Folding accessory bracket assembly

Claim 2

A bracket assembly for mounting a trolling motor assembly to the deck of a boat, the motor assembly including a motor adapted to depend in the water by means of a shaft, the motor being mounted at the lower end of the shaft, and for moving the trolling motor assembly between an extended position with its shaft generally perpendicular to the surface of the water and a retracted position with its shaft generally parallel to and on top of the deck of the boat, the bracket assembly comprising mounting means for mounting to the boat deck, a motor bracket for mounting around the shaft of the motor assembly, first arm means pivotally connected at a first end to the motor bracket and pivotally connected at a second end to the mounting means, second arm means pivotally connected at a first end to the motor bracket, the pivotal axis of the first and second arm means at the motor bracket being spaced apart, means connected to the mounting means for pivotally and slideably connecting a second end of the second arm means to the mounting means, and means responsive to pivotal movement of the first arm means to slide the pivotal axis at the second end of the second arm means, the dimensions of the arm means and the locations of the pivotal axes being such as to control the attitude of the motor assembly shaft to be generally perpendicular to the surface of the water in the extended position and to be generally parallel to and on top of the deck of the boat in the retracted position.

Claim 3

The bracket assembly of claim 1 wherein the last-named sliding means further comprises linkage means connected between the first and second arm means.

Claim 4

The bracket assembly of claim 2 wherein the linkage means is pivotally connected at one end about the same axis as the second end of the second arm means, and at the other end about an axis parallel to and located between the axes of the first and second ends of the first arm means.

Claim 5

The bracket assembly of claim 3 wherein the pivotally and slideably connecting means further comprises a block, means for mounting the block for sliding movement along a path generally normal to the pivotal axes of the first arm at the mounting means, said second end of the second arm means being pivotally connected to the block for sliding movement therewith.

Claim 6

The bracket assembly of claim 4 wherein the block mounting means further comprises a rod, and means for mounting the rod to the mounting means with its longitudinal axes normal to the pivotal axes of the first arm means at the mounting means, the block being mounted to slide along the rod.

Claim 7

The bracket assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second arm means pivot approximately 180* between the extended and retracted positions.

Claim 8

The bracket assembly of claim 1 including releasable locking means for locking the bracket assembly in the extended and retracted positions.

Claim 9

The bracket assembly of claim 7 wherein said releasable locking means further comprises a spring biased pin slideably mounted to an arm means and operable between a release position and a retracted position, and means associated with the mounting means for engaging the pin when operated to its release position with the bracket assembly in its extended and retracted positions.

Claim 10

The bracket assembly of claim 8 wherein said pin is oriented and mounted to slide along an axis generally parallel to the arm means to which it is mounted, and wherein said engaging means associated with the mounting means further comprises members having apertures therein and through which the pin extends in its release position.

Claim 11

The bracket assembly of claim 1 wherein the mounting means includes surfaces against which the arm means rest in the extended and retracted positions.

Claim 12

The bracket assembly of claim 1 wherein the pivotal axis at the second end of the second arm means is closer to the pivotal axis at the second end of the first arm means with the bracket assembly in the extended position than with the bracket assembly in the retracted position.

Claim 13

The bracket assembly of claim 6 wherein the distance between the pivotal axes at the second ends of the arm means is less than the distance between the pivotal axes at the first ends of the arm means with the bracket assembly in its extended position, and the distance between the pivotal axes at the second ends of the arm means is greater than the distance between the pivotal axes at the first ends of the arm means with the bracket assembly in its retracted position.

Claim 14

A bracket assembly for mounting a trolling motor assembly to the deck of a boat, the motor assembly including a motor adapted to depend in the water by means of a shaft, the motor being mounted at the lower end of the shaft, and for moving the trolling motor assembly between an extended position with its shaft generally perpendicular to the surface of the water and a retracted position with its shaft generally parallel to and on top of the deck of a boat, the bracket assembly comprising mounting means for mounting to the boat deck, a motor bracket mounting around the shaft of the motor assembly, first arm means pivotally connected at a first end to the motor bracket and pivotally connected at a second end to the mounting means, second arm means pivotally connected at a first end to the motor bracket, the pivotal axis of the first and second arm means at the motor bracket being spaced apart, a third arm means, means for pivotally connecting one end of the third arm means about an axis parallel to and located between the axes of the first and second ends of the first arm means, means at the mounting means for pivotally mounting the second end of the second arm means and the second end of the third arm means about the same pivotal axes and for sliding movement along a path generally normal to the pivotal axis of the first arm means at the mounting means, the distance between the pivotal axes at the second ends of the first and second arm means being less than the distance between the pivotal axes at the first ends of the first and second arm means with the bracket assembly in its extended position, and the distance between the pivotal axes at the second ends of the first and second arm means being greater than the distance between the pivotal axes at the first ends of the first and second arm means with the bracket assembly in its retracted position, the dimensions of the arm means and the locations of the pivotal axes being such as to control the attitude of the motor assembly shaft to be generally perpendicular to the surface of the water in the extended position and to be generally parallel to and on top of the deck of a boat in the retracted position.

Claim 15

A bracket assembly for mounting a trolling motor assembly to the deck of a boat, the motor assembly including a motor adapted to depend in the water by means of a shaft, the motor being mounted at the lower end of the shaft, and for moving the trolling motor assembly between an extended position with its shaft generally perpendicular to the surface of the water and a retracted position with its shaft generally parallel to and on top of the deck of a boat, the bracket assembly comprising mounting means for mounting to the boat deck, a motor bracket mounting around the shaft of the motor assembly, first arm means pivotally connected at a first end to the motor bracket and pivotally connected at a second end to the mounting means, second arm means pivotally connected at a first end to the motor bracket, the pivotal axis of the first and second arm means at the motor bracket being spaced apart, a third arm means, means for pivotally connecting one end of the third arm means about an axis parallel to and located between the axes of the first and second ends of the first arm means, means at the mounting means for pivotally mounting the second end of the second arm means and the second end of the third arm means about the same pivotal axes and for sliding movement along a path generally normal to the pivotal axis of the first arm means at the mounting means, the distance between the pivotal axes at the second ends of the first and second arm means being less than the distance between the pivotal axes at the first ends of the first and second arm means with the bracket assembly in its extended position, and the distance between the pivotal axes at the second ends of the first and second arm means being greater than the distance between the pivotal axes at the first ends of the first and second arm means with the bracket assembly in its retracted position, the dimensions of the arm means and the locations of the pivotal axes being such as to control the attitude of the motor assembly shaft to be generally perpendicular to the surface of the water in the extended position and to be generally parallel to and on top of the deck of a boat in the retracted position.