Isolated motor pan for watercraft

Abstract

A watercraft floating in water including a deck and a motor isolated from the deck. In an embodiment of the invention, the watercraft includes a frame comprising cross-members for supporting the deck. The watercraft further includes a dampening assembly connecting the motor to the components of the watercraft floating in the water while isolating the motor from the deck of the watercraft. The dampening assembly allows the vibrations generated by the motor to be transferred into the water in order to reduce the overall vibration in the deck.

1 . A watercraft comprising: 
 a first pontoon;    a second pontoon spaced apart from said first pontoon;    a frame comprising a plurality of cross-members connected to at least one of said first pontoon or said second pontoon;    a dampening assembly extending from said first pontoon to said second pontoon;    a motor pan connected to said dampening assembly; and    a deck attached to said frame;    wherein said motor generates vibrational energy during operation and the transfer of vibrational energy from said motor to said deck is reduced by said dampening assembly.    
   
   
       2 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a shim located intermediate said dampening assembly and said motor pan.  
   
   
       3 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said dampening assembly comprises a base, a pair of walls and a top portion; and said shim is positioned intermediate said base and said motor pan.  
   
   
       4 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said motor pan extends rearward from said watercraft a distance sufficient to ensure that each of said cross-members is connected to both said first pontoon and said second pontoon.  
   
   
       5 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said cross-members include a lower plate, a parallel upper plate and a vertical plate connecting said lower plate to said upper plate, said vertical plate being arranged perpendicular to said lower plate and said upper plate.  
   
   
       6 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 5  further comprising a plurality of brackets connected to said first pontoon and said second pontoon wherein said cross-members are connected to said pontoons via said brackets.  
   
   
       7 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said dampening assembly is connected to at least one of said brackets.  
   
   
       8 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said lower plates of said cross-members are connected to said brackets and said upper plates of said crossmembers are connected to said deck.  
   
   
       9 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said frame further includes a second type of cross-member comprised of a material with a thickness greater than the thickness of the material comprising said first types of cross-members.  
   
   
       10 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said motor pan is connected to said second type of cross-member and does not contact said first type of cross-member.  
   
   
       11 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said first and said second types of cross-members each include an upper plate, a lower plate and a vertical plate connecting said upper plate to said lower plate.  
   
   
       12 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 11  wherein said upper plate, said lower plate and said vertical plate comprising said second type of cross-member have a greater thickness than the thickness of said upper plate, said lower plate and said vertical plate comprising the first type of said cross-member.  
   
   
       13 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a second dampening assembly connecting said motor pan to said first pontoon and said second pontoon.  
   
   
       14 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 13  wherein said first dampening assembly extends parallel to said second dampening assembly.  
   
   
       15 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 14  wherein said first dampening assembly and said second dampening assembly are approximately equal in length to said cross-members.  
   
   
       16 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 15  wherein said first and second dampening assemblies include a base, a pair of side walls and a top portion connecting said pair of said walls.  
   
   
       17 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said motor pan includes a mounting surface configured to connect said motor pan to said dampening assembly.  
   
   
       18 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 17  wherein said mounting surface is positioned in a plane located vertically below said cross-members.  
   
   
       19 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 18  wherein said mounting pan is spaced apart from said cross-members when said mounting pan is connected to said dampening assembly.  
   
   
       20 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 19  further comprising a shim intermediate said dampening assembly and said mounting surface; said shim having a thickness defining the distance separating said mounting surface from said cross-members.  
   
   
       21 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of brackets; each of said brackets connecting at least one of said dampening assembly or said cross-members to one of said first pontoon or said second pontoon.  
   
   
       22 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 21  wherein said brackets are sized to connect only one of said dampening assembly or said cross-members to one of said first pontoon or said second pontoon.  
   
   
       23 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 21  wherein said brackets are sized to connect a plurality of said cross-members to one of said first pontoon or said second pontoon.  
   
