Trolling motor steering positioner

[0001] 1. Field of Invention

[0002] This invention relates to improving the steering mechanism for electric trolling motors used on boats.

[0003] 2. Discussion of Prior Art

[0004] Electric trolling motors are used to position a fishing boat when a small quiet motor is desired over a boat's primary propulsion system. These trolling motors are usually operated while a game fisher is casting with a rod and reel. Power is applied utilizing either the controller on the trolling motor handle, which is provided by the factory, or by pre setting this controller and using a foot button switch to start and stop the motor as desired by the operator, enabling both hands to be free to cast and net the fish once caught. When the trolling motor is switched on, the propeller provides considerable thrust, which causes side loading of the single bushing on which the motor shaft allows the steering angle to rotate. Because the motor and propeller are located under the waterline, a long shaft is incorporated to provide a watertight conduit for power and allow for steering. Because of the high bushing load, it is difficult to make steering changes using prior art while the motor is running. This forces the operator to shut off the motor, adjust the steering angle, and turn the motor on with a foot switch, repeatedly. This is an awkward and inefficient process. Use of the trolling motor steering positioner is novel over prior art in that its main purpose is to provide greater leverage so that the operator can change the direction of the trolling motor while the motor is running and the propeller is turning, and that any angle of the steering handle is adjustable at any thrust level from any of 360 degrees in position.

[0005] An embodiment of the present invention comprises a steering positioner constructed of a circular disc with indexing holes and an alignment pin that provides adjustments of the steering handle 360 degrees. The movement of the steering handle from one hole to any other can be done with one hand without tools and the operator can move the steering handle position to match his or her position in the boat while keeping the original position of the motor stationary. The turning force of the steering handle is applied to the trolling motor shaft at the centerline making the turning force equal regardless of an operator's position. The steering positioner can be attached to most existing manual controlled trolling motors without the need to disassemble any of the manufacturers' parts. The steering positioner provides a higher mechanical advantage by incorporating a longer steering handle.

[0006] One exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises a steering positioner apparatus for steering a boat propelled by a trolling motor. The apparatus comprises a circular disc forming a plurality of spaced-apart holes disposed around the perimeter portion of the circular disc. The apparatus further comprises a steering handle comprising a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion comprising an alignment pin being sized and configured to be received by any of the plurality of equally spaced-apart holes and a first bracket attached to the circular disc. The first end portion of the steering handle is attached to the first bracket in such a manner that the steering handle may pivot in a vertical and horizontal manner so that the steering handle may rotate in any degree of a 360 degree range of motion about a longitudinal axis of a shaft of the trolling motor and the alignment pin of the steering handle may be inserted into one of the plurality of equally spaced-apart holes, thereby allowing an operator of the boat to rotate the steering handle to cause the trolling motor shaft to rotate in a desired direction.

[0007] Another embodiment of the present invention comprises a method for facilitating the steering of a boat equipped with a trolling motor shaft. The method comprises affixing an apparatus to the trolling motor shaft, the apparatus comprising a circular disc forming a plurality of spaced-apart holes disposed around the perimeter portion of the circular disc. The apparatus further comprises a steering handle comprising a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion comprising an alignment pin being sized and configured to be received by any of the plurality of equally spaced-apart holes and a first bracket attached to the circular disc. The first end portion of the steering handle is attached to the first bracket in such a manner that the steering handle may pivot in a vertical and horizontal manner so that the steering handle may rotate in any degree of a 360 degree range of motion about a longitudinal axis of a shaft of the trolling motor and the alignment pin of the steering handle may be inserted into one of the plurality of equally spaced-apart holes, thereby allowing an operator of the boat to rotate the steering handle to cause the trolling motor shaft to rotate in a desired direction.

• [0011] (1) Trolling motor steering positioner
• [0012] (2) Circular Disc
• [0013] (3) Indexing holes
• [0014] (4) Mounting bracket
• [0015] (5) Hole
• [0016] (6) Low resistance washer
• [0017] (7) C-channel bracket
• [0018] (8) Hole
• [0019] (9) Allen bolt
• [0020] (10) Nut
• [0021] (11) Washer
• [0022] (12) Steering handle
• [0023] (13) Bolt
• [0024] (14) Nut
• [0025] (15) Washer
• [0026] (16) Swivel knob
• [0027] (17) Adjustable handle
• [0028] (18) Alignment pin
• [0029] (19) Hole(s)
• [0030] (20) Trolling motor shaft block
• [0031] (21) Bolt(s)
• [0032] (22) Nut(s)
• [0033] (23) Washer(s)
• [0034] (24) Hole(s)
• [0035] (25) Trolling motor housing
• [0036] (26) Trolling motor shaft

[0037] FIGS. 1A-1B show a typical embodiment of the trolling motor steering positioner 1. FIG. 1A shows a top view of the trolling motor steering positioner 1. A circular disc 2 with indexing holes 3 drilled into it is welded on to the mounting bracket 4. A hole 5 is drilled into the middle of the circular disc 2. A low resistance washer 6 is placed between the circular disc 2 and a c-channel bracket 7, which has a hole 8 drilled through it. FIG. 1B shows how the c-channel bracket 7 is held in place by an allen bolt 9, nut 10, and washer 11. FIG. 1A also shows how the tiller 12 is placed into the c-channel bracket 7 and is held in place by bolt 13, nut 14, and washer 15. Also shown in FIG. 1A is how the tiller 12 can be folded with a swivel knob 16 and the length could be adjusted via an adjustable handle 17 (shown in FIG. 1B).

[0038] FIG. 1B is a rear view of the trolling motor steering positioner 1 with the tiller 12 positioned at a 90-degree angle to the right. An alignment pin 18 is shown, which is welded or fastened to the under side of the tiller 12. One can also see that the c-channel bracket 7 has holes 19 drilled into it through which bolt 13, nut 14, and washer 15 are placed. The mounting bracket 4 is attached to the trolling motor shaft block 20 with bolts 21 nuts 22 and washers 23 through holes 24. Also shown in FIG. 1B is how the mounting bracket 4 surrounds the trolling motor housing 25 and the trolling motor shaft 26.

Operation FIGS. 1A-1B

[0039] The manner of using the trolling motor steering positioner to steer a boat while under power of the trolling motor is much simpler and effective than current methods where the operator may need to turn off the trolling motor, adjust direction and then restart the motor. The operator turns on the trolling motor and uses the tiller to steer the boat in the desired direction. When the operator needs to move to another position in the boat, he or she simply lifts the tiller and moves it to the desired location, dropping the alignment pin in a new hole. From that position, the operator can then begin steering in any direction.

[0040] Accordingly, the reader will see that the trolling motor steering positioner of this invention can be used to steer a boat with great ease while the trolling motor is running. Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the design, colors or shapes of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example, the bracket may have other shapes such as oval or square, etc. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given above.