Marine propulsion – Electric drive for propelling means
Reexamination Certificate
1997-05-07
2001-12-04
Swinehart, Ed (Department: 3617)
Marine propulsion
Electric drive for propelling means
C114S151000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06325683
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to trolling systems for water crafts and more particularly to trolling systems capable of maintaining the position of the water craft without anchoring.
Trolling motors have been in use since at least the 1940's. The basic structure of such motors has not changed significantly since that time. Conventional trolling motors represent an improvement over the method of propelling a water craft quietly using paddles or oars. The conventional trolling motor is quieter than paddles or oars and does not require as much work. The typical trolling motor consists of a control head which controls speed and direction. A shaft connects the control head to a motor which is connected to a propeller. The conventional trolling motor is attached to the boat. It is usually attached at the bow by a bracket. This bracket normally allows the trolling motor to be pivoted into the water when in use and out of the water when the outboard motor is used to propel the boat at high speeds.
Attachment of the trolling motor and bracket is usually made at the bow. Typically, this procedure involves drilling a series of holes into the hull of the boat and screwing the bracket onto the boat.
While the conventional trolling motor represented an improvement over paddles and oars, the conventional trolling motor has many disadvantages. First, the trolling motor is attached to the boat by drilling holes within the hull. These holes can become a source of leaks if not patched properly when the trolling motor is removed. Further, each manufacturer of trolling motors has its own special bracket design which requires different hole patterns to be drilled in the hull of the boat when trolling motors are to be changed.
Another disadvantage of conventional trolling motors is that they have to be raised or lowered when the outboard or inboard motor is to be used in propelling the water craft. In tournament fishing, the trolling motor will be raised at least 100 times a day. Thus, the fisherman likely spends approximately an hour and a half each day of fishing raising and lowering the trolling motor. This is time that should be spent fishing. Some tournaments allow the use of a helper, but for the novice or beginner, such helpers are a luxury item which they cannot afford.
Another disadvantage is that raising and lowering the trolling motor puts a constant stress on the bracket which holds the motor to the water craft. This stress causes the bracket to fail long before other components of the trolling motor fail. It is understood that many people discard their trolling motors after bracket failure even though the main components of the trolling motor are still usable. Additionally, the conventional trolling motors require equipment such as bushings for allowing 360° rotation of the trolling motor and height adjusting thumb screws for adjusting the height of the trolling motor.
In order to be effective, the conventional trolling motor should be submerged below the water line. Thus, the conventional trolling motor is subject to interference from grasses, trees, stumps, floating debris, rocks or other obstacles. Such obstacles can prevent a boat using the conventional trolling motor from having access to known fishing places or “fishing holes”. Materials such as grasses or other loose debris can have the effect of jamming or clogging the propellers of the trolling motor. Some underwater obstacles cannot only jam or clog the propeller, they can also cause damage to the shaft or propeller by either bending or breaking them.
Since they extend below the water line, conventional trolling motors can present further problems. Fish can wrap the fishing line around the shaft and, thus, generate force sufficient to cause the fishing line to break. Consequently, tales of the fish that got away are perpetuated. Further, the conventional trolling motors produce a noise which can frighten the fish which may be in the immediate vicinity of the boat.
Since they are normally mounted on the front of the water craft, trolling motors operate as a distraction and obstruction to the person driving the boat. When it is desired to operate the trolling motor, the driver must stop all engines and move from the driver's seat to the position of the trolling motor to operate it. Thus, this changing of seats wastes time. Furthermore, only one person can operate the trolling motor at any time. Therefore, if two people are fishing from the same boat, one person must stop fishing and operate the trolling motor such that they can reposition the boat when desired.
Foot controls are provided for some trolling motors. However, such foot controls add to the expense of the trolling motor by adding more equipment that can break. The foot control pad must be permanently mounted in a position close to the trolling motor. Thus, the operator is immobilized when using the foot control pad. Further, an abrupt reverse of direction, if required, is almost impossible with foot control pads.
Finally, the conventional trolling motors are ineffective in cross currents, cross winds and under certain wave conditions. In order to regain control of the boat, the operator must completely circle the boat. Thus, it is apparent from the above discussion that there are many disadvantages to the conventional trolling motor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a low cost, permanently installed, relatively simple, trouble free trolling system which avoids many, if not all, of the above enumerated problems of the conventional trolling motor. The preferred trolling system was designed for use in a water craft having either an inboard or outboard motor. The preferred trolling motors are easily serviceable. Thus, the preferred trolling system is designed for trouble free, infield service, while allowing for easy operation. The raising and lowering of the trolling motor is eliminated by the present invention. Also, the present invention avoids hitting submerged obstacles and floating debris. Fishing lines and anchoring ropes cannot be fouled by a shaft or propellers.
In one aspect of the present invention, the preferred trolling system is configured for installation on a pontoon water craft which is one type of boat which has generally been difficult to control with conventional trolling motors. Pontoon boats typically have a hull structure defining a fore portion, a stern portion, a port side and a starboard side, and comprising a pair of pontoons in generally parallel relation to one another. The pontoons define a longitudinal passageway between them. The trolling system comprises a plurality of self-contained trolling mechanisms disposed in the hull of the water craft within recesses formed in the pontoons and angled relative to the longitudinal passageway. A control means enables a user to individually actuate each of the trolling mechanisms such that each of the trolling mechanisms produces a thrust when actuated to move the water craft in a direction opposite to the direction of the thrust. The control means allows for actuation of any one or a combination of the trolling mechanisms so that the water craft is moved by the resultant thrust. The trolling system of the present invention provides maneuverability which is greatly improved from that provided by conventional trolling motors used on pontoon boats.
In another aspect of the present invention, the self-contained trolling mechanism installed in the hull of the water craft provides flexibility and economy to both retrofit and custom build markets for trolling systems. Each self-contained trolling mechanism comprises a housing which contains a motor assembly. The motor assembly includes a trolling motor mounted in the housing near an intake end of the trolling mechanism, a bladed thrust producing device coupled to and driven by the motor, and a flow straightener mounted in the housing near an outtake end of the trolling mechanism. The motor, bladed device and flow straightener are axially aligned within the housing.
Various adva
Banner & Witcoff , Ltd.
Swinehart Ed
Yocum-Keene Concepts, Inc.
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