Patent Document

PRIORITY CLAIM 
     Priority is claimed to provisional application No. 61/166,502 filed Apr. 3, 2009. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates in general to latching mechanisms which are designed to securely connect one object to another object, such as a boat to a boat trailer. More specifically, the present invention is an automatic latching and releasing mechanism, which may be mounted on an appropriately equipped boat trailer, and latches or releases the securing eye of a boat. 
     Numerous attempts have been made in recent decades to solve the inconvenience and risk of injury associated with the present commonly used method of securing a boat to a trailer with a winch, strap and hook. This method usually entails the manual cranking of a winch to draw or release a strap that may be connected to a hook that may be hooked to the securing eye on the centerline of the bow of a boat. It typically requires an individual to access the point at which the boat and the trailer come in contact while the boat is in the water by wading in the water, leaning over the bow of the boat or climbing onto the tongue of the trailer. This current prevalent method is not only dangerous and inconvenient but is particularly difficult for one person to perform alone. It is also very difficult for an individual of limited strength to perform. 
     A few products are already on the market that are designed to solve the problems associated with trailering a boat. 
     A boat latch sold under the trademark SNAPPER, manufactured by EPCO Products, Inc., Fort Wayne, Ind. is an electronically controlled attachment device that entered the market within the last 2 years. The device is cumbersome to install due its design and electrical hook up necessity as well expensive and vulnerable due to the electronics near a water environment. 
     A boat latch sold under the trademark BOAT BUDDY, manufactured by ROECO, Inc. Fort Worth, Tex. is a simple and inexpensive device that attaches a boat to a trailer but does not offer an effective or convenient way to release the boat from the trailer. In effect, this device creates as much inconvenience in releasing a boat from a trailer as it creates convenience in connecting the two. 
     Another product on the market is the boat latch sold under the trademark LAUNCH AND RETRIEVE BOAT LATCH manufactured by Release &amp; Retrieve Boat Latch Pty Ltd, Adelaide, Australia. This product incorporates a latch that is offset from a boat&#39;s centerline and utilizes a unique eyehook on a boat&#39;s bow. Incumbent to the product&#39;s design is the necessity to change the typical eye hook found on most modern boats which can be a cumbersome exercise. Also disadvantageous to this product is that its design forces a boat&#39;s bow off center in order to latch putting lateral pressure on the boat trailer&#39;s guides causing potential damage. 
     A wide variety of mechanisms have been designed using clasps, pins and hooks to automatically secure a boat to a trailer. Most are designed to eliminate the need for an individual to access the point of contact between boat and trailer while the boat is in the water when loading a boat onto a trailer. While one common element among most is their use of the securing eye that is standard equipment on most boats, other elements of prior designs vary widely. 
     One such earlier design for latching a boat to a trailer was a mechanism using a spring-loaded pin represented in U.S. Pat. No. 4,919,446 which was issued Apr. 24, 1990 to Higgins. This design, however, does not provide an automatic releasing mechanism and does not provide a secondary securing member to restrict movement of the boat&#39;s eyehook toward the tow vehicle. 
     Another earlier design for latching a boat to a trailer was a mechanism using a spring-loaded pin represented in U.S. Pat. No. 3,989,267 which was issued Nov. 2, 1976 to Robinson. This design, however, does not provide an automatic latching or release mechanism, is difficult to attach to a typical modern boat trailer, does not employ a bow guide, does not provide a secondary securing member to restrict movement of the boat&#39;s eyehook toward the tow vehicle, and eliminates the potential use of the traditional winch apparatus. 
     Another such earlier design is represented in U.S. Pat. No. 5,120,079 issued Jun. 9, 1992 to Boggs. The novelty of this design was in the bow guide used to protect the boat and invention. And while a locking pin mechanism was used, no automatic release mechanism was employed and no secondary securing member to restrict movement of the boat&#39;s eyehook toward the tow vehicle is described. 
     Another earlier design which used a spring loaded pin is represented in U.S. Pat. No. 4,114,920 issued Sep. 19, 1978 to Boettcher. While a spring loaded pin assembly was used in combination with a bow guide, neither a release mechanism nor the ability to use the winch and strap apparatus was possible and the trailer mounting design is complicated and adds numerous parts. Also, no secondary securing member to restrict movement of the boat&#39;s eyehook toward the tow vehicle is described. 
