Marine propulsion – Electric drive for propelling means – With foot control
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-12
2001-12-04
Sotelo, Jesus D. (Department: 3617)
Marine propulsion
Electric drive for propelling means
With foot control
C440S053000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06325685
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to outboard trolling motors for boats. In particular, the present invention relates to a trolling motor power trim, stow and deploy system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Fishing boats and vessels are often equipped with a trolling motor for providing a relatively small amount of thrust to slowly and quietly propel the boat or vessel while an operator is fishing. Such trolling motors typically include an elongate shaft or hollow tube which is mounted at one end to a lower propulsion unit including a motor and a propeller and secured at an opposite end to an upper trolling motor head unit or junction box. The elongate tube is generally mounted to the bow or the transom (stern) of the boat by a mounting mechanism. In addition to supporting the lower propulsion unit in the water, many mounting mechanisms are also configured to allow the propulsion unit and the associated motor tube to be removed from the water when not in use.
One common mounting mechanism includes a scissor mount bracket through which the motor tube extends and is clamped in place. The scissor mount pivots about a plurality of axes to pivot the tube and lower propulsion unit from a generally vertical orientation to a generally horizontal orientation. Such scissor mounts typically include a cord secured to the end of the bracket and upon which a user pulls to pivot the tube and propulsion unit out of the water to a horizontal stowed position. Although quite common, such trolling motor scissor mounts have several disadvantages. Because the scissor mounts require the user to pull upon the cord to pivot and lift the tube and propulsion unit out of the water, such scissor mounts are difficult to use, especially with larger and heavier trolling motor systems. In addition, removal of the propulsion unit and tube requires the user to be seated adjacent the scissor mount. Removal of the motor tube and propulsion unit from the water cannot be done remotely. Moreover, adjustment of the depth of a propulsion unit with such systems is tedious and time consuming since the bracket clamp must first be loosened to allow the lower tube to be manually lifted or lowered and then the bracket must be retightened or clamped about the motor tube at the desired height. Once again, such adjustment cannot be done remotely.
In addition to trolling motors having scissor mounts, various other mounting mechanisms are also known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,902,967 discloses an outboard propeller mechanism which includes a crank driven sprocket which is connected to the propeller housing and which, upon being rotated, vertically lifts the entire propeller housing. Although the propeller housing may be pivoted out of the water, such pivotal movement is limited, preventing the propeller housing from being pivoted completely to a horizontal stowed position. U.S. Pat. No. 3,930,461 discloses a system using a complex series of pulleys and cables to remotely pivot the motor tube and propulsion unit out of the water to a stowed position. As with scissor mounts, this system requires a user to manually adjust the depth of the trolling motor propulsion unit. Each of the aforementioned trolling motor systems and their mounting mechanisms require the user to manually adjust the depth of the propulsion unit or require the user to manually lift the propulsion unit out of the water.
Thus, there is a continuing need for a trolling motor system that can be operated remotely, that adjusts the depth or trim of the propulsion unit, and that moves the propulsion unit and its associated tube from a generally vertically extending position to a generally horizontally extending stowed position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One embodiment of the invention relates to a trolling motor system including a chassis adapted to be coupled to a boat, a housing pivotally coupled to the chassis, a lower propulsion unit, at least one shaft supported by the housing and coupled to the lower propulsion unit at a first end, and a drive system. The at least one shaft extends along a first axis. The first end is movable relative to the housing along the first axis. The drive system includes at least one actuator coupled to the at least one shaft and is configured to move the first end along the first axis relative to the housing and is also configured to pivot the housing and the first shaft about a second axis relative to the chassis based upon a position of the at least one shaft along the first axis.
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a trolling motor system that includes a chassis adapted to be coupled to a boat, a lower propulsion unit, at least one shaft extending along a first axis and coupled to the chassis and a lower propulsion unit and a linear drive. The at least one shaft is movable along the first axis. The linear drive includes a powered actuator and is in engagement with a side of the at least one shaft. The linear drive is configured to move the at least one shaft along the first axis upon being powered by the actuator.
One embodiment of the present invention also relates to a trolling motor system that includes a chassis adapted to be coupled to a boat, a lower propulsion unit, at least one shaft extending along a first axis and coupled to the chassis and the lower propulsion unit, a linear drive, a foot pad, and a control circuit. The at least one shaft is movable along a first axis. The linear drive includes a powered actuator and is configured to move the at least one shaft along the first axis upon being powered by the actuator. The foot pad has a foot control operator interface. The control circuit is coupled to the foot control operator interface and is coupled to the actuator. The control circuit generates control signals based upon input from an operator's foot via the foot control operator interface. The actuator drives the linear drive in response to the control signals to move the at least one shaft from a first point along the first axis to a second point along the first axis to adjust a depth of the lower propulsion unit.
One embodiment of the present invention also relates to a trolling motor system that includes a chassis adapted to be coupled to a boat, a lower propulsion unit, an inner shaft coupled to the lower propulsion unit, an outer shaft having a hollow interior receiving the inner shaft, a steering drive and a linear drive. The outer shaft extends along an axis and is movably coupled to the chassis for movement along the axis. The steering drive is coupled to the inner shaft and is configured to rotatably drive the inner shaft about the axis. The linear drive is coupled to the outer shaft and is configured to move the outer shaft, the inner shaft and the lower propulsion unit along the axis.
Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a trolling motor system that includes a chassis adapted to be coupled to a boat, a lower propulsion unit, at least one shaft supported by the chassis and coupled to the lower propulsion unit at a first end and a drive system. The at least one shaft extends along a first axis. The first end and the lower propulsion unit are movable along the first axis. The drive system includes at least one actuator coupled to the at least one shaft and is configured to pivot the at least one shaft about a second axis while simultaneously moving the at least one shaft along the first axis.
Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for stowing and deploying a trolling motor including a chassis, a housing pivotally coupled to the chassis, a lower propulsion unit, and at least one shaft movably coupled to the housing and supporting the lower propulsion unit. The method includes linearly moving the at least one shaft and the lower propulsion unit along an axis of the shaft relative to the housing and pivoting the housing and the at least one shaft relative to the chassis about a substantially horizontal axis between a first position in which the shaft extends vertical and a second position in which the shaft extends horizontal.
REFER
Bernloehr Darrel A.
Knight Steven J.
Starner Dennis L.
Foley & Lardner
Johnson Outdoors Inc.
Sotelo Jesus D.
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