Prop-less trolling motor

Abstract

A hydrodynamic propulsion trolling motor includes (a) housing adapted to rotatably receive a conduit therein, wherein the conduit includes a first end and a second end; (b) an outlet connected to the first end of the conduit; (c) an inlet for receiving water; (d) a fluid pathway connecting the inlet to the housing; and (e) a pump connected to the fluid pathway and configured to pump the water through the outlet, and wherein a plurality of rotational positions of the conduit correspond to a respective plurality of directions of expulsion of the water from the outlet. The outlet includes a chamber for receiving the water and nozzles fluidly connected thereto, wherein the nozzles are adapted to expel the water therethrough. Speed and direction controls are implemented via manual and/or electronic components. A boat having the hydrodynamic propulsion trolling motor is also disclosed.

1 . A hydrodynamic propulsion trolling motor comprising: 
 a housing adapted to rotatably receive a conduit therein, wherein the conduit includes a first end and a second end;    an outlet connected to the first end of the conduit;    an inlet for receiving water;    a fluid pathway connecting the inlet to the housing; and    a pump connected to the fluid pathway and configured to pump the water through the outlet, and wherein a plurality of rotational positions of the conduit correspond to a respective plurality of directions of expulsion of the water from the outlet.    
   
   
       2 . The prop-less trolling motor of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit includes at least one or more openings for receiving the water therethrough.  
   
   
       3 . The prop-less trolling motor of  claim 2 , wherein the openings are geometric shapes selected from the group consisting of circles, triangles, squares, rectangles, octagons, and hexagons.  
   
   
       4 . The prop-less trolling motor of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet includes a chamber for receiving the water and at least one nozzle fluidly connected thereto, wherein the at least one nozzle is adapted to expel the water therethrough.  
   
   
       5 . The prop-less trolling motor of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle extending from the second end of the conduit.  
   
   
       6 . The prop-less trolling motor of  claim 5 , wherein the handle comprises a variable speed control electrically connected to the pump and wherein a plurality of rotational positions of the variable speed control correspond to respective speeds of the pump.  
   
   
       7 . The prop-less trolling motor of  claim 1 , further comprising a foot control or a remote control operative on the pump and configured to output a signal representative of a speed thereof.  
   
   
       8 . The prop-less trolling motor of  claim 7 , further comprising a motor operative on the conduit for motorized rotation thereof.  
   
   
       9 . The prop-less trolling motor of  claim 7 , wherein the remote control is configured to output a signal representative of at least one of the plurality of rotational positions of the conduit.  
   
   
       10 . The prop-less trolling motor of  claim 7 , wherein the remote control is wireless.  
   
   
       11 . The prop-less trolling motor of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit is adapted to rotate 360 degrees within the housing.  
   
   
       12 . The prop-less trolling motor of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet includes a filter.  
   
   
       13 . The prop-less trolling motor of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more seals situated within the housing to prevent the water within the housing from flowing out of the housing between the housing and the conduit.  
   
   
       14 . A boat having a hydrodynamic propulsion prop-less trolling motor comprising; 
 a body having a waterline defined on a hull thereof;    a housing secured to the hull, wherein the housing is adapted to rotatably receive a conduit therein, wherein the conduit includes a first end and a second end;    an outlet connected to the first end of the conduit;    an inlet for receiving water, wherein the inlet is defined on the hull, wherein the inlet and outlet are situated below the waterline;    a fluid pathway connecting the inlet to the housing; and    a pump secured to the body, wherein the pump is connected to the fluid pathway and configured to pump the water through the outlet, and wherein a plurality of rotational positions of the conduit correspond to a respective plurality of directions of expulsion of the water from the outlet.    
   
   
       15 . The boat of  claim 14 , wherein the conduit includes at least one or more openings for receiving the water therethrough.  
   
   
       16 . The boat of  claim 14 , wherein the outlet includes a chamber for receiving the water and at least one nozzle fluidly connected thereto, wherein the nozzle is adapted to expel the water therethrough.  
   
   
       17 . The boat of  claim 14 , wherein the boat further comprises a variable speed control electrically connected to the pump and configured to output a signal representative of a speed thereof.  
   
   
       18 . The boat of  claim 17 , wherein the boat further comprises a motor configured to receive a signal representative of at least one of the plurality of rotational positions of the conduit.  
   
   
       19 . The boat of  claim 14 , wherein the fluid pathway is defined within the body of the boat.  
   
   
       20 . A hydrodynamic propulsion prop-less trolling motor comprising: 
 a housing adapted to rotatably receive a conduit therein, wherein the housing includes an opening defined in a wall thereof to receive water therethrough, wherein the conduit includes a first end, a second end, and an opening defined in a wall thereof, wherein the opening of the housing is substantially aligned with the opening of the conduit;    a handle connected to the second end of the conduit;    at least one seal situated within the housing to prevent water within the housing from flowing out of the housing between the housing and the conduit; and    a fluid receiving chamber connected to the first end of the conduit, wherein the fluid-receiving chamber includes at least one nozzle fluidly connected thereto, wherein the at least one nozzle is adapted to expel the water therethrough, and wherein a plurality of rotational positions of the conduit correspond to a respective plurality of directions of expulsion of the water from the at least one nozzle.