US4841203A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electric trolling motor steering system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1988-05-31
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Granted: 1989-06-20
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Expires: 2008-05-31
Abstract
Abstract A permanent magnet direct-current gearhead motor is supported by a base member so that its output gear motion is transmitted to a splined steering shaft which descends and is attached to the electric trolling motor itself. The transmission of motion between the gearhead motor and the spline gear on the upper end of the steering shaft may utilize a larger intermediate gear so that limit switches can be installed thereon to limit the range of rotation of the gears, and thus of the trolling motor itself. The direction of the gearhead motor rotation is dependent on the polarity of the direct current applied; the desired polarity being established through by button-type switches connected through a double throw, double pole direct current relay which is housed on the base member, adjacent to the gearhead motor. The button switches may be positioned at a multiple number of different locations within the boat, wherever desired. A preferred triangular three button switch arrangement is utilized wherein two buttons are used to change the direction of the motor and the third button used as an on-off switch for the operation of the trolling motor itself. A pointer, which indicates the direction in which the trolling motor is pointing, may extend above the cover which encloses the gearhead motor and relay, the pointer being geared from the gearhead motor the same as the splined shaft for movement of the trolling motor.
Inventors
- 👤 David A. Gilbert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 02:01
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63H; B63H20/00; B63H20/007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
283 words
A steering system for electric trolling motors, which comprises: a steering shaft, axially rotating within a steering shaft housing having boat attachment means, the steering shaft having a first end extending above the steering shaft housing and a second end extending below the steering shaft housing and attached to an electric motor with propeller; a base member mounted on top of the steering shaft housing; a direct current electrical power source; an electric gearhead motor mounted on the base member, and having an output shaft extending therefrom; a spline gear formed on the first end of the steering shaft; an output gear attached to said output shaft from the gearhead motor, and interconnected to said spline gear; a plurality of remote steering station members, each steering station member comprising a base plate and three electric push switches installed thereon; wherein a first push switch is electrically connected to and energizes said electric motor with propeller; a second push switch is electrically connected to and energizes the gearhead motor thereby rotating, through said gearing, the steering shaft and thus the electric motor with propeller in a first direction; and a third push switch which energizes the gearhead motor similar to the second push switch but with polarity reversed, so as to rotate the steering shaft and the electric motor with propeller in a second and opposite direction; said three switches being installed on said base plate in a spaced triangular relationship so that placement of a user's foot will energize said first push switch; and tilting of the foot to the right will also energize the second push switch, or tilting of the foot to the left will also energize said third push switch.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
283 words
A steering system for electric trolling motors, which comprises: a steering shaft, axially rotating within a steering shaft housing having boat attachment means, the steering shaft having a first end extending above the steering shaft housing and a second end extending below the steering shaft housing and attached to an electric motor with propeller; a base member mounted on top of the steering shaft housing; a direct current electrical power source; an electric gearhead motor mounted on the base member, and having an output shaft extending therefrom; a spline gear formed on the first end of the steering shaft; an output gear attached to said output shaft from the gearhead motor, and interconnected to said spline gear; a plurality of remote steering station members, each steering station member comprising a base plate and three electric push switches installed thereon; wherein a first push switch is electrically connected to and energizes said electric motor with propeller; a second push switch is electrically connected to and energizes the gearhead motor thereby rotating, through said gearing, the steering shaft and thus the electric motor with propeller in a first direction; and a third push switch which energizes the gearhead motor similar to the second push switch but with polarity reversed, so as to rotate the steering shaft and the electric motor with propeller in a second and opposite direction; said three switches being installed on said base plate in a spaced triangular relationship so that placement of a user's foot will energize said first push switch; and tilting of the foot to the right will also energize the second push switch, or tilting of the foot to the left will also energize said third push switch.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
87 words
