Abstract:
One trolling motor mount includes a mounting base having a cavity extending therethrough and a motor receiving portion configured to clamp a trolling motor thereon, a bracket, and a lock operably coupled to the base for removably fastening the base to a watercraft. The bracket is pivotably coupled to the base for rotation generally perpendicular to the cavity, and selectively defines a lower edge of the cavity. The bracket is also slidable relative to the base. Another trolling motor mount includes a mounting base having a cavity extending therethrough and a motor receiving portion configured to clamp a trolling motor thereon, a bracket pivotably coupled to the base, and a lock operably coupled to the base for removably fastening the base to a watercraft. The bracket has front and two side surfaces, and at least one channel for allowing the bracket to slide relative to the base.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The invention relates generally to mounting apparatus, and more particularly to mounts for transom-mounted trolling motors. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, a trolling motor mount includes a mounting base, a bracket, and a lock. The mounting base has a cavity extending therethrough and a motor receiving portion configured to clamp a trolling motor thereon. The bracket is pivotably coupled to the mounting base for rotation generally perpendicular to the mounting base cavity. The bracket selectively defines a lower edge of the mounting base cavity, and the bracket is slidable as well as pivotable relative to the mounting base. The lock is operably coupled to the mounting base for removably fastening the mounting base to a watercraft. 
     In another embodiment, a trolling motor mount includes a mounting base, two locks, and a bracket operably coupled to the mounting base. The mounting base has two side walls, a motor receiving portion for clamping a trolling motor thereon, and a cavity configured to latch on to a side of a watercraft. The cavity extends through and between the two side walls. One of the locks is adjacent each side wall, and the locks are rotatably coupled to the mounting base for removably fastening the mounting base to a watercraft. The locks are rotatable generally perpendicular to each of three interior walls defining the cavity, and the locks are further movable to enter and exit the cavity varying degrees. 
     In yet another embodiment, a trolling motor mount includes a mounting base, a bracket, and a lock. The mounting base has a cavity extending therethrough and a motor receiving portion configured to clamp a trolling motor thereon. The bracket is pivotably coupled to the mounting base, and the bracket has at least a front surface, two side surfaces, and at least one channel for allowing the bracket to be slidable relative to the mounting base. The lock is operably coupled to the mounting base for removably fastening the mounting base to a watercraft. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an adjustable mount; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the adjustable mount of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of the adjustable mount of  FIG. 1 , while it is mounted to a watercraft; 
         FIG. 4  is another perspective view of the adjustable mount of  FIG. 1 , while it is mounted to the watercraft; 
         FIG. 5   a  is a rear perspective view of the adjustable mount of  FIG. 1 , while it is mounted to the watercraft; 
         FIG. 5   b  is another side perspective view of the adjustable mount of  FIG. 1 , while it is mounted to watercraft; 
         FIG. 6  is another perspective view of the adjustable mount of  FIG. 1 , wherein a trolling motor attached to the adjustable mount is in a stowed position; 
         FIG. 7  is another perspective view of the adjustable mount of  FIG. 1 , wherein the adjustable mount is mounted to a watercraft differently than shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1-7  show one embodiment of an adjustable mount  100  for use in mounting trolling motors  400  on a watercraft  300 . As described in more detail below, the adjustable mount  100  includes a mounting base  110 , a bracket  150 , and at least one lock  180 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the mounting base  110  may have an interior surface  112 , an exterior surface  114 , and two side surfaces  116  on opposite ends of the base  110 . The two mounting base side surfaces  116  each have an interior wall  116   i  and an exterior wall  116   e . The two side surface interior walls  116   i  face each other, while the two side surface exterior walls  116   e  face away from each other. 
     The mounting base  110  may have two channel surfaces  126  that are adjacent and substantially parallel to the side surfaces  116 . Each channel surface  126  has an interior wall  126   i  that faces the side surface interior wall  116   i , and an exterior wall  126   e  that faces away from the nearest side surface interior wall  116   i . Channels  128  are formed between the channel surface interior walls  126   i  and the side surface interior walls  116   i.    
     The mounting base  110  has a motor receiving portion  118  with a top wall  118   t , a front wall  118   f , and a rear surface  119 , each of which extend between, and are in contact with the two side surface interior walls  116   i . The rear surface  119  has an exterior wall  119   e  and an interior wall  119   i  ( FIG. 5   a ). The motor receiving portion front wall  118   f  is part of the base interior surface  112 , while the motor receiving portion rear surface  119  is part of the base exterior surface  114 . The motor receiving portion top wall  118   t  is substantially perpendicular to the motor receiving portion front wall  118   f  and the rear surface exterior wall  119   e.    
