US 12,252,056 B1
System and method for a self-activating stop for preventing watercraft from sliding off towing trailers and including an unsecured status indication when the stop is unactivated
William E. Scott, IV, Anchor Point, AK (US)
Assigned to Boat Load Mate, Inc., Naples, FL (US)
Filed by Boat Load Mate, Inc., Naples, FL (US)
Filed on Dec. 20, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/555,621.
Application 17/555,621 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/865,876, filed on May 4, 2020, granted, now 11,383,631.
Application 16/865,876 is a continuation of application No. 16/026,365, filed on Jul. 3, 2018, granted, now 10,682,943, issued on Jun. 16, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/130,955, filed on Dec. 28, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/590,429, filed on Nov. 24, 2017.
Int. Cl. B60P 3/10 (2006.01)
CPC B60P 3/1066 (2013.01) [B60P 3/1075 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for providing a self-activating stop apparatus on a watercraft trailer that automatically alerts a driver of the watercraft of the status of the watercraft being moved onto the trailer from a body of water, said system comprising:
a self-activating stop apparatus comprising:
a stop element pivotally mounted in a housing, configured for mounting to the trailer, and biased into a deployed mode such that a portion of said stop element protrudes out of said housing and wherein said portion of said pivotal stop element is driven into a retracted mode whenever the watercraft is being driven over said pivotal stop element, said pivotal stop element being restored into said deployed mode once one end of said watercraft has passed over said pivotal stop element, thereby acting as a stop for preventing the watercraft from sliding off said trailer;
a detector and a transmitter, said detector configured to detect said retracted mode of said pivotal stop element and to activate a transmitter to emit a wireless signal while said detector detects said retracted mode of said pivotal stop element;
a receiver positioned on the watercraft for receiving said wireless signal; and
an indicator, associated with said receiver, said indicator illuminating a first indicia whenever said receiver is receiving said wireless signal, thereby alerting the driver that the watercraft is unsecured on the trailer.