US2007197107A1PendingUtilityA1

Trolling motor device

38
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Jan 30, 2006Filed: Dec 7, 2006Published: Aug 23, 2007
Est. expiryJan 30, 2026(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Bruce Lee
B63H 21/17B63H 20/106B63H 20/007
38
PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
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References
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Claims

Abstract

A trolling motor device including a variable length drive unit to assist in moving the trolling motor device in and out of the water. Preferably, the drive unit is both extended/retracted while being pivoted to increase the speed of deployment or stowage.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A bow mounted trolling motor device for a boat configured for propelling and steering the boat on water, said device comprising:
 a bow mounting unit configured to connect to the bow of the boat;   a drive unit connected to said mounting unit, said drive unit including:   an upper steering unit connected to an upper end of a drive unit housing;   a lower drive unit connected to a lower end of said drive unit housing, said lower drive unit including an electrical motor driving a propeller, said drive unit being configured to substantially change in length between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position; and   an adjustable length drive unit power cable extending between said upper steering unit and said lower drive unit and accommodated within said drive unit housing;   a foot pedal control unit mechanically and electrically connected by a control cable to said upper steering unit of said drive unit, said foot pedal control unit configured to steer said drive unit and control electrical power to said lower drive unit;   a pivotal connection provided between said bow mounting unit and said drive unit, said pivotal connection configured to allow said fully collapsed drive unit to pivot between a fully raised resting position on a deck of the boat to a fully down position;   an actuating device configured to fully extend and retract said drive unit; and   a boat battery electrically connected to said foot pedal control unit to supply power to said drive unit.   
   
   
       2 . A bow mounted trolling motor device for a boat configured for propelling and steering the boat on water, said device comprising:
 a bow mounting unit configured to connect to the boat;   a drive unit connected to said mounting unit, said drive unit including an upper steering unit connected to an upper end of a drive unit housing and a lower drive unit connected to a lower end of said drive unit housing, said drive unit being configured to substantially change in length between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position while being rotated;   a pivotal connection provided between said bow mounting unit and said drive unit; and   a manually operated drive unit actuating device configured to manually extend and retract said drive unit.   
   
   
       3 . A bow mounted trolling motor device for a boat configured for propelling and steering the boat on water, said device comprising:
 a bow mounting unit configured to connect to the boat;   a drive unit connected to said mounting unit, said drive unit including an upper steering unit connected to an upper end of a drive unit housing and a lower drive unit connected to a lower end of said drive unit housing, said drive unit being configured to substantially change in length between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position;   an pivotal connection provided between said bow mounting unit and said drive unit, said pivotal connection configured to pivot said drive unit between a fully raised resting position on a deck of the boat to a fully down position;   a powered drive unit housing actuating device configured to fully extend or fully retract said drive unit; and   a control unit connected to said powered drive unit housing to extend and retract said lower housing unit into said upper housing unit.   
   
   
       4 . A device according to  claim 1 , including an electrically actuated and controlled trim mechanism configured to selectively adjust the height of said lower drive unit once said drive unit is placed in its fully extended position. 
   
   
       5 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein drive unit housing is a shaft. 
   
   
       6 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein said drive unit housing is configured to be extended or retract to extend and retract said drive unit. 
   
   
       7 . A device according to  claim 6 , wherein said drive unit housing including an upper larger diameter shaft and a lower small diameter shaft slidably disposed within said upper larger diameter shaft. 
   
   
       8 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein said drive unit and mounting unit are configured to simultaneously extend/retract said drive unit while rotating said drive unit. 
   
   
       9 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein said actuating device is a manually operated actuating device. 
   
   
       10 . A device according to  claim 9 , wherein said actuating device is a cable. 
   
   
       11 . A device according to  claim 9 , wherein said actuating device is a cord. 
   
   
       12 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein said actuating device is a powered actuating device. 
   
   
       13 . A device according to  claim 12 , wherein said actuating device is a hydraulic actuator. 
   
   
       14 . A device according to  claim 12 , wherein said actuating device is a pneumatic actuator. 
   
   
       15 . A device according to  claim 12 , wherein said actuating device is an electric actuator. 
   
   
       16 . A device according to  claim 12 , wherein said actuating device is an electromechanical actuator. 
   
