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  Trolling motor deviceUSPTO Application #: 20070197107Title: Trolling motor device Abstract: A trolling motor device including a variable length drive unit to assist in moving the trolling motor device in and out of the water. Preferably, the drive unit is both extended/retracted while being pivoted to increase the speed of deployment or stowage. (end of abstract) Agent: Klima Law Offices, P.l.l.c. - Stafford, VA, US Inventor: Bruce R. Lee USPTO Applicaton #: 20070197107 - Class: 440 6 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070197107. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001]The present invention is directed to a trolling motor device, in particular, a bow trolling motor device having an extendable/retractable or telescoping drive unit. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002]Currently, there exist a number of electric powered trolling motors for use with small boats, in particular fishing or bass boats. Typically, the trolling motor is mounted on top of the deck at or adjacent the bow of the fishing or bass boat. [0003]The conventional trolling motor includes a mounting plate, which is fastened to the deck of the boat. The drive unit is pivotably connected to the mounting unit so that the drive unit can be lifted upward out of the water and pivoted by a pull cord connected to the mounting unit so that the drive unit lays down flat on top of the deck of the boat for storage. To place the drive unit back in the water, the user again pulls upwardly on the pull cord to lift and pivot the drive unit down into the water. [0004]The drive unit includes an upper steering unit connected to an upper end of a fixed length support shaft, and a lower drive unit connected to a lower end of the same shaft. The shaft is pivotably mounted to the mounting unit. [0005]An electric battery (e.g. 6 volt, 12 volt, 24 volt, 36 volt) is electrically connected to a foot pedal control unit mounted on the top of the deck of the fishing or bass boat. A control cable extends from the foot pedal control unit to the upper steering unit of the drive unit. The foot pedal control unit controls both the steering of the drive unit, off/on of the drive unit, forward/reverse of the drive unit, and the power level of the drive unit. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006]A first object of the present invention is to provide an improved trolling motor device. [0007]A second object of the present invention is to provide an improved bow trolling motor device. [0008]A third object of the present invention is to provide an improved trolling motor device with an extendable/retractable drive unit. [0009]A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a trolling motor device with a telescoping drive unit. [0010]A fifth object of the present invention is to provide a trolling motor device with an improved mounting unit. [0011]A sixth object of the present invention is to provide an improved trolling motor device with improved drive unit. [0012]A seventh object of the present invention is to provide an improved trolling motor device with an improved drive unit housing. [0013]An eighth object of the present invention is to provide an improved trolling motor device including a drive unit with steering combined with being extendable/retractable or telescoping. [0014]The present invention is directed to an improved trolling motor device, in particular an improved bow trolling motor device. The trolling motor device includes the combination of a mounting unit and a drive unit. Preferably, the drive unit is pivotably connected to the mounting unit. [0015]The mounting unit is configured to be mounted on top of the deck of the fishing or bass boat. For example, the mounting unit includes a mounting plate to be fastened to the deck of the fishing or bass boat, for example, the mounting plate is provide with through holes for accommodating fasteners (e.g. screws) for securely attaching the mounting plates on top of the front deck at or adjacent the bow of the fishing or bass boat. [0016]The drive unit includes an upper steering unit and a lower drive unit. A drive unit housing connects the upper steering unit to the lower drive unit. [0017]The trolling motor device according to the present invention is preferably a bow trolling motor device to be mounted or installed at or adjacent to the bow of the boat, in particular on the upper deck of the fishing or bass boat. The trolling motor device according to the present invention is configured to be pivoted from a substantially horizontal resting or stowed position on top of the deck at the bow of the boat to a substantially vertical operating position for propelling the boat. [0018]The trolling motor device according to the present invention includes a mounting unit connected to drive unit. Preferably, the drive unit is pivotally connected to the mounting unit. The mounting unit, for example, can include a mounting plates configured to be secured to the boat (e.g. upper surface of deck). The trolling motor device according to the present invention includes a drive unit that is extendable/ retractable or telescoping to the change to length to facilitate lifting or lower and pivoting of the drive unit back and forth between the substantially horizontal non-operating resting or stowed position to the substantially vertical operating position. Specifically, the trolling motor device according to the present invention is configured so that the drive unit is retracted to a compacted configuration when the drive unit is being pivoted. [0019]The retracted compact mode of the drive unit greatly facilitates the ease and convenience of a user pivoting the drive unit between these two basic positions (i.e. non-operating position and operating position). Further, the retracted compact mode of the drive unit significantly decreases the stowage space required on top of the deck for the trolling motor device (i.e. retracted compact mode of drive unit significantly interferes with less user operating space when the user is moving about the deck of the boat). [0020]In a particularly preferred embodiment of the trolling motor device according to the present invention, the drive unit is moved from a fully retracted position to a fully extended position, or from a fully extended to a fully compacted position quickly in a fast continuous movement. For example, the drive unit includes a manual device or manual actuating device (e.g. cord, cable, spring, belt, pulley, gear, crank, lanyard) to manually extend or retract the drive unit in fast continuous movement. Alternatively, the drive unit is provided with automatic actuating device (e.g. hydraulic actuator, pneumatic actuator, electrical actuator, electro/magnetic actuator, powered rack and pinion) to move the drive unit between the extended position and retracted position, or from the retracted position to the extended position in a fast continuous movement. In a most preferred embodiment, the drive unit is provided with a powered actuating unit and control (e.g. remotely controlled on foot pedal, or on drive unit itself) to automatically retract/extend the drive unit in a fast continuous movement. [0021]In the most preferred embodiment, the drive unit is automatically retracted/extended while being automatically pivoted both in a fast continuous movement. In this manner, the drive unit is retracting/extending during the pivoting phase so that the drive unit is at least partially extended or fully extended when the drive unit reaches the substantially vertical or horizontal position. Alternatively, the drive unit can be configured so that the drive unit automatically extends only after the drive unit is fully pivoted from the substantially horizontal position to the substantially vertical position, however, there will exist a longer deployment time from the resting or stowed non-operating position to the fully deployed operational position with the drive unit is fully extended. However, in the most preferred embodiment, the drive unit quickly and easily extends or retracts while the drive unit is pivoted in and out of the boat again to optimize and reduce the time and effort to move the drive unit back and forth between the non-operating and operating positions. In an even more preferred embodiment of the trolling motor device according to the present invention, the drive unit is both automatically retracted/extended and pivoted (e.g. by powered actuators) and configured so that the drive unit is both pivoting and extending or retracting simultaneously again to increase the speed and reduce the time of deployment into the water or resetting to the resting or stowed position. Continue reading... Full patent description for Trolling motor device Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Trolling motor device patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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