Patent Publication Number: US-2003228810-A1

Title: Positionally adjustable mounting device

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention relates generally to the raising or lowering of a supported object, and more particularly, to a mounting device for vertically positionally adjusting an outboard motor relative to a boat transom.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] Devices such as outboard motors are supported from supports such as boat transoms by a mounting assembly. Outboard motors typically utilize a transom bracket for mounting the motor directly on the boat transom. However, it is known that spacing the motor aft of the transom improves boat handling characteristics at high speeds. Further, the motor must be lowered and possibly slightly adjusted in height to enable to the motor to run most efficiently during use. Permitting the raising or lowering of the motor with respect to the transom during in-water operation can greatly effect initial boat acceleration and motor performance. Further, it is desirable to raise the motor during boat transport, boat launch, or removing the boat from the water.  
       [0003] Mounting assemblies that space the motor aft of the transom and permit the motor position to be adjusted vertically with respect to the transom are known in the art. One such mounting assembly is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,859 issued on Oct. 10, 1989, to John M. Griffiths et al. However, the assembly shown therein permits the vertical adjustment of the outboard motor in only two positions, a raised position or a lowered position. The &#39;859 device provides no ability to adjust the height of the motor over a range of positions between the highest or lowest positions during use. Further, there is no ability to adjust the height or lift ratios once the assembly is mounted to the transom.  
       [0004] Several prior art devices permit the motor position to be adjusted vertically with respect to the transom over a range of positions between the highest or lowest positions. Typically, however, these devices are complex mechanisms that are difficult to install or use. Such devises are see in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,747,819; 2,928,631; and 3,242,899.  
       [0005] Typical of such devices is the mounting assembly disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,964,627 issued on Oct. 12, 1999, to Timothy P. Detwiller. The &#39;627 patent discloses a manually adjusted outboard motor mount which permits motor movement in a straight, substantially vertical path relative to the transom. The motor bracket of the &#39;627 patent is adjusted vertically by a shaft threaded into the transom bracket that is rotated by a crank. While permitting the vertical adjustment of the motor with respect to the transom, the device of the &#39;627 patent offers no adjustment in the height or lift ratios once mounted to the transom. Further, the design of the mounting assembly of the &#39;627 patent creates a small confined space in which to crank the assembly to raise or lower the motor.  
       [0006] Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide a mounting assembly which easily raises and lowers an outboard motor along a continuous range of positions and which is inexpensive and simple to manufacture. Further, it is desirable in the art to provide a motor mount that can be easily adjusted to accommodate large as well as small outboard motors and be simple to operate. The device of the present invention meets the needs of the art and overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art devices.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a mounting device which is inexpensive and simple to manufacture.  
       [0008] Another objection of the present invention is to provide a mounting device that can be easily adjusted to accommodate large as well as small supported objects.  
       [0009] A further objection of the present invention is to provide a mounting device which easily raises and lowers a supported object along a continuous range of positions.  
       [0010] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a mounting device which is easily adjustable to provide a plurality of lifting ratios and lifting heights.  
       [0011] The forgoing and other objects of this invention are achieved by providing a mounting device comprising a deformable frame assembly connected to a support wherein the supported device is positionally adjustable upon selective deformation of the frame assembly. Such deformation of the frame assembly is accomplished through providing a jack member comprising telescoping inner and outer tubes wherein the inner tube is connected to the support and the outer tube is connected to the frame assembly wherein telescopic movement of the outer tube relative to the inner tube deforms the frame assembly to positionally adjust the supported device.  
       [0012] The present invention will be more fully described in the following written description with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
     [0013]FIG. 1 is side elevational view of the device supporting an outboard motor, shown in phantom, at its highest position.  
     [0014]FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the device of FIG. 1 showing the device at its lowest position.  
     [0015]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 1.  
     [0016]FIG. 4 is a cross-section view of the device shown in FIG. 2.  
     [0017]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 3 along lines  5 - 5 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0018] The mounting device of the present invention positionally adjusts a supported device relative to a support. Such a mounting device generally utilizes a deformable frame assembly connected at one end to a support and at the other end to a supported device. Upon selective deformation of the frame assembly, the supported device is positionally adjustable relative to the support. A jack member controls the selective deformation of the frame assembly through telescoping inner and outer tubes. The inner tube is connected to the support and the outer tube is connected to the frame assembly wherein telescopic movement of the outer tube relative to the inner tube positionally adjusts the supported device.  