     Another earlier design which employs a spring loaded pin and a bow guide is U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,835 issued Mar. 16, 1993 to Sheets. This design, however, does not entail a simple to install, one piece designed apparatus that has an automatic release mechanism accompanying the securing mechanism nor a secondary securing member to restrict movement of the boat&#39;s eyehook toward the tow vehicle is described. 
     A more recent design which does not employ a pin mechanism but does have an automatic release mechanism is U.S. Pat. No. 6,923,138 issued Aug. 2, 2005 to Holbrook. The mechanism utilizes a motor driven rotating head on a shaft that protrudes from the bow of a boat and is captured and released by two steel plates. The mechanism is relatively complicated with numerous moving parts in various conditions. It also requires modification to the standard bow securing eye found on most boats and does not allow for the traditional winch, strap and hook method to be used as a back-up. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a side elevational view of a boat  12  loaded on a boat trailer  38  which includes a prior art latching mechanism. The boat  12  may be pulled up onto the boat trailer  38  by a securing eye  16 , such as an eyehook, by means of a hook attached to a strap  32  and retrieved by a winch  30 . The winch  30  may be powered by hand by means of a winch handle  31  or by electric motor and may be attached to a winch housing  34  by a bolt  40 . The centerline of the boat  12  may be guided by a roller  42  that may be mounted by means of a mounting bolt  66  at the end of a first winch arm extension  8   a  and a second winch arm extension  8   b  (not pictured) and keeps boat  12 &#39;s bow centered on the boat trailer  38 . The entirety of the prior art latching mechanism may be supported by a first winch pedestal  36   a  and a second winch pedestal  36   b.    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. 
     An example of embodiments of the present invention includes a body, made of corrosion resistant plastic or other composite, which features a lower mounting bracket that is adaptable to attach to most boat trailers by use of a single bolt, an upper “V” shaped boat bow guide that aligns a boat&#39;s bow section with a “V” shaped receiver that aligns the boat&#39;s securing eye with a securing member and a securing member release trigger. The body also houses the securing, or locking, or engaging, or closing mechanism and the releasing, or opening, or disengaging, or unlocking mechanism that includes an energy storage device biasing a securing member held in an open or closed condition by an energy storage device loaded trigger. Said trigger may be tripped by contact with a boat&#39;s securing eye either as the boat is being loaded onto the trailer or as the boat is being offloaded from the trailer into the water. When tripped, the trigger disengages from the securing member allowing said securing member to slide into either the opened or closed condition. The securing member may be biased by a biasing mechanism, through an energy storage device that can be set to move the securing member to an open condition or move the securing member to a closed condition within a securing member path and perpendicular to the V-shaped receiver. Said energy storage devices, securing members, biasing mechanism, and trigger may be made of corrosion resistant metal or other composite. 
     What is consistently absent from the prior art is an automatic releasing mechanism accompanying the securing mechanism. An embodiment of the present invention not only solves the problems associated with manually loading a boat onto a trailer using a novel mechanism, it also provides a safe, convenient, simple and reliable means of releasing a boat from a trailer. Embodiments of the present invention may be realized in an automatic boat latching and releasing apparatus. The body and accompanying latching mechanism of the present invention mounts on an appropriately equipped boat trailer and secures or releases the securing eye that may be mounted on the centerline of the lower bow section of most boats. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a boat loaded on a boat trailer which includes a prior art latching mechanism. 
         FIG. 2  is a top perspective view is a latching and release mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of the  FIG. 2  latching and releasing mechanism in a secured and ready-to-release condition. 
         FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of the  FIG. 2  latching and releasing mechanism in a released condition. 
         FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of the  FIG. 2  latching and releasing mechanism in a secured and ready-to-lock condition. 
         FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of the  FIG. 2  latching and releasing mechanism in a secured and locked condition. 
         FIG. 7  is a top perspective view of the  FIG. 2  latching and releasing mechanism in a loading condition. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the bottom surface of the housing. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the top surface of the housing. 
         FIG. 10  is a side perspective view with mounting assembly. 
         FIG. 11  is a side perspective view with mounting assembly with a boat. 
         FIG. 12  is a top perspective view with secondary securing member in a locked condition. 
