Boat trailer with adjustable rails and an automatic latch
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to a boat trailer that has sloped and adjustable guide rails which are higher at the rear of the trailer as compared to the front of the trailer. Accordingly, when backed down a boat ramp the guide rails extend above the water in order to engage the pontoons of a boat. This arrangement of guide rails allows a boat to powered onto the trailer where it can automatically be latched into place.
1. A boat trailer comprising:
a platform configured to be towed by a vehicle over land;
a first support rail, on said platform, configured to cradle a first boat pontoon;
a second support rail, on said platform, configured to cradle a second boat pontoon;
a first guide rail proximate said first support rail on said platform, the first guide rail extending from about a center of the platform to a rear of the platform;
a second guide rail proximate said second support rail on said platform, the second guide rail extending from about a center of the platform to a rear of the platform;
a first adjustable support member configured to attach the rear portion of the first guide rail to the platform, wherein a length of the first adjustable support member is adjustable;
a second adjustable support member configured to attach the rear portion of the second guide rail to the platform, wherein a length of the second adjustable support member is adjustable; and
wherein a respective height of each of the first guide rail and second guide rail is adjustable such that a respective rear portion of each of the first and second guide rails is higher above the platform than a respective front portion of each of the first and second guide rails.
2. The boat trailer of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third adjustable support member configured to attach the front portion of the first guide rail to the platform, wherein a length of the third adjustable support member is adjustable; and
a fourth adjustable support member configured to attach the front portion of the second guide rail to the platform, wherein a length of the fourth adjustable support member is adjustable.
3. The boat trailer of claim 1 , wherein the first guide rail and the second guide rail are buoyant and are configured to float when submerged in water such that the respective rear portions of the first and second guide rails rise above a water line.
4. The boat trailer of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first slanted portion coupled to the rear portion of the first guide rail, such that the first slanted portion is inclined, in a horizontal plane, towards a centerline of the trailer; and
a second slanted portion coupled to the rear portion of the second guide rail, such that the second slanted portion is inclined, in a horizontal plane, towards a centerline of the trailer.
5. The boat trailer of claim 4 , wherein each of the first and second slanted portions extend past the rear of the platform.
6. The boat trailer of claim 4 , further comprising:
a first brace configured to secure the first slanted portion to the first guide rail; and
a second brace configured to secure the second slanted portion to the second guide rail.
7. The boat trailer of claim 1 further comprising:
a first boat stop coupled to a rear portion of the first support rail and extending vertically upward from the first support rail; and
a second boat stop coupled to a rear portion of the second support rail and extending vertically upward from the second support rail.
8. The boat trailer of claim 1 , further comprising:
a latch proximate a front of the platform, said latch configured to engage a front portion of a boat on the boat trailer.
9. The boat trailer of claim 8 , wherein the latch includes:
a rounded front portion;
a pivot point;
a rear portion; and
wherein said rounded front portion is configured to rotate around the pivot point when contacted by a leading edge of the boat.
10. The boat trailer of claim 9 , wherein the latch further comprises:
a notch between the rounded front portion and the pivot point configured to accept a front rail of the boat.
11. The boat trailer of claim 9 , wherein the latch further comprises:
a pull attached to the rear portion, said pull configured to cause the latch to open.
12. A boat trailer comprising:
a platform configured to be towed by a vehicle over land;
a first support rail, on said platform, configured to cradle a first boat pontoon;
a second support rail, on said platform, configured to cradle a second boat pontoon;
a first guide rail proximate said first support rail on said platform, the first guide rail extending from about a center of the platform to a rear of the platform;
a second guide rail proximate said second support rail on said platform, the second guide rail extending from about a center of the platform to a rear of the platform;
a first telescoping support member configured to attach the rear portion of the first guide rail to the platform, wherein a length of the first telescoping support member is adjustable;
a second telescoping support member configured to attach the rear portion of the second guide rail to the platform, wherein a length of the second telescoping support member is adjustable; and
wherein a respective height of each of the first guide rail and second guide rail is adjustable such that a respective rear portion of each of the first and second guide rails is higher above the platform than a respective front portion of each of the first and second guide rails.
13. The boat trailer of claim 12 , further comprising:
a first locking mechanism configured to lock the first telescoping support member at a fixed height; and
a second locking mechanism configured to lock the second telescoping support member at a fixed height.
14. The boat trailer of claim 13 , wherein the first and second locking mechanisms comprise a respective pin configured to fit within one of a plurality of respective holes in the first and second telescoping support members.