Directional control mechanism for a trolling motor

Claim 2

A new and improved directional control mechanism for a trolling motor, comprising: an outer stationary hollow shaft; a motor mount secured to said outer shaft for rotation around said outer shaft; an electric trolling motor secured to said motor mount; a hollow inner shaft coaxially received in said outer shaft, said inner shaft connected for rotating said motor mount; mounting plate means on an upper end of said stationary shaft; said inner shaft extending upwardly through said mounting plate means; pulley means on said inner shaft; belt and pulley drive means operatively connected to said pulley means; directional control motor means on said mounting plate means; gear reduction means on said mounting plate means operatively connected to said directional control motor means; said gear reduction means having a rotary output shaft operatively connected to said belt and pulley drive means; battery means operatively connected for powering said trolling motor and said directional control motor means; foot pedal control means for reversing polarity of said directional control motor means; and rotary electrical contact means on said pulley means for transmitting electrical current to said trolling motor.

Claim 3

The directional control mechanism of claim 1, wherein said rotary electrical contact means comprises a stationary contact disc on an upper surface of said mounting plate means secured to said outer stationary shaft; a plurality of concentric electrical contact rings on an upper surface of said stationary contact disc; a plurality of spring biased electrical brushes on a lower surface of said pulley means, said brushes in rotary engagement with said contact ring.

Claim 4

The directional control mechanism of claim 1, wherein said foot pedal control means comprises a pair of pivotally connected overlying oval plates.

Claim 5

The directional control mechanism of claim 3, further comprising a pair of "L"-shaped brackets secured to facing surfaces of each of said oval plates; a pivot rod extending through an aperture in each of said "L"-shaped brackets; a plurality of threaded adjustable stop rods extending upwardly from said lower oval plate for engagement with said upper oval plate; a coil spring around each of said stop rods biasing said upper oval plate away from said lower oval plate; a first switch operatively connected for actuating said trolling motor mounted adjacent a rear heel portion of said lower oval plate; and two pairs of directional control motor control switches mounted adjacent a front portion of said lower oval plate, one pair of said directional control motor switches disposed on each side of said pivot rod.

Claim 6

A new and improved directional control mechanism for a trolling motor, comprising: an outer stationary hollow shaft; a motor mount secured to said outer shaft for rotation around said outer shaft; an electric trolling motor secured to said motor mount; a hollow inner shaft coaxially received in said outer shaft, said inner shaft connected for rotating said motor mount; mounting plate means on an upper end of said stationary shaft; said inner shaft extending upwardly through said mounting plate means; pulley means on said inner shaft; belt and pulley drive means operatively connected to said pulley means; directional control motor means on said mounting plate gear reduction means on said mounting plate means operatively connected to said directional control motor means; said gear reduction means having a rotary output shaft operatively connected to said belt and pulley drive means; battery means operatively connected for powering said trolling motor and said directional control motor means; foot pedal control means for reversing polarity of said directional control motor means; rotary electrical contact means on said pulley means for transmitting electrical current to said trolling motor; said rotary electrical contact means comprising a stationary contact disc on an upper surface of said mounting plate means secured to said outer stationary shaft; a plurality of concentric electrical contact rings on an upper surface of said stationary contact disc; a plurality of spring biased electrical brushes on a lower surface of said pulley means, said brushes in rotary engagement with said contact rings; said foot pedal control means comprising a lower oval plate pivotally connected to an overlying upper oval plate; a pair of "L"-shaped brackets secured to facing surfaces of each of said oval plates; a pivot rod extending through an aperture in each of said "L"-shaped brackets; a plurality of threaded adjustable stop rods extending upwardly from said lower oval plate for engagement with said upper oval plate; a coil spring around each of said stop rods biasing said upper oval plate away from said lower oval plate; a first switch operatively connected for actuating said trolling motor mounted adjacent a rear heel portion of said lower oval plate; and two pairs of directional control motor control switches mounted adjacent a front portion of said lower oval plate, one pair of said directional control motor switches disposed on each side of said pivot rod.

Claim 7

A new and improved directional control mechanism for a trolling motor, comprising: an outer stationary hollow shaft; a motor mount secured to said outer shaft for rotation around said outer shaft; an electric trolling motor secured to said motor mount; a hollow inner shaft coaxially received in said outer shaft, said inner shaft connected for rotating said motor mount; mounting plate means on an upper end of said stationary shaft; said inner shaft extending upwardly through said mounting plate means; pulley means on said inner shaft; belt and pulley drive means operatively connected to said pulley means; directional control motor means on said mounting plate gear reduction means on said mounting plate means operatively connected to said directional control motor means; said gear reduction means having a rotary output shaft operatively connected to said belt and pulley drive means; battery means operatively connected for powering said trolling motor and said directional control motor means; foot pedal control means for reversing polarity of said directional control motor means; rotary electrical contact means on said pulley means for transmitting electrical current to said trolling motor; said rotary electrical contact means comprising a stationary contact disc on an upper surface of said mounting plate means secured to said outer stationary shaft; a plurality of concentric electrical contact rings on an upper surface of said stationary contact disc; a plurality of spring biased electrical brushes on a lower surface of said pulley means, said brushes in rotary engagement with said contact rings; said foot pedal control means comprising a lower oval plate pivotally connected to an overlying upper oval plate; a pair of "L"-shaped brackets secured to facing surfaces of each of said oval plates; a pivot rod extending through an aperture in each of said "L"-shaped brackets; a plurality of threaded adjustable stop rods extending upwardly from said lower oval plate for engagement with said upper oval plate; a coil spring around each of said stop rods biasing said upper oval plate away from said lower oval plate; a first switch operatively connected for actuating said trolling motor mounted adjacent a rear heel portion of said lower oval plate; and two pairs of directional control motor control switches mounted adjacent a front portion of said lower oval plate, one pair of said directional control motor switches disposed on each side of said pivot rod.