         FIG. 13  is a top perspective view with secondary securing member in a released condition. 
         FIG. 14  is a top perspective view of a latching and release mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention with the securing member in a locked condition. 
         FIG. 15  is a top perspective view of a latching and release mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention with the securing member in a release condition. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In reference to  FIGS. 2-6 , an example of an embodiment of the present invention latching and releasing mechanism is illustrated. A housing  1  that includes a first bow guide  2   a  and a second bow guide  2   b  align the boat&#39;s centerline with a bow guide centerline  56  and a similarly oriented V-shaped receiver  14 . A trigger insert  4   c , biased by a secondary energy storage device  26 , such as a spring, alternately locks a securing member  52  by means of a first slot  50   a  and a second slot  50   b  subsequently restricting movement of securing member  52  unless and until a trigger  4   a  is forced into a release condition. Said restricted movement of securing member  52  is persistent regardless of bias by a main energy storage device  22 , such as a spring, absent appropriate force to release trigger  4   a  and attached trigger insert  4   c.  Lateral movement of main energy storage device  22  is restricted by an energy storage device slot  58 . Trigger  4   a  pivots on a pivot point  28  and can be made to release from securing member  52  by means of pressure from an advancing securing eye  16  (pictured in  FIGS. 6 ,  7  and  8 ) through a securing eye slot  54  or by use a trigger release  4   b.  Said securing member  52  slides within energy storage device slot  58  and a securing member slot  62  upon the condition that the main energy storage device  22  biases said securing member  52  and the trigger  4   a  is moved to the release condition. Said main energy storage device  22  pressures securing member  52  to be in a closed or open condition pursuant to pressure from a biasing mechanism  18  which consists of a biasing mechanism securing member  20  which is attached to a biasing mechanism handle  24 . Said biasing mechanism handle  24  may be moved to a condition in a first biasing mechanism slot  64   a  or a second biasing mechanism slot  64   b.  Movement of biasing mechanism securing member  20  may be guided by a biasing mechanism securing member slot  60 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an example of an embodiment of the present invention in a condition in which securing member  52  is closed and biasing mechanism  18  is in a locked condition, exemplified by biasing mechanism handle  24  being locked in position in first biasing mechanism slot  64   a  closest to securing eye slot  54  as opposed to biasing mechanism handle  24  being in the open condition in second biasing mechanism slot  64   b.  By means of securing member  52 , securing eye slot  54  is enclosed. Trigger  4   a  is in a lock condition in second slot  50   b  restricting securing member  52  in the closed condition and restricting said securing member  52  from sliding to the open condition within energy storage device slot  58  or securing member slot  62 . Main energy storage device  22  is slightly compressed by biasing mechanism securing member  20  in the lock condition and securing member  52  in the closed condition. Secondary energy storage device  26  is marginally compressed between housing  1  and trigger  4   a  pressuring trigger insert  4   c  to penetrate second slot  50   b.  Manual trigger release  4   b  is protruding from housing  1 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an example of an embodiment of the present invention in a condition in which securing member  52  is closed and biasing mechanism  18  is in the release condition, exemplified by biasing mechanism handle  24  being locked in position farthest from securing eye slot  54  in second biasing mechanism slot  64   b.  By means of securing member  52 , securing eye slot  54  is enclosed in spite of contrary pressure from main energy storage device  22 . Trigger  4   a  is in a lock condition in second slot  50   b  restricting securing member  52  in the closed condition and restricting said securing member  52  from sliding to the open condition further into energy storage device slot  58  and out of securing member slot  62 . Main energy storage device  22  is fully stretched by biasing mechanism securing member  20  in the release condition and securing member  52  in the closed condition. Secondary energy storage device  26  is marginally compressed between housing  1  and trigger  4   a  pressuring trigger insert  4   c  to penetrate second slot  50   b.    
       FIG. 4  illustrates an example of an embodiment of the present invention in a condition in which securing member  52  is open and biasing mechanism  18  is in the release condition, exemplified by biasing mechanism handle  24  being locked in position farthest from securing eye slot  54 . Through the V-shaped receiver  14 , securing eye slot  54  is receptive to, or has released, securing eye  16 . Trigger  4   a  is in a lock condition in first slot  50   a  restricting securing member  52  in the open condition and restricting said securing member  52  from sliding to the closed condition within energy storage device slot  58  and into securing member slot  62 . Main energy storage device  22  is marginally stretched by biasing mechanism securing member  20  in the release condition and securing member  52  in the open condition. Secondary energy storage device  26  is marginally compressed between housing  1  and trigger  4   a  pressuring trigger insert  4   c  to penetrate first slot  50   a.    
