# US 10,370,075 B2 · Spring-assisted jack plate for outboard motor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,370,075 B2 - Document ID: US10370075B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/563,917 - Filed: 2016-03-30 - Published: 2018-05-10 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-30 - Assignees: Powrtran Inc. - Applicants: Powrtran Inc. - Inventors: Gary Nyren - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10370075B2 ## CPC - B63H 20/106: {Means enabling lifting of the propulsion element in a substantially vertical, linearly sliding movement} - B63H 20/06: on an intermediate support - B63H 20/08: Means enabling movement of the position of the propulsion element, e.g. for trim, tilt or steering; Control of trim or tilt (initiating means for steering B63H25/02) - F15B 7/06: Details (F15B15/00 takes precedence) - F02B 61/045: {for marine engines} - F16C 29/02: Sliding-contact bearings - B63H: MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING (propulsion of air-cushion vehicles B60V1/14; specially adapted for submarines, other than nuclear propulsion, B63G; specially adapted for torpedoes F42B19/00) - F15B: SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F02B: INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL (gas-turbine plants F02C; hot-gas or combustion-product positive-displacement engine plants F02G) - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS ## Abstract A jack plate includes a mounting assembly having first and second spacing brackets connected by a transom plate adapted for mounting to the transom of a boat, each of the spacing brackets having inwardly facing channels at rearward sides of the spacing brackets. The jack plate further includes a motor lift including a lift plate extending between a first bearing and a second bearing, the channels adapted to conformingly receive the first and second bearings. An actuator is provided to raise and lower the lift plate relative to the transom plate. At least one spring is operably coupled between the mounting assembly and the motor lift, the spring unloading the lift plate to reduce load on the actuator. The spring is optionally a compression gas spring. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A jack plate for an mounting an outboard motor, the jack plate comprising: a mounting assembly comprising a first spacing bracket, a second spacing bracket, and a transom plate extending between the first spacing bracket and the second spacing bracket, the first spacing bracket defining a first channel, the second spacing bracket defining a second channel, the first channel and the second channel opening toward one another; a lift plate assembly comprising a first slider slidingly received in the first channel, a second slider slidingly received in the second channel, and a lift plate extending between the first slider and the second slider; an actuator operably coupled between the mounting assembly and the lift plate assembly for moving the lift plate assembly upwardly and downwardly relative to the mounting assembly; a spring with pressurized gas therein, comprising a piston, operably coupled between the mounting assembly and the lift plate assembly, the spring applying a biasing force between the lift plate assembly and the mounting assembly to unload the jack plate allowing for easier raising and lowering of an outboard motor mounted on the lift plate and utilization of the actuator with less power that what would otherwise be required; the actuator comprising an actuator casing and an actuating rod, the actuator casing defining a socket dimensioned to receive an end portion of a cylinder housing; and the end portion of the cylinder housing being proximate the piston and fixed to the actuator casing by a mounting screw, the mounting screw disposed in threaded engagement with the female mounting thread, such that the piston provides a biasing force in a direction defined by the actuating rod. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The jack plate of claim 1 wherein the piston further comprises a piston rod having a first end portion fixed to the piston and a second end portion fixed to a clevis. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The jack plate of claim 2 wherein the clevis is pivotally coupled to the transom plate by a lower pin extending through a clevis hole in the clevis and corresponding holes defined by a lower mounting bracket. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The jack plate of claim 1 wherein the actuator casing is pivotally coupled to the lift plate by an upper pin extending through an upper mounting hole defined by the actuator rod and corresponding holes defined by an upper mounting bracket. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The jack plate of claim 4 wherein the upper mounting bracket is fixed to the lift plate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The jack plate of claim 1 wherein the actuator rod defines a lower mounting hole, the actuator rod being pivotally coupled to the transom plate by a lower pin extending through the lower mounting hole and corresponding holes defined by a lower mounting bracket. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The jack plate of claim 6 wherein the lower mounting bracket is fixed to the transom plate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The jack plate of claim 1 further comprising a male washer and a female washer disposed inside the socket defined by the actuator housing with the mounting screw extending through the male washer and the female washer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The jack plate of claim 8 wherein the male washer and a female washer are disposed between an upward facing surface of the end portion of the spring housing and a downward facing surface of the actuator casing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The jack plate of claim 9 wherein: the female washer comprises a female surface defining a cavity; the male washer comprises a male surface; and the male surface of the male washer is received in the cavity defined by the female surface of the female washer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The jack plate of claim 10 wherein the male surface of the male washer is seated against and in contact with the female surface of the female washer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The jack plate of claim 10 wherein the male surface of the male washer comprises at least one convex surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The jack plate of claim 10 wherein the female surface of the female washer comprises a concave surface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The jack plate of claim 10 wherein the cavity defined by the female surface of the female washer has a shape corresponding to a cone. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The jack plate of claim 1 wherein the spring is biased to expand in length and the spring is allowed to extend in length while the actuator is activated to raise the lift plate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The jack plate of claim 1 wherein the spring is biased to expand in length and the actuator prevents the spring from expanding in length when the actuator is not activated. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The jack plate of claim 1 wherein the spring is biased to expand in length and the spring is forced to contract in length while the actuator is activated to lower the lift plate. ### Claim 18 A boat comprising: a hull having a transom; an outboard motor; a jack plate disposed intermediate the hull and the outboard motor, the jack plate further comprising: a mounting assembly comprising a first spacing bracket, a second spacing bracket, and a transom plate extending between the first spacing bracket and the second spacing bracket, the first spacing bracket defining a first channel, the second spacing bracket defining a second channel, the first channel and the second channel opening toward one another; a lift plate assembly comprising a first slider slidingly received in the first channel, a second slider slidingly received in the second channel, and a lift plate extending between the first slider and the second slider; an actuator comprising an actuator rod operably coupled between the mounting assembly and the lift plate assembly for raising and lowering the lift plate assembly relative to the mounting assembly; the gas spring operably coupled between the mounting assembly and the lift plate assembly in a parallel arrangement with the actuator rod, the spring applying a biasing force in a direction defined by the actuator rod between the lift plate assembly and the mounting assembly thereby unloading the jack plate allowing for easier raising and lowering of an outboard motor mounted on the lift plate and utilization of the actuator with less power that what would otherwise be required without the gas spring. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The boat of claim 18 wherein the transom plate is fixed to the transom of the hull and the outboard motor is fixed to the lift plate. ### Claim 20 A jack plate comprising: a mounting assembly comprising a first spacing bracket, a second spacing bracket, and a transom plate extending between the first spacing bracket and the second spacing bracket, the first spacing bracket defining a first channel, the second spacing bracket defining a second channel, the first channel and the second channel opening toward one another; a lift plate assembly comprising a first slider slidingly received in the first channel, a second slider slidingly received in the second channel, and a lift plate extending between the first slider and the second slider; an actuator comprising an upright actuator rod operably coupled between the mounting assembly and the lift plate assembly for raising and lower the lift plate assembly relative to the mounting assembly; and an upright gas spring operably coupled between the mounting assembly and the lift plate assembly, the spring applying a biasing force between the lift plate assembly and the mounting assembly to unload the jack plate allowing for easier raising and lowering of an outboard motor mounted on the lift plate and utilization of the actuator with less power that what would otherwise be required.