     [0019] The preferred embodiment of the mounting device, disclosed herein by way of example, positionally adjusts an outboard motor relative to a boat transom. However, it should be clear that this invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment and could be used to positionally adjust any supported device related to a support.  
     [0020] Now referring to the drawings showing the preferred embodiment, and particularly to FIG. 3, the mounting device of the present invention, generally designated  10 , generally comprises a pair of transom mounting brackets  12 , a pair of support members  14   a ,  14   b , a second pair of mounting brackets  16 , and a jack member  18 . The components of the device are preferably made from aluminum but may be of other suitable materials. The construction and operation of the device is discussed in detail below.  
     [0021] The device of the present invention utilizes a pair of generally L-shape transom mounting brackets  12 . As best seen in FIG. 5, the transom brackets  12  include a transom mounting plate  20  and a support-member mounting plate  22  extending perpendicularly therefrom. Each plate  20 , 22  includes apertures therethrough for mounting the bracket  12  to it respective objects. As also shown in FIG. 3, the transom mounting plate  20  includes three apertures located therein for fastening the bracket  12  to a boat transom  24  via nuts and bolts. Apertures are located in the support member mounting plate  22  for pivotally connecting the support members  14   a ,  14   b  to the transom mounting bracket  12 .  
     [0022] Pins  25  pivotally retain support members  14   a ,  14   b  at one end thereof between support member mounting plates  22  to provide pivotal movement for support members  14   a ,  14   b  relative to the transom  24 . Although any number of support members could be utilized, the preferred embodiment utilizes upper and lower support members  14   a ,  14   b . Each support member  14   a ,  14   b  is similarly constructed and comprises a top surface  26  having downwardly extending sides  28 . Located on either end of support members  14   a ,  14   b  are apertures extending through both sides  28  for pivotally connection of the support members  14   a ,  14   b  at both ends. As discussed above, support members  14   a ,  14   b  are pivotally connected at one end to transom bracket  12  by pins  25 . Support members  14   a ,  14   b  are pivotally connected at the other end to another pair of generally L-shaped mounting brackets  16  by pins  25 .  
     [0023] Mounting brackets  16  are generally similar to transom mounting brackets  12 . Mounting brackets  16  comprise a poly-type board mounting plate  30  and a support-member mounting plate  32  extending perpendicularly therefrom. Each plate  30 , 32  includes apertures therethrough for mounting the bracket  16  to it respective objects. As best shown in FIG. 3, the board mounting plate  30  is connected to a poly-type motor support board  34  by a bolts. Support-member mounting plate  32  is likewise pivotally connected to support members  14   a ,  14   b  by pins  25 .  
     [0024] It is preferred that mounting brackets  16  include more that one set of apertures to which support members  14   a ,  14   b  can be adjustably pivotally connected. By this, the upper and lower support members  14   a ,  14   b  can be attached to the mounting bracket  16  in various positions, thereby permitting mounting bracket  16  and board  34  to be connected to the support members  14   a ,  14   b  in a predisposed angular orientation offset from a vertical position. Preferably, the apertures located in mounting plate  32  permit the bracket  16  and mounting board  34  to be mounted to the device in a substantially vertical position or a ±10 degree position from vertical, although other angular positions could be utilized.  
     [0025] As is common in the art, the outboard motor (shown in phantom) is mounted by mounting clamp to the mounting board  34 . Thus, as the support members  14   a ,  14   b  are pivoted about the transom mounting bracket  12 , the outboard motor is vertically positionally adjustable relative to transom  24  between a top position shown in FIG. 1 and a bottom position shown in FIG. 2. It is noted that the present invention not only maintains the supported device aft of the support and vertically adjusts the supported device, it also provides some adjustment of the supported device fore and aft relative to the transom during adjustment.  