   
       24 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 23  further comprising a plurality of second type of brackets sized to connect only one of said cross-members to one of said first pontoon or said second pontoon.  
   
   
       25 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said motor is an outboard motor.  
   
   
       26 . A watercraft comprising: 
 a floatation means for supporting a majority of said watercraft above the surface of water;    a motor pan for supporting a motor, said motor pan comprising a mounting surface, said motor pan configured to support a motor;    a deck positioned above said floatation means;    a first member connected to said floatation means and said deck; and    a second member connected to said motor pan and said floatation means, said second member being isolated from said deck.    
   
   
       27 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 26  further comprising a third member connected to said deck and said motor pan.  
   
   
       28 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 27  wherein said third member includes an upper surface and a lower surface, said deck being attached to said upper surface and said motor pan being attached to said lower surface.  
   
   
       29 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 28  wherein said lower surface of said third member is attached to said floatation means.  
   
   
       30 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 26  wherein said first member includes an upper surface and a lower surface, said deck being attached to said upper surface and said floatation means being attached to said lower surface.  
   
   
       31 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 26  wherein said second member includes a lower surface attached to said mounting surface and said floatation means.  
   
   
       32 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 31  further comprising a shim intermediate said lower surface of said second member and said mounting surface of said motor pan.  
   
   
       33 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 32  wherein said motor pan does not contact said first member.  
   
   
       34 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 26  wherein said floatation means includes a plurality of pontoons.  
   
   
       35 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 26  wherein said first member extends substantially parallel to said second member.  
   
   
       36 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 26  further comprising at least one bracket sized to connect said first member and said second member to said floatation means.  
   
   
       37 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 26  further comprising at least one bracket sized to connect only said first member to said floatation means.  
   
   
       38 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 26  further comprising a second said second member, said second of said second members spaced apart from said first of said second members, said first member being located intermediate said first of said second members and said second of said second members.  
   
   
       39 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 38  wherein said first and said second of said second member extend in parallel directions.  
   
   
       40 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 26  wherein said first member has a length approximately equal to the length of said second member.  
   
   
       41 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 26  wherein said first member includes a lower plate, an upper plate an intermediate plate, said lower plate being arranged parallel to said upper plate and said intermediate plate being arranged perpendicular to said lower plate and said upper plate, said intermediate plate connecting said lower plate to said upper plate.  
   
   
       42 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 41  wherein said upper plate is connected to said deck and said lower plate is connected to said floatation means.  
   
   
       43 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 26  wherein said motor is an outboard motor.  
   
   
       44 . A watercraft comprising: 
 at least one pontoon;    a motor pan including a mounting surface;    a motor connected to said motor pan;    a deck supported by said at least one pontoon;    a first member including an upper surface and a lower surface; said lower surface being attached to said at least one pontoon and said upper surface being attached to said deck;    a second member including a lower surface and an upper surface, said lower surface being connected to both said mounting surface of said motor pan and said at least one pontoon;    wherein said upper surface of said second member is spaced apart from said deck.    
   
   
       45 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 44  further comprising a second pontoon spaced apart from said first pontoon said first member connecting said first pontoon to said second pontoon.  
   
   
       46 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 45  wherein said first member extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to said first pontoon and said second pontoon.  
   
   
       47 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 46  wherein said second member also connects said first pontoon to said second pontoon, said first member and said second member being substantially equivalent in length.  
   
   
       48 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 47  wherein said motor pan is located intermediate said first pontoon and said second pontoon.  
   
   
       49 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 45  wherein said first pontoon and said second pontoon are pressurized.  
   
   
       50 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 44  wherein said at least one pontoon includes a front end and a rear end, and said motor pan extends outward from said watercraft a distance sufficient to locate said motor rearward of said rear end of said pontoon.  
   
   
       51 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 50  wherein said motor is an outboard motor.  
   
   
       52 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 50  further comprising a third member comprising an upper surface connected to said deck and a lower surface connected to said mounting surface of said motor pan.  
   
