Transducer mounting assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10325582-B2
Application number	US-201615222202-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 28, 2016
Priority date	Jul 28, 2016
Publication date	Jun 18, 2019
Grant date	Jun 18, 2019

Abstract

A mounting assembly may effectively mount a transducer and a marine electronic display via the same mounting assembly. In order to mount the mounting assembly, the mounting assembly may be configured to utilize a hole or a surface of a watercraft without needing any additional fastening elements (e.g., screw or bolts) being attached to or inserted into the hole or watercraft. Accordingly, no screw holes are required in order to mount either the marine electronic display or the transducer. Thereby, the user may put the mounting assembly through the hole or attach it to a surface of the watercraft, and then attach the marine electronic display and transducer to the appropriate components of the mounting assembly. Thereby, the mounting of a transducer and a marine electronic display will take less time and require less parts.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A mounting assembly comprising:
a hollow tube configured to fit within a hole, wherein the hollow tube defines a first end, a second end, and a first axis, wherein the hollow tube further defines at least one mounting leg proximate the second end;
a marine electronic display mounting device coupled proximate the first end of the hollow tube, wherein the marine electronic display mounting device is configured to removably receive and mount a marine electronic display;
a transducer mounting device rotatably connected to the at least one mounting leg, wherein the transducer mounting device is configured to rotate about a second axis between a first position and a second position, wherein the second axis is perpendicular to the first axis, wherein the transducer mounting device is further configured to removably receive and mount at least one transducer, wherein the transducer mounting device is sized to fit within the hole when the transducer mounting device is in the second position such that the transducer mounting device can be passed through the hole with the hollow tube to a position past a bottom of the hole so as to enable the transducer mounting device to rotate to the first position; and
a locking device that is configured to engage a portion of the hollow tube proximate a top of the hole in order to secure the hollow tube within the hole.

2. The mounting assembly of claim 1 , wherein when the transducer mounting device is in the first position, a longitudinal axis of a body of the transducer mounting device is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the hollow tube, and wherein a length of the body of the transducer mounting device is greater than a diameter of the hole such that when the transducer mounting device is in the first position, the body of the transducer mounting device is prevented from being pulled through the hole.

3. The mounting assembly of claim 2 , wherein when the transducer mounting device is in the second position, the longitudinal axis of the body of the transducer mounting device is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube, and wherein a width of the body of the transducer mounting device is less than the diameter of the hollow tube such that when the transducer mounting device is in the second position, the body of the transducer mounting device is enabled to pass through the hole.

4. The mounting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the locking device and the transducer mounting device engage a top and a bottom of the hole respectively to secure the mounting assembly within the hole without the use of fasteners or adhesives.

5. The mounting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the transducer mounting device defines an opening to enable a cable of the transducer mounted thereto to be passed through the opening into an interior of the hollow tube and to a marine electronic display mounted to the marine electronic display mounting device.

6. The mounting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the hollow tube is configured to enable a battery to be mounted within an interior of the hollow tube.

7. The mounting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the hollow tube is configured to enable a battery to be mounted on an exterior surface of the hollow tube via at least one of a tray, a hanger, a hook, a hook-and-latch fastener, or a zip tie.

8. The mounting assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
a rotatable cap positioned on the first end of the hollow tube, and
a rod positioned within an interior of the hollow tube and defining a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the rod is operably coupled to the rotatable cap, wherein the second end of the rod is configured to be coupled to a transducer, wherein the transducer is rotatably mounted to the transducer mounting device, and wherein, in response to the rotatable cap being rotated by a user, the rod rotates about an axis of rotation to cause a corresponding rotation of the transducer.

9. The mounting assembly of claim 8 , wherein the rod is a hollow rod.

10. A system comprising:
a mounting assembly comprising:
a hollow tube configured to fit within a hole, wherein the hollow tube defines a first end, a second end, and a first axis, wherein the hollow tube further defines at least one mounting leg proximate the second end;
a marine electronic display mounting device coupled proximate the first end of the hollow tube, wherein the marine electronic display mounting device is configured to removably receive and mount a marine electronic display;
a transducer mounting device rotatably connected to the at least one mounting leg, wherein the transducer mounting device is configured to rotate about a second axis between a first position and a second position, wherein the second axis is perpendicular to the first axis, wherein the transducer mounting device is further configured to removably receive and mount at least one transducer, wherein the transducer mounting device is sized to fit within the hole when the transducer mounting device is in the second position such that the transducer mounting device can be passed through the hole with the hollow tube to a position past a bottom of the hole so as to enable the transducer mounting device to rotate to the first position; and
a locking device that is configured to engage a portion of the hollow tube proximate a top of the scupper hole in order to secure the hollow tube within the hole;

at least one transducer mounted to the transducer mounting device; and
a marine electronic display mounted to the marine electronic display mounting device.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein when the transducer mounting device is in the first position, a longitudinal axis of a body of the transducer mounting device is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tube, and wherein a length of the body of the transducer mounting device is greater than a diameter of the hole such that when the transducer mounting device is in the first position, the body of the transducer mounting device is prevented from being pulled through the hole.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein when the transducer mounting device is in the second position, the longitudinal axis of the body of the transducer mounting device is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hollow tube, and wherein a width of the body of the transducer mounting device is less than the diameter of the hollow tube such that when the transducer mounting device is in the second position, the body of the transducer mounting device is enabled to pass through the hole.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the locking device and the transducer mounting device engage a top and a bottom of the hole respectively to secure the mounting assembly within the hole without the use of fasteners or adhesives.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the transducer mounting device defines an opening to enable a cable of the transducer mounted thereto to be passed through the opening into an interior of the hollow tube and to a marine electronic display mounted to the marine electronic display mounting device.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the mounting assembly further comprises:
a rotatable cap positioned on the first end of the hollow tube, and
a rod positioned within an interior of the hollow tube and defining a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the rod is operably coupled to the rotatable cap, wherein the second end of the rod is configured to be coupled to the transducer, wherein the transducer is rotatably mounted to the transducer mounting device, and wherein, in response to the rotatable cap being rotated by a user, the rod rotates abou

Assignees

• Navico Holding As

Inventors

• Antao Barry M
• Schroeder Jeremy

Classifications

• G01S15/89

  for mapping or imaging · CPC title

• G01S7/521

  Constructional features · CPC title

• G10K11/006 Primary

  Transducer mounting in underwater equipment, e.g. sonobuoys · CPC title

• G01S7/62

  Cathode-ray tube displays · CPC title

• G01S15/96

  for locating fish · CPC title