     [0026] Pivotal movement of the support members  14   a ,  14   b  is controlled by jack member  18 . Jack member  18  comprises telescoping inner and outer tubes  36 , 38 . The preferred embodiment utilizes square telescoping tubes although any configuration for either tube may be utilized. Inner tube  36  is connected to the transom mounting bracket  12  through pins  25  which pivotally connected support members  14   a ,  14   b  to transom bracket  12 . Outer tube  38  is connected to a support member wherein telescopic movement of the outer tube  38  relative to the inner tube  36  pivots support members  14   a ,  14   b  about their pivot points to vertically positionally adjust the motor.  
     [0027] As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, outer tube  38  has a pivot pin  40  welded to its exterior which pivotally carries a pair of linkages  42 . Linkages  42  are pivotally connected at their other end to either support member  14   a  or  14   b . As shown in the drawings, linkages  42  include apertures  44   a  and  44   b  that permit the effective length of the linkages  42  to be adjustable relative to the pivotally connected support member.  
     [0028] By permitting linkages  42  to be adjustable pivotally connected to the support member at a plurality of positions thereon, the height ratio the device provides can be adjusted to permit the support of the outboard motor at a highest position utilizing aperture  44   a  or a lowest position utilizing aperture  44   b . Therefore, the device can be adjusted to suit numerous height requirements as needed.  
     [0029] Further, linkages  42  are also pivotally connected to the support member about a plurality of positions. Although the drawings indicate that the lower support member  14   b  is connected to the linkages  42 , it is also anticipated that the linkages  42  could be mounted to the upper support member  14   a  or just one support member if only one support member is utilized. As shown in FIG. 3, lower support member  14   b  includes a plurality of apertures  46   a  and  46   b  located intermediate its pivot points. It is understood that the number of apertures and their position on the support member could be provided as desired.  
     [0030] As shown in FIG. 3, lower support apertures  46   a , 46   b  permit the linkages  42  to be pivotally connected to the lower support member  14   b  at two distinct positions. This adjustability permits the device to utilize distinct lifting ratios which allow the device to lift heavier objects or lighter objects easily. For example, if linkages  42  are pivotally connected to aperture  46   a , the effective length of the lever would be from aperture  46   a  to the transom bracket pivot point. However, if linkages  42  were pivotally connected to aperture  46   b , the effective length of the lever would be greater and thus the affect of the third class lever would be greater, thus making it easier to lift a heavier object. Therefore, separate ranges of motion and lifting ratios can be attained through the plurality of linkage apertures and the plurality of support member apertures providing multiple pivotal connections for the linkages  42  to connect to the support member.  
     [0031] Telescopic movement of the outer tube  38  relative to the inner tube  36  is accomplished through a fixed mechanical nut and threaded screw structure. Utilizing such a screw-nut structure permits the telescopic movement of the tubes  36 , 38  to be positionally adjustable over an infinite number of positions. Therefore, the outboard motor can be positionally adjusted over a continuous range of vertical positions.  
     [0032] As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, threaded screw  48  extends through the interior of outer tube  38  and threadedly engages a fixed nut  50  mounted within the interior of inner tube  36 . A handle  52  is connected to an exterior shaft portion at the upper end of the threaded screw  48  to provide means for manually rotating the threaded screw  48 . By rotating the threaded screw  48 , the engagement between the screw  48  and the mounted nut provide pivotal movement to the support members  14   a ,  14   b  and thus raise or lower the outboard motor. It is anticipated that numerous handle configurations could be utilized with the present invention including providing a removably mounted handle capable of mounting at different heights along the shaft portion of the screw  48 . Also, the handle could include a hinge and universal coupler joint to permit the handle to be pivoted about the screw thread in numerous different positions to provide easier use and increased leverage.  
     [0033] In operation, handle  52  is rotated to threadedly insert or withdraw the screw  48  from the fixed nut  50  to create telescopic movement of the outer tube  38  relative to the inner tube  36 . As shown in FIG. 3, the downward telescopic movement of the outer tube  38  relative to the inner tube  36  will cause linkages  42  to lower and permit support members  14   a ,  14   b  to rotate in a clockwise fashion about the transom mounting bracket  12  so as to lower the outboard motor to a position shown in FIG. 4. By reversing the rotation of the handle, the above process is reversed and the outboard motor can be raised relative to the transom  24 .  
     [0034] The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment. Obviously, modifications and alternations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the specification. The claims as follows are intended to include all modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the claims or the equivalents thereof.