Boat motor mounting assembly

Abstract

Boating apparatus including means for mounting a trolling motor on the bow of a boat for pivotal movement out of the water and for pivotal movement out of the way of underwater obstructions. A spring-loaded shock-absorbing supporting bar assembly that is incompressible but extensible against the bias of a biasing means mounts the trolling motor, along with another means providing a pivot mounting therefor. The bar assembly may include means for adjusting the length thereof for ready adaptation to variously dimensioned existing trolling motor mounting means.

Description

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to apparatus for boating in general and to trolling motor bow mounting means in particular. A typical prior art device for mounting a trolling motor on the bow of a boat is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,674,228. This device provides for pivoting the trolling motor out of the water when not in use. When such a motor is used, however, should it encounter an underwater obstruction it will not be able to move out of the way thereof and thus damage thereto will undoubtedly occur. Another typical prior art device, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,698,672, while providing a bow-mounted trolling motor that can move out of the way of obstructions does not provide any means for pivotally moving the motor out of the water. Instead it must be lifted out, an act much more difficult and dangerous to perform than simply pivoting out.

While some prior art devices show means for allowing pivoting of a boat motor out of the water for movement into an inoperative position, and for movement out of the way of underwater obstructions (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,893,342, 3,170,436 and 3,698,672 for example), the direction of pivotal movement of the motor in each case is the same. While this is suitable for stern-mounted motors, it is not for bow-mounted motors.

According to the present invention, apparatus is provided that allows pivotal movement of a bow-mounted motor (a) out of the water and (b) out of the way of underwater obstructions, said movements (a) and (b) being in opposite directions. Such apparatus is readily adaptable to presently existing mounting means of many sizes. In an exemplary embodiment the apparatus includes a spring-loaded shock-absorbing support bar assembly that is not compressible (thus providing for out of water pivoting and resistance to motor forces) but is extensible (thus allowing movement out of the way of obstructions) against the bias of a spring. One rod member is pivotally mounted to the boat, said member having a slot therein. Another member is pivoted to the motor, said member having a pin cooperating with the slot in the first member. A spring is disposed between said pin and a portion of the first member, thus providing for spring biased movement of the pin in the slot and thus relative movement between the rods. Means for adjusting the length of the shock-absorbing assembly are preferably also provided for allowing adaptation to various already existing mounting means. A second pivot for allowing pivotal movement of the motor out of the water is also provided.

Thus it is the primary object of the invention to provide improved apparatus for boating and improved trolling motor mounting means. This and other objects of the invention will become clear from an inspection of the detailed description of the invention and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1a is a side view of an exemplary prior art means for mounting a trolling motor on the bow of a boat, while FIG. 1b is a side view of exemplary means for mounting a trolling motor on the bow of a boat according to the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a detail view of exemplary shock-absorbing mounting means according to the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the means shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A typical prior art trolling motor assembly mounted on a boat bow 12 such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,674,228 is shown generally at 10 in FIG. 1a. The assembly includes a drive motor 14 having a propellor 15 associated therewith mounted by shaft 16 and collar 17 to upper housing 18 of the electric motor. A control cable 19 leads to motor 18 from a power source (not shown) such as a 12 volt battery. A bracket 20 formed with the collar 17 has a pair of mounting arms pivotally attached thereto, an arm 21, and an arm 23 mounted to bracket 20 above arm 21. Each of the arms 21, 23 are also pivotally mounted on a bracket 22 securely mounted to the bow of boat 12.

The trolling motor can be moved from the operative, in the water position shown in solid line in FIG. 1a to the inoperative, out of the water position shown in dotted line in FIG. 1a by pivoting the motor about the pivots at both ends of arms 21, 23 in direction A. When the motor is in the operative, in the water position, should it strike an obstruction it would not be able to rotate in the direction B, however, and therefore the shaft 16 could be bent, or the motor could otherwise be damaged.

A trolling motor mounting assembly according to the teachings of the present invention is shown generally at 30 in FIG. 1b. According to the present invention, instead of an arm 23 being provided, a springloaded shock-absorbing support bar assembly or the like, indicated generally at 35, is provided. The assembly 35 thus, in addition to allowing pivoting of the motor in direction A about pivots 32 and 33 of arm 21, and pivots 39 and 37 of assembly 35 (note that while the assembly 35 may be expanded, it may not be contracted, and thus provides for pivotal movement out of the water in the same manner as does the prior art device shown in FIG. 1a), also allows biased pivoting of the motor about pivot 32 against the bias of spring 54 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) in direction B should the motor hit an underwater obstruction or the like. It will thus be seen that according to the teachings of the present invention a means has been provided for allowing mounting of a trolling motor on the bow of a boat so that it may be pivoted up into the boat, out of the water, and additionally may move out of the way of obstructions that it might encounter in the water. This is an improvement over the prior art devices which when providing mounting at the front of a boat allow either obstruction-responsive pivoting (U.S. Pat. No. 3,698,672) or pivoting out of the water (U.S. Pat. No. 3,674,228) but not both. Prior art devices for mounting motors at other parts of the boat besides the bow may provide obstruction-responsive pivoting and out-of-water pivoting in the same direction (U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,170,436 and 2,893,342), which is not practical for a bowmounted motor.

