AU2011320003A1

AU2011320003A1 - A post

Info

Publication number: AU2011320003A1
Application number: AU2011320003A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Charlie Cutajar
Original assignee: CMBC DIRECT Pty Ltd
Current assignee: CMBC DIRECT Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2010-10-28
Filing date: 2011-08-10
Publication date: 2013-05-23
Also published as: WO2012054956A1

Abstract

A guide post (1) for a trailer (100). The post includes structure (6A) by which the post is mountable to the trailer. A tubular member carrying one or more elongate members (4B, 4C, 4D). The elongate members (4A) are axially relatively moveable within the tubular member whereby the post is telescopically extendible from a retracted position, in which the elongate members are substantially concealed within the tubular member, and an extended position in which at least a portion (4B, 4C, 4D) of at least one of the elongate members is visible. The visible portion includes external coloration contrasting to the exterior of the tubular member so as to be highly visible in the extended position.

Description

WO 2012/054956 PCT/AU2011/001007 1 A POST FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to guide posts for trailers. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A trailer is a wheeled vehicle to be towed by, so as to trail behind, a tow vehicle. Many people find the steering inputs required to reverse a trailer counterintuitive and difficult. This difficulty is compounded by the difficulty of seeing the trailer when reversing. When reversing a trailer, typically one must rely on the tow vehicle's mirrors, which of course produce a mirrored image of what is behind, and/or crane one's neck at an uncomfortable angle. Trailers come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. A boat trailer takes the form of a wheeled chassis including a tow hitch, by which it is coupled to a tow vehicle, and a shaped structure for receiving the hull of a boat. A jet-ski trailer is similar but proportionally smaller. Reversing an empty boat trailer can be especially difficult. Many modern cars have a relatively high mounted rear windscreen leading to a large blind spot behind the car which can entirely obscure a boat or jet-ski trailer from the driver's view. It is an object of the invention to provide an improved guide post for a trailer, or at least to provide an alternative for those concerned with reversing trailers. It is not admitted that any of the information in this specification is common general knowledge, or that the person skilled in the art could be reasonably expected to have ascertained or understood it, regarded it as relevant or combined it in any way at the priority date.

WO 2012/054956 PCT/AU2011/001007 2 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One aspect of the invention provides a guide post for a trailer, the post including structure by which the post is mountable to the trailer; and a tubular member carrying one or more elongate members; the elongate member(s) being axially relatively moveable within the tubular member whereby the post is telescopically extendible from a retracted position, in which the elongate member(s) are substantially concealed within the tubular member, and an extended position in which at least a portion of at least one of the elongate member(s) is visible; wherein the visible portion includes external coloration contrasting to the exterior of the tubular member so as to be highly visible in the extended position. Preferably at least a portion of the visible portion of the elongate members is brightly colored, and most preferably the exterior of the tubular member is black or grey. The post may include a resilient portion about which the post may be deflected to minimise obstruction when loading the trailer. The resilient portion preferably includes or carries one or more threaded portions by which the resilient portion is connected or connectable to the trailer and/or other portions of the post. In preferred forms of the invention, the threaded portions are respective metallic elements and the resilient portion is formed by overmolding the metallic elements within a resilient material. One of the threaded portions may be the mounting structure. Preferred forms of the post include a roller portion, and a pivotal connection to allow the roller portion to rotate about its axis to roll along an object being loaded onto the trailer. The pivotal connection may incorporate one of the threaded portions. The roller portion may incorporate the tubular member.

WO 2012/054956 PCT/AU2011/001007 3 Another aspect of the invention provides a guide post for a trailer, the post including structure by which the post is mountable to the trailer; and a resilient portion about which the post may be deflected to minimise obstruction when loading the trailer. Another aspect of the invention provides a guide post for a trailer, the post including structure by which the post is mountable to the trailer; a roller portion; and a pivotal connection to allow the roller portion to rotate about its axis to roll along an object being loaded onto the trailer. The post preferably includes a portion which emits light to be visible for night time reversing. Another aspect of the invention provides a guide post for a trailer, the post including structure by which the post is mountable to the trailer; and a portion which emits light to be visible for night time reversing. Preferably the light emitting portion is elevatable, relative to the structure by which the post is mounted, to be more easily seen when reversing. Most preferably wherein the light emitting portion is carried at the upper free end of the post. Another aspect of the invention provides a trailer having one or more of the above posts. Another aspect of the invention provides a boat trailer including shaped structure, for receiving the hull of a boat, and one or more of the above guide posts.