     The motor receiving portion  118  may have a support surface  120  ( FIG. 1 ) that is part of the base interior surface  112 , and that has an exterior wall  120   e  and an interior wall  120   i . The support surface exterior wall  120   e  lies beneath and is generally perpendicular to the motor receiving portion front wall  118   f . A small part of the exterior wall  120   e  is in contact with the side surface interior walls  116   i , while the remaining part of the support surface exterior wall  120   e  is in contact with and terminates at the channel surface exterior wall  126   e.    
     The mounting base interior surface  112  may also include a border surface  121  ( FIG. 1 ), which is substantially parallel to the motor receiving portion front wall  118 F. The border surface  121  lies beneath and is substantially perpendicular to the motor receiving portion support wall  120 , and has an interior wall  121   i  and an exterior wall  121   e . The border surface exterior wall  121   e  extends between and contacts the channel surface exterior walls  126   e . Thus, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the motor receiving portion front wall  118   f , the support surface exterior wall  120   e , and the border surface exterior wall  121   e  create a stepped configuration. 
     A cavity  124  is defined by the interior wall  119   i , the interior wall  120   i , and the interior wall  121   i , and extends through the base side surfaces  116 . A groove  122  may further be included, as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     Attention is now directed to the bracket  150  ( FIGS. 1 and 5   a  through  6 ), which has a front surface  160  and two side surfaces  162 . The front surface  160  has an interior wall  160   i  and an exterior wall  160   e , and the side surfaces  162  each have an interior wall  162   i  and an exterior wall  162   e . The bracket  150  may have two channels  164  that extend through a majority of each side surface  162 , and that may extend partway through the front surface  160 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , the bracket side surfaces  162  are connected to the mounting base side surfaces  116  with bolts  166  which go through the channels  164 , such that the bracket side interior wall  162   i  is adjacent and may come into contact with the mount side surface exterior wall  116   e . The bolts  166  may be used in conjunction with a washer  168  to connect the bracket  150  to the mounting base  110 . And, with the bolts  166  being the pivot points, the bracket  150  may be rotatable substantially perpendicular to the X-axis ( FIG. 1 ). Moreover, by virtue of the channels  164 , the bracket  150  may be moved forwards or backwards, such that the front surface interior wall  160   i  gets closer to or moves father away from the rear surface interior wall  119   i . Thus, the bracket  150  is both rotatable around the bolts  166  and movable along the channels  164 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the front surface  160  and the side surfaces  162  of the bracket  150  may be of unitary construction; however, it is possible for the bracket  150  to not have an extended front surface  160 , or for the bracket  150  to have a front surface  160  that is not constructed unitarily with the side surfaces  162 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the rear surface interior wall  119   i  may have a ripple-like pattern  115 , which may enhance the visual appearance of the adjustable mount  100 , and also enhance the structural integrity of the mounting base  110 . 
     As shown throughout the drawings, the adjustable mount  100  has two locks  180 , though more of fewer locks  180  may also be appropriate. The locks  180  include threaded bolts  182 , knobs  184  extending from the bolts  182 , and ball and cap joint clamps  186 . The knobs  184  can be rotated such that the clamps  186  move closer to or father away from the interior wall  119   i . In use, an object can be inserted into the cavity  124 , and then the clamps  186  can be tightened to ensure that the clamps  186  grip the object firmly. While the locks  180  are shown and described as having threaded bolts  182 , knobs  184 , and ball and cap clamps  186 , those skilled in the art will readily understand that the locks  180  may not include the knobs  184  and may not be threaded, or that the locks  180  may utilize different mechanisms to clamp the object than the threaded bolts  182  or the ball and joint clamps  186 . 
     Threaded bearings  188  ( FIGS. 2-3 ) extend from the base side surfaces  116  through the respective channels  128  and into the respective channel surfaces  126 , and are configured to receive the threaded bolts  182 . The threaded bolts  182  are connected to the mount  100  by the threaded bearings  188  such that the head of each threaded bolt  182  is to one side of a respective threaded bearing  188 , while the clamps  186  are on the other side of the threaded bearings  188 . The threaded bearings  188  are rotatable substantially perpendicular to the X-axis ( FIG. 1 ), and so, the threaded bolts  182  may be rotated substantially perpendicular to the X-axis with the threaded bearings  188  as the pivot points. The channels  128  ensure that the threaded bolts  182  can rotate with the threaded bearings  188  unobstructed. Thus, the clamps  186  can be moved closer to or farther away from the interior wall  119  by virtue of the threading of bolts  182 , and the clamps  186  can be rotated closer or farther away from the groove top wall  122   t  by virtue of the rotatable threaded bearings  188 . 
