Patent Publication Number: US-8535105-B1

Title: Integrated jack plate

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an integrated jack plate, and more particularly pertains to an integrated motor, pump, reservoir, and hydraulic cylinder use for the height adjusting of an outboard motor in a safe, convenient and economical manner. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of jack plates of known designs and configurations is known in the prior art. More specifically, jack plates of known designs and configurations previously devised and utilized for the purpose of adjusting the height of an outboard motor, through known methods and apparatuses, are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     While the prior art devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the prior art patents do not describe an integrated jack plate that allows for a safe economical means of adjusting the operating height of an outboard motor, relative to the transom of a boat, in a safe, convenient and economical manner. 
     In this respect, the integrated jack plate, according to the present invention, substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides a device for the adjusting the operating height of an outboard motor, relative to the transom of a boat, in a safe, convenient and economical manner. 
     Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved jack plate which can be used for the height adjustment of an outboard motor, in a safe, convenient and economical manner. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of stop systems of known designs and configurations now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved integrated jack plate. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved electrically operated jack plate which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages. 
     To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises an integrated jack plate, comprising several components, in combination. 
     First there is a pair of mirror-configured boat mounting plates. Each of the boat mounting plates is fabricated of a rigid material, such as aluminum, stainless steel, or steel. Each of the boat mounting plates has a generally L-shaped configuration, with a boat transom mounting portion, a motor mounting portion, and a length therebetween. 
     The transom mounting portion of each mounting plate is oriented so as to lie generally parallel with a boat transom. The transom mounting portion of each mounting plate forms the lower portion of an L-configuration. Each of the transom mounting portions of the pair of boat mounting plates has a first length. The motor mounting portion of each of the boat mounting plates has a generally C-shaped configuration, with a slide plate retaining groove therein. 
     The slide plate retaining groove of each of the boat mounting plates has an upper portion and a lower portion. The length of each of the boat mounting plates has a plurality of bolt holes therethrough. Each of the boat mounting plate bolt holes has an associated bolt. 
     Next there is an inner lower boat mounting plate cross member, which fabricated of rigid material and has a generally rectilinear configuration, with a length, a width, and a thickness. The inner lower boat mounting plate cross member has a pair of opposing ends. Each end of the inner lower boat mounting plate cross member has a threaded bolt hole therein. Each inner lower cross member end threaded bolt hole has an associated inner lower boat mounting plate cross member bolt. 
     The length of the inner lower boat mounting plate cross member has a centrally located middle portion. The middle portion of the inner lower boat mounting plate cross member has an inner lower cross member recess therein. The inner lower cross member recess has a pair of like-configured bolt holes there in. Each of the inner lower cross member recess bolt holes has an associated bolt. 
     Next there is an outer lower boat mounting plate cross member which is fabricated of rigid material and has a generally round solid tubular configuration, with a length and a first diameter. The outer lower boat mounting plate cross member has a pair of opposing ends, with each end of the outer lower boat mounting plate cross member having a threaded bolt hole therein. Each outer lower cross member end threaded bolt hole has an associated outer lower boat mounting plate cross member bolt. The outer lower boat mounting plate cross member is located within the lower portion of the groove of each of the boat mounting plates. 
     Next there is an inner upper boat mounting plate cross member which is fabricated of rigid material and has a generally rectilinear configuration, with a length, a width, and a thickness. The inner upper boat mounting plate cross member has a pair of opposing ends. Each end of the inner upper boat mounting plate cross member has a threaded bolt hole therein. Each inner upper cross member end threaded bolt hole has an associated inner upper boat mounting plate cross member bolt. 
     Next there is an outer upper boat mounting plate cross member which is fabricated of rigid material and has a generally round solid tubular configuration with a length and a second diameter. The outer upper boat mounting plate cross member has a pair of opposing ends. Each end of the outer upper boat mounting plate cross member has a threaded bolt hole therein. Each outer upper cross member end threaded bolt holes has an associated outer upper boat mounting plate cross member bolt. The outer upper boat mounting plate cross member is located near, and outside of, the upper portion of the groove of each of the boat mounting plates. 
