Signal device for a boat trailer

Claim 2

In combination with a boat trailer adapted to be coupled to a towing vehicle and having an axle supporting ground-engaging wheels provided with bearings, signal means for indicating to an operator of the towing vehicle when the trailer has been moved into a body of water for launching or recovering a boat carried by the trailer before the water can come into contact with the wheel bearings, and means for mounting the signal means on the trailer in stationary relation to the wheel bearings, said signal means including a housing, a float in said housing, a signalling assembly, battery means for energizing said signalling assembly disposed in said housing and contact means in said housing adapted to be engaged by the float to complete an energizing circuit from the battery to the signalling assembly whereby the signalling assembly is rendered operative, said means for mounting the signal means retaining the housing so that the float is substantially vertically movable and is moved upwardly by action of the water entering through openings in the housing.

Claim 3

In combination with a boat trailer adapted to be coupled to a towing vehicle and having an axle supporting ground-engaging wheels provided with bearings, signal means for indicating to an operator of the towing vehicle when the trailer has been moved into a body of water for launching or recovering a boat carried by the trailer before the water can come into contact with the wheel bearings, and means for mounting the signal means on the trailer in stationary relation to the wheel bearings, said signal means including a housing and said mounting means including an endless elastic cord encircling the axle and having upper and lower loops within which the housing is fixed so as to clamp the housing to the axle in a generally perpendicular position.

Claim 4

In combination with a boat trailer adapted to be coupled to a towing vehicle and having an axle supporting ground-engaging wheels provided with bearings, signal means for indicating to an operator of the towing vehicle when the trailer has been moved into a body of water for launching or recovering a boat carried by the trailer before the water can come into contact with the wheel bearings, and means for mounting the signal means on the trailer in stationary relation to the wheel bearings, said signal means including a housing and said mounting means including an endless elastic cord encircling the axle and having upper and lower loops within which the housing is fixed so as to clamp the housing to the axle in a generally perpendicular position.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 2, wherein said housing has external annular ribs adapted to engage the axle.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 2, wherein said housing is disposed substantially perpendiculaR to the axle, a float in the housing, said housing having openings for the admission of water therein to act on the float and an audible signal assembly including a battery mounted in the housing and an energizing circuit including contacts engaged by the float.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 4, wherein said housing has a separable upper and lower section, said lower section defining a compartment for the float and having an end wall provided with apertures for acting on the underside of the float, a partition wall in said housing, said partition wall carrying on its underside the contacts and the upper end of the float having a conductive disc adapted to bridge the contacts and establish the energizing circuit.

Claim 8

A signal device for signaling the positioning of the wheels of a boat trailer in a body of water during launching of a boat on the trailer so as to prevent water from coming into contact with the bearings of the wheels, said device comprising a housing, means mounting the housing on the trailer in a generally perpendicular position adjacent the wheels, said housing having a lower end section and an upper end section, a float disposed in the lower end section, said lower end section having an end wall provided with openings for the admission of water to act on the underside of the float, contact means disposed in the housing and closed by the upper end of the float when the housing has been submerged a predetermined distance within the water, a removable battery and horn assembly, an energizing circuit controlled by the contacts and energized by connection to the battery, said battery and horn assemblies being removably mounted in the upper end section, said upper end section having an open upper end, a removable snap cap closing off said end and said end cap having openings for the emission of sound from the horn to the atmosphere.

Claim 9

A signal device for signaling the positioning of the wheels of a boat trailer in a body of water during launching of a boat on the trailer so as to prevent water from coming into contact with the bearings of the wheels, said device comprising a housing, means mounting the housing on the trailer in a generally perpendicular position adjacent the wheels, said housing having a lower end section and an upper end section, a float disposed in the lower end section, said lower end section having an end wall provided with openings for the admission of water to act on the underside of the float, contact means disposed in the housing and closed by the upper end of the float when the housing has been submerged a predetermined distance within the water, a removable battery and horn assembly, an energizing circuit controlled by the contacts and energized by connection to the battery, said battery and horn assemblies being removably mounted in the upper end section, said upper end section having an open upper end, a removable snap cap closing off said end and said end cap having openings for the emission of sound from the horn to the atmosphere.

Claim 10

The invention of claim 6, wherein said sections are formed from plastic and are separable, said sections having adjoining threaded ends.

Claim 11

The invention of claim 6, wherein said housing is tubular and the upper end section is formed with annular ribs on its outer surface, said ribs being disposed in spaced relation along the longitudinal axis of the upper section and a closed elastic loop forming member embracing the axle and having endless upper and lower loops encircling the upper end section of the housing and clamping the end section to the axle with the ribs engaging the axle and preventing movement of the housing during transportation of the trailer to the launching site.

Claim 12

The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said signalling assembly includes a horn, said housing including a tubular upper end receiving said horn, a removable cap retaining said horn in the upper end of the housing with the cap having openings for the emission of sound from the horn, said means mounting the signal means on the trailer including a flexible member encircling the housing and the axle for mounting the housing adjustably on the axle.