1. Technical Field
This invention relates to trailer hitch assemblies and, more particularly, to a trailer hitch assembly for towing various types of boats between remote locations such that the boats can be loaded and unloaded from a water ramp without requiring a rear end of a towing vehicle to dip down into the water.
2. Prior Art
As any boat enthusiast knows, there are severe limitations to conventional boat trailers which prevent the enthusiast from launching or retrieving his boat in shallow water, or at low tide, or in the event his boat has a deep keel, such as, for example, in the case of sailboats which are provided with relatively deep fixed keels. While these adverse conditions are not always present when the boater wishes to enjoy the pleasures afforded by boating or sailing, they nevertheless may limit his full use of his or her boat.
There have been attempts in the prior art to minimize the loss of full use of boats for the operator by arranging boat trailer tongues with extension devices which permit the operator to elongate the tongue so that the vehicle towing the trailer need not drive his vehicle too close to, or into the water's edge, and yet be able to move the trailer further out into the water, thereby avoiding inadvertent scraping of the bottom of the launch site by his boat keel.
A disadvantage with some of the conventional tongue and extension mechanisms is that these extensions are integrated into, and are a part of, the tongue itself, and thereby become too expensive for the average boater. These arrangements require that those boaters who presently own and operate conventional boat trailers must discard their boat trailer and purchase a new one in the event that they need the same only occasionally. It would thus be advantageous to have an extending mechanism that may be attached to a conventional trailer. One example shows a boat trailer extension tongue wherein an extension having a rack gear is arranged to telescope within the tubular frame of the boat trailer in order to lengthen or shorten the total length of the tongue. In this arrangement, the extension and associated structure is integrated with a boat trailer, thereby requiring the operator to purchase the boat trailer with this accessory whether he needs it or not.
Another disadvantage of the prior art examples for extending the tongue of a boat trailer is the fact that they must be manually operated. This can be very time and energy consuming, and thus may discourage a boater from using their water craft as often as they would like.
Accordingly, a need remains for an extendable trailer hitch assembly in order to overcome the above-noted shortcomings. The present invention satisfies such a need by providing a trailer hitch assembly that is easy to use, durable in design, remotely extendable, and increases time-savings and safety. Such an extendable trailer hitch assembly has an extendable length so that the rear of a towing vehicle advantageously remains clear of the water, thus preventing rust damage to the vehicle. The boater further prevents the slipping and spinning of his wheels on the ramp upon exiting the ramp, since the vehicle's tires do not become wet. This greatly improves the safety of launching and loading a water craft, while also extending the life of the vehicle's tires.