The steering system for electric trolling motors, as recited in claim 1 above, wherein additionally there is included: an intermediate gear interconnecting said spline gear and said output gear, said intermediate gear having limit switch triggering means; and a plurality of limit switches installed with relation to the limit switch triggering means of the intermediate gear, so as to terminate movement of the gearhead motor to limit the extent of rotational movement of the spline gear of the steering shaft and its attached electric motor with propeller.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The steering system for electric trolling motors, as recited in claim 1 above, wherein the output gear and the spline gear are of the same diameter, having the same number of teeth, and additionaly there is included a directional pointer attached to an end of the output shaft from the gearhead motor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
The steering system for electric trolling motors, as recited in claim 2 above, wherein said intermediate gear is of twice the diameter and number of teeth as the spline gear, and two limit switches are installed at a separation of 270-degrees about the intermediate gear, so as to limit the movement of the spline gear and thus the electric motor with propeller to one and one-half revolutions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
The steering system for electric trolling motors, as recited in claim 2 above, wherein said intermediate gear is of twice the diameter and number of teeth as the spline gear, and two limit switches are installed at a separation of 180-degrees about the intermediate gear, so as to limit the movement of the spline gear and thus the electric motor with propeller to a single revolution.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
345 words
A steering system for electric trolling motors, which comprises: a steering shaft, axially rotating within a steering shaft housing having boat attachment means, the steering shaft having a first end extending above the steering shaft housing and a second end extending below the steering shaft housing and attached to an electric motor with propeller; a base member mounted on top of the steering shaft housing; a direct current electrical power source; an electric gearhead motor mounted on the base member, and having an output shaft extending therefrom; a spline gear formed on the first end of the steering shaft; an output gear connected to said output shaft from the gearhead motor; an intermediate gear interconnecting said spline gear and said output gear, said intermediate gear having limit switch triggering means; a plurality of limit switches installed with relation to the limit switch triggering means of the intermediate gear, so as to terminate movement of the gearhead motor to limit the extent of rotational movement of the spline gear of the steering shaft and its attached electric motor with propeller; a plurality of remote steering station members, each steering station member comprising a base plate and three electric push switches installed thereon; wherein a first push switch is electrically connected to and energizes said electric motor with propeller; a second push switch is electrically connected to and energizes the gearhead motor thereby rotating, through said gearing, the steering shaft and thus the electric motor with propeller in a first direction; and a third push switch which energizes the gearhead motor similar to the second push switch but with polarity reversed, so as to rotate the steering shaft and the electric motor with propeller in a second and opposite direction; said three switches being installed on said base plate in a spaced triangular relationship so that placement of a user's foot will energize said first push switch; and tilting of the foot to the right will also energize the second push switch, or tilting of the foot to the left will also energize said third push switch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
345 words
A steering system for electric trolling motors, which comprises: a steering shaft, axially rotating within a steering shaft housing having boat attachment means, the steering shaft having a first end extending above the steering shaft housing and a second end extending below the steering shaft housing and attached to an electric motor with propeller; a base member mounted on top of the steering shaft housing; a direct current electrical power source; an electric gearhead motor mounted on the base member, and having an output shaft extending therefrom; a spline gear formed on the first end of the steering shaft; an output gear connected to said output shaft from the gearhead motor; an intermediate gear interconnecting said spline gear and said output gear, said intermediate gear having limit switch triggering means; a plurality of limit switches installed with relation to the limit switch triggering means of the intermediate gear, so as to terminate movement of the gearhead motor to limit the extent of rotational movement of the spline gear of the steering shaft and its attached electric motor with propeller; a plurality of remote steering station members, each steering station member comprising a base plate and three electric push switches installed thereon; wherein a first push switch is electrically connected to and energizes said electric motor with propeller; a second push switch is electrically connected to and energizes the gearhead motor thereby rotating, through said gearing, the steering shaft and thus the electric motor with propeller in a first direction; and a third push switch which energizes the gearhead motor similar to the second push switch but with polarity reversed, so as to rotate the steering shaft and the electric motor with propeller in a second and opposite direction; said three switches being installed on said base plate in a spaced triangular relationship so that placement of a user's foot will energize said first push switch; and tilting of the foot to the right will also energize the second push switch, or tilting of the foot to the left will also energize said third push switch.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-06-19 | 1992-12-19 | 1993-06-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-06-19 | 1996-12-19 | 1997-06-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-06-19 | 2000-12-19 | 2001-06-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |