Composite Bow Stop Structure for Boat Trailer Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bow stops have a small catchment area, leading to difficulties for less skilled boat operators to align the bow of a boat with the trailer, and they can rotate undesirably during loading, causing damage and requiring frequent adjustment.
Innovation Solution
A bow stop with a rigid Vee portion and a polymer cover, designed to fit existing trailer support structures, providing a larger catchment area and anti-rotation features to prevent unwanted rotation, enhancing the bow stop's strength and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the size of a plastic bow stop is increased to provide a larger catchment area, then the ease of operation is improved, but the strength and structural integrity deteriorate due to plastic material limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The bow stop combines a rigid metal body (providing strength and structural integrity) with a polymer cover (providing a larger catchment area and cushioning). This composite construction allows the device to have both the strength of metal and the operational advantages of a larger, more forgiving catchment area without the material limitations of pure plastic construction.
2Strength
If the bulk of a plastic bow stop is increased to strengthen it, then the strength is improved, but the device complexity and space requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The metal body provides the necessary strength with minimal bulk, while the polymer cover adds the required catchment area. This composite approach achieves strength enhancement without the need to increase the overall bulk of the device, avoiding interference with other equipment and maintaining a compact design.
3Ease of manufacture
If a plastic bow stop is used, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the reliability and resistance to damage worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The metal body provides superior reliability and damage resistance compared to pure plastic construction, while the polymer cover maintains some of the manufacturing advantages of plastic. The combination achieves both ease of manufacture and high reliability, overcoming the limitations of single-material construction.
Data Source
AI summary
A bow stop including a Vee portion having a front, bow engaging concave surface and rear surface. The bow stop further having a connection portion for connection to a trailer. The Vee portion has a rigid body or chassis (hereinafter “body”) and a polymer cover, and the polymer cover overlies a front, Vee-shaped surface of the body. The connection portion is configured for positioning between a pair of spaced apart and generally parallel upstanding arms of a bow stop support structure of a boat trailer and the connection portion includes a connector for connection to the upstanding arms.