Rotatable Boat Trailer Step and Guide Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional boat trailer guides lack adjustability and functionality, leading to potential damage to the boat hull during trailering and offering no assistance with boarding or exiting the vessel.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable step-and-guide apparatus is integrated into the boat trailer, featuring pivotably mounted step-and-guide boards that function as both steps for boarding and exiting and guides for aligning the boat during loading, with adjustable positions to prevent vibration and comply with width regulations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional fixed guides are used on boat trailers, then lateral guidance during loading is provided, but the guides cannot be adjusted after installation causing vibration damage to the hull and no assistance with boarding
Solution Approach 1:
The guide board is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to be positioned in different locations along the trailer frame. The guide board can slide or be repositioned to different stations, enabling adjustment of its position to match various boat hull shapes and sizes, thereby resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide system is divided into multiple independent guide boards that can be individually positioned and adjusted. Each guide board can be independently moved to different locations along the trailer, allowing flexible configuration without requiring complex integrated mechanisms.
2Manufacturing precision
If guides are positioned close to the hull for effective guidance, then lateral alignment is improved, but vibration against the hull causes damage during trailering
Solution Approach 1:
The guide board position is made dynamic and adjustable, allowing it to be moved to an optimal distance from the hull. This enables the guide to provide effective lateral alignment during loading while being positioned far enough away to prevent vibration damage during trailering, resolving the contradiction between positioning precision and harm prevention.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional guides are used, then lateral guidance function is provided, but no assistance is given for boarding or exiting the boat
Solution Approach 1:
The guide board is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides lateral guidance during boat loading, acts as a structural component of the trailer, and serves as a step for operators to board or exit the boat. By making the guide board movable and positionable, it can fulfill these diverse functions without requiring separate dedicated structures, thereby achieving multi-functionality without excessive complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A step-and-guide apparatus that aids on centering a boat on a boat trailer and assists an operator in boarding and exiting the boat when on the water or on land is disclosed. The step-and-guide apparatus has first and second guide mechanisms positioned on opposing sides of a trailer frame, and each apparatus includes a trailer mount assembly, a bracket arrangement, an arm having a first end and a second end, with a first end of the arm being rotatably coupled to the bracket arrangement, and a step-and-guide board affixed to the second end of the arm and that is oriented lengthwise along the boat. The arm and the step-and-guide board are rotatable between a first position and a second position defined by the bracket arrangement, with the step-and-guide board functioning as a step when in the first position and as a boat guide member when in the second position.