Systems and methods of providing visual guidance to assist in positioning a boat and trailer in low light conditions

Abstract

Embodiments described herein include a visual guidance system for a boat trailer that can include a housing and a laser head mounted within the housing to provide an illumination beam.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A visual guidance system comprising:
 a. a guidance system housing, the guidance system housing being substantially watertight;   b. a laser head, the laser head being housed within the guidance system housing and pivotally moveable relative to the guidance system housing, wherein the laser head generates an illumination beam;   c. a window panel in the guidance system housing for passage of the illumination beam;   d. a first heat sink coupled with the guidance system housing; and   e. a desiccant associated with the guidance system housing.   
     
     
         2 . The visual guidance system of  claim 1 , wherein the illumination beam is a laser from about 5 mW to about 100 mW having a collimated laser beam from about 3 mm to about 100 mm in diameter. 
     
     
         3 . The visual guidance system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second heat sink coupled with the guidance system housing, wherein the first heat sink is positioned substantially opposite the second heat sink. 
     
     
         4 . The visual guidance system of  claim 1 , wherein the laser head includes a pivot collar coupled with a first pivot shaft and a second pivot shaft. 
     
     
         5 . The visual guidance system of  claim 1 , wherein the desiccant is positioned on a desiccant replacement window. 
     
     
         6 . The visual guidance system of  claim 5 , wherein the desiccant replacement window is selectively removable from the guidance system housing. 
     
     
         7 . The visual guidance system of  claim 1 , wherein the window panel is glass. 
     
     
         8 . The visual guidance system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one shock absorber associated with the guidance system housing to prevent damage to the laser head when the laser head pivots relative to the guidance system housing. 
     
     
         9 . The visual guidance system of  claim 1 , further comprising a balance weight such that the laser head maintains a substantially horizontal orientation during operation. 
     
     
         10 . The visual guidance system of  claim 1 , wherein the laser head is controlled wirelessly. 
     
     
         11 . The visual guidance system of  claim 1 , wherein the guidance system housing includes at least one attachment feature. 
     
     
         12 . A visual guidance system comprising:
 a. a guidance system housing, the guidance system housing being substantially watertight;   b. a first heat sink retained by the guidance system housing;   c. a second heat sink retained by the guidance system housing, wherein the second heat sink is positioned substantially opposite the first heat sink;   d. a laser head, the laser head being housed within the guidance system housing, the laser head having a pivot collar, wherein the laser head generates an illumination beam;   e. a first pivot shaft and a second pivot shaft coupled with the pivot collar;   f. a first bushing coupled with the first heat sink and a second bushing coupled with the second heat sink, the first pivot shaft being coupled with the first bushing and the second pivot shaft being coupled with the second bushing such that the laser head is pivotally moveable relative to the guidance system housing;   g. a window panel in the guidance system housing for passage of the illumination beam;   
     
     
         13 . The visual guidance system of  claim 12 , further comprising a desiccant associated with the guidance system housing. 
     
     
         14 . The visual guidance system of  claim 13 , wherein the desiccant is associated with a selectively removable desiccant replacement window. 
     
     
         15 . A visual guidance system comprising:
 a. a guidance system housing, the guidance system housing being substantially watertight;   b. a laser head, the laser head being housed within the guidance system housing and pivotally moveable relative to the guidance system housing, wherein the laser head generates an illumination beam;   c. a window panel in the guidance system housing for passage of the illumination beam; and   d. a balance weight associated with the laser head such that the laser head remains substantially horizontal during operation.   
     
     
         16 . The visual guidance system of  claim 15 , further comprising at least one heat sink associated with the guidance system housing to prevent overheating of the laser head. 
     
     
         17 . The visual guidance system of  claim 15 , further comprising a desiccant associated with the guidance system housing to reduce moisture within the guidance system housing. 
     
     
         18 . The visual guidance system of  claim 15 , wherein the laser head includes a pivot collar, a first pivot shaft, and a second pivot shaft. 
     
     
         19 . The visual guidance system of  claim 15 , wherein the illumination beam is a laser from about 5 mW to about 100 mW having a collimated laser beam from about 3 mm to about 100 mm in diameter. 
     
     
         20 . The visual guidance system of  claim 15 , wherein the guidance system housing includes at least one shock absorber to protect the laser head.