Patent Grant
10513320
The presently disclosed subject matter relates to an adaptor for use with a trolling motor. Specifically, the presently disclosed subject matter is directed to an adaptor for preventing the migration of fishing line, vegetation, and other foreign items between a trolling motor propeller and a trolling motor housing.
Propeller-driven marine motors (such as trolling motors for fishing boats) are well known in the art and have been used by fishermen for many years. Trolling motors are typically small, insulated electric motors that are mounted on the lower end of a hollow tube. During use, the hollow tube is vertically aligned so that the motor body is submerged beneath the water. The electric motor drives a rotatable propeller at the trailing end of the motor body. The tube is also configured to be rotatable to change the direction of thrust of the propeller to steer the boat. One problem prevalent with trolling motors is the tendency of weeds, fishing line, and other foreign materials to wind on the drive shaft, between the propeller and the motor housing. As a result, the motor encounters heat buildup and increased power drain on the battery. Further, pressure on the bearings and housing supporting the driveshaft can be increased, resulting in reduced motor life. In addition, removing the buildup between the propeller and the motor housing is time consuming and requires special tools that the fisherman may not have on hand. It would therefore be beneficial to provide an adaptor that overcomes the shortcomings in the prior art.
In some embodiments, the presently disclosed subject matter is directed to an adaptor comprising a first adaptor shell defining a sleeve that includes a connector portion that extends from an end thereof, the connector portion defining a cutout for receiving a blade of a propeller. The adaptor further comprises a second adaptor shell configured for engaging the first adaptor shell, wherein the second adaptor shell defines an end surface about which a fastener engages a rotating shaft that carries the propeller, and further defining a cutout for receiving the blade of the propeller when the first and second adaptor shells are thereby engaged with each other.
In some embodiments, the second adaptor shell further comprises a wall that extends from the end surface that includes one or more attachments that connect to more one or more attachments positioned on the connector portion of the first adaptor shell when the first and second adaptor shells are engaged with each other.
In some embodiments, the attachments are connected together through friction fit, snap-fit, mechanical interlock, or combinations thereof.
In some embodiments, the attachments are configured as ridges and the second adaptor shell attachments are configured as grooves.
In some embodiments, the connector portion has an outer diameter that is at least about 2% less than the outer diameter of the sleeve.
In some embodiments, the end surface of the second adaptor shell comprises an aperture through which the rotating shaft can pass.
In some embodiments, the cutouts are triangular-shaped.
In some embodiments, the presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a method of installing an adaptor on a boat motor that comprises a main cylindrical housing from which a drive shaft extends and a propeller comprising a hub and a plurality of blades extending from the hub. The method comprises providing an adaptor comprising a first adaptor shell defining a sleeve that includes a connector portion that extends from an end thereof, the connector portion defining a cutout for receiving a blade of a propeller; and a second adaptor shell configured for engaging the first adaptor shell, wherein the second adaptor shell defines an end surface about which a fastener engages a drive shaft that carries the propeller, and further defining a cutout for receiving the blade of the propeller when the first and second adaptor shells are thereby engaged with each other. The method further comprises attaching the first adaptor shell to the hub, wherein a blade extends through each cutout of the connector portion. The method further comprises inserting the sleeve of the first adaptor shell over one end of the main cylindrical housing, wherein the drive shaft extends through an aperture in the propeller. The method further comprises engaging the first adaptor shell and the second adaptor shell, wherein the drive shaft passes through the end surface of the second adaptor shell and wherein rotation of the propeller imparts a corresponding rotation to the sleeve.
In some embodiments, the sleeve is permanently secured to at least one of the first and second adaptor shells.
In some embodiments, the method further comprises coupling a fastener to a portion of the drive shaft that extends from the end surface of the second adaptor shell.
In some embodiments, the connector portion has an outer diameter that is at least about 2% less than the outer diameter of the sleeve.
In some embodiments, the presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a propeller for a boat motor of the type having a main cylindrical housing from which a drive shaft extends. The disclosed propeller comprises a hub, a plurality of blades extending from the hub, and a sleeve extending from the hub towards the main cylindrical housing when the propeller is installed about the motor, wherein the sleeve defines a major inner diameter that is greater than the major outer diameter of the housing and extends above at least a portion of the housing.
In some embodiments, the hub defines a face about which a fastener engages a rotating drive shaft.
In some embodiments, the face comprises a recessed portion that includes an aperture for engaging the rotating drive shaft.
In some embodiments, the hub has an outer diameter that is at least about 2% less than the outer diameter of the sleeve.
In some embodiments, the plurality of blades are disposed symmetrically about the hub.
In some embodiments, there are 2, 3, or 4 blades.
The previous summary and the following detailed descriptions are to be read in view of the drawings, which illustrate some (but not all) embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter.
The presently disclosed subject matter is introduced with sufficient details to provide an understanding of one or more particular embodiments of broader inventive subject matters. The descriptions expound upon and exemplify features of those embodiments without limiting the inventive subject matters to the explicitly described embodiments and features. Considerations in view of these descriptions will likely give rise to additional and similar embodiments and features without departing from the scope of the presently disclosed subject matter.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which the presently disclosed subject matter pertains. Although any methods, devices, and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the presently disclosed subject matter, representative methods, devices, and materials are now described.