       FIG. 5  illustrates an example of an embodiment of the present invention in a condition in which securing member  52  is open and biasing mechanism  18  is in the lock condition, exemplified by biasing mechanism handle  24  being locked in position closest to securing eye slot  54 . Through the V-shaped receiver  14 , securing eye slot  54  is receptive to, or has released, securing eye  16 . Trigger  4   a  is in a lock condition in first slot  50   a  restricting securing member  52  in the open condition and restricting said securing member  52  from sliding to the closed condition within energy storage device slot  58  and into securing member slot  62 . Main energy storage device  22  is fully compressed with energy storage device slot  58  by biasing mechanism securing member  20  in the lock condition and securing member  52  in the open condition. Secondary energy storage device  26  is marginally compressed between housing  1  and trigger  4   a  pressuring trigger insert  4   c  to penetrate first slot  50   a.    
       FIG. 6  illustrates a mirror image of  FIG. 2  in aspects except that securing eye  16  is illustrated in a locked condition restricted by securing member  52  and enclosed within securing eye slot  54 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a mirror image of  FIG. 6  in aspects except that the securing eye  16  has applied force through contact to trigger  4   a  pushing trigger insert  4   c  to disconnect from second slot  50   b.  Said disconnect of trigger insert  4   c  allows securing member  52  to move to the position biased by main energy storage device  22 , in this illustration, securing member  52  has remained in the closed condition. Upon release of the force by securing eye  16 , trigger insert  4   c  may reconnect to a position in second slot  50   b . Regardless of the position of trigger insert  4   c  however, pressure from main energy storage device  22 , biased by the lock condition of biasing mechanism securing member  20  in this illustration, may force securing member  52  to remain in the closed condition. This aspect of the design of the current invention is intentional and provides a safety measure by maintaining the closed condition of securing member  52  when biasing mechanism securing member  20  is in the lock condition thereby restricting the release of securing eye  16  from securing eye slot  54  regardless of the disposition of trigger insert  4   c.    
       FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective view of the bottom surface of housing  1 . Illustrated are the lower portion of the first bow guide  2   a  and second bow guide  2   b.  A Mounting bracket  6  is penetrated longitudinally by a mounting bolt slot  10 . Trigger  4   a  is in the locked condition and securing member  52  is closed restricting movement from securing eye  16  out of securing eye slot  54  and into V-shaped receiver  14 . Manual trigger release  4   b  is observable. 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the top surface of housing  1 . First Bow guide  2   a  and second bow guide  2   b  are split perpendicularly by bow guide centerline  56 . V-shaped receiver  14  is aligned with bow guide centerline  56 . Securing member  52  is in the closed condition and trigger  4   a  is in the lock condition. Biasing mechanism handle  24  is in the lock condition in first biasing mechanism slot  64   a  exposing biasing mechanism securing member  20 , a portion of biasing mechanism  18 . Manual trigger release  4   b  can be observed protruding from housing  1 . Second biasing mechanism slot  64   b  is also observable. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a side perspective view of the current invention as mounted on a boat trailer (not pictured). Mounting bolt  66  penetrates first winch arm extension  8   a  and second winch arm extension  8   b  through mounting bolt slot  10  and mounting bracket  6  securing the surface of the current invention close to parallel to the bow section of the boat (not pictured). First bow guide  2   a  and second bow guide  2   b  align the boats bow with V-shaped receiver  14 . Manual trigger release  4   b  can be observed protruding from housing  1 . 
       FIG. 11  mirrors  FIG. 10  with the exception that boat  12  has been illustrated and second bow guide  2   b  and V-shaped receiver  14  are no longer visible behind boat  12 . 
