Abstract:
A system for mounting a motor control unit at a position on a boat comprises: a mounting bracket mountable to the position on the boat; a sliding bracket attachable to the motor control unit and operable to slide into the mounting bracket; and a quick-release mechanism operable to secure the sliding bracket to the mounting bracket.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/116,070, filed Nov. 19, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to a portable outdoor motor control system for multi-station enclosed cabin boats. On some boats, there may be a need to control the boat speed and direction from both within a cabin and outside of the cabin on the boat through the use of a motor control unit. 
         [0003]    As can be seen, there is a need to quickly and easily move a motor control unit from station to station on a boat in order to provide the same function at all of the stations of a boat. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In one aspect of the present invention, a system for mounting a motor control unit at a position on a boat comprises: a mounting bracket mountable to the position on the boat; a sliding bracket attachable to the motor control unit and operable to slide into the mounting bracket; and a quick-release mechanism operable to secure the sliding bracket to the mounting bracket. 
         [0005]    In another aspect of the present invention, a system for mounting a motor control unit at multiple positions on a boat comprises: a first mounting bracket operable to mount the motor control unit at a first position on the boat; a second mounting bracket operable to mount the motor control unit at a second position on the boat; a sliding bracket attachable to the motor control unit and operable to slide into the first mounting bracket and the second mounting bracket; and a quick-release mechanism operable to secure the sliding bracket to the first mounting bracket to secure the motor control unit to the first mounting bracket and also operable to secure the mounting bracket to the second mounting bracket to secure the motor control unit to the second mounting bracket. 
         [0006]    In another aspect of the present invention, a method for moving a motor control unit from a first station on a boat to a second station on the boat comprises: removing a quick-release mechanism that secures the motor control unit to a first mounting bracket operable to mount the motor control unit at the first station; and attaching the quick-release mechanism to the second mounting bracket to secure the motor control unit to the second mounting bracket. 
         [0007]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic partial section view of a boat in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of a portable outboard motor control system showing how a sliding bracket attached to a motor control unit may slide into a mounting bracket and may be secured by a quick release mechanism or pin in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  shows a schematic partial section view of a boat shown with a motor control mounted in a second outside position in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  shows a partial rear view of a boat having a motor control mounted in a second outside position in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0013]    Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. 
         [0014]    Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provides a portable outdoor motor control system for multi-station enclosed cabin boats so that a single motor control unit may be moved to and used at multiple stations both inside and outside a cabin of a boat. 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic partial section view of a boat in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a portable outboard motor control system  10  may allow a motor control unit  12  to be mounted at multiple stations within the boat  32 , such as near a wheel or helm station in a first inside position  26  inside a cabin  30  of the boat  32 , a wheel or helm station in a second outside position  28  outside of the cabin  30  of the boat  32 , or at a position on a bridge  36  on top of a roof  34  of the cabin  30  of the boat  32 . 
         [0016]    The motor control unit  12  may be mounted to a position on the boat  32  via a sliding bracket  14 , a motor control mounting bracket  15 ,  16 , or  17 , and quick release mechanism or pin  18 . Cables  24  may run from the motor of the boat  32  to the motor control unit  12  via rear wall opening  20  when the motor control unit  12  is positioned near the wheel or helm station in the second outside position  28  out side of the cabin  30  of the boat  32 , or via roof opening  38  when the motor control unit  12  is positioned on top of the bridge  36 . A cap  20  may be used to cover the rear wall opening  20  when not in use to route the cables  24 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of a portable outboard motor control system showing how a sliding bracket attached to a motor control unit may slide into a mounting bracket and may be secured by a quick release mechanism or pin in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 2 , a portable outboard motor control system  10  may comprise a sliding bracket  14 , a motor control mounting bracket  15 ,  16 , or  17 , and a quick release mechanism or pin  18 . The sliding bracket  14  may be attachable to a motor control unit  12 , and may comprise grooves along the top and bottom in order to slide into the motor control mounting bracket  15 ,  16 , and  17 . The motor control mounting bracket  15 ,  16 , or  17  may be mounted to a desired position for the motor control unit  12  on the boat  32  and may comprise corresponding rails that allow the sliding bracket  14  to slide and fit with the motor control mounting bracket  15 ,  16 , and  17 . The sliding bracket  14  may be slid into the motor control mounting bracket  15 ,  16 , or  17  and the sliding bracket  14  may be secured to the motor control mounting bracket  15 ,  16 , or  17  via the quick release mechanism or pin  18  that slides through holes on the motor control mounting bracket  15 ,  16 , or  17  and on the sliding bracket  14 , thus securing the motor control unit  12  to a position on the boat  32 . 
         [0018]      FIGS. 3 and 4  show views of the motor control unit  12  mounted at a second outside position of the boat  32  in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the motor control unit  12  may be mounted near the wheel or helm station in the second outside position  28  via a sliding bracket  14 , a motor control mounting bracket  16 , and a quick release mechanism or pin  18 , with cables  24  routed from the boat motor through rear wall opening  20  of the cabin  30 . As can be seen, because the motor control unit  12  is mounted at the second outside position, the motor control mounting bracket  15  inside of the cabin  30  near the wheel or helm station in the first position  26  may be empty and not attached to a motor control unit  12 . 
         [0019]    The motor control unit  12  may be a unit manufactured by YAMAHA™, EVINRUDE™, HONDA™, or any other manufacturer. The first motor control mounting bracket  14  and the second motor control mounting bracket  16  may be manufactured to match the attachment points of the motor control unit  12 . The quick release mechanism or pin  18  may be operable to attach the motor control unit  12  to the first motor control mounting bracket  15  and the second motor control mounting bracket  16 . 
         [0020]    The first motor control mounting bracket  15  may be operable to receive the motor control unit  12  mounted to the sliding bracket  14  and may be mounted on a first inside position inside the cabin  30  at a standard motor control location. The second motor control mounting bracket  16  may be configured identically to the first motor control mounting bracket  15 , may also be operable to receive the motor control unit  12  mounted to the sliding bracket  14 , and may further be mounted on a second outside position outside of the cabin  30  close to the outside wheel or helm station  28  in the second outside position. The third motor control mounting bracket  17  may be configured identically to the first control mounting bracket  15  and second control mounting bracket  16 , and may further be mounted on a position on top of a bridge  36  on the boat  32 . 
         [0021]    In use, the motor control unit  12  may be moved from first inside position of the cabin  30  to the second outside position without disassembly. The motor control unit  12  may be released from the first motor control mounting bracket  15  via the quick release mechanism or pin  18  and sliding the sliding bracket  14  from the first motor control mounting bracket  15 , and then routed along with its attached cables  24  from the first inside position through the opening  20  in the rear wall of the cabin  30  to the second outside position. Once the motor control unit  12  is at the desired location, the motor control unit  12  may be mounted to the second motor control mounting bracket  16  via the quick release mechanism or pins  18  by sliding the sliding bracket  14  into the second motor control mounting bracket  16  and securing the sliding bracket  14  to the second motor control mounting bracket  16  via the quick release mechanism or pin  18  at the second motor control mounting bracket. 
         [0022]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.