Jackplate system with precision adjustment and optimization

Abstract

An adjustable and modifiable jack plate for attaching and positioning an outboard motor to the transom of a boat. The jack plate has a lift plate to attach the outboard motor, the lift plate having cylindrical polymer bearings on each of two lateral sides, the two bearings slidingly received in bearing retainers configured as a pair of C-shaped channel members, each channel member having a unitary vertical flange. Each flange being connected to a cooperating flange of a pair of L-shaped wing brackets, the cooperating flanges forming a lap joint. A control system includes a single button on one of the L-shaped wing brackets for setting and returning the lift plate to a specific stored position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A performance optimizable controllable jack plate for precision control of raising and lowering an outboard motor on a boat, the controllable jack plate comprising:
 a lift plate for receiving the outboard motor, the lift plate having a pair of lateral parallel edge potions secured in a pair of cylindrical polymeric bearings; each of the lift plate end portions and the respective cylindrical bearing slidingly captured in one of a pair of mirror image C-channel member, each of the C-channel members having a first flange connection portion with a plurality of aligned holes;   a pair of mirror image L-shaped wing brackets, each of the L-shaped wing brackets extending from one of the C-channel members;   a cross member extending between the pair of L-shaped wing brackets and fastened to each L-shaped wing bracket;   a linear actuator comprising an electric motor and an extendable and retractable shaft, the linear actuator having an encoder providing position information of the extendable and retractable shaft, the linear actuator positioned between the cross member and the lift plate whereby when the shaft extends the lift plate raises with respect to the C channel members and connected L-shaped wing brackets; and   a trailer button affixed to one of the pair of mirror image L-shaped wing brackets electrically connected to a control box.   
     
     
         2 . The controllable jack plate of  claim 1 , wherein pressing the trailer button lowers the outboard motor into a travelling position. 
     
     
         3 . The controllable jack plate of  claim 1 , wherein long pressing the trailer button programs a current position of the jack plate into a memory of the control box. 
     
     
         4 . The controllable jack plate of  claim 3 , wherein long pressing is holding the trailer button for more than two seconds. 
     
     
         5 . The controllable jack plate of  claim 3 , wherein long pressing is holding the trailer button for more than three seconds. 
     
     
         6 . The controllable jack plate of  claim 3 , wherein the control box is configured to move the jack plate to a position stored in memory when the trailer button is short pressed. 
     
     
         7 . The controllable jack plate of  claim 6 , wherein a short press is two or fewer seconds. 
     
     
         8 . The controllable jack plate of  claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of mirror image L-shaped wing brackets comprises a second flange connection bracket with a plurality of aligned holes, each of the pair of mirror image L-shaped brackets attached to one of the C-channel members with the second flange member connecting to the first flange member defining a lap joint. 
     
     
         9 . The controllable jack plate of  claim 8 , wherein the trailer button is affixed to one of the second flange connection brackets. 
     
     
         10 . The controllable jack plate of  claim 1 , wherein the trailer button is waterproof tactile membrane switch. 
     
     
         11 . The controllable jack plate of  claim 1 , wherein the trailer button is embedded into the wing bracket such that an operable portion of the trailer button faces outwardly from the wing bracket and a rearward portion of the switch faces an interior cavity of the controllable jack plate, the interior cavity defined by the lift plate and the pair of mirror image L-shaped wing brackets. 
     
     
         12 . The controllable jack plate of  claim 11 , wherein a wire extends from the reward portion of the trailer button and electrically connects the trailer button to the control box. 
     
     
         13 . The controllable jack plate of  claim 12 , wherein the wire is a two-wire cable. 
     
     
         14 . A method of trailering a boat with a jack plate, the method comprising:
 positioning an outboard motor into a travelling position by raising or lowering the jack plate to the desired position;   storing the travelling position to a memory by holding a trailering button;   positioning the outboard motor into a trailering position;   loading the boat onto a trailer; and   returning the outboard motor to the travelling position by pressing the trailering button.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the travelling position is stored to memory by holding the trailering button for more than 2 seconds. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the outboard motor is returned to the travelling position by pressing the trailering button for fewer than 2 seconds. 
     
     
         17 . A jack plate for trailering a boat comprising:
 a lift plate for receiving an outboard motor, the lift plate being operable by a linear actuator comprising an electric motor and an extendable and retractable shaft, the linear actuator having an encoder providing position information of the extendable and retractable shaft, the lift plate disposed between a pair of mirror image wing brackets, wherein one of the pair of mirror image wing brackets comprises a trailer switch configured to position the motor in a trailering position.   
     
     
         18 . The jack plate of  claim 17 , wherein the trailer switch is operable from outside the boat. 
     
     
         19 . The jack plate of  claim 17 , wherein the switch is further configured to position the motor in a towing position. 
     
     
         20 . The jack plate of  claim 19 , wherein in the trailering position the motor is higher than in the towing position.