As shown most clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3, the means 35 may comprise a first tubular rod 40 having a receiving cavity 42 formed in the interior thereof and a slot 44 therein having an abutment surface 45 thereof, and a second rod 46. Preferably, the rod 46 has a plurality of openings 48 therein each adapted to receive a roll pin 52 passed through slot 44 thereinto (and providing for coarse adjustment of the length of assembly 35). End 49 of second rod 46 is received by cavity 42 of rod 40 when the components of means 35 are in assembled relation, which end 50 of rod 46 preferably is threaded to receive interiorly threaded surface 60 of adjustable mount 59 for connection at 39 to a portion of the motor, such as bracket 20. Adjustment of member 59 relative to rod 46 allows fine adjustment of the length of means 35 so that it can be adapted to variously spaced brackets 20, 22.

A coil spring 54 or the like provides the bias of means 35 that returns the assembly 30 to the position shown in solid line in FIG. 1b should the assembly move out of the way of an obstruction. One end of coil spring 54 abuts roll pin 52 -- which extends through slot 44 into a selected one of the openings 48 depending upon what the desired length of the means 35 is -- , while the other end of spring 54 abuts collar 56. Collar 56 is adjustable via set screw 57 along the length of rod 40. It will thus be seen that while compression of the means 35 is not allowed (by engagement of pin 52 with end 45 of slot 44), elongation thereof is by movement of pin 52 connected to rod 46 in slot 44 against the bias of spring 54.

It will be seen that a means has been provided which allows ready adaptation of conventional trolling motor mounting means providing no obstruction bypass to motor mounting means allowing obstruction bypass.

Utilization and operation of the apparatus of the present invention are as follows: A conventional arm 23 of a bow-mounted conventional trolling motor mounting means is replaced by shock-absorbing support bar assembly 35. End 37 of rod 40 is pivotally connected to bracket 22 or the like mounted on the bow of boat 12, and the length of the means 35 required to connect-up bracket 20 of assembly 30 is coarsely determined by placing pin 52 through slot 44 against surface 45 into the proper one of the openings 48 in rod 46 (which rod 46 has been inserted into cavity 42 of rod 40). One end of spring 54 is then placed around rod 40 into abutment with pin 52 and collar 56 is placed around rod 40 into tight abutment with the other end of spring 54, and collar 56 is tightened down with set screw 57 or the like. Then fine adjustment of the length of assembly 35 is determined by adjustment of member 59 on end 50 of rod 46 to provide for the proper normal orientation of assembly 30, and then the means 35 is connected by portion 39 thereof to bracket 20 or the like.

After assembly and installation of the means 35, if it is desired to move assembly 30 and motor 14 thereof out of the water into an inoperative position, it is simply pivoted about pivots 32 and 33 of arm 21 and pivots 37 and 39 of means 35 in direction A into the boat 12. Means 35 will not compress because of abutment of pin 52 and slot end 45, and will thus allow such pivoting, and will additionally provide for opposition to forces tending to move assembly 30 in direction A when the motor 14 is running. When in operative position, should motor 14 hit on obstruction, means 35 will elongate by pin 52 sliding in slot 44 against the bias of spring 54 thereby allowing the motor 14 to pivot about pivot 32 of arm 21 in direction B, and out of the way of the obstruction.

The adjustment rod end, 50,59,60 of FIGS. 2,3 also serves as a side torque release. The threaded end 50 will rotate or turn when undue side or lateral pressure is applied to motor 14 thus tending to relieve such pressure from the motor and bracket. This is, of course, desirable since many obstructions are not encountered directly and include some lateral components of force.

The adjustment rod end, 50,59,60 is also used to make the shock absorber arms 35 slightly longer than regular arms conventionally furnished with trolling motor brackets. This increased length results in a cam locking effect when the trolling motor is retracted onto the bracket and folded down for travel. This prevents the motor from bouncing up and down when boat is traveling through rough water and, accordingly, eliminates such forces from doing possible damage to motor and bracket.

When the shock absorber is slightly longer than normal, it is caused to bow outwardly slightly upon retracting the motor thus causing the cam locking effect. By lifting up on the head of the completely retracted motor and pulling up, the cam lock effect is released.

While the invention has been herein shown and described in what is presently conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it will be apparent that many modifications may be made thereof. For instance, other biasing means besides spring 54 could be provided, other means besides collar 56 and or screw 57 could be provided to abut one end of spring 54, rod 46 could receive rod 40 instead of vice versa, other means for pivoting besides arm 21 could be provided, and other general means providing extension but no compression could be provided. Other modifications are also possible, thus the invention is not to be limited to what has been herein shown and described, but is to be accorded the full scope of the appended claims so as to cover all equivalents thereof.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A trolling motor mounting means for mounting a trolling motor to the bow of a boat, said mounting means comprising:

a. mounting means for mounting a trolling motor on the bow of a boat for pivotal movement in a first direction forwardly and upwardly from an operative position in the water to an inoperative position out of the water, and

b. obstruction-responsive means which is biased to a first position substantially rigid in at least one dimension to assist in holding said motor in its operative position but which is movable in at least one other dimension for allowing said motor to pivot from its normal operative position out of the way of obstructions encountered in its path of movement in a second rearward direction opposite to said first direction in which it is pivotal from said operative position thereof to said inoperative position thereof and for automatically returning said motor to its normal operative position after it has passed such obstructions.