       FIG. 12  represents a top perspective view of another embodiment of the current invention. A secondary securing member  70  may be employed within housing  1  to restrict movement toward the tow vehicle of securing eye  16  in V-shaped receiver  14  and securing eye slot  54 . Secondary securing member  70  may slide within a secondary energy storage device slot  73  and parallel to securing member  52 , energy storage device slot  58  and main energy storage device  22  and may be biased by a secondary securing member energy storage device  71  that may be attached to a biasing mechanism extension  72  which may be secured to biasing mechanism  18 . Biasing mechanism  18  may bias securing member  20  which may be guided by biasing mechanism securing member slot  60  and may bias secondary securing member  70  with biasing mechanism handle  24  in either first biasing mechanism slot  64   a  or second biasing mechanism slot  64   b.  Secondary securing member  70  may be in lock or release condition when securing member  52  is in the locked condition and may only be in the release condition when securing member  52  is in the release condition due to pressure from a securing member tip extension  52   a  and within securing member slot  62 . Secondary securing member  70  may move independent of trigger  4   a , trigger manual release  4   b , trigger insert  4   c  and secondary energy storage device  26 . In this illustration, secondary securing member  70  is in a locked condition, biasing mechanism  18  is in the lock condition with biasing mechanism handle  24  in first biasing mechanism slot  64   a.    
       FIG. 13  mirrors  FIG. 12  with the exception that secondary securing member  70  has been biased to move to a release condition within secondary securing member slot  73  through bias by secondary securing member energy storage device  71  which may be biased by the movement of biasing mechanism extension  72  when biasing mechanism handle  24  is moved from first biasing mechanism slot  64   a  to second biasing mechanism slot  64   b.    
       FIG. 14  illustrates another embodiment of the current invention using an alternate energy storage device. Main energy storage device  22  may rotate around a main energy storage device pivot  22   a  biasing securing member  52  within biasing mechanism securing member slot  60 . Trigger  4   a  may restrict the movement of securing member  52  dependent upon the position of trigger insert  4   c  in either first slot  50   a  or second slot  50   b.  Trigger  4   a  may rotate around trigger pivot  28  which may be tripped by the approaching securing eye  16  or manually using trigger manual release  4   b.    
       FIG. 15  mirrors  FIG. 14  with the exception that main energy storage device  22  has rotated on Main energy storage device pivot  22   a  biasing securing member  52  to move to a release condition, and trigger insert  4   c  has moved from second slot  50   b  to first slot  50   a.    
     While trigger  4   a , securing member  52 , biasing mechanism  18  and main energy storage device  22  all work together to secure or release a securing eye  16 , each works independently as well. A further explanation follows. 
     Biasing mechanism  18  has two preferred settings and may be set manually. The first setting is achieved when biasing mechanism handle  24  is positioned in the first biasing mechanism slot  64   a  which is closest to the securing member slot  54 . This condition may be employed at all times other than when the boat is being launched and biases main energy storage device  22  to push securing member  52  toward the locked condition in securing member slot  62 . Securing member  52  may in fact be locked by trigger insert  4   c  in an open condition when biasing mechanism  18  is in the locked condition until the trigger  4   a  is tripped by the boat  12  securing eye  16  or manually by using trigger manual release  4   b.  Upon the closing of securing member  52  while biasing mechanism  18  is in a locked condition with biasing mechanism handle  24  in first biasing mechanism slot  64   a , a small degree of bias from main energy storage device  22  will persist ensuring that securing member  52  remains closed in order to mitigate an unintended release of securing eye  16 . 
     The second preferred setting of the biasing mechanism  18  is achieved by moving biasing mechanism handle  24  away from securing member  52  into second biasing mechanism slot  64   b.  This condition may be used when launching boat  12  or during maintenance of the invention. In this condition, biasing mechanism  18  biases main energy storage device  22  to retract securing member  52  when the trigger  4   a  is tripped thereby unrestricting movement of securing eye  16  from securing slot  54  and toward V-shaped receiver  14 . Securing member  52  will remain, if initially so, in the closed condition unless and until the trigger  4   a  is tripped. 
     A third setting for biasing mechanism  18  may be possible. In the event that biasing mechanism handle  24  is not deployed in one of the preferred settings in first biasing mechanism slot  64   a  or second biasing mechanism slot  64   b , then main energy storage device  22  may convey no bias to securing member  52 . 
