Bow Eye Adapter Structure for Wider Trailer Latch Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Boats without a U-shaped bow eye, particularly those with round or circular apertures, face difficulties in attachment to trailers due to limited engagement range, leading to potential damage and frustration during towing.
Innovation Solution
A bow eye adapter with a U-bolt and mounting plates that create a straight engaging leg, allowing for secure attachment and minimizing damage by providing a wider engagement range and using fasteners for secure mounting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a round or circular aperture bow eye is used, then the bow eye can accommodate varying hull shapes and manufacturer designs, but the capture range is significantly reduced and engagement with latches becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an adapter as an intermediary component that attaches to the existing round bow eye aperture and provides a U-shaped engaging leg with a straight aperture. This adapter mediates between the round bow eye design (which accommodates varying hull shapes) and the latch engagement requirement (which needs a straight engaging leg), resolving the contradiction by adding an intermediate structure that converts one form to another.
2Ease of operation
If a U-shaped bow eye with straight engaging leg is used, then latch engagement is easy and capture range is wide, but the bow eye structure becomes more complex and may not accommodate all hull shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the bow eye system into two separate components: the original round bow eye attached to the hull (which maintains adaptability to various hull shapes) and the U-shaped adapter with straight engaging leg (which provides easy latch engagement). This segmentation allows each component to optimize for its specific function without compromising the other, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If repeated engagement attempts are made on a round aperture bow eye, then the operator can achieve attachment, but damage or degradation to the bow eye occurs over time
Solution Approach 1:
The adapter serves as a protective intermediary that absorbs the mechanical stress and wear from repeated latch engagement attempts. By providing a U-shaped structure with a straight aperture designed for proper latch alignment, the adapter prevents mismatched engagement forces from being applied to the original round bow eye, thereby protecting it from degradation while still enabling successful attachment.
Data Source
AI summary
An adapter for mounting to a bow eye of a boat and receiving a latch for securing the boat to a trailer is provided. The adapter includes a receiving member defining an aperture for receiving the latch, first and second mounting plates extend from the receiving member, a first fastener extends through the first mounting plate, the bow eye, and the second mounting plate for securing the adapter to the bow eye. The receiving member may include a base attached to an at least partially straight engaging leg which together at least partially define the aperture. The base and engaging leg may be a substantially U-shaped member such as a U-shaped bolt. A damper may be attached to one or more portions of the receiving member to prevent damage to the boat and/or the bow eye.