Claims
- 1. A bow mount trolling motor for a boat, the bow mount trolling motor comprising:a chassis adapted to be coupled to a bow of the boat; a housing pivotally coupled to the chassis about a first axis; at least one shaft extending along a second axis and movably coupled to the housing for movement along the second axis relative to the housing; a drive system carried by the housing and configured to move the at least one shaft relative to the housing; a lower propulsion unit coupled to the at least one shaft; an engagement surface coupled to the chassis; and a resilient bias member coupled between the housing and the engagement surface.
- 2. The motor of claim 1, wherein the engagement surface is movably received within the housing.
- 3. The motor of claim 2, including a coupling member movably received within the housing and providing the engagement surface, wherein the housing includes an opening through which the coupling member extends into engagement with the chassis.
- 4. The motor of claim 3, wherein the opening accommodates moving of the housing relative to the coupling member.
- 5. The motor of claim 1, wherein the resilient bias member extends parallel to the second axis.
- 6. The motor of claim 1, including a coupling member providing the engagement surface, wherein the coupling member is actuatable between a first position in which the coupling member is stationarily secured to the chassis against movement about the first axis and a second position in which the coupling member is movable about the first axis.
- 7. The motor of claim 6, wherein the coupling member actuates between the first and second positions based upon a position of the at least one shaft along the second axis.
- 8. The motor of claim 7, wherein the at least one shaft includes a first actuation surface, wherein the coupling member includes a second actuation surface and wherein the first actuation surface engages the second actuation surface during movement of the at least one shaft along the second axis to actuate the coupling member between the first and second positions.
- 9. The motor of claim 1, wherein the housing pivots in a first direction about the first axis from a deployed position to a stowed position, wherein the housing pivots in an opposite second direction about the first axis when the lower propulsion unit or the at least one shaft encounters an obstruction while the boat is moving in a forward direction, and wherein the first axis is stationary relative to the chassis during pivotal movement in the first direction.
- 10. A bow mount trolling motor for use with a boat, the bow mount trolling motor comprising:a chassis adapted to be mounted to a bow of the boat; a lower propulsion unit; at least one shaft supporting the lower propulsion unit and pivotally coupled to the chassis about a first axis, wherein the at least one shaft pivots in a first direction about the first axis from a deployed position to a stowed position, wherein the at least one shaft pivots in an opposite second direction about the first axis when the at least one shaft or the lower propulsion unit encounters an obstruction while the boat is moving in a forward direction, and wherein the first axis is stationary relative to the chassis during pivotal movement in the first direction.
- 11. The motor of claim 10, including a coupling member movably coupled to the at least one shaft, the coupling member being actuatable between a first position in which the coupling member engages the chassis to prevent pivotal movement of the at least one shaft in the first direction about the first axis and a second position in which the coupling member disengages the chassis to allow pivotal movement of the at least one shaft in the first direction about the first axis.
- 12. The motor of claim 11, wherein the at least one shaft extends along a second axis and is movable along the second axis relative to the chassis and wherein the coupling member actuates between the first and second positions based on a position of the at least one shaft along the second axis.
- 13. The motor of claim 12, wherein the at least one shaft includes a first actuation surface, wherein the coupling member includes a second actuation surface and wherein the first actuation surface engages the second actuation surface during movement of the at least one shaft along the second axis to actuate the coupling member between the first and second positions.
- 14. The motor of claim 11, including:a first engagement surface coupled to the coupling member; a second engagement surface coupled to the at least one shaft; and a resilient bias member coupled between the first and second engagement surfaces.
- 15. The motor of claim 14, including a housing movably coupled to the at least one shaft and pivotally coupled to the chassis about the first axis, wherein the at least one shaft extends along a second axis and moves along the second axis relative to the housing.
- 16. The rotor of claim 15, wherein the coupling member is movably received within the housing and wherein the housing includes an opening through which the coupling member extends into engagement with the chassis.
- 17. The motor of claim 16, wherein the opening accommodates movement of the housing relative to the coupling member.
- 18. The motor of claim 15, wherein the resiliently bias member extends parallel to the second axis.
- 19. The motor of claim 10, including a housing movably coupled to the at least one shaft and pivotally coupled to the chassis about the first axis, wherein the at least one shaft extends along a second axis and moves along the second axis relative to the housing.
- 20. A bow mount trolling motor for use with a boat, the bow mount trolling motor comprising:a chassis adapted to be coupled to a bow of the boat; a lower propulsion unit; at least one shaft supporting the lower propulsion unit and pivotally coupled to the chassis about a first axis, the at least one shaft extending along a second axis, wherein the at least one shaft and the lower propulsion unit pivot about the first axis from a generally vertical deployed position towards a stern of the boat in response to engaging an obstruction; a first engagement surface coupled to the chassis; a second engagement surface coupled to the at least one shaft; and a resilient bias member coupled between the first engagement surface and the second engagement surface and extending along an axis parallel to the second axis.
