Combined outboard motor support and trim plate

Abstract

An adjustable trim plate can be incorporated on the transom bracket of an outboard motor jack plate having right and left transom bracket members and right and left motor bracket members, by eliminating or modifying a lower cross-member of the motor bracket to provide clearance for an actuator connected to an upper transom bracket cross-member.

1 . A combined outboard motor support and trim plate comprising: 
 a bracket assembly for attachment of an outboard motor to the transom of a boat the bracket assembly comprising right and left members and at least one cross member rigidly connected to both of said right and left members of the bracket assembly and extending from one of said members to the other;    a trim plate pivoted to the bracket assembly about a horizontal pivot axis, the trim plate being located below, and spaced from, said cross member, and pivotally movable about said pivot axis through a range of attitudes; and    an actuator connected to the trim plate and the cross member, for controlling the attitude of the trim plate independently of the height of the outboard motor.    
   
   
       2 . A combined outboard motor support and trim plate, according to  claim 1 , in which said bracket assembly includes a transom bracket for attachment to the transom of a boat and a motor bracket for attachment to an outboard motor, in which said right and left members are components of said transom bracket, and in which the height of said motor bracket relative to said transom bracket is adjustable.  
   
   
       3 . A combined outboard motor support and trim plate, according to  claim 1 , in combination with an outboard motor comprising an engine, a propeller, and a driveshaft extending vertically from the engine to the propeller, in which the trim plate extends from a location on the port side of the engine to a location on the starboard side of the engine and in which a part of the trim plate is disposed directly underneath the engine and forward of the drive shaft.  
   
   
       4 . A combined adjustable outboard motor support and trim plate comprising: 
 a transom bracket for attachment to the transom of a boat the transom bracket comprising right and left bracket members and at least one cross member rigidly connected to both said bracket members and extending from one of said bracket members to the other;    a motor bracket for attachment to an outboard motor, the motor bracket being connected to the transom bracket and constrained to upward and downward movement relative to the transom bracket through a limited range;    an adjuster for adjusting the height of the motor bracket relative to the ransom bracket;    a trim plate pivoted to the transom bracket about a horizontal pivot axis, the trim plate being located below, and spaced from, said cross member, and pivotally movable about said pivot axis through a range of attitudes; and    an actuator connected to the trim plate and the cross member, for controlling the attitude of the trim plate independently of the height of the outboard motor.    
   
   
       5 . A combined outboard motor support and trim plate, according to  claim 4 , in combination with an outboard motor comprising an engine, a propeller, and a driveshaft extending vertically from the engine to the propeller, in which the trim plate extends from a location on the port side of the engine to a location on the starboard side of the engine and in which a part of the trim plate is disposed directly underneath the engine and forward of the drive shaft.