Patent Publication Number: US-9889914-B1

Title: Trolling motor mount

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to motor mounts, and, in particular, to a motor mount for storing a trolling motor assembly below a surface of, for example, a deck. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     The pleasure boat industry has exploded in recent years, and to meet the needs of fishing boats, for example, trolling motors have become popular. A trolling motor is usually a secondary source of propulsion for a vessel. Trolling motors allow for a relatively small amount of thrust to propel a boat or other vessel through the water slowly and quietly. Typically, trolling motors are electric powered, using the vessel&#39;s existing power source or stand-alone power source (e.g., a separate battery). Such trolling motors are typically mounted to the top surface of the vessel&#39;s deck, and are configured to allow for storage of the trolling motor on top of the surface when not in use. Early designs allowed for manual manipulation of the trolling motor assembly to place it in the stowed position. For example, the trolling motor assembly might comprise a motor base and a propulsion shaft, where the propulsion shaft includes a propeller, and an optional head unit. In operation, the propulsion shaft is perpendicular to the motor base and extended downward into the water. Stowing the trolling motor includes lifting the propulsion shaft upward out of the water, and rotating the shaft to a horizontal and parallel position to the deck. 
     Recently, trolling motors have been designed that allow for such manipulation of the trolling motor assembly to transition between a deployed/extended position in operation to the stowed position, and vice-versa, automatically or with mechanical assistance. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 9,296,455 entitled “Trolling Motor” to Bernloehr et al., filed Apr. 17, 2014, describes such a trolling motor that provides mechanically assisted or automated stow/deploy and trim adjustment mechanisms. The trolling motor includes a motor base assembly with a steering module mounted to the base assembly. The steering module includes an internal drive arrangement for providing an output torque. The steering module also includes a trim module rotatably mounted to an upper portion of the steering module. A motor shaft assembly including a motor shaft, a head unit attached to an upper end of the motor shaft, and a motor power unit attached to a lower end of the motor shaft is also provided. The motor shaft extends through the base assembly, steering module, and trim module. A torque transfer arrangement is mounted between the trim module and the motor shaft of the motor shaft assembly for transferring the output torque provided by the steering module to the motor shaft to rotate the motor shaft assembly about a rotational steering axis. Such a trolling motor advantageously provides a user with a contemporary trolling motor at a lower cost of purchase, operation, and maintenance given a more compact and efficient design. 
     The recreational boat industry includes other types of pleasure craft, such as “lake boats” for similar applications. One type of such pleasure craft is a pontoon boat, which is a low-deck height (or “flattish”) boat that relies on pontoons to float. Common pontoon boat designs include lake boats, fishing boats, catamarans, and the like with a deck positioned over two (or more) pontoons. Pontoons may be simply constructed from sealed cylinders such as pipes or barrels, or fabricated as boxes from metal or concrete. Pontoon boat drafts may be as shallow as eight inches, which reduces risk of running aground and underwater damage, and are ideal for lake use. Pontoon boats for pleasure boating and fishing can be low cost for their capacity, and sales of such watercraft have exploded in recent years. 
     Trolling motors might be employed with pontoon boats, but their use is generally awkward. In a small fishing vessel, the trolling motor is typically fixed to the top deck at the bow, but in pontoon boat deck space and access to the foredeck (bow) is limited. Consequently, trolling motors are seldom used with, or installed in, pontoon boats. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     In one embodiment, the present invention is a motor mount to deploy a boat motor comprising a track with guide rails extending along each side of the track to form a channel, and a sled positioned within the channel. The track includes a first end block between the guide rails at a first end, a second end block between the guide rails at a second end, and a rod rotatably fixed between the first and second end blocks, wherein the first end block has a rack formed thereon opposite to a top surface of the track, and the guide rails form an opening adjacent to the first end block, between the first and second end blocks, and opposite to the track top surface. The sled includes a top plate and a bottom plate, the top plate and the bottom plate having corresponding ends fixed with a hinge, the top plate fastened about the rod, the bottom plate have a gear formed around the hinge, and the hinge positioned facing toward the first end block. Rotating the rod in a first direction through the top plate moves the hinge of the sled within the channel toward the first end block, and rotating the rod in a second direction moves the sled within the channel toward the second end block and, when the rod rotates in the first direction and reaches the first block, the gear of the bottom plate engages the rack of the first end block, the bottom plate rotates about the hinge through the opening, and extends inverted over the first end block to an extended position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals identify similar or identical elements. 