WO 2012/054956 PCT/AU2011/001007 4 Another aspect of the invention provides a jet ski trailer including shaped structure, for receiving the hull of a jet ski, and one or more of the above guide posts. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The Figures illustrate a post in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention and a square member representing a portion of a trailer to which the post is mounted. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the post in an extended position; Figure 2 is a side view of the post in the extended position; Figure 3 is a vertical cross-section view of the post in the extended position; Figure 4 is a vertical cross-section view of a top portion of the post in the extended position; Figure 5 is a vertical cross-section view of a bottom portion of the post in the extended position; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the post in the retracted position; Figure 7 is a side view of the post in the retracted position; Figure 8 is a vertical cross-section view of the post in the retracted position; Figure 9 is a side view of a jet ski trailer; Figure 10 is a side view of a boat trailer; Figure 11 is a side view of a box trailer; Figure 12 is a side view of a motor bike trailer; and Figure 13 is a rear view of the boat trailer and a boat.

WO 2012/054956 PCT/AU2011/001007 5 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS Figures 1 to 8 illustrate a post 1 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention mounted to a portion 2 of a trailer. Figures 9 to 13 illustrate trailers in accordance with embodiments of the invention. The post 1 includes two principal components; a telescopic structure 4 and a resilient mount 6. The resilient mount 6 includes a body 6B formed of resilient material and a pair of coaxially aligned bolts 6A, 6C. The heads of the bolts 6A, 6C are overmolded within, and thereby captured by, the resilient material of the body 6B. The body 6B is preferably formed of TR or PU rubber. The bolts 6A,6C may each have a larger than conventional head to resist tear out from the body 6B. The bolts 6A,6C are positioned so that the respective threaded ends of the bolts project outwardly from the body in opposite directions. The body 6B has an hourglass like shape which is rotationally symmetric about the axis of the bolts 6A,6C. This shape is relatively thick at its top and bottom end portions to firmly engage the bolt heads, and has a relatively narrower central waist portion. In this embodiment the exposed portion of the bolt 6A is arranged to pass through an aperture in the trailer portion 2, a member 8, a conventional washer and then engage a nut 12 (see Figure 5). The bolt 6A thus constitutes structure by which the post 1 is mountable to the trailer. The member 8 is formed of rigid plastic material. It includes a disk portion which as a central aperture for the passage of the bolt 6C, and downwardly extending cylindrical wall to surround the bolt 6C, washer and nut 12. The member 8 distributes the clamping force over a larger area and reduces the risk of injury from the protruding portions of bolt 6C.

