Automatic trim attachment for power boats

Claim 2

In a power boat, the combination comprising: bracket means extending rearwardly from the stern of the boat on each side of the centerline of the boat, a pair of trim members, means for pivotally mounting each said trim member on each side of the centerline of the boat intermediate its forward and trailing edges for pivotal movement about a transverse axis in such a manner that the rear portion of said trim members normally extends below the front portion, the front edge of each said trim member being spaced rearwardly from the stern, whereby at slow speed the water strikes the forward portions of the trim members and as the speed of the boat progresses, the trim members tend to assume a more horizontal position, each said trim member including a substantially planar portion and longitudinally extending downwardly extending flanges thereon.

Claim 3

The combination set forth in claim 1 including means for limiting the extent to which the rear of each trim member moves downwardly.

Claim 4

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for pivotally mounting each said trim member on said bracket comprises complementary surfaces on said bracket and said flanges, and bolt means extending through openings in said complementary surfaces.

Claim 5

The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said brackets and said trim members include interengaging surfaces limiting the downward movement of the rear portion of the trim member.

Claim 6

The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said brackets and said trim members include longitudinally spaced openings for selectively pivotally mounting said trim members on said brackets.

Claim 7

The combination set forth in claim 1 including an upwardly turned flange on the front transverse edge of each said trim member.

Claim 8

The combination set forth in claim 1 including a rearwardly extending secondary trim member on the undersurface of said first-mentioned trim tab and extending rearwardly from the front edge thereof.

Claim 9

The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein said trim tab is made of a material whereby said secondary trim member is integral with said first trim member and connected thereto by an integral hinge at the forward end of the trim member, and means for adjusting the angular relation of the secondary trim tab with respect to said first trim tab.

Claim 10

The combination set forth in claim 1 including means on at least one said bracket for limiting the movement of said trim member to a generally horizontal position.

Claim 11

In a power boat, the combination comprising: bracket means extending rearwardly from the stern of the boat on each side of the centerline of the boat, a pair of trim members, means for pivotally mounting each said trim member on each side of the centerline of the boat intermediate its forward and trailing edges for pivotal movement about a transverse axis in such a manner that the rear portion of said trim members normally extends below the front portion, the front edge of said said trim member being spaced rearwardly from the stern, whereby at slow speed the water strikes the forward portions of the trim members and as the speed of the boat progresses, the trim members tend to assume a more horizontal position, the ratio of the portion of each trim member which is forwardly of the transverse pivotal axis to the portion of each trim member rearwardly of said transverse pivotal axis being about 1:2.

Claim 12

In a power boat, the combination comprising: bracket means extending rearwardly from the stern of the boat on each side of the centerline of the boat, a pair of trim members, means for pivotally mounting each said trim member on each side of the centerline of the boat intermediate its forward and trailing edges for pivotal movement about a transverse axis in such a manner that the rear portion of said trim members normally extends below the front portion, the front edge of said said trim member being spaced rearwardly from the stern, whereby at slow speed the water strikes the forward portions of the trim members and as the speed of the boat progresses, the trim members tend to assume a more horizontal position, the ratio of the portion of each trim member which is forwardly of the transverse pivotal axis to the portion of each trim member rearwardly of said transverse pivotal axis being about 1:2.

Claim 13

For use in a power boat, the combination comprising: bracket means adapted to extend rearwardly from the stern of the boat, a trim member, means for pivotally mounting said trim tab intermediate its ends for pivotal movement about a transverse axis in such a manner that the rear portion of said trim member normally extends below the front portion, the front edge of said trim member being adapted to be spaced rearwardly from the stern, whereby at slow speed the water will strike the forward portion of the trim member and as the speed of the boat progresses, the trim member will tend to assume a more horizontal position, said trim member including a substantially planar portion and longitudinally extending downwardly extending flanges thereon.

Claim 14

For use in a power boat, the combination comprising: bracket means adapted to extend rearwardly from the stern of the boat, a trim member, means for pivotally mounting said trim tab intermediate its ends for pivotal movement about a transverse axis in such a manner that the rear portion of said trim member normally extends below the front portion, the front edge of said trim member being adapted to be spaced rearwardly from the stern, whereby at slow speed the water will strike the forward portion of the trim member and as the speed of the boat progresses, the trim member will tend to assume a more horizontal position, said trim member including a substantially planar portion and longitudinally extending downwardly extending flanges thereon.

Claim 15

The combination set forth in claim 11 including means for limiting the extent to which the rear of the trim member moves downwardly.

Claim 16

The combination set forth in claim 11 wherein said means for pivotally mounting said trim member on said bracket comprises complementary surfaces on said bracket and said flanges, and bolt means extending through openings in said complementary surfaces.

Claim 17

The combination set forth in claim 13 wherein said brackets and said trim member include interengaging surfaces limiting the downward movement of the rear portion of the trim member.

Claim 18

The combination set forth in claim 13 wherein said brackets and said trIm member include longitudinally spaced openings for selectively pivotally mounting said trim member on said brackets.

Claim 19

The combination set forth in claim 11 including an upwardly turned flange on the front transverse edge of said trim member.

Claim 20

The combination set forth in claim 11 including a rearwardly extending secondary trim member on the undersurface of said first-mentioned trim member and extending rearwardly from the front edge thereof.

Claim 21

The combination set forth in claim 17 wherein said trim member is made of a material whereby said secondary trim member is integral with said first trim member and connected thereto by an integral hinge at the forward end of the trim member, and means for adjusting the angular relation of the secondary trim member with respect to said first trim member.

Claim 22

The combination set forth in claim 11 including means on said bracket for limiting the movement of said trim member to a generally horizontal position.

Claim 23

For use in a power boat, the combination comprising: bracket means adapted to extend rearwardly from the stern of the boat, a trim member, means for pivotally mounting said trim tab intermediate its ends for pivotal movement about a transverse axis in such a manner that the rear portion of said trim member normally extends below the front portion, the front edge of said trim member being adapted to be spaced rearwardly from the stern, whereby at slow speed the water will strike the forward portion of the trim member and as the speed of the boat progresses, the trim member will tend to assume a more horizontal position, the ratio of the portion of each trim member which is forwardly of the transverse pivotal axis to the portion of each trim member rearwardly of said transverse pivotal axis being about 1:2.

Claim 24

For use in a power boat, the combination comprising: bracket means adapted to extend rearwardly from the stern of the boat, a trim member, means for pivotally mounting said trim tab intermediate its ends for pivotal movement about a transverse axis in such a manner that the rear portion of said trim member normally extends below the front portion, the front edge of said trim member being adapted to be spaced rearwardly from the stern, whereby at slow speed the water will strike the forward portion of the trim member and as the speed of the boat progresses, the trim member will tend to assume a more horizontal position, the ratio of the portion of each trim member which is forwardly of the transverse pivotal axis to the portion of each trim member rearwardly of said transverse pivotal axis being about 1:2.