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US 11,447,220 B2Granted
Motor assembly having lifting mechanism and watercraft incorporating same
AssigneeJohnson Outdoors Inc.
InventorTimothy A. Bragg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A motor assembly having a lifting mechanism and associated watercraft are provided. The lifting mechanism is operable to lift a motor of the motor assembly from a deployed position to a stowed position. A user can then transition the motor from the stowed position back to the deployed position via a user control.
Claims19
A watercraft, comprising:
- a hull having a passageway and defining a cockpit area;
- a motor assembly situated within said passageway, the motor assembly comprising:
- a motor;
- and
- a lifting mechanism operably connected to the motor for transitioning the motor from a deployed position to a stowed position and from the stowed position to the deployed position;
- a user control coupled to the lifting mechanism and configured to allow a user to operate said lifting mechanism from said cockpit area;
- and
- wherein the lifting mechanism includes a biasing member, and wherein the biasing member is a gas spring.
5 more elements
A watercraft, comprising:
- a hull having a passageway and defining a cockpit area;
- a motor assembly situated within said passageway, the motor assembly comprising:
- a motor;
- and
- a lifting mechanism operably connected to the motor for transitioning the motor from a deployed position to a stowed position and from the stowed position to the deployed position;
- and
- a user control coupled to the lifting mechanism and configured to allow a user to operate said lifting mechanism from said cockpit area;
- wherein the lifting mechanism includes a biasing member, and wherein the biasing member is a gas spring;
- wherein the lifting mechanism comprises a base arm and a lifting arm, the lifting arm having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the lifting arm is pivotably connected to a first end of the base arm, and wherein the motor is connected to the lifting arm adjacent the second end of the lifting arm by a connection joint;
- wherein the connection joint is a ball joint.
7 more elements
A watercraft, comprising:
- a hull having a passageway and defining a cockpit area;
- a motor assembly situated within said passageway, the motor assembly comprising:
- a motor;
- and
- a lifting mechanism operably connected to the motor for transitioning the motor from a deployed position to a stowed position and from the stowed position to the deployed position;
- and
- a user control coupled to the lifting mechanism and configured to allow a user to operate said lifting mechanism from said cockpit area;
- wherein the lifting mechanism includes a biasing member, and wherein the biasing member is a gas spring;
- wherein the lifting mechanism comprises a base arm and a lifting arm, the lifting arm having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the lifting arm is pivotably connected to a first end of the base arm, and wherein the motor is connected to the lifting arm adjacent the second end of the lifting arm by a connection joint;
- wherein the lifting mechanism further comprises a docking assembly, the docking assembly configured to mount to the hull adjacent the passageway.
7 more elements
A watercraft, comprising:
- a hull having a passageway and defining a cockpit area;
- a motor assembly situated within said passageway, the motor assembly comprising:
- a motor;
- and
- a lifting mechanism operably connected to the motor for transitioning the motor from a deployed position to a stowed position and from the stowed position to the deployed position;
- and
- a user control coupled to the lifting mechanism and configured to allow a user to operate said lifting mechanism from said cockpit area;
- wherein the lifting mechanism includes a biasing member, and wherein the biasing member is a gas spring;
- wherein the lifting mechanism comprises a base arm and a lifting arm, the lifting arm having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the lifting arm is pivotably connected to a first end of the base arm, and wherein the motor is connected to the lifting arm adjacent the second end of the lifting arm by a connection joint;
- wherein the lifting mechanism further comprises a docking assembly, the docking assembly configured to mount to the hull adjacent the passageway;
- wherein the docking assembly includes a docking plate, a locking bracket, and a biasing element, the locking bracket pivotably coupled to the docking plate, the locking bracket having a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the biasing element biases the locking bracket to the locked position.
8 more elements
A watercraft, comprising:
- a hull having a passageway and defining a cockpit area;
- a motor assembly situated within said passageway, the motor assembly comprising:
- a motor;
- and
- a lifting mechanism operably connected to the motor for transitioning the motor from a deployed position to a stowed position and from the stowed position to the deployed position;
- and
- a user control coupled to the lifting mechanism and configured to allow a user to operate said lifting mechanism from said cockpit area;
- wherein the lifting mechanism includes a biasing member, and wherein the biasing member is a gas spring;
- wherein the lifting mechanism comprises a base arm and a lifting arm, the lifting arm having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the lifting arm is pivotably connected to a first end of the base arm, and wherein the motor is connected to the lifting arm adjacent the second end of the lifting arm by a connection joint;
- wherein the user control comprises a cable having a first end connected to the second end of the lifting arm and a second end with a handle attached to the second end, the user control further comprising a locking mechanism for locking the cable in tension such that it applies a force to oppose the biasing force to hold the motor in the deployed position;
- wherein the locking mechanism is a cable cleat.
8 more elements
A motor assembly for a watercraft, the motor assembly comprising:
- a motor having a shaft having a first end and a second end, a head unit mounted at the first end, a lower unit mounted at the second end, the lower unit including a motor and a device for providing thrust;
- and
- a lifting mechanism operably connected to the motor for transitioning the motor from a deployed position to a stowed position, the lifting mechanism further comprising:
- a docking assembly configured for mounting to a watercraft;
- a base arm removably received within the docking assembly;
- a lifting arm having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the lifting arm is pivotably connected to a first end of the base arm such that in a first angular position of the lifting arm relative to the base arm the motor is in the deployed position and such that in a second angular position of the lifting arm relative to the base arm, the motor is in the stowed position, wherein an angle between the lifting arm and the base arm in the first angular position is less than an angle of the lifting arm relative to the base arm in the second angular position;
- and
- a biasing member connected between the lifting arm and the base arm for biasing the motor to the stowed position.
5 more elements
A lifting mechanism for a motor, the lifting mechanism configured for transitioning the motor from a deployed position to a stowed position, the motor having a shaft having a first end and a second end, a head unit mounted at the first end, a lower unit mounted at the second end, the lower unit including a motor and a device for providing thrust, the lifting mechanism comprising:
- a docking assembly configured for mounting to a watercraft;
- a base arm removably received within the locking bracket;
- a lifting arm having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the lifting arm is pivotably connected to a first end of the base arm and wherein a second end of the lifting arm is configured for connecting to a motor via a connection joint, wherein the first end of the lifting arm and the first end of the base arm are commonly connected at a pin defining a pivot axis of the lifting arm relative to the base arm;
- a biasing member connected between the lifting arm and the base arm for biasing the motor to the stowed position;
- wherein the docking assembly is configured to receive the base arm and lock the base arm into a cradle defined by the docking assembly as the base arm is rotated about a mounting axis defined by the docking assembly.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.