         FIG. 1A  shows a side view of a pontoon boat employing an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in a stowed position; 
         FIG. 1B  shows a front (bow) view of a pontoon boat employing the exemplary embodiment of the present invention in a stowed position; 
         FIG. 1C  shows a side view of a pontoon boat employing an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in a deployed position; 
         FIG. 2  shows diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the trolling motor mount from the side; 
         FIG. 3  shows diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the trolling motor mount from the bottom; 
         FIG. 4A  shows a cross section of the track of exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 2  showing the channel in an open region allowing a bottom plate of the sled to pass through the open region; 
         FIG. 4B  shows a cross section of the track of exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 2  showing the channel in a closed (guided) region allowing the sled to pass through closed region; 
         FIG. 5  shows a preferred configuration of the sled in accordance with described embodiments; 
         FIG. 6  shows a relation of the first end block and the top and bottom plates of the sled in a stowed position; 
         FIG. 7  shows a relation of the first end block and the top and bottom plates of the sled in a half-deployed position; and 
         FIG. 8  shows a motor and motor control system as might be employed by exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In accordance with described embodiments, a motor mount for use with, for example, a trolling motor, allows for automatic or otherwise mechanical deployment of the trolling motor when in operation and stowing of the trolling motor under a deck when not in use. Such motor mount as described herein might advantageously be used with, or installed in, pontoon boats. When employed for such pontoon boat applications, the trolling motor might be stored under the pontoon boat deck and between the pontoons. Embodiments of the motor mount described herein might be powered using the existing power source or stand-alone power source (e.g., a separate battery) of the pontoon boat. Preferred embodiments of the motor mount might be advantageously employed in conjunction with the type of trolling motor described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 9,296,455 entitled “Trolling Motor” to Bernloehr et al., filed Apr. 17, 2014, the teachings of which are incorporated in their entirety herein by reference. 
     Before describing an exemplary embodiment of the trolling motor mount, use of the trolling motor mount, its general configuration and advantages is described with respect to  FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C .  FIG. 1A  shows a side view of pontoon boat  10  employing an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in a stowed position.  FIG. 1B  shows a front (bow) view of pontoon boat  10  employing the exemplary embodiment of the present invention in a stowed position. In accordance with exemplary embodiment, pontoon boat  10  having a deck  2  includes the exemplary embodiment of trolling motor mount  3  fastened under deck  2 . Trolling motor assembly  4  includes a motor base  5  and propulsion shaft  6 . In a stowed position, trolling motor  10  includes propulsion shaft  6  rotated to a horizontal (also with respect to motor base  5 ) and parallel position to deck  2 . Trolling motor assembly  4  in a stowed configuration is mounted to a bottom surface of trolling motor mount  3 , under deck  2 , and between pontoons  1   a  and  1   b , allowing for storing the motor when not in use in a protected position underneath deck  2 . 
       FIG. 1C  shows a side view of a pontoon boat employing an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in a deployed position. Motor mount  3  is now extended beyond front  9  of pontoon boat  10 , inverting motor base  5 . In operation, propulsion shaft  6  is perpendicular to motor base  5  and extended downward into the water. Such trolling motor mount advantageously provides a user with a contemporary trolling motor given a more compact and efficient design that can be employed easily in pontoon boats. 
     An exemplary embodiment of a trolling motor mount in accordance with the present invention is now described.  FIG. 2  shows diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the trolling motor mount viewed from the side in a stowed position, and  FIG. 3  shows diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the trolling motor mount viewed from the bottom in the stowed position. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , trolling motor mount  3  includes track  20 , sled  30 , threaded rod  28  (e.g., a worm or screw), first end block  25 , and second end block  27 . First end block  25  is positioned at one end of the channel of track  20  generally near, for example, the front of a vessel, and second end block  27  is positioned at the opposite end of the channel of track  20 . Track  20  provides a housing for sled  30  and includes top surface  21 , and side guide rails  22  that form a generally u-shaped channel for sled  30  to slide in. Top surface  21  of track  20  might be fastened underneath a deck of a pontoon boat, and a trolling motor assembly (not shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) is mounted on a bottom motor area  36  of bottom plate  32  of sled  30 . 
     Threaded rod  28  is generally fixed between first end block  25  and second end block  27  by points  39  and  40 , respectively, in a manner that permits rotation of threaded rod  28 . One end of threaded rod  28  extends through second end block  27 , and might be fastened to either a motor or mechanical crank (not shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) to enable rotation of threaded rod  28 . 
     Sled  30  includes top plate  31  and bottom plate  32 , which are fastened together at corresponding ends by hinge  33 . Hinge  33  is generally positioned to face toward first end block  25 . Threaded rod  28  passes through a corresponding threaded receptacle (e.g., one or more nuts) in top plate  31  so that when threaded rod  28  is rotated, sled  30  slides within the channel of track  20 . Bottom plate  32  includes gear  34  formed about hinge  33 , and first end block  25  includes a (gear) rack  26  formed on its bottom surface. 