- 21. A bow mount trolling motor for a boat, the bow mount trolling motor comprising:a chassis adapted to be coupled to a bow of the boat; a housing pivotally coupled to the chassis about a first axis, the housing including a first engagement surface; at least one shaft extending along a second axis; a lower propulsion unit coupled to the at least one shaft; a coupling member movably coupled to the housing and including a second engagement surface, wherein the coupling member is actuatable between a first position in which the coupling member is stationarily secured to the chassis against movement about the first axis and a second position in which the coupling member is movable about the first axis; and a resilient bias member disposed between the first engagement surface and the second engagement surface, whereby the housing, the at least one shaft and the lower propulsion unit pivot in a first direction about the first axis relative to the coupling member when the coupling member is in the first position such that energy is absorbed by the resilient bias member and whereby the coupling member, the housing, the at least one shaft and the lower propulsion unit all pivot in a second direction about the first axis to allow the lower propulsion unit to be pivoted to a stowed position when the coupling member is in the second position.
- 22. The motor of claim 21, wherein the at least one shaft is movably coupled to the housing for movement along the second axis relative to the housing and wherein the coupling member actuates between the first and second positions based upon a position of the at least one shaft along the second axis.
- 23. The motor of claim 21, wherein the at least one shaft includes an inner shaft coupled to the lower propulsion unit and an outer shaft coupled to the housing.
- 24. The motor of claim 1, wherein the housing pivots in a first direction about the first axis from a deployed position to a stowed position and wherein the first axis is stationary relative to the chassis during pivotal movement in the first direction.
- 25. The motor of claim 1, wherein the at least one shaft and the lower propulsion unit pivot about the first axis from a generally vertical deployed position towards a stern of the boat in response to engaging an obstruction.
- 26. The motor of claim 10, including a housing pivotally coupled to the chassis about the first axis wherein a drive system is carried by the housing and is configured to move the at least one shaft relative to the housing.
- 27. The motor of claim 10, wherein the at least one shaft and the lower propulsion unit pivot about the first axis from a generally vertical deployed position towards a stern of the boat in response to engaging an obstruction.
- 28. The motor of claim 20, including a housing pivotally coupled to the chassis about the first axis, wherein a drive system is carried by the housing and is configured to move the at least one shaft relative to the housing.
- 29. The motor of claim 28, wherein the housing pivots in a first direction about the first axis from a deployed position to a stowed position and wherein the first axis is stationary relative to the chassis during pivotal movement in the first direction.
- 30. A bow mount trolling motor for a boat, the bow mount trolling motor comprising:a chassis adapted to be coupled to a bow of the boat; a housing pivotally coupled to the chassis about a first axis; at least one shaft extending along a second axis and movably coupled to the housing for movement along the second axis relative to the housing; a lower propulsion unit coupled to the at least one shaft; an engagement surface coupled to the chassis; and a resilient bias member coupled between the housing and the engagement surface; a coupling member providing the engagement surface, wherein the coupling member is actuatable between a first position in which the coupling member is stationarily secured to the chassis against movement about the first axis and a second position in which the coupling member is movable about the first axis, and wherein the coupling member actuates between the first and second positions based upon a position of the at least one shaft along the second axis.
- 31. The motor of claim 30, wherein the at least one shaft includes a first actuation surface, wherein the coupling member includes a second actuation surface and wherein the first actuation surface engages the second actuation surface during movement of the at least one shaft along the second axis to actuate the coupling member between the first and second positions.
- 32. A bow mount trolling motor for use with a boat, the bow mount trolling motor comprising:a chassis adapted to be mounted to a bow of the boat; a lower propulsion unit; at least one shaft supporting the lower propulsion unit and pivotally coupled to the chassis about a first axis, wherein the at least one shaft pivots in a first direction about the first axis from a deployed position to a stowed position and wherein the at least one shaft pivots in an opposite second direction about the first axis when the at least one shaft or the lower propulsion unit encounters an obstruction while the boat is moving in a forward direction; a coupling member movably coupled to the at least one shaft, the coupling member being actuatable between a first position in which the coupling member engages the chassis to prevent pivotal movement of the at least one shaft in the first direction about the first axis and a second position in which the coupling member disengages the chassis to allow pivotal movement of the at least one shaft in the first direction about the first axis, wherein the at least one shaft extends along a second axis and is movable along the second axis relative to the chassis and wherein the coupling member actuates between the first and second positions based on a position of the at least one shaft along the second axis.
