Trailer-mounted latching mechanism for a boat

A latching mechanism constructed and arranged to be attached to a winch support bracket which is attached to a boat trailer and to securely receive a boat bow connection member so as to facilitate keeping the boat on the boat trailer, said latching mechanism comprising:

• a main body;
• and
• a linkage subassembly attached to said main body, said linkage subassembly including:
• a frame member defining a receiving channel for receipt of said connection member, said receiving channel including an entrance;
• a first mounting connection on a first side of said frame member for attaching said latching mechanism to a first side of said winch support bracket;
• a second mounting connection separated from said first mounting connection on a second side of said frame member for attaching said latching mechanism to a second side of said winch support bracket, said first and second mounting connections having a common axial centerline;
• a pair of spring-biased latching members which are pivotally attached to said frame member, said spring-biased latching members being constructed and arranged to be normally oriented in a closed condition wherein said spring-biased latching members cooperate to narrow the width of said receiving channel at a location adjacent said entrance;
• a release slide attached to said frame member and cooperating with said latching members so as to place said latching members in an openable condition;
• and
• wherein said spring-biased latching members are pivotally moveable to an open condition by the action of pushing said connection member into abutment against said spring-biased latching members until said connection member enters said receiving channel.

A latching mechanism constructed and arranged to be attached to a boat trailer and to securely receive a boat bow connection member so as to facilitate keeping the boat on the boat trailer, said latching mechanism comprising:

• a main body that is constructed and arranged to provide a contact surface for guiding the bow of a boat as said connection member loads into said latching mechanism;
• and
• a linkage subassembly attached to said main body, said linkage subassembly including:
• a frame member defining a receiving channel for receipt of said connection member, said receiving channel including an entrance;
• a pair of spring-biased latching members which are pivotally attached to said frame member, said spring-biased latching members being constructed and arranged to be normally oriented in a closed condition wherein said spring-biased latching members cooperate to narrow the width of said receiving channel at a location adjacent said entrance;
• a release slide attached to said frame member and being moveable from a load-launch orientation to a stowed orientation, said release slide cooperating with said latching members so as to place said latching members in an openable condition, said release slide being spring-biased for the movement of said release slide from said load-launch orientation to said stowed orientation;
• and
• wherein said spring-biased latching members are pivotally moveable, when said release slide is in said load-launch orientation, to an open condition by the action of pushing said connection member into abutment against said spring-biased latching members until said connection member enters said receiving channel.