     Track  20  further includes an open area  50  within the bottom of the channel, and a closed are  51 . When sled  30  is within closed area  51 , the edges of bottom plate  32  slide on, and are retained by, guide rails  22 . When sled  30  is within open area  50 , the edges of bottom plate  32  are no longer retained by guide rails  22 , permitting bottom plate  32  to rotate about hinge  33  out of open area  50 . When top plate  31  rides on threaded rod  28  in either open area  50  or closed area  51 , top plate  31  is retained within the channel by threaded rod  28  and guide rails  22 . 
       FIG. 4A  shows a cross section of track  20  showing the channel in open region  50 , allowing bottom plate  32  of sled  30  to pass through open region  50 . As shown, track  20  might include reinforced area  60  at bottom of guide rail  22 , to provide some rigidity to an aluminum extrusion employed for track  20 .  FIG. 4B  shows a cross section of track  20  showing the channel in closed (guided) region  51 , allowing sled  30  to pass through closed region  51 . As shown, track  20  might include reinforced area extended area  61  at bottom of guide rail  22 , to allow sled  30  to sit within guide rails  22  on extended area  61  closed region  51  while being firmly retained within the channel. 
     Returning to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , rotating threaded rod  28  in a first direction through top plate  31  moves hinge  33  of sled  30  within the channel toward first end block  25 , and rotating threaded rod  28  in a second direction moves sled  30  within the channel toward second end block  27 . When threaded rod  28  rotates in the first direction and reaches first end block  25 , gear  34  of bottom plate  32  engages rack  26  of first end block  25 , bottom plate  32  rotates about hinge  33  to flip bottom plate  32  through the open area  50 , and extends bottom plate  32  inverted over first end block  25  to an extended, or deployed, position. Blocks  29   a  and  29   b  are mounted about rack  26 , and slots  38   a  and  38   b  are formed either side of or within gear  34 . Blocks  29   a  and  29   b  may engage slots  38   a  and  38   b , respectively, to allow for alignment and rigidity of extended bottom plate  32  in the deployed position. When a trolling motor assembly (not shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) is mounted on a bottom motor area  36  of bottom plate  32  of sled  30 , this rotation about hinge  33  to flip bottom plate  32  through the open area  50  also flips the trolling motor assembly over to be positioned, for example, on the deck surface of a pontoon boat. Recess  41  shown at a rear of bottom plate  32  might allow space for a propulsion shaft of the trolling motor assembly to move up and down. 
     From a deployed position, rotating threaded rod  28  in a second direction moves sled  30  within the channel toward second end block  27 , reversing the deployment operation. Bottom plate  32  rotates about hinge  33  to reverse-flip and return bottom plate  32  through open area  50 , to retract bottom plate  32  into the channel of track  20  to a stowed position. As bottom plate  32  enters open area  50  and slides toward second end block  27 , inclined areas  35   a  and  35   b  engage areas  61  (shown in  FIG. 4B ) of guide rails  22  to help lift bottom plate  32  of sled  30  into the closed area  51  of the channel of track  20 . 
     In order to provide the operation of inverting bottom plate  32 , top plate  31  and bottom plate  32  are preferably configured as shown in  FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 . In operation, sled  30  passes over first end block  25 , and top plate  31  passes over first end block  25  to engage gear  34  with rack  26 . Bottom plate  32  is generally positioned within a recess in top plate  31 , as shown and described below with respect to  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 5  shows sled  30  having top plate  31 , bottom plate  32  with gear  34 , and hinge  33  as it passes over first end block  25  during a transition between deployed and stowed positions. Nut  39  engages threaded rod  28  within a cavity of top plate  31 , and sled  30  might be stopped at the end of first end block  25  by bumpers  200   a  and  200   b , having cushions  201   a  and  201   b , respectively. As shown, top plate  31  includes a recess  202  in which bottom plate  32  is positioned, with walls  203   a  and  203   b  extending to form recess  202  and provide support of hinge  33 . As top plate  31  passes over first end block  25 , it passes over rack  26 , and opening  205  allows for gear  34  to make contact with rack  26 . Continued movement of top plate  31  provides force for rotation about hinge  33 . Blocks  29   a  and  29   b  may engage slots  38   a  and  38   b , respectively, to allow for alignment and rigidity of extended bottom plate  32  in the deployed position. A trolling motor assembly (not shown in  FIG. 5 ) is mounted on a bottom motor area  36  of bottom plate  32  of sled  30 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a relation of the first end block and the top and bottom plates of the sled in a stowed position.  FIG. 7  shows a relation of the first end block and the top and bottom plates of the sled in a half-deployed position when rotated 90 degrees by engagement of gear  34  with rack  26 . 
