Bunk Board Cover System Friction Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing bunk board systems for watercraft trailers face wear and tear from frequent loading and unloading, and high friction with the watercraft hull, making loading and unloading difficult, while also being costly and inefficient to manufacture and ship.
Innovation Solution
A hinged and non-hinged bunk board cover system made from durable yet flexible materials, such as thermoplastics and thermoplastic elastomers, which can be co-extruded into a single ribbon for compact shipping and 'cut to length' application, reducing friction with skid ridges and providing protection against wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional bunk boards are used for watercraft trailers, then the bunk boards provide structural support for loading and unloading watercraft, but they suffer from wear and tear and high friction with the watercraft hull
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cover system made of low-friction material (such as PTFE or UHMW-PE) that acts as an intermediary layer between the bunk board and the watercraft hull. This cover reduces direct contact friction while protecting both surfaces from wear and tear during loading and unloading operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The bunk board system combines the structural bunk board material (wood, metal, or composite) with a low-friction protective cover material (PTFE, UHMW-PE, or similar polymer). This composite structure provides both the mechanical strength needed for support and the low-friction surface needed for easy watercraft movement.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If bunk boards are made from durable materials to withstand wear and tear, then they provide long-lasting support, but the friction with the watercraft hull increases making loading and unloading difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different material properties to different parts of the bunk board system. The structural core maintains durable material for longevity, while the contact surface is covered with a low-friction material layer that specifically addresses the ease of operation requirement without compromising structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
A low-friction cover material serves as a mediator between the durable structural bunk board and the watercraft hull, allowing the durable material to provide long-lasting support while the intermediary layer ensures easy loading and unloading by reducing friction.
3Reliability
If bunk board covers are manufactured as custom-fit pieces for each bunk board, then they provide optimal protection and friction reduction, but manufacturing and shipping costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cover system is designed as segmented or modular components that can be manufactured in standard sizes and then assembled or trimmed to fit specific bunk board configurations. This segmentation allows for efficient manufacturing and shipping of smaller, more manageable pieces while still providing optimal protection when installed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the cover system with universal applicability across different bunk board sizes and configurations. Standardized cover components can be used on various bunk boards through adjustment, trimming, or modular assembly, reducing the need for completely custom-manufactured pieces for each application.
4Reliability
If bunk board covers are shipped in expanded form for easy installation, then they provide better protection coverage, but shipping volume and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cover system is designed to nest or fold into a compact form during shipping, similar to a nested doll structure. The flexible cover material can be rolled, folded, or nested within itself or within packaging, significantly reducing shipping volume while maintaining the ability to expand to full coverage size during installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes flexible thin-film or sheet material for the bunk board covers that can be compressed and folded into compact forms for shipping. These flexible materials maintain their protective functionality when expanded and installed, providing full coverage while occupying minimal shipping space in their compressed state.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are hinged and non-hinged bunk board cover systems for mating over a bunk board component of a watercraft trailer. An exemplary hinged embodiment includes a main contact surface component sized to substantially cover a top surface of the bunk board component and a pair of side fastener surface components connected to the main contact surface component via a pair of hinge components. The main contact surface component, hinge components and side fastener surface components may be co-extruded into a single, “cut to length” ribbon that can be formed into a bulk roll. It is envisioned that certain embodiments may be constructed from thermoplastics, thermoplastic elastomers, or a combination thereof.