Operating handle for pivotally mounted trolling motor

#This invention relates to a pivotally mounted trolling motor and particularly to an operating handle for selectively pivoting of the motor between drive position and into a raised transport position.

#In the art of trolling, small electric driven outboard motor units are mounted to the transom of a boat and employed for slow speed maneuverability and positioning of the fishing boats. The electric drive motor is housed within the lower unit and coupled to drive a suitable propeller. A unique electric trolling motor is employed in bass fishing and the like where the motor is primarily employed for limited maneuverability within a fishing area to properly locate the boat with respect to and positioning of the fishermans lines. The motor preferably provides a high thrust, low speed output which is adapted to accurate and fine control of the turning and moving forces. The motoris turned by a foot control coupled by push pull cables to a turning gear means in the head of the motor. Generally, the trolling motor is separate from a high powered internal combustion outboard motor which is provided for rapid propulsion to the fishing location or spot. The trolling motor includes a pivotal support bracket assembly which is normally mounted to a forward boat deck and permits dropping of the lower unit of motor into the water or alternatively raising of the motor completely from the water and lying on the deck during the high speed transportation of the fishing craft. Generally, the support bracket assembly includes a horizontal mounting bracket which is fixedly mounted to the boat and pivoting bracket to which the electric trolling motor is secured. Various linkage systems have been suggested for supporting and orienting of the outboard motor unit with respect to the mounting bracket to permit the convenient raising and lowering of the outboard motor unit. Generally, such linkages are relatively complex and are exposed moving elements creating a potentially hazardous environment particularly where the operator's attention may be on other matters and time is important. A particularly unique and satisfactory enclosed construction is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,008,680 of Charles F. Alexander, Jr. entitled "PIVOTAL MOUNT ASSEMBLY FOR TROLLING MOTORS" assigned to the same assignee to the same assignee. The trolling motor as disclosed in such application and other prior art is particularly employed in competitive bass fishing and the like where it is important that the fisherman can conveniently and rapidly raise and lower the trolling motor. As disclosed in that application the pivotal mounting includes a gear drive system such that the motor rotates in a swivel when raised and lowered. This lays the motor with head and lower unit on its side during transport and locates the lower unit centered with respect to the boat in the lowered propulsion position.

#Generally, in the prior art to the trolling motor, the trolling motor is constructed to be raised and lowered only by moving to the area of the motor for manual grasping of the control head of the trolling motor. This is time consuming and presents another possible action which may prevent efficient and professional execution by the fisherman either by error or lack of skill. In fact, the fisherman will often grasp the steering cable which extends from the motor head and pull on the motor to raise and pivot it into the boat. As it pivots down to the deck the cable will often be kinked or bent, particularly at the entrance to the head. This may damage the cable and eventually result in breaking of the cable. Further, the motor mount is often angularly oriented on the deck with the cable extending backwardly along the center of the boat. When the operator pulls straight back, the motor pivots along its mounting plane and may cause further twisting and kinking of the cable unit. Such trolling motors are reasonably heavy and a strong pull on the motor is normally needed to at least initiate the upward movement. Further, the twisting force on the hand of the fisherman may therefore result in slipping or the like with an undesirably slow or troublesome movement of the motor.

#The drawing furnished herewith illustrates a preferred construction of the present invention in which the above advantages and features are clearly disclosed as well as others that will readily be understood from the following description.

#In the drawing:

#FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a trolling motor in the propulsion position with respect to a boat, of which only the fragmentary portion of the motor mounting foredeck is shown;

#Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, a fragmentary portion of the foredeck of a boat 1 is illustrated with a trolling motor 2 secured thereto by a suitable pivotal mounting assembly 3 for positioning between the depending propulsion position of FIG. 1 and the transport position of FIG. 3. The illustrated trolling motor 2 is an electric driven motor having a lower unit 4 secured to a supporting tubular tube 5 within a swivel tube 6 by a clamp. Tube 6 terminates at the upper end in a generally flat, rectangular head 7. A motor 8, preferably of the permanent magnet type, is secured within the lower propeller unit 4 and coupled to drive a propeller 9. The speed of the motor 8 and, therefore, the propeller 9 is controlled from within the boat 1 and preferably includes a foot speed control unit 10 of any suitable construction. Generally the speed control unit 10 is connected in the circuit of the motor 8 through connecting leads 11 which extend through the head 7 and downwardly the pipe 5 and into the circuit of motor 8. The control circuit, not shown, for the motor may be housed within the lower unit. The turning of the motor 8 and, therefore, the boat is also controlled from within the boat and preferably through a conventional foot unit 12 which is connected through a push-pull cable unit 13 to a rack and pinion mechanism 14 within the head 7 which selectively turns the upper end of the supporting shaft 5. Generally, the lower unit and associate supports, as well as the connection of the speed and steering controls, may be similar to any of the well-known systems and no further description thereof is given.

#The present invention is particularly directed to a unique handle unit 15 secured to the forward end of the housing 7 and providing for the convenient raising of the trolling motor 2 from the propulsion position wherein it overhangs the outer edge of the deck as shown in FIG. 1 to a transport position wherein it lies onto the deck 1 as shown in FIG. 3. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the pivot mounting assembly 3 is constructed in accordance with the teaching of the previously noted U.S. Pat. No. 4,008,680, entitled "PIVOTAL MOUNT ASSEMBLY FOR TROLLING MOTORS" and is, therefore, only briefly described herein. Generally, the assembly 3 includes a pivot arm 16 pivotally supported to a mounting bracket 17 as at 18. The swivel tube 6 is secured to a gear member 19 which is pivotally supported within the motor end of arm 16 and coupled to gear train 20 formed therein to positively position the motor between the two illustrated positions. The bracket 17 includes an outer curved guide end 21 which turns the motor about the swivel tube 6 as it is raised. Thus, as the motor 2 is raised by pivoting of the arm 16 the gear train pivots the trolling motor within the outer end of the arm 18. Simultaneously, the motor 1 is preferably rotated to lie on its side upon the upper wall of guide 21 in the transport position, as shown in FIG. 3. This construction thus provides for optimum positioning of the motor for propulsion and simultaneously when moving to the transport position also repositions the motor in close spaced relation to the boat deck for convenient and reliable transportation.

#The handle unit 15 which particularly forms the subject matter of the present invention is an elongated member which in the propulsion position extends aft from the head 7 inwardly of the boat 1 to locate a grip end 22 within the boat and particularly overlying the deck 1 for convenient grasping by the fisherman. The handle is formed as a tubular hollow member with an internal passageway 22 of a convenient size for accepting the power cables 11 and the push-pull positioning cable 13 which extend through the handle 15 and into the head 7. The head end of the handle 15 is affixed to the forward end of the head 7. In the illustrated embodiment, head 7 is shown as a separable housing member having an upper member 24 and a lower member 25 interconnected by suitable clamping bolts 26. The head end of the handle 15 and the housing members have complementing notched portions 27 which provide firm, reliable clamping and attachment of the handle 15 to the head 7 to transmit pulling force on the outer grip end of handle 15 to the head 7 and, therefore, to the trolling motor 2.