- 33. A bow mount trolling motor for use with a boat, the bow mount trolling motor comprising:a chassis adapted to be mounted to a bow of the boat; a lower propulsion unit; at least one shaft supporting the lower propulsion unit and pivotally coupled to the chassis about a first axis, wherein the at least one shaft pivots in a first direction about the first axis from a deployed position to a stowed position and wherein the at least one shaft pivots in an opposite second direction about the first axis when the at least one shaft or the lower propulsion unit encounters an obstruction while the boat is moving in a forward direction; a coupling member movably coupled to the at least one shaft, the coupling member being actuatable between a first position in which the coupling member engages the chassis to prevent pivotal movement of the at least one shaft in the first direction about the first axis and a second position in which the coupling member disengages the chassis to allow pivotal movement of the at least one shaft in the first direction about the first axis, wherein the at least one shaft includes a first actuation surface, wherein the coupling member includes a second actuation surface and wherein the first actuation surface engages the second actuation surface during movement of the at least one shaft along the second axis to actuate the coupling member between the first and second positions.
- 34. A bow mount trolling motor for use with a boat, the bow mount trolling motor comprising:a chassis adapted to be mounted to a bow of the boat; a lower propulsion unit; at least one shaft supporting the lower propulsion unit and pivotally coupled to the chassis about a first axis, wherein the at least one shaft pivots in a first direction about the first axis from a deployed position to a stowed position and wherein the at least one shaft pivots in an opposite second direction about the first axis when the at least one shaft or the lower propulsion unit encounters an obstruction while the boat is moving in a forward direction; a coupling member movably coupled to the at least one shaft, the coupling member being actuatable between a first position in which the coupling member engages the chassis to prevent pivotal movement of the at least one shaft in the first direction about the first axis and a second position in which the coupling member disengages the chassis to allow pivotal movement of the at least one shaft in the first direction about the first axis; a first engagement surface coupled to the coupling member; a second engagement surface coupled to the at least one shaft; and a resilient bias member coupled between the first and second engagement surfaces.
- 35. The motor of claim 34, including a housing movably coupled to the at least one shaft and pivotally coupled to the chassis about the first axis, wherein the at least one shaft extends along a second axis and moves along the second axis relative to the housing.
- 36. The motor of claim 35, wherein the coupling member is movably received within the housing and wherein the housing includes an opening through which the coupling member extends into engagement with the chassis.
- 37. The motor of claim 36, wherein the opening accommodates movement of the housing relative to the coupling member.
- 38. The motor of claim 34, wherein the resiliently bias member extends parallel to the second axis.
CROSS REFERENCE RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 from co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/592,023 entitled TROLLING MOTOR SYSTEM, filed on Jun. 12, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,325,685 which in turn claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Seral No. 60/138,890 entitled TROLLING MOTOR, filed on Jun. 11, 1999 by Darrel A. Bernloehr et al.; and further claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 from U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,975 entitled TROLLING MOTOR BATTERY GAUGE, issued on Aug. 21, 2001 by Steven J. Knight; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/590,914 entitled TROLLING MOTOR STEERING CONTROL, filed on Jun. 9, 2000 by Steven J. Knigh, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,325,684; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/591,862 entitled TROLLING MOTOR FOOT CONTROL WITH FINE SPEED ADJUSTMENT, filed on Jun. 12, 2000 by Steven J. Knight. The present application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 6,254,441 entitled TROLLING MOTOR PROPULSION UNIT SUPPORT SHAFT, issued on Jul. 3, 2001 by Steven J. Knight et al.; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/124,838 entitled TROLLING MOTOR FOOT PAD BASE, filed on Jun. 13, 2000 by Steven J. Knight et al.; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/124,860 entitled TROLLING MOTOR FOOT PAD PEDAL, fied, on Jun. 13, 2000 by Steven J. Knight et al.; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/593,075 entitled TROLLING MOTOR BOW MOUNT, filed on Jun. 13, 2000 by Steven J. Knight et al.; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/124,847 entitled TROLLING MOTOR PROPULSION UNIT SUPPORT SHAFT, filed on Jun. 13, 2000 by Steven J. Knight et al.; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/124,846 entitled TROLLING MOTOR MOUNT, filed on Jun. 13, 2000 by Ronald P. Hansen; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/124,859 entitled TROLLING MOTOR MOUNT, filed on Jun. 13, 2000 by Ronald P. Hansen; the full disclosures of which, in their entirety, are hereby incorporated by reference.
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3733731 |
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DE |
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Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60/138890 |
Jun 1999 |
US |