WO 2012/054956 PCT/AU2011/001007 6 The other bolt 6C projects upwardly to retain a mounting cup 10. The cup 10 in turn carries the telescopic structure 4. The mounting cup 10 has a cylindrical outer wall, a planar circular base and a tubular boss projecting upwardly from the centre of the base. The cup 10 also includes one or more drain holes spaced around lower portions of its side wall. The threaded portion of bolt 6C passes through the tubular boss and engages a nut 13 to retain the cup 10. In this embodiment the nut 13 is positioned to permit free rotation of the cup 10 and in turn the telescopic structure about the bolt 6C. This arrangement of the nut 13, bolt 6C and cup 10 thus constitutes a pivotal connection. The cup 10 includes a female thread formed about an upper portion of its side wall. The telescopic structure 4 includes an outer tubular member 4A the end of which carries an external thread, complementary to the cup's thread, and an annular stop 14 (see Figure 5). The annular stop 14 abuts the end of the wall of the cup when the threads are fully engaged. The telescopic structure 4 includes four nested elongate tubular members, the aforementioned member 4A plus tubular members 4B, 4C and 4D. Preferably the tubular members are formed of ABS plastic. These nested tubular members are dimensioned to axially slide within each other to permit telescopic extension of the post 1 from the retracted position of Figures 6 to 8 to the extended position of Figures 1 to 5, but with sufficient friction between the tubular members that the extended position is maintained until the post 1 is pushed back to its retracted position. The tubular members 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D include co-operable stops (not shown) to limit the relative axial movement so that in the extended position adjacent tubular members remain engaged with each other as illustrated in Figure 3. As best illustrated in Figure 4 the narrowest uppermost tubular member 4D carries at its upper free end a cap 16. The cap 16 is a downwardly open cup-like structure the outer cylindrical wall of which is sized to co-operate with the tubular member 4A when in the retracted position. In this embodiment when in the retracted position, the cap 16 WO 2012/054956 PCT/AU2011/001007 7 receives an end portion of the tubular member 4A. The cap 16 also includes centrally mounted engagement structure by which it is engaged with the tubular member 4D. In this embodiment the engagement structure takes the form of a downwardly extending internally threaded boss. As illustrated in Figure 6, when in the retracted position, only the cap 16, outer tubular member 4A, cup 10 and the body 6B of the resilient mount 6 are visible. The inner tubular members 4B, 4C and 4D are fully concealed within the outer tubular member 4A. According to a preferred form of the invention the components which are visible in the retracted position present a discreet exterior color such as black or grey. As such this preferred form of the post may be permanently mounted to the trailer and presents an inoffensive unobtrusive appearance. When it is desired to reverse the trailer, the post 1 can be extended to its extended position in which it is highly visible. It is preferred that each trailer carry two posts, one on each of its rear corners as illustrated in Figures 9 to 13. As shown trailers 1 OA, 100B, 100C, 1 0OD and 1 OOE each include a respective post 1 at each rear corner. Exemplary jet ski trailer 1 OA, boat trailer 100B and motor bike trailer (i.e. a trailer for carrying motor bikes) 1 OOD each further include a respective post 1 on each of their wheel arches (the wheel arches being the widest points of such trailers). Figure 11 illustrates a box trailer 100C including a respective post 1 at each at its four corners. A box trailer is a trailer having a square floor plan for carrying miscellaneous cargo and may or may not have an open top. According to the embodiment of Figures 1 to 8, the inner tubular members 4B, 4C and 4D, are only visible in the extended position and have a highly visible exterior, eg. they may be colored bright orange. As such these highly visible members make it easier for a driver to track the position of the trailer when reversing, but can be hidden when the post is retracted to return to a more discreet aesthetically pleasing appearance.

WO 2012/054956 PCT/AU2011/001007 8 Guide posts can get in the way when loading an object, eg. a boat or jet ski, onto the trailer. The narrow waist of the body 6B constitutes a resilient portion about which the post may be deflected. This resilient portion allows the post 1 to deflect out of the way to minimise obstruction when loading the trailer. Guide posts have the potential to damage an object when it is loaded onto the trailer. According to the illustrated preferred form of the invention, each of the cup 10, members 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D, and the cap 16 present a substantially cylindrical exterior concentrically aligned with the axis of the pivotal connection between the cup 10 and the resilient mount 6. As such the portions of the post 1 upwards of the mounting member 6 function as a roller to roll along an object such as a boat as it is loaded onto the trailer and engaged with the post. This rolling action serves to prevent the post 'dragging' along and scratching the object. Figure 13 illustrates a boat trailer 1 OE carrying a boat 110. The trailer 1 OE includes a respective post 1 at each of its rear corners and shaped structure, in the form of nylon skids 101, for receiving the hull of the boat 110. In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 8 each of the tubular members is about 25 centimetres long so that the post in its extended position is about 100 centimetres high, and the outer tubular member has an outer diameter of about 45 millimetres. The resilient member 6 also has an outer diameter of about 45 millimetres and its waist has a diameter of about 22 millimetres at its narrowest point. The body 6B, in this embodiment, is about 56 millimetres tall. According to a further embodiment of the invention, the top cap 16 is formed of translucent plastic and carries a light source, which most preferably includes one or more LEDs, to emit light to be visible for night time reversing. When the post is extended the cap is elevated relative to the mount 6 to be more readily visible; e.g. elevated to be within the field of view of the high mounted windscreen in a modern car.