     Attention is now specifically directed to the mount  100  in use with a watercraft  300 , as shown in  FIGS. 3-7 . The watercraft  300  includes a side surface  302  having a front wall  302   f , a top wall  302   t , and a rear wall  302   r . The mount  100  is moved towards the watercraft side surface  302  such that the watercraft side surface  302  enters the cavity  124 , with the support surface interior wall  120   i  being generally above the watercraft top wall  302   t  ( FIG. 3 ), the border surface interior wall  121   i  being generally in front of the watercraft front wall  302   f  ( FIG. 4 ), and the rear surface interior wall  119   i  being generally behind the watercraft rear wall  302   r  ( FIG. 5   a ); in other words, the mounting base interior surface  112  is generally atop the watercraft side  302  or inside the watercraft  300 , while the mounting base exterior surface  114  is generally outside the watercraft  300 . It is possible for the watercraft top, front, and rear walls  302   t ,  302   f ,  302   r  to align perfectly with the interior walls  120   i ,  121   i ,  119   i  respectively; however, such alignment is not typical. 
     A trolling motor  400  ( FIGS. 3 through 7 ) may be clamped onto the motor receiving portion  118  with trolling motor clamps  402  ( FIG. 4 ). As can be seen from viewing  FIGS. 4 and 5   a  together, the clamps  402  of the trolling motor  400  can be clamped onto the motor receiving portion front wall  118   f  such that a trolling motor rear wall  404  firmly grips the base rear surface exterior wall  119   e . The trolling motor  400  may also be placed in a stowed position, as shown in  FIG. 6 , or in an upright position as shown in  FIGS. 3-5   b  and  7 . 
     The bracket  150 , as shown in  FIG. 5   b , may be rotated around the bolts  166  and moved forwards or backwards along the channels  164  such that all or part of the bracket front surface exterior wall  160   e  comes into contact with and grips a watercraft hull  304 . The bolts  166  may then be tightened such that the bracket front surface exterior wall  160   e  tightly grips the watercraft hull  304 . 
     The trolling motor  400 , once it is attached to the trolling mount  100  and placed in the operative position, may remain vertical and contact the water at about 90 degrees regardless of which side of the watercraft  300  the mount  100  is attached to. The rotatable bracket  150  can be adjusted to ensure that this positioning is achieved. More particularly, the rotatable bracket  150  can be rotated around the bolts  166 , and moved inward and outward along channels  164  such that all or part of the bracket front surface exterior wall  160   e  conforms to the boat hull  304  at any side, or at least firmly grips the boat hull  304  at any side. For example, the mount  100  is attached to a different side surface  302  of the watercraft  300  in  FIG. 7  as compared to  FIG. 3 , as manifested by the different angles at which the mount  100  is gripping the water craft side  302  (compare e.g., the clamps  186  and interior wall  120   i  in  FIG. 7 , and  FIG. 3 ); however, by virtue of the adjustable bracket  150 , the trolling motor  400  may be attached to the mount  100  such that the trolling motor  400  is substantially perpendicular to the water upon contact in both locations. 
     The clamps  186  (which are initially retracted such that they come close to the threaded bearing  188  and do not obstruct the cavity  124 ) may be tightened after the bracket  150  is adjusted, such that they clamp on to the watercraft  300  ( FIG. 3 ). As discussed above, by virtue of the rotatable threaded bearing  188 , the threaded bolts  182  can be moved perpendicular to the X-axis ( FIG. 1 ) along the channels  128  such that the clamps  186  clamp different parts of the watercraft  300 . The clamps  186  can be adjusted along with the bracket  150  to ensure that the trolling motor  400  remains substantially perpendicular to the water upon contact. 
     In sum, the mount  100  may allow a trolling motor  400  to be attached to different sides of a watercraft  300 , including the bow or the stern, regardless of the hull angle, while ensuring that the trolling motor  400  remains substantially perpendicular to the water or as otherwise desired in its operative position. 
     Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not depart from its scope. A skilled artisan may develop alternative means of implementing the aforementioned improvements without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims. Not all steps listed in the various figures need be carried out in the specific order described.