# US 2013/0153743 A1 · Jack plate for an outboard motor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0153743 A1 - Document ID: US20130153743A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/614,407 - Filed: 2012-09-13 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2007-09-28 - Inventors: Alan D. Witte - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153743A1 ## 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 - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - 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) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A jack plate for vertically raising and lowering an outboard motor mounted on a boat. The jack plate comprises a motor lift and a jack plate mounting assembly. The jack plate mounting assembly has a transom plate and a pair of spacing brackets with jack plate rails. The motor lift has a pair of bearings that are interlocked to a lift plate. The motor lift is slidably situated within the jack plate rails. Complementary geometries of the outer side edges of the lift plate and inner edges of channels in the bearings, as well as the spacing between the jack plate rails, provide a pressure fit that secures the lift plate between the bearings once the bearings are inserted into the jack plate rails. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-33. (canceled) ### Claim 34 A jack plate comprising: a mounting assembly having first and second spacing brackets connected by a transom plate, each of the first and second spacing brackets having a forward side and a rearward side, each of the brackets having parallel inwardly facing channels at the rearward sides, each of the brackets having a ledge for receiving the transom plate, the transom plate having a pair of opposing sides, each side of the transom plate having four exterior corners when the transom plate is viewed from the front, each of the four exterior corners engaged with a respective bracket on the respective ledge of said bracket; a motor lift including a lift plate extending between a first bearing and a second bearing, each bearing having a slot to receive a side of the lift plate; and wherein the channels are adapted to conformingly receive the first and second bearings. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The jack plate of claim 34, wherein each of the ledges is forwardly facing. ### Claim 36 (depends on 34) The jack plate of claim 34, wherein the first and second spacing brackets are adapted to removably receive the transom plate in a forward direction and retain the transom plate in directions perpendicular to the forward direction. ### Claim 37 (depends on 34) The jack plate of claim 34, wherein each ledge of the brackets has an centrally positioned recess that receives a tab extending from a respective side of the transom plate. ### Claim 38 (depends on 34) The jack plate of claim 34, wherein the lift plate substantially defines a plane, and each side of the lift plate has at least one protrusion and the one protrusion is engaged in a conforming portion of the respective bearing slot. ### Claim 39 (depends on 34) The jack plate of claim 34, wherein the motor lift further includes a fastening member extending through one of the first bearing and the second bearing and the lift plate. ### Claim 40 (depends on 34) The jack plate of claim 34, wherein at least one of the first or second bearings and at least one of the first or second spacing brackets present opposing surfaces adapted to prevent the motor lift from disengaging the first and second spacing brackets in a downward direction. ### Claim 41 (depends on 34) The jack plate of claim 34, wherein each bearing has a shoulder stop. ### Claim 42 (depends on 34) The jack plate of claim 34, wherein the first and second bearings are made from a polymer. ### Claim 43 A jack plate comprising: a mounting assembly having first and second spacing brackets connected by a transom plate, each of the first and second spacing brackets having a forward side and a rearward side, each of the brackets having parallel inwardly facing channels at the rearward sides; a motor lift including a lift plate extending between a first bearing and a second bearing, each bearing having a slot to receive a side of the lift plate; and wherein the channels are adapted to conformingly receive the first and second bearings, each of the bearings formed of a polymer and having a widened portion at a top of the bearing providing a stop preventing the top of the bearing from entering the respective channel. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) The jack plate of claim 43, wherein the bearings are substantially cylindrical. ### Claim 45 (depends on 43) The jack plate of claim 43, wherein each of the channels have a C-shaped cross-section. ### Claim 46 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 having first and second spacing brackets connected by a transom plate, each of the first and second spacing brackets defining parallel channels distal to the transom plate, the transom plate being mountable to a boat transom; a motor lift including a lift plate positionable intermediate first and second bearings, each bearing defining a slot adapted to receive a first or second side of the lift plate; an actuator operably connected to the mounting assembly and the motor lift; and wherein the channels are adapted to conformingly receive the first and second bearings, each bearing having an integral stop sized to prevent the stop from entering the respective channels. ### Claim 47 (depends on 46) The boat of claim 46, wherein the channels and the bearings are substantially cylindrical. ### Claim 48 (depends on 47) The jack plate of claim 47, wherein a portion of the first spacing bracket and a portion of the second spacing bracket each define parallel channels, each portion of the first and second spacing bracket having a substantially C-shaped cross-section. ### Claim 49 (depends on 46) The boat of claim 46, wherein the slot of the first or second bearing defines at least one inset groove and the first or second side of the lift plate defines at least one protrusion, the at least one inset groove being complementary to the at least one the protrusion. ### Claim 50 (depends on 49) The boat of claim 49, wherein the lift plate substantially defines a plane, the at least one protrusion extending from the first or second side in a direction substantially parallel to the plane.