WO 2012/054956 PCT/AU2011/001007 9 Various power sources are contemplated. Posts carrying batteries to power the light source are preferred for 'aftermarket / retrofit' applications so that the post may be simply attached without being electrically connected to the trailer's electrical system. On the other hand drawing power from the trailer's electrical system is preferred in the case of posts supplied by the trailer manufacturer. Direct connection to the trailer's electrical system eliminates the need for one or more batteries dedicated to the post. Moreover the post could be connected so as to automatically turn on with the tow vehicle's reversing lights. Desirably, light emitting top caps may be sold as separate items to replace non light emitting top caps to upgrade existing posts. Preferred forms of the invention have been described. Other variants are contemplated. By way of example, the narrowest of the tubular members 4D instead of tubular member 4A might be attached to the resilient mount 6 such that the outer tubular member 4A is lifted away from the mount 6 when the post is extended from its retracted position. It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

Claims

1. A guide post for a trailer, the post including structure by which the post is mountable to the trailer; and a tubular member carrying one or more elongate members; the elongate member(s) being axially relatively moveable within the tubular member whereby the post is telescopically extendible from a retracted position, in which the elongate member(s) are substantially concealed within the tubular member, and an extended position in which at least a portion of at least one of the elongate members is visible; wherein the visible portion includes external coloration contrasting to the exterior of the tubular member so as to be highly visible in the extended position.

2. The post of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the visible portion of the elongate members is brightly colored.

3. The post of claim 1 or 2 wherein the exterior of the tubular member is black or grey.

4. The post of any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 including a resilient portion about which the post may be deflected to minimise obstruction when loading the trailer.

5. A guide post for a trailer, the post including structure by which the post is mountable to the trailer; and a resilient portion about which the post may be deflected to minimise obstruction when loading the trailer.

6. The post of claim 4 or 5 wherein the resilient portion includes or carries one or more threaded portions by which the resilient portion is connected or connectable to the trailer and/or other portions of the post. WO 2012/054956 PCT/AU2011/001007 11

7. The post of claim 6 wherein the threaded portions are respective metallic elements and the resilient portion is formed by overmolding the metallic elements within a resilient material.

8. The post of claim 6 or 7 wherein one of the threaded portions is the mounting structure.

9. The post of any one of claims 1 to 8 including a roller portion; and a pivotal connection to allow the roller portion to rotate about its axis to roll along an object being loaded onto the trailer.

10. The post of any one of claims 6, 7 or 8 further including a roller portion; and a pivotal connection to allow the roller portion to rotate about its axis to roll along an object being loaded onto the trailer; wherein the pivotal connection incorporates one of the threaded portions.

11. The post of claim 9 or 10 wherein the roller portion includes the tubular member.

12. A guide post for a trailer, the post including structure by which the post is mountable to the trailer; a roller portion; and a pivotal connection to allow the roller portion to rotate about its axis to roll along an object being loaded onto the trailer.

13. The post of any one of claims 1 to 12 including a portion which emits light to be visible for night time reversing. WO 2012/054956 PCT/AU2011/001007 12

14. A guide post for a trailer, the post including structure by which the post is mountable to the trailer; and a portion which emits light to be visible for night time reversing.

15. The post of claim 13 or 14 wherein the light emitting portion is elevatable, relative to the structure by which the post is mounted, to be more easily seen when reversing.

16. The post of claim 13, 14 or 15 wherein the light emitting portion is carried at the upper free end of the post.

17. A trailer having one or more posts in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 16 mounted thereto.

18. A boat trailer including shaped structure, for receiving the hull of a boat, and one or more posts in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 16.

19. A jet ski trailer including shaped structure, for receiving the hull of a jet ski, and one or more posts in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 16.