   
       17 . A device according to  claim 12 , wherein said actuating device is a separate powered actuating device. 
   
   
       18 . A device according to  claim 12 , wherein a lower end of said cord is connected to said lower drive unit housing and an upper end of said cord is connected to a handle for raising and lowering said lower drive unit housing into and out of said upper drive unit housing. 
   
   
       19 . A device according to  claim 17 , wherein said cord is disposed with in said drive unit housing. 
   
   
       20 . A device according to  claim 18 , wherein said cord is located outside said drive unit housing.
 for moving said drive unit back and forth between a substantially vertical extended operational position over the side of the boat and a substantially horizontal stowed position with a substantial length of said retracted drive unit stowed on a deck of the boat; and   a foot pedal control unit for controlling steering and power level of said electrical motor of said drive unit.   
   
   
       21 . A bow mounted trolling motor device for a boat configured for propelling and steering the boat on water, said device comprising:
 an adjustable length drive unit for substantially changing in length back and forth between a lowered extended operational position and a raised retracted stowed position, said drive unit including a lower drive unit portion having an electrical motor driving a propeller and a drive unit power cable connected to said electrical motor, said drive unit including a drive unit housing containing an upper drive unit housing and a lower drive unit housing, said upper drive unit housing and said lower drive unit housing as an extendable/retractable unit is rotatably disposed within said drive unit housing, said lower drive unit housing being slidably disposed within said upper drive unit housing and actuated to provided said extendable/retractable unit;   a steering unit connected to said drive unit, said steering unit configured to turn at least a portion of said drive unit to steer the boat; and   a bow mounting unit connected to said boat and said drive unit.   
   
   
       22 . A device according to  claim 20 , wherein said foot pedal can simultaneously retract and raise said drive unit or simultaneously extend and lower said drive unit. 
   
   
       23 . A device according to  claim 20 , wherein said power cable is adjustable in length to accommodate said drive unit extending and retracting in length. 
   
   
       24 . A device according to  claim 20 , wherein a length of said drive unit can be adjusted after said drive unit is extended and lowered to its operational position to adjust the depth of said trolling motor device in the water. 
   
   
       25 . A device according to  claim 20 , wherein said mounting device both rotates and swings said drive unit back and forth between a stowed position on the deck of the boat to an operational position on the side of the boat. 
   
   
       26 . A device according to  claim 20 , wherein said drive unit is retracted manually. 
   
   
       27 . A device according to  claim 20 , including an actuator connected to said drive unit extending and retracting said drive unit. 
   
   
       28 . A device according to  claim 27 , wherein said actuator is controlled by said foot pedal. 
   
   
       29 . A device according to  claim 20 , wherein said steering unit connects to an upper portion of said drive unit. 
   
   
       30 . A device according to  claim 20 , wherein said drive unit includes a drive unit housing containing an upper drive unit housing and a lower drive unit housing, said upper drive unit housing and said lower drive unit housing as an extendable/retractable unit is rotatable disposed within said drive unit housing, said lower drive unit housing being slidably disposed within said upper drive unit housing to provided said extendable/retractable unit. 
   
   
       31 . A device according to  claim 30 , wherein said steering unit connects to said upper drive unit housing for rotating said upper drive unit housing and said lower drive unit housing as said extendable/retractable unit. 
   
   
       32 . A device according to  claim 20 , including an electrically actuated and controlled trim mechanism configured to selectively adjust the height of said lower drive unit once said drive unit is placed in its fully extended operational position. 
   
   
       33 . A device according to  claim 20 , wherein drive unit housing is a shaft. 
   
   
       34 . A device according to  claim 20 , wherein said drive unit housing includes an upper larger diameter shaft and a lower small diameter shaft slidably disposed within said upper larger diameter shaft. 
   
   
       35 . A device according to  claim 27 , wherein said actuating device is a powered actuating device. 
   
   
       36 . A device according to  claim 35 , wherein said actuating device is a hydraulic actuator. 
   
   
       37 . A device according to  claim 35 , wherein said actuating device is a pneumatic actuator. 
   
   
       38 . A device according to  claim 35 , wherein said actuating device is an electric actuator. 
   
   
       39 . A device according to  claim 35 , wherein said actuating device is an electro-mechanical actuator. 
   
   
       40 . A device according to  claim 35 , wherein said actuating device is a separate powered actuating device.

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