Adjustable aluminum trailer bunk for trailers

This application is a divisional application of U.S. Ser. No. 11/473,316, filed Jun. 23, 2006, (now U.S. Pat. No. ______), which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/694,416 filed on Jun. 27, 2005, the contents of both are incorporated by reference herein.

The present invention relates generally to trailer bunks. More specifically, this invention relates to boat trailer bunks.

Traditional trailer bunks often use chemically treated 5.08 cm×10.16 cm (2 in×4 in) lumber that is covered with carpet. Mechanically attached to the treated lumber are wooden rails that extend partially along the length of the boat trailer. These rails are typically covered with carpet in order to protect the hull of the boat that is being loaded onto the carpeted rails. The major drawback, however, of using carpeted rails and carpeted trailer bunks is that carpet begins to deteriorate after repeated exposures to water. Another disadvantage of this design is that the trailer bunk typically has a short life span since the chemically treated lumber and the wooden rails begin to decay after repeated use in an aqueous environment.

Other trailer bunks utilize chemically treated lumber with steel components that are mechanically attached to polymer rails. Polymer rails, unlike carpeted rails, do not deteriorate after repeated exposure to water. In addition to protecting the hull of the boat that is loaded onto the rail, the polymer rail also reduces the coefficient of friction between the boat hull and the rail thereby facilitating the loading and unloading of the boat onto the trailer. The disadvantage of this design, however, is that the steel components are susceptible to rusting after repeated exposure to water. Similar to the trailer bunk that is described in the preceding paragraph, this trailer bunk design also has a short life span because the chemically treated lumber, which is used as the base of the trailer bunk, begins to decay after repeated use in an aqueous environment.

Another drawback of traditional trailer bunk design is that they often have limited adjustability. Typically, the height of the trailer bunk is selected based on the anticipated bending stresses that are caused by the weight of the particular boat that will be loaded onto the trailer bunk. The angle of the trailer bunk\'s rail is determined by the shape of the particular boat\'s hull. Since these trailer bunks are secured by one or more bolts, which extend through one or more corresponding apertures on either side of the trailer bunk, the adjustability of the trailer bulk is limited because the location of the apertures are determined by the bending stresses that are exerted onto the trailer bunk as well as the dimensions of the boat\'s hull. In other words, a particular trailer bunk can only transport a boat having a specific weight and a specific hull design since the trailer bunk is designed only to accommodate a boat having those characteristics. If the boat trailer is to be used with a second boat having a different weight and a different hull design from the first boat, then a second set of trailer bunks would have to be used.

Because traditional trailer bunks are susceptible to decay and rust after repeated exposure to water and have a limited range of adjustability, there exists a need for an improved trailer bunk that has an improved life span as well as the ability to accommodate a variety of boat hull designs.

The invention in one embodiment provides an aluminum trailer bunk having a support housing, a base plate, an aluminum rail, and a protective covering positioned over the aluminum rail.

In an embodiment of the invention, the support housing has a base, a first wall, and a second wall. The first and second walls extend substantially vertically and define a hollow interior having an open top. Each of the first and second walls has an interior surface that is serrated and has at least one corresponding aperture that is adapted to receive a bolt or a fastener.

The base plate has a first end and a second end. Located at the first end of the base plate in one embodiment is an enlarged cylindrical head. Extending from the enlarged cylindrical head to the second end of the base plate is a serrated portion that is mechanically engaged with said serrated interior surface of the support housing.

In one embodiment, the aluminum rail has a cylindrical lousing that is connected to an upper portion. The upper portion has a bottom plate, a support member that is located at a first end of the bottom plate, and an end wall located at a second end of the bottom plate. The end wall extends substantially vertically from the bottom plate. The cylindrical housing receives the enlarged cylindrical head of the base plate thereby allowing the aluminum rail to pivot.

In another embodiment, the aluminum rail also has a protective covering that is placed over the upper portion of the aluminum rail.

In yet another embodiment, the aluminum rail has a protective covering that is placed over the aluminum rail.

This invention in one embodiment provides an aluminum replacement rail for a trailer having a plurality of L-brackets that are connected to the aluminum rail. The aluminum rail has a bottom plate with a support member located at a first end, and an end wall located at a second end of the bottom plate. The end wall extends substantially vertically from the bottom plate. The L-brackets include a substantially horizontally extending first tab and a substantially vertically extending second tab. The second tab is attached to the bottom plate. A protective covering is positioned over the support member and the end wall of the aluminum rail.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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