     Next there is a motor mounting slide plate which is fabricated of a rigid material and has a generally planar rectilinear configuration. The motor mounting slide plate has a motor side, a boat side, and a thickness therebetween. 
     The thickness forms an upper peripheral edge, a lower peripheral edge, and a pair of like-configured side peripheral edges of the motor mounting plate. The side peripheral edges each have a stepped portion therein. Each stepped portion of the side peripheral edges has an associated nylon insert which fits into the slide plate retaining grooves, as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     The motor mounting slide plate has a plurality of motor mounting bolt holes therethrough. The motor mounting slide plate has a right side and an opposing left side. The right side and the left side of the motor mounting slide plate are each configured to mate with, be accepted by, and retained in, the C-shaped configured slide plate retaining grooves of each of the boat mounting plates. 
     The motor mounting slide plate has an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion of the motor mounting slide plate has a pair of upper hydraulic ram clevis bolt holes therethrough. The lower portion of the motor mounting slide plate has a pair of travel stop bolt holes therethrough. 
     Next, there is a hydraulic ram clevis. The ram clevis is fabricated of a rigid material and has a generally U-shaped configuration forming a recess therein. The recess has an innermost extent. The innermost extent of the recess has a pair of clevis mounting bolt holes therethrough, with each of the clevis mounting bolt holes having an associated clevis mounting bolt. 
     The clevis also has a pair of outermost extents. The outermost extents of the U-shape configured clevis form a pair of generally parallel tabs, with each of the tabs having a similarly located and oriented ram pin hole therethrough. The ram pin holes each have an associated ram pin. The ram pins have a generally round solid tubular configuration. 
     Next, there is an integrated ram—reservoir—motor unit. The ram—reservoir—motor unit is referred to as the RRM unit. The RRM unit has an electric pump motor and an associated pump. The pump and pump motor are operatively coupled to a hydraulic fluid reservoir, with the fluid reservoir being operatively coupled to a hydraulic ram housing and hydraulic ram, thereby forming a single unit. 
     The hydraulic ram has a base. The hydraulic ram base has a ram base pin hole therethrough. The hydraulic ram base has an associated ram base pin and a pair of associated thrust washers. The pump motor has a pair of wires operatively coupled thereto. The wires are coupled to a power source, such as a battery, for providing power to the pump motor. 
     There is a hydraulic base mount. The hydraulic base mount has a generally C-shaped configuration. The hydraulic base mount has a cross portion having a generally rectilinear configuration, with a pair of generally parallel extending portions. The cross portion is continuous with each of the pair of extending portions. The base mount has an inner surface, an outer surface, an upper surface, a lower surface, and a pair of generally parallel side surfaces. The upper surface has a base mount recess therein. The side surfaces each have a base mount pin hole therethrough. The base mount pin holes have an associated base mount pin. The outer surface and inner surface of the base mount have a pair of through holes therethrough. The through holes of the base mount each having an associated bolt. The outer surface has a pair of threaded locking pin holes therein. The threaded locking pin holes each communicate with one of the base mount pin holes. Each of the threaded locking pin holes have an associated threaded locking pin. 
     Lastly, there is a travel stop which is bolted to the slide plate. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several, purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved integrated jack plate which has all of the advantages of the prior art stop systems of known designs and configurations and none of the disadvantages. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved integrated jack plate which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved integrated jack plate which is of durable and reliable constructions. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved integrated jack plate which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such integrated jack plate economically available to the buying public. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide an integrated jack plate for allowing the user to adjust the height of an outboard motor in a safe, convenient and economical manner. 
     Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an integrated jack plate, comprising several components, in combination. There is a pair of mirror-configured boat mounting plates, an inner lower boat mounting plate cross member, and an outer lower boat mounting plate cross member. There is also provided, an inner upper boat mounting plate cross member, an outer upper boat mounting plate cross member, and a motor mounting slide plate. There is a hydraulic ram clevis coupled to the motor mounting slide plate and an integrated ram—reservoir—motor unit. Lastly, there is a hydraulic base mount and a travel stop. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated the primary and preferred embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an elevational view from the motor mounting side of the jack plate, also referred to as the outer side. 
