US 5,496,198 A · Trolling motor control apparatus

Abstract

A control system for a fishing boat trolling motor comprises a pair of cables running from a first pulley on the motor shaft to a second pulley on a bearing assembly that supports a swivel chair so that rotation of the chair produces rotation of the trolling motor. The cables are arranged so that, regardless of whether the trolling motor is mounted to the front or the back of the boat, the boat will be moved in the direction the chair is rotated and two degrees of motor rotation are produced for each degree of chair rotation. The on/off or forward/off/reverse switch for the motor is also attached to a control panel on the chair and rotatable therewith. The switch is preferably positioned to be operated by movement of the user's leg and biased in the off position. Preferably, a motor polarity reversing switch and speed control are also operated from the control panel with the on/off switch. Alternatively, the rotation of the trolling motor and its activation can be obtained by the foot or hand of the user on a bearing assembly that incorporates a trolling motor on/off or forward/off/reverse switch.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus for maneuvering a boat on water, said apparatus comprising:

a trolling motor having
a first shaft with a first axis, said trolling motor rotating about said first axis, and
a first pulley coupled to said first shaft, said first pulley rotating with said first shaft about said first axis in a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction, said trolling motor rotating with said first shaft;
a bearing assembly having a second shaft with a second axis, said bearing, assembly being formed to receive a chair;
a second pulley mounted to said second shaft, said second pulley rotating about said second shaft;
a first cable connecting said second pulley to said first pulley, said first cable rotating said first pulley when said second pulley is rotated in said clockwise direction;
a second cable connecting said second pulley to said first pulley, said second cable rotating said first pulley when said second pulley is rotated in said counterclockwise direction;
and
means for activating said trolling motor, said activating means carried by said bearing assembly.

6 more elements

An apparatus for maneuvering a boat on water, said apparatus comprising:

a trolling motor having an extended position wherein said trolling motor is positioned to extend into said water, and a retracted position wherein said trolling motor has been pulled out of said water, said trolling motor having
a first shaft with a first axis, said trolling motor rotating about said first axis,
a first pulley rotatable in a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction, and
means for coupling said first pulley to said first shaft, said first pulley rotating with said first shaft about said first axis when said coupling means couples said shaft to said pulley, said trolling motor rotating with said first shaft;
a bearing assembly carried by said boat and rotatable with respect to said boat, said bearing assembly having a second shaft with a second axis, said bearing assembly formed to receive a chair;
a second pulley carried by said second shaft, said second pulley rotating with said bearing assembly about said second axis;
a first cable connecting said second pulley to said first pulley, said first cable rotating said first pulley when said bearing assembly is rotated in said clockwise direction;
a second cable connecting said second pulley to said first pulley, said second cable rotating said first pulley when said bearing assembly is rotated in said counterclockwise direction;
and
means carried by said boat and located proximate to said bearing assembly for activating said trolling motor.

7 more elements

An apparatus for maneuvering a boat on water, said apparatus comprising:

a trolling motor having
a first shaft with a first axis, said trolling motor rotating about said first axis, and
a first pulley coupled to said first shaft and having a first diameter, said first pulley rotating with said first shaft about said first axis in a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction, said trolling motor rotating with said first shaft;
a bearing assembly having a second shaft with a second axis and formed for receiving a chair;
a second pulley mounted to said bearing assembly, said second pulley having a second diameter at least approximately twice the size of said first diameter, said second pulley rotating about said second axis;
a first cable connecting said second pulley to said first pulley, said first cable rotating said first pulley when said second pulley is rotated in said clockwise direction;
and
a second cable connecting said second pulley to said first pulley, said second cable rotating said first pulley when said second pulley is rotated in said counterclockwise direction.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Trolling motor control apparatus

Life of this patent

Trolling motor control apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20