       FIG. 8  shows a motor and motor control system  1000  as might be employed by exemplary embodiments of the present invention. As described above, rotation of threaded rod (e.g., screw)  28  moves sled  30  within the channel of track  20 , thereby stowing or deploying trolling motor  4 . Also, as described above, rotation of threaded rod  28  might be accomplished by an electric motor. Referring to  FIG. 8 , motor box  1010  includes electric motor  1011  to drive threaded rod  28 , and operation of electric motor  1011  is enabled by motor control  1012 . Given an input, which might, for example, be from remote device  1013  coupled to motor box  1010 , motor  1011  rotates threaded rod  28  to stow or deploy trolling motor  4 . Remote device  1013  might be implemented either directly or wirelessly coupled to motor box  1010 . Motor control  1012  might be coupled to motor base  5  of trolling motor assembly  4 , and might receive or provide control signals to trolling motor assembly  4  to rotate, flip and/or extend propulsion shaft  6  as the trolling motor assembly&#39;s configuration is changed to stow or deploy trolling motor  4 . Motor mount  3  might further include sensors  1001   a - 1001   d  to monitor position of sled  30  within track  20  during operation, and sensors  1001   a - 1001   d  might provide position information signals to motor control  1010 . Motor control  1012  might be implemented with simple circuitry, or might include a processor and associated circuitry to implement algorithms to more precisely control operation of motor and motor control system  1000 . Such control in various embodiments might include speed of motor and sled, movements of the deployment or stowage of the trolling motor assembly during configuration changes, as well as safety precautions when jams or other non-desirable events occur during operation. 
     Reference herein to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments necessarily mutually exclusive of other embodiments. The same applies to the term “implementation.” 
     As used in this application, the word “exemplary” is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs. Rather, use of the word exemplary is intended to present concepts in a concrete fashion. 
     Additionally, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or”. That is, unless specified otherwise, or clear from context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances. In addition, the articles “a” and “an” as used in this application and the appended claims should generally be construed to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form. 
     Moreover, the terms “system,” “component,” “module,” “interface,”, “model” or the like are generally intended to refer to a computer-related entity, either hardware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or software in execution. For example, a component may be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, and/or a computer. By way of illustration, both an application running on a controller and the controller can be a component. One or more components may reside within a process and/or thread of execution and a component may be localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or more computers. 
     Although the subject matter described herein may be described in the context of illustrative implementations to process one or more computing application features/operations for a computing application having user-interactive components the subject matter is not limited to these particular embodiments. Rather, the techniques described herein can be applied to any suitable type of user-interactive component execution management methods, systems, platforms, and/or apparatus. 
     The present invention can be embodied in the form of methods and apparatuses for practicing those methods. Aspects of the present invention can also be embodied in the form of program code embodied in tangible media, such as magnetic recording media, optical recording media, solid state memory, floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, hard drives, or any other machine-readable storage medium, wherein, when the program code is loaded into and executed by a machine, such as a computer, the machine becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention. Aspects of the present invention can also be embodied in the form of program code, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a machine, or transmitted over some transmission medium or carrier, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the program code is loaded into and executed by a machine, such as a computer, the machine becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention. When implemented on a general-purpose processor, the program code segments combine with the processor to provide a unique device that operates analogously to specific logic circuits. The present invention can also be embodied in the form of a bitstream or other sequence of signal values electrically or optically transmitted through a medium, stored magnetic-field variations in a magnetic recording medium, etc., generated using a method and/or an apparatus of the present invention. 
     Unless explicitly stated otherwise, each numerical value and range should be interpreted as being approximate as if the word “about” or “approximately” preceded the value of the value or range. 
     It should be understood that the steps of the exemplary methods set forth herein are not necessarily required to be performed in the order described, and the order of the steps of such methods should be understood to be merely exemplary. Likewise, additional steps may be included in such methods, and certain steps may be omitted or combined, in methods consistent with various embodiments of the present invention. 
     Although the elements in the following method claims, if any, are recited in a particular sequence with corresponding labeling, unless the claim recitations otherwise imply a particular sequence for implementing some or all of those elements, those elements are not necessarily intended to be limited to being implemented in that particular sequence. 
     As used herein in reference to an element and a standard, the term “compatible” means that the element communicates with other elements in a manner wholly or partially specified by the standard, and would be recognized by other elements as sufficiently capable of communicating with the other elements in the manner specified by the standard. The compatible element does not need to operate internally in a manner specified by the standard. 
     Also for purposes of this description, the terms “couple,” “coupling,” “coupled,” “connect,” “connecting,” or “connected” refer to any manner known in the art or later developed in which energy is allowed to be transferred between two or more elements, and the interposition of one or more additional elements is contemplated, although not required. Conversely, the terms “directly coupled,” “directly connected,” etc., imply the absence of such additional elements. 
     Further, the term “comprises or includes” and/or “comprising or including” used in the document means that one or more other components, steps, operation and/or existence or addition of elements are not excluded in addition to the described components, steps, operation and/or elements. 
     No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or “step for.” 
     It is understood that various changes in the details, materials, and arrangements of the parts which have been described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of this invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the embodiments of the invention as encompassed in the following claims.