Electric outrigger positioner

Abstract

An outrigger positioner for moving an outrigger pole from a stowage position to a deployed position, and from the deployed position to a stowage position. The outrigger driver positioner has a top assembly including a main arm pivotally attached to a base configured for receipt of an outrigger pole. A worm gear assembly is in the pivot arm is moved by a motor, causing the main arm to elevate from a horizontal position to an elevated position. A second motor is coupled to a worm gear assembly in the base assembly which is coupled to the base of the top assembly. The motor rotates the top assembly from a position parallel to a centerline of the boat to a desired position off the beam of the vessel.

Claims

1. An outrigger positioner comprising: a top assembly and a base assembly; said top assembly having an arm with a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end constructed and arranged to receive an outrigger pole, said proximal end of said arm pivotally coupled to a mounting assembly, said mounting assembly attached to base assembly; said top assembly having at least one worm drive assembly comprised of a worm shaft gear and a worm wheel gear constructed and arranged for mechanically adjusting the elevation of said arm; said base assembly having at least one worm drive assembly including a worm shaft gear and a worm wheel gear constructed and arranged for mechanically rotating said base assembly; a first motor drives a plurality of gears that engage said worm shaft gear in said top assembly allowing adjustment of the elevation of said outrigger positioner to any desired position, a second motor drives a plurality of gears that engage said worm shaft gear in said base assembly allowing rotation of said outrigger positioner to any desired position.

2. An outrigger positioner according to claim 1, wherein said top assembly arm includes a releasable pin for securing an outrigger pole.

3. An outrigger positioner according to claim 1, wherein said top assembly arm worm wheel gear includes a gear ratio of 60:1.

4. An outrigger positioner according to claim 1, wherein said base assembly worm wheel gear includes a gear ratio of 60:1.

5. An outrigger positioner according to claim 1, wherein said first motor and said second motor are electrically coupled to the onboard electrical system.

6. An outrigger positioner according to claim 1, wherein said first motor and said second motor are powered by batteries.

7. An outrigger positioner according to claim 1, wherein said first motor and said second motor are operated with a remote control.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the outrigger positioner in a stowage position;

[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the outrigger positioner with the arm deployed in a raised position;

[0023] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the outrigger positioner with the arm in a rotated position;

[0024] FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the outrigger positioner top assembly;

[0025] FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along lines B-B of FIG. 4;

[0026] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the top assembly;

[0027] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the base assembly of the outrigger positioner;

[0028] FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the base assembly of the outrigger positioner;

[0029] FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along lines C-C of FIG. 7;

[0030] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines D-D of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0031] A detailed embodiment of the instant invention is disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiment is merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific functional and structural details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representation basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

[0032] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, disclosed is an outrigger positioner comprised of a top assembly 20 and a base assembly 40. The top assembly having an arm 22 with a proximal end 24 and a distal end 25. The distal end 25 is constructed and arranged to receive an outrigger pole. The proximal end 24 of the arm is pivotally coupled to a mounting assembly 27. The mounting assembly 27 is attached to base assembly 40.

[0033] FIG. 2 illustrates the top assembly 20 range of motion to raise the elevation of the arm 22 from a storage position to a deployed position. An operator has the option to adjust the elevation of the arm 22 to any desires position. FIG. 3 illustrates the rotational range of the top assembly 20 from the storage position to any desired position required by the angler. In a one embodiment, the top assembly 20 can be rotated and elevated simultaneously.

[0034] FIG. 4 is one embodiment of the top assembly 20. FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along lines B-B of FIG. 4. The top assembly 20 has at least one worm drive assembly comprised of a worm shaft gear 30 and a worm wheel gear constructed and arranged for mechanically adjusting the elevation of the arm 22. The top assembly 20 includes a mounting assembly 27 that is fixed to base assembly 40 with fasteners 119. To seal the shaft from the elements a gasket 112 is installed.

[0035] As shown in FIGS. 5-6, worm wheel gear 31 is installed upon pin 97 and is engaged with worm shaft gear 30. Bolts 117 and 118 are constructed and arranged to fixedly engage worm wheel gear 31 to pin 97. Pin 97 is the axis about which the top assembly 20 rotates in order to change the elevation of arm to the desired height. At the base of worm shaft gear 30 is a shaft coupler 114 and a shaft key 116 constructed and arranged for connection to a motor. The outrigger positioner top assembly arm is designed to accommodate different length outrigger poles. Therefore, the top assembly arm 22 includes a releasable pin 115 for securing various outrigger poles.

[0036] FIGS. 7-10 are base assembly 40 having a top case 215 and a lower case 243. Within said base assembly 40 is at least one worm drive assembly 42 including a worm shaft gear 44 and a worm wheel gear 45 constructed and arranged for mechanically rotating the base assembly.

[0037] A first motor 50 drives a plurality of gears that engage said worm shaft gear 30 in said top assembly allowing adjustment of the elevation of said outrigger positioner to any desired position. In one exemplary embodiment, first motor 50 is constructed and arranged to drive gear 52, which drives gear 54. Gear 54 is connected to shaft 212 which is connected to shaft coupler 114. This configuration drives worm shaft gear 30 which changes the elevation of the top assemble 20. In one embodiment, it is contemplated that motor 50 will be configured to rotate both clockwise and counterclockwise in order to achieve the desired elevations.

[0038] A second motor 60 drives a plurality of gears that engage the worm shaft gear 44 in the base assembly 40 thereby allowing rotation of the outrigger positioner to any desired position. In one exemplary embodiment, second motor 60 drives gear 62, which drives gear 63, which further drives gear 64. Gear 64 is connected to shaft 217 which is connected to gear 47. Gear 47 drives worm shaft gear 44 which drives worm wheel gear 45. Worm wheel gear 45 is attached to shaft 210. Shaft 210 is fixedly attached to mounting assembly 27 which allows for rotation of the top assembly 20. In one non-limiting embodiment, it is contemplated that motor 60 will be configured to rotate both clockwise and counterclockwise in order to achieve the desired elevations.

[0039] In one embodiment, the top assembly arm worm wheel gear has a gear ratio of 60:1. Additionally the base assembly worm wheel gear has a gear ratio of 60:1. However, any suitable gear ratio configuration can be utilized in this application.

[0040] The outrigger positioner 40 is mounted to a boat T-top with the motors 50 and 60 electrically coupled to a power source. Alternatively, the motors 50 and 60 can also be powered by batteries. In one example, when power is supplied to the motors, the main arm 22 is raised from a horizontal position to a raised position, placing the outrigger at about a 60-degree angle relative to the horizon. Simultaneously, the top assembly 20 is rotated from a position that placed the outrigger parallel to the centerline of a vessel, to a position that places the outrigger at a position 90-degree to the centerline of the vessel. The motors 50 and 60 can either each be operated automatically by a switch on the console of the boat or by remote control device. The configuration of the outrigger positioner 40, allows the boat operator the option to place the outrigger poles from a stowage position to a deployed position, and a deployed position to a stowage position, while safely keeping both hands on the steering wheel.

[0041] It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any drawings/figures included herein.

[0042] One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary, and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.