   
       53 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 52  wherein said lower surface of said third member is connected to said at least one pontoon.  
   
   
       54 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 52  wherein said third member is located at a position intermediate said second member and said motor.  
   
   
       55 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 54  wherein said rear end of said at least one pontoon and said third member is connected to said at least one pontoon proximate said rear end.  
   
   
       56 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 44  further comprising a bracket comprising a horizontal plate and a vertical plate; said bracket being attached to said at least one pontoon and said lower surface of first member being attached to said horizontal plate.  
   
   
       57 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 56  wherein said lower surface of said second member is attached to said horizontal plate.  
   
   
       58 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 56  wherein said horizontal plate is sized to receive only said first member.  
   
   
       59 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 44  wherein said first member has a C-shaped profile.  
   
   
       60 . A pontoon boat, comprising: 
 first and second elongate pontoons;    a plurality of first cross braces extending transversely between, and connected to, said first and second pontoons;    a deck supported by said first cross braces;    at least one second cross brace extending transversely between, and connected to, said first and second pontoons;    a motor pan being connected to said at least one second cross brace, and being isolated from said plurality of cross braces at the location of said second cross brace; and    a motor connected to said motor pan.    
   
   
       61 . The pontoon boat of  claim 60 , wherein the motor pan is also connected to one of the first cross braces, at a position adjacent the motor.  
   
   
       62 . The pontoon boat of  claim 61 , further comprising rubber spacers positioned between the one said first cross brace, and motor pan.  
   
   
       63 . A watercraft comprising: 
 a plurality of pontoons;    a frame including a plurality of cross-members and a plurality of brackets, said brackets being affixed to said pontoons and said cross-members being affixed to said brackets and extending between said pontoons;    a deck positioned on top of said frame;    a motor mounting assembly, isolated from said frame, and attached to said pontoons;    a motor attached to said motor mounting assembly.    
   
   
       64 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 63 , wherein said motor mounting assembly is affixed to said brackets of said frame.  
   
   
       65 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 63 , wherein said deck is attached to said frame opposite said pontoons.  
   
   
       66 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 65 , wherein said deck is attached to said cross-members of said frame.  
   
   
       67 . The watercraft of  claim 64 , wherein said motor mounting assembly is comprised of a cross beam assembly attached to said brackets, and a motor pan connected to said cross beam assembly.  
   
   
       68 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 67 , wherein said motor mounting assembly further includes a shim disposed between said motor pan and said cross beam assembly.  
   
   
       69 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 67 , wherein said cross beam assembly includes a first cross-member, a second cross-member, and a bushing, said first cross-member and said bushing disposed within said second cross-member.  
   
   
       70 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 69 , wherein said bushing is comprised of rubber.  
   
   
       71 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 67 , wherein said cross beam assembly is comprised of a metal extrusion.  
   
   
       72 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 71 , wherein said metal extrusion includes a base, a pair of walls, and a top portion, said base separated from said motor pan by way of said shim.  
   
   
       73 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 67 , wherein said cross beam assembly is located above said motor pan and is spaced apart from said motor pan.  
   
   
       74 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 63 , wherein any vibration energy created through operation of said motor is transferred by said motor mounting assembly into said pontoons and dampened by water supporting said pontoons.  
   
   
       75 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 63 , wherein said motor mounting assembly is positioned in a plane below said frame cross-members.  
   
   
       76 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 75 , wherein said motor mounting assembly includes a plurality of beams spanning across and fixed to said brackets, wherein a vertical height of said beams is less than a vertical height of said frame cross-members.  
   
   
       77 . The watercraft as set forth in  claim 63 , wherein a rear portion of the motor mounting assembly is connected to a rearward most cross-member.  
   
   
       78 . The watercraft of  claim 77 , wherein the motor mounting assembly includes at least one cross beam member extending traversely between and connected to the pontoons, and a motor pan being connected to said at least one cross beam.