     There are two preferred securing member  52  conditions. The closed condition is preferred to be used whenever boat  12  is on the trailer, except during a period of the launching process, and securely attaches the boat  12  securing eye  16  to the boat trailer  38 . Said securing member  52  may be closed when trailering boat  12 , when backing boat  12  down the launch ramp and when driving boat  12  up the launch ramp after retrieval. The initial securing member  52  condition may be maintained in the closed condition, if so biased by main energy storage device  22 , by the trigger insert  4   c  in first slot  50   a  until trigger  4   a  is pressured to pivot on trigger pivot  28  subsequently disengaging trigger insert  4   c  from first slot  50   a  thereby allowing securing member  52  to slide to the open condition. The closed condition of securing member  52  may also be achieved from an open condition, if so biased by main energy storage device  22 , through pressure on trigger  4   a , the subsequent pivot of trigger  4   a  on trigger pivot  28  and the disengagement of trigger insert  4   c  from second slot  50   b.    
     The other securing member  52  condition is the open condition and may be used as boat  12  is being released from boat trailer  38  and before being retrieved again. The open securing member  52  condition may be the result of both biasing mechanism handle  24  being in second biasing mechanism slot  64   b  biasing main energy storage device  22  to pressure securing member  52  toward the open condition and securing eye  16  contacting trigger  4   a  thereby moving trigger insert  4   c  to be disengaged from second slot  52  in securing member  52 . Said securing member  52  will remain in the open condition even if biasing mechanism securing member  20  pressures securing member  52  toward the closed condition by means of main energy storage device  22  unless and until the trigger  4   a  is tripped with sufficient force. Said securing member  52  may move to the closed condition only after each of the following is accomplished: biasing mechanism handle  24  is within first biasing mechanism slot  64   a  biasing mechanism securing member  20  to pressure main energy storage device  22  subsequently pressuring securing member  52  toward the closed condition and trigger  4   a  is tripped disengaging trigger insert  4   c  from second slot  50   b.    
     There are two preferred release trigger  4   a  conditions. The release trigger  4   a  may be in the engaged condition due to force from secondary energy storage device  26  unless sufficient force is applied, which may be by securing eye  16  or manually, to compress secondary energy storage device  26  thereby disengaging trigger insert  4   c  from first slot  50   a  or second slot  50   b.  When trigger  4   a  is engaged, securing member  52  may be prevented from moving regardless of the condition of the biasing mechanism handle  24  or said securing member  52 . Upon the tripping of trigger  4   a , securing member  52  may achieve the condition for which it is currently biased, from either open to closed or vice versa, in relation to the disposition of the biasing mechanism handle  24  and biasing mechanism securing member  20 . For example, if biasing mechanism handle  24  is in second biasing mechanism slot  64   b  and securing member  52  is in the closed condition, upon the tripping of the release trigger  4   a , securing member  52  may retract to the release condition. This may allow the release of securing eye  16 . In another example, if biasing mechanism handle  24  is in first biasing mechanism slot  64   a  and securing member  52  is in the open condition, upon the tripping of trigger  4   a , securing member  52  may move into the closed condition. This may secure securing eye  16  in a secured condition in securing slot  54 . In other examples, should securing member  52  be in the closed condition and the biasing mechanism handle  24  be in the lock condition in first biasing mechanism slot  64   a , or securing member  52  be in the open condition and biasing mechanism handle  24  be in the release condition in second biasing mechanism slot  64   b , then no movement of securing member  52  may result should trigger  4   a  be tripped. This allows the boat  12  to be trailered without the concern that securing member  52  will retract inadvertently, or conversely, allows securing member  52  to remain in the release condition if desired. 
     There are four preferred main energy storage device  22  conditions. The first is a fully compressed condition and may be the result of said main energy storage device  22  being compressed between securing member  52  in the release condition and biasing mechanism securing member  20  in the lock condition. 
     The second main energy storage device  22  condition is a slightly compressed condition and may be the result of securing member  52  being in the lock condition in securing member slot  62  and biasing mechanism securing member  20  being in the lock condition. This may be the most common condition of biasing mechanism  18  and securing member  52  and may be used whenever the boat  12  is loaded on the boat trailer  38  other than during periods of the launch or retrieval process of boat  12 . 