         FIG. 2  is a view taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the hydraulic base mount. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded view of a variation of the hydraulic base mount, wherein the base mount and the inner lower boat mounting plate cross member are made of one piece, and are therefore, continuous. 
     
    
    
     The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various Figures. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIG. 1  thereof, the preferred embodiment of the new and improved integrated jack plate embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises an integrated jack plate  10 , comprising several components, in combination. 
     First there is a pair of mirror-configured boat mounting plates  12 . Each of the boat mounting plates is fabricated of a rigid material, such as aluminum, stainless steel, or steel. Each of the boat mounting plates has a generally L-shaped configuration, with a boat transom mounting portion  14 , a motor mounting portion  16 , and a length  18  therebetween. 
     The transom mounting portion of each mounting plate is oriented so as to lie generally parallel with a boat transom. The transom mounting portion of each mounting plate forms the lower portion of an L-configuration. Each of the transom mounting portions of the pair of boat mounting plates has a first length. The motor mounting portion of each of the boat mounting plates has a generally C-shaped configuration, with a slide plate  20  retaining groove therein. 
     The slide plate retaining groove of each of the boat mounting plates has an upper portion  22  and a lower portion  24 . The length of each of the boat mounting plates has a plurality of bolt holes  26  therethrough. Each of the boat mounting plate bolt holes has an associated bolt. 
     The slide plate retaining grooves each have an associated nylon insert  28 . 
     Next there is an inner lower boat mounting plate cross member  30 , which fabricated of rigid material and has a generally rectilinear configuration, with a length, a width, and a thickness. The inner lower boat mounting plate cross member has a pair of opposing ends  32 . Each end of the inner lower boat mounting plate cross member has a threaded bolt hole (not shown) therein. Each inner lower cross member end threaded bolt hole has an associated inner lower boat mounting plate cross member bolt  34 . 
     The length of the inner lower boat mounting plate cross member has a centrally located middle portion  36 . The middle portion of the inner lower boat mounting plate cross member has an inner lower cross member recess  38  therein. The inner lower cross member recess has a pair of like-configured bolt holes  40  there in. By “like-configured” is meant that the physical appearance of the bolt holes is generally the same. Each of the inner lower cross member recess bolt holes has an associated bolt  42 . 
     Next there is an outer lower boat mounting plate cross member  44  which is fabricated of rigid material and has a generally round solid tubular configuration, with a length and a first diameter. The outer lower boat mounting plate cross member has a pair of opposing ends  46 , with each end of the outer lower boat mounting plate cross member having a threaded bolt hole therein (not shown). Each outer lower cross member end threaded bolt hole has an associated outer lower boat mounting plate cross member bolt  48 . The outer lower boat mounting plate cross member is located within the lower portion of the groove of each of the boat mounting plates. 
     Next there is an inner upper boat mounting plate cross member  50  which is fabricated of rigid material and has a generally rectilinear configuration, with a length, a width, and a thickness. The inner upper boat mounting plate cross member has a pair of opposing ends  52 . Each end of the inner upper boat mounting plate cross member has a threaded bolt hole therein (not shown). Each inner upper cross member end threaded bolt hole has an associated inner upper boat mounting plate cross member bolt  54 . 
     Next there is an outer upper boat mounting plate cross member  56  which is fabricated of rigid material and has a generally round solid tubular configuration with a length and a second diameter. The outer upper boat mounting plate cross member has a pair of opposing ends  58 . Each end of the outer upper boat mounting plate cross member has a threaded bolt hole therein (not shown). Each outer upper cross member end threaded bolt holes has an associated outer upper boat mounting plate cross member bolt  60 . The outer upper boat mounting plate cross member is located near, and outside of, the upper portion of the groove of each of the boat mounting plates. 
     Next there is a motor mounting slide plate  62  which is fabricated of a rigid material and has a generally planar rectilinear configuration. The motor mounting slide plate has a motor side, a boat side, and a thickness therebetween. 
     The thickness forms an upper peripheral edge  64 , a lower peripheral edge, and a pair of like-configured side peripheral edges of the motor mounting plate. The side peripheral edges each have a stepped portion  66  therein. 
     The motor mounting slide plate has a plurality of motor mounting bolt holes  68  therethrough. The motor mounting slide plate has a right side and an opposing left side. The right side and the left side of the motor mounting slide plate are each configured to mate with, be accepted by, and retained in, the C-shaped configured slide plate retaining grooves of each of the boat mounting plates. 
     The motor mounting slide plate has an upper portion  70  and a lower portion  72 . The upper portion of the motor mounting slide plate has a pair of upper hydraulic ram clevis bolt holes  74  therethrough. The lower portion of the motor mounting slide plate has a pair of travel stop bolt holes  76  therethrough. 
     Next, there is a hydraulic ram clevis  80 . The ram clevis is fabricated of a rigid material and has a generally U-shaped configuration forming a recess  82  therein. The recess has an innermost extent  84 . The innermost extent of the recess has a pair of clevis mounting bolt holes  86  therethrough, with each of the clevis mounting bolt holes having an associated clevis mounting bolt  88 . 
     The clevis also has a pair of outermost extents  90 . The outermost extents of the U-shape configured clevis form a pair of generally parallel tabs, with each of the tabs having a similarly located and oriented ram pin hole  92  therethrough. By “similarly located” is meant that the location of the pin hole is generally in the same location relative to the structure the pin hole is in. The ram pin holes each have an associated ram pin  94 . The ram pins have a generally round solid tubular configuration. 
     Next, there is an integrated ram—reservoir—motor unit  100 . The ram—reservoir—motor unit is referred to as the RRM unit. The RRM unit has an electric pump motor  102  and an associated pump  104 . The pump and pump motor are operatively coupled to a hydraulic fluid reservoir  106 , with the fluid reservoir being operatively coupled to a hydraulic ram housing  108  and hydraulic ram  110 , thereby forming a single unit. 
     The hydraulic ram has a base  112 . The hydraulic ram base has a ram base pin hole  114  therethrough. The hydraulic ram base has an associated ram base pin  116  and a pair of associated thrust washers  118 . The pump motor has a pair of wires  120  operatively coupled thereto. The wires are coupled to a power source, such as a battery, for providing power to the pump motor (not shown, but well known in the art). 
     There is a hydraulic base mount  124 . The hydraulic base mount has a generally C-shaped configuration. The hydraulic base mount has a cross portion  126  having a generally rectilinear configuration, with a pair of generally parallel extending portions  128 . The cross portion is continuous with each of the pair of extending portions. The base mount has an inner surface  130 , an outer surface  132 , an upper surface  134 , a lower surface, and a pair of generally parallel side surfaces  136 . The upper surface has a base mount recess  138  therein. The side surfaces each have a base mount pin hole  140  therethrough. The base mount pin holes have an associated base mount pin, which is the ram base pin  116 . The outer surface and inner surface of the base mount have a pair of through holes  142  therethrough. The through holes of the base mount each having an associated bolt (not shown). The outer surface has a pair of threaded locking pin holes  144  therein. The threaded locking pin holes each communicate with one of the base mount pin holes. Each of the threaded locking pin holes have an associated threaded locking pin  146 . 
     In a variation of the hydraulic base mount, the mount may be continuous with the lower inner cross member, as shown in  FIG. 6 . There is a recess  150  with a pair of locking pin holes  152 . There are a pair of base mount pin holes therethrough, with the base pin  116  being used to secure the hydraulic base to the base mount. 
     In another variation of the hydraulic base mount, the through hole  142  does not run through the entire mount, but rather forms a hole through one side, and a partial hole through the other side of the base mount. This configuration would be considered a “partial hole”, and will be referred to as such. In this configuration, there may be only one base mount pin hole, and only one base mount pin associated therewith. 
     Lastly, there is a travel stop  160 , which is bolted to the slide plate. 
     As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.