24  has a bent flange  24   a  that is mounted to the rear of the trailer  29  typically on a forward surface of a rear most horizontal cross support member  21  of the trailer  29  as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Attachment by rivets, screws, welding or any other means suitable for the application will suffice. The moveable plate  23  and fixed plate  24  may be formed from stock material such as stainless steel, brass, plastic, or the like. 
   The element  22  is coupled to the bent flange  23   a  of the moveable plate  23  such that as the moveable plate  23  pivots, the element  22  pivots from the horizontal position to the vertical position or vice versa. The element  22  may be clamped or attached in any suitable manner to the bent flange  23   a . In the preferred embodiment the method of via press fit is preferred for the element  22  and the moveable plate  23  to pivot together as a single unit and in a single motion by curling the outer end of the bent flange  23   a  to create a support to hold the element  22 . The element  22  may be formed from inexpensive stock materials such as fiberglass or the like. The exact length will vary determined by the particular application. The element  22  needs to have sufficient length to allow the element  22  to extend upward in the vertical position from the trailer  29  to a height at which the top of the element  22  extends above an expected water height when the trailer  29  becomes submerged as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
   The self-boosting self-latching mechanism  23 - 27  of this invention is a moveable joint type structure with the ability to hold the moveable plate  23  in the horizontal position and springs  26  to assist in pivoting the moveable plate  23  from the horizontal position to the vertical position comprising a moveable plate  23  and a fixed plate  24 , springs  26 , a plunger  27 , and a pin  25 . The springs  26  as illustrated in  FIG. 3  that may be formed from steel or the like, also holds the moveable plate  23  in the vertical position. Pin  25  that may be formed from steel, plastic or the like, pivotally couples together the moveable plate  23  and the fixed plate  24 , in a manner typical of most moveable joints. Pin  25  is pressed through the curled flanges  23   c  and  24   b  of the moveable plate  23  and the fixed plate  24 , which holds the self-boosting self-latching mechanism  23 - 27  together. 
   The self-boosting self-latching mechanism  23 - 27  is adapted to perform the three functions of hingedly supporting the element  22  and upon being manually initiated engaging a self-boosting action that urges the element  22  to the vertical position and latching the element  22  in the vertical position. Wherein more effective latching of the element  22  is achieved since each self-boosting self-latching mechanism  23 - 27  incorporates the boosting and latching functions inherent in the self-boosting self-latching mechanism  23 - 27 . First, the element  22  is coupled to the bent flange  23   a  of the self-boosting self-latching mechanism  23 - 27 . The moveable plate  23  and the element  22  are held in the horizontal position as illustrated in  FIG. 2   b . Second, a self-boosting action is initiated by a slight lifting action to release the moveable plate  23  from the horizontal position whereas the springs  26  and the plunger  27  automatically pivot the moveable plate  23  that raises the element  22  from the horizontal position to the vertical position. Third, as the moveable plate  23  approaches the vertical position a self-latching action occurs to hold the element  22  in the vertical position for use as illustrated in  FIG. 2   a.    
   After a forward force is applied to the vertical element  22 , the moveable plate  23  pivots towards the horizontal position overcoming the self-latching action of the self-boosting self-latching mechanism  23 - 27 . As the moveable plate  23  approaches the horizontal position the spring(s)  26  and the plunger  27  apply a force to further urge the moveable plate to the horizontal position for storage as illustrated in  FIG. 2   b . While in the horizontal position the element  22  is held away from the boat  30  when the boat  30  has been loaded on the trailer  29 . This prevents any damage from occurring to the bottom of the boat  30  by the element  22 . 
   Movement of the element  22  with the self-boosting self-latching mechanism  23 - 27  is characterized by a spring and cam action with at least one spring  26  telescoped into at least one hole in the plunger  27 . The springs  26  and the plunger  27  assembly makes use of the bent flange  23   b , the curled flanges  23   c  and  24   b  to urge and hold the element  22  to a vertical position. The plunger  27  that may be formed from woods, metals, ceramics, plastic or the like, and may be formed into various shapes such as spiracle, flat, cubed or the like, is slideably positioned inside the bent flange  23   b . With the face of the plunger  27  resting against the surface of the curled flange  24   b  in a position between the curled flanges  23   c  and is pressed into engagement with curled flange  24   b . The plunger  27  springs  26  inserted into holes in the plunger  27  with the outer end of the springs  26  resting against the surface of the moveable plate  23  in a position inside the bent flange  23   b  to supply bias between the fixed plate  24  and the moveable plate  23 . A biasing force that urges the element  22  to pivot from the horizontal position to the vertical position. This configuration provides a holding action when in the horizontal position, a biasing force toward the vertical position and a latching action when in the vertical position to automatically lift the element  22  upward and hold the element  22  in a vertical position after the element  22  has initially been swung toward its vertical position. 
   To use the self-boosting self-latching mechanism  23 - 27  just initiate movement of the element  22  into the vertical position and the self-boosting self-latching mechanism  23 - 27  will assist in pivoting to and holding in the full vertical position the element  22 . Making the element  22  easily viewable from the window or mirror of the vehicle to which the trailer  29  is hitched. Therefore, should the trailer  29  be a trailer  29  as that used for a boat  30  and placed into the water a certain distance, the element  22  would be of sufficient height to be in view at all times. This would allow the steerer a reference point to direct the bow of the boat  30  onto the trailer  29  during loading to ensure that the boat  30  is traveling along the central axis of the trailer  29 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , and that the bow of the boat  30  is centrally positioned on the trailer  29  when the boat  30  is winched into place. Reloading the boat  30  would be a simpler task for the steerer, especially in adverse conditions such as night, rain or other conditions that may decrease visibility. In addition, if the trailer  29  were empty, the steerer of the vehicle to which the trailer  29  is hitched would have a reference point along the central axis toward the rear end of the trailer  29  for backing the trailer  29  into position. For example, into a designated parking area as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , or down a ramp leading into the water, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
   While there has been described above the principles of the semiautomatic visual trailering guide of the present invention in connection with specific apparatus, it is understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of my invention. Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the present invention not be limited by the foregoing description, instead it should be measured with regards to the claims that follow.