Motor Mount Assembly

Abstract

A motor mount assembly for mounting a motor to a marine craft includes a transom mounting bracket for mounting the motor to a transom of the marine craft. A first swivel bracket is rotatably coupled to the transom mounting bracket to allow the motor to swivel around a first axis with respect to the marine craft. A second swivel bracket is rotatably coupled to the first swivel bracket to enable the motor to swivel around a second axis with respect to the first swivel bracket. An orientation of the first axis is fixed with respect to an orientation of the second axis.

1 . A motor mount assembly for mounting a motor to a marine craft, comprising:
 a transom mounting bracket to mount the motor to a transom of the marine craft;   a first swivel bracket rotatably coupled to the transom mounting bracket to allow the motor to swivel around a first axis with respect to the marine craft; and   a second swivel bracket rotatably coupled to the first swivel bracket, the second swivel bracket enabling the motor to swivel around a second axis with respect to the first swivel bracket;   wherein an orientation of the first axis is fixed with respect to an orientation of the second axis.   
     
     
         2 . The motor mount assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the second swivel axis is located between the first swivel axis and the motor. 
     
     
         3 . The motor mount assembly as in  claim 1 , further comprising a handle attached to the motor and the handle extends past the transom to provide leverage to lift the motor using the second swivel bracket. 
     
     
         4 . The motor mount assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the second swivel bracket is located outside the transom to allow the second swivel bracket to pivot vertically when the motor hits an object in water. 
     
     
         5 . The motor mount assembly as in  claim 1 , further comprising a third swivel bracket coupled between the motor and the second swivel bracket to enable the motor to be swiveled around a third axis, the third axis being non-parallel to the first or second axes. 
     
     
         6 . The motor mount assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the first axis is a first horizontal axis, the second axis is a second horizontal axis, and the orientation of the first horizontal axis is fixed parallel with respect to the orientation of the second horizontal axis. 
     
     
         7 . The motor mount assembly as in  claim 1 , further comprising an actuator coupled between the transom mounting bracket and the first swivel bracket, which, when actuated, rotates the first swivel bracket on the transom mounting bracket. 
     
     
         8 . The motor mount assembly as in  claim 7 , wherein the second swivel bracket rotates freely on the first swivel bracket. 
     
     
         9 . The motor mount assembly as in  claim 1 , further comprising the motor, wherein the motor is an outboard motor configured to propel the marine craft. 
     
     
         10 . The motor mount assembly as in  claim 1 , further comprising the marine craft, wherein the marine craft is an outboard marine craft. 
     
     
         11 . The motor mount assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the first swivel bracket comprises a cushioning device on an outside thereof to cushion rotations of the second swivel bracket on the second axis. 
     
     
         12 . The motor mount assembly as in  claim 11 , wherein the cushioning device comprises a rubber dampener. 
     
     
         13 . The motor mount assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the first swivel bracket is coupled to an actuator for setting a travel position of the motor between underwater and surface drive positions, and the second swivel bracket rotates on the second axis to absorb impacts while the first swivel bracket is fixed in the travel position. 
     
     
         14 . The motor mount assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the transom mounting bracket comprises a clamp screw for temporary attachment of the transom mounting bracket to the transom. 
     
     
         15 . A motor mount assembly for mounting a motor to a marine craft, comprising:
 a transom mounting bracket to mount the motor to a transom of the marine craft;   a first vertical swivel bracket rotatably coupled to the transom mounting bracket to allow the motor to swivel around a first axis with respect to the marine craft; and   a second vertical swivel bracket rotatably coupled to the first vertical swivel bracket, the second vertical swivel bracket enabling the motor to swivel around a second axis with respect to the first swivel bracket;   wherein the first and second axes are positioned above the transom.   
     
     
         16 . The motor mount assembly as in  claim 15 , wherein:
 the first vertical swivel bracket is directly coupled to the transom mounting bracket and has a resting position in which a portion of the first vertical swivel bracket rests against the transom mounting bracket; and   the second vertical swivel bracket is directly coupled to the first vertical swivel bracket and has a resting position in which a portion of the second swivel bracket rests against at least one of the first swivel bracket and a cushion supported by the first swivel bracket.   
     
     
         17 . The motor mount assembly as in  claim 15 , wherein:
 the first swivel bracket rotates around the first axis when actuated by an actuator and the second swivel bracket rotates freely around the second axis; and   an orientation of the first axis is fixed with respect to an orientation of the second axis.   
     
     
         18 . A motor mount assembly for mounting a motor to a marine craft, comprising:
 a transom mounting bracket to mount the motor to a transom of the marine craft;   a first swivel bracket rotatably coupled to the transom mounting bracket to allow the motor to swivel around a first axis with respect to the marine craft; and   a second swivel bracket rotatably coupled to the first swivel bracket, the second swivel bracket enabling the motor to swivel around a second axis with respect to the first swivel bracket;   wherein the first swivel bracket rotates around the first axis when actuated by an actuator and the second swivel bracket rotates freely around the second axis.   
     
     
         19 . The motor mount assembly as in  claim 18 , wherein:
 at least one of the transom mounting bracket and the first swivel bracket comprises a dampener on an outside thereof to cushion rotations of the second swivel bracket on the second axis; and   the first swivel bracket is coupled to an actuator for setting a travel position of the motor between underwater and surface drive positions, and the second swivel bracket rotates on the second axis to absorb impacts while the first swivel bracket is fixed in the travel position.   
     
     
         20 . The motor mount assembly as in  claim 18 , wherein:
 the first and second axes are positioned above the transom;   an orientation of the first axis is fixed with respect to an orientation of the second axis; and   the motor mount assembly first comprises a third swivel bracket coupled between the motor and the second swivel bracket to enable the motor to be swiveled around a third axis, the third axis being non-parallel to the first or second axes.