Patent US3720967A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3720967A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Boat trailer
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-02-16
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Granted: 1973-03-20
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Expires: 1991-02-16
Abstract
Abstract A boat trailer including a trailer frame carrying a float member thereabove and movable vertically relative thereto, a boat being guided by the float member from and onto the trailer. When the trailer is disposed in the water, its frame drops vertically relative to the float member to an extent limited by the float member, enabling the boat to back off freely from the trailer under its own power, as well as move forwardly over the trailer to a position to be supported by the trailer when it is pulled fully onto dry land by a towing vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 H Rice
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 08:06
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60P; B60P3/00; B60P3/06; B60P3/10; B60P3/1033
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
221 words
In a trailer apparatus for carrying a boat: a trailer frame having ground engaging wheels and adapted to support the boat; means buoyant in water and disposed above the trailer frame and having sufficient buoyancy in the water to support the trailer frame in the water in a pendant condition below the buoyant means with the buoyant means projecting above the surface of the water when said wheels are disengaged from the ground, said buoyant means extending substantially from the forward portion to the rear portion of said frame; means interconnecting said trailer frame and buoyant means to allow relative vertical movement between said frame and buoyant means to permit said frame and wheels to drop downwardly of said buoyant means and away from the boat carried by the apparatus when the boat trailer apparatus is in the water to permit substantially free horizontal movement of the boat from and onto the apparatus; said interconnecting means including means connecting the forward portion of said buoyant means to the forward portion of said trailer frame and permitting relative vertical movement between said trailer frame and buoyant means; and stop means on said trailer frame engageable with stop means on said buoyant means rearwardly of said connecting means limiting the extent of downward movement of said trailer frame away from said buoyant means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
221 words
In a trailer apparatus for carrying a boat: a trailer frame having ground engaging wheels and adapted to support the boat; means buoyant in water and disposed above the trailer frame and having sufficient buoyancy in the water to support the trailer frame in the water in a pendant condition below the buoyant means with the buoyant means projecting above the surface of the water when said wheels are disengaged from the ground, said buoyant means extending substantially from the forward portion to the rear portion of said frame; means interconnecting said trailer frame and buoyant means to allow relative vertical movement between said frame and buoyant means to permit said frame and wheels to drop downwardly of said buoyant means and away from the boat carried by the apparatus when the boat trailer apparatus is in the water to permit substantially free horizontal movement of the boat from and onto the apparatus; said interconnecting means including means connecting the forward portion of said buoyant means to the forward portion of said trailer frame and permitting relative vertical movement between said trailer frame and buoyant means; and stop means on said trailer frame engageable with stop means on said buoyant means rearwardly of said connecting means limiting the extent of downward movement of said trailer frame away from said buoyant means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 1; said means connecting the forward portion of said buoyant means to the forward portion of said trailer frame comprising a hinge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 1; said buoyant means having sides engageable with side portions of the boat when mounted over said trailer frame to retain said boat against lateral movement relative to said trailer frame.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 1; said buoyant means including an elongate guide means engaged by side portions of the boat when the boat moves over said buoyant means and trailer frame to guide the boat to a central position along said trailer frame.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
81 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 1; said buoyant means including an elongate guide means engaged by side portions of the boat when the boat moves over said buoyant means and trailer frame to guide the boat to a central position along said trailer frame; said buoyant means having sides engageable with the side portions of the boat when the boat moves over said buoyant means and trailer frame to guide the boat to a central position along said trailer frame.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
137 words
In a trailer apparatus for carrying a boat: a trailer frame having ground engaging wheels and including elongate side members on which the boat is adapted to rest; an elongate member buoyant in water extending above said frame located between said side members, said buoyant member extending substantially from the forward portion to the rear portion of said frame, said buoyant member having sufficient buoyancy in the water to support the trailer frame in the water in a pendant condition below the buoyant member with the buoyant member projecting above the surface of the water; and means interconnecting said trailer frame and buoyant member to allow relative vertical movement between said frame and buoyant member to permit said frame to move downwardly of said buoyant member to withdraw said side members from supporting engagement with the boat.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
137 words
In a trailer apparatus for carrying a boat: a trailer frame having ground engaging wheels and including elongate side members on which the boat is adapted to rest; an elongate member buoyant in water extending above said frame located between said side members, said buoyant member extending substantially from the forward portion to the rear portion of said frame, said buoyant member having sufficient buoyancy in the water to support the trailer frame in the water in a pendant condition below the buoyant member with the buoyant member projecting above the surface of the water; and means interconnecting said trailer frame and buoyant member to allow relative vertical movement between said frame and buoyant member to permit said frame to move downwardly of said buoyant member to withdraw said side members from supporting engagement with the boat.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 6; said interconnecting means including means connecting the forward portion of said buoyant member to the forward portion of said trailer frame.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 6; said interconnecting means including hinge means connecting the forward portion of said buoyant member to tHe forward portion of said trailer frame and permitting relative vertical movement between said trailer frame and buoyant member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 6; said interconnecting means including means connecting the forward portion of said buoyant member to the forward portion of said trailer frame; and stop means on said trailer frame engageable with stop means on said buoyant member rearwardly of said connecting means limiting the extent of downward movement of said trailer frame away from said buoyant member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 6; said buoyant member being elongate and being disposed between the pontoons of a catamaran type of boat when the pontoons rest on the side members to engage the inner sides of the pontoons and retain the catamaran against substantial movement relative to said trailer frame.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
79 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 6; said buoyant member being elongate and being disposed between the pontoons of a catamaran type of boat when the pontoons rest on the side members to engage the inner sides of the pontoons and retain the catamaran against substantial movement relative to said trailer frame; and stop means on the forward portions of said side members engageable by the forward portions of the pontoons to retain the pontoons on the side members.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
97 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 6; said buoyant member being elongate and being disposed between the pontoons of a catamaran type of boat when the pontoons rest on the side members to engage the inner sides of the pontoons and retain the catamaran against substantial movement relative to said trailer frame; and stop means on the forward portions of said side members engageable by the forward portions of the pontoons; said stop means projecting over the forward portions of the pontoons to prevent relative vertical movement between the trailer frame and forward portions of the pontoons.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
130 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 6; said buoyant member being elongate and being disposed between the pontoons of a catamaran type of boat when the pontoons rest on the side members to engage the inner sides of the pontoons and retain the catamaran against substantial movement relative to said trailer frame; stop means on the forward portions of said side members engageable by the forward portions of the pontoons; said stop means projecting over the forward portions of the pontoons to prevent relative vertical movement between the trailer frame and forward portions of the pontoons; and stop means on said trailer frame engaging stop means on said buoyant member rearwardly of said connecting means limiting the extent of downward movement of said trailer frame away from said buoyant member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 1; the rear portion of said buoyant member projecting higher above the surface of the water than the forward portion of said buoyant member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-19 | 1976-09-18 | 1977-03-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-19 | 1980-09-18 | 1981-03-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-19 | 1984-09-18 | 1985-03-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |