Trolling motor mount assembly

Abstract

An electric trolling motor transom mount that (a.) allows a trolling motor to kick over logs while the boat is traveling forward without damaging the trolling motor shaft or mount, (b.) and yet secures the trolling motor propeller in the water while propelling the boat in reverse, and (c.) also allows the operator to remove moss or debris from the propeller while the operator is comfortably seated in the boat, and (d.) allows the trolling motor to be placed in a stowed position on the floor of the boat.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for fastening a trolling motor on a boat, said apparatus comprising: 
 a trolling motor mount assembly for mounting a trolling motor to the stern of a boat; and    means to hinge a swingable plate thereto;    said mount assembly contains a swingable plate, said plate contains a hinge means at a first end and a means to rotationally mount a trolling motor at a second end. When said first end of said swingable plate is connected to said means to hinge a swingable plate thereto and said second end of said swingable plate contains said trolling motor, said swingable plate is operable to carry said trolling motor from a stowed position on the floor of said boat to an operating position in the water.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said means to hinge a swingable plate thereto further consists of a portion of the structure of said boat.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said means to hinge a swingable plate thereto further consists of a stationary plate that is secured to a stern portion of said boat; and 
 said stationary plate further contains a hinge pin.  
 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  further consists of at least one spring means with a first and a second end; 
 said first end is operatively connected to said boat at a first suitable location; and  
 said second end is connected to said swingable plate at a second suitable location; said spring means are operable to allow said trolling motor to move over obstacles in said water while said boat is traveling in a forward direction and said spring means are operable to releasably hold said trolling motor in said operating position in said water when said motor has been activated in a reverse direction.  
 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 4  wherein said spring means further consists of at least one metal spring.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 4  wherein said spring further consists of at least one rubber strip.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 4  wherein said spring means further consists of at least one bungee cord.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  further consists of a stationary plate; 
 said stationary plate further contains a hinge means at a first end and a flat surface at a second end, said flat surface contains a first part of a releasably securing means; and  
 said apparatus contains said swingable plate, said swingable plate contains said hinge means at a first end and said swingable plate further contains a flat surface at a second end, said flat surface further contains a second part of said releasably securing means;  
 when said stationary and said swingable plate are hinged to each other at said first ends and said flat surfaces are in contact with each other at said second ends; and  
 when said releasably securing means are engaged with each other, said releasably securing means are operable to hold said trolling motor in said water to propel said boat in a reverse direction when said trolling motor is placed in a reverse speed; also, said releasably securing means are operable to disengage to allow said trolling motor to move over obstacles in said water when said boat is traveling in a forward direction.  
 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 8  wherein said releasably securing means further consists of velcro.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 8  wherein said releasably securing means further consists of a metal magnet.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 8  wherein said releasably securing means further consists of a releasable clamping means.  
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for fastening a trolling motor on a boat; said apparatus comprising: 
 a trolling motor mount assembly for mounting a trolling motor on the transom of a boat; and    means to hinge a swingable plate thereto;    said mount assembly contains a swingable plate, said plate contains a hinge means at a first end and a means to rotationally mount a trolling motor at a second end,    when said first end of said swingable plate is connected to said means to hinge a swingable plate thereto and said second end of said swingable plate contains said trolling motor, said swingable plate is operable to carry said trolling motor from a stowed position in said boat to an operating position in the water.    
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 12  wherein said means to hinge a swingable plate thereto further consists of said hinge means being positioned in the approximate vicinity of a front portion of the transom of said boat so that said swingable plate is operable to carry said trolling motor from an upright operating position in said water to an inverted position located over said boat and said swingable plate is operable to further carry said motor to a stowed position on the floor of said boat.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 12  further consists of at least one spring means with a first and a second end; 
 when first end is operatively connected to said boat; and  
 when said second end is suitably connected to said swingable plate,  
 said spring means are operable to allow said trolling motor to move over obstacles in said water while said boat is traveling in a forward direction and to hold said trolling motor in said operating position in said water when said motor has been activated in a reverse direction; and  
 said spring means further releasably secures said trolling motor in said stowed position in said boat.  
 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 12  wherein said means to hinge a swingable plate thereto further consists of being operatively fastened to said boat; 
 said means to hinge a swingable plate thereto further contains a first and a second end, said first end contains a releasably securing means, said second end is hinged to said swingable plate;  
 said releasably securing means further consists of a first and a second part, said first part is suitably secured to said first end of said means to hinge a swingable plate thereto, said second part is suitably secured to said swingable plate; said releasably securing means are engaged with each other when said trolling motor is in said water;  
 said releasably securing means are operable to allow said trolling motor to move over obstacles in said water while said boat is traveling in a forward direction and to hold said trolling motor in said operating position in said water when said motor has been activated in a reverse direction.  
 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for fastening a trolling motor on a boat, said apparatus comprising: 
 a trolling motor mount assembly for mounting a trolling motor to a stern portion of a boat; and    means to hinge a swingable plate thereto, said means are positioned in said boat;    said mount assembly further contains a swingable plate, said plate contains a hinge means at a first end and a means to rotationally mount a trolling motor at a second end;    when said first end of said swingable plate is connected to said means to hinge a swingable plate thereto, and said second end of said swingable plate contains said trolling motor, said swingable plate is operable to swing said trolling motor from an upright operating position in the water to an inverted position over the boat.    
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 16  further consists of said swingable plate being operable to carry said trolling motor from said upright operating position to a stowed position on the floor of said boat.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 16  wherein said hinge means further consists of said hinge means being positioned in said boat; 
 said hinge means further contains a hinge pin, said hinge pin is located in a position that is forward of the transom of said boat;  
 said hinge pin is operable to allow said trolling motor to swing from said upright operating position in said water onto the floor of said boat.  
 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 16  wherein said trolling motor is in an inverted position over said boat; 
 said trolling motor mount further contains a removable pin that has been placed in a position that supports said swingable plate when said trolling motor is in said inverted position.  
 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 16  further consists of at least one spring means with a first and a second end, said first end is operatively connected to said boat at a first suitable location and said second end is connected to said swingable plate at a second suitable location; 
 said spring means are operable to hold said trolling motor in said inverted position over said boat.  
 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 16  further consists of at least one spring means with a first and a second end, said first end is operatively connected to said boat at a first suitable location; and 
 said second end is connected to said swingable plate at a second suitable location;  
 said spring means are operable to allow said trolling motor to move over obstacles in said water while said boat is traveling in a forward direction and said spring means are operable to releasably hold said trolling motor in said upright operating position in said water when said motor has been activated in a reverse direction.  
 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 16  further consists of a trolling motor shaft assembly; and 
 said swingable plate further contains a means to allow said shaft assembly to be rotated 90° on said swingable plate so that when said shaft assembly has been rotated 90° said swingable plate is operable to place said trolling motor shaft assembly in said boat in a position parallel to the transom of said boat.