Following long-standing patent law convention, the terms “a”, “an”, and “the” refer to “one or more” when used in the subject specification, including the claims. Thus, for example, reference to “an adaptor” can include a plurality of such adaptors, and so forth.
Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of components, conditions, and so forth used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about”. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the instant specification and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by the presently disclosed subject matter.
As used herein, the term “about”, when referring to a value or to an amount of mass, weight, time, volume, concentration, and/or percentage can encompass variations of, in some embodiments +/−20%, in some embodiments +/−10%, in some embodiments +/−5%, in some embodiments +/−1%, in some embodiments +/−0.5%, and in some embodiments +/−0.1%, from the specified amount, as such variations are appropriate in the disclosed packages and methods.
One embodiment of a conventional trolling motor is illustrated in
The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to an adaptor that can be used to eliminate gap 55 between the motor housing and the propeller in conventional trolling motors. Particularly, as shown in
In some embodiments, connector portion 85 is sized and shaped to interlock with adaptor second shell 65. For example, the connector portion can comprise cylindrically-shaped wall 96 that defines a hollow interior. Wall 96 can include an exterior surface that comprises one or more raised ridges 105. The ridges slide into and snapably lock into grooves 110 positioned on the adaptor second shell to lock the first and second adaptor shells together. In some embodiments, connector 85 and adaptor second shell 65 are releasably connected together. Ridges 105 can be configured in any desired shape, such as (but not limited to) rectangular, square, triangular, and the like. The connector can include any desired number of ridges (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and the like). It should be appreciated that connector portion 105 and second adaptor shell 65 are not limited to the ridges and grooves disclosed herein. Rather, the connector and second adaptor shell can be interlocked using any known connection mechanism, including (but not limited to) friction fit, snap-fit, mechanical interlock, and the like. It should further be appreciated that the presently disclosed subject matter includes embodiments wherein second connector portion 105 and second adaptor shell 65 lack grooves and/or ridges.
Wall 96 of connector portion 85 further comprises one or more openings 115 that are sized and shaped to receive propeller blades 50. Thus, as shown, in some embodiments, openings 115 can be angled and/or can extend the full width of wall 95 to abut sleeve 75. It should be appreciated that openings 115 can be customized to fit any desired propeller (e.g., propellers with 2, 3, 4, etc. blades).
In some embodiments, the outer diameter of connector wall 96 is slightly less than the outer diameter of sleeve 75 (e.g., 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, or 10% less). However, the presently disclosed subject matter is not limited and also includes embodiments wherein the connector wall has an outer diameter that is about the same or greater than the sleeve.
In some embodiments, adaptor first shell 60 can be constructed as a single unit. However, the presently disclosed subject matter also includes embodiments where the sleeve and connector portion are separately constructed and are permanently joined together using welding, adhesive, and the like. Alternatively, sleeve 75 and connector portion 85 can be releasably joined together using any of a wide variety of mechanical closures known and used in the art (e.g., screws, bolts, rivets, and the like). As shown in the figures, the first connection shell is open at both ends to allow the drive shaft to pass therethrough.
In some embodiments, the outer diameter of face 155 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of propeller face 140 to allow adaptor second shell 65 to fit over the propeller front end 125. Likewise, the outer diameter of wall 170 can be slightly larger than the outer diameter of hub 120. In some embodiments, the outer diameter of wall 170 is about the same as the outer diameter of sleeve 75 such that when the adaptor is assembled it has a uniform diameter. Further, in some embodiments, recess 160 can be slightly smaller than propeller recess 145 to allow the adaptor recess to fit into the propeller recess when coupled together. The term “slightly” as used herein can include (but is not limited to) about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10%.
Although configured as circular in the drawings, face 155 and recess 160 can be constructed in any desired shape, so long as they allow the adaptor second shell to fit over the front end of propeller 30. Further, although the hole is depicted as circular in shape, it can be configured in any desired shape so long as it allows drive shaft 46 to pass therethrough.
First and second adaptor shells 60, 65 can be constructed from any rigid or semi-rigid material known or used in the art. For example, the first and second adaptor shells can be constructed from one or more metallic and/or polymeric materials. Suitable metallic materials can include (but are not limited to) stainless steel, aluminum, bronze, nickel, and alloys or combinations thereof. Suitable polymeric materials can include (but are not limited to) polyurethane, polystyrene, epoxy polymer, polyvinyl chloride, silicone polymer, acrylic polymer, and combinations thereof.
First and second adaptor shells 60, 65 can be constructed using any method known or used in the art. For example, in some embodiments, one or more of welding, injection molding, extrusion, thermoforming, or machining can be used.
Advantageously, the disclosed adaptor can be used to retrofit a conventional trolling motor structure to eliminate the gap between the motor housing and the propeller. As discussed above, the sleeve of the disclosed adaptor fits over the trailing end of the motor housing, thereby eliminating gap 55 at joint 45. The adaptor further encases the propeller, allowing full rotation of the propeller. As a result, the disclosed adaptor resists the migration of foreign matter between the motor housing and the propeller.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/601,402 filed Mar. 21, 2017, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4180368 | Henrich | Dec 1979 | A |
| 4211515 | Henrich | Jul 1980 | A |
| 4898552 | Cochran, IV | Feb 1990 | A |
| 5007867 | Kelley | Apr 1991 | A |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20180273151 A1 | Sep 2018 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62601402 | Mar 2017 | US |
