Marine propulsion – Electric drive for propelling means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-17
2001-02-20
Avila, Stephen (Department: 3617)
Marine propulsion
Electric drive for propelling means
C440S007000, C440S087000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06190216
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the operation of trolling motors used with fishing boats. In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus that allows a user to operate a trolling motor with his foot to maneuver a boat on water. The present invention also relates to an apparatus that has a rotatable chair attached so that a user can steer the boat with the chair and control the boat speed with his foot.
2. Discussion of Background
Fishing boats come in a variety of styles and with a variety of equipment. A fishing boat may be equipped with an inboard or outboard motor for propelling the boat from place to place on a body of water such as a lake or stream. Many boats are also equipped with the small outboard electric motors commonly known as “trolling motors.” A trolling motor is usually smaller, quieter, and less powerful than the main outboard motor of the boat, thus, it is useful for maneuvering the boat quietly and slowly across the water. In a boat so equipped, a fisherman can fish while the boat is under way (propelled by the trolling motor), and/or after the boat has stopped. If the boat is in a moving body of water, the trolling motor can be used to maintain or restore the position of the boat. The use of a trolling motor maximizes the options available to the fisherman.
Trolling motors may be controlled by foot-operated controls, hand-operated controls, chair operated controls, or a combination thereof. For example, the angle of the motor (thus, the direction of travel of the boat) may be controlled by a tiller that controls the angle of the motor; and the motor head may have and on/off switch, speed control, and forward/reverse switch. In some types of motors, some or all of these may be replaced by foot-operated switches. Many users find that foot-operated controls are more convenient for use while fishing. Although such foot-operated control systems provide the fisherman with free use of his hands, presently-available systems may be inconvenient or difficult to operate.
The most common complaint about presently available trolling motor control devices is the necessity for the user to constantly reposition his body and, or the device, while simultaneously managing fishing equipment and controlling the movement of the boat. This invention does not merely simplify this set of tasks; it actually eliminates any need for a fisherman to position his foot to a specific orientation of the foot to the control assembly or reposition his foot on the control assembly to control all the speeds of the trolling motor while actively steering the boat.
This invention also allows an operator to use a chair rotationally connected to the trolling motor to steer the boat and control all the speeds of the boat with his foot (or leg). Regardless of the orientation of the chair to the speed control means. The operator may steer the boat while he is seated in the chair or if he wishes, he can stand near the chair and rotate the chair as if it were a steering wheel to steer the boat.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a preferred embodiment, this invention is a foot operable trolling motor control assembly that is formed to receive an optional chair. The apparatus contains a control plate rotationally connected to the shaft of a trolling motor so that the boat will travel in the direction that the plate is rotated, additionally the operator has the option of placing a chair on the control assembly so that the trolling motor will rotate in the direction that the chair is rotated.
The control assembly has trolling motor activation means to activate all the speeds of the trolling motor. The activation means are placed in a circle around the control assembly so that when an operator is actively steering the boat with his foot (or chair if attached). The activation means are accessible to the foot of the operator regardless of the orientation of the foot (or chair) to the control assembly. While steering the boat with his foot the operator simply presses lightly on the outer rim of the control assembly with the front portion of his foot to obtain a first speed of the trolling motor. The operator presses a little harder for a second speed and even harder for a third speed, etc. If the operator wishes, he can place an optional chair on the control assembly control plate so that the rotation of the chair is used to steer the boat. While steering the boat with the chair the operator simply presses on the outer ring of the control assembly with the heel of his foot to obtain all the speeds of the trolling motor. This ring is accessible to the operator's foot regardless of the orientation of the chair to the control assembly. The control assembly can even be adjusted so that the operator can activate the speeds of the trolling motor by simply leaning back on the chair.
The operator also has the option to place the chair in any orientation with respect to the direction the boat is traveling. Therefore the operator can face the bank of a lake while casting for fish and have the boat travel parallel to the bank.
The apparatus even has a light to represent each speed of the trolling motor operatively connected to the control assembly so that the operator knows the speed the boat is traveling at all times.
The apparatus also contains a direction arrow so that the operator will know the direction that the trolling motor is facing in relation to the boat at all times. This direction arrow is not necessary when a chair is attached to the control assembly because the operator has a perfect feeling for the direction the boat will travel when the operator rotates the chair because the operator knows the boat will travel in the direction the chair is rotated, but the direction arrow is important when there is no chair attached to the control assembly and the operator is steering the boat with his foot.
The trolling motor can be placed on the front or the back of the boat as desired and the boat will travel in the direction the control plate or chair is rotated.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the chair is attached to the shaft of the control assembly so that the boat can be steered by the rotation of the chair. The activation means are placed on the boat in convenient positions at least partially surrounding the control assembly so that the activation means are accessible to the foot of the operator regardless of how far the operator has to rotate the chair to steer the boat in all directions.
In still another embodiment, the chair is on the control assembly and the activation means are carried by the boat and positioned near the control assembly and the operator has the option of placing the activation switches anywhere he wishes on the deck of the boat so that the switches are accessible to the foot of the operator while he steers the boat with the chair.
In still another embodiment, the activation means are placed on the foot operable control plate and rotate with the plate so the activation means are accessible to the foot of the operator while he is steering the boat in all directions. The switches could be placed on the control plate so that all the speeds of the trolling motor are accessible to the foot of the operator so that the operator can access all the speeds of the trolling motor while actively steering the boat without having to remove or reposition his foot on the control plate. Optionally the speed control means could be operatively connected to the trolling motor and placed near the control assembly and all the speeds of the trolling motor could be controlled with the foot by pressing the foot on the speed the operator wishes the boat to travel.
In all the embodiments of the invention listed above the control assembly and trolling motor are operatively connected with two pull cables so that when the control assembly is rotated in one direction the boat will travel in a corresponding direction but the control assembly and trolling motor could be operatively connected by any mechanical, electrical or wirele
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