Foot pedal for a trolling motor assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11220317-B2
Application number	US-201916676795-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 7, 2019
Priority date	Dec 8, 2017
Publication date	Jan 11, 2022
Grant date	Jan 11, 2022

Abstract

A user input assembly for controlling operation of a trolling motor assembly including a propulsion motor, the user input assembly having an input device housing defining a top surface that is configured to receive a user's foot thereon, wherein the top surface defines a left edge and right edge, a support plate, wherein the input device housing is pivotably mounted to the support plate, and a switch that is selectively secured to the input device housing in one of a first position and a second position, wherein the first position is proximate the left edge of the input device housing, the second position is proximate the right edge of the input device housing, and the switch is movable between an open position and closed position so that the power is supplied to the propulsion motor.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A foot pedal assembly for controlling operation of a trolling motor assembly that is secured to a corresponding watercraft, the foot pedal assembly comprising:
a foot pedal including a top surface that is configured to receive a foot of a user, wherein the foot pedal includes one or more sensors or buttons configured to receive user input for controlling the trolling motor assembly;
a base plate that is configured to be affixed to the watercraft; and
a plurality of locking elements configured to releasably attach the foot pedal to the base plate, wherein the foot pedal is configured to provide, in response to receiving the user input via the one or more sensors or buttons, control instructions to the trolling motor assembly independently of whether the foot pedal is attached to the base plate,
wherein each locking element includes a projection and a corresponding aperture for releasably receiving the corresponding projection, wherein each projection is secured to the foot pedal and each corresponding aperture is disposed on the base plate, wherein each projection is releasably received by the corresponding aperture so that the foot pedal is secured to the watercraft, and each projection is configured to be selectively removed from the corresponding aperture by the user without a tool,
wherein each projection comprises a latch that depends downwardly from a bottom surface of the foot pedal, and wherein each latch includes a lever that is configured to allow the user to rotate the corresponding latch between a lock position in which the latch both extends into and is secured within the corresponding aperture, thereby securing the foot pedal to the watercraft when the base plate is affixed to the watercraft, and a release position in which the user may remove the corresponding latch from the corresponding aperture.

2. The foot pedal assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a foot pedal mounting plate defining a plurality of apertures, wherein each locking element is rotatably received in a corresponding aperture of the foot pedal mounting plate, and wherein the foot pedal is affixed to the foot pedal mounting plate.

3. The foot pedal assembly of claim 2 , wherein the base plate is affixed to the watercraft with a first plurality of fasteners, and the foot pedal is affixed to the foot pedal mounting plate with a second plurality of fasteners.

4. The foot pedal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the foot pedal includes:
a switch that is movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the switch is biased to one of the open position and the closed position, and wherein power is supplied to a propulsion motor of the trolling motor assembly when the switch is moved from one of the biased open position to the closed position and the biased closed position to the open position; and
a mounting structure, wherein the switch is secured to the mounting structure and the mounting structure is removably secured to a top surface of the foot pedal, and the mounting structure is rotatable with respect to the foot pedal so that the switch is movable from the first position to the second position.

5. The foot pedal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the foot pedal includes a switch that is movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein power is supplied to a propulsion motor of the trolling motor assembly when the switch is moved from one of the open position to the closed position and the closed position to the open position, wherein the switch further comprises a pressure sensor that is configured to detect an amount of force applied to the switch by a user, and the amount of force applied to the switch is related to a desired operating speed of the propulsion motor.

6. The foot pedal assembly of claim 5 , wherein the pressure sensor further comprises a depressable button.

7. A trolling motor system, the trolling motor system comprising:
a trolling motor assembly comprising a propulsion motor and a propeller, wherein the propulsion motor is variable speed and configured to rotate the propeller at a desired speed in response to an electrical signal;
a foot pedal assembly for controlling operation of the trolling motor assembly, wherein the foot pedal assembly comprises:
a foot pedal including a top surface that is configured to receive a foot of a user, wherein the foot pedal includes one or more sensors or buttons configured to receive user input for controlling the trolling motor assembly;
a base plate that is configured to be affixed to the watercraft; and
a plurality of locking elements configured to releasably attach the foot pedal to the base plate, wherein the foot pedal is configured to provide, in response to receiving the user input via the one or more sensors or buttons, control instructions to the trolling motor assembly independently of whether the foot pedal is attached to the base plate,
wherein each locking element includes a projection and a corresponding aperture for releasably receiving the corresponding projection, wherein each projection is secured to the foot pedal and each corresponding aperture is disposed on the base plate, wherein each projection is releasably received by the corresponding aperture so that the foot pedal is secured to the watercraft, and each projection is configured to be selectively removed from the corresponding aperture by the user without a tool,
wherein each projection comprises a latch that depends downwardly from a bottom surface of the foot pedal, and wherein each latch includes a lever that is configured to allow the user to rotate the corresponding latch between a lock position in which the latch both extends into and is secured within the corresponding aperture, thereby securing the foot pedal to the watercraft when the base plate is affixed to the watercraft, and a release position in which the user may remove the corresponding latch from the corresponding aperture.

8. The trolling motor system of claim 7 , further comprising:
a foot pedal mounting plate defining a plurality of apertures, wherein each locking element is rotatably received in a corresponding aperture of the foot pedal mounting plate, and wherein the foot pedal is affixed to the foot pedal mounting plate.

9. The trolling motor system of claim 8 , wherein the base plate is affixed to the watercraft with a first plurality of fasteners, and the foot pedal is affixed to the foot pedal mounting plate with a second plurality of fasteners.

10. The trolling motor system of claim 7 , wherein the foot pedal includes:
a switch that is movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the switch is biased to one of the open position and the closed position, and wherein power is supplied to the propulsion motor of the trolling motor assembly when the switch is moved from one of the biased open position to the closed position and the biased closed position to the open position; and
a mounting structure, wherein the switch is secured to the mounting structure and the mounting structure is removably secured to a top surface of the foot pedal, and the mounting structure is rotatable with respect to the foot pedal so that the switch is movable from the first position to the second position.

11. The trolling motor system of claim 7 , wherein the foot pedal includes a switch that is movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein power is supplied to the propulsion motor of the trolling motor assembly when the switch is moved from one of the open position to the closed position and the closed position to the open position, wherein the switch further comprises a pressure sensor that is configured to detect an amount of force a

Assignees

• Navico Holding As

Inventors

• Clark Jeremiah D
• Schroeder Jeremy J
• Bailey Paul Robert
• Pendergraft Dustyn P

Classifications

• H04L63/08

  for authentication of entities (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32) · CPC title

• G06F21/36

  by graphic or iconic representation · CPC title

• B63H21/21 Primary

  Control means for engine or transmission, specially adapted for use on marine vessels · CPC title

• B63H20/007 Primary

  Trolling propulsion units (trolling plates for slowing down B63H25/50; dynamo-electric machines of trolling units H02K) · CPC title