     The third main energy storage device  22  condition is fully stretched and may be achieved by securing member  52  being in the lock condition in securing member slot  62  and the biasing mechanism securing member  20  being is in the release condition exemplified by biasing mechanism handle  24  being in second biasing mechanism slot  64   b . This configuration may be used during periods of the boat  12  launching process from the boat trailer  38 . In said condition, the main energy storage device  22  may be fully stretched until force is applied to the trigger  4   a  thereby retracting trigger insert  4   c  away from first slot  50   a  allowing securing member  52  to move to the release condition. 
     The fourth main energy storage device  22  condition is slightly stretched and may be achieved when securing member  52  is in the release condition and the biasing mechanism handle  24  is in the release condition in second biasing mechanism slot  64   b . This configuration may be evident immediately after the boat has been launched and while boat  12  is not present on trailer  38 . 
     The present invention in its entirety does not preclude the boater from using the traditional winch  30 , strap  32  and hook assembly in the event that the boat  12  is inoperable and must be winched into place on the trailer  38 ; in which case the automatic securing mechanism can still be used advantageously to simplify the winching process. Furthermore, it is recommended that the winch  30 , strap  32  and hook assembly be used in conjunction with this automatic securing and release system as a secondary safety measure. 
     An example of an embodiment of the present invention incorporates a V-shaped bow guide that may be built into the housing  1 . Said bow guide is designed to receive the bow of boat  12  and align the boat  12  centerline and securing eye  16  with V-shaped receiver  14  and securing eye slot  54 . In so doing, trigger  4   a  may be accessible to contact with securing eye  16 . 
     Another example of an embodiment of the present invention is a simple but effective attachment feature that may allow for easy installation on a modern boat trailer  38 . A mounting bracket  6  is molded into the lower portion of housing  1  that is designed to be secured to first winch arm extension  8   a  and second winch arm extension  8   b  which may previously secure a roller apparatus found a modern boat trailer  38 . Installation of the present invention on said trailer may be accomplished using a single bolt (mounting bolt  66 ). The earlier referenced one piece construction of the invention and the accompanying mounting bracket  6  may ensure that the invention in its entirety will remain in the optimal position to receive the boat  12  bow section and align said boat&#39;s securing eye  16  with the invention&#39;s V-shaped receiver  14 . Said optimal position may initially, absent contact from the boat, be slightly downward relative to the angle of the boat&#39;s centerline vertical angle. However, upon and after contact of the boat  12 , first bow guide  2   a  and second bow guide  2   b , the bow guide centerline  56  may remain vertically and horizontally flush against the boat  12  centerline by pivoting longitudinally on the mounting bolt  66  as said boat  12  advances on boat trailer  38 . Said pivoting allows the invention to adapt to the various vertical steepnesses of modern boats as well as facilitating proper alignment, both vertically and horizontally, of the invention against the varying vertical steepness of a numerous boats as well as a particular boat  12  during the loading and unloading process. Said positioning also facilitates the alignment of boat  12  on the boat trailer  38 , aligns the boat  12  securing eye  16  with the V-shaped receiver  14  as well as ensuring that the trigger  4   a  mechanism will not be tripped on the boat  12  bow rather than on securing eye  16 . 
     Critical elements make the present invention novel. The specific mechanism employed is unique. The use of a biasing mechanism that facilitates both securing and releasing the boat  12  securing eye  16  is unique. The one piece design that incorporates the securing and releasing mechanism, a novel bow guide design which properly aligns securing eye  16  with the securing and releasing mechanism, a simple mechanism for attaching the invention to boat trailer  38  and the ability to continue to use the traditional winch  30 , strap  32  and hook apparatus as a secondary safety measure each make the invention novel. 
     Now although the systems described have been discussed in relation to a boat, those systems may be adapted to other watercraft types with minor modification, for example personal watercraft such as jet skis. Described systems might also be adapted for use with land vehicles, for example all terrain vehicles that may be trailered. The scope of the above described systems should therefore be interpreted broadly rather than restrictively. 
     While various systems incorporating a trailer mountable receiver and release mechanism have been described and illustrated in conjunction with a number of specific settings, a professional will appreciate that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the principles herein described, illustrated and claimed. The present invention, as defined by the appended claims, may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The configurations described herein are to be considered in all respects to be illustrative, and not restrictive. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Technology Category: 4