2. Means as recited in claim 1 further comprising means for allowing adjustment of the length of said obstruction-responsive means along said at least one other dimension to adapt said means to variously dimensioned motors and boats and motor mounting means.

3. Means as recited in claim 1 wherein said obstruction-responsive means comprises an incompressible member that is extensible wherein said member is normally biased to its incompressible state to assist in holding the motor in the operative position but is extensible therefrom to permit motor movement in said second rearward direction to facilitate passage of said obstructions.

4. Means as recited in claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises an arm pivotally mounted to the motor and the boat at a position below said incompressible member.

5. Means as recited in claim 4 wherein said obstruction-responsive means comprises means pivoted to the motor at a point vertically above the point said arm is pivoted to the motor.

6. A trolling motor mounting means comprising:

a. means for mounting a trolling motor on a boat for pivotal movement in one direction from an operative position in the water to an inoperative position out of the water, and

b. obstruction responsive means for allowing said motor to pivot from its normal position out of the way of obstructions in its path of movement in a direction opposite to the direction in which it is pivotal from said operative position thereof to said inoperative position thereof and for returning said motor to its normal position after it has passed the obstructions,

said obstruction responsive means including

a first member adapted to be pivotally mounted to a boat and having a slot therein,

a second member adapted to be pivotally connected to a motor and having a pin member associated therewith received within said slot in said first member, and

biasing means acting between said pin member in said slot and said first member to provide relative biased movement therebetween.

7. Means as recited in claim 6 further comprising means for allowing adjustment of the combined length of said first and second members.

8. Means as recited in claim 7 wherein said adjustment means comprises

a plurality of openings in said second member for receiving said pin member, each opening when receiving said pin member providing for a different dimension of said combined length of said first and second members, and

a means for providing pivotal attachment of one of said first or second members to a boat or motor respectively adjustable with respect to said first or said second member.

9. Means as recited in claim 8 wherein said biasing means is a coil spring having one end thereof abutting said pin member, and the other end thereof abutting an abutment member attached to said first member.

10. Means as recited in claim 9 wherein said abutment member comprises a collar having a set screw, said collar being adjustable with respect to said first member.

11. A trolling motor mounting means comprising:

a. means for mounting a trolling motor on a boat for pivotal movement in one direction from an operative position in the water to an inoperative position out of the water,

b. obstruction responsive means for allowing said motor to pivot from its normal position out of the way of obstructions in its path of movement in a direction opposite to the direction in which it is pivotal from said operative position thereof to said inoperative position thereof and for returning said motor to its normal position after it has passed the obstructions,

said mounting means including an arm pivotally mounted to the motor and the boat,

said obstruction-responsive means including means pivoted to the motor at a point vertically above the point said mounting means is pivoted to the motor, and

said obstruction-responsive means being of a length which produces a positive cam locking effect upon movement of said motor to the full inoperative position thus positively locking said motor in the inoperative position against vertical boat movements which might otherwise produce damaging corresponding motor movements.

12. Apparatus for boating comprising in combination

a. a trolling motor,

b. means for supporting said motor on a boat and for providing for movement thereof out of the way of obstructions encountered in the path of movement of said motor on a boat, said means comprising (i) a first member adapted to be pivotally mounted to a boat and having a slot therein, (ii) a second member pivotally connected to said motor and having a pin member associated therewith received within said slot in said first member, and (iii) spring means acting between said pin member in said slot and said first member to provide relative biased movement therebetween.

13. Apparatus as recited in claim 12 further comprising means for allowing adjustment of the combined length of said first and second members.

14. Apparatus as recited in claim 13 wherein said adjustment means comprises

a plurality of openings in said second member for receiving said pin member, each opening when receiving said pin member providing for a different dimension of said combined length of said first and second members, and

a means for providing pivotal attachment of one of said first or second members to a boat or motor respectively adjustable with respect to said first or said second member.

15. Apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein said biasing means is a coil spring having one end thereof abutting said pin member, and the other end thereof abutting an abutment member attached to said first member.

16. Apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein said abutment member comprises a collar having a set screw, said collar being adjustable with respect to said first member.

17. Apparatus as in claim 12 further comprising a lower arm pivoted at each end and disposed below said first and second members wherein the combined length of said first and second members is sufficient with respect to the length of said lower arm to produce a positive cam locking effect upon movement of said motor to a fully inoperative position thus positively locking said motor in the inoperative position against vertical boat movements that might otherwise produce damaging corresponding motor movements.